International
Nicolás Maduro announces the closure of the Venezuelan Embassy and consulates in Ecuador
The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, announced on Tuesday, at the virtual meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), the closure of the Embassy and consulates of the Caribbean nation in Ecuador, in support of Mexico, after the assault by the Ecuadorian Police on the diplomatic headquarters of this country.
“In the face of that aberrant act of arrogance of President (Daniel) Noboa (…) I have ordered the closure of our Embassy in Ecuador, the closure of the Consulate in Quito, the immediate closure of the Consulate in Guayaquil and that the diplomatic personnel return to Venezuela, immediately,” the president said at the meeting.
Maduro gave the order to the chargé d’affaires – head of Venezuela’s diplomatic mission in Ecuador -, Pedro Sassone, to return to the Caribbean nation “until international law is expressly restored.”
The Venezuelan president indicated that the assault by the Ecuadorian Police on the Embassy of Mexico was an “act of barbarism,” so he expressed his support for Mexico’s proposal to expel Ecuador from the United Nations (UN) “until he apologizes to the international community and restores the situation to its original legal status.”
“The (former) Vice President Jorge Glas must be returned to the Embassy of Mexico, recognize him political asylum, give him the approval and travel to recover his physical health from torture, in Mexico,” he added.
The leaders of the Celac are meeting this Tuesday, virtually, to address this incident, for which Mexico filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in which it asks to suspend Ecuador from the UN until it offers a public apology for indening its diplomatic headquarters.
The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, asked at the virtual summit to be in his complaint against Ecuador in the ICJ.
López Obrador reaffirmed that his complaint seeks “an expulsion from Ecuador from the United Nations, as long as there is no apology and an offer of non-repetition, never again to make a scoundrel” such as the raid on Mexico’s diplomatic headquarters on April 5.
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
FBI foils ISIS-Inspired attack in Michigan, arrests five teens
U.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
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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