International
Majority of Celac Members support UN resolution for immediate Gaza ceasefire, but consensus eludes summit
The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) failed to achieve unanimous agreement on a declaration regarding the conflict in the Gaza Strip, despite the issuance of strong statements by leaders present at the VIII Summit condemning the Israeli offensive.
A total of 24 countries, out of the 33 that constitute Celac, endorsed a statement supporting the UN resolution for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and cases brought before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to determine whether Israel’s actions violate international law and constitute genocide.
Among the signatory countries were Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua, among others from Latin America, as well as nearly all Caribbean nations, with notable absence of Argentina.
Honduras’s Foreign Minister, Eduardo Enrique Reina, explained in the final press conference of the summit that “this declaration was not fully endorsed by all Celac members” and was part of an “internal debate.”
In the statement, the signatory countries also lamented the deaths of Israelis and Palestinians, emphasizing the over 30,000 individuals, mostly civilians, who have died during the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, they expressed “grave concern for the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Palestinian territory” and called for ensuring humanitarian access to all affected areas.
The text also demanded the “immediate and unconditional release” of all hostages and reiterated the importance of establishing two states.
The lack of consensus within Celac occurred despite the majority of leaders at the summit delivering speeches opposing Israel.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva demanded an end to the “genocide in Palestinian territory.”
Meanwhile, Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused the US, the European Union (EU), and the United Kingdom of supporting Israel’s bombing of the Palestinian population.
Yesterday, on the eve of the summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves assured EFE that there would be a strong statement against Israel, but ultimately, it did not receive approval from all Celac members.
International
El Chapo’s son Joaquín Guzmán López pleads guilty to U.S. drug trafficking charges
Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the sons of notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, pleaded guilty on Monday to drug trafficking charges in a U.S. court, months after his brother Ovidio reached a similar plea agreement, according to local media reports.
The defendant appeared before a federal court in Chicago early Monday afternoon and changed his previous plea in the case, the Chicago Tribune reported. U.S. authorities accuse him of forming, together with his three brothers, the cartel faction known as “Los Chapitos.”
The group is believed to have continued the operations of El Chapo, who has been serving a life sentence in the United States since 2019.
Guzmán López, 39, was arrested after landing in Texas in a small aircraft alongside cartel co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
International
Venezuela authorizes return flights as U.S. continues deportations amid rising tensions
The arrival of U.S. aircraft carrying undocumented Venezuelan migrants continued regularly despite rising tensions between Washington and Caracas over President Donald Trump’s military deployment in the Caribbean.
Trump maintains that the deployment is part of an anti-narcotics operation, while Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro insists the true objective is to remove him from power and seize the nation’s oil resources.
Venezuela’s aviation authority has “received a request from the United States government to resume repatriation flights for Venezuelan migrants from that country to Venezuela,” the Ministry of Transportation said in a statement .
“Under the instructions of President Nicolás Maduro, authorization has been granted for these aircraft to enter our airspace,” it added.
Caracas will permit two Eastern Airlines flights to land on Wednesday and Friday.
Migration remains one of the Trump administration’s flagship issues. On Monday, the U.S. president held a meeting with his National Security Council to discuss the situation in Venezuela, a day after confirming he had spoken with Maduro by phone, without offering further details.
According to the Venezuelan government, roughly 75 deportation flights have been carried out this year, returning at least 13,956 Venezuelans from the United States.
International
20,000 rounds stolen from german army after driver leaves cargo unattended
The German army confirmed the theft of a shipment of ammunition that occurred a week ago while it was being transported by a civilian delivery driver, a military spokesperson told AFP, confirming earlier media reports.
According to Der Spiegel and the regional broadcaster MDR, around 20,000 rounds of ammunition were stolen from an unguarded parking lot near Magdeburg, in eastern Germany, while the driver was asleep in a nearby hotel. No information has been released regarding the identity of the suspects, and the military declined to specify the exact type or amount of ammunition taken.
Authorities have also not indicated how the perpetrators knew the cargo would be left unattended.
“The theft was discovered upon delivery at the barracks,” the German army spokesperson said.
A police spokeswoman confirmed to AFP that an investigation has been opened but refused to provide further details “for tactical reasons.”
Sources close to the German military, cited by Der Spiegel, believe it is unlikely the theft was a coincidence. They suspect the thieves waited for the driver to stop for the night before striking.
Der Spiegel also reported that the Defense Ministry normally requires two drivers for this type of transport to ensure the cargo is constantly monitored. However, in this case only one driver was assigned, meaning the civilian transport company failed to comply with the security protocols.
El Chapo’s son Joaquín Guzmán López pleads guilty to U.S. drug trafficking charges
Venezuela authorizes return flights as U.S. continues deportations amid rising tensions
20,000 rounds stolen from german army after driver leaves cargo unattended
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 America4 days agoTrump Pardons Former Honduran President Hernández and Warns of Aid Cuts Ahead of Election
-
Central America2 days agoHonduras Extends Voting by One Hour Amid High Turnout, CNE Announces
-
International2 days agoHong Kong police arrest 13 over deadly high-rise fire that killed 151
-
Central America3 days agoHonduras’ China–Taiwan Future Hinges on Sunday’s Presidential Election
-
International4 days agoMeta Says Russia Seeks to Ban WhatsApp for Defending Secure Communication
-
International2 days agoSri Lanka and Indonesia deploy military as deadly asian floods kill over 1,000
-
International2 days ago
Trump says asylum decision freeze will remain in place “for a long time”
-
International2 days agoChile enters runoff campaign with Kast leading and Jara seeking a last-minute comeback
-
International19 hours ago20,000 rounds stolen from german army after driver leaves cargo unattended
-
International19 hours agoVenezuela authorizes return flights as U.S. continues deportations amid rising tensions
-
International19 hours agoEl Chapo’s son Joaquín Guzmán López pleads guilty to U.S. drug trafficking charges
-
International19 hours agoTrump convenes National Security Council as U.S.–Venezuela tensions intensify