International
Venezuelan becomes oldest living man
AFP
A 112-year-old Venezuelan farmer has been officially recognized as the oldest living man following the death of a Spaniard who was the previous holder of the title, Guinness World Records said Tuesday.
Juan Vicente Perez was confirmed as the oldest living man in February, Guinness said in a statement on its website.
He “has exceptional health and memory. He remembers his childhood, marriage, the name of his siblings, children and grandchildren,” said Guinness.
“He loves to be surrounded by family and friends as they tell stories and engage in good conversation.”
Perez was born on May 27, 1909 in the western Tachira state, where by the age of five he was already helping his parents to harvest sugar cane and coffee.
As an adult, he worked as a sheriff resolving land disputes in the town where he lived.
Perez was married for 60 years until his wife Ediofina del Rosario Garcia died in 1997.
They had 11 children together. Perez has 41 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren.
He told Guinness that his secret to long life is to “work hard, rest on holidays, go to bed early, drink a glass of aguardiente every day, love God, and always carry him in your heart.”
The previous oldest man alive was Spaniard Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia, who died in January just under a month from his 113th birthday.
The oldest person alive is Frenchwoman Lucile Randon, a nun born on February 11, 1904, who is 118 years old.
International
Trump Delays Potential Iran Strikes as Regional Peace Talks Continue
Donald Trump announced a new deadline for potential military action against Iran, saying he would temporarily delay planned strikes while regional negotiators continue efforts to secure a peace agreement.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said he decided to postpone the operation after receiving requests from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. president explained that the pause would remain in place for only a limited period, adding that discussions could continue through the end of the week or early next week.
Trump also warned that military action remained a possibility if negotiations fail to produce results, stressing that the United States could not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.
“Maybe we’ll have to hit them again,” Trump said, referring to Iran while reiterating his willingness to resume military operations if necessary.
International
FAO Urges Urgent Action as Hormuz Disruption Threatens Global Food Supply
A prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a “systemic agri-food shock” capable of causing a major global food price crisis within six to twelve months, the Food and Agriculture Organization warned on Wednesday.
Before the recent attacks launched by United States and Israel against Iran, roughly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil shipments passed through the strategic waterway.
The UN agency said the disruption should not be viewed as a temporary shipping issue, but rather as the beginning of a broader global agro-food crisis with potential long-term economic consequences.
The FAO urged governments to establish alternative trade routes, avoid export restrictions, protect humanitarian supply chains and build reserves to absorb rising transportation costs.
Máximo Torero said countries must urgently strengthen their resilience and prepare for the potential impact of disruptions linked to the maritime bottleneck.
According to the organization, the window for preventive action is rapidly closing.
International
U.S. Sanctions Alleged Sinaloa Cartel Money Launderers Linked to Fentanyl Trade
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions on Wednesday against more than a dozen individuals and companies allegedly linked to Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, accusing them of laundering money connected to fentanyl trafficking operations.
Among those targeted are Armando Ojeda Avilés, identified by U.S. authorities as a leading money laundering operator for the cartel, and Jesús “Chuy” González Peñuela, who has been subject to a $5 million reward since January 2024.
According to the sanctions list released by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), other individuals sanctioned include Jesús Alonso Aispuro, described as the network’s financial chief, and Rodrigo Alarcón Palomares, accused of overseeing cash collection operations in the United States.
Relatives of the alleged cartel figures were also sanctioned for managing businesses reportedly tied to the network, including the security company Grupo Especial Mamba Negra and the restaurant Gorditas Chiwas in Chihuahua, Mexico.
The Sinaloa Cartel was designated a narcoterrorist organization last year under an order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump and has since become a major focus of U.S. law enforcement efforts.
Two weeks ago, prosecutors in New York’s Southern District accused Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and several associates of collaborating with the cartel, a development that increased tensions with the administration of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Trump Delays Potential Iran Strikes as Regional Peace Talks Continue
FAO Urges Urgent Action as Hormuz Disruption Threatens Global Food Supply
U.S. Sanctions Alleged Sinaloa Cartel Money Launderers Linked to Fentanyl Trade
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