Central America
Honduras keeps Taiwan ties but pivots on Venezuela

AFP
The government of new Honduras President Xiomara Castro said Thursday it would maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan but that it has already resumed contact with Venezuela’s socialist leader Nicolas Maduro.
During her campaign, leftist Castro had vowed to “immediately open diplomatic and commercial relations with mainland China” if she won.
But Taiwan Vice President William Lai attended Castro’s inauguration in Tegucigalpa last week.
China considers democratic, self-ruled Taiwan a part of its territory, to be retaken by force if necessary, and has spent decades encouraging the island’s allies to switch sides, with much success.
Castro’s right-wing predecessor Juan Orlando Hernandez had broken off diplomatic relations with populist socialist Maduro and instead recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido, whose claim to be Venezuela’s acting president is supported by almost 60 nations.
But Castro has pivoted back.
“Diplomatic relations with the Bolivarian government of Venezuela have been resumed,” Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina told AFP.
“And in the case of Taiwan we are maintaining a fluid relationship,” he added.
Relations with the Maduro regime — widely criticized for human rights abuses and authoritarianism — were restarted on the day of Castro’s inauguration, January 27, Reina said, and Venezuela’s new ambassador to Honduras “will soon enter the country.”
A Maduro representative, deputy foreign minister Rander Pena, recovered control of the embassy in Tegucigalpa hours after Castro was sworn in.
It had been run by Guaido allies since 2019.
Castro’s husband Manuel Zelaya was overthrown as president of Honduras in a 2009 coup led by the military, the political right and business leaders after he sought to strengthen ties with Maduro’s predecessor, socialist strongman Hugo Chavez.
Castro’s opponents used that to try to paint her as a communist during the election campaign.
Central America
Nicaraguan Exiles to Mark 7th Anniversary of 2018 Protests with Global Commemorations

The Nicaraguan opposition in exile announced on Thursday that it will commemorate the seventh anniversary of the April 2018 protests against the government of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, with events in Costa Rica, the United States, and several European countries.
The commemorative activities—which will call for justice for the victims, as well as freedom and democracy for Nicaragua—will include religious services, public forums, cultural fairs, and other public gatherings, according to official announcements.
In April 2018, thousands of Nicaraguans took to the streets to protest controversial reforms to the social security system. The government’s violent response quickly turned the demonstrations into a broader call for the resignation of President Ortega, who is now 79 and has been in power since 2007.
The protests resulted in at least 355 deaths, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), although Nicaraguan organizations claim the toll is as high as 684. Ortega has acknowledged “more than 300” deaths and maintains the unrest was an attempted coup d’état.
International
Arsenal stun Real Madrid at the Bernabéu to reach Champions League semifinals

Arsenal enjoyed a “historic night” on Wednesday after defeating Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, knocking them out of the Champions League quarterfinals, midfielder Declan Rice said.
“It’s such a special night for this club, a historic night for this club,” said Rice, who scored twice in the first leg in London, speaking to TNT Sports.
The English international was named Man of the Match in both legs — the 3-0 win in London and the second leg in Madrid.
“It’s amazing. I knew we were on an upward trajectory and we’ve done incredibly well in this competition. We deserve it and we have full confidence in our coach. Reaching the semifinals is unbelievable,” Rice added.
Central America
Petro questions Ecuador’s vote, cites reports of military control and arrests

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Tuesday he had received “concerning” reports regarding Ecuador’s presidential runoff election held last Sunday, and called for greater transparency—drawing a parallel with Venezuela.
“Colombian observers were sent to Ecuador’s elections. The reports I’ve received are troubling,” Petro wrote on his official account on X (formerly Twitter).
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa secured reelection in the second round with 55.6% of the vote, defeating correísta candidate Luisa González, who received 44.4%. The election results were endorsed by international electoral observer missions from the European Union and the Organization of American States (OAS).
Petro pointed to alleged irregularities, stating: “Leonidas Iza, an Indigenous former candidate, was detained days before. Areas with a majority of opposition support were placed under a state of emergency and military control two days before the election.”
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