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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.

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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.

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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.

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International

Trump signs order to end federal funding for NPR and PBS

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to halt federal funding for two public media outlets, PBS television and NPR radio, accusing them of being biased.

NPR and PBS are partially funded by American taxpayers but rely heavily on private donations.

Trump has long maintained a hostile relationship with most media outlets, which he has referred to as the “enemy of the people.”

An exception is the conservative Fox News channel, some of whose hosts have played important roles in the administration of the Republican magnate.

“National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) receive taxpayer funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB),” Trump said.

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“Therefore, I direct the CPB board and all executive departments and agencies to cease federal funding for NPR and PBS,” he added.

The Republican leader argued that “neither of these entities provides a fair, accurate, or impartial portrayal of current events to the taxpayer citizens.”

At the end of March, Donald Trump called on Congress to end public funding for these two “horrible and completely biased networks.”

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International

Man arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka

Japanese police arrested a man on Thursday after he rammed his car into a group of seven schoolchildren in an apparent deliberate attack in the city of Osaka.

The children, who were on their way home from school, sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. All seven remained conscious, according to local authorities.

An Osaka police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the suspect is a 28-year-old man from Tokyo. The officer shared statements the man made after his arrest: “I was fed up with everything, so I decided to kill people by driving into several elementary school children,” the suspect reportedly said.

The man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The injured children, aged between seven and eight, included a seven-year-old girl who suffered a fractured jaw. The six other children—all boys—suffered minor injuries such as bruises and scratches and were undergoing medical evaluation.

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Witnesses described the car as “zigzagging” before hitting the children. One witness told Nippon TV that a girl was “covered in blood” and the others appeared to have scratches.

Another witness said the driver, who was wearing a face mask, looked to be in shock when school staff pulled him from the vehicle.

Violent crimes are rare in Japan, though serious incidents do occur from time to time. In 2008, Tomohiro Kato drove a two-ton truck into pedestrians in Tokyo’s Akihabara district, then fatally stabbed several victims. Seven people were killed in that attack.

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Internacionales

Clashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages

May Day protests in France were marked by a heavy police presence and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement in several cities.

In Paris, Lyon, and Nantes, thousands took to the streets to demand better wages, fairer working conditions, and to voice their dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron’s government.

While the majority of the demonstrations remained peaceful, isolated confrontations broke out in some areas. Protesters threw objects at the police, prompting the use of tear gas and resulting in several arrests.

Videos showing police crackdowns circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism from labor unions and human rights advocates, who denounced the authorities’ response to the protests.

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