International
The international community unanimously condemns the Moscow attack
The international community has unanimously condemned the brutal jihadist attack committed on Friday in Moscow, which caused at least 133 deaths and 120 injuries, and which has triggered a massive wave of solidarity with the victims.
The attack, which occurred on Friday afternoon in the Crocus City Hall concert hall, on the outskirts of Moscow, was claimed by the jihadist organization Islamic State (IS) on social media, while the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia reported the arrest of eleven involved in the attack.
After the attack, the Russian Foreign Ministry called on the international community to condemn him. “The entire international community is obliged to condemn this horrible crime,” said María Zajárova, the foreign spokeswoman, on her Telegram channel. Convictions have happened all over the world.
From the United Nations, the European Union or the African Union, through the governments of Germany, China, India or Japan, the rejection has been resonated forcefully against terrorist attacks.
The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres “condemns the terrorist attack in the strongest possible terms,” his spokesman, Farhan Haq, said in a brief note; the Security Council, in a broader note, also condemned that “atrocious and cowardly terrorist attack” and its members urged the international community to “actively cooperate with the Government of the Russian Federation” and other authorities to achieve justice.
From the EU, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, condemned this Saturday “in the strongest terms” yesterday’s “atrocious” attack “against defenseless people,” and so did the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who “forcefully” condemned the attack, and the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, who lamented the “horrible terrorist attack.”
The president of the African Union Commission (AU), Moussa Faki Mahamat, condemned the attack and offered his solidarity with Russia. “I was shocked to learn about the horrible terrorist attack in Moscow, which claimed many victims,” he said on his social network account X.
From Latin America, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) expressed its categorical condemnation and repudiated “any act of violence that violates the life and security of citizens,” while reiterating its commitment “to peace, tolerance and respect for human life.”
The United States, through the mouth of Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, also condemned the “terrorist attack” in Moscow this Saturday. “We stand in solidarity with the people of Russia who regret the loss of life after this horrible event,” the diplomat wrote on his social network X account.
In Europe, the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, condemned “the horrible attack on innocent people who visited a concert. We think about the debts and the wounded,” she said on her X account, while the Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, expressed herself in similar terms on the same social network.
Italy also rejected “the horror of the killing of innocent civilians in Moscow,” which it considers “unacceptable.”
To these convictions must be added those of other EU countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg or Hungary.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolences to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Saturday. Xi stated in his letter that he is “shocked” by what happened and expressed his “deep condolences” to the victims and their families, as well as his “sincere solidarity” with the wounded.
Other countries in the region such as India, South Korea or Japan also expressed their condolences.
Iran strongly condemned the attack. “I strongly condemn the recent terrorist attack in Moscow and express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and my colleague Sergei Lavrov, the Government and the people of Russia in relation to this tragic terrorist attack,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Hosein Amir Abdolahian, in X. “The joint and effective fight against terrorism requires serious and non-discriminatory measures on the part of the international community,” he added.
There were also convictions from countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco.
The president of Syria, Bachar al-Asad, assured this Saturday that the Moscow attack is “directly related to the defeats of neo-Nazism” in the Donbas, in an apparent veiled reference to Ukraine.
Al Asad conveyed this message to Putin in a telegram in which he stated that “this cowardly attack against innocent people demonstrates the inability to force the Russian people to deviate from their principles,” according to a statement from the Presidency in Damascus.
From Ibero-America, the Government of Brazil “repudiated” and declared itself “dismayed” by the terrorist attack, just like Mexico, from where the (SRE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a message in X “rejects any act of violence that threatens the lives of civilians.”
Argentina also expressed its “strong condemnation” and “repudiation” of the attack, as well as Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Cuba, Honduras and Nicaragua.
International
Truck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration
A truck loaded with explosives exploded on Saturday near a police station in the Colombian city of Cúcuta, close to the Venezuelan border, leaving 14 people injured in an attack that occurred six days before president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s inauguration.
The blast took place in the early hours of the morning and was allegedly carried out by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), who detonated a vehicle packed with explosives. According to the latest report from the Colombian Army, the attack injured 11 police officers and three civilians.
The explosion involved around 15 explosive devices, and two of the wounded officers are in critical condition and “fighting for their lives,” said William Villamizar, governor of Norte de Santander, the region where the attack occurred.
The incident comes amid Colombia’s worst wave of violence in the past decade, with armed groups expanding their presence in several areas of the country.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack carried out in Cúcuta against our National Police. Terrorism will not intimidate Colombia or break the determination of Colombians to live in peace and security,” De la Espriella said in a post on X.
The conservative lawyer, who has been described as a far-right figure, will take office on August 7, replacing Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president. The inauguration ceremony will be held in Cali, the country’s third-largest city and a frequent target of attacks by armed groups.
The United Nations condemned what it described as an “indiscriminate attack” that caused not only injuries but also “fear and distress among the population.”
De la Espriella has repeatedly warned about an alleged plot against his life. Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro, who is currently visiting Cuba, has not commented on the attack. During his visit, Petro met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to discuss what Havana describes as the United States’ “policy of suffocation” toward the island.
International
EU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
The arrival of around 60,000 migrants from Morocco to Spain’s Ceuta enclave triggered a major European Union crisis on Friday, after Madrid described the situation as an “attack” on its territorial integrity.
At least 34 people died while attempting to reach the Spanish territory, according to local authorities.
Hundreds of migrants had begun arriving in Ceuta earlier in the week, either by swimming across the border or climbing security fences. Most of those who entered were young men and teenagers.
However, the situation escalated dramatically early Thursday morning, when the number of arrivals surged within a few hours, reaching nearly 60,000 people. According to the Spanish government, the vast majority of them — around 48,000 migrants — had returned to Morocco by Friday evening.
The episode represents one of the most serious migration crises faced by the autonomous city of Ceuta, which has a population of around 84,000 residents, in recent years.
Several European countries responded strongly to the crisis, with Italy announcing the temporary suspension of the Schengen free movement agreement with Spain, a measure supported by Finland and Denmark.
“The temporary suspension of Schengen with Spain is a necessary decision to protect the security of our citizens and defend Europe’s borders,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a post on X.
Italy’s Interior Ministry confirmed that the country had tightened controls on maritime and air entry points from Spain, but clarified that the measure would not affect Spanish or European citizens traveling to Italy.
The additional checks will specifically target non-European citizens arriving from Spain, according to the ministry.
The measure will remain in effect for one month starting Saturday, authorities said.
Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares responded to the Italian announcement through a statement on X, as European governments continued discussions over the consequences of the migration crisis.
International
Chuck Schumer Unveils Proposal to Strengthen Oversight of the U.S. Presidency
U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday announced legislation to establish a federal anti-corruption office aimed at strengthening oversight of the executive branch and preventing future presidents from using the White House for personal financial gain.
Schumer said the proposal was prompted by what he described as President Donald Trump’s misuse of the presidencyto benefit his family’s business interests.
“In just 18 months, the Trump family has made more than $4 billion by exploiting the influence of the presidency,” Schumer alleged.
The New York senator also argued that the alleged corruption has had direct economic consequences for American households.
“The same corrupt practices Trump is using to pocket billions of dollars are also forcing Americans to pay, on average, $3,100 more each year because of the rising cost of living,” he said.
The legislation was introduced alongside Democratic Senators Alex Padilla, Jeff Merkley, and Andy Kim.
According to Schumer, the bill has two primary objectives: “First, to return money to the American people. Second, to ensure that no one can ever steal from them again.”
He added that the proposal would create legal mechanisms allowing citizens to seek the recovery of funds allegedly obtained through government corruption.
“The fact that Trump stole money from the American people does not make it his. Americans deserve to get that money back,” Schumer said.
Under the proposed legislation, any U.S. citizen—as well as state attorneys general acting on behalf of their residents—would be authorized to file civil lawsuits to recover funds allegedly acquired through corrupt practices by public officials.
“Our bill would empower any individual, including a state attorney general acting on behalf of the people of that state, to bring legal action to recover money stolen from the public through government corruption,” Schumer said.
The measure is expected to face debate in Congress, where Republicans and Democrats remain deeply divided over executive accountability and the scope of presidential powers.
Truck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration
EU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
Chuck Schumer Unveils Proposal to Strengthen Oversight of the U.S. Presidency
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