International
Ecuador’s Citizen Revolution considers cross-death illegal
May 17 |
The Citizen Revolution (RC) movement today considered the cross death decree issued by Ecuador’s president, Guillermo Lasso, a victory in the face of the impeachment process, although it qualified the measure as illegal.
The president’s decision represents the victory of the CR bench against the impeachment process that would lead to his dismissal, said former first vice president of the National Assembly Marcela Holguin in a press conference on Wednesday.
According to what the representative of the force related to former governor Rafael Correa declared, Lasso prevented the vote on the “trial of history” with a strategy taken at the last minute by a “hopeless president who clings to power”.
The cross-death is a constitutional mechanism in Ecuador that allows the chief executive to dissolve the unicameral legislative body and advance general elections.
We are not afraid of the popular pronouncement in the ballot boxes and we are not going to take any action because we believe that the people in a crisis situation is the one who must decide, affirmed the parliamentarian Virgilio Hernandez.
However, the CR affirmed that the measure at this moment is illegal because it is not justified with the causes foreseen in the Constitution, such as the existence of an internal commotion or serious political crisis.
If the president calls for a crusade death, we will not shy away from it and we will put our positions as always at the service of the Ecuadorian people, Holguin underlined.
So far, the Constitutional Court has not ruled on the legality of the decree, which allows Lasso to continue in power for at least six months and to govern during that time through executive measures.
The National Electoral Council, for its part, called for a press conference this afternoon to refer to the early elections that would allow Ecuador to have a new president in November.
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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