International
The United States and its allies will sanction Iran “in the coming days” for the attack on Israel
The US Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen, said on Tuesday that the United States and its allies will sanction Iran “in the coming days” for the attack on Israel.
“We will take additional measures against Iran in the coming days,” he said at a press conference on the sidelines of the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), which are being held this week in Washington.
Yellen said that he will use those meetings, attended by the Ministers of Economy and Finance from almost the world, to coordinate a new round of sanctions against Iran.
“We never give details of the sanctions before announcing them. But in the conversations I have had, all the options to interrupt Iran’s terrorist financing are still on the table,” he stressed.
The head of the Treasury did not offer details about what sanctions they will impose on Iran the U.S. and its allies; but, asked by the press, she mentioned the possibility of increasing controls to prevent Tehran from bypassing the US sanctions they already thought about its oil sector.
“Iran continues to export some oil. It is possible that something else can be done. I don’t want to advance anything about the sanctions that we could impose but, without a doubt, that is one of the areas that we could address,” he simply said.
In 2018, under the administration of Donald Trump, the United States again imposed sanctions on Iran’s oil sector and, since then, the Joe Biden Administration has tried to enforce those restrictions by imposing sanctions on companies from different countries that help Tehran export oil.
Despite these efforts, Iran continues to be able to evade US sanctions to export oil, China being one of its main customers.
The United States is studying with its G7 partners to impose more sanctions on Iran and designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group after the attack on Israel.
Several countries have already designated the Revolutionary Guard, a branch of the Armed Forces of Iran created after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, as a terrorist group.
In 2019, the United States included the Revolutionary Guard on the blacklist of terrorist groups, while the Government of Canada said in January of this year that it was studying ways to include the Revolutionary Guard on its list of terrorist organizations.
For its part, the European Union (EU) is currently studying new sanctions against Iran to contain its drone and missile programs, according to the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Sunday.
These efforts by the United States and its allies to promote new sanctions against Iran occur while several countries in the West have urged Israel to show restraint and avoid a strong military response to Iran’s attack, at the risk of triggering a large-scale war in the Middle East.
The spring meetings of the WB and the IMF that are held this week in Washington will bring together the world’s leading finance and economic ministers.
In addition, in parallel with those events, it is planned that there will be meetings of the ministers of Economy and Finance of the G20 and also of the G24, a group that brings together developing countries, including Iran.
International
Gustavo Petro increases Colombia’s minimum wage by 9.54%
Colombian President Gustavo Petro signed a decree on Tuesday to increase the minimum wage in the country by 9.54% (following a lack of consensus with business sectors and labor unions), meaning that starting January 1, it will be 1,423,500 Colombian pesos (about US$322).
“This is an improvement in the standard of living for all people who tie their income to the minimum wage,” Petro celebrated as he signed the decree in Zipaquirá, during an event where he participated in the last Novena de Aguinaldo and reconnected with several friends and colleagues in the Bolívar 83 neighborhood, which holds personal significance for the president.
Currently, the minimum wage in Colombia is 1,300,000 pesos (about US$294).
Petro also responded to criticisms from the business sector regarding the minimum wage increase, after the president of the National Association of Entrepreneurs of Colombia (Andi), Bruce Mac Master, warned that it would lead to “a great number of consequences.”
International
Silent Christmas in Bethlehem as Gaza conflict overshadows celebrations
Hundreds of faithful gathered on Tuesday around the Church of the Nativity in the Palestinian town of Bethlehem, which is preparing for another quiet Christmas, with no major celebrations due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Local authorities decided to suspend large public celebrations for the second consecutive year, and in Manger Square, there are neither decorations nor the traditional giant Christmas tree, reflecting the somber mood of its residents since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in Gaza. At the Vatican, Pope Francis will inaugurate the Holy Year 2025 on Tuesday, a major international pilgrimage expected to draw over 30 million faithful from around the world to Rome.
On this Christmas Eve, at 7:00 PM (6:00 PM GMT), in the presence of around 30,000 people and with worldwide broadcast, the Argentine Jesuit will open the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, symbolizing the start of this “ordinary” Jubilee.
Afterwards, he will preside over the Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, an occasion in which the pontiff often highlights global conflicts.
Over the weekend, Francis’ remarks calling Israeli airstrikes in Gaza “cruel” sparked criticism from the Israeli government.
International
Pope Francis to open jubilee year in Vatican, calls for global peace amid conflict
Pope Francis will open the Catholic Church’s “Holy Year” 2025 on Tuesday, a major international pilgrimage expected to bring over 30 million faithful from around the world to Rome, under the sign of the Jubilee.
On this Christmas Eve, at 7:00 PM (6:00 PM GMT), in the presence of around 30,000 people and with worldwide broadcast, the Argentine Jesuit will open the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, symbolizing the start of this “ordinary” Jubilee. Throughout the year, pilgrims will be able to pass through this heavy and imposing bronze door, closed during ordinary times, to receive the “plenary indulgence,” the forgiveness of sins according to tradition.
The 88-year-old pope, who faces frequent health issues, will preside over the Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, before delivering his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing (to the city and the world) on Wednesday at noon. It is expected that he will address global conflicts and renew his calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East, three days after condemning the “cruelty” of the attacks in Gaza, comments which provoked protests from Israeli diplomats.
Security around the Vatican has been reinforced following the deadly attack on a Christmas market in Germany. About 700 additional officers have been deployed to Rome, as announced by the Ministry of the Interior.
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