International
Israel claims to be prepared for the possibility of an imminent attack by Iran and Hizbulah
“Israel is prepared for a multi-fronted threat,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Monday when intelligence information collected by both the country and the United States points to an imminent attack by Iran and Hezbollah, probably in the next 24 hours.
Israel has been on “maximum alert” since last week after both Iran and Hezbollah swore revenge for the murders of the leader of Hamas, Isamil Haniyeh, in Tehran; and the top military leader of the Lebanese Shiites, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut.
Since then, several intelligence sources pointed out that this coordinated attack – which could be joined by other Iranian satellites such as the Houthis of Yemen, the Islamic Resistance of Iraq or the pro-Iranian militias of Syria – could occur on the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’av, which began today at sunset and commemorates the destruction of the first and second temples in Jerusalem.
“About the tense days we are living, after Iran and all our enemies of the axis of evil have declared their intention to attack us soon with great force; I emphasize: the State of Israel is prepared to face this multi-frontal threat,” the president said today in a message to the citizenry on the occasion of Tisha B’av.
“We have first-class military capabilities; an air force and advanced multidimensional defense systems that are on high alert and ready; in addition to exhaustive intelligence,” he stressed.
Herzog called on the Israelis to “act responsibly, follow instructions, remain calm,” in the face of the imminence of such an attack, on which the command of the domestic front of the Army, has not yet changed the precautionary instructions to the population.”
The president also referred to the “diplomatic and security alliances and associations” that seek to thwart any “enemy action,” alluding to the United States, which in the last week has deployed defensive systems, including aircraft carriers, warships and ballistic missiles, to the Middle East to help Israel repel such an attack.
“The most important thing is that the strongest power in the world, the United States, is committed to our security,” Herzog stressed.
Precisely the White House spokesman, John Kirby, said today that Washington shares Israel’s assessment that Iran and its allies could launch the large-scale attacks this week and suggested that one of the purposes may be to hinder the negotiations for a ceasefire that was scheduled to resume this Thursday, August 15, although Hamas announced last night that it would not send a delegation.
In his message, Herzog also showed his “firm support” for an agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which will allow the return of the 111 kidnapped on October 7 who are still being held.
“The duty of a State to its citizens is, above all, to bring them back home, away from the enemy. With creativity, determination, courage, initiative and with all the commitment,” he said in his message, which was broadcast by video at a demonstration organized by the families of the hostages in Tel Aviv, on the occasion of Tisha B’av.
International
Trump criticizes Panama Canal fees and demands U.S. control over strategic waterway
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump criticized what he described as unfair fees imposed on American ships passing through the Panama Canal and threatened to demand that Washington take back control of the strategic waterway.
“Our Navy and commerce have been threatened in a very unjust and reckless way. The rates that Panama charges are ridiculous,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The president-elect also denounced the growing influence of China in the canal, a situation he called concerning as U.S. businesses depend on the waterway to transport goods between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
“This complete scam against our country will end immediately,” he stated.
The Panama Canal, completed by the United States in 1914, was handed over to Panama under the 1977 treaty signed by Democratic President Jimmy Carter. Panama took full control of the commercial passage in 1999.
“It was exclusively for Panama to manage, not China or anyone else,” Trump said. “We would never allow it to fall into the wrong hands!”
“If Panama cannot guarantee a ‘safe, efficient, and reliable’ operation of the canal, we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us in its entirety, without a doubt,” the Republican added.
Panamanian authorities did not immediately respond to Trump’s statements. While he will assume office on January 20, Trump has been exerting his political influence in the final days of President Joe Biden’s administration.
Five percent of global maritime trade passes through the Panama Canal, which allows vessels traveling from Asia to the U.S. East Coast to avoid the long and dangerous route around the southern tip of South America.
The countries that use the Panama Canal the most are the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea.
In October, the Panama Canal Authority reported earnings of nearly $5 billion in the last fiscal year.
International
Putin vows retaliation following drone attack on luxury building in Kazan
Russian President Vladimir Putin promised more “destruction” in Ukraine on Sunday, in response to a drone strike that hit a residential building in the city of Kazan, located in central Russia, on Saturday.
Russia accused Ukraine of launching a “massive” drone attack, which struck a luxury apartment block in Kazan, about 1,000 kilometers from the border.
Videos shared on Russian social media show drones hitting a high-rise glass building. No casualties have been reported as a result of the attack.
In his statements, Putin addressed the local leader of Tatarstan, the region where Kazan is located, during a virtual ceremony marking the opening of a road.
The attack in Kazan is the latest in a series of increasingly frequent bombings in this nearly three-year-old conflict. Ukraine has not commented on the attack.
Putin had previously threatened to strike the center of Kyiv with a hypersonic ballistic missile in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the recent Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities were retaliation for Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied missiles to target Russian territory.
International
Small plane crashes in Gramado, Brazil, killing nine people
At least nine people were killed on Sunday after a small aircraft crashed in a commercial area of the tourist city of Gramado, in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, authorities confirmed.
“There are nine confirmed deaths according to Civil Defense services, and there are no survivors from the plane,” said Cléber dos Santos Lima, director of the Interior Police Department of the Civil Police of the state, in a statement to AFP.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact number of passengers and crew aboard the aircraft, a turbo-prop Piper Cheyenne 400. However, Civil Defense had previously stated that “preliminarily, the plane was carrying ten people.”
The plane crashed on Sunday morning “into the chimney of a building, then onto the second floor of a house, and finally fell onto a furniture store,” according to a statement from the Rio Grande do Sul Public Security Secretariat.
Trump criticizes Panama Canal fees and demands U.S. control over strategic waterway
Putin vows retaliation following drone attack on luxury building in Kazan
Small plane crashes in Gramado, Brazil, killing nine people
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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