International
Ecuador president promises ‘democratic’ norms in crackdown: Blinken
AFP
Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso promised during talks Tuesday to uphold “democratic” values during a state of emergency against drug trafficking, visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
Operations need to be “very focused in what they are seeking to achieve and finite in duration and, of course, follow and proceed in a way that upholds democratic values,” Blinken told reporters.
Lasso “assured me that his government is committed to upholding all of those standards, which are so important to the Ecuadorian people,” Blinken said.
Blinken opened his first South America trip as secretary of state in Ecuador, hailing Lasso as a champion of democracy since the conservative businessman’s unexpected election earlier this year.
Just as Blinken was leaving, Lasso said he was sending troops and police to the streets to combat drug trafficking following a spate of violence.
Blinken said the state of emergency was not inconsistent with democracy.
“We very much understand that democracies at times need to take exceptional measures to ensure the safety and security of their citizens,” Blinken said.
Blinken promised that the United States would do its part by continuing to seek a reduction in demand for illegal drugs.
International
Delta Airlines cancels 1,100 flights amid winter storm chaos
More than 3,000 flights were canceled on Friday, and thousands more were delayed due to a winter storm in the southern United States, according to airlines and the flight tracking website FlightAware. Delta Airlines crews expect to return to normal operations on Saturday, the company stated in a release.
“Unforeseen severe winter conditions at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Georgia) caused the closure of all five runways for more than two hours on Friday morning,” the airline said. Delta canceled about 1,100 flights across its network on Friday due to the “freezing rain that fell throughout the day and early afternoon, leading to diversions.”
Additionally, a Delta Airlines aircraft had to abort its takeoff due to a motor issue, also at Atlanta Airport.
More than 200 passengers and crew members aboard a Boeing 757-300 bound for Minneapolis were evacuated via emergency slides, according to a statement from the airline reported by U.S. media. An investigation is underway.
Airports in Dallas Fort Worth (Texas) and Charlotte Douglas (North Carolina) were also affected by the severe weather, with over 1,200 flights canceled.
International
At least 20 injured in tram collision at Strasbourg Train Station tunnel
On Saturday afternoon, two trams collided in the tunnel leading to the Strasbourg train station in northeastern France, resulting in at least 20 injuries, according to the local prefecture. “The initial assessment indicates that 20 people are in a state of relative emergency,” said a spokesperson, noting that the circumstances of the accident had not yet been determined.
A security perimeter was established in front of the station, where several ambulances arrived, as reported by an AFP journalist.
A video taken by a witness and shared on social media shows a chaotic scene, with two heavily damaged trams in the tunnel near the station. One of the trams appears to have derailed due to the impact.
Since Strasbourg revamped its tram network in 1994, no major accidents had been reported until this incident.
International
Judge declares Donald Trump not guilty in Stormy Daniels case
Judge Juan Merchan acquitted U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in the case involving former porn actress Stormy Daniels.
“At this moment, I am issuing this verdict to cover all 34 charges,” Merchan stated. The judge also wished Trump good luck in his second term as president.
Trump will now become the first criminal president.
Merchan declined to impose any punishment. This decision strengthens Trump’s acquittal and clears the way for his return to the White House without the threat of prison or a fine.
“Never before has this court faced such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances,” Judge Merchan said.
Delta Airlines cancels 1,100 flights amid winter storm chaos
At least 20 injured in tram collision at Strasbourg Train Station tunnel
Judge declares Donald Trump not guilty in Stormy Daniels case
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Ecuador prison riot leaves at least 43 dead
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