International
Cuban President urges to redouble efforts in economic battle
July 26 |
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez expressed on Wednesday that the duty of the generations responsible for the immediate destiny of the Revolution is to maintain what has been conquered and advance further, and denounced once again the criminal nature of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on the Caribbean nation by the United States (U.S.).
During the central act for the 70th anniversary of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks, National Rebellion Day, the head of state said that as long as a degree of dignified prosperity for all Cubans is not reached, there will be a Moncada to be assaulted.
Referring to the battle on the economic front, one of the fundamental challenges of the Revolution, he recalled that the Cuban people are waiting for answers on issues that affect the standard of living and the daily life of all, which he said can be resolved without waiting for the U.S. to lift the blockade of more than six decades.
Among them, he mentioned the need to increase the supply of consumer goods to combat inflation. He considered that this is “a difficult Moncada that we have the duty to assault here and throughout the country”. Every day, every hour, every minute, we have a Moncada to storm, he pointed out.
Referring to the transcendence of July 26, 1953, he stressed that “the actions of that day were the beginning of the end of the last dictatorship installed in Cuba with the recognition and the immoral and material support of the U.S.”.
He stressed that for that reason Washington does not forgive the Revolution, in addition to the fact that the Cuban people did not allow it “to break national independence, international solidarity, the defense of the socialist alternative to savage capitalism”, as they thought would happen after the physical disappearance of the historic generation.
He pointed out that since 1959 “we are much more than a few dozen brave young people against the tyranny of (Fulgencio) Batista. Since that date we are a people who defend the Revolution and socialism as the fairest way to achieve the fairest society for all”.
Referring to another singular challenge, the U.S. blockade, he pointed out that imperialism is the natural enemy of the right to self-determination of the peoples and of those governments interested in developing programs of social justice and exercising sovereignty in their foreign policy.
He emphasized that the governments of that country have shown themselves to be more aggressive and intolerant when they realize that there is no force in the world capable of provoking the Cuban people to renounce the Marxist, Marti and Fidelist ideals that inspire the untiring struggle for the greatest possible social justice.
He assured that this explains the severity of the blockade and the current validity of the reinforcement measures established by the Administration of Donald Trump (2017-2021) and maintained by that of Joe Biden, in a more aggressive and harmful dimension.
He denounced five pressure measures imposed by the U.S. that stand out for their perversity and harmfulness to the Cuban economy and population:
The inclusion of Cuba on the list of States that allegedly sponsor terrorism; the application of the provision of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act that allows actions to be taken in U.S. courts against businessmen from other countries who decide to establish ties and investments in Cuba.
The persecution of fuel supplies that Cuba needs to acquire; – the president continued – the persecution of medical services provided by Cuban specialists in dozens of nations; and the existence of a list of Cuban entities with which U.S. citizens are prohibited from having ties.
Díaz-Canel reiterated that the Revolution is not isolated, but that the US isolates itself by maintaining its hostility, as confirmed every year by the generalized rejection of the blockade policy by the international community. He also acknowledged the expressions of solidarity received by Cuba from various nations.
International
Colombia slams Ecuador’s 30% tariff as ‘economic aggression’
Colombia’s Minister of Mines and Energy, Edwin Palma, on Wednesday described as an “economic aggression” the 30% “security fee” imposed by Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on imports from Colombia.
“We reject the tariff measure imposed by Ecuador, an economic aggression that breaks the principle of regional integration,” Palma said in a post on X.
President Noboa explained that the decision was taken due to what he described as a “lack of reciprocity and firm actions” by Colombia in the fight against drug trafficking. He added that despite Ecuador having made “real efforts of cooperation,” including maintaining a trade deficit exceeding $1 billion annually, the country’s armed forces continue to face drug-linked criminal groups along the border without any cooperation.
For that reason, Noboa stated that the measure will remain in place “until there is a real commitment” from Colombia to jointly confront drug trafficking and illegal mining along the 586-kilometer shared border, with the same level of determination Ecuador is currently applying.
According to official data, Ecuador seized 214.5 metric tons of drugs in 2025, down from the record 294.6 tons confiscated in 2024.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on January 7 that during his administration, which began on August 7, 2022 and ends this year, drug seizures have increased significantly, adding that total confiscations are expected to exceed 3,500 tons by the time he leaves office.
International
José Jerí claims destabilization attempt after videos of secretive meetings surface
Peru’s interim president, right-wing leader José Jerí, on Wednesday denounced an alleged plot against him and warned of a deliberate attempt to destabilize the country, following the release of a series of videos showing semi-clandestine meetings with a Chinese businessman, as well as visits to the Government Palace by another businessman of the same nationality who is under house arrest.
“I also want to know who is behind this entire plot. I am an objective and impartial president who does not give in to pressure, but someone has found a way to do so. I want to know who is behind it and what their real objective is,” Jerí said while appearing before Congress’ Oversight and Comptroller Commission.
The interim president, who recently marked 100 days in office after replacing former president Dina Boluarte (2022–2025) in his role as head of Congress, insisted that he has never lied to the country. Without directly accusing any individual or group, he argued that routine activities—such as visiting a restaurant or a shop—are being portrayed with a “malicious” intent.
So far, reports indicate that on December 26, close to midnight, Jerí visited a chifa restaurant—a Peruvian-Chinese eatery—owned by Chinese businessman and state contractor Zhihua “Johnny” Yang, accompanied by Interior Minister Vicente Tiburcio, and wearing a hood. On January 6, he also visited a shop belonging to the same businessman, which had been shut down by municipal authorities just hours earlier.
The revelations have fueled political controversy and renewed scrutiny of the interim administration’s actions amid Peru’s ongoing political instability.
International
Mexican influencer “La Nicholette” kidnapped in exclusive area of Culiacán
The content creator known as “La Nicholette,” also referred to as “La Muchacha del Salado,” was kidnapped Tuesday afternoon in Isla Musalá, one of the most exclusive residential areas of Culiacán, capital of the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa, according to local media reports on Wednesday.
The abduction was captured by the security camera of the young woman’s vehicle, a lilac-colored Tesla Cybertruck, which was later found abandoned at the scene.
Video footage circulating on social media shows a masked man carrying a long firearm preventing the influencer from entering her vehicle, while another individual forces her into a white sedan, reportedly an older-model Toyota Corolla.
According to media reports, the incident occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. local time (2300 GMT) at the intersection of Tachichilte Avenue and San Esteban Street, within the Musalá residential area.
Authorities have not yet released official details regarding the victim’s whereabouts or the motives behind the kidnapping.
Colombia slams Ecuador’s 30% tariff as ‘economic aggression’
José Jerí claims destabilization attempt after videos of secretive meetings surface
Mexican influencer “La Nicholette” kidnapped in exclusive area of Culiacán
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