The Government of Japan announced on Tuesday that it will award Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, one of its highest decorations, during the state visit the president will make to the Asian country next week.

The Japanese government decided to grant this honor to Lula “with the aim of promoting friendly relations between both countries,” according to government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi in a press conference.

The Brazilian president will make his state visit to Japan from Monday, March 24 to Thursday, March 27, during which he will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and will be received by the Emperor of Japan, Naruhito.

The visit will focus on strengthening political relations with Japan and expanding markets for Brazilian exports.

Venezuela issued a “travel alert” on Monday (March 17, 2025) to its citizens who are traveling or transiting through the U.S. “about the risks and conditions” they claim they might face in that country, following the recent deportation of migrants to El Salvador.

“In recent months, there has been an increase in arbitrary immigration control measures and policies of harassment against Venezuelans,” stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release.

In the statement, distributed by Foreign Minister Yván Gil, it is also recommended that those “residing or transiting” through U.S. territory “exercise extreme caution,” noting an “increase in violent incidents” and “the implementation of regulations that restrict fundamental rights.” It was argued that “cases of arbitrary arrests, deportations without cause, confiscation of goods and documents, as well as discriminatory and degrading treatment by U.S. authorities” have been documented. The statement further added that these incidents include “incarcerations without due process and kidnappings in third-country prisons.”

At least 12 people died on Monday when a small plane with 18 occupants crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from the tourist island of Roatán, located in northern Honduras, authorities reported.

“The plane crash in Roatán has sadly left 12 people dead, 5 alive, and one missing at this hour,” said a statement from the Fire Department.

“Ten people were rescued, and we’ve just been informed by the hospital that six have passed away,” said Major Wilmer Guerrero from the Fire Department initially to journalists. The official later stated that the death toll had risen to seven as “a body” of a crew member was found floating near the plane, which had fallen “quite deep,” about a kilometer from the coast.

The aircraft “suffered a sharp turn to the right side of the runway at the moment of takeoff and fell into the water,” said Carlos Padilla, a representative of Civil Aeronautics.

The Jetstream 42 plane experienced “an apparent mechanical failure during takeoff” and lost its course, according to Honduran police in a statement.

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“The aircraft, which carried 15 passengers, two pilots, and a flight attendant, lost power in the engines and crashed into the sea approximately one kilometer from the airstrip,” the statement added.

Major Guerrero warned that there were still people to be rescued from inside the aircraft, so “coordinations will be made for an underwater operation.”

“Nine divers have just located the aircraft, and the nine divers will descend simultaneously,” he said.