International
Russia mourns the victims of the attack in the concert hall while the investigation continues
Russia is experiencing today a day of national mourning for the dead in the attack committed last Friday by the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) on the outskirts of Moscow while the count of fatalities and the search for the organizers of the massacre continues.
Flowers, candles and toys filled the surroundings of the Crocus City Hall on Sunday, where Friday’s terrorist attack left at least 137 dead and 180 injured.
Despite the rain that fell in the Russian capital, a tide of people approached the site of the attack today to pay tribute to the memory of the deceased.
“I came because I’m a Moscow, I live next door. I have been to the concerts at Crocus City Hall many times. It’s a tragedy what has happened, no one can be indifferent,” a local told the Vecherniaya Moskva newspaper.
On numerous screens on the roads and large shops of Moscow, candles were seen on a black background and the date of the attack, on March 22, 2024.
Meanwhile, in the capital subway, passengers were reminded that the security measures have been reinforced after the attack and they were asked for understanding for possible inconvenience.
Different memorials in memory of the victims of the tragedy were also created today in other Russian cities, according to regional media.
Meanwhile, the Russian flags in the state institutions and the Russian embassies abroad were flying at half-mast as a sign of mourning.
The deputy head of the Russian Security Council, Dmitri Medvedev, said on Sunday that all those involved in the brutal attack in Crocus City Hall will be “legitimate targets” of Russia.
“We will avenge everyone. And those involved, regardless of their country of origin or their status, will henceforth be our legitimate and main objective,” Medvedev wrote on Telegram.
He added right away: “Wait, you scoundrels.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin also assured the day before that “all the perpetrators, organizers and those who commissioned this crime will receive a well-deserved and irremediable punishment, whoever they are and regardless of whether they have sent them.”
So far, the security forces have arrested eleven people linked to the attack, four of whom personally participated in the massacre, according to the authorities.
This Sunday, the four responsible for the attack were transferred to Moscow pending the judicial decision on their entry into pretrial detention.
Meanwhile, several Russian politicians and analysts are already advocating the lifting of the moratorium on the death penalty in this country.
According to updated data, the tragedy has left 137 dead and 180 injured.
At the same time, these figures are growing every day because the search and rescue work continues at the site of the attack, where firefighters took long hours to extinguish the fire caused by the attackers and which devastated an area of 13,000 square meters.
“So far, the bodies of 137 people have been found at the site of the terrorist attack, including three children,” the Russian Instruction Committee said today in a statement.
He added that 62 bodies have been identified and “genetic tests are being carried out to establish the identities” of the other victims.
Meanwhile, the number of injured rose today from 154 to 180 people. According to Russian media, some survivors of the attack took more than a day to request medical help because they were in a state of shock.
On the other hand, the Russian police evicted the London Mall in St. Petersburg on Sunday after receiving a bomb warning, reports the local media Fontanka.ru.
Simultaneously, law enforcement officers arrested a man who claimed to have placed an explosive device in the shopping center.
Another woman was arrested today for a false bomb warning on a plane that was about to take off from Moscow to yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
During the interrogation, the woman assured that her words were “a joke.”
International
EU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
The arrival of around 60,000 migrants from Morocco to Spain’s Ceuta enclave triggered a major European Union crisis on Friday, after Madrid described the situation as an “attack” on its territorial integrity.
At least 34 people died while attempting to reach the Spanish territory, according to local authorities.
Hundreds of migrants had begun arriving in Ceuta earlier in the week, either by swimming across the border or climbing security fences. Most of those who entered were young men and teenagers.
However, the situation escalated dramatically early Thursday morning, when the number of arrivals surged within a few hours, reaching nearly 60,000 people. According to the Spanish government, the vast majority of them — around 48,000 migrants — had returned to Morocco by Friday evening.
The episode represents one of the most serious migration crises faced by the autonomous city of Ceuta, which has a population of around 84,000 residents, in recent years.
Several European countries responded strongly to the crisis, with Italy announcing the temporary suspension of the Schengen free movement agreement with Spain, a measure supported by Finland and Denmark.
“The temporary suspension of Schengen with Spain is a necessary decision to protect the security of our citizens and defend Europe’s borders,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a post on X.
Italy’s Interior Ministry confirmed that the country had tightened controls on maritime and air entry points from Spain, but clarified that the measure would not affect Spanish or European citizens traveling to Italy.
The additional checks will specifically target non-European citizens arriving from Spain, according to the ministry.
The measure will remain in effect for one month starting Saturday, authorities said.
Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares responded to the Italian announcement through a statement on X, as European governments continued discussions over the consequences of the migration crisis.
International
Chuck Schumer Unveils Proposal to Strengthen Oversight of the U.S. Presidency
U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday announced legislation to establish a federal anti-corruption office aimed at strengthening oversight of the executive branch and preventing future presidents from using the White House for personal financial gain.
Schumer said the proposal was prompted by what he described as President Donald Trump’s misuse of the presidencyto benefit his family’s business interests.
“In just 18 months, the Trump family has made more than $4 billion by exploiting the influence of the presidency,” Schumer alleged.
The New York senator also argued that the alleged corruption has had direct economic consequences for American households.
“The same corrupt practices Trump is using to pocket billions of dollars are also forcing Americans to pay, on average, $3,100 more each year because of the rising cost of living,” he said.
The legislation was introduced alongside Democratic Senators Alex Padilla, Jeff Merkley, and Andy Kim.
According to Schumer, the bill has two primary objectives: “First, to return money to the American people. Second, to ensure that no one can ever steal from them again.”
He added that the proposal would create legal mechanisms allowing citizens to seek the recovery of funds allegedly obtained through government corruption.
“The fact that Trump stole money from the American people does not make it his. Americans deserve to get that money back,” Schumer said.
Under the proposed legislation, any U.S. citizen—as well as state attorneys general acting on behalf of their residents—would be authorized to file civil lawsuits to recover funds allegedly acquired through corrupt practices by public officials.
“Our bill would empower any individual, including a state attorney general acting on behalf of the people of that state, to bring legal action to recover money stolen from the public through government corruption,” Schumer said.
The measure is expected to face debate in Congress, where Republicans and Democrats remain deeply divided over executive accountability and the scope of presidential powers.
International
Trump Administration Urges Latin America to Increase Defense Spending Against Organized Crime
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Latin American countries to increase investment in defense and security to strengthen the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking networks.
The appeal was made by Elbridge Colby, the U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, in an article published by Americas Quarterly. Colby argued that governments across the region should assume greater responsibility for protecting their territories from transnational criminal organizations.
“It is essential that our neighbors in the region invest more in their own defense and security. There is no reason why any country, especially those facing significant narco-terrorist threats, should spend so little on defense,” Colby wrote.
The Pentagon official described it as “absurd” that some Latin American nations allocate less than 1% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to defense, although he did not identify the countries. He contrasted that with NATO members in Europe, many of which are increasing defense expenditures to 3.5% of GDP, with an additional 1.5% devoted to security-related investments.
Colby, who participated earlier this month in the Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas in Cusco, Peru, said there is “a historic opportunity” for the United States and its regional partners to strengthen cooperation against drug trafficking and other transnational threats.
He also defended the proposed Shield of the Americas, a military partnership promoted by the Trump administration to combat organized crime and supported by several conservative governments in the region. The initiative does not include Brazil or Mexico.
In addition, Colby said the administration’s security strategy includes an updated interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, the long-standing U.S. foreign policy principle that historically viewed Latin America as part of Washington’s sphere of influence.
“Of course, we recognize that the Monroe Doctrine is controversial in many circles. But it is also frequently misunderstood,” he said.
According to Colby, the United States is not seeking “exploitation, subordination or dependence,” but rather a region characterized by greater prosperity, stability and security.
He also stated that Washington is prepared to use “all available resources,” including the U.S. Armed Forces, to combat drug trafficking and irregular migration. Colby highlighted ongoing counternarcotics operations in the Caribbean, despite criticism from human rights organizations that have questioned some missions over allegations of extrajudicial killings in international waters.
EU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
Chuck Schumer Unveils Proposal to Strengthen Oversight of the U.S. Presidency
Trump Administration Urges Latin America to Increase Defense Spending Against Organized Crime
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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