International
Dominican Republic gives Haiti 48 hours to resolve border river conflict
September 12 |
The Government of the Dominican Republic gave this Tuesday a 48-hour ultimatum to Haiti to resolve the conflict that has arisen around the border river, called Masacre, otherwise it will order the total closure of the land, sea and air borders.
Luis Abinader’s government made the decision in the midst of what they call the threat posed by the plan of Haitian groups to divert the waters of the Masacre River and is a new measure, part of those adopted Monday morning by the Dominican National Security Council.
The package of measures also includes the definitive suspension of the issuance of visas to Haitians, “until further notice”, and the prohibition of entry into the country of all those involved in the conflict.
Although Luis Abinader’s ultimatum enters its first day on Tuesday, the total closure of the border with Dajabón continues without variation.
Despite the escalation, Abinader, said he was confident that “good sense” would prevail and that there would be a solution to the Haitian construction of a canal to divert water from the bordering Masacre River.
“I do not want to be optimistic and naive (…) I hope that good sense will prevail between now and Thursday”, otherwise “we would have no other alternative”, said the president.
The President insisted that the Haitian government does not agree with the construction of the canal either, “it does not have the authorization nor the official support and resources”, since it is “a private canal of Haitian businessmen” to take the water to a reservoir and, from there, to distribute it to lands and farms owned by the group.
However, he reiterated, given the “situation of ungovernability” in the neighboring country, the Dominican Republic does not have “a valid interlocutor” on this matter and the Haitian government is not in a position to stop the “unacceptable” problem of the canal.
The Haitian government has remained silent on the decision of the National Security Council of the Dominican Republic.
International
Floods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in central Vietnam has risen to 28, with six people reported missing and 43 injured, local newspaper VnExpress reported Friday night.
More than 22,100 homes remain flooded, primarily in the cities of Hue and Da Nang. Floods and landslides have destroyed or swept away 91 houses and damaged another 181, the report added.
Around 245,000 households are still without electricity, particularly in Da Nang, where over 225,000 homes are affected.
Additionally, 80 stretches of national highways are blocked or disrupted due to landslides. Authorities expect the flooding to continue for another day or two in the region.
International
FBI foils ISIS-Inspired attack in Michigan, arrests five teens
Kash Patel did not provide further details, but police sources told CBS News that the potential attack was “inspired” by the Islamic State (ISIS).
“This morning, the FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested several individuals in Michigan who were allegedly planning a violent attack during the Halloween weekend,” Patel wrote on X.
“Thanks to swift action and close coordination with our local partners, a possible terrorist act was prevented before it could be carried out,” he added.
CBS reported that five people between the ages of 16 and 20 were arrested on Friday. At least one of them was reportedly acquainted with a former member of the Michigan National Guard, who was arrested in May for plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on a U.S. military facility in the Detroit suburbs.
International
U.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressed concerns over China’s growing military activity near Taiwan during a meeting on Friday with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in Kuala Lumpur.
“It was a constructive and positive meeting,” Hegseth wrote on X. “I emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and raised U.S. concerns about China’s actions around Taiwan,” the self-governed island that Beijing claims and does not rule out invading.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. According to Trump, Taiwan was not discussed during their talks.
“The United States does not seek conflict and will continue to firmly defend its interests, ensuring it maintains the capability to do so in the region,” Hegseth added in his message.
Friday’s encounter followed a September 9 video call between Hegseth and Dong. Their previously planned meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore was canceled due to Dong’s absence from the event.
Trump’s sit-down with Xi — their first since 2019 — resulted in some trade agreements but avoided addressing the issue of Taiwan, a long-standing source of tension between the world’s two largest powers.
Trump has taken a more ambiguous stance on Taiwan’s future compared with former President Joe Biden, who repeatedly stated that Washington would support Taipei if China launched an invasion. The Republican president has also criticized Taiwan for “stealing” the U.S. semiconductor industry.
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