International
Petro on US deportees: First they arrive without wives and then we talk about business
The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, said on Tuesday that migrants deported from the United States must arrive in their country without being handcuffed and that once this happens, they will talk about business, while telling his US counterpart, Donald Trump, that his government does not kneel “for the merchandise.”
“Trump thinks we kneel for the merchandise, he thinks we are like him. Watch out! We are different, we are not him, we can understand each other yes, I am not saying no, he has to understand the difference. Progressiveness puts the person above the merchandise. First they arrive without handcuffs and then we talk about business, not the other way around,” Petro said in a council of ministers.
On January 26, Petro did not accept the arrival of two US planes with deported migrants because they were handcuffed.
That triggered a diplomatic crisis that escalated to the point that Trump ordered the imposition of tariffs of 25% on all Colombian products, in addition to other travel and immigration sanctions, and Petro responded with a similar tariff measure.
That same day at night the two governments reached an agreement by which Colombia, according to the White House, accepted “all the terms of President Trump, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal foreign immigrants from Colombia returned from the United States, including in military aircraft, without limitations or delays,” but the tension persists in the bilateral relationship.
That is why the Colombian president insisted on Tuesday that his “Government does not kneel” and “follows an international principle”, which is “life” because “Colombia is the heart of the world and therefore must be a world power of life.”
“Do we kneel before oil, before the power of oil? Don’t we realize what we are? Did we (the Liberator Simón) forget Bolívar, who believed that this was going to be a great power beyond Colombia precisely because we were exuberant? (…) I don’t kneel,” Petro said.
He also invited Latin America to “instead of defending the merchandise”, defend “the person”.
The Trump Administration has launched a campaign against the more than 11 million undocumented migrants in the United States, calling them “criminals” and promising to carry out the largest deportation campaign in the history of that country.
International
U.S. strike in Caribbean kills three suspected drug traffickers
A U.S. strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean killed three people on Saturday, according to Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth, marking the latest in a series of attacks in international waters.
The United States has deployed ships to the Caribbean and sent fighter jets to Puerto Rico as part of a large military force that Washington says is aimed at curbing drug trafficking.
“This vessel, like all the others, was known to our intelligence for being involved in illicit narcotics smuggling,” Hegseth stated on X. “Three narcoterrorists were aboard the vessel during the attack, which took place in international waters,” he added.
Experts argue that the attacks, which began in early September, amount to extrajudicial executions, even if the targets are known traffickers.
Washington has yet to publicly provide evidence that the targeted individuals were actively smuggling drugs or posed a threat to the United States.
Hegseth said the U.S. would continue “hunting… and killing” suspected traffickers. He also shared video footage of the strike, showing the vessel being hit and engulfed in flames. As in previous videos, sections of the ship were blurred, making it impossible to verify the number of people on board.
The United Nations called on Friday for Washington to halt its attacks.
International
At least 23 killed in Sonora supermarket blast, including minors
At least 23 people were killed and 11 others injured in an explosion at a supermarket in Hermosillo, in the northern Mexican state of Sonora, local authorities reported on Saturday.
“So far, there are 23 confirmed deaths and 11 injured, including minors,” said Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo in a video message. He added that the injured are receiving treatment in various hospitals across the city.
“I have ordered a thorough and transparent investigation to determine the causes of the incident and assign responsibility where appropriate,” Durazo said.
The explosion occurred at a Waldo’s store in downtown Hermosillo. Local authorities confirmed that the incident was not an attack nor related to any violent act against civilians.
Meanwhile, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her condolences on X, offering sympathy to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives.
International
Floods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in central Vietnam has risen to 28, with six people reported missing and 43 injured, local newspaper VnExpress reported Friday night.
More than 22,100 homes remain flooded, primarily in the cities of Hue and Da Nang. Floods and landslides have destroyed or swept away 91 houses and damaged another 181, the report added.
Around 245,000 households are still without electricity, particularly in Da Nang, where over 225,000 homes are affected.
Additionally, 80 stretches of national highways are blocked or disrupted due to landslides. Authorities expect the flooding to continue for another day or two in the region.
U.S. strike in Caribbean kills three suspected drug traffickers
At least 23 killed in Sonora supermarket blast, including minors
Floods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
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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