International
Machado urges international justice to “act” against the Maduro Government
The leader of the Venezuelan opposition María Corina Machado made this Friday a call on the international justice to “act” and “dissuade” the Government of President Nicolás Maduro, as well as to stop the “persecution of citizens” and negotiate with the opposition.
“Maduro is going to sit down to negotiate the day when the cost of clinging to force in power is higher than the cost of accepting a negotiation for the transition. And we’re not there yet,” Machado said during his remote participation in the Free America Forum, held in Mexico City.
In view of January 10, when the winner of the presidential elections is scheduled to take office, as established by the Venezuelan Constitution, Machado said that he will continue to fight “to the end” and asked for the support of the countries of the world.
Machado asks for support for international justice against Maduro
The opposition leader said that “Maduro feels today that he can commit all kinds of abuses and crimes against humanity, and the reaction of the international community will be zero,” although she acknowledged that there have been “important statements and reports from Human Rights organizations.”
“But international justice has to act, because it is the way to dissuade those who today are being pressured by Maduro to continue persecuting, torturing and murdering Venezuelans,” he said.
“By raising this cost of repression, we, Venezuelans, can exert much more internal pressure without the costs we have assumed so far,” he added, referring to the arrests that have taken place after the elections, which the Venezuelan opposition describes as “political prisoners.”
Gonzalez Urrutia asks for recognition
Likewise, at the diplomatic level, Machado asked to recognize the opposition Edmundo González Urrutia as the elected president of Venezuela, despite the fact that Maduro was proclaimed winner by the National Electoral Council (CNE) in the elections of last July 28.
“We must be able to pressure Nicolás Maduro to understand that the international community is not going to turn the page. July 28 is a before and after that will never leave us, and like us, this fight has a single destiny, the freedom of Venezuela and the return of our children home,” he insisted.
Machado also thanked the countries that have recognized González Urrutia, including Argentina, Chile and Ecuador.
In its second edition this year, the Free America Forum brought together representatives of 70 countries in the Mexican capital from November 6 to 9, seeking to be a counterweight to the Sao Paulo Forum, which brings together the Latin American left.
International
U.S. classifies CV and PCC as terrorist groups in major policy shift
The United States government announced on Thursday that it will add the Brazilian criminal organizations Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO), a designation set to take effect on June 5, 2026.
The State Department justified the decision by stating that both groups are among the most powerful criminal organizations in Brazil and accused them of coordinating violent attacks against police officers, public officials, and civilians.
The designation comes just days after Brazilian senator and presidential hopeful Flávio Bolsonaro directly asked U.S. President Donald Trump to classify these groups as “narco-terrorist” organizations during a visit to the White House.
Bolsonaro, who is running in Brazil’s upcoming presidential election in October, has made tougher action against organized crime and prison-based gangs a central part of his campaign platform.
He is part of a political dispute with current Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has opposed the U.S. classification, warning it could open the door to potential foreign military intervention in Brazilian territory.
The Comando Vermelho and Primeiro Comando da Capital emerged in Brazilian prisons during the 1970s and have since expanded their influence, now controlling extensive criminal activities including drug trafficking, extortion, smuggling, and other illicit operations.
According to security experts and Brazilian authorities, both organizations have tens of thousands of members and support networks spread across multiple states in the country.
The U.S. measure aims to increase financial and operational pressure on these groups by restricting funding sources, limiting international mobility, and expanding cooperation in security enforcement efforts.
International
U.S.–Iran pre-agreement aims to de-escalate tensions and secure key trade route
The United States confirmed on Thursday that its negotiators have reached a preliminary agreement with Iran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and extending the current ceasefire, though the understanding still requires final approval from U.S. President Donald Trump.
U.S. government sources confirmed information first reported exclusively by Axios, stating that the deal now only awaits the president’s endorsement.
According to Axios, citing two senior U.S. officials, the draft agreement stipulates that navigation through the Strait of Hormuz—previously blocked by Iran in response to U.S. and Israeli military actions—would be “unrestricted.”
The agreement reportedly includes provisions under which Iran would not impose transit fees in the strategic waterway, a critical route for global oil shipments. In parallel, the United States would lift maritime restrictions on vessels entering and leaving Iranian ports.
The memorandum of understanding also contains a commitment from Iran not to develop nuclear weapons, a key red line for President Trump. However, discussions on limiting Iran’s uranium enrichment would be postponed to later negotiations.
These issues are expected to be addressed during a 60-day extension of the ceasefire, which has been in place since April.
In addition, the United States would consider easing sanctions on Iran and releasing frozen Iranian assets as part of the broader diplomatic framework.
Negotiations between Washington and Tehran have intensified over the past week with mediation from Pakistan, as both sides seek to formally end the conflict that began on February 28 involving the United States and Israel.
The White House has recently stated that a deal was “a matter of days away,” while Tehran has tempered expectations, suggesting that an agreement is not yet imminent.
International
Interpol Operation Leads to 8,700 Arrests and Massive Drug Seizures Across Latin America
Interpol and the Organization of American States (OAS) announced the arrest of more than 8,700 people and the seizure of over 3,300 firearms and 56 tons of illegal drugs across 20 countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean following a six-week multinational security operation.
According to a statement released by the OAS, the operation — known as Operation Orca XI — was carried out between October 15 and November 30, 2025, under the coordination of Interpol, with support from the OAS and funding from the European Union.
The operation resulted in 8,701 arrests linked to illegal firearm possession, drug trafficking, and other criminal activities. Authorities also confiscated nearly 200,000 rounds of ammunition, $256,025 in cash, and 210 vehicles connected to criminal operations.
Participating countries additionally reported the seizure of 6.9 tons of cocaine, 659,403 coca plants, 9.3 tons of coca paste, 38.5 tons of marijuana, two tons of methamphetamine, and 11 kilograms of ketamine.
In its statement, the OAS emphasized that illegal arms trafficking in the region is closely tied to other forms of organized crime, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and cybercrime.
“Criminal organizations behind these crimes often use the same routes for multiple illicit goods,” the organization stated, adding that Operation Orca XI exposed the strong links between these criminal networks.
U.S. classifies CV and PCC as terrorist groups in major policy shift
U.S.–Iran pre-agreement aims to de-escalate tensions and secure key trade route
Interpol Operation Leads to 8,700 Arrests and Massive Drug Seizures Across Latin America
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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