International

All 14 bodies recovered after Colombian mine explosion

AFP

The bodies of all 14 men trapped by an explosion in a coal mine in northeast Colombia last week have been recovered, the country’s National Mining Agency said on Thursday.

The effort had taken 10 days since the underground explosion on May 30, with the last body recovered early Thursday morning, the agency said in a statement.

Officials said a buildup of gasses apparently led to a fire, explosion and the collapse of nearly 90 percent of the mine in the town of El Zulia, near the border with Venezuela.

The gasses initially prevented rescuers from approaching the area and getting to the miners some 200 meters (650 feet) under ground.

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Another worker, the 15th victim, had been outside the shaft when the explosion occurred but died later of severe burns.

The mine, unlike many in the region that work outside the law, operated with state permits.

It had recently reopened after its operations were suspended for a year in March 2021 following another accident, according to Jhon Olivares, mining secretary for the Norte de Santander department where the mine is located.

Last year, Colombia recorded 148 deaths in mining accidents.

Mined raw materials are one of the country’s main exports, along with oil.

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International

Habeas Corpus at risk as Trump team eyes drastic border policy shift

The White House is reportedly considering suspending habeas corpus, the legal principle that protects individuals against arbitrary detention, as part of its efforts to escalate anti-immigration measures in the United States.

In remarks to reporters, Stephen Miller, a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, argued that the U.S. Constitution allows the suspension of habeas corpus “in times of invasion.”

“It’s an option we are actively considering, and it all depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not,” Miller stated.

The Trump administration has frequently invoked the notion of a “migrant invasion” to justify actions such as the militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border and the deportation of foreign nationals—primarily Venezuelans—to El Salvador’s CECOT megaprison.

International

Maduro to Xi: Venezuela is a loyal friend to China

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro assured his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, during a meeting held in Moscow on the sidelines of the 80th anniversary of the Red Army’s victory in World War II, that China has “loyal friends” in the Caribbean nation.

“You know that in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela you have loyal friends and people willing to continue working for a new world,” said the South American leader, according to footage aired Friday by Venezuelan state broadcaster VTV.

Maduro, accompanied by several of his ministers including Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, highlighted the “great results” of a 2023 agreement between China and Venezuela called the “All-Weather and All-Round Strategic Partnership.”

“I believe we can multiply the great results we’re already seeing, and I’m sure that strong and clear guidelines will emerge from this meeting to keep moving forward together,” Maduro added.

International

Iberojet reaffirms commitment to Honduras as Central American Hub

Spanish airline Iberojet and Palmerola International Airport, located in central Honduras, signed a three-year renewal of their exclusive agreement to operate direct flights between the Honduran terminal and the cities of Madrid and Barcelona.

With this renewal, Iberojet—part of the Spanish tourism group Ávoris Corporación Empresarial—reaffirms its commitment to Honduras as its main gateway to Central America from Europe.

The agreement was signed by Iberojet’s Commercial Director, Mario Domínguez, and Erick Spears, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Palmerola.

The signing ceremony took place at the residence of the Spanish Ambassador to Honduras, Diego Nuño García, who served as an honorary witness.