International
Israel attributes the attack on the only Catholic church in Gaza to an “involuntary diversion” of ammunition
The Israeli Army said on Wednesday that last Thursday’s attack on the only Catholic church in Gaza, the parish of the Sagrada Familia, which caused three deaths, was due to an “involuntary diversion” of ammunition during a military operation in the area.
“The investigation revealed that, during an operation by the troops of the Israeli Defense Forces in the Gaza City area, the church was accidentally hit due to an involuntary diversion of ammunition,” the Army said in a statement.
“The impact caused damage to the building and left several Gaza civilians injured,” he adds.
According to the Army, during the operation “adjustments were made” to improve the accuracy of the fire and, after the incident, “the guidelines for opening fire near religious buildings, shelters and other sensitive places were clarified.”
The attack occurred last Thursday around 10:20 local time (07:20 GMT), when about 500 displaced people, including children and people with disabilities, were in refugees in the church.
The bombing also injured his parish priest, the Argentine Gabriel Romanelli, who had become popular in Italy due to the daily calls of his compatriot, the late Pope Francis, who since the beginning of the Israeli offensive called him to ask him about the situation in Gaza and the hundreds of displaced people who took refuge in that church.
After the bombing, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, accompanied by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, Theophilus III, visited the Gaza Strip for three days, as part of an ecclesiastical delegation that delivered humanitarian aid and expressed its solidarity with the local Christian community.
Last Saturday, July 19, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, questioned the Israeli version – which at that time, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, attributed the attack to “a lost ammunition” – and expressed doubts about whether it was really due to an error.
In statements to Italian public television RAI, the head of Vatican diplomacy said that “it can be legitimately doubted” whether it was really a mistake or if there was an intention behind it, considering that Christians are “an element of moderation” in the Middle East.
“What has happened is of absolute gravity,” he stressed.
International
Lutnick: TikTok will ‘go dark’ without agreement to sever chinese ties
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick warned on Thursday that TikTok “will go dark” if no agreement is reached with Chinese authorities by September 17 regarding the creation of a new company to operate the app in the United States, as required by the Trump administration.
In an interview with CNBC, Lutnick reiterated that Washington’s proposal allows ByteDance—the Chinese parent company of TikTok—to retain a “small stake” in the newly created U.S.-based entity, which is necessary for the app to remain accessible to American users.
For national security reasons, the U.S. government insists that TikTok must be operated by an entity entirely separate from its Chinese parent.
“If the Chinese don’t approve it, TikTok will go dark,” Lutnick warned, referring to the deadline set by Washington back in April. He emphasized, “The deal is in their hands now.”
International
Global media outlets urge Israel to allow press access to Gaza amid growing hunger crisis
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and three major international news agencies—Associated Press (AP), Reuters, and Agence France-Presse (AFP)—jointly called for press access to Gaza and raised serious concerns about hunger threatening their local staff.
“We once again urge Israeli authorities to allow journalists to freely enter and exit Gaza. It is essential that the local population receives sufficient food supplies,” the four news organizations stated in a joint communiqué.
The statement emphasized that the remaining independent journalists in the Gaza Strip, along with their families, are increasingly struggling to meet basic food needs—just like the rest of the population.
These journalists, the agencies stressed, “have been the eyes and ears of the world” in the Palestinian enclave, yet are enduring the same “dramatic conditions” they are reporting on. “We are deeply concerned,” the organizations noted, warning that beyond the hardships of covering a war, “hunger now threatens their survival.”
The joint appeal follows a statement issued on Monday by AFP’s internal journalist association, which described the situation of their Gaza-based staff as “unbearable,” warning that some are “starving to death.”
“We have lost journalists in conflict, we have had wounded and imprisoned colleagues, but none of us remembers watching a colleague die of hunger. We refuse to watch them die,” the AFP association said, adding that their efforts to evacuate staff from the territory—completely sealed off by Israel—have failed.
Central America
El Salvador reaffirms housing as a human right at UN high-level dialogue
El Salvador’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Egriselda López, emphasized the country’s national housing approach during the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) High-Level Dialogue on Adequate Housing.
“My country is firmly committed to ensuring the human right to adequate housing as a cornerstone of our social, economic, and urban development,” López stated.
“Under the leadership of our president, Nayib Bukele, we have made significant progress, including an investment of $1.1 billion, which has allowed thousands of families to access dignified housing, with a strong focus on social interest projects,” she added.
The ambassador noted that over 120,000 families have benefited from housing loans, land tenure legalization, resettlement programs, and urban improvement initiatives.
López also highlighted the launch of the Casa Mujer and Casa Joven programs, spearheaded by the Social Housing Fund (FSV), which aim to make it easier for Salvadorans to access credit and purchase a home anywhere in the country.
Intel to close Costa Rica plant, move chip operations to Asia for greater efficiency
Lutnick: TikTok will ‘go dark’ without agreement to sever chinese ties
Global media outlets urge Israel to allow press access to Gaza amid growing hunger crisis
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
-
Central America5 days agoCalls for full investigation into murder of denationalized nicaraguan opponent
-
International5 days agoCourt ruling forces U.S. to maintain TPS protections for haitians
-
Central America4 days agoVenezuela probes alleged torture of repatriated migrants held in salvadoran mega-prison
-
Central America4 days agoNicaraguan opposition presses EU during Costa Rica dialogue on democracy crisis
-
Central America4 days agoGuatemalan and mexican presidents to meet in august to deepen cross-border cooperation
-
Central America3 days agoPanama posts higher economic growth amid strength in canal and banking sectors
-
International5 days agoLula slams U.S. sanctions on brazilian judges over Bolsonaro coup case
-
International4 days agoJoe Biden faces health battle as cancer diagnosis follows political exit
-
International4 days agoCristian González Ardila detained over attempted attack on colombian senator Miguel Uribe
-
International4 days agoUN Chief: Gaza’s humanitarian systems are collapsing under israeli blockade
-
International4 days agoTrump slams federal judge over Harvard lawsuit, vows immediate appeal
-
International4 days agoEcuador extradites drug lord ‘Fito’ to U.S., declares blow to criminal Mafias
-
Internacionales2 days agoThe United States opens an investigation into Harvard for its sponsorship of international visas
-
International2 days agoVon der Leyen asks Zelensky for explanations for the reform on anti-corruption agencies
-
International2 days agoIsrael kills a pregnant journalist and 9 members of her family in a bombing
-
International2 days agoIsrael will limit visas for the UN humanitarian agency (OCHA) to just one month
-
International3 days agoMaría Corina Machado denounces new wave of repression in Venezuela
-
International2 days agoMore than 200 deaths from the rains in Pakistan, which will continue at least until Friday
-
International2 days agoHamas calls for global mobilizations since Friday against the famine in Gaza
-
International15 hours ago
Global media outlets urge Israel to allow press access to Gaza amid growing hunger crisis
-
International2 days agoAn anti-Revista candidate sees “desperation” as his biggest rival in the municipal elections
-
Central America15 hours agoEl Salvador reaffirms housing as a human right at UN high-level dialogue
-
International15 hours agoLutnick: TikTok will ‘go dark’ without agreement to sever chinese ties
-
Central America15 hours agoIntel to close Costa Rica plant, move chip operations to Asia for greater efficiency