Sin categoría
Guatemala president warns millions could die as visits Ukraine
AFP
Millions around the world could die due to the “food crisis” caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei said during a visit to Ukraine on Monday.
Giammattei, who was invited to Ukraine by counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to view the damage caused by Russia’s invasion, hit out at the war’s global impact.
“An irrefutable proof of the consequences of this war are the global economic effects that have generated inflation, increased the cost of living and produced more poverty,” he said in a joint statement with Zelensky published by the Guatemalan presidency.
And he warned that the conflict would cause a future “food crisis that could mean the death of millions of people.”
Central America has been badly affected by the war as it imports all of its grain from the conflict zone.
Ukraine has been unable to export grain since the beginning of Russia’s invasion due to a blockade of its Black Sea ports by Kremlin forces.
“The whole world is suffering the serious consequences of the Russian aggression such as the food crisis and price destabilization,” said Zelensky.
“The cost of living is unfairly rising and only together can we protect the world and international legal order.”
Zelensky thanked Giammattei for his visit and called on the international community to set up a special court to “punish Russia for its aggression.”
During the visit, the two countries agreed to scrap visa requirements for Guatemalans traveling to Ukraine and to establish direct business contacts.
The visit was arranged during a telephone conversation between the two presidents in June, after which Giammattei had said they “spoke about reconstruction in Ukraine, where they need laborers, and so (Zelensky) asked that Guatemalans travel to work in Ukraine.”
In a brief press release, Guatemala’s communication secretariat for the presidency gave no details on when the visit began or how long it would last.
Following Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine, Giammattei closed Guatemala’s embassy in Moscow.
The Central American country exports nickel to Ukraine while importing iron and steel.
Despite breaking off diplomatic relations with Russia, Guatemala continues to export coffee and bananas to the Eurasian powerhouse, while importing fertilizer, medical supplies and paper.
Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24 following months of rising tensions between the neighbors.
Like many countries affected by the war, Guatemala has since seen fuel prices shoot up.
Sin categoría
Eight Killed in Series of Armed Attacks in Ecuador’s Manabí Province
At least eight people were killed in four separate armed attacks reported Sunday night in the cities of Manta and Montecristi, in Ecuador’s coastal province of Manabí, one of the areas hardest hit by the country’s escalating wave of criminal violence, local media reported on Monday.
The shootings occurred between 7:50 p.m. and 10:50 p.m. local time and affected several neighborhoods, as well as a family gathering, according to press reports. Police are investigating the incidents.
The first attack took place in the Los Artesanos sector of Montecristi, where a couple was shot dead in a public street.
Minutes later, in Manta’s 12 de Octubre neighborhood, a man was killed while sitting down. Police arrested a suspect at the scene and seized a 9mm magazine, authorities said.
A third incident occurred in the Bellavista area of Manta, when an armed assailant entered a home and shot a man during a family celebration. The attacker was captured by neighbors and sustained injuries.
The deadliest attack was reported at 10:50 p.m. in the Leonidas Proaño parish of Montecristi, where gunmen opened fire from two vehicles on a group of people, leaving four dead and five wounded.
According to Jaime Salgado, acting chief of the Manta Police District, officers recovered seven 7.62mm shell casings, consistent with rifle ammunition, and 14 .40-caliber casings at the scene.
With these killings, the Manta police district, a port and tourist area on Ecuador’s Pacific coast, has recorded 51 violent deaths so far in January 2026, according to official figures.
The attacks occurred amid a state of emergency declared by the government in December due to serious internal unrest in Manabí, where military operations have been intensified this month, particularly in high-conflict zones.
Sin categoría
El Salvador Launches Fourth Year of Ocean Mission to Protect Marine Ecosystems
El Salvador’s Ministry of Environment has launched the fourth consecutive year of “Ocean Mission,” a permanent strategy focused on the protection, restoration, and responsible management of marine ecosystems, linking conservation efforts from inland mountain ranges to the coastline.
During an event held at the Los Cóbanos Protected Natural Area, Environment Minister Fernando López highlighted the ecological, social, and economic value of the site, which is recognized as the country’s eighth wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
“We are in one of the most valuable natural treasures of our country, not only because of its beauty, but also due to the enormous ecological, social, and economic importance that Los Cóbanos holds for El Salvador,” López said.
The minister emphasized that this volcanic-origin ecosystem is home to coral reefs and key coastal-marine systems that serve as refuge, breeding, and feeding grounds for emblematic species such as sea turtles, cetaceans, and a wide diversity of fish.
“Protecting Los Cóbanos means protecting biodiversity, community livelihoods, the local economy, and our natural heritage,” López stated.
He also stressed that Ocean Mission goes beyond rhetoric, focusing instead on direct action framed within the National Environmental Education Policy. “We are not here to talk about environmental education; we are here to practice it,” he said, underscoring the guiding principle of moving from paper to action.
Sin categoría
Convicted gang member challenges Guatemala’s anti-gang law, citing Human Rights Violations
A member of a criminal gang currently facing sentencing for the crime of extortion has filed a constitutional appeal before Guatemala’s Constitutional Court against the recently approved and enacted Anti-Gang Law.
The appeal, submitted by Dylan Smaily Archila García, argues that the new legislation violates his fundamental human rights and claims there were procedural irregularities during its approval process, according to local Guatemalan media.
Archila García filed the motion just hours after the law took effect. The new legislation, passed by Guatemala’s Congress, increases penalties for crimes linked to gang activity and authorizes the construction of a mega-prison, modeled after El Salvador’s Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT).
Local outlets reported that in his petition, Archila García contends that the approval of the law did not comply with constitutional requirements and requests that the Court issue a ruling to annul the legislation, effectively halting its enforcement.
The appeal further claims that the Anti-Gang Law infringes on due process rights, as it allegedly fails to guarantee a fair criminal trial in which defendants can prove their innocence, undermining legal certainty and judicial security.
Through this legal action, the petitioner seeks to have the law suspended and ultimately struck down by the Constitutional Court, preventing it from being debated again in Congress.
Exclusive Tucson Neighborhood Shaken by Disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s Mother
Over 50 Civil Groups Urge House to Impeach DHS Secretary Kristi Noem
Guatemala to Phase Out Longstanding Medical Cooperation Agreement with Cuba
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
Central America5 days agoSalvadoran fans plan birthday surprise for Shakira at historic show
-
Central America4 days agoGuatemala isolates Barrio 18 leader after attacks that killed 11 police
-
Sports4 days agoShakira ignites El Salvador with near sold-out residency at Mágico González Stadium
-
International2 days agoU.S. Health Department says CDC grants no longer match agency priorities
-
Central America15 hours agoGuatemala to Phase Out Longstanding Medical Cooperation Agreement with Cuba
-
International2 days agoDespite homicide drop, overall deadly violence remains high in Mexico: study
-
International2 days agoICE Arrests Reach 379,000 Under Trump, Testimony Shows Amid Minnesota Shootings
-
International15 hours agoOver 50 Civil Groups Urge House to Impeach DHS Secretary Kristi Noem
-
International2 days agoJet Fuel Crisis Hits Cuba: Flights Disrupted, Air Canada Cancels Services
-
International2 days agoSheinbaum Urges Mexico to ‘Jealously’ Guard Sovereignty at Air Force Anniversary
-
International2 days agoMEPs Approve Plan That Could Fast-Track Rejection of Some Asylum Claims
-
International15 hours agoNew York’s New Archbishop Names Óscar Romero as His Favorite Saint
-
International2 days agoMexico Rises Slightly to 141st in Global Corruption Perceptions Index 2025
-
International15 hours agoExclusive Tucson Neighborhood Shaken by Disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s Mother
-
International2 days agoChile Unveils Latam-GPT to Give Latin America Its Own AI Model