International

Boric, Lula, Petro and Peña will be in the assumption of Yamandú Orsi as president of Uruguay

The presidents of Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and the Dominican Republic, as well as the King of Spain, will travel to Montevideo to participate on March 1 in the investiture of Yamandú Orsi as the new president of Uruguay.

This was announced on Tuesday by the future foreign minister of the South American country, Mario Lubetkin, who detailed that for the moment the presence of the Argentine president, Javier Milei, is not confirmed.

“This will be the ceremony of greatest historical participation since democracy restarted in 1985. And I would dare to say that it is one of the most important participations of presidents, prime ministers and kings in number of those that have happened in Latin America and the Caribbean, at least in recent years,” he said.

In a press conference held at the headquarters of the Executive Branch, Lubetkin also reported that other presidents who will be in Montevideo will be those of Armenia and Germany.

The latter will hold a meeting with Orsi on Sunday, March 2, as part of a day that will have several bilateral meetings.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

In the case of Argentina, the future foreign minister recalled that the last two transitions carried out in Uruguay were not attended by the then presidents, Mauricio Macri (2015) and Alberto Fernández (2020).

He explained that this is due to the fact that the beginning of the ordinary session of Parliament takes place in that country on March 1.

He also pointed out that countries such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Italy, Mexico and Portugal will be represented by ministers.

In total there will be 185 representatives from 65 countries, in a day that will begin at 13:00 local time (16:00 GMT) and will take place in the Legislative Palace and in the Plaza Independencia.

“We have maintained that tradition of Uruguay an open country, which invites all those countries with which we have diplomatic relations. That as a general criterion,” Lubetkin said.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

On the other hand, he was consulted about the decision of the current Uruguayan president, Luis Lacalle Pou, not to sign the invitations to the Governments of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

“Naturally, it is not that we have been happy, because we preferred to have the general invitation, regardless of what the country was,” said the future minister, who recalled that “Governments pass and States remain.”

He added that those who have diplomats in Uruguay were sent an invitation note.

The future Foreign Minister Lubetkin said on Tuesday that his country wants to be a “facilitator and actor” of the integration of Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Part of the efforts we will make in foreign policy in this period is to strengthen integration at the regional level with all the difficulties that exist today, as they exist throughout the world,” he said.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

“We want to be facilitators of the integration of Latin America and the Caribbean. We have our responsibility. I believe that the mere presence of the presidents who come from Latin America and the Caribbean is a sign that they are giving us,” he added.

He also remarked that there is no political sign there, since the presidents who will arrive in Montevideo “represent all the political colors of the region.”

The president of Celac (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) and the new president she is going to assume is coming,” he said, referring to the Honduran Xiomara Castro and the Colombian Gustavo Petro.

International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”