International
Venezuela confirms investigation of public officials for corruption
March 20 |
The government of the Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro, confirmed on Sunday that it is investigating for alleged “administrative corruption and embezzlement”, several citizens who held public positions, reported the state channel Venezolana de Televisión.
Joselit Ramírez, dismissed from his position as head of the National Superintendence of Cryptocurrency and Related Activities (Sunacrip), where a “restructuring” took place, was reportedly arrested together with other officials, local newspaper Últimas Noticias reported.
Reports of arrests in the Venezuelan press have not yet been officially confirmed by Maduro’s government.
Ramirez is on the wanted list for “money laundering and sanctions evasion” of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. State Department, which is offering a reward of up to $5 million for his arrest.
“Ramirez Camacho worked with others to violate and evade Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) narcotics-related sanctions, among other related regulations,” the government agency said.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement points to Ramírez of having ties to Oil Minister Tareck El Aissami, designated in 2017 by the US Treasury Department as a “Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker” for “playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking.”
“He facilitated narcotics shipments from Venezuela, including control of planes leaving a Venezuelan airbase and drug routes through ports in Venezuela. In his former positions, he oversaw or partially owned narcotics shipments of more than 1,000 kilograms from Venezuela on multiple occasions, including those with Mexico and the United States as final destinations,” the US Department of Homeland Security states.
On several occasions the Venezuelan government, including President Nicolás Maduro, has defended several sanctioned officials, including El Aissami.
“They want to link him to Hezbollah, I know Tareck well, never in his life, he has never had contact with anyone from Hezbollah,” said the Venezuelan president at a public event in 2019.
Other of those investigated in the operation of the anti-corruption authorities were the lawyer Cristóbal Cornieles Perret, president of the Criminal Judicial Circuit of Caracas; and the Fourth Control Judge with competence in crimes associated to terrorism, José Mascimino Márquez, who was in charge of cases where important opposition leaders were sentenced.
The Estafo channel also confirmed the investigation to the mayor of the Santos Michelena municipality of Aragua state, Pedro Hernández, “for issues linked” to criminal gangs.
The Venezuelan Anti-Corruption Police had announced on Friday that it requested the Public Prosecutor’s Office to “prosecute” a series of individuals who could be involved in “serious acts of administrative corruption and embezzlement”.
“The conviction of our actions are the result of a thorough investigation, carried out for months, which points to citizens who exercised functions in the Judicial Power, in the oil industry, and in some municipal mayors’ offices of the country”, states the communiqué.
On the same Friday, in the middle of an act broadcasted by the State channel, Maduro called on his cabinet ministers to “stick to ethics”.
“They have to stick to honesty and selfless public service, service as an apostolate to the people because the power we have does not belong to us, the power I have as president does not belong to me, it belongs to the sovereign people of Venezuela. Let us not forget ministers, comrades who have leadership, I hand over to you and I delegate my trust to you”, said Maduro.
Venezuelan opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, reacted by assuring that with the facts, Nicolás Maduro “confesses” again “where the corruption is”.
“No internal struggle will make them wash their hands. They intend to continue stealing and clinging to power, aggravating the daily life of millions. Not even in a series of narcos was there so much brazenness,” he wrote on Twitter.
For his part, also political leader Julio Borges assured from exile that there is an “internal war” in the government to divide a “loot” among “looters”.
“They are not fooling anyone, Venezuela knows that the corrupt are in Miraflores”, insisted Borges in a tweet.
Central America
U.S. and Regional Allies Back Panama Amid Dispute With China
The United States, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago issued a joint statement in support of Panama’s sovereignty, arguing that China’s recent actions represent an attempt to politicize maritime trade and undermine the sovereignty of nations in the hemisphere.
“We are closely monitoring China’s selective economic pressure and recent actions affecting vessels flying the Panamanian flag,” the statement released Tuesday said. “Panama is a pillar of our maritime trading system and, as such, must remain free from undue external pressure.”
The statement comes amid growing tensions surrounding the Panama Canal and the operation of key ports linked to global trade.
At the end of January, Panama’s Supreme Court invalidated the legal framework supporting the 1997 concession that granted Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison, the right to operate the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals located on the Pacific and Atlantic entrances of the Panama Canal.
The ruling followed mounting pressure from the United States to curb Chinese influence around the strategic waterway, through which roughly 5% of global maritime trade passes.
CK Hutchison, which managed the ports for nearly three decades, rejected the court’s decision and accused Panamanian authorities of illegally confiscating its assets. The company has launched international arbitration proceedings against Panama, seeking more than $2 billion in damages.
Following the court ruling, reports emerged of increased detentions and inspections of Panamanian-flagged vessels in China, actions widely viewed as retaliatory measures.
On Wednesday, China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the joint statement as “completely unfounded and misleading,” accusing the United States of politicizing port operations and warning that Beijing would take steps to protect its interests in Panama.
International
King Charles III Says U.S.-UK Alliance Is “Irreplaceable and Unbreakable”
King Charles III of the United Kingdom reaffirmed the strength of the British-American relationship on Tuesday during a speech before the United States Congress, describing the alliance between the two nations as “irreplaceable and unbreakable.”
The address, delivered at the Capitol, marked the first speech by a British monarch before Congress since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 and comes at a time of political tensions between Donald Trump’s administration and the Labour government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“As President Trump himself observed during his state visit to Britain last autumn, the bond of kinship and identity between the United States and the United Kingdom is invaluable and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable,” the king said.
While reflecting on the upcoming 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, which will be commemorated this year, Charles III stated that the partnership between the two countries “was born out of disagreement, but is no less strong because of it.”
The monarch emphasized the democratic values shared by both nations and noted that major global changes have occurred whenever the two allies found common ground.
“When we have found that way to agree, great changes have taken place not only for the benefit of our peoples, but for all peoples,” he said.
King Charles also quoted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently described the relationship as “an indispensable alliance.”
Concluding his speech, the monarch described the shared history of the United States and the United Kingdom as “a story of reconciliation, renewal, and an extraordinary partnership.”
He added that Washington and London have forged “one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”
“I pray with all my heart that our alliance continues to defend our shared values, together with our partners in Europe, the Commonwealth, and around the world, and that we ignore calls urging us to become increasingly isolationist,” Charles III stated.
The king ended by urging both nations to “recommit to one another in selfless service to our peoples and to all peoples of the world.”
International
Trump Administration Considers Denying Green Cards Over Political Views
The administration of President Donald Trump is evaluating new immigration guidelines that could deny permanent residency to immigrants based on their political views, according to a report published by The New York Times.
The proposed measures, outlined in internal Department of Homeland Security documents, would instruct immigration officials to take applicants’ public expressions and ideological positions into account when reviewing green card applications.
According to the report, cases involving “possible anti-American and/or antisemitic conduct or ideologies” would need to be referred to higher authorities for additional review.
Even if applicants have not violated any laws, authorities could still reject residency requests if they determine that individuals have “endorsed, promoted, or supported anti-American views.”
Among the factors listed in the guidelines are participation in pro-Palestinian activities, actions considered antisemitic, and the burning of the U.S. flag.
The documents reportedly describe such actions as “heavily negative” factors in immigration evaluations, potentially blocking applicants from obtaining permanent residency and, eventually, U.S. citizenship.
The directives also place particular attention on demonstrations held on university campuses following the 2023 Hamas attacks against Israel.
However, flag burning has previously been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court as a form of protected free speech under the Constitution.
The proposal has sparked criticism from immigrant advocacy organizations, including the New York Immigration Coalition.
Its president, Murad Awawdeh, warned that the policies could pose a threat to fundamental rights and freedoms.
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