International
HRW: Poverty, a common element of open cases of sexual violence in Latin America
Poverty remains in 2024 as the common denominator of those classified as the worst cases of sexual violence against women and girls that have been open in Latin America since 2017, warned Human Rights Watch (HRW).
This was denounced in an interview with EFE by the executive director of the Women’s Division of HRW, Macarena Sáez, who specified that these are not isolated cases, since “poverty is not a problem of bad luck in the region, but has to do with structural conditions of double and triple discrimination.”
In that sense, it is a discrimination “that has to do with race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity.”
Sáez participated in an event parallel to the V Regional Conference on Population and Development of Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Cartagena de Indias, of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
At the ‘Open Cause’ meeting, organized by the Mercosur Feminist Articulation (AFM), they presented a report where they analyzed ten cases of sexual violence to women and girls in Latin America that remain open and “the only thing that relates them is poverty,” Sáez added.
Among the ten cases they selected, the 41 Guatemalan girls who died in a fire after demonstrating for rape within the place where they lived, the Virgen de la Asunción, stands out.
The building was under the management of the Secretariat of Social Welfare of the Presidency, and the protest was followed by a massive escape that ended with the violent capture of the girls by the Police and their confinement in a 47-square-meter room where the flames began the next morning.
At the meeting, the testimonies of some survivors of sexual violence stood out, who said that when they asked the Police to let them out, they heard phrases such as: “Let those unfortunate women suffer,” which Sáez described as “a shame for Guatemala and for the region.”
“What if the girls had been in the percentile of the 1% highest economically in Guatemala? Who would have been behind those lawsuits and who would have been the lawyers behind them? How would the medical services have acted?” Sáez questioned.
He also added that “Guatemala is not an isolated event” and that due to the size of the fire, the reason behind the protests of the girls was overlooked, who demonstrated denouncing ill-treatment and sexual violence that they suffered inside the center.
The HRW lawyer, on the other hand, criticized that in these events, such as the ECLAC summit, although urgent issues are addressed, there is no financial support necessary for it: “The big question we have to ask the States is how much they are willing to invest in equality.”
“If those commitments do not translate into significant budget items that go to the corresponding portfolios of the Governments for training and in bills, it is seen that there is no political will to promote them,” he said.
Sáez warned that these cases will remain open until “the day comes when women do not have to design our route thinking about whether we are going to suffer sexual violence and when we do not have to design our cities thinking about which streets have to be illuminated.”
International
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
International
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of violating a Victory Day truce that was reportedly agreed with mediation from the United States, claiming that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian territory as well as on the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Despite the declared ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian military positions using attack drones and artillery.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces made twelve attempts to advance toward Russian-held positions across several sectors of the front line.
It also alleged that Ukrainian strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, several border regions, the Caucasus, and other areas including Moscow and Perm in the Ural region.
The Defense Ministry estimated around 8,900 violations of the ceasefire in total, including more than 7,000 drone attacks and over 1,000 strikes involving tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars since the truce came into effect at midnight.
Russia said its forces responded “symmetrically” to what it described as violations by Ukrainian troops.
Earlier, the Kremlin denied claims that Ukraine attempted to sabotage a military parade in Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“No attempts were made. Everything went well,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told local media.
International
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing, Signals Possible Deal on Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington is holding “very good” talks with Iran and stated that there is a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve had very good conversations over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll reach an agreement,” Trump said during an event held in the Oval Office at the White House.
The president’s remarks came just hours after he announced a temporary suspension of the military operation aimed at escorting vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump explained that the pause in operations is intended to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between both sides and prevent further military escalation in the region.
“We’re in good shape, and right now things are going well. Now we have to achieve what we need to achieve. If we don’t, we’ll have to go much further,” the Republican president warned.
In a post published on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that if Iran accepts Washington’s proposed conditions, military operations and the naval blockade affecting the Islamic republic would come to an end.
However, he also issued a new warning to the Iranian government, stating that the United States would respond with attacks “of greater intensity” if Tehran rejects the agreement promoted by the White House.
Panama confirms drug contamination of El Salvador coffee shipment occurred on its territory
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
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
