Colombians Begin Heading to the Polls - Abolish Capital!

[https://ikona.telesurenglish.net/content/uploads/2026/06/Colombia-2-1024x576.jpg.webp] They vote in presidential runoff between Ivan Cepeda and Abelardo de la Espriella. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, 13,742 polling stations will serve citizens eligible to elect the country’s next president. In this election, 1,414,661 Colombians will be able to cast their ballots from abroad. RELATED: Colombia Faces Stark Choice in Presidential Runoff Vote [https://www.telesurenglish.net/colombia-stark-choice-presidential-vote/] The opening ceremony for the elections was held in Bogota’s Bolivar Square, attended by President Gustavo Petro, National Registrar Hernan Penagos, and Mayor Carlos Galan. Petro urged his fellow citizens to “go out and vote by any means necessary, overcoming any obstacle, geographical or logistical difficulty,” recalling that the official election results will be those from the official count conducted by the judges, not the preliminary tally. In the presidential runoff, voters will choose between leftist Ivan Cepeda and far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, who have presented Colombia with two different proposals for addressing the armed conflict that has persisted for more than six decades. De la Espriella Admires Trump, Milei and Bukele In the first round of voting, De la Espriella, who calls himself “The Tiger,” won 43.74% of the vote. He is a lawyer who gained public prominence for defending public figures linked to paramilitarism or corruption, including former far-right President Alvaro Uribe and former Supreme Court Justice Jorge Pretelt. De la Espriella takes every opportunity to turn politics into a populist spectacle in which he embraces the positions that the far right typically promotes as its governing platform. During the election campaign, De la Espriella, the candidate of the “Homeland Defenders”, has publicly declared his admiration for U.S. President Donald Trump, Argentine President Javier Milei, and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. Advocating a “tough-on-crime” approach from Colombia’s presidency, De la Espriella has won Trump’s sympathy. Through social media, the Republican leader has said that if the Colombian lawyer wins, he will have “the full support and strength” of the United States. To address security problems, De la Espriella proposes building 10 mega-prisons with private financing in remote locations and without cellphone service. He also wants to eliminate the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), the transitional justice tribunal established under the 2016 peace agreement signed between the Colombian state and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). > With the second round of Colombia’s presidential election taking place today, now is a good time to watch our 2013 feature documentary ‘The Colombia Connection’ (@ColombiaDocu [https://x.com/ColombiaDocu]) directed by Pablo Navarrete (@pablonav1 [https://x.com/pablonav1]). > > The film features an interview with the leftwing politician… pic.twitter.com/cgO9d3LP1G [https://t.co/cgO9d3LP1G] > > — Alborada Films (@alboradafilms) June 21, 2026 [https://x.com/alboradafilms/status/2068613091999309843] Cepeda Has Dedicated His Life to Justice and Human Rights Historic Pact candidate Ivan Cepeda presents represents the option to continue the path of historic transformations initiated by outgoing President Gustavo Petro. He is the son of Manuel Cepeda Vargas, who was killed by state-linked paramilitary forces while driving from his home to work. For most of his life, legislator Cepeda, who holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Bulgaria and a master’s degree in international humanitarian law from France, has been actively involved in defending the victims of the armed conflict. Since 2010, Cepeda has promoted reparations and transitional justice legislation and has defended the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement. He became widely known for his 13-year legal battle against former President Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010), which ended with the far-right politician’s conviction for bribery in criminal proceedings and procedural fraud. Recently, in line with his political and professional career, Cepeda filed complaints against De la Espriella with Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office and the International Criminal Court (ICC) over ties to paramilitarism. On security, Cepeda proposes addressing the root causes of violence: poverty and inequality. In addition to committing to implement the 2016 Peace Agreement, he will continue negotiations with armed groups if they refrain from killing social leaders. In recent weeks, the Historic Pact candidate has received public endorsements from center-right and even right-wing politicians, intellectuals, and artists, who view De la Espriella as a very serious threat to Colombia’s peace, development, and sovereignty. > #Colombia [https://x.com/hashtag/Colombia] | President Gustavo Petro has revealed the discovery of an unauthorized financial fund based in Miami, Florida, designed to destabilize his administration’s public image. > > Petro identified political figures, including Federico Gutierrez, alongside international… pic.twitter.com/09rSevFylN [https://t.co/09rSevFylN] > > — teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) June 17, 2026 [https://x.com/telesurenglish/status/2067324490430705985] teleSUR/ JF Sources: EFE – RTVE – teleSUR — From teleSUR English [https://www.telesurenglish.net/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://www.telesurenglish.net/feed/].

Iran to Pursue U.S. Fulfillment of MoU Obligations in Switzerland Talks - Abolish Capital!

[https://ikona.telesurenglish.net/content/uploads/2026/06/Esmail-Baghaei-1024x577.jpg.webp] The initiation of negotiations on a final agreement is conditional upon ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Sunday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran is determined to pursue the U.S. implementation of its commitments under a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the upcoming meeting in Switzerland. RELATED: Pakistan Says Technical Iran-US Negotiations Start Tomorrow in Switzerland [https://www.telesurenglish.net/pakistan-says-technical-iran-us-negotiations-start-tomorrow-in-switzerland/] In a post on social media platform X, Baghaei said that the scheduled meeting between Iran and the United States later in the day is aimed at following up on the MoU’s implementation. According to the MoU, the initiation of U.S.-Iran negotiations on a final agreement is conditional upon ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, lifting U.S. naval blockade, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. issuance of waivers for Iran’s exports of crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, and releasing Iranian frozen assets. Without implementing those provisions, especially the one related to ending the war on all fronts, it will not be possible to enter talks on the final agreement, the spokesman stressed. > ⚡ [https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/26a1.png]🇶 [https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f1f6.png]🇦🇮 [https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f1e6-1f1ee.png]🇷🇺 [https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f1f7-1f1fa.png]🇸 [https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f1f8.png]🇵🇰 [https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f1f5-1f1f0.png] — The Qatari Foreign Ministry confirms the launch of the “Lake Lucerne Summit,” initiating high-level quadrilateral talks between the U.S., Iran, Qatar, and Pakistan to secure a comprehensive memorandum agreement — Qatari Foreign Ministry / Al Jazeera. > > ➡ [https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/27a1.png] Qatar… pic.twitter.com/mGPMGhlKzF [https://t.co/mGPMGhlKzF] > > — MaxOsint Intel (@maxosintintel) June 21, 2026 [https://x.com/maxosintintel/status/2068681365063651402] His remarks come as Iran’s negotiating team, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, and Deputy Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Bagheri Kani, is currently in Zurich, Switzerland, for talks with the U.S. delegation. Iran, the United States and Pakistan last week announced the finalization of the MoU on ending the war in the region on all fronts, including Lebanon. On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the region, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States. > At a recent press conference, the President of #Mexico [https://x.com/hashtag/Mexico], Claudia Sheinbaum, said that #FIFA [https://x.com/hashtag/FIFA] representatives had reached out to discuss logistics for the Iranian national football team. While Iran is scheduled to play three matches in the United States, Mexico has officially… pic.twitter.com/Q8SVTHhq1F [https://t.co/Q8SVTHhq1F] > > — teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) May 25, 2026 [https://x.com/telesurenglish/status/2058982810078052713] teleSUR/ JF Source: Xinhua — From teleSUR English [https://www.telesurenglish.net/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://www.telesurenglish.net/feed/].

WikiLeaks - Profile: Sarah Harrison

Colombia Kills Senior FARC Dissident Leader Marlon - Abolish Capital!

[https://ikona.telesurenglish.net/content/uploads/2026/06/S-cdYQAX-1024x576.jpg.webp] President Petro calls his death the most significant blow against armed criminal structures. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Saturday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the death in combat of Ivan Idrobo (aka Marlon), who was the top commander of the FARC dissident factions under the leadership of Nestor Vera, (aka Ivan Mordisco). RELATED: Colombia Faces Stark Choice in Presidential Runoff Vote [https://www.telesurenglish.net/colombia-stark-choice-presidential-vote/] “I do not like to speak about the dead because they are Colombians who should not be dead if there were peace. But alias Marlon, the Cauca front’s top leader, who had confronted the government and killed Indigenous people and the people of Cauca, the second-in-command to alias Ivan Mordisco, has been killed in combat,” he said. “It is the hardest blow we have dealt to the mafia’s armed structures in western Colombia. Judging by the number of rifles seized, people arrested, and children freed, that organization’s structure in Cauca has already been defeated.” “Peace is the path, but not with naivety. Victory for the nation’s army and greater security for Colombia. Colombia can disconnect itself from illicit economies and build its peace,” Petro stressed. Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said Marlon was killed during a joint operation by the Armed Forces and the National Police in the village of San Isidro, a rural area of Buenaventura, in Valle del Cauca department. > With the second round of Colombia’s presidential election taking place today, now is a good time to watch our 2013 feature documentary ‘The Colombia Connection’ (@ColombiaDocu [https://x.com/ColombiaDocu]) directed by Pablo Navarrete (@pablonav1 [https://x.com/pablonav1]). > > The film features an interview with the leftwing politician… pic.twitter.com/cgO9d3LP1G [https://t.co/cgO9d3LP1G] > > — Alborada Films (@alboradafilms) June 21, 2026 [https://x.com/alboradafilms/status/2068613091999309843] He described Marlon as “the most dangerous murderer, terrorist and recruiter of minors in the country’s southwest,” adding that he was wanted by the United States on drug trafficking charges and for his ties to Mexican cartels. Marlon led the Jaime Martinez Bloc, one of the strongest blocs of the Central General Staff (EMC). He was also accused of coordinating armed attacks, extortion operations and territorial control activities in several parts of that department. According to security agencies, Marlon had accumulated more than 15 years of criminal activity. Before joining the dissident factions, he belonged to the former FARC, was convicted of crimes related to rebellion and arms trafficking, and returned to armed activity in 2019 after the 2016 peace agreement. The announcement of his death came 12 hours before the start of the presidential runoff between far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella and leftist candidate Ivan Cepeda. During the political campaign, security occupied a central place in the political debate because of the deterioration of public order and the increase in the activities of illegal armed groups. > ⚽ [https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/26bd.png]🎶 [https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f3b6.png] From Colombia to the World Cup stage! > > Legendary Colombian band Los Corraleros de Majagual sends a special greeting to teleSUR as they head to Mexico to take part in the World Cup festivities. > > Music, culture, and football come together in a celebration that goes far… pic.twitter.com/UVn3xrWK1r [https://t.co/UVn3xrWK1r] > > — teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) June 20, 2026 [https://x.com/telesurenglish/status/2068395511002865768] teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE — From teleSUR English [https://www.telesurenglish.net/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://www.telesurenglish.net/feed/].

Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz After US-Israeli Violations of MoU - Abolish Capital!

Iran’s central military command has officially declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all maritime traffic, citing US and Israeli violations of a memorandum of understating between Tehran and Washington. In a formal statement on Saturday, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said the closure comes in response to “the explicit breach of the first clause of the post-war memorandum of understanding by the United States” and “the Zionist regime’s continuous and ongoing violations of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon.” The statement began with a Quranic verse explaining the need to fight anti-religion forces who break their promises. It said the closure of Hormuz is also a response to the Israeli regime’s continuous and ongoing violation of a ceasefire it has agreed to with the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The statement added that the Israeli attacks have led to “brutal killings and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of oppressed people” in southern Lebanon, adding that the Israeli regime has also failed to withdraw its forces from those territories. The military command said that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is the first step in response to the breach of commitments under the MoU by the US and its allies, adding that Iran will adopt further measures to compel the enemy to fulfill its obligations. The Iran-US MoU, signed by presidents of the two countries early on Wednesday, was aimed at permanently ending the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, which began in late February and was halted by a ceasefire in early April. The 14-article MoU requires Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for global energy flows, provided that the US and its allies completely end their aggression against Iran and its regional allies. > Iran, US Presidents Sign Islamabad MoU Digitally as War-Ending Deal Finalized: FM Spox [https://orinocotribune.com/iran-us-presidents-sign-islamabad-mou-digitally-as-war-ending-deal-finalized-fm-spox/] IRGC warns all ships to stay away from Hormuz The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy also issued a stern warning to all ships transiting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, saying the Strait of Hormuz is closed and cautioning that approaching vessels will face consequences. The statement warned all vessels to refrain from entering the strategic waterway, stating that the security of vessels that defy the order would be in danger. “Absolutely refrain from any movement in the Strait of Hormuz until further notice,” the statement said. It said the measure was being taken due to the Israeli regime’s aggression in Lebanon and the United States violations of its commitments in upholding the ceasefire. (PressTV [https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2026/06/20/770800/Iran-closes-Strait-of-Hormuz-after-US-Israeli-violations-of-MoU-]) — From Orinoco Tribune [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/].

Israeli Strike Deliberately Killed Cameraman in Gaza - Abolish Capital!

[https://ikona.telesurenglish.net/content/uploads/2026/06/Ahmed-Wishah-1024x578.jpg.webp] Al Jazeera calls for international accountability after the death of Ahmed Wishah. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Saturday night, Al Jazeera said Israeli occupation forces deliberately killed cameraman Ahmed Wishah, who was struck in an airstrike while at his home in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. RELATED: Israeli Troops To Remain in Lebanon Despite Ceasefire: Katz [https://www.telesurenglish.net/israeli-troops-to-remain-in-lebanon-despite-ceasefire-katz/] Al Jazeera reiterated its call on the international community and judicial institutions to adopt “urgent and practical measures that hold the Israeli officials involved in these atrocious crimes accountable.” Two other Gazans were killed in the attack that claimed Wishah’s life, Civil Defense rescue teams reported. On Saturday, Israeli occupation forces also killed six other Palestinians in attacks across Gaza. The killing of Wishah, a correspondent for the Arabic-language Mubasher service, brings to 12 the number of Al Jazeera media professionals killed by Israel in Gaza since the country launched its military offensive in October 2023. Among them was Ahmed’s brother, Mohamed Wishah, who was also killed months earlier when Israel carried out a drone strike on his vehicle in Gaza that also killed a second passenger. The Israeli military, as it has routinely done and without providing evidence, alleged that Ahmed Wishah was a “Hamas sniper,” an accusation similar to the one it made against his brother in April. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has killed at least 259 journalists and media workers, 207 of whom were killed in Gaza. These figures sets a record, as no other country has killed so many journalists over the past three decades. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that two Palestinian media workers died in Israeli detention centers. The Zionist state has also killed 31 Yemeni journalists and 16 Lebanese journalists during the wars against Gaza and Iran. > Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei reaffirms that the ceasefire in Lebanon is part of—and will remain part of—the agreement between #Iran [https://x.com/hashtag/Iran] and the #UnitedStates [https://x.com/hashtag/UnitedStates], since the attacks carried out in that country are not unrelated to Israel’s attacks in the… pic.twitter.com/LTbWpKnqCo [https://t.co/LTbWpKnqCo] > > — teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) May 4, 2026 [https://x.com/telesurenglish/status/2051415191632703735] teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE – Al Jazeera — From teleSUR English [https://www.telesurenglish.net/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://www.telesurenglish.net/feed/].

Israeli Troops To Remain in Lebanon Despite Ceasefire: Katz - Abolish Capital!

[https://ikona.telesurenglish.net/content/uploads/2026/06/Israeli-occupation-forces-1024x576.jpg.webp] They will maintain positions in a security zone as fighting continues. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli military “will not withdraw” from the area it occupies in southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire agreed to with Hezbollah. RELATED: Israeli attacks kill 47 in Lebanon as talks stall [https://www.telesurenglish.net/israeli-kill-47-lebanon-as-talks-stall/] He argued that the ceasefire announced on Saturday allows the Israeli military to maintain “all of its positions in the security zone that protects northern communities.” Katz also said the Israeli military will continue “operating from there into the interior against terrorists and terrorist infrastructure” during the truce. Despite the supposed ceasefire, the Israeli occupation army has continued attacking Lebanon in recent days, leaving at least 50 people dead and dozens injured. Since the offensive began in March, however, Zionist forces have killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon. In response to the Zionist aggression, Hezbollah launched more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces on Friday night. In clashes with the resistance movement early Sunday, four Israeli soldiers were killed. > Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei reaffirms that the ceasefire in Lebanon is part of—and will remain part of—the agreement between #Iran [https://x.com/hashtag/Iran] and the #UnitedStates [https://x.com/hashtag/UnitedStates], since the attacks carried out in that country are not unrelated to Israel’s attacks in the… pic.twitter.com/LTbWpKnqCo [https://t.co/LTbWpKnqCo] > > — teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) May 4, 2026 [https://x.com/telesurenglish/status/2051415191632703735] teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE — From teleSUR English [https://www.telesurenglish.net/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://www.telesurenglish.net/feed/].

Cuba blasts Rubio for lying about US fuel blockade - Abolish Capital!

Cuba’s foreign minister has condemned US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over his denial of an oil blockade against Cuba. — From Presstv [https://www.presstv.ir/rss/rss-107.xml] via This RSS Feed [https://www.presstv.ir/rss/rss-107.xml].

Sheinbaum Opens School, Expands Student Enrollment - Abolish Capital!

Claudia Sheinbaum, Tijuana, Baja California, technological high school, education expansion, upper secondary education, Rita Cetina scholarship, Mexico. [https://ikona.telesurenglish.net/content/uploads/2026/06/HLTUObeWEAAXTrM.jpg.webp] #### Mexico’s president announced 200,000 new upper secondary school places while inaugurating a new technological campus in Tijuana. — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum inaugurated the Technological Industrial and Services High School No. 290 in the Natura neighborhood of Tijuana, Baja California, on Saturday, announcing the creation of 200,000 new places for upper secondary education students nationwide. RELATED: Sheinbaum Downplays Trump’s Claim That Drug Cartels Run Mexico [https://www.telesurenglish.net/sheinbaum-downplays-trumps-claim-that-drug-cartels-run-mexico/] The announcement came during the second day of her working tour of Baja California, where students showcased two robotic prototypes, a humanoid robot and a robotic dog, developed at the newly opened institution. According to Sheinbaum, the federal government is carrying out 500 education infrastructure projects between 2025 and 2026. The initiative includes expanding secondary schools, opening afternoon shifts for upper secondary education, and constructing new campuses. > En Tijuana, Baja California, la presidenta @Claudiashein [https://x.com/Claudiashein] entregó tarjetas Beca Rita Cetina para estudiantes de primarias públicas. En agosto reciben apoyo anual de dos mil 500 pesos para útiles y uniformes escolares.  > > Nueve millones de estudiantes en el país cuentan con esta… pic.twitter.com/5KLF7f5Z7M [https://t.co/5KLF7f5Z7M] > > — Gobierno de México (@GobiernoMX) June 21, 2026 [https://x.com/GobiernoMX/status/2068517693779562722] Text Reads: In Tijuana, Baja California, President @Claudiashein [https://x.com/Claudiashein] handed out Rita Cetina Scholarship cards to students in public elementary schools. In August, they receive annual support of two thousand five hundred pesos for school supplies and uniforms. Nine million students in the country have this scholarship that guarantees equal conditions for all girls and boys. The increase in enrollment capacity is supported by the implementation of the new Margarita Maza National High School model, which operates alongside other educational pathways to ensure access to school places under the principle that education is a right rather than a privilege. The inauguration was attended by Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, Tijuana Mayor Ismael Burgueño, and Public Education Secretary Mario Delgado. Ávila Olmeda said the federal government’s focus on expanding educational opportunities in historically underserved communities would strengthen opportunities for young people in the state. She also highlighted the presence of the Rosario Castellanos National University alongside the new technological high school. During the same visit, Sheinbaum met with parents and primary school students to distribute Bienestar cards for the Rita Cetina scholarship program. She reported that nine million children will receive financial assistance during the current school year to help families purchase school supplies and school uniforms across the country. [https://ikona.telesurenglish.net/content/uploads/2026/06/HLSxx8qXQAAMIRu-1.jpg.webp] The president also called for a national discussion on the amount of time children spend using mobile phone screens and whether their use should be allowed in schools, citing research linking prolonged exposure to anxiety. She encouraged families to establish regular nighttime routines, promote reading, and revive traditional games such as spinning tops, marbles, and matatenas. She also urged children to take pride in Mexico’s history, its culture of work, and the values of love for family, others, nature, and the country. — From teleSUR English [https://www.telesurenglish.net/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://www.telesurenglish.net/feed/].

Venezuela’s WHO Vaccine Access Still Blocked, Says VP for Science, Technology, and Health - Abolish Capital!

Despite having the necessary foreign currency resources, Venezuela cannot access vaccines and medicines through the channels created by the World Health Organization (WHO) via the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). This is due to the unilateral coercive measures and the economic blockade imposed by the United States regime. This was stated by the vice president of Venezuela for Science and Technology, Health, and Ecosocialism, Isabel Iturria, in an interview, where she noted that this situation is incomprehensible and impossible to understand. She emphasized that these vaccines are meant to protect the population, not to produce weapons of mass destruction, nor to harm anyone, adding that Venezuela has had to perform acrobatics to cope with the situation. The full interview follows. **—What kind of country do we have after January 3?**Undoubtedly, January 3 had an extraordinary impact on the Venezuelan government and people, and even beyond Venezuela, I believe, on the world. Seeing what happened materialize raises concerns about international relations and leads to a different perspective. For us, in particular, there was an initial moment of shock—that instant of confronting reality. Once again, US military superiority was evident. I believe that it was a clear military defeat for Venezuela, just as it had been a military defeat for Commander Chávez on February 4 [1992]; however, with his slogan of “for now,” Chávez transformed that military defeat into an ethical and political victory. In the end, I believe that is what is happening in Venezuela: from that military defeat, an ethical and political victory has emerged, which has been led in a very special way by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez in terms of maintaining peace in Venezuela, preventing the spread of chaos, and even preventing an outbreak of conflict among Venezuelans. The economy was stabilized, and the continued functioning of the state was ensured. The Supreme Court met, analyzed the grave and unprecedented circumstances, and formulated a response within the constitutional framework. This guaranteed peace in the country… The pursuit of unity and the peaceful resolution of disputes among Venezuelans is a vital element that has been revalued since January 3. I believe progress has been made in the unity of the Venezuelan people, who have embarked on this nationwide pilgrimage called for by the acting president and the government. United we can build a future together, in which we can continue to live together and maintain our values and the things that unite us, from what we eat to what we sing—from lulling children to sleep with the national anthem, as the Conny Méndez song says, to the possibilities of great changes that have come from from the National Assembly: the Amnesty Law that has allowed freedom for a huge number of people, and the modification of the Hydrocarbons Law to facilitate foreign investment and public-private partnerships in Venezuela for the development of oil resources. That is, there has been a set of changes that were energized, for better or for worse, by that bombardment, but that somehow generated progress within the great blow that January 3 represents for Venezuelans. **—One of the first measures taken by the acting president was the launch of the Health and Life Plan. What is the message behind this initiative?**February had not even begun, and I had not yet been assigned this responsibility that is keeping me busy these days, when the acting president launched the 2026 Health and Life Plan from the University Hospital of Caracas. She instructed us to identify the needs felt by the Venezuelan people—needs that we could address quickly with very few resources, given the blockade under which we live. At that time, we identified three aspects in the 1×10 Good Governance program as pressing needs that could be addressed without requiring prolonged hospitalizations and with supplies that we can partially obtain within the country. So, three areas were identified: hemodynamics, pacemakers, and cataract care. These are three sectors that primarily serve the elderly, who have been severely affected by the US-generated economic crisis. Doctors and healthcare teams that regularly work in our hospitals were more than willing to take up this task. They accepted the challenge of the increased number of patients and did so so with quality, speed, and with limited resources. We have made significant progress, such as creating an electronic medical record for these patients treated in the hemodynamics and pacemaker units. This electronic record not only allows us to plan and track the supplies used, but also to properly monitor these patients, who must be monitored in subsequent years to guarantee their quality of life. In these months of great difficulty, we have been able to perform more hemodynamic procedures in public hospitals than ever before in the history of Venezuela. I did not imagine we could do so much; the effort has been immense… I believe there have been extraordinary advances in these four months, and, as the acting president says all the time, the main achievement is that we maintain peace and are able to achieve, even amidst our differences, the reconciliation and unity of the Venezuelan people. That is why we are marching through the streets. The number of catheterizations has increased to levels never before seen in our public hospitals. Significant progress has also been made in pacemaker implantation. Over 15,000 patients have undergone cataract surgery. These are people whose quality of life has been transformed after these procedures. **—What has happened to the vaccines and medicines?**If we talk about health and understand it according to constitutional principles, health promotion, quality of life, and prevention are core strategies for the design of our National Public Health System. From that perspective, vaccines are a fundamental element. Supply has been very difficult. The sanctions themselves prevent Venezuela from paying for vaccines, even though it has the resources to do so. Currently, the usual purchasing mechanism that we use in Venezuela and in most countries of the world—the WHO’s Revolving Fund, the PAHO Revolving Fund, and the WHO Regional Office for the Americas—which is a mechanism through which a virtually global plan is developed for the acquisition of vaccines by different countries, is completely halted. The regular vaccine supply chain, which usually had a quarterly plan in Venezuela, is now at a standstill. The United States has not donated any vaccines, nor has it allowed us to pay for them. We have received donations from Brazil, for which we thank President Lula, who, just as he helped us with dialysis supplies, has also assisted us with the provision of some vaccines. This has helped us to make progress in some areas, but in others we are facing difficulties, as the logistics chain is not functioning smoothly. Nevertheless, this year we were able to launch the yellow fever vaccination program. We conducted a training campaign for our students at the University of Health Sciences as vaccinators. The program was deployed in affected states. Now we are working intensively on a rabies vaccination plan for dogs and cats throughout the country. This is a task in which we not only protect pets, but also human lives. In short, regarding vaccines, we are facing a blockade. It is incomprehensible. No one can claim that vaccines will be used to harm anyone, to start a war, or to produce a weapon of mass destruction; vaccines can only be used to protect people from diseases. However, they are part of what the blockade is and the difficulties we have to deal with. **—Where were you when the acting president called you for this responsibility?**I was at home. **—Were you surprised?**Of course. We had already discussed some changes she was considering at the SSO [Social Security System] within the Ministry of Health, but at that time, the position of vice president for the sector, which is different from the minister, was not planned. Vice presidents had previously been ministers from their respective areas; however, in this administration, we have two vice presidents: one for Finance and the other for the Economy. In my case, the vice president is not a minister, but rather another individual, partly because these are particularly complex and important fields at this critical time. The aim is to have an additional person to assist in the planning and coordination of the tasks and strategies that arise here. So, yes, it was a surprise. **—Moreover, you did not want to leave the Children’s Cardiology Institute, right?**I never want to leave the cardiology center, and I have not. Yes, one can set a condition, although we are not here to set conditions, but to work wherever we are assigned, for as long as we are assigned, and to do our best. I always say: leave me with my tasks at the cardiology center, and when I finish the tasks you assigned me here, send me back to the cardiology center, because that is my reason for being and my work in this life. > Washington’s Influence Visible as Jorge Rodríguez and Dinorah Figuera Convene in Caracas (+Opposition Frictions & Government Missteps) [https://orinocotribune.com/washingtons-influence-visible-as-jorge-rodriguez-and-dinorah-figuera-convene-in-caracas-opposition-frictions-government-missteps/] Isabel Iturria graduated from the Central University of Venezuela (with a magna cum laude mention) in 1991. She graduated as a specialist in Internal Medicine in 1995 and in Cardiology in 1998. She has a degree in Cardiology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain. She completed a Diploma in Public Health Administration, a course in Hospital Administration and Health Services Management (Tokyo), and since 2006 she has been the president of the Dr. Gilberto Rodríguez Ochoa Latin American Children’s Cardiology Hospital Foundation, created by former President Hugo Chávez in Montalbán, Caracas. (Ultimas Noticias [https://ultimasnoticias.com.ve/mas-vida/isabel-iturria-por-el-lado-de-las-vacunas-estamos-bloqueados/]) by Manuel Abrizo, with Orinoco Tribune content Translation: Orinoco Tribune OT/JRE/SC — From Orinoco Tribune [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://orinocotribune.com/feed/].