Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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

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.

1

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

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 · 9h

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.

1 4 5

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

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

2

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

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/...

1 1

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

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

1 5

Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

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

Argentine President Milei heads into critical midterm elections in wounded condition, hit by currency fluctuations and a population increasingly angry about corruption scandals involving his top advisers, whic are threatening to derail Milei’s free-market reforms. www.ft.com/content/80c5...

Argentines are losing patience with Milei’s economy

Libertarian leader has slashed inflation but austerity and strong peso have stalled activity

www.ft.com

1 1

Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

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

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.

2

Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

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

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

Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

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

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

Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

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

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

1 3

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

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 · 1d

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 · 1d

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

1 3

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

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.

2

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

Argentine President Milei heads into critical midterm elections in wounded condition, hit by currency fluctuations and a population increasingly angry about corruption scandals involving his top advisers, whic are threatening to derail Milei’s free-market reforms. www.ft.com/content/80c5...

Argentines are losing patience with Milei’s economy

Libertarian leader has slashed inflation but austerity and strong peso have stalled activity

www.ft.com

1 1

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

Richard Grenell, a special presidential envoy for Venezuela who negotiated with Maduro, was told by Trump that diplomatic outreach was to stop. The Trump administration has drawn up multiple military plans for an escalation, including plans to force Maduro from power. www.reuters.com/world/americ...

www.reuters.com

2 1 1

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

From the Caribbean to the Pacific: piracy is rising in Latin America. This continent accounts for 10-15% of incidents worldwide. The attacks are in critical zones, such as the Gulf of Mexico, the Venezuelan/Colombian Caribbean and the Pacific coast of Ecuador/Peru. insightcrime.org/news/caribbe...

2 5

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

In Oaxaca, Mexico, many indigenous people live, each with their own native language group. Here’s an example for the word ‘bird’ (ave) throughout this culturally magnificent state.

1 1 9

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

The US and Mexico held the first meeting of the Security Implementation Group, and launched Mission Firewall, a new effort to curb cross-border gun trafficking. The initiative expands Mexico’s use of US tracing tools like eTrace and ballistic imaging to all 32 states. www.state.gov/releases/off...

First Meeting of the U.S.-Mexico Security Implementation Group Launches Mission Firewall: United Against Arms Trafficking Initiative - United States Department of State

On Friday, September 26, 2025, representatives from six United States government agencies and their Mexican government counterparts convened the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Mexico Security Implement...

www.state.gov

1 1

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

Whoever governs Mexico is never just a local story. Mexico matters more than the world often realizes. It is the US top trading partner, the world’s 12th-largest economy, and the hinge of the Americas: decisions ripple across supply chains, migration flows, climate policy and security at the border.

3

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

Income divergence is growing between Argentina's economy & the rest of the Southern Cone. As long as Argentina can't get its political economy in order, it will be hard for the country to keep up with its neighbours.

2

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

Settlements in the New World in 1650. Only foreign powers are depicted, the existing indigenous population is not taken into account.

1 1

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

PresidentTrump’s hardline deterrence are forcing asylum seekers and migrants to establish themselves in Mexico, even as the suspension of US aid is making it harder for them to obtain the protections and support they need to integrate into Mexican society. www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature...

For those deterred by Trump, can the American dream become the Mexican dream?

Not only are Trump’s policies pushing many migrants to request asylum in Mexico, but US aid cuts are making their integration there even harder.

www.thenewhumanitarian.org

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

US President Trump announced new tariffs starting October 1, which include a 25% levy on imported heavy-duty trucks – a major hit for Mexico, the largest exporter of mid- and heavy-duty trucks to the U.S. www.cnbc.com/2025/09/26/t...

Trump slaps 25% tariffs on heavy truck imports, starting Oct. 1

The decision came as Trump took aim at a swath of imported goods with fresh tariffs, as part of the broader campaign to encourage domestic manufacturing.

www.cnbc.com

1 3 4