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.”

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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. Revokes Nearly 900 Visas in Crackdown on ‘Birth Tourism’

The United States has revoked nearly 900 temporary visas as part of measures promoted by President Donald Trump’s administration against so-called “birth tourism,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.

“Nearly 900 visas have already been revoked just since this task force was established. And that is in addition to the actions we have taken since the beginning of this administration to dismantle birth tourism networks around the world,” Pigott said in an interview with Newsmax.

The visa revocations are the result of coordinated efforts between the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify people who allegedly use tourist visas to enter the United States with the intention of giving birth there.

The measures are part of Trump’s broader immigration policies. In January, the president signed an executive order describing birth tourism as a practice that undermines the integrity of the U.S. immigration system in an effort to obtain what the administration considers permanent immigration benefits.

The directive stated that some people enter the country through temporary visas issued for tourism, education, cultural exchanges or temporary employment, and later seek to benefit from the U.S. citizenship their children acquire by being born on American soil.

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Trump targets birthright citizenship

The latest actions are also part of Trump’s broader efforts to restrict birthright citizenship in the United States.

The country has traditionally followed the principle of jus soli, under which citizenship is generally granted based on birth within U.S. territory, rather than solely on parental nationality, as is the case in other legal systems.

The administrative measures come after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship through executive action, ruling that the policy raised constitutional issues involving the Fourteenth Amendment.

The visa crackdown represents another step by the administration to target practices it associates with the use of temporary immigration permits to obtain long-term immigration benefits.

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International

Sinaloa Governor Returns to Office Amid Political Backlash and Cartel Allegations

Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya returned to office on Friday after taking more than three months of leave while facing an investigation into allegations by the U.S. government that he has ties to the Sinaloa Cartel. Rocha has denied the accusations.

His return has drawn criticism from Mexico’s federal government and the ruling Morena party, which have accused the governor of putting personal interests ahead of the public good.

Although she did not mention Rocha by name, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the situation Saturday in a post on X, warning about the dangers of placing personal ambitions above the interests of the country.

“Power without principles becomes arrogance,” Sheinbaum wrote.

The president stressed that no personal interest should take precedence over the interests of the Mexican people and the nation, particularly when the objective is not public well-being but the pursuit of power for its own sake.

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“Mexico deserves public servants who understand that positions are temporary, but responsibility before the nation is eternal,” Sheinbaum said.

She added that public officials should prioritize the dignity, future and hopes of the Mexican people over individual names, political groups or personal interests.

Later Saturday, while attending the inauguration of new agricultural services facilities in Mexico City, Sheinbaum told reporters that she learned of Rocha’s return through the governor’s social media post.

The president said she would provide further comments on the matter during her daily press conference on Monday.

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International

Pilot killed and two Pennsylvania state troopers injured in mid-air collision

A pilot was killed and two Pennsylvania state police officers were injured when a Cessna 150 airplane collided with the helicopter they were traveling in during a routine training exercise at a regional airport in the state.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro identified the officers as Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, members of the Pennsylvania State Police aviation unit. Both are expected to recover from their injuries, according to ABC.

The county coroner’s office identified the pilot as 57-year-old Paul Sokoloski.

George Bivens, acting commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, said the collision occurred at around 6:50 p.m. Wednesday. The helicopter was flying several feet above a grassy area near a runway at Carlisle Regional Airport when the small plane approached from behind.

According to investigators, the Cessna suddenly veered to the right moments before the collision, striking the helicopter’s tail rotor before also hitting its main rotor.

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The airplane crashed a short distance away and broke into several pieces, while the helicopter lost its tail and other components before crashing on its side.

Police said Corporal Corman opened a window and helped Trooper Mills escape from the helicopter because they feared the aircraft could catch fire.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.