International
The mediators will continue the meetings in Cairo after “constructive” negotiations in Doha
The mediators for a truce in Gaza – the United States, Qatar and Egypt – announced on Friday the end of “constructive” negotiations in Doha, and affirmed that the conversation about a US proposal “that closes the gaps” between Israel and Hamas will continue in Cairo.
In a joint statement, the mediators described the negotiations they held on Thursday and Friday with an Israeli negotiating delegation in Doha as “intensive, serious and constructive” and stated that “they were developed in a positive atmosphere.”
The note stressed that “the US today presented a proposal to the two parties (Israel and Hamas), with the support of Qatar and Egypt, which reduces the gaps,” and assured that that offer “is consistent with the principles (of the proposal) of US President Joe Biden,” announced on May 31
He explained that this new US proposal “builds on the points of agreement achieved (…), and closes the remaining gaps in a way that allows a rapid implementation of the ceasefire agreement” in Gaza.
According to the statement, “technical teams will continue work for the next few days on the details (…) including preparations to implement the humanitarian details,” as well as “those related to Palestinian hostages (Israelis) and prisoners”.
In this context, he stressed that “high officials of our Governments will meet again in Cairo before the end of next week with the desire to reach an agreement in accordance with the conditions proposed today.”
The mediators also recalled in the statement that “there is no more time to waste,” and “there are no excuses for any of the parties to justify a further delay.”
Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group say they accept Biden’s proposal, although in recent weeks both the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Hamas spokesmen have accused each other of imposing amendments to the US president’s plan.
Hamas has repeatedly insisted that a ceasefire agreement include a definitive cessation of military operations and the complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, including the Rafah land crossing and the Philadelphia corridor, both on the border of the Palestinian Strip with Egypt.
For his part, Netanyahu demands, among other demands, the implementation of an Israeli control mechanism in the Netzarim corridor – which divides the north and south of Gaza since the beginning of the war – to ensure that the militiamen do not regroup in the north.
He also insists on the presence of the Israeli Army in the Philadelphia corridor to prevent arms smuggling.
“It is time to release the hostages and prisoners, start a ceasefire and implement the agreement,” the joint statement said, and said: “now the way is paved to achieve that result, save lives, offer help to the people of Gaza and calm tensions in the region.
The mediators, as well as the international community, are pushing for the new round of negotiations to be successful because it is one of the few hopes to avoid an eventual expansion of the war in the Middle East, in the face of Iran’s threat to attack Israel and the possible responses of that country
The Islamist organization Hamas showed its dissatisfaction with what was discussed in the Doha negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza, assuring that what it has been able to know about them “does not include a commitment to what was agreed on July 2,” referring to the original proposal put forward by the United States, whose implementation they demand.
The Islamist organization, which has governed de facto in Gaza since 2007, did not send a delegation to Doha precisely to demand the implementation of what was previously agreed “instead of continuing with new rounds of negotiations.”
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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