Global Pulse

标签： South America

南美洲

  • Judge orders 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his dad released from ICE detention

    Judge orders 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his dad released from ICE detention

    A federal judge has mandated the immediate release of a five-year-old boy and his Ecuadorian father from a Texas immigration detention center by Tuesday, delivering a sharply worded ruling that condemned the Trump administration’s enforcement tactics. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, appointed by President Bill Clinton, issued the order Saturday following the January 20th detention of Adrian Conejo Arias and his son Liam in Columbia Heights, Minnesota.

    The case gained national attention when images circulated showing young Liam—wearing a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack—surrounded by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Judge Biery’s ruling connected the incident to what he termed “the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas,” adding that these efforts proceeded “apparently even if it requires traumatizing children.”

    Controversy emerged when neighbors and school officials alleged ICE used the preschooler as “bait” by having him knock on his home’s door to prompt his mother’s appearance—an accusation the Department of Homeland Security vehemently denied as an “abject lie.” The agency maintained that the father had abandoned the child in a running vehicle while fleeing on foot.

    The ruling contained extraordinary historical and religious references, with Judge Biery suggesting the administration’s approach mirrored grievances against King George III enumerated in the Declaration of Independence. The decision included biblical quotations and a photograph of Liam, emphasizing the human dimension of immigration enforcement.

    This case occurs within broader concerns about detention conditions at the Dilley, Texas facility, where approximately 1,100 individuals are housed. Reports have documented inadequate medical care, struggles for clean water, and even worms in food. An ICE report from December acknowledged holding about 400 children beyond the recommended 20-day limit.

    The family’s legal representatives announced they are working toward “a safe and timely reunion” following the traumatic ordeal, which included a visit from Texas Democratic Congress members Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett, who witnessed the child’s exhausted state during their visit.

  • Venezuela announces bill that could lead to mass release of prisoners detained for political reasons

    Venezuela announces bill that could lead to mass release of prisoners detained for political reasons

    CARACAS, Venezuela — In a significant political development, Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez unveiled legislation on Friday that could potentially secure the liberation of hundreds of detainees incarcerated for political motivations. The proposed bill specifically targets the release of opposition figures, journalists, and human rights activists who have faced government persecution.

    This legislative initiative represents the latest conciliatory measure undertaken by Rodríguez since assuming executive authority on January 3, following the dramatic capture of former President Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation in Caracas. The announcement came during a televised address before an assembly of justices, magistrates, and judicial officials.

    Rodríguez emphasized the healing potential of the legislation, stating, “May this law serve to heal the wounds left by the political confrontation.” She confirmed that the ruling party-dominated National Assembly would expedite consideration of the bill under urgent procedures.

    According to estimates by Foro Penal, a Venezuela-based prisoners’ rights organization, approximately 711 individuals remain detained across the country due to their political activities. While the government previously announced plans for prisoner releases as a goodwill gesture in early January, implementation has progressed slowly, drawing criticism from detainees’ families.

    Notably, the government withheld the specific text of the proposed legislation, leaving ambiguity regarding the precise criteria for amnesty eligibility. Human rights organizations have responded cautiously to the announcement, welcoming the initiative while emphasizing the need for comprehensive implementation.

    Alfredo Romero, president of Foro Penal, commented via social media: “A general amnesty is welcome as long as its elements and conditions include all of civil society, without discrimination, that it does not become a cloak of impunity, and that it contributes to dismantling the repressive apparatus of political persecution.”

    Since January 8, when National Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez first announced the prisoner release initiative, the organization has documented 302 releases. Human rights group Provea issued a statement criticizing the lack of transparency and gradual pace of releases, while emphasizing that amnesty should not be construed as state clemency for those arbitrarily detained for exercising internationally protected rights.

  • Chile’s far-right president-elect visits El Salvador mega-prison, plans to talk security with Bukele

    Chile’s far-right president-elect visits El Salvador mega-prison, plans to talk security with Bukele

    Chilean President-elect José Antonio Kast conducted a high-profile inspection of El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) on Friday, signaling a potential shift in regional security strategies. The far-right leader, accompanied by his security minister, traveled by helicopter to the massive detention facility that has become both a symbol of effective crime suppression and a subject of intense human rights criticism.

    During his visit, Kast emphasized Chile’s need to “import good ideas and proposals” for combating organized crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism. His tour included meetings with El Salvador’s security Cabinet and observation of cellblocks housing alleged gang members under conditions of total isolation. The Chilean delegation examined how El Salvador’s government has implemented its security framework, though Kast noted that any adaptation would need to consider Chile’s distinct legal and social context.

    The CECOT facility, with capacity for 40,000 inmates, represents the extreme end of President Nayib Bukele’s anti-gang measures. Inmates are held in cells containing 65-70 prisoners each, without visitors, outdoor access, or rehabilitation programs. This approach has drawn condemnation from human rights organizations, with Socorro Juridico documenting 480 detention-related deaths since Bukele’s 2022 state of emergency declaration.

    The visit reflects a growing trend among Latin American leaders facing security challenges. Costa Rica recently broke ground on a CECOT-inspired maximum security prison, while Honduras proposed building a gang prison on a remote island. Ecuador and Guatemala have also implemented aggressive anti-gang measures. Kast’s meeting with Bukele at the presidential palace concluded a day that highlighted the complex balance between security effectiveness and human rights protections in regional crime-fighting strategies.

  • Cubans scramble to survive as US vise on island tightens in push to oust government

    Cubans scramble to survive as US vise on island tightens in push to oust government

    HAVANA — As Washington intensifies its economic pressure campaign against Cuba, citizens across the communist-led island are adopting innovative survival strategies to counter what experts characterize as a deliberate attempt to trigger popular unrest and governmental change.

    The economic stranglehold has tightened considerably following recent disruptions to vital Venezuelan oil shipments after US interventions in Caracas. While the full impact of these energy shortages remains impending, Cubans are proactively transforming their lifestyles in anticipation of further hardships.

    Across the island, a quiet revolution in self-reliance is underway. Urban residents are installing solar energy systems, rural communities are returning to subsistence farming, and many are consciously adopting simpler technologies that bypass petroleum dependencies.

    Jose Ángel Méndez Faviel exemplifies this trend, having relocated from central Havana to a farm in Bacuranao to escape the nation’s severe blackouts. “It’s how you survive,” Méndez explained. “It’s best to depend on yourself.” His new agrarian lifestyle enables cooking with firewood and charcoal—impossible in his former darkened city apartment.

    Méndez remains uncertain about President Trump’s specific threats against Cuba but refuses to gamble with his family’s welfare. He has begun stockpiling gasoline, charcoal, and homegrown produce cultivated on his farm. The practical farmer is even considering repurchasing the horse he previously sold, recognizing that “You don’t need fuel for a horse. We need to go back in time.”

    The current crisis compounds existing challenges including chronic blackouts, hyperinflation, and scarcity of basic goods. President Trump’s recent executive order imposing tariffs on nations supplying oil to Cuba has amplified fears of catastrophic economic collapse, with the president himself declaring Cuba “very close to failing.”

    Yet many Cubans dismiss such predictions, particularly those who endured the 1990s “Special Period” following Soviet aid reductions. Yadián Silva, a nurse and classic car driver who has witnessed tourism’s dramatic decline, articulated the prevailing sentiment: “We have problems, and we know we have a lot of problems. But when things happen in Cuba, it’s because people truly feel they should happen. Not because someone from the outside says, ‘do this.’”

    This defiance manifested visibly during recent commemorations for national hero José Martí, where tens of thousands of torch-bearing Cubans, predominantly university students, marched through Havana. Sheyla Ibatao Ruíz, a 21-year-old law student, declared: “We are a dignified people, a people eager to move forward, eager to prosper, who do not believe in threats and are not intimidated by any reprisals from the enemy.”

    Meanwhile, technological innovation flourishes within the constraints. Ángel Eduardo launched “Con Voltage,” a solar installation business, after frustration with studying in darkness hampered his engineering education. Utilizing social media and AI tools like ChatGPT, Eduardo has installed dozens of solar systems across Cuba, experiencing surging demand since Venezuelan oil disruptions began.

    For older entrepreneurs like 62-year-old Niuvis Bueno Zavala, adaptation means exploring new revenue streams for her seaside drink stall. “I’ve never had it this hard,” she confessed, contemplating homemade food sales amid economic blockade.

    The sentiment resonates with retired pilot Pedro Carbonell, who recently waited over two hours for gasoline. “If we don’t have fuel, then we’ll ride bicycles,” he stated, echoing the resilience of the Special Period. “Our wine is bitter. But it’s our wine. And we don’t want anyone from somewhere else coming here and telling us how to drink our wine.”

  • What a reporter found when she returned to Cuba after last trip 3 years ago

    What a reporter found when she returned to Cuba after last trip 3 years ago

    HAVANA — Three years after her previous assignment, Caribbean correspondent Dánica Coto returned to a Cuba transformed by escalating economic hardship and infrastructure decay. In an exclusive interview with AP editor Laura Martínez, Coto documented a nation grappling with unprecedented challenges that permeate every aspect of daily life.

    The visual landscape of Havana tells a story of systemic breakdown. Mountains of garbage accumulate at tourist destinations, where neatly dressed Cubans now scavenge through waste for reusable containers. The colonial architecture that once defined the city’s charm is rapidly deteriorating, with historic facades crumbling into rubble across numerous neighborhoods.

    Energy infrastructure has reached critical failure levels. Chronic power outages plunge the capital into darkness nightly, while fuel shortages create hours-long queues at gasoline stations. Municipal services have deteriorated significantly—garbage trucks and agricultural equipment sit idle without spare parts, and office buildings routinely lack basic amenities like toilet paper and running water by afternoon.

    Cubans demonstrate remarkable resilience through adaptive survival strategies. Families increasingly rely on firewood and charcoal for cooking amid natural gas shortages. Those with means invest in solar panels, while others cultivate personal gardens. Despite these efforts, cash shortages force crowds outside banks, and communication networks experience growing disruptions.

    The nation’s economic crisis deepens amid geopolitical pressures. Many Cubans lived through the 1990s Special Period following Soviet collapse, but current conditions threaten to surpass that hardship. Experts warn that disrupted oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico—combined with new U.S. tariffs on nations supplying Cuba—could trigger catastrophic consequences.

    U.S.-Cuba relations have deteriorated significantly under the Trump administration, which redesignated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism and intensified rhetoric about regime change. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, son of Cuban immigrants, recently declared Cuba “a country that’s been backward” with “no functional economy.”

    Despite these pressures, the Cuban government maintains its defiant posture while citizens express determination to resist external manipulation. The revolutionary slogan “Patria o muerte, venceremos!” (Homeland or death, we will overcome!) continues to resonate, embodying both ideological commitment and the stark choices facing the nation.

  • Exxon Mobil reports strong quarterly profit on solid production at home and abroad

    Exxon Mobil reports strong quarterly profit on solid production at home and abroad

    ExxonMobil Corporation delivered a robust financial performance for the fourth quarter, surpassing analyst earnings projections despite falling short on revenue expectations. The energy behemoth reported quarterly earnings of $6.5 billion, equating to $1.53 per share. This performance, while strong, represents a decline from the $7.61 billion, or $1.72 per share, recorded in the same period the previous year.

    A critical metric for investors, adjusted earnings excluding one-time events, reached $1.71 per share. This figure exceeded the Wall Street consensus estimate of $1.68 per share, as compiled by Zacks Investment Research. The company maintains a policy of not adjusting its officially reported results for such non-recurring items.

    The quarter was notably driven by a significant uptick in production output. Net production rose to 5 million oil-equivalent barrels per day, a marked increase from 4.7 million in the third quarter. This surge was largely fueled by exceptional results from two key operational regions: the Permian Basin, which yielded 1.8 million oil-equivalent barrels per day, and projects in Guyana, which are rapidly approaching a gross production level of 875,000 barrels per day.

    However, total revenue for the quarter was reported at $82.31 billion, slightly below the analyst forecast of $83.18 billion. This revenue shortfall, combined with external geopolitical factors, seemingly influenced investor sentiment. Consequently, ExxonMobil’s stock experienced a pre-market dip of over 2% on the announcement day.

    The reporting period was also shadowed by geopolitical commentary from the White House. President Donald Trump indicated a predisposition to exclude ExxonMobil from future operations in Venezuela. This statement followed public skepticism from the company’s leadership regarding the viability of oil investments in the country following the political upheaval and ousting of former President Nicolás Maduro. Encouraging U.S. energy firms to invest and aid in rebuilding Venezuela’s crippled oil infrastructure remains a stated priority for the Trump administration.

  • UN criticizes Haiti for lack of progress on a political transition

    UN criticizes Haiti for lack of progress on a political transition

    The United Nations Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution extending its political mission in Haiti through January 2027 while issuing strong criticism of the country’s leadership for failing to advance political transition processes. The council’s decision comes as Haiti experiences unprecedented levels of gang violence that now dominates 90% of the capital city Port-au-Prince and continues spreading into rural areas.

    In the strongly-worded resolution co-sponsored by the United States and Panama, Security Council members condemned in the strongest terms the dramatic surge in criminal activities, citing extensive human rights violations including systematic sexual violence against all demographics, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, child abductions, and targeted killings by armed groups. The violence has escalated significantly since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, which created a power vacuum that criminal organizations have exploited.

    The extended UN mission, known as BINUH, will now refocus its mandate toward facilitating national dialogue and supporting electoral processes for municipal, parliamentary, and presidential elections. Additionally, the mission will collaborate with the newly authorized international security force to develop comprehensive programs for disarming and reintegrating former gang members, with particular attention to children recruited by armed groups.

    Haiti’s current transitional governance structure, established in April 2024 with Caribbean leadership support after gangs forced closure of the main international airport and critical infrastructure, has struggled to maintain stability. The council has overseen three different prime ministers despite its original mandate to dissolve by February 2025. Recent warnings from the United States against governmental changes highlight international concerns about the unelected body’s ability to transition toward democratic elections for the first time in ten years.

    The resolution emphasizes urgent security sector reform requirements and calls for enhanced coordination between the political mission and the planned 5,500-member international security force authorized in September, which remains without a definitive deployment timeline despite being hailed as offering ‘hope’ for the crisis-stricken nation.

  • Trump threatens tariffs for countries that sell oil to Cuba

    Trump threatens tariffs for countries that sell oil to Cuba

    The Trump administration has intensified its economic pressure campaign against Cuba by threatening to impose tariffs on countries that supply oil to the Caribbean nation. This latest move was formalized through an executive order, though specific tariff rates and targeted nations remain unspecified.

    The development follows President Trump’s assertion on Tuesday that Cuba’s communist government “will be falling pretty soon,” citing Venezuela’s recent cessation of oil shipments to the island nation. Previously, Venezuela had been supplying approximately 35,000 barrels of oil daily to Cuba, representing a crucial energy lifeline for the Cuban economy.

    This escalation in US policy toward Cuba gained momentum after American forces participated in the January 3rd raid in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a longstanding Cuban ally. The administration’s approach marks a significant hardening of stance against both communist governments in the region.

    Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez has vehemently opposed the US position, asserting Cuba’s “absolute right to import fuel” from any willing exporter without submission to “unilateral coercive measures of the United States.” This diplomatic confrontation highlights the deepening rift between the two nations and potentially signals a return to more adversarial relations.

    The proposed tariffs represent another front in the Trump administration’s broader strategy of applying maximum economic pressure on governments it considers adversarial, continuing a pattern of utilizing trade measures as foreign policy instruments.

  • Venezuela’s oil ghost towns hope Trump plan will revive their fortunes

    Venezuela’s oil ghost towns hope Trump plan will revive their fortunes

    Nestled along the eastern shores of Lake Maracaibo, the neighborhood of Miraflores stands as a haunting monument to Venezuela’s vanished prosperity. Its American-style suburban homes with manicured lawns and porches once housed executives from the world’s most powerful oil companies during the nation’s petroleum golden age. Today, many sit abandoned and looted, their windows shattered and wiring stripped bare—a stark contrast to the community that symbolized Latin American wealth just decades ago.

    This region, containing the world’s largest proven oil reserves at approximately 303 billion barrels, now represents both Venezuela’s catastrophic decline and its potential salvation through a proposed $100 billion U.S. investment initiative. Throughout the Lake Maracaibo basin, rusting oil pumps stand motionless between homes and in fields, while others freshly painted in Venezuela’s national colors continue limited operations.

    The area’s deterioration mirrors the nation’s broader economic collapse. Since President Nicolás Maduro took power in 2013, Venezuela’s GDP has plummeted by over 70%. Residents like Gladysmila Gil, who moved to the area in 1968 when her oil worker husband received company housing, describe dramatic declines in basic services. “The rubbish was collected every other day, and we didn’t have these power outages,” she recalls, noting that today garbage collection is sporadic and blackouts occur almost daily despite the region’s energy wealth.

    The industry’s downfall traces back through multiple political eras. Following nationalization in 1976, state-owned PDVSA managed production that once reached 3.5 million barrels daily. The 2002 oil workers’ strike against then-President Hugo Chávez triggered massive firings—reportedly up to 22,000 technical staff—which industry veterans identify as a critical turning point. “You can’t lose 22,000 technical people in a company and expect that nothing happens,” says Jorge, a pseudonym for a worker dismissed during the purge.

    Despite recent political developments including Maduro’s removal by U.S. forces to face narcotics charges, his loyalist Delcy Rodríguez has cooperated with the Trump administration to reform oil laws. Venezuela’s parliament approved significant legal changes allowing foreign and local companies to operate oilfields through new contract models.

    Local reactions to potential U.S. investment are mixed. Fisherman Carlos Rodríguez welcomes the prospect: “It would be better because then there would be work, and our children wouldn’t have to resort to fishing.” Others express caution, with fisherman José Luzardo stating, “We have no problem with foreign companies coming to exploit our resources… but we don’t want to be anyone’s colony.”

    Industry analysts remain skeptical about rapid recovery. ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods recently labeled Venezuela “uninvestable” without stronger legal protections, noting the company had its assets seized there twice previously. Experts estimate that restoring former production levels could require a decade and hundreds of billions of dollars.

    Yet hope persists among Maracaibo residents like 93-year-old retired oil worker José Rodas, who maintains a classic American muscle car from the 1970s oil boom. “Things have become more difficult,” he acknowledges. “In the past, life was easier.” For many in Venezuela’s oil heartland, the promise of renewed investment represents not just economic opportunity but the potential restoration of vanished prosperity.

  • Venezuelan MPs approve bill to open up oil sector to private firms

    Venezuelan MPs approve bill to open up oil sector to private firms

    Venezuela’s National Assembly has passed a transformative reform of its hydrocarbons legislation, marking a significant policy shift that grants private enterprises—including international firms—greater operational autonomy within the nation’s oil industry. The legislative overhaul, which received approval from lawmakers aligned with former President Nicolás Maduro, is poised to reshape the investment landscape in a country possessing the world’s largest proven oil reserves.

    Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed leadership following Maduro’s detention during a U.S. military operation earlier this month, is expected to formally enact the legislation. This move represents a substantial departure from the state-centric model established under former leader Hugo Chávez in 2006, which had progressively tightened governmental control over petroleum operations.

    The reformed framework eliminates previous requirements mandating state-owned PDVSA to maintain majority stakes in joint ventures, thereby allowing foreign companies to exercise enhanced management control and obtain direct access to revenue streams from oil production. This structural change addresses longstanding investor concerns regarding contractual autonomy and financial transparency.

    This legislative development occurs amidst ongoing negotiations between Washington and Caracas concerning the sale of sanctioned Venezuelan crude oil. The United States has authorized the export of tens of millions of barrels, with proceeds being channeled into a Qatar-based account subject to U.S. oversight. These funds are designated for essential public services including law enforcement, sanitation infrastructure, and medical procurement.

    Industry analysts note that the reform could catalyze the return of international energy companies that largely withdrew from Venezuela following nationalization measures and subsequent contractual disputes. While Chevron has maintained operations through special U.S. licensing arrangements, numerous other firms seek compensation for previous contract alterations.

    Despite Venezuela’s immense petroleum potential, the sector has suffered from chronic underinvestment, infrastructure deterioration, and comprehensive international sanctions. The new legal framework aims to counter these challenges by creating a more attractive environment for foreign capital and technical expertise.