International

Nicaragua breaks diplomatic relations with Israel in solidarity with Palestine

The Government of Nicaragua broke off diplomatic relations with Israel, in solidarity with Palestine and “one year after the brutal genocide that the fascist and criminal war government of Israel continues to commit against the Palestinian people.”

“In permanent solidarity with the people and Government of Palestine, with the peoples who suffer martyrdom, destruction and barbarism and in strict adherence to international law and the conventions that govern civilized relations between States and Governments of the world, the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua breaks all diplomatic relations with the fascist Government of Israel,” the Nicaraguan Executive said in a statement.

In the note, the government chaired by Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo indicated that they made that decision considering, in addition, the resolution of the National Assembly of Nicaragua (Parliament), approved this Friday unanimously, “in which the continuous genocide, cruelty, extreme hatred and extermination carried out by the Government of Israel are condemned.”

The Nicaraguan Parliament asked Ortega on Friday to break off relations with the Government of Israel, which they declared “enemy of humanity.”

The request was made by the Legislature, controlled by the Sandinistas, through a declaration approved during a special session held in Managua in solidarity with the people of Palestine, “who suffer,” they said, “one of the greatest genocides perpetrated by the Zionist army of Israel,” and attended by the Nicaraguan Chancellor, Valdrack Jaentschke.

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Sandinista condemnation

In the statement, the Sandinista Executive condemned “once again this genocide, occupation and permanent aggression against the life and dignity of the people of Palestine, which now extends against the people of Lebanon, and seriously threatens Syria, Yemen and Iran, endangering the peace and security of the region and the world.”

Likewise, the Nicaraguan Government said: “We ratify once again our warm and consistent consideration to the dear families of the Israeli people, who deserve our affection, support and solidarity, who live in difficult times as a result of the excessive brutality and hatred of the Government of Israel.”

A year ago, the Government of Daniel Ortega declared itself “always in solidarity with the Palestinian cause” and condemned the “aggravation” of the “terrible” Israel-Palestine conflict.

International

IEA warns Middle East conflict could spark worst energy crisis in decades

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East could trigger the worst energy crisis in decades, warned Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), who described the situation as “very serious.”

Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Birol compared the current scenario to the oil crises of the 1970s, noting that during those events the world lost around five million barrels of oil per day in each crisis.

“Today, we have lost 11 million barrels per day—more than the two major oil shocks combined,” he said.

The Turkish economist referred to the conflict that began on February 28, following attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran, which have significantly disrupted global energy markets and driven oil prices higher.

Birol warned that the global economy is facing a “very, very serious threat” and expressed hope that the crisis will be resolved soon.

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“No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues in this direction. Global efforts are urgently needed,” he emphasized.

International

Colombian Air Force Hercules plane crashes during takeoff with troops onboard

A Lockheed C-130 Hercules operated by the Colombian Air Force was involved in a “tragic accident” while taking off from Puerto Leguízamo, in the Putumayo department of southern Colombia, as it was transporting troops, Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez reported on Monday.

The minister stated on social media that the exact number of victims and the causes of the crash have not yet been determined. He also extended his condolences to the families affected and urged the public to avoid speculation until official information is confirmed.

“This is a deeply painful event for the country. Our prayers are with the victims and their families,” Sánchez said, adding that emergency protocols have been activated and an investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro expressed hope that there would be no fatalities in what he described as a “horrific accident that should not have happened.”

Petro also highlighted ongoing efforts to modernize the country’s air fleet and reiterated the need to acquire new helicopters and transport aircraft to strengthen military mobility, particularly in remote regions.

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According to local media reports, approximately 110 soldiers were on board the aircraft. So far, at least 20 injured military personnel have been rescued.

International

Paris prosecutors alert U.S. over alleged deepfake strategy linked to Elon Musk

The Paris Prosecutor’s Office said on Saturday that it had alerted authorities in the United States over suspicions that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk may have encouraged the spread of sexualized deepfake content on the social platform X to artificially boost the company’s valuation.

According to prosecutors, the controversy surrounding explicit AI-generated videos—reportedly linked to Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence system—may have been deliberately triggered to increase the market value of X and X AI.

The office added that the alleged strategy could be tied to the planned June 2026 public listing of a new entity formed through the merger of SpaceX and X AI.

French authorities said they contacted the U.S. Department of Justice as well as legal representatives at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) earlier this week to share their concerns.

Responding on X in French to a report about the case, Musk referred to French prosecutors using an offensive term.

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When contacted, X’s legal representative in France did not immediately comment.

Grok, the platform’s AI system, has its own account on X, allowing users to interact with it or request content generation. For a period, users were able to tag the bot in posts to generate or edit images, a feature that may have facilitated the spread of such material.