International
Lasso asks UN for help to stop violence in Ecuador
October 25 |
Guillermo Lasso, president of Ecuador, held a meeting on Tuesday with the executive director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council, Natalia German, to request support to address the situation of insecurity that his nation is going through.
The Ecuadorian president asked the UN representative for support to manage cooperation projects and technical assistance to address the armed violence in Ecuador.
Lasso said that the Ecuadorian government has a “zero tolerance” policy against drug trafficking and violence.
“I appreciate the openness and commitment of the Counter-Terrorism Committee @ONU_es, who have proposed us to make an extended analysis of the current situation, which will take into account the good practices applied in Ecuador,” Lasso wrote on the social network “X”.
In this sense, he clarified that the security issue “is priority one” in his government agenda and assured that this issue will be addressed until the last day of his term.
The General Secretariat of Communication of the Presidency complemented, in a statement, that in the meeting President Lasso reaffirmed Ecuador’s commitment to the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime in its capacity as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
“This decision is framed in the growing threat of organized criminal groups that use terrorist tactics to consolidate their power and territorial control,” said the official.
It is important to remember that the Government of Ecuador has categorized the violent actions of armed groups as terrorist, which is why the support of international organizations is necessary to intervene with the forces of the State in the provinces affected by violence and drug trafficking.
Ecuador is experiencing a wave of violence, extortion, attacks and other crimes that has the population at the mercy of the actions of these violent groups, while the State continues the fight to curb drug trafficking.
International
Floods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in central Vietnam has risen to 28, with six people reported missing and 43 injured, local newspaper VnExpress reported Friday night.
More than 22,100 homes remain flooded, primarily in the cities of Hue and Da Nang. Floods and landslides have destroyed or swept away 91 houses and damaged another 181, the report added.
Around 245,000 households are still without electricity, particularly in Da Nang, where over 225,000 homes are affected.
Additionally, 80 stretches of national highways are blocked or disrupted due to landslides. Authorities expect the flooding to continue for another day or two in the region.
International
FBI foils ISIS-Inspired attack in Michigan, arrests five teens
Kash Patel did not provide further details, but police sources told CBS News that the potential attack was “inspired” by the Islamic State (ISIS).
“This morning, the FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested several individuals in Michigan who were allegedly planning a violent attack during the Halloween weekend,” Patel wrote on X.
“Thanks to swift action and close coordination with our local partners, a possible terrorist act was prevented before it could be carried out,” he added.
CBS reported that five people between the ages of 16 and 20 were arrested on Friday. At least one of them was reportedly acquainted with a former member of the Michigan National Guard, who was arrested in May for plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on a U.S. military facility in the Detroit suburbs.
International
U.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressed concerns over China’s growing military activity near Taiwan during a meeting on Friday with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in Kuala Lumpur.
“It was a constructive and positive meeting,” Hegseth wrote on X. “I emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and raised U.S. concerns about China’s actions around Taiwan,” the self-governed island that Beijing claims and does not rule out invading.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. According to Trump, Taiwan was not discussed during their talks.
“The United States does not seek conflict and will continue to firmly defend its interests, ensuring it maintains the capability to do so in the region,” Hegseth added in his message.
Friday’s encounter followed a September 9 video call between Hegseth and Dong. Their previously planned meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore was canceled due to Dong’s absence from the event.
Trump’s sit-down with Xi — their first since 2019 — resulted in some trade agreements but avoided addressing the issue of Taiwan, a long-standing source of tension between the world’s two largest powers.
Trump has taken a more ambiguous stance on Taiwan’s future compared with former President Joe Biden, who repeatedly stated that Washington would support Taipei if China launched an invasion. The Republican president has also criticized Taiwan for “stealing” the U.S. semiconductor industry.
Floods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
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U.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
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