International
Israel rescues two hostages in operation in Rafah, south of Gaza: Those released in good health
In a successful operation carried out this morning in Rafah, at the southern end of the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces have rescued two hostages, Fernando Simón Marman, 60, and Norberto Louis Har, 70, both kidnapped in the Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on October 7.
According to a joint statement issued by the Army, Police and Shin Bet intelligence services, the hostages were transferred to the Sheba Tel Hashomer hospital to undergo a medical examination, where it was determined that they are in good health.
This rescue represents Israel’s second success in freeing hostages, after the capture alive of soldier Ori Megidish at the end of October, during the beginning of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
The operation in Rafah, a region where more than a million Gazans displaced by violence reside, left more than 50 people dead, identified as “terrorists” by Israel, while Hamas has denounced these actions as a “massacre.” .
With these two rescued, there are a total of three releases in this operation, while Hamas has freed 110 captives, 105 of whom were part of a truce agreement reached in November.
There are still 130 hostages kidnapped on October 7 inside the Strip, of which it is estimated that around thirty could be dead, in addition to four captives held by Hamas for years, including two deceased soldiers.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant expressed his gratitude to the Israel Defense Forces, the Shin Bet and the Police Counter-Terrorism Unit for the success of the operation, which he followed from the war room together with senior commanders. .
Army spokesman Daniel Hagari highlighted the complexity of the operation in Rafah, which required meticulous preparation and precise execution. The clandestine raid on the building where the hostages were being held took place around 1am, and troops exchanged gunfire with the kidnappers before securing the release of the captives.
Although one Israeli soldier was slightly injured in the operation, the release of the hostages represents a major achievement for Israel’s security forces, as noted by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, who called the operation “impressive, heroic and complex”.
International
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement to comply with current water obligations affecting U.S. farmers and ranchers and for Mexico to cover its water deficit to Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The department уточified that the agreement applies to both the current cycle and the water deficit from the previous cycle.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Mexico of failing to comply with the water-sharing treaty between the two countries, which requires the United States to deliver 1.85 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River, while Mexico must supply 432 million cubic meters from the Rio Grande.
Mexico is behind on its commitments. According to Washington, the country has accumulated a deficit of more than one billion cubic meters of water over the past five years.
“This violation is severely harming our beautiful crops and our livestock in Texas,” Trump wrote on Monday.
The Department of Agriculture said on Friday that Mexico had agreed to supply 250 million cubic meters of water starting next week and to work toward closing the shortfall.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, quoted in the statement, said Mexico delivered more water in a single year than it had over the previous four years combined.
Trump has said that if Mexico continues to fall short of its obligations, the United States reserves the right to impose 5% tariffs on imported Mexican products.
Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister for North America, Roberto Velasco, said that a severe drought in 2022 and 2023prevented the country from meeting its commitments.
International
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Several people were shot on Saturday in an attack on the campus of Brown University, in the northeastern United States, local police reported.
“Shelter in place and avoid the area until further notice,” the Providence Police Department urged in a post on X. Brown University is located in Providence, the capital of the state of Rhode Island.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that he had been briefed on the situation and that the FBI was on the scene.
At 5:52 p.m. local time (11:52 p.m. GMT), Brown University said the situation was still “ongoing” and instructed students to remain sheltered until further notice.
After initially stating that the suspect had been taken into custody, Trump later posted a second message clarifying that local police had walked back that information. “The suspect has NOT been apprehended,” the U.S. president said.
International
Colombia says it would not reject Maduro asylum request as regional tensions escalate
The Colombian government stated on Thursday that it would have no reason to reject a potential asylum request from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro should he leave office, as regional tensions persist over the deployment of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean since August.
“In the current climate of tension, negotiations are necessary, and if the United States demands a transition or political change, that is something to be assessed. If such a transition results in him (Maduro) needing to live elsewhere or seek protection, Colombia would have no reason to deny it,” said Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio in an interview with Caracol Radio.
However, Villavicencio noted that it is unlikely Maduro would choose Colombia as a refuge. “I believe he would opt for someplace more distant and calmer,” she added.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also commented on Venezuela’s situation on Wednesday, arguing that the country needs a “democratic revolution” rather than “inefficient repression.” His remarks followed the recent detention and passport cancellation of Cardinal Baltazar Porras at the Caracas airport.
“The Maduro government must understand that responding to external aggression requires more than military preparations; it requires a democratic revolution. A country is defended with more democracy, not more inefficient repression,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter), in a rare public criticism of the Venezuelan leader.
Petro also called for a general amnesty for political opponents and reiterated his call for forming a broad transitional government to address Venezuela’s prolonged crisis.
Since September, U.S. military forces have destroyed more than 20 vessels allegedly carrying drugs in Caribbean and Pacific waters near Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in over 80 deaths.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that attacks “inside Venezuela” will begin “soon,” while Maduro has urged Venezuelans to prepare for what he describes as an impending external aggression.
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Colombia says it would not reject Maduro asylum request as regional tensions escalate
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
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