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.

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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.

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“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.”

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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

White House says Cuba policy unchanged despite sanctioned fuel shipment

The White House said Monday that it has not changed its policy toward Cuba, despite allowing a sanctioned Russian oil tanker to deliver fuel to the island on humanitarian grounds.

U.S. officials emphasized that the decision was made as an exception and does not signal a broader shift in policy.

The administration added that similar decisions would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on humanitarian considerations.

The clarification comes amid ongoing restrictions related to U.S. sanctions policy, which continue to limit trade and financial flows involving Cuba.

International

Spain to grant citizenship to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López

The Spanish government is expected to grant citizenship this Tuesday to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lópezthrough an extraordinary procedure known as “carta de naturaleza.”

The decision will be approved by royal decree, an exceptional legal mechanism used in special cases that require expedited resolution due to specific circumstances.

López has been living in Madrid since 2020, after leaving Venezuela following a prolonged political and legal conflict with the government of Nicolás Maduro.

According to government sources, López currently does not have a valid Venezuelan passport and faces difficulties in having his nationality fully recognized in his home country.

As a result, he applied for Spanish citizenship via a fast-track process at the end of 2025, after previously attempting to obtain it through regular procedures.

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The Spanish government justified the move based on López’s international relevance and foreign policy considerations.

López is the leader of the Voluntad Popular party and co-founder of the World Liberty Congress, an initiative launched in 2022 alongside figures such as Garry Kasparov and Masih Alinejad.

International

ICE to remain at airports amid DHS shutdown, Homan says

The U.S. “border czar,” Tom Homan, said Sunday that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will remain deployed at airports until operations return to “100% normal,” as the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues.

“We will maintain ICE presence until airports feel they are fully back to normal operations,” Homan said during an interview on Face the Nation on CBS.

Homan justified the deployment on security grounds, noting that the measure was ordered by President Donald Trumpamid widespread absenteeism among agents of the Transportation Security Administration, who have gone without pay for over six weeks due to the DHS shutdown.

According to acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill, at least 460 TSA agents have resigned during the shutdown, while daily absenteeism has averaged 11%, exceeding 50% at some airports.

Homan warned that if TSA staffing levels do not recover after the shutdown, ICE agents will continue filling the gap. “ICE is there to support our TSA brothers and sisters. We will remain as long as needed to ensure airport security,” he said.

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The DHS shutdown reached 44 days on Sunday, making it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The impasse stems from disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over ICE funding.

A recent bipartisan Senate proposal to fund DHS without including ICE failed after being blocked by House Republicans, who insist on full funding for the agency.

Amid the deadlock, Trump signed an executive order directing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately pay TSA agents to address what he called an “emergency situation” and restore order at airports, with payments expected to begin Monday.