International
Main Pakistani parties explore pacts to challenge Imran Khan’s electoral dominance
Pakistan’s main political parties are in a process of negotiation and alliances with the aim of forming a government, which could mean a strategy to counter the unexpected electoral victory of independents backed by Imran Khan, the imprisoned and popular opposition leader.
Although no political force obtained a majority in the recent general elections on February 8, the figure of Imran Khan stands out as the winner, achieving that nearly a hundred of his allies were elected, despite the fact that they were forced to present themselves as candidates. independents due to judicial restrictions that prevented the participation of his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
However, uncertainty remains in Pakistan over who will govern in the next five years, as no political force has enough representatives in parliament. The pro-Khan bloc of lawmakers, made up of approximately 93 members, is legally registered as independent candidates, forcing them to seek alliances to form a majority.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the third political force with 54 seats, is evaluating its options, considering possible alliances with both the PTI and Nawaz Sharif’s Muslim League (PML-N), which has 79 seats. seats.
Political negotiations intensify amid meetings and discussions between different parties, while Imran Khan, from prison, stays informed about his party’s strategy. However, PTI sources suggest that an alliance with the PPP is unlikely to be formed.
The political scenario in Pakistan looks even more complex due to the challenge cases filed by the PTI, which could generate additional tensions and affect the stability of the future government.
The virtual refusal of the PTI to negotiate an alliance with other parties also puts at risk the allocation of 70 reserved seats, which could significantly influence the configuration of parliament and the distribution of political power in the country.
The outcome of these negotiations and alliances will be crucial for Pakistan’s political future, as it will define not only who will lead the government in the coming years, but also the balance of power between the different political forces in the country.
International
Trump Orders Construction of New ‘Golden Fleet’ to Revitalize U.S. Naval Superiority
President Donald Trump issued an executive order this Monday for the immediate construction of two new warships that will bear his name. These vessels will be the pioneers of what he described as the “Golden Fleet,” a future generation of “Trump-class” battleships that he claimed would be “100 times more powerful” than those currently in service.
The announcement took place at his private residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. The President indicated that following the initial two ships, the administration aims to commission up to 25 additional vessels. He is scheduled to meet with Florida-based contractors next week to expedite production, criticizing existing defense firms for failing to deliver results efficiently.
This naval expansion is a cornerstone of Trump’s goal to revitalized the American shipbuilding industry and address the strategic gap between the U.S. and competitors like China.
The move comes amid heightened geopolitical tension. Just last week, Trump ordered the seizure of all sanctioned tankers involved with Venezuela’s “ghost fleet” to cripple the country’s crude oil industry. Since December 10, the U.S. military—deployed in the Caribbean under the guise of counter-narcotics operations—has already detained two tankers linked to Venezuelan oil transport.
International
U.S. Judge Blocks ICE from Re-detaining Salvadoran Erroneously Deported Under Trump Administration
A U.S. federal judge ruled this Monday, December 22, that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is prohibited from re-detaining Salvadoran national Kilmar Ábrego García, who was erroneously deported to El Salvador earlier this year during the administration of President Donald Trump.
During a hearing in Maryland, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ruled that Ábrego García must remain free on bail through the Christmas holidays, concluding that his initial detention lacked a legal basis. The ruling follows a request from his legal team for a temporary restraining order to prevent ICE from carrying out a new arrest.
Earlier this month, on December 11, Judge Xinis ordered his release from a Pennsylvania migrant detention center after determining that the government had detained him without a formal deportation order. In 2019, an immigration judge had already ruled that Ábrego could not be returned to El Salvador because his life was in danger.
Despite that protection, Ábrego García was deported in March 2025 following a raid by the Trump administration. Officials argued at the time that he was a gang member, and he was sent directly to the Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT) in El Salvador. In June, he was returned to the United States to face a new trial for alleged human smuggling—a charge he denies.
On Monday, Judge Xinis also temporarily invalidated a new deportation order issued by an immigration judge following Ábrego’s recent release, granting him legal protection through the coming weeks. His trial is scheduled to begin in Tennessee in January 2026.
International
Fire at substation triggers major blackout in San Francisco
The U.S. city of San Francisco was plunged into darkness Saturday night after a power outage left about 130,000 customers without electricity, although the utility company said service was restored to most users within hours.
Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) said in a statement posted on X that nearly 90,000 homes had their power restored by 9:00 p.m. local time (05:00 GMT on Sunday), while the remaining 40,000 customers were expected to have service restored overnight.
Large areas of the city, a major technology hub with a population of around 800,000, were affected by the blackout, which disrupted public transportation and left traffic lights out of service during the busy weekend before Christmas, a crucial period for retail businesses.
“I know it’s been a difficult day,” San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said in a video posted on social media from the city’s emergency operations center. “There has been progress, but for those still without power, we want to make sure they are safe and checking in on their neighbors,” he added.
Lurie said police officers and firefighters advised residents to stay home as much as possible. He also noted that officers and traffic inspectors were deployed to manage intersections where traffic lights were not functioning.
The mayor confirmed that the outage was caused by a fire at an electrical substation. Parts of the city were also covered in fog, further complicating conditions during the incident.
As a result of the blackout, many businesses were forced to close despite it being the weekend before Christmas. The sudden drop in shopper traffic ahead of the holiday is “devastating” for retailers, the manager of home goods store Black & Gold told the San Francisco Chronicle.
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