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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 34m

In Venezuela’s ‘darkest hours’, will the Nobel peace prize boost opposition or backfire? María Corina Machado’s Nobel award puts focus on country but analysts doubt it will produce democratic change. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

In Venezuela’s ‘darkest hours’, will peace prize boost opposition or backfire?

María Corina Machado’s Nobel award puts focus on country but analysts doubt it will produce democratic change

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 9h

Number of presidents between 2016-2025. It is immediately clear which countries have dictators.

🇵🇪Peru - 8
🇪🇨Ecuador - 4
🇧🇷Brasil - 4
🇨🇴Colombia - 4
🇺🇾Uruguay - 3
🇵🇾Paraguay - 3
🇧🇴Bolivia - 3
🇦🇷Argentina - 3
🇨🇱Chile - 3
🇲🇽Mexico - 3
🇩🇴RD - 2
🇳🇮Nicaragua - 1
🇻🇪Venezuela - 1

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Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 9h

The Andean Community trade bloc ruled that Peru is failing to meet its commitments to curb illegal gold mining and mercury trafficking, siding with Indigenous groups who say their Amazon rivers and food supply are being poisoned. apnews.com/article/peru...

South American trade bloc orders Peru to crack down on mercury trafficking and illegal gold mining

A South American trade bloc has ruled that Peru is failing to curb illegal gold mining and mercury trafficking.

apnews.com

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Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 9h

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is ready to sign a decree declaring a state of external emergency in response to what his government calls growing “threats” from the United States, which has amassed a growing military presence in the Caribbean. www.france24.com/en/americas/...

Venezuela's Maduro threatens to declare state of emergency over US boat attacks

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday threatened to declare a state of emergency in response to US attacks on suspected Venezuelan drug boats. Earlier in the day, his vice president said that…

www.france24.com

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 4h

Óscar Adolfo Naranjo?

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 9h

Number of presidents between 2016-2025. It is immediately clear which countries have dictators.

🇵🇪Peru - 8
🇪🇨Ecuador - 4
🇧🇷Brasil - 4
🇨🇴Colombia - 4
🇺🇾Uruguay - 3
🇵🇾Paraguay - 3
🇧🇴Bolivia - 3
🇦🇷Argentina - 3
🇨🇱Chile - 3
🇲🇽Mexico - 3
🇩🇴RD - 2
🇳🇮Nicaragua - 1
🇻🇪Venezuela - 1

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 9h

The Andean Community trade bloc ruled that Peru is failing to meet its commitments to curb illegal gold mining and mercury trafficking, siding with Indigenous groups who say their Amazon rivers and food supply are being poisoned. apnews.com/article/peru...

South American trade bloc orders Peru to crack down on mercury trafficking and illegal gold mining

A South American trade bloc has ruled that Peru is failing to curb illegal gold mining and mercury trafficking.

apnews.com

1 4

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 9h

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is ready to sign a decree declaring a state of external emergency in response to what his government calls growing “threats” from the United States, which has amassed a growing military presence in the Caribbean. www.france24.com/en/americas/...

Venezuela's Maduro threatens to declare state of emergency over US boat attacks

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday threatened to declare a state of emergency in response to US attacks on suspected Venezuelan drug boats. Earlier in the day, his vice president said that…

www.france24.com

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 1d

Rich in diversity, cultures and languages: regions of the different indigenous peoples of the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. A state full of culture, customs and traditions.

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 1d

As part of a series of security reforms by Mexico’s government, the country’s main civilian public security force, the national guard (federal police), has been placed under military command, extending the long-standing trend of militarization in fighting crime. insightcrime.org/news/mexico-...

Mexico Doubles Down on Militarization With National Guard Reform

InSight Crime spoke with an expert on civil-military relations about the implications of Mexico's National Guard reform for public security.

insightcrime.org

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 1d

The literal meanings of South American country names.

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 2d

Venezuelan government officials, hoping to avoid a clash with the U.S., offered the Trump administration a dominant stake in Venezuela’s oil and other mineral wealth in discussions that lasted for months.

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 2d

The decision is likely to anger U.S. President Donald Trump who has been campaigning to obtain the prize. Earlier today the White House on Friday criticized the choice: “The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace,” White House spokesperson Steven Cheung said.

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 2d

The Venezuelan opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, wins the Nobel Peace Prize 2025. She is an industrial engineer, ex-member of parliament, and known for challenging the Chávez and Maduro regimes. The Nicolás Maduro government has banned Machado from leaving Venezuela.

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 2d

A bit of good news: The World Bank nudged up its estimate for economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean next year, though the region remains the world’s slowest-growing due to stubborn inflation, high debt and rising uncertainties due to U.S. tariff policies. www.reuters.com/world/americ...

www.reuters.com

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 2d

To reiterate: the focus on Venezuelan drug trafficking is at odds with reality. The majority of cocaine is produced elsewhere in Latin America. Venezuela does not supply fentanyl at all. Most illicit drugs smuggled to the US is through the Pacific, not the Caribbean. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 2d

Peru’s Congress voted early Friday to remove deeply unpopular President Dina Boluarte from office as a crime wave grips the South American nation and quickly replaced her with 38-year-old lawyer José Jerí, the legislative body’s leader. apnews.com/article/peru...

Peru’s Congress removes President Boluarte as a crime wave grips the country

Peru’s Congress voted early Friday to remove deeply unpopular President Dina Boluarte from office as a crime wave grips the South American nation.

apnews.com

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Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 3d

Milei’s response was a rock concert. He sang covers clad in black leather and welcomed onstage with a shofar. He sang Hava Naguila with the audience. For the grand finale, Milei sang Nino Bravo’s Libre, with images of the Berlin Wall and of the attacks on Trump, Charlie Kirk and Jair Bolsonaro.

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Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 3d

John Lennon’s childhood home Menlove Avenue 251, Liverpool. Every year on the 9th October, his birthday, the city of Liverpool leaves the light on in his bedroom. He lived there with his Aunt Mimi and Uncle George Smith. Happy birthday!

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Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 3d

President Trump decided his government is in a formal “armed conflict” with drug cartels, categorized as terrorist organizations and that suspected smugglers for such groups are unlawful combatants. He is required to report to Congress of the US’s use of armed forces. apnews.com/article/trum...

Trump says US is in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels after ordering strikes in the Caribbean

President Donald Trump has declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and says the United States is now in an “armed conflict."

apnews.com

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Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 3d

Mexico imposed steep new tariffs on Chinese goods. The US pushed Mexico to raise tariffs on China, arguing it has become a backdoor for Chinese exports into the US. But Mexico’s move is self-serving: an import substitution strategy to favor domestic production www.elfinanciero.com.mx/nacional/202...

China rechaza ‘antidumping’ de México y amenaza con revisar aranceles e inversión: ‘Hemos sido prudentes’

China lamentó que México abriera cuatro investigaciones relacionadas con productos como tela recubierta de policloruro de vinilo, cinta autoadhesiva y pernos de acero.

www.elfinanciero.com.mx

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 3d

John Lennon’s childhood home Menlove Avenue 251, Liverpool. Every year on the 9th October, his birthday, the city of Liverpool leaves the light on in his bedroom. He lived there with his Aunt Mimi and Uncle George Smith. Happy birthday!

1 2

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 3d

President Trump decided his government is in a formal “armed conflict” with drug cartels, categorized as terrorist organizations and that suspected smugglers for such groups are unlawful combatants. He is required to report to Congress of the US’s use of armed forces. apnews.com/article/trum...

Trump says US is in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels after ordering strikes in the Caribbean

President Donald Trump has declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and says the United States is now in an “armed conflict."

apnews.com

5 1

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 3d

Mexico imposed steep new tariffs on Chinese goods. The US pushed Mexico to raise tariffs on China, arguing it has become a backdoor for Chinese exports into the US. But Mexico’s move is self-serving: an import substitution strategy to favor domestic production www.elfinanciero.com.mx/nacional/202...

China rechaza ‘antidumping’ de México y amenaza con revisar aranceles e inversión: ‘Hemos sido prudentes’

China lamentó que México abriera cuatro investigaciones relacionadas con productos como tela recubierta de policloruro de vinilo, cinta autoadhesiva y pernos de acero.

www.elfinanciero.com.mx

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 3d

Milei’s response was a rock concert. He sang covers clad in black leather and welcomed onstage with a shofar. He sang Hava Naguila with the audience. For the grand finale, Milei sang Nino Bravo’s Libre, with images of the Berlin Wall and of the attacks on Trump, Charlie Kirk and Jair Bolsonaro.

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