International
North Korea notifies Japan of its intention to launch a satellite before June 4
North Korea has notified Japan of its intention to launch a new satellite before June 4, the Japanese Government announced.
The Director General for Asia and Oceania of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Hiroyuki Namazu, the Director General for South Korean Nuclear Affairs, Lee Jun-il, and the US Deputy Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, Jun Pak, held a telematic meeting after the announcement.
“The three parties agreed that the North Korean launch using ballistic missile technology is prohibited by current United Nations sanctions, which prohibit (to Pyongyang) any launch that uses ballistic missile technology, even if the launch is intended to deploy a satellite,” said a statement from the meeting published by the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
“This is a clear violation of the Security Council resolutions and the three parties agreed to ask North Korea to desist from the launch,” he concludes.
The warning comes hours before Japan participates in a three-way summit with South Korea and China in Seoul and designates three maritime areas as potential danger zones due to the fall of remnants of the rocket necessary to launch the device, two west of the Korean peninsula and one east of the Philippine island of Luzon, according to the details received by the Coast Guard of Japan.
Those three areas coincide with those already demarcated at the time by the North Korean regime for the launches it made last year.
Officials from Japan, the United States and South Korea contacted by phone after the announcement and agreed to ask the North to cancel its launch plan, since it involves the use of ballistic technology, something prohibited by the sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council on the country.
The launch preparation notice is known days after the South Korean army said that it has detected an increase in activity at the launch base that Pyongyang has in Tongchang-ri, in the northwest of the territory, from where it made its three satellite launches in 2023, triggering speculation about an upcoming launch.
North Korea has promised to launch three more spy satellites in 2024, after successfully orbiting the first one last November and after two previous failed attempts that same year.
International
Portuguese Authorities Seize 2.6 Tons of Cocaine Worth More Than $550 Million in Drug Bust
Italian financial police reported Monday that Portuguese authorities intercepted a speedboat carrying more than 2.6 tons of cocaine, with an estimated street value exceeding $550 million.
Four people — two Spanish nationals, one Albanian citizen, and a man from Gibraltar — were arrested in connection with the operation, according to Italian authorities.
The vessel was intercepted off the coast of Lisbon by Portugal’s maritime police following an investigation led by Italian authorities.
Italian financial police estimated that the seized shipment had a street value of approximately 500 million euros ($570 million), making it one of the largest drug seizures reported in the region in recent years.
Portuguese authorities said the interception took place on Thursday, about 90 kilometers (50 nautical miles) southwest of Cape Espichel, during an operation targeting international drug trafficking routes.
International
U.S. and Iran Maintain Ceasefire as Trump Expresses Optimism Over New Talks
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that there are “good chances” of reaching an agreement with Iran, as both sides maintained a ceasefire for the third consecutive day following weeks of escalating hostilities.
Trump expressed optimism about the possibility of resuming diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the conflict, which began in late February and has raised international concerns over its impact on global markets and energy supplies.
The fighting has remained suspended since Saturday, after the United States resumed airstrikes against Iran amid a dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments. The renewed military action had previously caused the collapse of an earlier ceasefire agreement.
Asked about the prospects for negotiations aboard Air Force One, Trump said: “I have a lot of patience… We’ll see what happens. I think there are good chances that something could happen.”
The U.S. president also highlighted Washington’s military capabilities, saying: “We have a lot of ammunition,” while adding that he would like to have more resources due to U.S. support for Ukraine.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Trump was allowing diplomatic efforts more time, explaining that the president was “giving some space to the talks” while maintaining that Washington remains prepared to take action if necessary.
Meanwhile, tensions continue in other areas of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia reported that it intercepted drones launched from Iraq by groups allied with Tehran and urged the Iraqi government to take measures to prevent further attacks.
International
Police Investigate After Remains of Five Newborns Found in French Apartment
French authorities have opened a murder investigation after the discovery of human remains believed to belong to five newborn babies inside an apartment in the historic center of a city, the local prosecutor’s office reported Monday night.
According to prosecutors, a 32-year-old woman had given birth at home on Sunday to a healthy baby before being taken to a hospital for medical care.
The discovery was made after the woman’s 32-year-old partner began searching the residence after reportedly learning, once again and at a late stage, that she had been pregnant.
During the search, the man found what appeared to be human remains and informed the hospital, which then alerted prosecutors.
A forensic doctor determined that the remains likely belonged to five newborn infants. Authorities have not yet established the circumstances or motive behind the case.
Investigators have not been able to interview the mother, who remains hospitalized following the delivery.
Prosecutors also confirmed that the couple has two other children, aged eight and nine years old. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to clarify the events surrounding the discovery.
Portuguese Authorities Seize 2.6 Tons of Cocaine Worth More Than $550 Million in Drug Bust
U.S. and Iran Maintain Ceasefire as Trump Expresses Optimism Over New Talks
Police Investigate After Remains of Five Newborns Found in French Apartment
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
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