International
The Venezuelan Prosecutor’s Office processes the request for an arrest warrant against Javier Milei
The Venezuelan Prosecutor’s Office is processing the request for an arrest warrant against the President of Argentina, Javier Milei – to whom it opened “an investigation” – for the “theft” of the Venezuelan-Iranian plane that was detained in Buenos Aires since June 2022 and was sent to the United States in February, the Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, reported on Wednesday.
The institution “announces the assignment of two prosecutors specialized in the matter, who are advancing the relevant steps to the case and are processing the arrest warrant” also against the Secretary General of the Presidency of Argentina, Karina Milei, and the Minister of Security of the Southern Country, Patricia Bullrich.
“This, in the coming hours, will have its consequences in a competent court here in Venezuela with the respective arrest warrants in the competent bodies, because that cannot go unpunished,” said Saab, whose statements were transmitted by the state channel VTV.
He explained that, in the case of the plane, which was “totally dismantled” in the United States, the crimes of “aggravated theft, legitimation of capital, illegitimate deprivation of liberty, simulation of a punishable act, illicit interference, aircraft inactivation and criminal association” were incurred, according to Venezuelan legislation.
On the other hand, Saab reported the appointment of a “specialized prosecutor in human rights protection to carry out the corresponding investigations” against Milei and Bullrich for “the actions committed against the Argentine people.”
“We could be in the presence of serious human rights violations that could constitute crimes against humanity,” he said.
In that sense, the prosecutor, who called Milei “fascist” and “neo-Nazi,” said that in Argentina a “program of premeditated institutional violence” is applied against his population, so he pointed to the president of the southern country as “the most fierce human rights violator on the continent” and as “a brutal danger to the entire hemisphere.”
This month, the Argentine Foreign Ministry urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to request an arrest warrant against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and “other leaders of the regime,” in the face of “the worsening situation” after the presidential elections in the Caribbean country on July 28.
The Government of Argentina repudiated on Wednesday the decision of the Venezuelan Prosecutor’s Office to process the request for an arrest warrant against Argentine President Javier Milei, in the case of the Venezuelan-Iranian plane detained in Buenos Aires since 2022 and sent to the United States last February.
“The Argentine Republic repudiates the arrest warrants issued by the Attorney General of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela against the President of the Nation, Javier Milei, the Secretary General of the Presidency, Karina Milei, and the Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich, following the incident of the Emtrasur plane,” the Argentine Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
According to the Government of Milei, “the aforementioned case was resolved by the Judiciary, an independent power over which the Executive cannot and should not have any interference, in application of an international agreement.”
“The Argentine government reminds the Venezuelan regime that the division of powers and the independence of judges prevail in the Argentine Republic, something that unfortunately does not happen in Venezuela under the regime of Nicolás Maduro,” the statement adds.
International
Trump moves to reclassify marijuana as less dangerous substance
Former U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous addictive substance, a move aimed at encouraging medical research without immediately opening the door to federal-level decriminalization.
Trump said that “people were begging” him to make the decision, particularly individuals suffering from chronic pain. He stressed, however, that the measure “is not at all a decriminalization” of marijuana for non-medical use.
“I’ve always told my children: don’t use drugs, don’t drink, don’t smoke,” Trump added. He is a well-known teetotaler.
A senior government official described the decision as “common sense” during a briefing with reporters, noting that marijuana and CBD-based products — a compound derived from cannabis known for its relaxing properties — are already widely used in the United States by patients dealing with chronic pain.
Most U.S. states currently allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes, and more than 20 states, along with the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., have also legalized recreational use.
International
Shakira’s El Salvador concerts sell out in hours, fans demand more dates
The sell-out of all three announced Shakira concerts in El Salvador in less than 24 hours has sparked a collective call for additional dates, highlighting an overwhelming demand that transcends borders and positions the country as a cultural hub in Central America.
Ticket sales for Shakira’s Central American residency confirmed the artist’s massive impact across the region. The three shows scheduled for February 12, 14, and 15 in El Salvador sold out in under 24 hours, triggering an immediate public response from fans who were unable to secure tickets and are now urging promoters to open new dates, according to an official statement from promoters Two Shows and Fenix Entertainment.
Even before ticket sales officially opened, thousands of people joined virtual queues that exceeded the usual capacity of the country’s ticketing platforms. Despite logging in early and waiting for hours, many users were unable to complete their purchases and were ultimately left without tickets, Two Shows reported.
The unprecedented demand was widely documented through screenshots, testimonials, and social media posts, showing slow-moving waiting lists, ticketing websites overwhelmed by traffic, and purchase processes that failed to go through despite users following all required steps within the designated timeframes.
According to the organizers, demand to see Shakira perform in El Salvador remains strong even after the sell-out. Meanwhile, hotels have reported booking inquiries beyond the announced concert dates, pointing to a larger-than-expected tourism influx tied to the event.
International
Rubio rules out 2028 presidential bid if Vance runs
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would not seek the presidency in 2028 if current Vice President JD Vancedecides to run as the Republican nominee to succeed President Donald Trump.
“If JD Vance runs for president, he will be our candidate, and I will be one of the first people to support him,” Rubio said in an interview with Vanity Fair, in which he appeared alongside other senior members of the presidential cabinet.
Rubio, 54, and Vance, 41, are widely viewed as two of the leading Republican figures who could headline the party’s ticket in the 2028 election. Under the U.S. Constitution, Trump is barred from seeking another term after completing two presidential mandates.
In a lighthearted moment during the interview, Vance jokingly offered photographers $1,000 if they managed to make him look better than Rubio in the photos. Both leaders have received public backing from Trump, who last October floated the idea of a joint ticket featuring Rubio and Vance, without clarifying who would lead it.
“I think that if they ever teamed up, they would be unstoppable. I don’t think anyone would run against us,” Trump said at the time.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who also took part in the interview, confirmed that Trump does not intend to violate the 22nd Amendment, which prohibits a third presidential term, though she acknowledged that the president is “having fun” with speculation about a possible return to office.
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, served as a Republican senator from 2010 to 2025. He sought the party’s presidential nomination in 2016 but was defeated by Trump after a bruising primary contest. His name was floated as a potential vice presidential pick in 2024, but Vance ultimately secured the spot. After taking office, Trump appointed Rubio as secretary of state, making him the first Latino to hold the position.
Trump moves to reclassify marijuana as less dangerous substance
Shakira’s El Salvador concerts sell out in hours, fans demand more dates
Rubio rules out 2028 presidential bid if Vance runs
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
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