International
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit the first free town in America, in the Colombian Caribbean
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, visited this Saturday San Basilio de Palenque, which located in the Colombian Caribbean is the first free people in America, where they talked with leaders about cultural identity, structural racism and advances towards historical reparations for slavery.
Accompanied by the Colombian vice president, Francia Márquez, the dukes first visited the Tambores de Cabildo de La Boquilla School in Cartagena de Indias, where they talked with children and young people and were able to play the ancestral drums, as a first step in a day of investment to the most African roots that Colombia has.
“When we look at that sea, we remember our African heritage. (…) In this piece of land we receive the boys and girls to protect them, with the drums we seek to change their lives (…) we invite them to help us take care of them and take care of our territory, which is threatened,” the director of this school, Rafael Ramos, told them upon arrival.
The vice president made them a teacher on this tour, assuring that they were in an “ancestral territory” that was there “since we were kidnapped in Africa,” and claimed a “sustainable, ecological tourism that does not commodify women,” from one of the most touristic points in the country.
From Cartagena, the dukes and the deputy minister moved to San Basilio de Palenque, declared Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, to preserve the musical, cultural and oral traditions of their people, with African roots, as well as their language, the palenquero.
In a short visit, of just an hour, the cultural exhibitions allowed Prince Harry and Meghan to interact with the Afro communities and they also visited the cultural house and the Benkos Biohó square, which is named after the leader who commanded the Maroon slave rebellion in the 17th century, after which he became king of St. Basil, which is why he was hanged and dismembered in 1621.
“I wanted our guests to know the essence of what we are as a black people, of our spirituality, of our culture. The strength of the women and men of Palenque. That ancestral legacy that Benkhos, Wiwa, our ancestors, left us, which is what has allowed us to say that we can, that we continue to fight for the restoration of our people and our country,” the vice president claimed in the square.
Meanwhile, Meghan assured that they understand the importance of the people and what they represent for Colombia and was grateful to have been able to know it.
And Prince Harry alleged: “what we are seeing here is all that is a community, do not forget the message of the vice president, they are stronger together, they are stronger united as one.”
During their first visit to Colombia, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex toured several schools in Bogotá since Thursday, focused on children and technologies to promote education and the fight against cyberbullying, and tomorrow they will finish their tour in the city of Cali.
International
Argentina uncovers alleged russian influence network operating on its soil
The Argentine government announced on Wednesday that it has identified a group of Russian nationals allegedly engaging in suspicious activities within the country, potentially linked to strategic interests of the Kremlin. The statement was made by Presidential Spokesperson Manuel Adorni during a press briefing.
According to Adorni, an investigation by the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE) uncovered the presence of a foreign organization known as “La Compañía” (“The Company”), reportedly operating in Argentina to form a network of individuals loyal to Russian interests, with the goal of conducting disinformation and influence campaigns against the Argentine state.
The group’s activities are believed to include spreading content on social media, infiltrating local NGOs, and collecting political intelligence. The SIDE investigation also revealed links between this organization and “Project Lakhta”, a well-documented Russian foreign interference initiative previously connected to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the late oligarch and founder of the Wagner Group.
Prigozhin died in a plane crash in 2023, just two months after leading an armed rebellion against Russia’s military leadership during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The suspected leader of “La Compañía” has been identified as Lev Konstantinovich Andriashvili, a Russian national residing in Argentina, allegedly funded from abroad and connected to local operatives. His wife, Irina Iakovenko, who also lives in the South American country, was likewise named by officials.
International
Vatican launches fundraising campaign to support Pope’s charity works
The Vatican launched a new communication campaign on Wednesday to encourage donations to ‘Peter’s Pence’, the fund that supports the Pope’s charitable initiatives, amid declining revenue in recent years.
“On June 29 – which this year falls on the last Sunday of the month – the traditional Peter’s Pence collection will take place, coinciding with the liturgical feast of Saints Peter and Paul,” the Vatican announced in a statement.
It described Peter’s Pence as “a concrete way of supporting the Holy Father in his mission of service to the universal Church.”
The statement adds: “Peter’s Pence represents a gesture of communion and participation in the Pope’s mission to proclaim the Gospel, promote peace, and spread Christian charity.”
To support the initiative, the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy and the Dicastery for Communication have prepared a range of informative and multimedia materials explaining the collection’s purpose. During Wednesday’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square, a video featuring images of Pope Leo XIV was shown to raise awareness and encourage donations.
International
Salvadoran journalist detained by ICE after covering anti-Trump protest in Atlanta
Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara was transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on Wednesday, days after being arrested while covering a protest in Atlanta against President Donald Trump.
Guevara, a native of San Salvador and founder of the independent outlet MG News, was moved into immigration custody shortly before 4:00 a.m. local time, according to records from the DeKalb County jail in Georgia. His detention has raised alarm among family members and lawyers, who expected his release after posting bail and completing a 48-hour hold due to his lack of permanent residency.
“What they did to Mario is an injustice,” said his wife, Miriam Guevara. She confirmed she spoke to him on Tuesday and that he remained hopeful about regaining his freedom.
On Saturday, Guevara was live-streaming a demonstration by the ‘No Kings’ movement when he was arrested by Doraville police, despite identifying himself as a journalist. He placed his phone on the ground to continue recording as officers approached but was detained and charged with pedestrian obstruction, unlawful assembly, and blocking a roadway.
“He was arrested unfairly, and the videos clearly show it. Mario has done this kind of reporting for 20 years without ever having any issues,” said his attorney, Giovanni Díaz, emphasizing that Guevara complied with police instructions.
Guevara, who has more than 782,000 followers on Facebook, previously worked as a photojournalist for La Prensa Gráfica in El Salvador and as a reporter for Mundo Hispánico in Atlanta before founding his independent news channel, where he often documents ICE operations in the region.
Another attorney, Zacharias Gaeta, noted that Guevara holds a valid work permit, that his deportation case was administratively closed, and that he has a pending immigration petition based on his U.S.-born son who recently underwent brain surgery.
“We’re still hopeful that everything will turn out fine,” said Katherine Guevara, the journalist’s daughter, who voiced her family’s concern over the situation.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the arrest as a “crude form of censorship”, warning that press freedom is facing growing challenges in the United States.
Argentina uncovers alleged russian influence network operating on its soil
Vatican launches fundraising campaign to support Pope’s charity works
Salvadoran journalist detained by ICE after covering anti-Trump protest in Atlanta
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
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