International
António Guterres asks G20 leaders to “take a step forward” for peace in Ukraine and Gaza
The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, asked this Sunday to the leaders of the G20, who meet from today in Rio de Janeiro, to “take a step forward” for peace in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Ukraine and Sudan.
The G20 countries exert a “huge diplomatic influence” and “must use it to address the main global problems. First of all, peace” because while “the wars continue, people are paying a horrible price,” he said at a press conference in Rio.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also expressed his “concern” about the state of negotiations at the Baku climate summit (COP29) and demanded “leadership” and “commitment” from the G20 countries to achieve a “satisfactory result.”
Regarding Donald Trump’s return to the Presidency of the United States, he assured that the “best possible response” is to “strengthen multilateralism.”
Guterres asks the G20 to “take a step forward” for peace
Guterres asked the G20 heads of state and government to address the major ongoing conflicts, something that Brazil, which holds the rotating presidency of the forum until November 30, has categorically rejected.
Brazil maintains that the G20 emerged as an economic coordination mechanism and, for this reason, is not the appropriate instance for the prevention and resolution of conflicts, something that, in its opinion, is the responsibility of the UN.
In fact, the Brazilian Presidency has organized three plenary sessions for the G20 summit on how to eradicate hunger in the world, the reform of international institutions and a final one on energy transition and sustainable development.
However, Guterres urged the G20 to “take a step forward for peace,” specifically in Gaza and Lebanon, the subject of bombing and invasions by the Israeli Army, as well as in Ukraine, under Russian fire for about three years, and Sudan.
In addition, asked about how the international community should be organized in the face of the possibility of Trump moving away from global agreements, such as climate agreements, Guterres said that “the most important thing is to recognize the importance of multilateralism” and “strengthen” its institutions.
Concern about COP29
At his press conference, the UN Secretary General also referred to the climate summit being held in Baku.
“I am concerned about the state of negotiations at COP29. Countries must agree on an ambitious climate financing target that is equal to the magnitude of the challenge facing developing countries,” Guterres said at a press conference on the eve of the G20 meeting.
He acknowledged that the negotiations are “far” from coming to fruition and warned that not reaching a consensus would have “negative” consequences for COP30, which will be held in 2025 in the city of Belém, in the Brazilian Amazon.
In this context, he recalled that the G20, which brings together the most powerful economies on the planet, are responsible for “80% of global emissions” polluting and, therefore, “must lead by example.”
In this way, he considered that “all G20 countries must make an additional effort” in their climate goals and gave as an example of a “good start” the recent announcements of “Brazil and the United Kingdom”, both members of the G20.
Guterres also firmly defended the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which he referred to as the ideal way to “confront the tremendous inequalities and injustices that exist in the world.”
The G20 is made up of Germany, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, South Korea, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Russia, South Africa and Turkey, in addition to the European Union and the African Union.
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.
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.
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.
International
Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deported “more than half a million” migrants due to pressure from former President Donald Trump.
During a cabinet meeting highlighting the “achievements” of Trump’s administration in its first 100 days, Noem asserted that under the Republican leader’s influence, “Mexico has finally come to the table” to negotiate on migration and fentanyl trafficking.
“The president of Mexico told me she has returned just over half a million people before they reached our border,” Noem stated, criticizing media reports that suggest the Biden administration deported more migrants than Trump’s.
“I wish those deportations were counted,” Noem added, “because those people never made it to our border—she sent them back because you made her.” She went on to thank Trump: “They never made it here because they got the message—because you were so aggressive.”
Noem has made controversial claims about Sheinbaum in the past, prompting the Mexican leader to refute them.
On April 1, Sheinbaum responded to one such statement by declaring, “The president answers to only one authority, and that is the people of Mexico,” after Noem said on Fox News that she gave Sheinbaum “a list of things Trump would like to see” and that Mexico’s actions would determine whether Trump granted tariff relief.
Man arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka
Clashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages
Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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