International
Uruguay clears two ex-consuls of involvement in russian passport fraud case
The Public Prosecutor’s Office of Uruguay announced on Tuesday that it has requested the dismissal of charges against two former Uruguayan consuls in Russia accused of participating in a scheme involving the issuance of false passports, a case linked to the former head of security for President Luis Lacalle Pou.
The scheme, which involved providing Russian citizens with falsified documents to obtain Uruguayan passports, relates to a criminal organization that has been operating since 2015, according to investigations.
Judicial documents indicate that the diplomat identified by the initials S.D.C.M., who served as Uruguayan consul in Moscow from 2013 to 2018, was charged in late November 2022 with fraud and “14 crimes of identity assumption.”
The other consul, identified as G.L.P.M., was indicted in March 2023 for committing “repeated crimes of identity assumption.” He had served in Russia from February 2019 until February 2022.
“However, the Public Prosecutor’s Office continued investigating and dismissed the involvement of both consuls in the scheme,” the office said in a statement on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Sabrina Flores argued that “both officials did not speak Russian,” and that “from the forensic analysis of their cell phones, there is no evidence to hold them accountable for the investigated events.”
Additionally, the statement said that “on several occasions when passports with falsified documents were processed,” the consuls “were not in the country” or were “on leave.” It was also discovered that their signatures had been “forged.”
In the context of this case, the former head of security for Lacalle Pou, Alejandro Astesiano, was sentenced in February 2023 to four and a half years in prison for conspiracy and influence peddling, among other crimes, following a plea deal.
For good behavior, in May of this year, he was granted early release on probation under police supervision, a decision that the Public Prosecutor’s Office did not appeal.
International
German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday that trust between the United States and its Western allies has been “lost,” warning that the damage could persist beyond the presidency of Donald Trump.
“The rupture is very deep, and the loss of trust in U.S. great power policy is significant—not only among its allies, but also, as I observe, globally,” Steinmeier said during a speech in Berlin marking the 75th anniversary of Germany’s Foreign Ministry.
Referring to the future of transatlantic relations, he stated that “there is no return to the situation before January 20, 2025,” the date marking the start of Trump’s second term in the White House.
“Even a future U.S. administration will no longer be able to resume the role of a benevolent hegemon guaranteeing a liberal international order,” added Steinmeier, who previously served as Germany’s foreign minister.
He also criticized the war against Iran, describing it as “contrary to international law” and calling it “a political mistake with serious consequences.”
“This war is avoidable and unnecessary,” he said.
Although the German presidency is largely ceremonial, Steinmeier’s remarks reflect a broader concern within Germany, aligning with the government’s cautious stance while going further in tone.
International
Trump claims talks with Iran as G7 meets to address global tensions
U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States has held talks with Iran—a claim denied by Tehran—and has temporarily paused his threat to target the country’s electrical infrastructure.
In his first overseas trip since the United States and Israel launched their offensive on February 28, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to address key global issues, including the situation in the Middle East, according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven will meet in Cernay-la-Ville, close to Versailles, on the outskirts of Paris.
During the meeting, Rubio will hold discussions with his counterparts on “the war between Russia and Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and threats to global peace and stability,” Pigott said.
France currently holds the presidency of the G7, whose members also include the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Although all G7 nations are close allies of the United States, none has offered explicit support for Washington’s military actions against Iran, a stance that has reportedly frustrated Trump.
Last Saturday, G7 foreign ministers called for an “immediate and unconditional end” to Iranian attacks against U.S. allies in the Middle East.
International
Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Persian Gulf as Middle East tensions escalate
The Pentagon is planning to deploy nearly 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Persian Gulf, according to two senior officials cited Tuesday by Spanish newspaper El País.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah warned it would confront any attempt at occupation following Israel’s announcement that its military will take control of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, located about 30 kilometers from the border.
In recent hours, the Israel Defense Forces carried out airstrikes on Beirut, while Iran and Hezbollah responded with attacks on Israel, leaving at least six people with minor injuries in Tel Aviv.
The escalation comes as global markets react to renewed instability. The price of oil rose again above $100 per barrel after a brief decline the previous day, following an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump of a five-day truce on attacks targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure.
Despite the announcement, Iranian authorities reported that two projectiles struck a gas pipeline in Khorramshahr and administrative buildings at a gas facility in Isfahan early Tuesday.
German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions
Trump claims talks with Iran as G7 meets to address global tensions
Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Persian Gulf as Middle East tensions escalate
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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