International

Countries of the global south call for solutions with justice

Photo: MINREX Cuba

September 15 |

Heads of State and Government of member countries of the Group of 77 (G77) plus China called Friday for global solutions with justice, in the framework of the summit of the bloc taking place in Havana, Cuba.

The president of the Union of the Comoros and president pro tempore of the African Union, Azali Assoumani; the prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and president pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Ralph Gonsalves; and the president of Angola (and next president pro tempore of the G77), Joao Laurencio, spoke on this topic.

Assoumani welcomed China’s initiative on the new Silk Road and Belt because he believes it “points to a balanced, coordinated and inclusive global digital economy landscape on the basis of win-win cooperation.”

He also called on the G77+China countries to define the general lines of a concrete action mechanism that would allow member nations to move in that direction, and added that this summit in Havana is a good starting point to move forward in the search for consensus to protect the populations of our countries in these areas.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

For his part, Gonsalves highlighted the holding of this summit in Havana and urged to put solidarity among peoples as a premise and to resist creatively with a “program that is our own and that we possess”.

Likewise, the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and pro tempore president of Celac ratified the need for solidarity among the G77+China countries.

In turn, the president of Angola, Joa Laurencio, insisted on the need to maintain the principles that led to the birth of this group, among them unity, cooperation, solidarity and complementarity.

Laurencio described the United States (US) blockade against Cuba as a policy contrary to the principles of trade and international cooperation which affects the right of peoples to self-determination.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”