International
Brussels is still “available” in the negotiation on the CGPJ
The European Commission remains “available” in mediation in the negotiations between the PSOE and the PP to try to renew the General Council of the Judiciary, despite the postponement of the fourth meeting scheduled for Wednesday in Madrid.
“The discussions between the parties continue. The Commission is still available to participate,” the Justice spokesman of the Community Executive, Christian Wigand, told EFE on Monday when asked about the reasons for the postponement of the fourth meeting.
The decision to postpone to an unspecified date is not due to reasons on the agenda of the Commissioner of Justice, Didier Reynders, nor to the fact that he has been elected today as one of the three official candidates to occupy the General Secretariat of the Council of Europe, community sources told EFE.
The positions between the two parties are still far away, other community sources added.
The last meeting of Reynders, Bolaños and González Pons to try to resolve the blockade of the renewal of the CGPJ, whose mandate has expired for more than five years, took place on March 13 in Strasbourg (France) and, like the two previous ones held in Brussels, it was concluded without agreement.
Reynders had then been “convinced” that it was possible to reach an agreement, but at the last appointment he already warned that for this the “political will” on the part of the negotiators was necessary.
While the PSOE insists on agreeing on the renewal of the members of the CGPJ before undertaking the reform of the appointment process, the PP maintains that both must happen in parallel; the European Commission, for its part, is in favor of the renewal of the members of the CGPJ being addressed as a priority and “immediately” after the process for the reform is initiated.
When the talks began, Brussels set a period of two months, which in theory would expire on March 31, the date on which Reynders should leave his position as commissioner to campaign for the presidency of the Council of Europe, although it has not yet been reported when his leave of absence will begin.
The Assembly of the Council of Europe will hold the election during the meeting it will hold between June 24 and 28 in Strasbourg (France), so that the next secretary general will assume the position on September 18.
Reynders, a 65-year-old Belgian French-speaking liberal, has been a European commissioner since December 2019, after during the previous twenty years he occupied different ministerial portfolios in his country (Finance, Foreign Affairs and Defense). He was also deputy prime minister between 2004 and 2019.
International
China calls for dialogue amid rising Iran-Israel conflict
The Chinese government emphasized on Monday the importance of “creating the conditions to return to the proper path of dialogue” between Iran and Israel, which have exchanged attacks in recent days resulting in more than 20 Israeli and over 220 Iranian deaths.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun expressed deep concern at a press conference over the Israeli attacks on Iran and the “sudden escalation” of the military conflict.
Guo called on all parties to “take immediate measures to ease tensions and prevent the region from descending into further turmoil,” stating that “force cannot bring lasting peace.”
“If the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to intensify or even expand, the countries of the Middle East will be the first to suffer the consequences,” he added, while noting that China “will continue to maintain communication with the relevant parties, promoting peace and dialogue.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke last Saturday with his Iranian and Israeli counterparts to condemn the Israeli airstrike on Iranian territory, which he described as a “violation of international law” with the potential to trigger “disastrous” consequences.
In both calls, Wang reiterated China’s rejection of the use of force, defended diplomacy as the only solution to the Iranian nuclear dispute, and offered China’s mediation to prevent further destabilization in the Middle East.
International
Suspect arrested in killing of Minnesota legislator and husband, governor Says
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced on Sunday the arrest of Vance Luther Boelter, 57, the main suspect in the killing of Democratic legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband in a Brooklyn Park suburb on Friday night.
Boelter, who also reportedly shot State Senator John Hoffman and his wife early Saturday morning, was apprehended in Sibley County following an intensive manhunt involving hundreds of law enforcement officers.
In a public statement, Governor Walz condemned Boelter’s “unthinkable actions,” which resulted in the death of a woman who “shaped the core of who we are as a state.”
“We cannot become numb to this. We are a deeply divided nation,” Walz said in a statement posted on his X account.
“We move forward not with hatred or violence, but with humility, grace, and civility,” he added.
Expressing solidarity with the victims’ families, Walz said the entire state of Minnesota is in mourning. He also thanked law enforcement for their bravery and professionalism: “They have saved lives,” he emphasized.
“As we heal, we will not let fear win,” Walz concluded. “We must honor Melissa by moving forward with understanding, service, and above all, humanity.”
Throughout Sunday, police and sheriff units searched a rural area in Minnesota for Vance Luther Boelter, a security company director and preacher who, according to Governor Walz, acted out of politically motivated violence.
International
40,000 tourists stranded in Israel amid airspace shutdown over Iran conflict
Approximately 40,000 tourists are stranded in Israel following the closure of the country’s airspace amid escalating hostilities with Iran, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism reported on Monday.
The ministry has set up a virtual office to provide information via email (virtual@goisrael.gov.il) and phone (+972-53-583-5808), as well as a Facebook page called Israel Virtual Tourist Office.
Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz is in contact with hotels and accommodations across the country to offer support to tourists in need, the ministry added.
Many stranded travelers are considering crossing overland into Jordan or Egypt to seek flights from those countries. The Israel Airports Authority reminded the public that land border crossings remain open.
Three German tourists stranded in Jerusalem told EFE today that they have not received any assistance from their country’s embassy in Israel, and their primary option currently is to cross into Jordan to catch a flight from there.
Since early Friday morning, Israel launched operations against Iran, targeting military personnel and infrastructure, including energy and nuclear facilities, as well as numerous residential areas in Tehran.
In response, Iran has fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel, some of which have struck various locations across the country, leaving at least 24 dead so far, according to Israeli authorities.
Iranian health officials report at least 224 deaths, mostly civilians, including at least 17 senior military officials—nine from the Revolutionary Guard—and more than a dozen nuclear scientists.
The Israeli military has warned that many more “targets” remain, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared on Monday that it will continue missile attacks against Israel until its “destruction.”
China calls for dialogue amid rising Iran-Israel conflict
Suspect arrested in killing of Minnesota legislator and husband, governor Says
40,000 tourists stranded in Israel amid airspace shutdown over Iran conflict
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