Sin categoría
Unvaccinated Kimmich, Choupo-Moting positive for Covid: Bayern
AFP
Bayern Munich confirmed Wednesday that star midfielder Joshua Kimmich and back-up striker Eric Choupo-Moting — both of whom are unvaccinated — have tested positive for Covid-19.
“Joshua Kimmich is isolating at home after testing positive. The FC Bayern midfielder is doing well,” the club said in a statement.
German international Kimmich, Cameroon’s Choupo-Moting as well as Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry were all already in quarantine as contact cases.
Bayern had arrived back in Munich after Tuesday’s 2-1 win at Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League to learn Choupo-Moting had tested positive with the club saying he was “doing well in the circumstances.”
Kimmich sparked a vaccination debate in Germany last month when the 26-year-old admitted he had so far opted against being inoculated due to “personal reasons”.
The news angered some Bayern fans, as spectators at football matches in Germany must prove they are fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid, while the players they come to watch must only show a negative test result.
Bild and Kicker magazine both claim Gnabry and Musiala have now allowed themselves to be vaccinated.
Earlier Wednesday, Germany head coach Hansi Flick revealed that Kimmich had also had a change of heart.
“I think it’s going in the direction of ‘Jo’ getting vaccinated,” Flick said at a German FA event.
Last week Bayern reportedly told those four players plus midfielder Michael Cuisance, who is also unvaccinated, that their wages would be docked if they had to quarantine after refusing to have a jab.
In Kiev, Bayern captain Manuel Neuer said the five players’ refusal to be vaccinated had been “trivialities”, adding it was “not easy” for the rest of the team.
Bayern have injury concerns after Lucas Hernandez picked up a hamstring strain in Kiev. Midfielder Marcel Sabitzer has a calf problem and defender Tanguy Nianzou injured his shoulder.
German international defender Niklas Suele and Croatia right-back Josip Stanisic returned to training on Wednesday having tested positive for Covid in the past fortnight.
Germany last week announced tougher Covid curbs and on Tuesday the weekly incidence rate stood at 399.8 new infections per 100,000 people, an all-time high, according to the Robert Koch Institute.
Sin categoría
Energy chief says U.S. will restore Gulf oil shipments and refill strategic reserves
The United States is making progress in restoring oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, with approximately 7 million barrels of oil and fuel now passing through the critical maritime route each day, according to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
Speaking at the Bloomberg Energy Security Executive Briefing in Houston on Friday, Wright said the United States is committed to fully reopening the waterway, regardless of whether Iran cooperates with those efforts.
The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy transit corridors, experienced severe disruptions at the onset of the conflict with Iran. According to Wright, nearly 20 million barrels of oil per day were initially affected when traffic through the strait was largely halted.
While some shipments were redirected to alternative ports outside the Persian Gulf, roughly 14 million barrels per day remained stranded, creating what Wright described as a major disruption to global energy flows.
“That was a significant interruption of supply,” he said, emphasizing that the United States intends to restore normal shipping operations independently if necessary.
Industry analysts noted that the recovery of approximately 7 million barrels per day has exceeded many market expectations. Dan Pickering, chief investment officer at Pickering Energy Partners, said the faster-than-expected return of supply has helped explain why oil prices have remained lower than some analysts had predicted.
Wright also reiterated his goal of rebuilding the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which has been used in recent years to help cushion the impact of supply disruptions linked to geopolitical conflicts and market volatility.
In addition, the Energy Secretary dismissed the possibility of imposing restrictions on U.S. energy exports, arguing that maintaining open markets remains essential for both domestic energy security and global supply stability.
The comments underscore Washington’s determination to restore confidence in international energy markets and ensure the uninterrupted flow of oil through one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes.
Sin categoría
Trump renews criticism of Pope Leo XIV amid tensions over Iran
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, renewed his criticism of Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday night, urging that “someone tell him” that Iran has “killed at least 42,000 innocent protesters” and insisting that it is “unacceptable” for the country to possess nuclear weapons.
“Can someone please inform Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 completely unarmed, innocent protesters over the past two months, and that it is absolutely unacceptable for Iran to have a nuclear bomb?” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
The statement comes amid an escalating public dispute between Trump and the pontiff over the conflict in Iran and the broader Middle East. The US president concluded his message with the phrase “AMERICA IS BACK.”
Pope Leo XIV, who was born in the United States, has repeatedly spoken out—both directly and indirectly—against Washington’s stance toward Tehran, while calling for peace in the region.
On Monday, Trump openly criticized the pope, describing him as “weak” and “terrible on foreign policy.”
Speaking aboard a flight to Algeria, the first stop of his trip to Africa, the pontiff said he was “not afraid” of the Trump administration and would continue to raise his voice against the ongoing conflict.
Sin categoría
Tehran engulfed in toxic cloud after strikes on fuel facilities
Tehran woke up under a sky that shifted from gray to black following strikes on fuel infrastructure, as the city has become engulfed in a toxic cloud that is turning daily life into a public health and environmental emergency.
Residents warn that what is falling from the sky is no longer just rain, but a mixture of oil and pollutants. Attacks on fuel depots have triggered prolonged fires, releasing thick plumes of smoke that continue to spread across the العاصمة.
For several days, facilities have remained ablaze, while a dark layer has settled over streets, homes, and even water reserves. Authorities have urged the population—more than nine million people—to remain indoors, especially vulnerable groups.
The extreme toxicity is linked to mazut, a dense petroleum byproduct with high sulfur content still used in Iran due to industrial limitations and sanctions. When burned, it releases hazardous particles that, when combined with moisture, result in contaminated rainfall.
The situation is worsened by Tehran’s geography. Surrounded by mountains, the city is affected by a temperature inversion phenomenon that traps pollutants near the ground, preventing their dispersion and creating a stagnant layer of toxic air over the population.
Residents have reported symptoms such as eye and skin irritation, headaches, and respiratory difficulties. Emergency agencies have also warned of potential chemical burns caused by acid rain.
Long-term concerns are mounting, as prolonged exposure to fine particles and heavy metals could lead to serious health conditions, including lung damage and cancer.
Contamination is also spreading to water sources and agricultural land, threatening the food supply in a country already facing water scarcity.
At a regional level, the environmental impact is expanding, with oil spills reported in the Persian Gulf, affecting marine ecosystems and fishing communities.
Mexico and U.S. Launch New Bilateral Security Group to Combat Fentanyl and Organized Crime
‘El Chapo’ Guzmán again asks Mexican president to seek his return from U.S. prison
Energy chief says U.S. will restore Gulf oil shipments and refill strategic reserves
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
-
Sin categoría2 days agoEnergy chief says U.S. will restore Gulf oil shipments and refill strategic reserves
-
International4 days ago
U.S. Launches Military Strikes on Iran Following Apache Helicopter Incident
-
International2 days ago‘El Chapo’ Guzmán again asks Mexican president to seek his return from U.S. prison
-
Central America5 days agoBukele Tops Latin America’s Presidential Approval Ranking in June, Survey Finds
-
International4 days agoMS-13 Member Sentenced to 35 Years for Fatal Subway Killing in New York
-
International3 days agoU.S. Halts Military Action Against Iran Amid Diplomatic Breakthrough
-
International5 days agoNGO Reports Release of 54 Political Prisoner Soldiers in Venezuela
-
International3 days agoIván Cepeda Open to Revising Colombia’s Peace Policy Ahead of Runoff Election
-
International1 day agoMexico and U.S. Launch New Bilateral Security Group to Combat Fentanyl and Organized Crime
-
Central America3 days agoU.S. Authorities Accuse Guatemalan Nationals of Using False Information to Sponsor Migrant Minors