Head of Cuba’s Finlay slams ‘murderous’ Trump after attack on Iran’s Pasteur Institute
In a post on his X account, Yury Valdés wrote that “more than 100 years of history at the Pasteur Institute of Iran were destroyed in a matter of minutes.” — From Presstv [https://www.presstv.ir/rss/rss-107.xml] via This RSS Feed [https://www.presstv.ir/rss/rss-107.xml].
Cuba: Government Pardons More Than 2,000 Prisoners as Humanitarian Gesture During Holy Week
The Cuban government on Friday authorized the release of 2,010 people serving sentences, through a pardon that aligns with current legal provisions and Article 90, paragraph II, of its Constitution. The gesture took place amidst Holy Week celebrations, marking the second mass release of prisoners in the country this year. The measure underscores a tradition deeply rooted in the Cuban criminal justice system and the humanitarian approach of its Revolution, as reported [https://www.granma.cu/cuba/2026-04-02/anuncia-gobierno-cubano-decision-de-indultar-a-mas-de-2-mil-sancionados-02-04-2026-19-04-18] by Granma newspaper. The decision to grant the pardon was the result of a thorough evaluation. Factors considered included the nature of the crimes committed, the inmates’ behavior during their time in prison, the substantial portion of their sentence already served, and their state of health. “This meticulous examination ensured that the decision benefited those who truly met the established criteria,” the newspaper reported. However, to guarantee public safety and the integrity of the process, clear exclusions were established. Those with a history of crimes such as child molestation, sexual assault, murder, homicide, or drug trafficking, as well as theft and slaughter of livestock, or robbery involving violence, armed force, or child victims, were excluded. Also excluded were those who committed corruption of minors, crimes against authority, repeat offenders or multiple repeat offenders, and those who had already received previous pardons and subsequently reoffended. A diverse profile of beneficiaries According to Granma, the list of those released includes different segments of the prison population. Among those benefiting are women, young people, adults over 60 years of age, and those whose early release date was projected for the next six months or year. Likewise, the pardon benefited both Cuban citizens residing abroad and foreigners who were serving sentences on the island. > Nicaragua Denounces US Accusations Regarding Religious Freedom [https://orinocotribune.com/nicaragua-denounces-us-accusations-regarding-religious-freedom/] This is the fifth pardon implemented by the Cuban government since 2011. Throughout these decisions, the total number of people who have regained their freedom exceeds 11,000, thus consolidating a common practice within the framework of the country’s criminal justice system. “This record demonstrates a continued commitment to reviewing sentences and granting second chances, under strict evaluation criteria and a clear humanitarian orientation,” the report noted. (Ultimas Noticias [https://ultimasnoticias.com.ve/mundo/gobierno-de-cuba-indulta-a-mas-de-dos-mil-personas-como-medida-humanitaria-en-semana-santa/]) Translation: Orinoco Tribune OT/JRE/JB — From Orinoco Tribune [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/].
Social Programs Will Cushion Impact of Global Chaos in 2026: Mexico’s Finance Secretary
This article by Alejandro Páez Varela originally appeared in the April 3, 2026 edition of [https://www.sinembargo.mx/4787131/programas-sociales-de-2026-amortiguaran-impacto-del-caos-global-amador-entrevista/] Sin Embargo [https://www.sinembargo.mx/4787131/programas-sociales-de-2026-amortiguaran-impacto-del-caos-global-amador-entrevista/]. Amid an international environment marked by volatility and uncertainty, the Secretary of Finance and Public Credit, Edgar Amador Zamora, assured that the federal government is committed to strengthening the domestic market and expanding social programs as the main shield against external risks. In an interview with Alejandro Páez, on the program Los Periodistas which is broadcast on the SinEmbargo Al Aire YouTube channel, Amador explained that when presenting the economic pre-criteria for 2027, the agency under his charge opted for growth ranges in the face of global instability. “Given the current situation and the international outlook, which introduces a significant degree of uncertainty into the projections, we dared to propose a pre-criteria estimate range for the end of this year of between 1.8 and 2.8 percent, while for next year it is between 1.9 and 2.9 percent.” Given this context, the Finance Secretary indicated that the economic strategy will focus on bolstering internal strengths. “We are emphasizing the most important variable at this time, which is our internal strength: domestic investment and domestic consumption, given the high volatility of the external sector,” he stated. In that regard, he announced that the government will promote a public and mixed investment agenda to stimulate economic activity in the coming months. He emphasized that social spending will be one of the pillars of the budget. Amador noted that more than 13.5 million Mexicans have risen out of poverty in recent years, which he attributed to the redesign of budgetary policy. He stated that by 2026, social programs will reach nearly one trillion pesos, with the goal of sustaining the well-being of the majority of families. This strategy is complemented by a mechanism to contain energy prices through fiscal incentives. The Secretary of Finance explained that, through the IEPS subsidy, the Government has managed to prevent the international rise in hydrocarbon prices from being immediately passed on to consumers. “Mexicans are not facing the costs and prices that other economies are facing due to the aggressive surge in oil prices thanks to this strategy to protect domestic prices.” On the foreign policy front, the Secretary highlighted the strengthening of trade relations with the United States despite pressure from President Donald Trump. He affirmed that Mexico consolidated its position as the U.S.’s main trading partner by 2025 and will maintain that position in 2026. “We are confident that we will have a positive outcome in the trade agreement negotiations,” he added. Regarding recent inflation, Amador specified that the increases are concentrated in agricultural products such as tomatoes, chili peppers, and squash, which are affected by climatic and seasonal factors. However, he considered it to be a temporary phenomenon. “We are going to take action to ensure that there is a significant containment and moderation of the prices of these products in the very short term, and that we do not have a generalized rebound in inflation across the country.” * Social Programs Will Cushion Impact of Global Chaos in 2026: Mexico’s Finance Secretary [https://mexicosolidarity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Edgar-Amador-Zamora-large-1024x683.jpg]https://mexicosolidarity.com/social-programs-will-cushion-impact-of-global-chaos-in-2026-mexicos-finance-secretary/ News Briefs [https://mexicosolidarity.com/category/news-brief/] #### Social Programs Will Cushion Impact of Global Chaos in 2026: Mexico’s Finance Secretary [https://mexicosolidarity.com/social-programs-will-cushion-impact-of-global-chaos-in-2026-mexicos-finance-secretary/] April 3, 2026April 3, 2026 By 2026, social program spending will reach nearly one trillion pesos, with the goal of sustaining the well-being of the majority of families. * Six Months of the Nacional Monte de Piedad Strike [https://mexicosolidarity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/monte-de-piedad-strike-large-1024x683.jpg]https://mexicosolidarity.com/six-months-of-the-nacional-monte-de-piedad-strike/ Labor [https://mexicosolidarity.com/category/labor/] | News Briefs [https://mexicosolidarity.com/category/news-brief/] #### Six Months of the Nacional Monte de Piedad Strike [https://mexicosolidarity.com/six-months-of-the-nacional-monte-de-piedad-strike/] April 3, 2026April 3, 2026 While acknowledging that it has been difficult, trade unionist Miguel Ángel Pérez Ramírez affirmed that workers remain committed to fighting to defend & uphold their labour rights. * Oaxaca’s 3rd Forum in Defense of Territory and Social Property: April 15 in Santa María Atzompa [https://mexicosolidarity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lachatao-oaxaca-large-1024x576.jpg]https://mexicosolidarity.com/oaxacas-3rd-forum-in-defense-of-territory-and-social-property-april-15-in-santa-maria-atzompa/ News Briefs [https://mexicosolidarity.com/category/news-brief/] #### Oaxaca’s 3rd Forum in Defense of Territory and Social Property: April 15 in Santa María Atzompa [https://mexicosolidarity.com/oaxacas-3rd-forum-in-defense-of-territory-and-social-property-april-15-in-santa-maria-atzompa/] April 3, 2026 The call comes in a context of concern about legislative reforms that put the rights of Indigenous and agrarian communities at risk. The post Social Programs Will Cushion Impact of Global Chaos in 2026: Mexico’s Finance Secretary [https://mexicosolidarity.com/social-programs-will-cushion-impact-of-global-chaos-in-2026-mexicos-finance-secretary/] appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media [https://mexicosolidarity.com/]. — From Mexico Solidarity Media [https://mexicosolidarity.com/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://mexicosolidarity.com/feed/].
Angola’s Debt to Cuba Is Unfinished
By Vijay Prashad – Apr 2, 2026 The history of Cuba and Angola reminds us that a relationship based on mutual commitment to human dignity is entirely possible. In “Freedom Park” (S’kumbuto) outside Pretoria (South Africa), there is a Wall of Names that honors the men and women who died in the fight to liberate South Africa from apartheid. Amongst these are the names of 2,070 Cuban soldiers who died in Angola between 1975 and 1988 for the liberation of southern Africa. It is said, however, that 2,289 Cubans died in that period in the region. In August 1975, the first group of Cuban military advisors arrived to assist the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) against the Angolan forces (mainly UNITA) backed by the South African apartheid state. Their numbers swelled to 375,000 Cuban soldiers and pilots as well as civilians (including doctors and teachers). It was these Cubans, alongside the MPLA troops, that defeated the South African apartheid forces and their UNITA allies at the battle of Cuito Cuanavale in 1988. When he was released from prison, the first place outside South Africa that took Nelson Mandela was Cuba. In Havana, in 1991, Mandela said, “Without the defeat of Cuito Cuanavale, our organizations would not have been legalized. Cuito Cuanavale marks the divide in the struggle for the liberation of southern Africa.” The Cuban mission in Angola was named Operation Carlota, in homage of the enslaved woman who led a rebellion in Matanzas against slavery during the Year of the Lash (1843–44). When Africa needed help, Cuba answered the call. Today, Cuba needs solidarity [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/03/24/humanity-owes-cuba-unilateral-coercive-measures-and-the-politics-of-punishment/]. It has been under an illegal blockade for nearly seventy years and now for several months has been under a genocidal oil blockade [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/03/14/cuba-is-where-the-broader-aspirations-of-the-us-elite-as-a-whole-intersect-why-the-us-wants-to-destroy-cuba/]. The United States has prevented all energy lifelines from entering Cuba, blocking ships from Venezuela and Mexico and threatening to sanction freight and insurance companies that assist Cuba. Blackouts plague the island nation of ten million people, whose ability to live their bare life has been called into question. This is an emergency. There is no other way to describe it. Angola is one of the world’s largest producers of crude oil and – at its Luanda Refinery – it produces refined oil products. The oil in Angola is owned by the state company, Sonangol, which has contracts with a range of Western oil firms from TotalEnergies (France), Eni (Italy) and Chevron (United States) – all countries that defended its enemies during the war. Angola’s offshore reserves have made it a key player in global energy markets. Oil revenues have transformed Luanda into a city of obvious contrasts: gleaming skyscrapers alongside informal settlements, with the wealth of the oil unevenly distributed, and the development of the country hamstrung by structural inequalities. The MPLA has governed the country since 1975, although this is not the MPLA that fought alongside the Cubans till 1988. José Eduardo dos Santos, who led the country from 1979 to 2017, abandoned Marxism and shaped the oil industry and privatized lucrative state assets to benefit a small rentier elite (including his family). Despite the limitations of the situation in Angola, in 2015, the government of Angola erected a large bronze statue at Cuito Cuanavale that depicts an Angolan (MPLA) soldier and a Cuban soldier standing across from each other and together holding up a map of Angola. It is a powerful symbol of the reality of how Angola won its sovereignty – with Angolan and Cuban sacrifice and struggle. Without Cuba’s intervention, it is entirely plausible that Angola would have fallen under the control of forces aligned with apartheid South Africa and Western interests, its resources extracted under conditions far less favorable to its people. The oil that Angola now sells on the global market might never have been under Angolan control at all. In this context, the question of Angola providing oil to Cuba is not merely economic, but historical and moral. > Mexico Cuba Solidarity 2026: Díaz-Canel Expresses Gratitude for Support in the Face of the Blockade [https://orinocotribune.com/mexico-cuba-solidarity-2026-diaz-canel-expresses-gratitude-for-support-in-the-face-of-the-blockade/] Both the MPLA and Angola’s government have condemned the illegal US blockade against Cuba. In September 2025, Angola’s President João Lourenço said that the “unjust and prolonged” blockade which causes serious harm to the Cuban people must be “unconditionally lifted.” Since then, the US has only tightened its grip on the Cuban economy. A Russian oil tanker, the “Anatoly Kolodkin”, arrived in Matanzas (Cuba) on March 30 to break the siege [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/03/30/russian-oil-tanker-reaches-cuba/]. That tanker is named after a famous Soviet jurist who was one of the men who drafted the UN treaty on the Laws of the Seas (1982) and who sat on the International Court of Justice. Perhaps the Russians wanted to send a message about international law when they selected that tanker to carry oil to Cuba against the illegal US blockade. Perhaps President Lourenço can provisionally rename one of the Angolan oil tankers “Carlota” in honor of the Cuban operation that helped in his country’s liberation. Sonangol would face legal challenges, but so be it: Cuba surmounted any number of threats and challenges to assist Angola, and then left without asking for anything. History does not move along neat moral lines. It is jagged, contradictory, and often indifferent to the sacrifices made in its name. Yet there are moments when the ledger of history becomes clear enough that we can speak, without hesitation, of obligation – of debts incurred not through coercion, but through solidarity. The relationship between Cuba and Angola is one such moment. It is a relationship forged not in trade agreements or diplomatic formalities, but in blood, in sacrifice, and in a shared commitment to the liberation of Africa from colonial and apartheid domination. We live in a time when the language of solidarity has been hollowed out, replaced by the technocratic vocabulary of “partnerships” and “investments”. Yet the history of Cuba and Angola reminds us that another kind of relationship is possible – one based not on extraction or profit, but on mutual commitment to human dignity. Cuba did not send its sons and daughters to Angola because it expected oil in return. It did so because it believed that the freedom of Angola was inseparable from its own revolutionary ideals. That belief, whatever one thinks of it, had real consequences. It changed the course of history in southern Africa. Today, Angola can respond – not out of obligation imposed from outside, but out of a recognition of shared history. To provide oil to Cuba would be to say that the sacrifices of the past are not forgotten, that internationalism is not a relic, and that the Global South can still act in ways that defy the narrow logic of profit. (Peoples Dispatch [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/04/02/angolas-debt-to-cuba-is-unfinished/]) — From Orinoco Tribune [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/].
Iran Launches Massive Strikes on Tel Aviv, Haifa in Wave 91
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced the commencement of heavy missile attacks as part of Wave 91 of Operation True Promise 4, targeting the heart of Tel Aviv and Haifa. According to a statement released by the IRGC late Thursday, the strikes have forced 5 million Israeli settlers to seek shelter in underground bunkers. The statement also revealed that the Yemen front has begun launching attacks towards the southern Israeli-occupied territories and Dimona. “The sound of successive explosions has left emergency responders confused and struggling to keep up,” the report noted. A military spokesperson for Yemen’s Ansarullah announced that, alongside Iran and Hezbollah, a joint operation was carried out against critical enemy targets in Tel Aviv’s Jaffa region. The spokesperson emphasized the coordinated nature of the attack, underlining the unity of efforts between the three parties in their ongoing resistance operations in the region. According to Israeli broadcaster KAN, an Iranian ballistic missile, carrying a warhead weighing hundreds of kilograms, has caused significant damage to several locations. The IRGC has indicated that further details regarding the scope and impact of the missile strikes will be released in the coming hours. > US President Donald Trump, once claiming to be trying to help Iranians, publicly takes pride in the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Iran. > > Follow: https://t.co/mLGcUTSA3Q [https://t.co/mLGcUTSA3Q] pic.twitter.com/oJyFLsCWLa [https://t.co/oJyFLsCWLa] > > — Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) April 2, 2026 [https://twitter.com/PressTV/status/2039750960101445997] In the past few hours, the IRGC has launched a series of coordinated, large-scale attacks using heavy ballistic missiles and attack drones, targeting several strategic bases and concentrations of Israeli and US forces in occupied territories and across the region. According to reports, Israel’s sensitive airbases, including Tel Nof, Palmachim, and Ben Gurion airport, were heavily struck. Additionally, military gathering points in cities such as Tel Aviv, Haifa, Eilat, the Negev region, and Beersheba faced a barrage of missile and drone attacks, causing widespread damage and casualties. > IRGC Declares US, Israel-Linked Universities ‘Legitimate Targets’ After Strikes on Iran’s Campuses [https://orinocotribune.com/irgc-declares-us-israel-linked-universities-legitimate-targets-after-strikes-on-irans-campuses/] Meanwhile, US military bases in the region were not spared. US bases at Ahmed al-Jaber and Ali al-Salem in Kuwait, as well as the al-Kharj base in Saudi Arabia, were hit by precise heavy ballistic missile strikes, suffering significant damage. In another part of the operation, the early warning radar system stationed at the al-Dhafra base in the United Arab Emirates was completely destroyed. The radar system played a crucial role in the early detection of aerial and missile threats in the region. (PressTV [https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2026/04/02/766235/IRGC-launches-massive-strikes-on-Tel-Aviv-Haifa-in-Wave-91]) — From Orinoco Tribune [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/].
Argentina: Case Filed Against Prosecutor in Charge of Milei’s Crypto Scam
A group of Argentinian opposition parliamentarians filed a criminal complaint against federal prosecutor Eduardo Taiano, in charge of the $Libra crypto scam investigation, for misconduct and violation of public duties. The accusation is based on “unjustified delays in the production of evidence” and the “retention and concealment” of the same from the plaintiff. On Thursday, April 2, the complaint was filed by legislators Mónica Frade and Maximiliano Ferraro from Civic Coalition; Sabrina Selva, Juan Marino, Itai Hagman, Julia Strada, and Rodolfo Tailhade from Union for the Homeland; and Esteban Paulón from United Provinces. These parliamentarians, who last year led the investigative committee on the $Libra case, argued that the prosecutor’s actions affect the progress of the judicial process related to the massive fraud of citizens’ assets through a cryptocurrency promoted by President Javier Milei. > #Libra [https://twitter.com/hashtag/Libra]: El fiscal Taiano obstruye el avance de la causa, y recordemos que hizo lo imposible para que la comisión investigadora no pudiera reunir pruebas. Nos enterarnos que durante cinco meses, desde que la comisión investigadora elevó su tarea, Taiano durmió la causa. Por eso… pic.twitter.com/DcVU2th0wj [https://t.co/DcVU2th0wj] > > — Pablo Juliano (@PabloJulianoLP) March 16, 2026 [https://twitter.com/PabloJulianoLP/status/2033669075558404306] Chronology of the events in the complaint In the document, the signatories detail a sequence of events that clearly show unjustified delays. The judicial scandal of the $Libra case started on February 14, 2025, with a promotional tweet from the Argentinian president about a cryptocurrency whose value plummeted just hours later. However, the seizure of electronic devices belonging to Mauricio Novelli and Sergio Morales—the original orchestrators of the plot—only took place on March 6, 2025. “Between the months of March and May 2025, the material was received by the prosecutor’s office, making potentially decisive elements available to them for the advancement of the process from that moment on,” the complaint mentions. “Nevertheless, it was not until September 9, 2025, that the analysis of said material was ordered, which implied a significant initial delay in the handling of essential evidence.” On October 15, 2025, the parliamentarians had requested a meeting with Prosecutor Taiano to access the case file and expedite the work of the investigative committee. The prosecutor’s refusal, according to the complainants, “broke the entire legislative tradition regarding cooperation between the legislative and judicial branches of the state.” On November 17, 2025, the prosecution received a preliminary report on Novelli’s phone analysis, which was finally completed on January 7, 2026, “without this translating into an effective boost to the investigation.” It was not until March 13, 2026, that the parties to the case were granted full access to the evidence collected from the mobile phone of Novelli, who acted as the local link in the multimillion-dollar scam orchestrated with the US entrepreneur Hayden Davis. “Thus, a sequence of delays exist which, due to their extent and lack of justification, are incompatible with the diligent performance of the prosecutor’s function,” the parliamentarians noted. “During that entire period, despite the existence of elements indicating the possible presence of significant economic agreements, communications among those involved, and signs of prior and later coordination regarding the investigated events, no substantial measures were adopted to advance the determination of responsibilities. Not only were no summons for questioning issued, but no charges were formalized either.” Route of the investigation and summons to communicator Natalia Volosín The legislators questioned the prosecutor’s diligence in other aspects. Taiano summoned a testimonial statement from journalist and lawyer Natalia Volosín after she made public the retention and concealment of evidence. The journalist revealed the signing of a confidential contract between Davis and Milei, two weeks before the launch of the cryptocurrency. “Immediately Taiano issued summons to Volosín, with a haste that we had not noticed in the investigation of the facts subject to the complaint. After the public scandal, Prosecutor Taiano nullified the summons, a reaffirmation of an action—at the very least—errant and slow,” the signatories noted. Moreover, the prosecutor directed the investigation toward the people behind the media “leak” of audios and messages from Novelli’s phone. “For the second time, he directed the focus of his activity not toward the scandalous events that occurred on February 14, 2025 and the months before and after, but toward everything ancillary,” they criticized. > New Evidence Links Argentina’s President to $Libra Fraud [https://orinocotribune.com/new-evidence-links-argentinas-president-to-libra-fraud/] Possible crimes attributed to the prosecutor The complaint identifies a “pattern of behavior” characterized by unjustified delays, which affects due process, cooperation between branches of the State, and criminal action. “Journalism is moving faster than the judiciary itself,” the legislators reproached. Among the possible crimes of the prosecutor, they highlight “improper retention of relevant evidence” and its “potential concealment from the plaintiffs,” incompatible with the principle of objectivity of Article 9 of Law 27.148, which requires acting in the pursuit of truth without selective criteria. They also point out the absence of substantial measures—such as charges or inquiries—despite incriminating evidence, in violation of article 25, sections (a) and (b) of Law 24.946, which mandates judicial action in defense of legality. The redirection of the investigation toward ancillary issues, such as the inquiry into the leak and the summons Volosín, constitutes a “diversion from the object of the investigation,” once again violating the duty of objectivity. The restrictions on access to the case by interested third parties generate a lack of transparency and a refusal to inter-institutional collaboration. The legislators concluded that “all of this constitutes a case of functional misconduct, as it involves the serious breach of the duties mandated by Article 120 of the National Constitution, Law 27.148, and Law 24.946, directly impacting the proper functioning of the justice system.” (Telesur [https://www.telesurtv.net/denuncian-fiscal-criptoestafa-masiva-milei/]) Translation: Orinoco Tribune OT/SC/DZ — From Orinoco Tribune [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/].
Defense Lawyer Raises Concern About Health Risk of Former Ecuador VP Jorge Glas
Lawyer Sonia Vera, a member of the international defense team for the former vice president of Ecuador, Jorge Glas, expressed her concerns about Glas’s serious condition, highlighting that he is at risk of dying from malnutrition in the El Encuentro maximum-security prison. In a social media post, Vera revealed that Ecuadorian security agents reported Glas’s condition in the Health Care Registration Platform of the Ministry of Public Health. “I am watching him die,” the lawyer wrote, emphasizing that her client’s health is constantly deteriorating. > Publico este vídeo con autorización de @JorgeGlas [https://twitter.com/JorgeGlas]. > Lo que he visto en las últimas semanas no puede seguir siendo ocultado ni distorsionado. > Frente a la desinformación que circula, es necesario decirlo con claridad: el nuevo hábeas corpus correctivo no busca privilegios. > Busca… pic.twitter.com/pQf9RiIi0A [https://t.co/pQf9RiIi0A] > > — Sonia Gabriela Vera García (@sonicorver) April 1, 2026 [https://twitter.com/sonicorver/status/2039219270727446874] According to the reports presented by the defense, a nutritionist reported on February 10 that Glas lost nine kilos in just three months. Despite a specific dietary regimen being ordered, it has not been followed. Vera pointed out that the Ecuadorian State prevents a complete medical evaluation of Glas by prohibiting the entry of basic instruments into the prison facility. The former vice president is suffering from a severe psychiatric condition resulting from his experiences in several prison massacres. He currently requires 45 daily doses of more than 22 medications; however, the supply of medications is inconsistent. The defense claims that Jorge Glas is suffering psychological torture and total isolation, as visits from his family members have been prohibited since December 2024. His condition is getting worse due to constant surveillance that prevents him from communicating freely and privately. Sonia Vera decried the violation of the right to defense due to the lack of confidentiality in legal meetings. Glas remains without access to his Ecuadorian lawyers since his transfer to the El Encuentro prison, limiting his legal assistance. On April 2, a corrective habeas corpus hearing, originally filed on February 9, was held. The petition seeks to ensure that the State guarantees to Glas minimum living conditions, access to food supplements, and adherence to the medical diet. “We are not asking for a privilege or impunity, we are asking that they not let him die of hunger,” Vera stated. > Political Figures & Social Movements Demand Release of Ecuadorian Former VP Jorge Glas [https://orinocotribune.com/political-figures-social-movements-demand-release-of-ecuadorian-former-vp-jorge-glas/] History of persecution Sonia Vera emphasized that the situation of Jorge Glas, imprisoned for the first time in 2017, is a case of lawfare, a prolonged political persecution characterized by the arbitrary use of the penal system. According to the lawyer, Glas is the only Ecuadorian citizen with 10 pronouncements from international organizations in his favor, all of which highlight the violation of his fundamental rights. The defense pointed out that, due to legal insecurity, Glas had requested diplomatic asylum at the Mexican Embassy in Quito in December 2023, which was formally granted on April 4, 2024. However, on April 5, Ecuadorian police forces stormed the diplomatic mission and abducted Glas. Vera reiterated that her client remains in the custody of a “persecuting State” that even ignores the nullity of evidence issued by the Supreme Court of Brazil in the Odebrecht case and Interpol’s refusal to issue red alerts against him. Despite meeting the legal requirements, the Ecuadorian justice system has systematically denied the prison benefits requested by Glas. In this scenario, the international defense has formally requested the extension of provisional measures requested by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, urging the international community not to ignore the case. According to Vera, the April 2 habeas corpus represents a crucial opportunity for the Ecuadorian State to prevent an imminent risk of custodial death. (Telesur [https://www.telesurtv.net/denuncian-riesgo-muerte-jorge-glas-ecuador/]) Translation: Orinoco Tribune OT/SC/DZ — From Orinoco Tribune [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/].
Venezuelan Naval Training Ship Arrives in Granada With Message of Cooperation & Peace
The Simón Bolívar Training Ship of the Bolivarian Navy arrived in San Jorge, Grenada, on its journey across the seas to its first destination of the 36th Foreign Instructional Cruise titled “Seas of Unity for the Dream of Bolívar 2026.” The Venezuelan Ministry of Defense reported that the event on Wednesday, April 1, was marked by unity, solidarity, and joint work aboard the ship Ambassador Without Borders, which was visited by a diplomatic representation from Grenada. The reception was hosted by the ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Grenada, Jorge Alfonso Guerrero Veloz, who welcomed the crew. During the meeting, activities were carried out that reflected the commitment to integration among the Caribbean peoples and the Bolivarian Diplomacy of Peace. > Acting President of Venezuela at Military Ceremony: ‘Our Main Victory is Unity’ [https://orinocotribune.com/acting-president-of-venezuela-at-military-ceremony-our-main-victory-is-unity/] During its stay, the BE-11 ship will open its doors to the people of Grenada, so that they can experience life on board, naval technology, and the unwavering spirit of Venezuelan sailors, who bring their message of peace and brotherhood. The ship set sail on March 21 from La Guaira port on its training cruise. It will visit five Caribbean countries: Grenada, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Mexico, and Cuba. (Diario VEA [https://diariovea.com.ve/buque-escuela-simon-bolivar-llego-a-granada/]) Translation: Orinoco Tribune OT/SC/DZ — From Orinoco Tribune [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/].
Crude Oil Prices Soar After Trump’s Threats to Iran
The price of oil rose by 10% on Thursday, April 2, after US President Donald Trump warned of a possible escalation of military action against Iran in the next two or three weeks, which reduced expectations of an immediate de-escalation of the conflict. The price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) increased by 10%, reaching $110.21 per barrel, while Brent rose by 8%, reaching $109.25 per barrel. In a speech, Trump attributed the price surge to what he called “crazy terrorist attacks that the Iranian regime is launching against commercial oil tankers and neighboring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict.” He did not offer a clear date for the end of hostilities in the Middle East. The US president stated that Washington is close to achieving its strategic objectives in Iran and warned that military operations could intensify in the next two or three weeks. He also noted that the US could strike Iran “extremely hard,” sending it “back to the Stone Age,” which raised concern in the markets, increasing worries about potential additional damage to the energy infrastructure in the region. > Trump’s Iran Gamble Is Spiraling Out of Control: From Shock & Awe to Strategic Failure [https://orinocotribune.com/trumps-iran-gamble-is-spiraling-out-of-control-from-shock-awe-to-strategic-failure/] Aggression against Iran In the early hours of February 28, Israel and the US launched a joint aggression against Iran with the declared aim of “eliminating the threats” from the Islamic Republic. The bombings resulted in the murder of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several high-ranking military officials, including the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani; the commander of the Basij militia, Gholamreza Soleimani; and the minister of Intelligence, Esmaeil Khatib. Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the deceased supreme leader, was selected as his successor. As retaliation for the attacks, Iran has launched numerous waves of ballistic missiles and drones against Israel and against US bases in Middle Eastern countries. Additionally, the Islamic Republic carried out a series of massive attacks, targeting “oil facilities linked to the United States” in several Gulf countries, in response to the attacks on its energy infrastructure. Furthermore, Iran has almost completely blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime route through which around 20% of all the oil and gas traded in the world passes, causing fuel prices to soar. (RT [https://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/596751-precios-crudo-wti-disparan-amenazas-trump]) Translation: Orinoco Tribune OT/SC/DZ — From Orinoco Tribune [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/].
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