International
Peruvian Congress to decide on Friday on the suspension of the JNJ
December 14 |
The Peruvian Congress will debate on Friday a motion that proposes the dismissal of the members of the National Justice Board (JNJ) for having suspended Judge Patricia Benavides as Attorney General of the Republic.
The motion was promoted by legislators Jorge Montoya and Alejandro Muñante, from the ultra-conservative Renovación Popular party.
The motion seeking the dismissal of the members of the JNJ counted with 69 votes in favor, 30 against and 17 abstentions.
However, for the dismissal of the members of the JNJ, who accused Attorney General Patricia Benavides of managing a corruption network within the Public Prosecutor’s Office, a minimum of 87 votes of the 130 Peruvian congressmen is required.
After the acceptance, the president of the Congress, Alejandro Soto, called a meeting of the Board of Spokesmen of the different benches to establish the terms of the debate.
At the end of that meeting, Soto informed the plenary that the members of the JNJ will be summoned to appear to exercise their right to defense from 15:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Friday.
Prior to the vote, two hours of debate have been scheduled where the parliamentarians will engage in discussions before taking the final decision via a vote.
From the other side of the aisle, the JNJ responded that this vote in Congress “would mean a breakdown of the democratic order in Peru and an attack against the constitutional legitimacy of the Legislative Branch itself, with unforeseeable consequences”.
“The JNJ demands once again the respect for its constitutional competences, the independence of powers in Peru and the defense of democratic institutionality, the basis for the wellbeing and progress of Peruvians,” the organization remarked.
It is worth noting that the board suspended the Prosecutor last week and Patricia Benavides responded by filing a request to revoke the decision before the congress, achieving the aforementioned response of the Assembly before the JNJ.
International
Cuba accuses U.S. of pressuring countries ahead of UN vote on embargo
The Cuban government on Wednesday accused the United States of exerting “intimidating and deceptive pressure” on third countries to vote against the annual UN General Assembly resolution calling for an end to U.S. sanctions on the island.
In a statement to the international press, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez claimed that Havana possesses “reliable information” about Washington’s efforts to pressure countries in Latin America and Europe ahead of the vote.
The non-binding resolution, presented every year by Cuba since 1992, has consistently received overwhelming supportfrom the international community — with 187 votes in favor and only two against (the U.S. and Israel) in recent years. The next vote is scheduled to take place on October 28.
Rodríguez described the resolution as a diplomatic victory for Cuba despite its lack of practical effect, and asserted that his government had obtained U.S. documents sent to other nations urging them to “change their historical position” on the issue.
According to the foreign minister, the United States has allegedly “coerced allied nations” in recent weeks using tactics such as visa denials, trade tariffs, and pressure on private companies.
He further stated that in two written communications, dated October 8 and 17, Washington explicitly urged the recipients to “reject” the Cuban resolution “in accordance with applicable legal measures.”
Central America
U.S. and Panama hold joint jungle exercises to strengthen security ties
U.S. and Panamanian security forces carried out joint exercises in Panama’s jungle on Wednesday, focusing on the exchange of specialized knowledge as part of renewed bilateral cooperation in security and defense, according to official statements.
Joint operations between the two nations—Panama, which has had no standing army since 1990, and the United States—have been frequent since the 1989 U.S. invasion. The latest drills come after both countries renewed their security cooperation last April through a memorandum of understanding, which initially sparked some controversy in Panama due to provisions allowing greater temporary and rotational U.S. military presence.
The exercises also coincide with an unprecedented U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean, part of Washington’s expanded anti-narcotics campaign, which it links to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government—currently the target of a $50 million U.S. reward offer.
“We are simply focused on creating mutual understanding and shared experiences that can be beneficial for both countries, Panama and the United States,” said U.S. Colonel Ada Cotton during a press briefing.
The U.S. contingent, composed of Marines and an Army officer, participated at the invitation of the Panamanian government, which, according to Cotton, “has clearly defined what we can and cannot do” during the training exercises.
International
Colombia conducts nationwide emergency drill focused on hidroituango dam
Colombians took part on Wednesday in the National Emergency Response Drill, an exercise aimed at enhancing citizens’ ability to react to risk situations and promoting a culture of prevention.
According to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), the drill was conducted throughout the country.
This year’s main focus was Hidroituango, Colombia’s largest hydroelectric power plant, located in a mountainous canyon in the municipality of Ituango, in the northwestern department of Antioquia.
The head of the UNGRD, Carlos Carrillo, oversaw the exercise at Hidroituango, which is powered by the Cauca River, the country’s second most important waterway after the Magdalena.
“We simulated a rise in the Cauca River’s water level,” Carrillo explained, noting that evacuation sirens sounded at 7:30 a.m. local time (12:30 GMT) and that five municipalities upstream and five downstreamtook part in the drill.
Personnel operating the hydroelectric plant’s machinery also evacuated their work areas as part of the exercise.
Carrillo emphasized that the data collected during the simulation will be crucial to assess and strengthen the response capabilities of local governments and communities.
Cuba accuses U.S. of pressuring countries ahead of UN vote on embargo
U.S. and Panama hold joint jungle exercises to strengthen security ties
Colombia conducts nationwide emergency drill focused on hidroituango dam
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
-
International5 days agoMillions to join “No Kings” march in U.S. amid Trump’s growing authoritarian backlash
-
International5 days agoMaría Corina Machado: “Venezuela is closer than ever to regaining freedom”
-
Central America2 days agoWhite House targets Nicaragua over human rights and labor violations
-
International3 days agoU.S.-Colombia Tensions Escalate as Trump Ends Subsidies, Criticizes Petro
-
International2 days agoJoe Biden finishes prostate cancer radiotherapy at Penn Medicine
-
International2 days agoTrump warns Hamas that they will be “eradicated” if they break the ceasefire with Israel in Gaza
-
International10 hours agoUruguay’s Orsi and Tony Blair discuss AI cooperation and child poverty policies
-
International2 days agoThe Chief Builder: Trump and his remodeling of the White House
-
International1 day agoVenezuela accuses U.S. of using anti-drug operations as pretext to target Maduro
-
International2 days agoZelenskyy: Meeting with Trump “Positive” Despite Rejected Missile Request
-
International2 days agoTrump assures that Ukraine could still “win” the war
-
International2 days agoThe United States investigates why a Waymo autonomous vehicle did not respect a stop sign
-
International1 day agoCosta Rica hails appointment of Japan’s first female Prime Minister, Takaichi Sanae
-
International2 days agoTrump says Venezuela is ‘feeling the heat’ amid U.S. anti-drug operations in the Caribbean
-
International9 hours agoColombia conducts nationwide emergency drill focused on hidroituango dam
-
International2 days agoMexico and the US launch an unprecedented joint border plan to stop arms trafficking
-
Central America9 hours agoU.S. and Panama hold joint jungle exercises to strengthen security ties
-
International9 hours agoCuba accuses U.S. of pressuring countries ahead of UN vote on embargo
-
International1 day agoColombian court overturns ex-president Uribe’s conviction for witness tampering