INTERNACIONAL
Dem governor in deep-red state calls for ICE pullout, triggering clash over enforcement authority
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EXCLUSIVE: Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman fired back at Gov. Andy Beshear’s comments on «The View» about pulling ICE out of «every city,» setting up what could become a high-stakes intergovernmental battle over cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
«Every ICE agent should be withdrawn from every city and every community that they’re in. This organization has to be reformed from the top-down. Secretary Noem needs to be fired, and every agent needs to retrained,» Beshear told the ABC talk show, before adding the «body-count of American citizens» should lead to a «pause [to] pull everybody back.»
Coleman, who spoke to Fox News Digital from the sheriff’s office in Daviess County — home of NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip and one of several Kentucky jurisdictions that work with ICE — said his take is «not a political one» and that ICE also has the backing of those lawmen he was meeting with after the interview.
«My view as the chief law enforcement officer of this commonwealth, someone that’s carried a badge and a gun, someone that has been a federal prosecutor, [is] that statement that the governor made was absurd,» Coleman said.
TOM HOMAN VOWS TO WORK AROUND NEW DEM VA GOV SPANBERGER’S EXECUTIVE ORDER ENDING ICE COOPERATION
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, left, and Gov. Andy Beshear (Marcus Dorsey/Getty Images; Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)
Coleman said the dispute centers on Beshear’s «commentary» versus the reality of which agencies he controls.
The Kentucky State Police fall under Beshear’s authority, but they currently work with ICE. Meanwhile, Coleman’s office works with the state’s 120 county sheriffs’ offices, many of which cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security.
«I don’t want to set up a straw-dog argument because the reality is the collaboration is never going to stop here because those of us who have taken an oath to protect families are going to work with our federal partners,» he said, pointing to recent successes across the Tug Fork River where such collaboration led to the arrests of 650 illegal immigrants in West Virginia.
FROM OBAMA AWARD TO MINNESOTA OP: WHY TRUMP TAPPED TOM HOMAN FOR ON-THE-GROUND CRACKDOWN
As for the legal ramifications of a potential clash between a DHS-aligned attorney general and a governor with opposing objectives, one legal expert said the situation presents an interesting case.
Former Florida federal prosecutor Zack Smith said that while every state’s attorney generalship is slightly different, a governor is an elected constitutional officer, just as sheriffs are, and that neither can tell the other what to do «in most instances.»
«The attorney general can issue opinions of law. He can issue certain advisory opinions about what state law means or requires. But there are very few instances, in Florida at least, where the attorney general can compel another constitutional officer, like sheriffs, to comply with state law.»
«Now, if they violate state law or something like that, obviously, he could then prosecute them, but there’s really not a lot he could do as a practical matter,» he said, adding that Beshear is likely relying on his gubernatorial «bully pulpit» to effect change.
«There are probably limits to what he can do — and keep in mind the 287(g) agreements» in the counties.
«I think this from a practical and policy perspective, this is a very foolish and very dangerous statement by the governor of Kentucky,» he said, pointing to Minnesota chaos bred from similar opposition to ICE operations.
PHILADELPHIA’S THREAT TO PROSECUTE ICE COULD TRIGGER LANDMARK COURT FIGHT OVER AUTHORITY, EXPERTS WARN
Beshear’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Both Beshear and Coleman have served as attorney general — something the governor mentioned on «The View» — but Coleman said Beshear should therefore know that cooperation with federal authorities is preferable to going on offense.
«I’d like to, on one hand, be respectful of my predecessor… [but] anyone who’s spent time in law enforcement… knows that we are more effective at protecting people,» he said, noting that the county he was sitting in has ICE to thank for removing a violent child-sex predator from the streets and that local Owensboro authorities cooperated with a DHS operation to arrest an illegal immigrant who had been financially extorting seniors.
TRUMP DHS HAMMERS DEM GOVERNOR’S PORTAL TO TRACK ICE AGENTS: ‘ENCOURAGES VIOLENCE’
In neighboring Virginia, officials are moving to follow Beshear’s advice by ending state-federal cooperation forged under former Gov. Glenn Youngkin and advancing bills to restrict DHS collaboration.
When asked, Coleman said he does not see Frankfort following Richmond’s lead anytime soon and lamented the loss of several cooperative colleagues in Virginia.
«Fortunately, I don’t have to face that hypothetical here in this Commonwealth, but in our Mother Commonwealth (Virginia), it’s been very concerning. We [also] hated to lose a phenomenal colleague in Jason Miyares,» he added.
DHS also pushed back on Beshear’s position. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said federal law enforcement «will continue arresting criminal illegal aliens across the state of Kentucky while sanctuary politicians like Governor Beshear continue to demonize our law enforcement and side with criminal illegal aliens over American citizens.»
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«We need state and local law enforcement engagement and information so we don’t have to have such a presence on the streets,» she said.
She listed several recent arrests in Kentucky, including Roman Sanchez, described as a criminal illegal immigrant convicted of homicide, willful killing of a family member with a gun, larceny, robbery, receiving stolen property and armed street robbery, as well as several individuals convicted of rape.
illegal immigrants,police and law enforcement,kristi noem,governors,kentucky,immigration
INTERNACIONAL
Rubio defends US operation in Venezuela, calls out reporter for trying to start a fight
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the U.S. capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday, going on to call out a reporter for supposedly trying to stir up tension during a press conference.
Rubio made the statement during a joint appearance with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico. A reporter referenced Fico’s previous criticism of the U.S. operation against Maduro and asked whether he stood by it, leading Rubio to address the issue first while he was answering other questions from the same reporter.
«I think you asked him a question in order to, like, see if you can get him against us, or something… A lot of countries didn’t like what we did in Venezuela. That’s okay. That was in our national interest,» Rubio said.
«I’m sure there’s something you may do one day that we don’t like, and we’ll say we didn’t like that you did this,» Rubio continued, while turning to Fico. «So what? That doesn’t mean we’re not going to be friends, we’re not going to be partners,» Rubio said.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES VENEZUELA TURNING OVER MILLIONS OF BARRELS OF OIL TO US GOVERNMENT ‘IMMEDIATELY’
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) and Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico shake hands at the end of a joint press conference in Bratislava, Slovakia, on February 15, 2026. (Photo by Alex Brandon / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
«We have very close allies that didn’t like what we did in that regard. I can tell you what, it was successful. It was necessary, because the guy was a narco-terrorist, and we made him a bunch of offers,» the secretary continued.
«And look what’s happened in Venezuela in the six weeks since he’s been gone,» Rubio said acknowledging that the country still has «a long way to go.»
«There’s still much work that needs to be done, but I can tell you Venezuela is much better off today than it was six weeks ago. So we’re very proud of that project. And I know some will disagree … I think everyone can now agree that Venezuela has an opportunity at a new future that wasn’t there six weeks ago,» he added.
Rubio’s statement comes days after President Donald Trump recounted the military’s strength during the operation to capture Maduro. Trump, speaking in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, honored U.S. special forces and their families for their roles in the operation.
STATE DEPT CONFIRMS ‘LIMITED NUMBER’ OF PERSONNEL IN CARACAS WORKING TO RESUME VENEZUELA DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
Nicolas Maduro is seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad, escorted by heavily armed federal agents as they make their way into an armored car en route to a Federal courthouse in Manhattan on January 5, 2026 in New York City. (XNY/Star Max/GC Images via Getty Images)
«It was in a matter of minutes before (Maduro) was on a helicopter being taken out of there. They had to go through steel doors,» Trump said Friday afternoon. «The steels were like it was like paper-maché. You know what paper-maché is? That’s weak paper.»
U.S. special operations forces carried out the successful capture of Maduro and his wife on sweeping narcotics charges. Trump celebrated that there wasn’t single U.S. casualty during the operation, despite Maduro being housed on a heavily-armed military base.
«These guys blasted through every door,» Trump continued Friday. «They got up to him before he got to the big safe. But that wouldn’t have worked either, because they had equipment that was going to knock that out in a matter of minutes, but he never got there. It went so fast.»
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Maduro was whisked off on a helicopter, before he was brought to the U.S., where he faces federal charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-trafficking conspiracy and weapons-related offenses. He is being held in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City.
Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.
marco rubio,venezuelan political crisis,politics,nicolas maduro
INTERNACIONAL
El papa León XIV pidió que el Año Nuevo Lunar sirva para construir “paz y prosperidad para todos los pueblos”
El papa León XIV instó este domingo a que el Año Nuevo Lunar, que comienza el próximo 17 de febrero, sea una ocasión para mirar al futuro y construir “paz y prosperidad para todos los pueblos”, tras el rezo del Ángelus dominical.
“En los próximos días se celebra el Año Nuevo lunar, festejado por miles de millones de personas en Asia Oriental y en otras partes del mundo”, señaló el pontífice desde la ventana del Palacio Apostólico.
León XIV expresó su deseo de que esta “alegre fiesta” aliente a los ciudadanos a “vivir con más intensidad las relaciones familiares y la amistad”, y que la celebración traiga “serenidad a los hogares y a la sociedad”.
Y añadió: “Que sea una ocasión para mirar juntos al futuro, construyendo paz y prosperidad para todos los pueblos”.
El Año Nuevo Lunar es la fiesta más importante del calendario asiático y cada año en estas fechas millones de personas se trasladan a diversas partes del continente para encontrarse con sus familias, lo que causa uno de los mayores movimientos de población del planeta.
“Con los mejores deseos para el nuevo Año, expreso a todos mi afecto”, concluyó el papa.
El régimen de China estima que se realizarán 9.500 millones de desplazamientos durante el período de 40 días alrededor del festival, un récord histórico, según información de la Comisión Nacional de Desarrollo y Reforma. Aproximadamente540 millones de esos viajes se realizarán en tren, y 95 millones por aire. El resto será por carretera.
En un país donde se espera que los trabajadores hagan largas jornadas, incluidos los fines de semana, y tengan pocos días de vacaciones anuales, el festival del Año Nuevo Lunar es un tiempo valioso.
Ante la coyuntura, algunos jóvenes optan por no regresar al lugar de origen durante el Año Nuevo lunar, una práctica conocida en redes sociales como ‘esquivar el Año Nuevo’.
Esa decisión se traduce, relatan internautas, en aprovechar las vacaciones para viajar a otros destinos o en invitar a padres y parientes a desplazarse a las ciudades en las que residen.
Las reservas de billetes asociadas al llamado “Año Nuevo inverso” —cuando son los padres quienes viajan para reunirse con sus hijos— aumentaron un 84% interanual, y algunas aerolíneas han lanzado planes específicos para facilitar esos desplazamientos, según datos recogidos por la agencia estatal China News Service.
Esta tendencia se aprecia también en la decisión de algunos jóvenes de emplear sus vacaciones para viajar, en lugar de regresar a su lugar de origen.
“No dispongo de muchas vacaciones cada año y suelo pasar las del Año Nuevo lunar en Shaanxi con la familia”, explica a EFE Li, una oficinista en Pekín que añade que este año viajará a Filipinas durante las fechas festivas.
“Al principio mis padres no se lo tomaron bien porque supone una ruptura de la tradición”, indica Li, quien agrega sin embargo que “acabaron aceptándolo” porque saben que su hija “necesita relajarse y desconectar” de su trabajo en la capital.
El economista Peng Peng señaló al medio financiero Yicai que “las formas de celebración se están diversificando” y que, al tiempo que se preservan las tradiciones, también conviene fomentar otras modalidades que responden a la “importancia creciente” que se da a “buscar la felicidad personal y la relajación”.
(con información de EFE)
Religion,Europe,Religion / Belief
INTERNACIONAL
US forces board sanctioned oil tanker after vessel tried to evade Trump quarantine, Department of War says
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The Department of War (DOW) said Sunday that U.S. forces interdicted a vessel in the Indo-Pacific after it attempted to evade a quarantine order issued by the Trump administration.
In a statement on X, the DOW said the Veronica III was boarded without incident while it was operating in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility.
«The vessel tried to defy President Trump’s quarantine — hoping to slip away. We tracked it from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, closed the distance, and shut it down. No other nation has the reach, endurance, or will to do this,» the government account wrote.
«International waters are not sanctuary. By land, air, or sea, we will find you and deliver justice,» it added. «The Department of War will deny illicit actors and their proxies freedom of movement in the maritime domain.»
US MILITARY SEIZES ANOTHER FUGITIVE OIL TANKER LINKED TO VENEZUELA
U.S. forces conduct a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the Veronica III without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility after the vessel allegedly tried to defy President Trump’s quarantine, Feb. 15, 2026. (X/@DeptofWar)
The Veronica III is the latest in a series of high-profile maritime seizures by the U.S. military aimed at enforcing sanctions and curbing the export of Venezuelan oil.
President Donald Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela in mid-December, as Washington increased its naval presence in the Caribbean to put pressure on now-former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
According to OpenSanctions, the Veronica III is listed on the U.S. Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals sanctions list.
U.S. forces conduct a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction, and boarding of the Veronica III in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility after the vessel allegedly tried to defy President Trump’s quarantine, Feb. 15, 2026. (X/@DeptofWar)
US COAST GUARD PURSUES THIRD ‘DARK FLEET’ OIL TANKER AS TRUMP TARGETS VENEZUELAN SANCTIONS EVASION NETWORK
The tanker, a large crude oil carrier built in 2006 and flagged in Panama, has been linked to the transport of hundreds of thousands of metric tons of sanctioned Iranian oil and is affiliated with a Chinese ship-management company that has also been sanctioned.
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OpenSanctions notes that the ship has previously sailed under different names and flags as part of efforts to evade sanctions and disguise its activities at sea.
The Veronica III was among the vessels sanctioned by Treasury in December 2024 as part of a broader action targeting 35 other entities and tankers involved in transporting illicit Iranian oil to foreign markets.
military,pentagon defense,world,sanctions
Un cantante de folklore acusó a Victoria Villarruel de “negacionista” en su visita a La Rioja
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