Previously, President Maduro proposed the creation of a Binational Economic Development Zone. On Wednesday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil and Colombia’s acting Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio held a meeting in Bogota, where Gil reiterated the importance of boosting land trade between the two countries.

“In the meeting, we reaffirmed our commitment to continue strengthening bilateral relations in all areas. In particular, we emphasized the importance of enhancing the Binational Economic Zone to boost the economy and cross-border trade between our peoples,” the Bolivarian official said.

He also expressed President Nicolas Maduro’s support for the ministerial meeting held July 15 and 16, aimed at taking action in support of Palestine, he added.

Gil is currently in Colombia to attend a meeting of the Hague Group, which is discussing legal and diplomatic measures in response to Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Previously, in March, Maduro sent a proposal to Colombian President Gustavo Petro for a border zone of “shared development” between the two nations. At the time, the Bolivarian leader explained that the proposal includes the creation of a bilateral space in several border areas, such as the Catatumbo region.

The Bolivarian leader also said the plan involves joint investments in sectors such as agriculture, agribusiness and tourism, through a “public-private effort.”

During a speech in Tibu, a municipality in the Catatumbo region, Petro said he would speak with Maduro about a special economic zone along the border. Earlier this year, guerrilla violence in that region left at least 70 people dead and displaced more than 55,000.

I also want to make a bet. I think that by the end of the century, maybe even sooner, the United States of America will not exist. Why? Because it’s not a nation, it’s a country that has been at war with all its neighbuors since the moment of its birth. Samuel Huntington described it as a fundamentally unstable structure and predicted that the language that will eventually become dominant there is Spanish. A huge proportion of the US population now speaks Spanish at home, and this part of the population is mostly Catholic, in contrast with the ‘enlightened’ Protestants who founded the country. These linguistic and cultural dynamics are very important. People care deeply about their native language: the one their mother used to sing them to sleep, the one they use to tell their partner that they love them. In California – a state that was torn away from Mexico, with an economy that’s the fourth largest in the world in terms of GDP – Spanish is spoken everywhere, more so than English. It is no wonder that the campaign for Californian independence is gaining traction, with a referendum to be held perhaps as early as next year. I don’t know whether it will work, but it is striking that a major state within the world’s leading power is already considering the possibility of secession. We’re going to see more of this. And the country’s dominant ideology – ‘every man for himself’ – is not going to hold it together.

too much cultural analysis, little bit of materialist analysis. noticeable amount of those people speaking spanish would join ice-s to get irish ascension to the labor aristocracy, just like civil rights produced clyburn.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warns of renewed and intensified military strikes against Iran if threatened, signaling a dangerous escalation in Middle East tensions. The situation raises urgent concerns over regional stability and the humanitarian impact of continued conflict.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Israel is prepared to launch further attacks on Iran with even greater force if provoked again. Speaking at a graduation ceremony for Israeli Air Force pilots, Katz emphasized that Israel’s military reach extends deep into Iranian territory, naming cities such as Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan as potential targets. He warned Iranian officials that “there is no place to hide” from Israeli strikes and stated, “If we must return, we will do so with greater force”.

These statements come shortly after the 12-day conflict in June, during which Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, citing concerns over Iran’s advancing nuclear program. The United States supported these operations with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, further intensifying the confrontation.

The conflict, known as the “12-day war,” began on June 13 when Israel initiated attacks on Iranian targets, triggering missile and drone exchanges. Iran retaliated by striking the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, located in Qatar. A ceasefire brokered by the United States was announced on June 24, temporarily halting hostilities.

Following these events, Katz has repeatedly underscored Israel’s determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He has described the situation as a “critical juncture” and warned that failure to act decisively would leave Israel vulnerable to existential threats.

In recent weeks, Katz also announced the launch of Operation “Black Flag,” targeting Houthi positions in Yemen in response to missile attacks on Israeli territory. He stated that Israel will continue to respond decisively to any threats from Iranian-backed groups across the region.

The escalation raises significant concerns about the adherence to international law and the protection of civilians. The targeting of nuclear infrastructure during ongoing diplomatic negotiations undermines efforts to resolve tensions peacefully. Reports indicate that the military strikes have resulted in numerous casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure in Iran, exacerbating humanitarian challenges.

The risk of further escalation threatens to destabilize the region, with potentially devastating consequences for civilian populations on all sides.

The recent declarations by Israel’s defense leadership reflect a hardened stance that prioritizes military action to neutralize perceived threats. The emphasis on striking “very significant targets” within Iran’s regime and infrastructure signals a readiness to intensify conflict if deemed necessary.

This trajectory underscores the urgent need for renewed efforts toward de-escalation and diplomatic engagement to prevent a broader regional war. The international community faces the challenge of addressing security concerns while upholding legal norms and minimizing human suffering.

The U.S. president made the announcement at the start of a meeting with NATO Secretary Rutte. On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Russian President Vladimir Putin with indirect tariffs of about 100% on his country if a peace agreement in Ukraine is not reached within 50 days.

The Republican politician made the remarks at the start of a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the White House’s Oval Office in Washington, D.C. “One of the reasons you’re here today is because I’m very unhappy with Russia,” Trump said, expressing growing frustration in recent weeks over Putin’s refusal to halt airstrikes on Ukraine. “We’re going to impose very severe tariffs if we don’t reach a deal in 50 days. Tariffs of approximately 100%, what we would call secondary tariffs,” the U.S. president said.

Secondary tariffs are duties imposed on third-party countries or entities that trade with a sanctioned nation. Trump’s remarks signal a shift in tone toward Putin. When he took office on Jan. 20, he had initially sought to engage with the Russian president in hopes of brokering a deal to end the war in Ukraine.

When Trump announced a wide-ranging package of global sanctions in April, he excluded Russia, arguing that the country was already subject to significant financial penalties. A turning point came on July 3, during a phone call between the two leaders, when Putin informed Trump that he would not abandon his objectives in Ukraine — a move that reportedly enraged the U.S. president.

In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose new sanctions on Russia if no progress is made toward a peace agreement, but until now, he had not specified a tariff figure.

President Donald Trump underwent a comprehensive medical exam that revealed he has a common vein disorder but cleared him of more serious illnesses, the White House said Thursday.

The White House disclosed the 79-year-old president’s medical information in response to speculation after photos showed Trump with swollen ankles.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump noticed the swelling in recent weeks and received a thorough evaluation by the White House medical unit.

He was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, which Leavitt described as a “benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70.”

Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when a person’s leg veins are damaged, restricting circulation and causing blood to pool in the legs, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Chronic venous insufficiency affects about 1 in 20 adults, and the risk increases with age, according to the clinic. Leavitt said Trump was not in any pain from the condition.

Leavitt also addressed bruises periodically visible on the back of Trump’s hand. She said they were caused by irritation from “frequent handshaking,” coupled with his aspirin regimen. The medical exam found no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease, Leavitt said.

Trump’s blood test results were all within “normal limits,” and an echocardiogram confirmed “normal cardiac structure and function” with “no signs of heart failure, renal impairment or systemic illness,” she added.

Leavitt said in Thursday’s briefing that bruising like that seen on Trump’s hands is a common side effect of regularly using aspirin, which Trump takes as part of a “standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.”

“The president remains in excellent health, which I think all of you witness on a daily basis here,” she said.

White House physician Sean Barbabella wrote in an April memo that Trump “remains in excellent physical health” and is “fully fit” to perform the duties of the presidency.