International
González Urrutia asks the world to remain “firm” in defense of Venezuela’s democracy
The standard-bearer of the majority opposition of Venezuela, Edmundo González Urrutia, called this Friday on the different countries of the world to remain “firm” in “the defense” of the democracy of the Caribbean nation and continue to demand the “respect for the results” of the presidential elections, in which he claims to have won, despite the fact that the electoral body proclaimed the victory of Nicolás Maduro.
In a statement, the leader of the main opposition coalition – the Democratic United Platform (PUD) – also asked the international community to insist on its call for “transparency” by the authorities of the South American country, where – he warned – “peace is at stake.”
The former ambassador spoke out after Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the United States, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay rejected the validation of Maduro’s controversial victory by the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), after a process of “validation” of the electoral results, requested by the ruling party to this institution controlled by magistrates alike Chavismo.
González Urrutia called on “all social and political organizations, even those that did not” “accompanied him electorally,” to unite and make “respect the decision expressed by the Venezuelans with their vote.”
“In the face of the onslaw against our freedoms and popular sovereignty, I call on all Venezuelans to unite in their defense, because it is no small thing that is at stake,” said González Urrutia, who added that “only in democracy” the country will have “the opportunity to undergo a change in peace,” in order to “progress and live with well-being.”
In a joint statement, the governments of the 11 American countries doubted “the alleged verification” that “intends to validate the results without sustenance issued by the electoral body,” since the results disaggregated by center and table had not been published, something that had been done in all the previous elections.
Likewise, they recalled that “they had already expressed the ignorance of the validity of the declaration” of the National Electoral Council (CNE), after “the representatives of the opposition to the official count, the non-publication of the minutes and the subsequent refusal to carry out an impartial and independent audit of all of them were prevented.”
In this sense, they reiterated that “only an impartial and independent audit of the votes, which evaluates all the minutes, will guarantee respect for the sovereign popular will and democracy in Venezuela.”
Like “the rest of the international democratic community,” they added, they will continue to “insist on respect for the sovereign expression of the Venezuelan people.”
The anti-chavist coalition assures that González Urrutia won by a wide margin, and published “83.5% of the electoral records,” compiled by witnesses and members of the bureau, to support his claim, supported by several countries and national and international organizations.
The CNE proclaimed Maduro the winner based on results that, after 26 days of the elections, still does not publish in a disaggregated way, despite the fact that it was contemplated in the electoral schedule.
International
Winter Storm Fern Leaves 30 Dead and Over One Million Without Power Across the U.S.
The massive winter storm Fern, bringing polar temperatures, battered large portions of the United States for a third consecutive day on Monday, leaving at least 30 people dead, more than one million households without electricity, and thousands of flights grounded.
In the Great Lakes region, residents awoke to extreme cold, with temperatures dropping below -20°C. Forecasts indicate that conditions are expected to worsen in the coming days as an Arctic air mass moves south, particularly across the northern Great Plains and other central regions, where wind chills could plunge to -45°C, temperatures capable of causing frostbite within minutes.
Across the country, heavy snowfall exceeding 30 centimeters in roughly 20 states triggered widespread power outages. According to PowerOutage.com, nearly 800,000 customers remained without electricity on Monday morning, most of them in the southern United States.
In Tennessee, where ice brought down power lines, approximately 250,000 customers were still without power. Outages also affected more than 150,000 customers in Mississippi and over 100,000 in Louisiana, as utility crews struggled to restore service amid dangerous conditions.
International
Spain approves plan to regularize up to 500,000 migrants in Historic Shift
In November 2024, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a reform of the country’s immigration regulations aimed at regularizing 300,000 migrants per year over a three-year period, in an effort to counter population aging in a country where births have fallen by 25.6% since 2014, according to official data.
Going against the trend in much of Europe, Spain’s left-wing government has now approved an exceptional migrant regularization plan that could benefit up to 500,000 people, most of them from Latin America.
The measure will allow the regularization of around “half a million people” who have been living in Spain for at least five months, arrived before December 31, 2025, and have no criminal record, Migration Minister Elma Saiz explained on public television.
The plan, approved on Tuesday by the Council of Ministers, establishes that applications will be processed between April and June 30, enabling beneficiaries to work in any sector and anywhere in the country, Saiz said.
“Today is a historic day for our country. We are strengthening a migration model based on human rights, integration, and one that is compatible with economic growth and social cohesion,” the minister later stated at a press conference.
The socialist government of Pedro Sánchez stands out within the European Union for its migration policy, contrasting with the tightening of immigration measures across much of the bloc amid pressure from far-right movements.
Central America
Honduras swears in conservative president Asfura after disputed election
Conservative politician Nasry Asfura assumed the presidency of Honduras on Tuesday with an agenda closely aligned with the United States, a shift that could strain the country’s relationship with China as he seeks to confront the economic and security challenges facing the poorest and most violent nation in Central America.
Asfura’s rise to power, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, marks the end of four years of left-wing rule and secures Trump another regional ally amid the advance of conservative governments in Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina.
The 67-year-old former mayor and construction businessman was sworn in during an austere ceremony at the National Congress, following a tightly contested election marred by opposition allegations of fraud and Trump’s threat to cut U.S. aid if his preferred candidate did not prevail.
Grateful for Washington’s support, Asfura—who is of Palestinian descent—traveled to the United States to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, before visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“We need to strengthen relations with our most important trading partner,” Asfura said after being declared the winner of the November 30 election by a narrow margin, following a tense vote count that lasted just over three weeks.
Eight Killed in Series of Armed Attacks in Ecuador’s Manabí Province
Guatemala Police Arrest Prison Guard Caught in the Act of Extortion
Winter Storm Fern Leaves 30 Dead and Over One Million Without Power Across the U.S.
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
Central America4 days agoGuatemala’s president rules out negotiations with inmates after prison riots
-
Central America1 day agoGuatemala seizes over a ton of cocaine hidden in flour at Pacific port
-
International3 days agoTrump-Era Defense Plan Prioritizes Border Security and Scales Back Global Commitments
-
Internacionales4 days agoMajor winter storm threatens “catastrophic” ice and snow across much of the U.S.
-
International3 days agoBogotá and Quito Seek Dialogue After Tariffs and Power Cut Escalate Tensions
-
International4 days agoGuatemala considers sending high-risk gang members to military prisons
-
International2 days agoDelcy Rodríguez seeks political agreements after Maduro’s ouster
-
International1 day agoHistoric snowstorm paralyzes Toronto after 60 centimeters of snow
-
International1 day agoSpain’s irregular migrant population rises to 840,000, study finds
-
International2 days agoFederal immigration agents kill man in Minneapolis, sparking protests and outrage
-
International4 days agoRights group says over 5,000 killed in Iran protests, mostly civilians
-
Central America5 hours agoGuatemala Police Arrest Prison Guard Caught in the Act of Extortion
-
International1 day agoRights group says nearly 6,000 killed in Iran protest crackdown
-
International1 day agoVenezuela frees at least 80 political prisoners, NGO says
-
International1 day agoEU launches new probe into X over AI-generated fake nude images
-
International5 hours agoDoomsday clock moves to 85 seconds before midnight amid rising global risks
-
Sin categoría5 hours agoEight Killed in Series of Armed Attacks in Ecuador’s Manabí Province
-
Central America5 hours agoHonduras swears in conservative president Asfura after disputed election
-
International5 hours agoSpain approves plan to regularize up to 500,000 migrants in Historic Shift
-
International5 hours agoWinter Storm Fern Leaves 30 Dead and Over One Million Without Power Across the U.S.
-
Central America5 hours agoBukele leads public trust rankings as UCA survey highlights gains in security
-
Sin categoría5 hours agoEl Salvador Launches Fourth Year of Ocean Mission to Protect Marine Ecosystems
-
International1 day agoSevere winter storm grips U.S., leaves multiple dead as extreme cold persists
-
International1 day agoFrance debates ban on social media for children under 15