International
Dozens of Indian turtles die in suspected poisoning
AFP
Deliberate poisoning is likely to blame for the death of dozens of turtles at a lake near Mumbai, Indian wildlife experts told AFP Sunday.
Conservation workers were alerted to the incident after a local politician asked them to investigate a foul smell around the body of water in Kalyan, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of India’s entertainment capital.
Suhas Pawar of the Wild Animal and Reptile Rescue conservation group said 57 Indian flapshell turtles had been killed while another six were rescued.
He told AFP that locals likely killed the reptiles to stop them from eating fish they were illegally breeding in the lake.
“Everything is being investigated now, a post-mortem and scientific analysis will reveal the exact cause of these deaths,” Pawar said.
He added that Covid-19 restrictions over the past two years had likely led to a surge in the local turtle population.
“Restrictions on human activity likely increased the fish stocks at the lake and these turtles were now growing in numbers by feeding on them, which angered some locals,” Pawar said.
Indian flapshell turtles are not particularly rare but are a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act.
International
Rubio and Lavrov Hold Talks After Large-Scale Russian Assault on Ukraine
The United States remains willing to mediate in the war between Russia and Ukraine, Secretary of State Marco Rubiosaid Tuesday following a large-scale Russian attack against Kyiv.
“Every time you see these large attacks by either side, it is a reminder of why this is a terrible war (…) that must come to an end,” Rubio told reporters after holding a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Speaking during an official visit to India, Rubio stated that the United States is “ready and prepared to do whatever it can” to help facilitate an end to the conflict.
“We hope the opportunity presents itself at some point,” he added.
Russia warned on Monday that it could launch additional strikes against Kyiv, including attacks targeting what it described as “decision-making centers,” after carrying out weekend bombardments involving dozens of drones and missiles across Ukraine. The attacks reportedly killed four people.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Lavrov urged the United States during the call to evacuate diplomats from its embassy in Kyiv.
Rubio later clarified that Moscow had issued a warning to all embassies in the Ukrainian capital, not only to the U.S. diplomatic mission.
International
Omar García Harfuch Announces Arrest of “El Chapo’s” Nephew
Mexican security forces captured a nephew of convicted drug lord Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán during an operation carried out in the northern border state of Sonora, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The suspect, identified as Isai “N,” is reportedly wanted by authorities in the United States.
Omar García Harfuch, Mexico’s secretary of security, stated on X that the detainee is a “nephew of ‘El Chapo,’” the former leader of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, who is currently serving a life sentence in the United States.
Mexican media identified the suspect as Isai Martínez Zepeda, who had reportedly been arrested in June 2008 while allegedly carrying high-caliber weapons.
However, the press office of Mexico’s Security Ministry told AFP that it did not have additional details regarding the earlier arrest.
Two sons of Joaquín Guzmán, Ovidio Guzmán López and Joaquín Guzmán López, are also imprisoned in the United States on drug trafficking charges.
International
Diplomatic Talks Continue as Iran Accuses U.S. of Ceasefire Violations
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran accused the United States on Tuesday of violating the fragile ceasefire over the past 48 hours in the province of Hormozgan Province, although officials did not specify the exact incident.
The accusations came after the United States Central Command announced on Monday that U.S. forces had targeted Iranian missile-launch facilities and vessels allegedly attempting to deploy mines in the Gulf region.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that its forces fired on a U.S. aircraft that allegedly attempted to enter Iranian airspace.
“The terrorist U.S. military, which has continued its illegal and unjustified actions since the ceasefire (…) committed a serious violation of the ceasefire in Hormozgan Province over the past 48 hours,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry also warned that Iran “will not leave any hostile act unanswered and will not hesitate to defend itself,” without providing further details.
The accusations emerged while a high-level Iranian delegation was in Qatar for diplomatic talks aimed at ending the conflict with Washington.
The confrontation began on February 28 following attacks carried out by the United States and Israel against Tehran.
Rubio and Lavrov Hold Talks After Large-Scale Russian Assault on Ukraine
Omar García Harfuch Announces Arrest of “El Chapo’s” Nephew
Diplomatic Talks Continue as Iran Accuses U.S. of Ceasefire Violations
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
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International4 days agoIran says agreement with U.S. to end Middle East conflict is in final stages
-
International5 days agoWHO Warns Ebola Outbreak Is Spreading Rapidly in DR Congo
-
International5 days agoGuatemalan Man Sentenced to 50 Years in U.S. Prison for Child Exploitation Crimes
-
International23 hours agoDiplomatic Talks Continue as Iran Accuses U.S. of Ceasefire Violations
-
International23 hours agoOmar García Harfuch Announces Arrest of “El Chapo’s” Nephew
-
Central America2 days agoOpposition leader highlights migration crisis in Panama speech
-
International23 hours agoRubio and Lavrov Hold Talks After Large-Scale Russian Assault on Ukraine
-
International2 days agoEcuador’s Noboa vows to continue “war” on criminal groups