International
Israel will limit visas for the UN humanitarian agency (OCHA) to just one month
Israel announced this Wednesday at the UN Security Council that it will limit visas to only one month for employees of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which it accused of having “a continuous bias against the State of Israel”.
The Israeli ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, assured that the OCHA has within it several workers affiliated with Hamas, some of whom even participated in the terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023 that cost the lives of almost 2,000 people.
However, he did not provide evidence of his accusations.
The session was convened to discuss the humanitarian emergency in Gaza and the increasing cases of death from starvation, but Danon used his speech to counterattack the alleged hostility of the UN to his country, since the alleged collusion with Hamas was already used to organize an effective campaign to discredit UNRWA, the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
Danon also announced that his country will not automatically renew visas to international OCHA staff, and that “hundreds of employees” of that agency have been examined in what he called a “security veto” that led Israel to withdraw their work permits from several officials “for clear evidence of a solid affiliation with Hamas”.
He also confirmed that the head of the OCHA in the Palestinian territories, Jonathan Whittall, will not be able to renew his visa “and will leave the country on July 29,” after complaining about what he called “an endless campaign of defamation” against his country.
The diplomat took the opportunity to launch a global attack on the entire UN: “What the UN does is cling to a political agenda, protect its biases and defend its agencies that have long since abandoned neutrality.”
And he boasted that Israel “makes the Middle East safer for all those who value peace and tranquility. In other words, we are doing the work of the UN,” he proclaimed.
The accusations against the OCHA are reminiscent of those that Israel launched against UNRWA for the same cases – complicity with Hamas and terrorist attacks – that cost this agency a discredit and withdrawal campaign that it took many months to overcome, and only partially, since the United States withdrew all its funding and even banned it with a vote in Congress.
International
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
International
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of violating a Victory Day truce that was reportedly agreed with mediation from the United States, claiming that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian territory as well as on the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Despite the declared ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian military positions using attack drones and artillery.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces made twelve attempts to advance toward Russian-held positions across several sectors of the front line.
It also alleged that Ukrainian strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, several border regions, the Caucasus, and other areas including Moscow and Perm in the Ural region.
The Defense Ministry estimated around 8,900 violations of the ceasefire in total, including more than 7,000 drone attacks and over 1,000 strikes involving tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars since the truce came into effect at midnight.
Russia said its forces responded “symmetrically” to what it described as violations by Ukrainian troops.
Earlier, the Kremlin denied claims that Ukraine attempted to sabotage a military parade in Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“No attempts were made. Everything went well,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told local media.
International
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing, Signals Possible Deal on Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington is holding “very good” talks with Iran and stated that there is a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve had very good conversations over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll reach an agreement,” Trump said during an event held in the Oval Office at the White House.
The president’s remarks came just hours after he announced a temporary suspension of the military operation aimed at escorting vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump explained that the pause in operations is intended to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between both sides and prevent further military escalation in the region.
“We’re in good shape, and right now things are going well. Now we have to achieve what we need to achieve. If we don’t, we’ll have to go much further,” the Republican president warned.
In a post published on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that if Iran accepts Washington’s proposed conditions, military operations and the naval blockade affecting the Islamic republic would come to an end.
However, he also issued a new warning to the Iranian government, stating that the United States would respond with attacks “of greater intensity” if Tehran rejects the agreement promoted by the White House.
Panama confirms drug contamination of El Salvador coffee shipment occurred on its territory
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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