Connect with us

International

Majority of Celac Members support UN resolution for immediate Gaza ceasefire, but consensus eludes summit

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) failed to achieve unanimous agreement on a declaration regarding the conflict in the Gaza Strip, despite the issuance of strong statements by leaders present at the VIII Summit condemning the Israeli offensive.

A total of 24 countries, out of the 33 that constitute Celac, endorsed a statement supporting the UN resolution for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and cases brought before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to determine whether Israel’s actions violate international law and constitute genocide.

Among the signatory countries were Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua, among others from Latin America, as well as nearly all Caribbean nations, with notable absence of Argentina.

Honduras’s Foreign Minister, Eduardo Enrique Reina, explained in the final press conference of the summit that “this declaration was not fully endorsed by all Celac members” and was part of an “internal debate.”

In the statement, the signatory countries also lamented the deaths of Israelis and Palestinians, emphasizing the over 30,000 individuals, mostly civilians, who have died during the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Advertisement
20260224_estafa_mh_728x90
previous arrow
next arrow

Additionally, they expressed “grave concern for the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Palestinian territory” and called for ensuring humanitarian access to all affected areas.

The text also demanded the “immediate and unconditional release” of all hostages and reiterated the importance of establishing two states.

The lack of consensus within Celac occurred despite the majority of leaders at the summit delivering speeches opposing Israel.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva demanded an end to the “genocide in Palestinian territory.”

Meanwhile, Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused the US, the European Union (EU), and the United Kingdom of supporting Israel’s bombing of the Palestinian population.

Advertisement
20260224_estafa_mh_728x90
previous arrow
next arrow

Yesterday, on the eve of the summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves assured EFE that there would be a strong statement against Israel, but ultimately, it did not receive approval from all Celac members.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
20260224_estafa_mh_300x250

International

Trump replaces Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with Senator Markwayne Mullin

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday the departure of Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security, one of the key architects of the administration’s policy of deporting undocumented immigrants.

Noem, who has been assigned a new role as a “special envoy” to Latin America, will be replaced starting March 31 by Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin, the president said in a message posted on his social media platform Truth Social.

According to media reports, Trump made the decision after Noem’s recent hearings in Congress, during which she faced tough questions regarding the awarding of a major public contract.

Continue Reading

International

Young Woman Will Represent Mexico at 2026 World Cup Opener, Says President Sheinbaum

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced Thursday that the young Mexican woman who proves to have the best ball control skills will receive her personal ticket to the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City.

The left-wing leader had previously said she would not attend the tournament’s opening game on June 11 in the Mexican capital and instead planned to give away the ticket number 00001, reserved for her by FIFA.

During her morning press conference, Sheinbaum explained that women between 16 and 25 years old can participate by submitting a video through an official platform.

“What do they have to do? Keep the ball in the air for one minute,” she said, referring to the soccer juggling challenge that will determine the winner.

Among the judges selecting the winner will be Mexican striker Charlyn Corral, the world’s top female scorer who set a ball-control record in 2005, and professional referee Katia Itzel García.

Advertisement
20260224_estafa_mh_728x90
previous arrow
next arrow

Sheinbaum also revealed that she plans to watch the opening match during a large public gathering with giant screens in the Zócalo, located in the historic center near the presidential palace.

“Very few people will be able to attend the opening. So I will watch it here with the people, and a young woman will represent me and the people of Mexico,” the president said.

Sheinbaum has previously commented on the high cost of World Cup tickets, as well as the difficulty of obtaining them in a metropolitan area with more than 20 million inhabitants.

In the 2026 tournament, jointly hosted by United States, Mexico, and Canada, Mexico will stage 13 matches in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

The opening match will take place at the legendary Estadio Azteca, which previously hosted World Cup opening ceremonies in 1970 and 1986, occasions when the presidents in attendance were famously booed by the crowd.

Advertisement
20260224_estafa_mh_728x90
previous arrow
next arrow
Continue Reading

International

Claudia Sheinbaum: Operation Against ‘El Mencho’ Was Based on Pending Arrest Warrants

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday rejected claims that the military operation that resulted in the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was carried out under pressure from the United States government.

Sheinbaum explained that the deployment of federal forces was aimed at executing outstanding arrest warrants against Oseguera Cervantes, who was considered one of the most wanted criminals in both Mexico and the United States.

“That was not the objective (to ease pressure from the United States). It is very important, and I want to repeat it. This individual had an arrest warrant, or several,” Sheinbaum said, referring to the operation conducted on February 22.

According to the president, the initial goal was to capture Oseguera Cervantes, but military forces responded after coming under attack during the intervention.

“The operation was to detain him. The problem is that they were attacked — the Secretariat of National Defense — and they responded at that moment,” she said.

Advertisement
20260224_estafa_mh_728x90
previous arrow
next arrow

The president insisted that the action was not carried out in response to external demands, although she acknowledged intelligence cooperation with the United States.

“It was not done in any way because of pressure from the United States, not at all. Of course, there was intelligence information from the United States that was used specifically,” she concluded.

Continue Reading

Trending

Central News