Rodríguez stressed that the conditions leading up to the election would be crucial, arguing that “an election must be a solution, not a generator of irreconcilable conflicts”.

On foreign policy, she called for stronger cooperation with the United States and thanked President Donald Trump for his willingness to restore diplomatic ties. She said both governments were discussing cooperation on energy, security and economic issues.

Rodríguez also reaffirmed Venezuela's claim over the Guayana Esequiba territory and called for renewed negotiations with Guyana. She also addressed Venezuelans living abroad, saying the country should become one “that many will want to return to”.

He said his government would pursue a “peaceful, practical and effective” defence of Argentina's position and called for negotiations towards a peaceful solution.

Milei also criticised the United Kingdom over what he described as unauthorised commercial activity in the disputed territory.

The Argentine president used his address to criticise the UN more broadly, arguing that it had moved away from its founding principles of resolving international disputes through diplomacy.

“Delcy Rodríguez does not represent us,” protester Andrés Velásquez said, accusing the government of neglecting problems at home, including struggling hospitals and declining wages.

Lawyer Lurys Elena Medina also criticised US President Donald Trump over Rodríguez's presence in New York, questioning Washington's engagement with the Venezuelan leader amid the country's economic and social difficulties.

Rodríguez's appearance marks the return of a high-level Venezuelan delegation to the General Assembly following significant changes in relations between Caracas and Washington.

She became acting president after US forces captured Nicolás Maduro during a military operation in Venezuela on January 3, 2026. The two countries later announced the restoration of diplomatic and consular ties in March.

Rodríguez arrived in New York on Monday, saying her UN agenda would focus on respect, cooperation and dialogue among nations. She is also scheduled to meet Trump during her visit.

“When Trump speaks of terrorism, he speaks of state terrorism,” Lula said. “Who did that? It was Bolsonaro, when he tried to stage the coup of 8 January. That is terrorism.”

Lula also referred to the “Green and Yellow Dagger” plan drafted by retired general Mario Fernandes, a former official in Bolsonaro's government. According to investigators, the document envisaged killing then president-elect Lula, vice-president-elect Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

Despite questioning the US designation, Lula compared the impact of criminal groups on communities to terrorism, citing extortion and restrictions imposed on residents.

“Those criminals are terrorists for the families who live in the neighbourhood,” he said.

Lula said organised crime had expanded its presence across Brazil's major cities and that authorities would focus first on disrupting criminal groups' logistics and movement before seeking to regain control of affected territories.

Public security has become a major issue ahead of Brazil's October 4 presidential election. Lula is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, with Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro's son, among his main opponents. An AtlasIntel/Bloomberg poll published on September 17 put Lula at 44.1% and Flavio Bolsonaro at 41.7% in a first-round scenario; the survey had a one-percentage-point margin of error.

Mamdani has previously criticised Netanyahu over the war in Gaza and explored whether New York could enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him, before acknowledging that the city lacked that authority. The Israeli ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, has since called for Mamdani’s arrest, while protests are expected in New York as the UN General Assembly opens its 81st session on 22 September.

“Where is the work being done to stop all the cartels or drug distributors in the US? What about money laundering in the US?” Sheinbaum asked, adding that Mexico was taking action against officials suspected of criminal links.

She also questioned what Washington was doing to address US drug consumption and the flow of weapons into Mexico, arguing that drug trafficking could not be tackled solely in countries where narcotics are produced or transported.

“What is being done about drug use in the US?” she asked, describing consumption as a public health issue requiring greater attention to young people.

Her comments came after Trump sent a memorandum to the US Congress calling on Mexico to act against public officials Washington says have links to criminal organisations.

Sheinbaum also rejected foreign intervention in Mexico, while stressing that the country remained open to cooperation with the US.

The demonstration briefly halted the civic-military parade outside the Morelos Government Palace. Scuffles broke out as security personnel attempted to contain the protesters, while some spectators urged officers to allow the demonstration to continue.

Morelos Attorney General Fernando Blumenkron said a judge had issued an arrest warrant for Francisco Javier "N", whom prosecutors identify as the suspected perpetrator of Tacoronte's killing.

"This person answers to the name Francisco Javier N and is attributed responsibility for Claudia's femicide," Blumenkron said.

Authorities have issued a wanted notice and expanded the search beyond Morelos to other Mexican states. Prosecutors stressed that the suspect is presumed innocent until his responsibility is determined by a court.

Shortly after 23:00 local time, Sheinbaum delivered the traditional proclamations honouring figures from Mexico's fight for independence. This year's ceremony also recognised Indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples and migrants, while celebrating freedom, equality, justice and democracy .

Sheinbaum concluded by hailing a free, independent and sovereign Mexico before ringing the historic bell and waving the national flag over the crowd.

The ceremony followed hours of musical and cultural performances in the Zocalo, with Intocable among the main acts. In 2025, Sheinbaum became the first woman in Mexican history to lead the traditional Grito from the National Palace.

The Grito commemorates Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla's call for resistance against Spanish rule on September 16, 1810. Mexico's independence struggle ended in 1821.

The initiative seeks to coordinate regional efforts against criminal organisations and transnational threats. Fujimori said the growing reach of criminal groups required countries to work together across borders.

"This criminality does not respect borders, and hence the need to join efforts with other countries," she said.

Rubio said Washington viewed the expansion of criminal organisations as a threat to security across the hemisphere and pledged US support for participating countries.

"We are going to help you in every way possible ... because it is also in our national interest not to have criminal gangs operating with impunity across the hemisphere," Rubio said.

He described the Shield of the Americas as an alliance aimed at confronting criminal and terrorist groups, some of which he said had acquired resources and capabilities exceeding those of national armed forces. Rubio said 14 countries were currently participating and expected the initiative to expand.

"It was an idea I initially had through localisation and telephony, and then I integrated it with a neural network," he said.

The system uses multiple drones equipped with different technologies, including thermal cameras that detect changes in temperature and humidity and tools designed to analyse conditions beneath the surface. The drones work together to identify and mark possible locations under collapsed buildings.

Villarreal said the technology was also adapted as bodies decomposed, with the system trained to identify indicators including bones, tissue, hair and nail residue.

According to Villarreal, his team has made more than 1,900 markings across affected buildings and may have helped locate hundreds of bodies, potentially approaching 2,000 by his own estimate.

Once a possible location is identified, volunteers and professional rescuers remove the rubble to verify the finding. "We have recovered family members and that has become a hope for many," Villarreal said, adding that the work is carried out voluntarily and families are not charged.

The team conducts much of its work at night, when reduced noise and interference are said to make some detection efforts easier.

The demonstration also served as a campaign platform for Flávio Bolsonaro, who is running for president in the October election . Speaking to supporters, he promised to reform the Supreme Court and said he would appoint five new justices if elected, while declaring that Moraes would lose his position. The rally came as Flávio and Lula remain closely matched in recent polling, highlighting the growing political importance of the dispute surrounding Brazil’s Supreme Court.

US Southern Command said the vessels were linked to drug-trafficking operations and acted as floating resupply stations in international waters, while the fishermen disputed the account. Ecuador’s Permanent Committee for the Defence of Human Rights filed a habeas corpus petition on their behalf. The judge also ordered Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry to seek explanations from the US Embassy and called for a search for fishermen still missing after the operations.

This is the subject of an explainer by Carolay, part of our Global South Voices team, which examines the debate over whether such images demonstrate state authority or risk crossing into dehumanisation. The discussion also touches on international humanitarian law and the treatment of the dead, as well as the rights and dignity of their relatives. The debate comes as De la Espriella’s government has adopted a more aggressive military approach towards armed groups, including several operations against FARC dissidents in Guaviare since taking office.

"This base will make us the most important logistics hub in the South Atlantic and will be fundamental for Argentina's geopolitical projection," Milei said, adding that he would urgently send a national sovereignty bill to Congress.

The president also announced faster sanctions under Law 26,659 against companies involved in oil extraction in areas Argentina considers to be under British occupation.

"The Falkland Islands are Argentine by history and by right. There is no discussion about it," Milei said, reaffirming that his government would continue pursuing the claim through diplomatic and legal means.

The Falkland Islands, around 500 kilometres off Argentina's coast, remain at the centre of a longstanding sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom. The dispute led to a 74-day war in 1982, in which 649 Argentine service members, 255 British personnel and three islanders were killed.

Petro delivered the lecture, titled Capital in the 21st Century: Political economy of the climate crisis, at UNAM's Alfonso Caso Auditorium.

He also criticised Argentine President Javier Milei's prominence at the World Economic Forum in Davos, saying he stopped attending the event after Milei was presented as a "hero."

"That day I stopped going to Davos and obviously they will never invite me again," Petro said.

The Mexico trip was Petro's first international visit since leaving office on August 7. Under Colombia's Constitution, former presidents require Senate authorisation to travel abroad during the year after leaving office, and Petro obtained permission before the trip.

During his stay, Petro met Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace and also agreed with writer Paco Ignacio Taibo II on the publication of his next book for the Spanish-speaking world.

"Co-operation does not mean subordination. Friendship does not mean renouncing our principles," Sheinbaum said. "I will firmly defend our sovereignty, our dignity and our independence."

On energy, Sheinbaum said the debt of state-owned oil company Pemex had been reduced by $20 billion, while production stood at 1.77 million barrels of oil and nearly five billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. She also highlighted a National Gas Pipeline Plan involving 141 billion pesos in projected investment through 2030.

Turning to security , Sheinbaum said intentional homicides had fallen by 51 per cent since she took office, equivalent to 44 fewer killings per day. She added that the daily average of high-impact crimes in 2026 had dropped by 54 per cent compared with 2018.

The National Emergency Operations Centre reported further damage in Sama, Inclan, Tacna, La Yarada-Los Palos and Ite, including fallen trees, signs and power lines. Kevin Vega, a meteorology analyst at Senamhi Tacna, said the strong winds were linked to DANA Bertha, an upper-level atmospheric system currently over the Pacific Ocean that is also contributing to rainfall and stronger winds in parts of central and southern Peru. Authorities are continuing to assess the damage and the number of affected families.

Beens said he began training Tsunami after developing a close bond with the dog following the death of his previous operational canine. "He is my companion, he is part of my life. Tsunami changed my world ," Beens said.

Tsunami has also taken part in international rescue missions. In 2023, he was deployed to Syria and Turkey following devastating earthquakes , where Beens said he helped locate nine people alive beneath the rubble.

The dog was later deployed following this year's earthquakes in Venezuela, where rapid response helped search teams locate 26 people . "Forty minutes after the earthquake we were already entering the rubble," Beens said.

The trainer credited Tsunami's abilities partly to the intelligence and problem-solving skills of Border Collies.

Beens now plans to retire Tsunami from rescue operations as two Border Collie puppies prepare to join the K-SAR ECID team.

Carlos Navarrete, Tarapaca's regional transport official, said authorities were working to clear the Marinero Desconocido road, a key route for freight traffic heading to the port of Iquique.

Zofri General Manager Enrique Montealegre said the financial impact was still being assessed and insurance procedures had begun. "Today, we are focused on restoring operations," Montealegre said.

Alamgir Butt, president of an automotive business association in the Zofri Industrial District, estimated losses to the sector at one billion Chilean pesos, around $1.08 million.

He also criticised what he described as a lack of communication from Zofri following the emergency.

Chile's National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response ordered evacuations in Zofri, the Industrial District and Marinero Desconocido areas due to the risk of further mudslides.

Textile worker Oriana Fernandez said she had been unable to service her debt for more than a year. "Wages are not enough, pensions neither. Unfortunately we have to turn, obviously, to the Government so that it can give us a solution, an answer," she said.

Another worker, Vaneza, said she had fallen into debt trying to pay for electricity and food as her wages failed to keep pace with the cost of living.

Fernando Moyano, president of an organisation representing indebted people, said the problem affected generations from pensioners borrowing to buy medication to young people taking loans to purchase bicycles or motorbikes for work.

Protesters called on President Javier Milei's government to introduce refinancing measures amid rising arrears. According to the Centre for Argentine Political Economy , 20.9 million people have debts within the financial system, with 5.8 million in arrears.

Mud, rocks and debris have covered parts of the road, preventing traffic from moving in either direction. One haulier criticised the response from authorities after spending four days stranded.

"There is no support from anyone, everything is a disaster. We pay tolls; we want a tow truck from the Ministry of Transport or the Atico council to tow us," he said.

Haulier Carlos Ordonez said he had begun selling boxes of fruit at reduced prices before they spoiled. "36 soles per box, so we can at least recover the investment, because we have lost a bit as it has spoiled over time," he said.

Ordonez also complained about uncertainty over when the highway would reopen. "They told us it would be just two days, and now it has been five days, and we are still here," he said.

The blockage affects more than 70 kilometres of the Panamericana Sur, one of southern Peru's main transport corridors.

Morales claimed Cerimedo had knowledge of alleged irregularities within Paz's government and suggested his detention could be connected to that information.

"He knows all the outrages they committed, including the president in his cabinet," Morales said. "They will release him at any moment."

Morales also accused Paz of following the positions of Cerimedo and his ministers and called on the Attorney General to conduct an "immediate, transparent" investigation while ensuring safeguards for Beller.

He further called for investigations into alleged irregularities and corruption that he claimed involved government officials.

Meanwhile, Bolivia's Supreme Court instructed that the case should not be placed under seal and called for proceedings to move quickly so Beller could access information about the investigation.

Across Colombia, the earthquake has left 23,392 homes destroyed and 127,608 damaged, while 287 people have died and 4,147 have been injured, according to Sunday's update from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management. Survivors in Cali say rebuilding will be difficult and could take years, but they remain determined to start again.

"This is the room where we are staying these days, while the Mayor's Office gives us assistance for lodging," he said. Pino Cordoba said the Medrano Neighbourhood Community Action Board had registered him as a victim and photographed the damage, but authorities had yet to visit.

"We are waiting for the Mayor's Office to come and see me," he said. He recalled escaping moments before his home collapsed after feeling the earthquake while having hot chocolate and bread.

"When I felt the tremor, I went out," he said. "As I was going up the stairs, I saw the building over there collapse... Thank God I had already got out."

Pino Cordoba said he has since relied on relatives and friends for food and other support while awaiting assistance.

The earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, with its epicentre near San Jose del Palmar in Choco. Authorities say 14 people have died and 139 have been injured in the department, with 468 homes destroyed, Viory reports. Nationwide, 287 people have been killed, 3,975 injured and 378 remain missing, according to the latest government figures.

President Keiko Fujimori led the drill from Lima's Plaza de Armas, presenting a hypothetical assessment of nearly 11,000 deaths, more than 165,000 injuries and around 2.2 million displaced people .

"If this had been real, this would be the report I would have to give," Fujimori said, stressing that the figures were part of the simulation and calling for continued disaster preparedness.

INDECI official Catherine Palacios said the exercise also marked 19 years since the 2007 Pisco earthquake. Fire Brigade official Marcos Pajuelo said the drill was aimed at testing emergency preparedness amid concerns over the prolonged period without a major earthquake along Peru's central coast.

According to the Geophysical Institute of Peru, the area has not experienced a large-magnitude earthquake since 1746, while seismic energy continues to accumulate due to the convergence of the Nazca and South American tectonic plates.

"To clarify, the Secretariat of National Defence rescue brigade was not approved by the Colombian Government ," Sheinbaum said.

"It is not a conflict ; there is no problem," she added, explaining that Colombia had requested food and medicines but required certification for rescue teams.

Mexico is continuing to send humanitarian aid aboard Hercules aircraft, including food and medical supplies requested by Colombian authorities. Sheinbaum said the military rescue brigade remained ready to deploy if authorised, noting that its members had participated in rescue operations in 98 countries.

According to the Mexican government, the brigade comprises 255 personnel from the Army, Air Force and National Guard, along with 20 K-9 teams.

Colombia has limited the entry of international rescue teams, although Mexico's Topos Azteca and two US-provided teams have been authorised. The earthquake has killed at least 265 people, injured 3,494 and left 496 missing, according to the latest figures. More than 25,000 families have been affected.

Mexico has also sent humanitarian aid to Colombia following the earthquake, with the government saying 58.5 tonnes of food, water and medicines would be delivered between 12 and 14 August. Juan Carlos Valencia, president of the Risaralda Departmental Assembly, thanked Mexico for its support. Meanwhile, queues continue at registration points as authorities assess damaged properties and document the losses of affected families.

The president said the emergency would allow the government to establish a "Miracle Fund" to channel domestic and international resources towards rebuilding hospitals, schools , homes, roads and airports damaged by the earthquake.

"I have decided to make use of the economic emergency, a mechanism provided for by our Constitution so that we can face this crisis as appropriate," he said.

De la Espriella said the disaster had struck at a particularly difficult time for Colombia's public finances, citing the country's high level of debt .

The government is also preparing temporary assistance for those affected, including rent subsidies, tax and financial relief, support with utility bills and aid for small businesses and traders.

"It is against the sell-out of Flavio Bolsonaro and his allies, who are simply trying to sell Brazil in exchange for a green card, for support in Donald Trump's elections ," student Luna said.

Demonstrators also criticised Tarcisio's management of education in Sao Paulo state. A survey by the APEOESP trade union association published in April recorded broad opposition within the education community to the state government's policies.

"We are on the streets in defence of our education , in defence of our country," demonstrator Pacu Haddad told Viory.

The protest comes as Brazil's political contest intensifies ahead of the 2026 presidential election, in which Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, is among the main contenders.

Images show damage in central and western parts of the country, including Cali, Manizales, Pereira and Quibdó. In Quibdó, a four-storey building collapsed, trapping people inside, while authorities assess the damage and emergency services work to determine the full extent of the impact.

The situation remains developing, with injuries and serious damage to buildings reported. This is the report from Carolay Morales in Colombia, from Global South Voices Network.

He said housing offenders in El Salvador would cost half as much as keeping them in the UK and would free up prison space . Farage also repeated his proposal for “Nightingale prisons”, saying Reform UK believes it could provide 12,000 additional prison places within the first 18 months of a Reform government. The comments came as Prime Minister Andy Burnham faced an “early release” controversy over plans to release around 6,000 criminals early to ease prison overcrowding.

Petro thanked the security forces responsible for his protection, defended his record and said he had never sought to remain in power beyond his constitutional term.

"Thank you for accompanying me, soldiers, for looking after me. I believe you leave better than when I entered. So, long live free Colombia!" he said.

Petro became Colombia's first democratically elected left-wing president in 2022.

His departure coincided with De la Espriella's inauguration at the USC Arena of the Universidad Santiago de Cali, marking the first presidential inauguration held outside Bogotá in decades.

"There is an official over there who does not like Brazil or Latin America and who is a Bolsonarist: the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. He does not like us," Lula said.

Lula also referred to Rubio's Cuban heritage, describing him as "perhaps a frustrated Latin American because his family left Cuba" and claiming the US secretary of state "hates Cuba, hates Colombia and hates Brazil."

The remarks come after Washington imposed a 25 per cent tariff on many Brazilian goods in July, followed by an additional 12.5 per cent levy linked to US measures against countries it says do not adequately restrict imports made with forced labour. Some products are exempt.

Lula said he learned of the latest tariff increase through the media and claimed it would leave Brazil with a $7.4 billion shortfall.

The diplomatic row followed remarks by Milei, who described Lula as an "ex-convict", a "thief" and "corrupt". Brazil subsequently withdrew its ambassador to Argentina, Julio Bittelli, and announced he would not return.

Quirno said Argentina would not retaliate and remained open to dialogue.

"There will be no diplomatic action in response to what Brazil does. Brazil has every right to make the decisions it makes," he said.

He also rejected Brazil's complaints about possible foreign interference in its electoral process, arguing that Lula had visited former Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner during her house arrest ahead of Argentina's 2025 elections .

"We are working and planning for the next eight hours. We hope to finish sooner, but since chemicals are involved, we are moving forward bit by bit," Quilicura Fire Chief Carlos Cid said.

Authorities said about 20 workers safely evacuated the facility when the fire broke out, with no deaths or injuries reported.

Around 300 firefighters and 40 fire engines were deployed. Police said preliminary information suggested the blaze may have been caused by an ammonia leak, although the cause remains under investigation.

Mayor Paulina Bobadilla criticised the company over repeated safety incidents, noting it was the fourth major emergency at the Panimex plant since 2013.

Authorities urged residents to stay indoors, keep windows closed and suspended classes in Quilicura as a precaution.

Trump said the initiative would help remove what he described as unqualified migrant drivers from US highways, claiming they had been involved in reckless driving that caused preventable deaths.

He also said more than 24,000 driver's licences issued to non-English speakers had been revoked, while over 28,000 licences issued to what he described as "illegal aliens" had been cancelled.

According to the White House, the programme will be jointly run by the Departments of Transportation , Veterans Affairs, Labour and War.

"Tell him how a president of a country that is not as rich as the United States can guarantee every Brazilian citizen the same health treatment that the president of the Republic will receive," Lula said.

The United States formally left the WHO on 22nd January 2026, a year after Trump ordered the withdrawal on his first day back in office. The WHO said Washington halted its funding and left about $260 million in unpaid contributions, warning the move leaves "both the United States and the rest of the world in a less safe situation."

Lula also highlighted his government's healthcare policies and the expansion of public health services in Rio de Janeiro during the hospital visit.

“We do not believe that this is going to have an impact on the diplomatic side of the two countries,” Ravier told reporters at the Casa Rosada.

He added that Argentina had no intention of allowing the dispute to affect trade between the two “brotherly peoples”, noting that both countries are major trading partners and members of Mercosur.

“It is part of the game,” Ravier said, adding that insults had come from both sides in the past but had not been taken to the diplomatic level by Argentina.

Milei called Lula a “thief” and a “criminal” during a Liberal Party event in Sao Paulo on Saturday, where he backed Flavio Bolsonaro’s presidential candidacy.

Lula later responded that Brazil would not accept anyone “sticking their nose where it does not belong”.

Brazil subsequently recalled its ambassador to Argentina, Julio Bitelli, for consultations.

Milei added that his government sees it as a mission to warn other countries to change course before facing similar consequences.

Several protesters voiced strong accusations against the foreign missions. One demonstrator claimed that those involved in the rescue efforts were not genuine humanitarian actors but part of a broader agenda tied to geopolitical interests.

"We are paying tribute to all the fallen neighbours who could not get out on June 24, placing a light for them so they can climb a step and so that God may keep them in a very beautiful place up there," said survivor Adriana Velasco.

Velasco reflected on how the disaster changed her life in a matter of seconds.

"I really have no words; there are no words to describe how one feels after having had everything and in 39 seconds for everything to end and for you to have nothing left," she told Viory.

Describing the emotional impact of the tragedy, she added, "You see sadness, a deep pain, and at least my soul torn apart and shattered to pieces." "They are from the neighbourhood association here in our building, OPP 33C. And they organised this mass for those who died in our building," survivor Yordan Pina said.

One month after the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, official figures show more than 5,300 people have died, 16,740 have been injured, 6,462 rescued, 17,907 displaced, and 190 buildings have collapsed nationwide.

"Bolivar's five republics are in the process of losing their independence and becoming a viceroyalty again. Perhaps Colombia more than Venezuela ," he said.

Petro alleged that De la Espriella was aligned with US interests rather than the Colombian electorate.

"Here in Colombia, the presidency of the one who is going to arrive on August 7 [Abelardo de la Espriella] is owed not to the people of Colombia, who voted mostly for another person, but rather he obeys the United States Department of State directly," he said.

De la Espriella narrowly defeated left-wing candidate Ivan Cepeda in the 21 June presidential run-off, securing 49.66 per cent of the vote against Cepeda's 48.70 per cent, according to the initial official count. US President Donald Trump publicly endorsed De la Espriella during the campaign.

Petro also criticised plans to hold the 7 August presidential inauguration at a military or police facility in Cauca, insisting such installations would remain under his authority until the end of his term.

"That president is innocent of everything he is accused of and there is no material evidence that can prove that Nicolas Maduro is guilty of any of the crimes he is accused of," Maduro Guerra said. "Our task here is to resist."

He also called for national unity, saying Venezuelans wanted peace , prosperity and respectful relations with other countries, while urging the return of both Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Maduro Guerra argued that lifting international sanctions was key to the country's economic recovery. "A broad national consensus is that they have to remove the blockade and sanctions so that we can take off as an economic power," he said.

Grassroots leader Gloria Lopez also addressed the rally, describing the legal proceedings against Maduro as a pretext to prolong his detention. She alleged the United States was motivated by Venezuela's oil and gold resources and said sanctions had worsened poverty.

The protest coincided with the third court hearing for Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores in New York , where Judge Alvin Wallerstein proposed 1st June 2027 as the start date for their trial.

"We are demonstrating with this Sovereign Brazil III that there is no crisis that prevents Brazil from continuing its path, from continuing with a growing economy ... We are going to finish the term growing by almost 3 percent in the three years of government," Lula said.

He criticised Washington for imposing the tariffs without consultation, arguing that countries were increasingly diversifying their trading partners and currencies .

"The abrupt decision of the US government to think that by applying the tariffs it applied without informing anyone, without speaking to anyone, the world was going to collapse," he said.

Lula added that the dispute had helped accelerate trade negotiations with other partners, including the conclusion of the long-delayed Mercosur-European Union agreement. "We have the conditions to emerge stronger from this crisis," he said, adding that Brazil was also pursuing new trade opportunities with other countries.

The additional 25 percent US tariffs on Brazilian imports took effect on Wednesday, with some products exempted.

Solano said the shortage of essential medicines had forced some patients to seek supplies on the black market.

"As ironic as it sounds, we have to go as far as the black market to be able to get supplies," he said. He also alleged that treatment disruptions had cost lives, saying he had seen fellow dialysis patients die because of a lack of medical monitoring.

Wilmer Bazurto, who is living with kidney disease and HIV, said the closure of his clinic affected hundreds of patients and warned that shortages of immune-system supplements were putting lives at risk.

"It is leading us to death little by little, and I do not know how much longer we will live," he said.

A video from Viory also showed patients waiting outside public hospitals for hours, with some elderly people seated in wheelchairs under the sun as they sought medical care. Patients accused the government of failing to respond to the worsening healthcare crisis.

The institute challenged the international narrative that portrays El Salvador as a “miracle” or a model to replicate, arguing that the country’s reality is shaped by a series of deeper challenges, including the erosion of democratic safeguards, restrictions on civic space and the use of communication strategies to influence public perception.

From democracy to autocracy

According to IDHUCA, El Salvador has moved away from democratic consolidation since 2019 and towards what it describes as an autocratic model, characterised by the weakening of institutional independence, restrictions on civic participation and the criminalisation of independent journalism and human rights defenders.

The institute acknowledged the significant reduction in violent deaths in recent years but argued that “less violence does not mean greater security”, pointing to concerns over legal uncertainty, weakened guarantees and the distinction between public safety and respect for the rule of law.

IDHUCA also questioned the idea of an economic “miracle”, arguing that current growth in areas such as tourism and commerce does not necessarily represent sustainable development, particularly in the absence of stronger redistributive policies .

The end of an unfinished democratic transition

The presentation examined El Salvador’s post-war period following the 1992 Peace Agreements, which ended more than a decade of civil conflict and established institutions designed to prevent abuses of state power, including the Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence of Human Rights (PDDH).

However, IDHUCA argued that the country never achieved a fully consolidated democracy. The institute identified longstanding weaknesses from previous administrations, including the influence of sectoral interests in public policy, the persistence of militarised approaches to security and policies focused on addressing immediate problems rather than their structural causes.

2019–2026: The consolidation of an authoritarian model

From 2019 onwards, IDHUCA described the country’s trajectory as a process of “democratisation in reverse”. The institute argued that key democratic institutions, including electoral authorities, the Legislative Assembly and the judiciary, have lost independence due to increasing concentration of power within the Executive Branch.

A central concern raised during the presentation was the prolonged use of the state of emergency, first introduced in March 2022 following a surge in homicides.

IDHUCA stressed that, under El Salvador’s Constitution, emergency measures are intended to be temporary. However, repeated extensions have transformed the suspension of certain rights into a long-term policy, according to the organisation.

The institute warned that this has weakened due process guarantees, allowing arrests based on suspicion, extending pre-trial detention periods and limiting access to legal defence. It also argued that the measure has expanded beyond addressing gang-related crime and has contributed to pressure against journalists, human rights defenders and other critical voices.

Pressure on civil society and forced exile

IDHUCA described the period between 2025 and 2026 as a stage of further consolidation of what it considers an authoritarian system, with civil society organisations operating in an increasingly hostile environment.

The institute cited the arrests of figures including lawyer and researcher Ruth Eleonora López Alfaro, constitutional lawyer Enrique Anaya and other community defenders as examples of what it described as the criminalisation of human rights work and public criticism.

According to IDHUCA, these actions have contributed to the forced exile of more than 40 journalists and at least 30 human rights defenders due to threats against their safety or that of their families.

For many in Tigray, the situation is creating a growing sense of insecurity, with communities caught in the middle of political uncertainty. Analysts caution that sidelining the structures set up after the conflict risks eroding the fragile balance achieved through the agreement. Should this trajectory continue, the stability that followed the end of the war may begin to deteriorate, casting doubt over the region’s path forward.