International
New Syrian leader addresses with the United States the lifting of sanctions for reconstruction
The new leader of the Syrian administration, Ahmed al Sharaa, has addressed with the US diplomatic mission that visited Damascus yesterday the need to lift the sanctions imposed against Syria in order to rebuild the country after the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad, on December 8.
The Syrian administration welcomed the mission, to which it assured that “the Syrian people need great support to achieve recovery and rebirth at all levels,” and called for the “lifting of the sanctions imposed” against Syria, according to a statement issued in recent hours by the political office of the new Syrian authorities.
He also stressed the importance “of giving the Syrian people the opportunity to rest from the misfortunes of war and conflicts.”
He presented to the US mission “a development and institutionalization program that will be launched in the new Syria.”
Also, Al Sharaa discussed the need to “persecute war criminals and symbols of the old regime” who must “be accountable to justice,” the note points out.
He affirmed “Syria’s role in achieving regional peace and building strategic relations with the countries of the region” of the Middle East.
American visit mission in Syria
Yesterday, a US mission headed by the Middle East manager of the United States State Department, Barbara Leaf, the advisor on Middle East affairs Daniel Rubinstein and the main negotiator of the Executive for the release of hostages, Roger Carstens, met with Al Sharaa and other leaders of the new Syrian administration, as well as with civil society, among others.
Withdrawal of the reward
Leaf announced yesterday that they have withdrawn a reward of 10 million dollars for information that can lead to his whereabouts, which has been in force for years.
This reward for his information was taken when Al Sharaa was known by the war name Abu Mohamed al Yolani and headed the Al-Nusra Front, the Syrian subsidiary of Al Qaeda.
However, in 2017 he formed the Levant Liberation Agency (Hayat Tahrir al Sham or HTS, in Arabic) that he now leads and which is a split from the Al Qaeda subsidiary.
One of the priorities of the new Syrian administration, which overthrew former President Bashar al-Asad on December 8 in an insurgent offensive that lasted only twelve days, is the reconstruction of the country, destroyed by almost fourteen years of war and by the sanctions imposed by the US and other countries, as well as the return of the more than 6 million refugees.
International
Prosecutor José Domingo Pérez reinstated in Fujimori corruption case
José Domingo Pérez, Peru’s top anti-corruption prosecutor who leads the case against political figure Keiko Fujimori for the alleged illegal financing of her 2011 and 2016 presidential campaigns, will resume his duties on Tuesday after successfully appealing a suspension imposed in April.
The National Control Authority of the Public Ministry (ANC) nullified the six-month suspension, according to local media reports citing the official resolution.
The decision, issued Monday by the ANC’s General Appeals Directorate, partially upheld Pérez’s appeal and ordered his reinstatement to the Special Team investigating the Lava Jato and Odebrecht corruption cases in Peru.
Pérez was suspended on April 7 for six months, during which time he was barred from carrying out his role as provincial prosecutor of the Special Lava Jato Team, due to alleged administrative misconduct.
The resolution noted that “preventive removal from prosecutorial duties is reserved for exceptional and severe circumstances that compromise the dignity of the role and damage the prosecutor’s public reputation.”
Pérez had called the suspension “unjust and abusive,” adding that Peruvian prosecutors are enduring “difficult and resistant times.”
Meanwhile, on April 3, the Peruvian judiciary upheld a decision to annul the trial against Fujimori regarding alleged irregular campaign financing, affirming a ruling by the Constitutional Court.
As a result, Pérez’s previous appeal was rejected, and the Public Ministry must now rework parts of the investigation and file new charges—a process legal experts say could take between one year and 18 months.
A judge will then determine whether to proceed to trial against Fujimori and 32 other individuals connected to her political party, Fuerza Popular, over alleged illegal contributions from companies like Brazil’s Odebrecht and several Peruvian conglomerates.
International
Spain approves plan to reduce workweek to 37.5 hours
Spanish workers could soon enjoy an extra 2.5 hours of free time per week.
On Tuesday, the Spanish government approved a draft bill to reduce the standard workweek from 40 to 37.5 hours.
According to the Ministry of Labor, the measure will benefit 12.5 million private sector workers, both full-time and part-time. The ministry also stated that the move is expected to improve productivity and reduce absenteeism.
“Today, we are modernizing the world of work and, more importantly, helping people be a little happier,” said Vice President and Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz during a press conference.
International
Sinaloa Cartel faction leader ‘Chuy’ Guzmán Castro detained in Mexico amid rising violence
Mexican authorities have arrested Jesús Guzmán Castro, also known as ‘Chuy’ or ‘Narizón’, a member of the Sinaloa Cartel, specifically from the ‘Los Mayos’ faction. He is accused of conspiracy and distributing cocaine to the United States, according to security sources.
Guzmán Castro was captured in Culiacán, the capital of the northern state of Sinaloa, and authorities confirmed that he has an arrest warrant for extradition to the United States. He is linked to criminal charges including organized crime, drug trafficking, and money laundering.
The Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) reported that his arrest was the result of an investigation and international cooperation aimed at dismantling criminal networks, according to an official statement.
The arrest is significant as it occurred amid the Sinaloa Cartel’s internal struggle following the capture of Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada in the United States, which led to a violent confrontation between Los Chapitos and Los Mayos. This conflict has exacerbated violence in Sinaloa, particularly in Culiacán, with over 800 homicides reported since September 2024.
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