International
Three missionaries are murdered in Haiti, including the daughter of a U.S. legislator
Three American missionaries were killed at the hands of armed bandits who attacked an orphanage that houses dozens of children in Lison 49, in Plaine, north of Port-au-au-Prince, under the control of armed gangs for several months, the Missions in Haiti organization confirmed on Friday.
Two of them are the daughter and son-in-law of the US state legislator of Missouri Ben Baker, as reported this Friday by the politician himself through social networks.
“My heart is broken into a thousand pieces. I had never felt this kind of pain,” the Republican, a member of the state’s local House of Representatives, wrote on Facebook.
Baker’s daughter, Natalie, and her husband, Davy Lloyd, were in the country serving as missionaries when they were attacked by an armed gang.
Haiti is experiencing a spiral of violence with killings, attacks, rapes and kidnappings at the hands of the powerful armed gangs, a situation that has been exacerbated since the end of last February.
“They went to heaven together. Please pray for my family, we desperately need strength. And also pray for the Lloyd family. I don’t have any other words for now,” Baker added.
The news was shared through social networks by the former president and Republican pre-candidate for the presidency Donald Trump (2017-2021).
“God bless Davy and Natalie. What a tragedy. Haiti is totally out of control. Find the killers NOW!!!,” the Republican wrote in Truth Social.
In March, the U.S. State Department issued a travel notice urging Americans not to travel to Haiti due to its “unpredictable and dangerous” security conditions.
Natalie and Davy married in August 2022 and moved to Haiti three months later, according to the young woman’s Instagram account.
On social networks you can see how they worked mainly with Haitian children for the NGO Missions in Haiti Inc., which was founded by Davy’s parents, David and Alicia Lloyd, in 2000.
The interim government of Haiti announced last Wednesday that it is extending the curfew for seven more days in the department of the West, where the capital is located and where the state of emergency also applies to try to curb the violence.
The curfew accompanies the state of emergency extended for a month between May 9 and June 8 with the aim of restoring order and taking appropriate measures to regain control of the situation in the face of the high levels of insecurity caused by the armed gangs that control much of Port-au-Prince and other areas.
In order to help stop the violence in Haiti, where insecurity caused about 8,000 deaths last year, a multinational security support mission, led by Kenya and approved by the UN, will arrive in this Caribbean country.
International
Colombia to Send High-Level Delegation to Ecuador to Ease Trade Tensions
Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that, at the instruction of President Gustavo Petro, a high-level delegation will travel to Ecuador in an effort to normalize bilateral relations, which have deteriorated following the imposition of reciprocal tariffs.
“In line with Colombia’s policy of good neighborliness and the spirit of cooperation and integration that guides its foreign policy,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez.
“Following instructions from the Presidency of the Republic, and as has been publicly reiterated, the Colombian delegation expects to reaffirm Colombia’s offer of support to the Republic of Ecuador to strengthen control over phenomena stemming from transnational organized crime,” the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry noted that the delegation will attend the meeting with a full willingness to engage in dialogue and to seek concrete solutions to the unilateral measures that have affected the longstanding relationship between the two neighboring countries.
Trade tensions between Ecuador and Colombia escalated on January 21, when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboaimposed a 30% tariff on Colombian products, citing a lack of cooperation in anti-drug efforts. Colombia responded with similar measures and the suspension of energy exports, while Ecuador increased transportation costs for Colombian crude oil.
Business associations in both countries have warned that the dispute is harming both economies and have called on the governments to resolve their differences through dialogue.
International
Super Bowl Halftime Show Puts Bad Bunny—and Immigration Politics—Back in the Spotlight
The long-standing argument that sports and politics should not mix may be put to the test on Sunday during the Super Bowl halftime show, which will be headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, a choice that has sparked backlash from segments of the U.S. right wing.
Just one week after his headline-making appearance at the Grammy Awards—where he sharply criticized the United States’ anti-immigration policies—Bad Bunny will once again take center stage on the global spotlight with his performance at the NFL final in Santa Clara, California.
Beyond the expectations surrounding the show itself, speculation has grown over whether the artist could again use the platform to protest policies associated with the administration of former President Donald Trump, in front of an audience expected to exceed 120 million viewers in the United States alone.
In fact, one of the most popular Super Bowl prop bets this year revolves around whether the Puerto Rican singer will deliver a direct message against ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), similar to the one he delivered at the Grammys last Sunday.
While few expect Bad Bunny to repeat such a pointed statement, the mere speculation highlights the delicate balance the NFL must manage during the most-watched broadcast of the year.
The world’s most powerful sports league has drawn criticism from the MAGA movement since announcing in September that Bad Bunny would headline a halftime show largely performed in Spanish.
Trump himself declined to attend the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, despite having made history last year as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl. He described the musical lineup—which also includes outspoken critics such as Green Day—as “a terrible choice” that would “sow hatred.” In response, his supporters have organized an alternative event dubbed the “All-American Halftime Show,” featuring like-minded artists such as Kid Rock.
International
Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo
Venezuela’s Parliament began debating on Thursday a sweeping amnesty bill that would cover the 27 years of Chavismo in power, while explicitly excluding serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence,” was introduced by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation.
The legislative session was convened for Thursday afternoon, with lawmakers holding an initial discussion focused on the general principles of the bill. This phase precedes a consultation process with civil society, after which the proposal will move to a final debate examining each article individually.
According to a draft of the bill obtained by AFP, the amnesty would apply to individuals accused of crimes such as “treason,” “terrorism,” and “incitement to hatred,” charges that were frequently brought against political prisoners over the past decades. The scope also includes offenses ranging from acts of rebellion to punishments imposed for social media posts or messages sent through private messaging services.
The bill’s explanatory text emphasizes reconciliation, stating that it seeks to move away from “vengeance, retaliation, and hatred” in favor of “opening a path toward reconciliation.”
However, the proposal explicitly excludes from its benefits crimes such as “serious human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, and drug trafficking.”
These exclusions, the text notes, are based on strict compliance with the Venezuelan Constitution, which already prohibits granting amnesties or pardons for such offenses.
Colombia to Send High-Level Delegation to Ecuador to Ease Trade Tensions
Super Bowl Halftime Show Puts Bad Bunny—and Immigration Politics—Back in the Spotlight
Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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