International

Nichols continues visit to Mexico border amid dialogues on democracy and environment

Photo: @WHAAsstSecty

October 12 |

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian Nichols, resumed on Wednesday his agenda in the border area of the country that divides the U.S. city of San Diego and the Mexican city of Tijuana with meetings with academics and environmental officials.

In the morning, the senior official participated in a dialogue at the Institute of the Americas in La Jolla, California, where he discussed “partnerships in efforts to build a more democratic, prosperous and resilient Western Hemisphere,” according to a social media post.

Nichols said Tuesday that his visit to the area would also include meetings with Department of Homeland Security officials who guard the border, Mexican officials and employees of the U.S. consulate in Tijuana.

On Wednesday afternoon, Nichols continued his visit at a wastewater treatment plant between the two border cities to, he said, learn “firsthand about the work being done by the Environmental Protection Agency and the International Boundary and Water Commission with our Mexican partners to protect our beaches and the environment.

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Nichols and Dyer’s visit comes less than a week after high-level bilateral meetings between U.S. and Mexican ministers, which ended in the announcement of the resumption of direct deportations of Venezuelans to their country.

The U.S. government was also criticized last week after announcing that it would give way to the construction of the border fence on the southwest border.

Nichols will conclude his visit to the area on Thursday, October 12.

International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”