International
UN Security Council holds emergency session on Syria at Russia’s request
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting this Monday afternoon, requested by Russia, to address the situation in Syria after the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad last weekend.
The session will take place behind closed doors and is scheduled to begin at 15:00 local time in New York (20:00 GMT).
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, already spoke this Sunday about the future of the country, assuring that its future must be decided by “the Syrian people.”
“After 14 years of brutal war and the fall of the dictatorial regime, today the people of Syria can take advantage of a historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future,” Guterres noted after the Levant Liberation Agency group took Damascus and al-Assad fled the country.
UN Security Council meets to discuss situation in Syria
And he added that for this new stage in Syria “the international community is needed to ensure that any political transition is inclusive and broad, and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria in all their diversity.”
The Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary-General of the United Nations already today discussed solutions about the transition period in Syria and the possible measures to rebuild the country, according to the Turkish foreign portfolio itself.
During today, the insurgents commissioned Mohamed al Bashir, the president of the Salvation Government – the de facto administration in the northern Syrian province of Idlib controlled by the Levante Liberation Agency – to form a government for the transition in Syria, said the Syrian television now directed by the opposition.
New government
“The president of the Salvation Government, Mohamed al Bashir, will be in charge of forming a new Syrian government to manage the transition phase,” said the Syrian channel.
The Salvation Government is a kind of political and civil branch of the Levant Liberation Agency (Hayat Tahrir al Sham or HTS, in Arabic) that was created in Idlib, a province in northwestern Syria and a bastion of the opposition.
16 million Syrians need help
The United Nations estimates that 16 million Syrians are currently in need of humanitarian aid and urges the international community to increase funding for cooperation in order to “open new facilities for refuge, sanitation and food.”
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, said on Monday at a press conference that “our colleagues (on the ground) tell us that more than 16 million people already need humanitarian aid in Syria, which represents a huge proportion of the population, and is increasing as the situation continues to develop.”
The Islamist coalition Liberation Agency of the Levant (HTS, in Arabic), heir to the Al-Nusra Front – a former affiliate of Al Qaeda in Syria – took control of the main Syrian cities and on Sunday declared Damascus free after an offensive of just twelve days.
Possibility of accepting the Levant Liberation Agency
The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, left open the possibility of recognizing the legitimacy of a hypothetical HTS government, which led the overthrow of Bashar al-Asad.
“I think we are all anxious to know what the future holds for us, but I think we have to take things little by little; seeing how they advance day by day and maintaining certain objectives,” Dujarric said at his daily press conference.
In addition, the General Secretariat stressed that “Syria, regardless of the changes that have been made, remains, obviously, a member state” of the organization.
“Very often, when there is a change of government, there is a communication that comes from a permanent mission (…) Everything is hypothetical for now, we will see how it progresses,” said Dujarric.
International
Truck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration
A truck loaded with explosives exploded on Saturday near a police station in the Colombian city of Cúcuta, close to the Venezuelan border, leaving 14 people injured in an attack that occurred six days before president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s inauguration.
The blast took place in the early hours of the morning and was allegedly carried out by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), who detonated a vehicle packed with explosives. According to the latest report from the Colombian Army, the attack injured 11 police officers and three civilians.
The explosion involved around 15 explosive devices, and two of the wounded officers are in critical condition and “fighting for their lives,” said William Villamizar, governor of Norte de Santander, the region where the attack occurred.
The incident comes amid Colombia’s worst wave of violence in the past decade, with armed groups expanding their presence in several areas of the country.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack carried out in Cúcuta against our National Police. Terrorism will not intimidate Colombia or break the determination of Colombians to live in peace and security,” De la Espriella said in a post on X.
The conservative lawyer, who has been described as a far-right figure, will take office on August 7, replacing Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president. The inauguration ceremony will be held in Cali, the country’s third-largest city and a frequent target of attacks by armed groups.
The United Nations condemned what it described as an “indiscriminate attack” that caused not only injuries but also “fear and distress among the population.”
De la Espriella has repeatedly warned about an alleged plot against his life. Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro, who is currently visiting Cuba, has not commented on the attack. During his visit, Petro met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to discuss what Havana describes as the United States’ “policy of suffocation” toward the island.
International
EU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
The arrival of around 60,000 migrants from Morocco to Spain’s Ceuta enclave triggered a major European Union crisis on Friday, after Madrid described the situation as an “attack” on its territorial integrity.
At least 34 people died while attempting to reach the Spanish territory, according to local authorities.
Hundreds of migrants had begun arriving in Ceuta earlier in the week, either by swimming across the border or climbing security fences. Most of those who entered were young men and teenagers.
However, the situation escalated dramatically early Thursday morning, when the number of arrivals surged within a few hours, reaching nearly 60,000 people. According to the Spanish government, the vast majority of them — around 48,000 migrants — had returned to Morocco by Friday evening.
The episode represents one of the most serious migration crises faced by the autonomous city of Ceuta, which has a population of around 84,000 residents, in recent years.
Several European countries responded strongly to the crisis, with Italy announcing the temporary suspension of the Schengen free movement agreement with Spain, a measure supported by Finland and Denmark.
“The temporary suspension of Schengen with Spain is a necessary decision to protect the security of our citizens and defend Europe’s borders,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a post on X.
Italy’s Interior Ministry confirmed that the country had tightened controls on maritime and air entry points from Spain, but clarified that the measure would not affect Spanish or European citizens traveling to Italy.
The additional checks will specifically target non-European citizens arriving from Spain, according to the ministry.
The measure will remain in effect for one month starting Saturday, authorities said.
Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares responded to the Italian announcement through a statement on X, as European governments continued discussions over the consequences of the migration crisis.
International
Chuck Schumer Unveils Proposal to Strengthen Oversight of the U.S. Presidency
U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday announced legislation to establish a federal anti-corruption office aimed at strengthening oversight of the executive branch and preventing future presidents from using the White House for personal financial gain.
Schumer said the proposal was prompted by what he described as President Donald Trump’s misuse of the presidencyto benefit his family’s business interests.
“In just 18 months, the Trump family has made more than $4 billion by exploiting the influence of the presidency,” Schumer alleged.
The New York senator also argued that the alleged corruption has had direct economic consequences for American households.
“The same corrupt practices Trump is using to pocket billions of dollars are also forcing Americans to pay, on average, $3,100 more each year because of the rising cost of living,” he said.
The legislation was introduced alongside Democratic Senators Alex Padilla, Jeff Merkley, and Andy Kim.
According to Schumer, the bill has two primary objectives: “First, to return money to the American people. Second, to ensure that no one can ever steal from them again.”
He added that the proposal would create legal mechanisms allowing citizens to seek the recovery of funds allegedly obtained through government corruption.
“The fact that Trump stole money from the American people does not make it his. Americans deserve to get that money back,” Schumer said.
Under the proposed legislation, any U.S. citizen—as well as state attorneys general acting on behalf of their residents—would be authorized to file civil lawsuits to recover funds allegedly acquired through corrupt practices by public officials.
“Our bill would empower any individual, including a state attorney general acting on behalf of the people of that state, to bring legal action to recover money stolen from the public through government corruption,” Schumer said.
The measure is expected to face debate in Congress, where Republicans and Democrats remain deeply divided over executive accountability and the scope of presidential powers.
Truck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration
EU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
Chuck Schumer Unveils Proposal to Strengthen Oversight of the U.S. Presidency
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
-
International2 days agoEU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
-
International4 days agoFive Bodies Found in Ecuador as Police Probe Suspected Gang Turf War
-
International3 days agoChuck Schumer Unveils Proposal to Strengthen Oversight of the U.S. Presidency
-
International4 days agoGeorgia Teen Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Deadly School Shooting
-
Central America4 days agoProsecutors Accuse Ex-Defense Minister of Undermining Press Freedom in Honduras
-
International3 days agoFAO and WFP Seek $42 Million to Prepare Southern Africa for Unprecedented El Niño
-
International3 days agoTrump Administration Urges Latin America to Increase Defense Spending Against Organized Crime
-
International17 hours agoTruck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration