International
Gaza War: Hamas releases three Israeli hostages and Tel Aviv releases almost 400 Palestinian prisoners
The Islamist group Hamas delivered Israeli hostages Alexander (Sasha) Trufanov, Iair Horn and Sagui Dekel-Chen to the Red Cross on Saturday in a ceremony held in Jan Yunis, in the south of the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, most of the 369 Palestinian prisoners released within the sixth exchange for Israeli hostages were transferred to the Gaza Strip.
The Red Cross escolted the hostages, in apparent good health, to the Israeli forces stationed in the enclave, who took them out of the Strip to reunite them with their families. The Israeli Army confirmed that the hostages have already crossed the border into Israeli territory and are on their way to a reception point in southern Israel, where they will meet with their families.
The liberation ceremony organized by Hamas was held on a stage located in a devastated area of Gaza, where there were posters with phrases such as “There will be no migration, except to Jerusalem” or “We crossed quickly” (in reference to the attack of October 7 in Israeli territory).
After a Red Cross worker signed the release documents from the hands of a Hamas militiaman, the hostages went on stage, located a few meters from the house of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the attacks of October 7 and who died in a confrontation with Israeli forces in October 2024.
On him, the hostages gave speeches asking the Israeli Government to maintain the truce, after which they were taken to the Red Cross vehicles on their way to Israeli territory.
Hamas announced yesterday the names of the three hostages after threatening earlier this week to pause the release due to the repeated Israeli “violations” of the agreement, among which it cited impediments to the entry of humanitarian aid.
Israel, for its part, threatened to resume the war in Gaza if Hamas did not release the hostages today, without clarifying how many, taking advantage of an ambiguous message from US President Donald Trump, who threatened a “hell” in Gaza if Hamas did not release “all the hostages” before Saturday noon.
Most of the 369 Palestinian prisoners released this Saturday by Israel were transferred to the Gaza Strip, where they arrived in buses to the European Hospital of the enclave, according to images broadcast live by the Al Jazeera network.
Seven buses accompanied by Red Cross vehicles entered from Israeli territory to the city of Rafah, in the south of the strip, and then arrived at the European Hospital in Gaza, where they are scheduled to undergo medical tests and other tests to confirm their identity.
Israel is expected to complete the release of 369 Palestinian prisoners today, of which 333 arrived in Gaza, 11 were released in the West Bank and Jerusalem and 25 will be deported to Egypt, to be transferred from there to other countries. If release occurs after the release by Hamas of three captive hostages in the enclave.
The prisoners released in Gaza are those who were detained in the same enclave after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which led to the war.
Palestinian media reported that one of the prisoners was transferred to Gaza before the arrival of the buses in a Red Cross ambulance due to his state of health.
The prisoners generally appeared in coats and jackets other than the sweatshirts that the Israeli prison service put on them before leaving prison, in which the phrase in Arabic was read “We will not forget or forgive” next to a star of David.
International
Former U.S. vice president Dick Cheney dies at 84
Dick Cheney, former U.S. vice president under George W. Bush and a chief architect of the 2000s “war on terror,” died Monday night at age 84.
According to a family statement, Cheney passed away due to complications from pneumonia and cardiovascular disease.
Cheney, who rose to political prominence as White House Chief of Staff under President Gerald Ford in the 1970s, went on to become one of the most influential vice presidents in U.S. history during the Bush administration (2001–2009). He was widely known as one of the strongest advocates for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
In his later years, however, Cheney emerged as a vocal critic of the Republican Party under Donald Trump’s leadership.
“Dick Cheney was a great man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country and to live with courage, honor, love, kindness, and a passion for fishing,” his family said in a statement.
International
Sheinbaum maintains 70% approval despite growing discontent in Mexico
Seven out of ten Mexicans — 70% — approve of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s performance a little over a year into her term, even as disapproval reached its highest level in October at 30%, according to a monthly survey published by the newspaper El Financiero.
The approval rating marks a slight decline compared to September (73%), August (74%), and especially February, when Sheinbaum peaked at 85%. Meanwhile, disapproval rose to 30%, three points higher than in August and double the levels recorded between January and March, when just 15% of respondents disapproved of her leadership.
Of the 1,000 Mexicans surveyed, 59% rated the government’s response to last month’s deadly storms — which left 83 people dead and 16 missing — as good or very good. Additionally, 56% gave positive marks to cleanup and recovery efforts, while 40% viewed them negatively.
Support programs for affected families received 53% positive and 42% negative evaluations. Sheinbaum’s visits to impacted areas generated a narrower split: 50% approval versus 45% disapproval.
The president’s empathy stood out as her most valued attribute, earning 63% favorable ratings, followed by honesty (59%), leadership (59%), and ability to deliver results (47%).
International
Shootout in Sinaloa leaves 13 gunmen dead as authorities rescue kidnapping victims
A confrontation between Mexican security forces and an armed group in the troubled state of Sinaloa left 13 gunmen dead and four others arrested, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch reported on Monday.
Sinaloa, located on the Pacific coast, has been shaken for more than a year by a violent power struggle between factions of a powerful local cartel — a conflict that has resulted in at least 1,700 homicides, including 57 minors, and nearly 2,000 disappearances.
The shootout occurred around 12:45 p.m. local time (18:45 GMT) in the municipality of Guasave, where authorities were able to rescue nine kidnapped individuals following the clash. Officers also seized seven vehicles, long weapons, and tactical equipment, according to the minister’s post on X.
García Harfuch explained that security forces “were attacked by an armed group hiding under a bridge” while patrolling the La Brecha community of Guasave, prompting an “immediate response” from authorities.
The detainees and seized items have been turned over to Mexico’s federal prosecutor’s office, he added.
The internal war within the Sinaloa Cartel erupted after the capture of longtime leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who was betrayed and extradited to the United States in July 2024 by the son of his former partner Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Guzmán has been serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison since 2019.
Former U.S. vice president Dick Cheney dies at 84
Sheinbaum maintains 70% approval despite growing discontent in Mexico
Shootout in Sinaloa leaves 13 gunmen dead as authorities rescue kidnapping victims
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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