International
Colombian government and ELN agree to create humanitarian zones
September 4 |
The Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN) confirmed on Monday the creation of the so-called “humanitarian zones”, at the end of the fourth cycle of peace talks, which was held in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital.
The news was announced by Senator Iván Cepeda, one of the negotiators of the Colombian government, who specified that “humanitarian zones will be created in which there will be an intervention, not only of a humanitarian nature, but also through development projects that will embody many of the peace agreements that the (negotiating) table is reaching”.
In a ceremony held in Caracas, a joint declaration was released, in which the parties indicated that they will produce “humanitarian actions”, without specifying which ones, “that promote the bilateral, national and temporary ceasefire, promote the participation of the communities, peoples and other social, economic and political forces in these territories”.
Likewise, this new agreement includes humanitarian actions, with which the Government of Gustavo Petro and the ELN seek to “carry out social development projects (…) for implementation in the coming months”.
The areas chosen were Bajo Calima and San Juan, localities in the department of Valle del Cauca, as well as Sur de Bolívar (Bolívar) and Bajo Cauca (Antioquia), territory in which violent actions were registered in the last weeks, despite the bilateral ceasefire agreed, which came into force last August 3 and will be extended until February 2024.
However, the parties will be able to define new “humanitarian zones”, if necessary, after analyzing the circumstances in these territories.
At the ceremony, the main ELN negotiator, commander Pablo Beltrán, referred that “the ceasefire has been under fire” and charged against the attacks to the process, of whom he said are “against Peace”.
He also pointed out that the negotiators have “placed emphasis on dealing with the critical zones, which are areas where there have been severe attacks”.
For his part, the head of the Colombian government delegation, Otty Patiño, pointed out that “in these nine months we have achieved a cease-fire, citizen participation to build a national agreement with thousands of voices”.
Patiño pointed out that “we have initiated a process of participation that aims to be the meeting between a civil ELN and Colombian society. It is a scenario in which differences are conveyed in a frank, intelligent and non-aggressive manner that will help in the construction of a great National Agreement”.
In another intervention, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Iván Gil valued that “peace in Colombia is an urgent and necessary matter that cannot be postponed” and ratified that Caracas “is willing to host the necessary meetings”.
The main objective of this cycle, which began on August 14, was to address issues such as the bilateral cease-fire and the participation of civil society in the dialogues. The negotiators thanked the Venezuelan government for the facilities provided for this process.
International
Mexico and Guatemala Agree on Five-Point Binational Plan for 2027
Mexico and Guatemala agreed Tuesday on a 2027 Binational Plan built around five areas of cooperation, along with a schedule of meetings and initiatives aimed at making progress by the end of 2026 on security, border infrastructure, human mobility, development and technical and social cooperation.
The agreement was announced by the foreign ministers of both countries following a meeting in Mexico City.
Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco said the plan will establish the “direction and priorities” of bilateral relations for next year. His Guatemalan counterpart, Carlos Ramiro Martínez, said the meeting allowed both governments to make decisions, schedule activities and revitalize bilateral cooperation mechanisms.
Security and border infrastructure
In the area of security, the two governments have nearly completed negotiations on a new memorandum of understanding for the Mexico-Guatemala High-Level Security Group (Ganseg), which was reactivated in 2025.
The countries expect to sign the agreement in the coming months to strengthen coordination and their ability to respond to shared security threats.
Regarding their nearly 1,000-kilometer shared border, Mexico and Guatemala agreed to advance infrastructure improvements at border crossings and continue work on a joint cargo clearance program between Ciudad Hidalgo and Tecún Umán, two border areas separated by the Suchiate River.
The measures are intended to facilitate bilateral trade while making cross-border exchanges safer and more efficient.
The two governments will also continue defining a route toward a railway connection between their countries through Line K of Mexico’s Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT), with the aim of strengthening economic and community ties.
Migration and development
On human mobility, Mexico and Guatemala will maintain coordination to ensure safe, orderly and dignified returns, while strengthening protection for people in transit.
The bilateral agenda also includes a second phase of the Sembrando Vida program in Guatemala, which is expected to benefit 10,000 people across 15 departments.
Both countries will also advance initiatives under Juntos para el Bienestar, as well as six technical, scientific and energy cooperation projects approved by the Joint Commission.
The agreements seek to strengthen bilateral ties and establish concrete priorities for cooperation between Mexico and Guatemala during 2027.
International
France to Expel Two Iranian Diplomats Over Alleged Attack on French Officials
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced Tuesday, August 18, 2026, that France will expel two Iranian diplomats in response to what Paris described as an attack on two French representatives in Iran last month.
“Two French diplomats were scandalously and deliberately assaulted on July 19. I had announced that this intolerable act would have consequences. It has now happened. Two Iranian diplomats in France will be expelled in the coming days,” Barrot said in a message posted on X.
The two Iranian diplomats have been declared persona non grata and will be required to leave France within the coming days, according to the French foreign minister.
About a month ago, Barrot said that two members of the French diplomatic staff had been detained by Iranian security forces for several hours. One of them was also subjected to harassment, he said.
The French government described the incident as an “extremely serious act of intimidation” that violated diplomatic immunity.
The two French embassy staff members were working on programs supporting Iranian civil society, particularly initiatives involving artists and researchers.
Iran has denied France’s allegations regarding the incident. The diplomatic dispute comes amid already strained relations between Paris and Tehran.
International
Heat wave puts more than 70 million Americans under alerts as temperatures near 46°C
More than 70 million people remained under heat alerts Monday as an intense heat wave continued across the southern United States, particularly Florida and states along the Mexican border, where temperatures and heat indexes could reach as high as 46 degrees Celsius, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Several cities recorded or tied temperature records over the weekend and into Monday, including Miami and Fort Lauderdale in Florida; Laredo, Borger and Austin’s airport in Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina; and Memphis, Tennessee.
The NWS warned that the heat wave will continue affecting the southern and southeastern United States, with maximum temperatures expected to remain near 38°C to 40°C for several days. The heat index, which combines temperature and humidity to estimate how hot conditions feel, could reach 46°C.
The extreme heat is also spreading into the Southwest, where temperatures began rising again between Monday and Tuesday. Forecast highs in the region range from about 38°C to 43°C.
Heat alerts remain in effect across Nevada, Arizona and California, including areas in southern Arizona and California near the Mexican border, as authorities warn of the risks posed by prolonged extreme temperatures.
The NWS urged residents to limit outdoor activity, stay hydrated, ensure access to air conditioning or cooling centers, and check on vulnerable friends, neighbors and family members.
The United States is experiencing a summer marked by above-average temperatures and repeated heat waves. One of the most intense episodes occurred during the July 4 weekend, when extreme heat was blamed for roughly 30 deaths.
July was the hottest month ever recorded in the United States since measurements began, with the average temperature across the contiguous country approaching 25°C, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The combination of extreme heat and drought conditions has also fueled wildfires. Nearly 3 million hectares have burned across the country so far in 2026, making it the largest area affected by wildfires in a decade.
Mexico and Guatemala Agree on Five-Point Binational Plan for 2027
France to Expel Two Iranian Diplomats Over Alleged Attack on French Officials
Heat wave puts more than 70 million Americans under alerts as temperatures near 46°C
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Brazil’s Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro kick off election campaigns amid focus on crime
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France to Expel Two Iranian Diplomats Over Alleged Attack on French Officials
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Trump warns Iran over nuclear ambitions as U.S.-Iran ceasefire deadline passes
Heat wave puts more than 70 million Americans under alerts as temperatures near 46°C
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Mexico and Guatemala Agree on Five-Point Binational Plan for 2027
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International16 hours agoFrance to Expel Two Iranian Diplomats Over Alleged Attack on French Officials
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International3 days agoActress Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36, Representative Confirms
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International2 days agoTrump warns Iran over nuclear ambitions as U.S.-Iran ceasefire deadline passes
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International2 days agoHeat wave puts more than 70 million Americans under alerts as temperatures near 46°C
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International2 days agoBrazil’s Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro kick off election campaigns amid focus on crime
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International16 hours agoMexico and Guatemala Agree on Five-Point Binational Plan for 2027