International
Anti-chavista Enrique Capriles resigns from his party’s board for “lack” of transparency
The opposition leader of Venezuela Henrique Capriles announced on Monday his resignation from the national board of directors of the First Justice (PJ) party for “lack of internal unity”, “irreconcilable” differences and “lack of transparency and accountability of the administrators.”
These and other factors, which he detailed in a letter he published today on his Instagram account, “all they do is weaken the party, make the militancy feel the loss of it and, therefore, every day increase the disconnection with the feeling and longings for change of Venezuelans.”
The two-time presidential candidate also pointed out that “some militants” have been “exposed” to “lowness” by former deputy Julio Borges -exiled in Spain-, vice president of Communication and International Relations of PJ, who, according to Capriles, prioritizes “his particular interests” and has a “long history in the paid use of networks and portals to attack and discredit” opponents, “even members of this party.”
He assured that the board “does not have a clear plan or a proposal” in “times of so much turbulence and uncertainty,” especially after the elections of July 28 and “the theft of popular sovereignty by those in power,” in reference to the proclaimed re-election of Nicolás Maduro, pointed out as “fraudulent” by the majority opposition, which claims the “victory” of Edmundo González Urrutia.
Capriles explained that the board of directors, with “some exceptions, decides everything without respecting the vast majority of the members” of the board and that “huge majority of grassroots militants who are in the country fighting for a change.”
“We have unfortunately fallen into a practice in which a small bud in some positions wants to impose their interests, interests that, in addition, are not clear with the reason for being of this political organization. It is already customary that the message that is transmitted on behalf of the party does not respond to collective values, but to the ‘agenda’ of a kind of caudillo, who, with his collaborators, believes himself as a master and lord,” he said.
He clarified that he will continue to “fight” in Venezuela along with the regional and local “militancy and leadership” of PJ, and added that he hopes that “the decomposition and decadence in which it fell” the national junta “will not end up destroying” the party in “the states, municipalities and parishes” of the Caribbean country.
International
Japan reopens Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Plant despite public concerns
La centrale nucléaire japonaise de Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, la plus grande au monde, a repris ses activités mercredi pour la première fois depuis la catastrophe de Fukushima en 2011, malgré les inquiétudes persistantes d’une partie de la population.
La remise en service a eu lieu à 19h02 heure locale (10h02 GMT), a indiqué à l’AFP Tatsuya Matoba, porte-parole de la compagnie Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco).
Le gouverneur de la préfecture de Niigata, où se situe la centrale, avait donné son feu vert à la reprise le mois dernier, en dépit d’une opinion publique divisée. Selon une enquête menée en septembre par la préfecture elle-même, 60 % des habitants se déclaraient opposés au redémarrage, contre 37 % favorables.
Mardi, plusieurs dizaines de manifestants ont bravé le froid et la neige pour protester près de l’entrée du site, sur les rives de la mer du Japon.
« L’électricité de Tokyo est produite à Kashiwazaki. Pourquoi seuls les habitants d’ici devraient-ils être exposés au danger ? Cela n’a aucun sens », a déclaré à l’AFP Yumiko Abe, une riveraine de 73 ans.
La centrale de Kashiwazaki-Kariwa avait été mise à l’arrêt lorsque le Japon a fermé l’ensemble de ses réacteurs nucléaires à la suite du triple désastre de mars 2011 — un séisme, un tsunami et un accident nucléaire — survenu à Fukushima.
International
Markets rise as Trump halts Europe tariffs and floats Greenland agreement framework
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday lifted his threat to impose new tariffs on several European countries and said he had outlined the framework of a future agreement on Greenland during a meeting in Davos with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
“Based on this understanding, I will not impose the tariffs that were scheduled to take effect on February 1,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, without providing details about the proposed “framework.”
The announcement boosted financial markets. Wall Street, which had been trading slightly higher, extended its gains following Trump’s message, while the U.S. dollar strengthened against the euro.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that Greenland, rich in mineral resources, is ‘vital’ to the security of the United States and NATO, particularly as Arctic ice melts and global powers compete for strategic advantage in the region amid rising tensions with China and Russia.
Last week, the U.S. president threatened to impose tariffs of up to 25% on eight European countries for supporting Denmark and sending a military exploratory mission to Greenland. All of the targeted countries are NATO members, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, Europe’s largest economies.
Trump said on Wednesday that additional discussions are underway regarding the “Golden Dome” missile defense system, specifically in connection with Greenland.
He assigned Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Witkoff to lead the negotiations.
Hours before his post, Trump ruled out the use of force to seize Greenland for the first time, but demanded “immediate negotiations” for its acquisition, reiterating his view that only the United States can guarantee the security of the Arctic island.
International
Venezuela’s interim president predicts 37% increase in revenues for 2026
Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, said Wednesday that the country’s revenues are expected to increase by about 37% in 2026, in a statement made during a session of the Federal Government Council at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas.
Rodríguez said the projected rise in foreign currency income comes as agreements on Venezuelan oil sales with the United States are being implemented, including deals in which Washington will trade Venezuelan crude and manage the proceeds before transferring funds to Caracas.
“This year, revenues expressed in foreign currency will increase by 37%,” Rodríguez declared, according to EFE. She noted that the increase will also benefit regional governments and local authorities. “You will have more resources for your management, which I know you need,” she added.
Rodríguez said the distribution formula for revenues will remain the same as in 2025: 53% for communes, 29% for state governments, 15% for municipalities, and 3% for institutional strengthening. She also said the government would intervene to “correct imbalances” in how funds are allocated, particularly among some municipal and regional authorities.
The announcement follows reporting that Venezuela received at least $300 million from oil revenues tied to a U.S.–Venezuela deal that could involve up to 50 million barrels of crude. Washington officials have said the interim government met U.S. requirements under the agreement.
Japan reopens Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Plant despite public concerns
Markets rise as Trump halts Europe tariffs and floats Greenland agreement framework
Mazatenango Carnival cancelled amid State of Siege in Guatemala
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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