Central America
Two Guatemalan soldiers die in helicopter crash during anti-drug operation in Ixcán
Two Guatemalan soldiers supporting an anti-narcotics operation died on Sunday when the helicopter they were flying crashed in a remote area in northwestern Guatemala, near the Mexican border, according to the Army and the Attorney General’s Office.
Captain Luis González, the pilot, and Lieutenant Elvis Álvarez, the co-pilot, died after the helicopter crashed into the Chixoy River in the municipality of Ixcán, approximately 150 km northwest of Guatemala City, the Armed Forces said in a statement.
The aircraft, which suffered an “accidental mishap,” took off from a base in the capital and was in the area “as part of the operations supporting public security forces,” the Army added.
The helicopter was en route to Ixcán to pick up police officers, prosecutors, and officials who were inspecting a burned aircraft that had allegedly been used hours earlier to transport drugs, said Moisés Ortiz, spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office.
Ortiz explained that the helicopter “likely collided with high-tension power lines, which caused the crash.”
Videos released by local media showed the helicopter flying at low altitude over the river before falling into the water.
With the help of local drug traffickers, international cartels use Guatemala and the rest of Central America as a transit route for drugs heading to Mexico and the United States.
According to Washington, 90% of the cocaine entering the U.S. passes through Mexico and Central America by land vehicles, small aircraft, boats, and submarines.
Sports
AC Milan defeats Juventus to secure Supercoppa Italiana final spot
AC Milan will take on Inter Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana final on Monday following a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against Juventus in the second semifinal held in Riyadh on Friday.
Turkish sensation Kenan Yildiz, a late addition to Juventus’ starting lineup, opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a powerful strike that caught French goalkeeper Mike Maignan off guard.
However, AC Milan, under new Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição—who replaced his compatriot Paulo Fonseca earlier this week—delivered a much-improved second-half performance.
The ‘Rossoneri’ leveled the game in the 71st minute through a penalty converted by American star Christian Pulisic. Just four minutes later, their winning goal came via an own goal by Juventus defender Federico Gatti, who accidentally sent the ball past his goalkeeper, who was caught out of position.
Central America
Honduras to send delegation in place of president Castro for Maduro ceremony
Honduran President Xiomara Castro will not attend Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s inauguration on January 10, an official source confirmed Friday in Tegucigalpa.
In brief statements to journalists, Honduran Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Torres said that Castro “will not go to Venezuela” and that a delegation will likely be sent to represent Honduras at Maduro’s swearing-in ceremony.
Regarding the $100,000 reward announced by Venezuelan police for information on the whereabouts of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, Torres remarked that it is an internal matter for Venezuela. However, he noted that the situation “reflects a tense political climate ahead of Nicolás Maduro’s inauguration.”
Central America
Panama Canal marks 25th anniversary of handover, honors Jimmy Carter
The Panama Canal celebrated its 25th anniversary of being handed over to Panama this Tuesday, with a solemn ceremony honoring the late former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, while disregarding Donald Trump’s threats to reclaim the interoceanic route.
The ceremony, held in the garden of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) headquarters near the waterway, was attended by Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino and hundreds of guests, including former President Mireya Moscoso, who symbolically received the canal from Carter on December 31, 1999. “Today we feel the same emotion” as 25 years ago, Moscoso told AFP, recalling that after signing the transfer documents, Carter said to her, “it’s yours,” and she began to cry.
Mulino stated in his speech that he felt joy for the 25 years of Panamanian sovereignty over the Canal, but added, “a sadness… fills us due to the death of Jimmy Carter,” who passed away on Sunday at the age of 100. A moment of silence was observed during the ceremony in memory of the former president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
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