International
The Philippines and the United States will simulate the capture of an island in their next military exercises and in full tension with China
The armies of the Philippines and the United States will simulate the capture of an island controlled by enemy forces during the joint military exercises that begin next week in the Southeast Asian archipelago, in full tensions with China.
“It is the first time that maritime exercises will be carried out beyond Philippine territorial waters,” said Army Colonel Michael Logico during an interview with the public channel PTV in which he reported the simulation of the capture of the island, whose location was not specified.
The annual exercises, called “Balikatan”, will gather between April 22 and May 10 about 16,000 troops (more than 11,000 American soldiers and about 5,000 Filipinos) and will take place in areas in front of the island of Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing does not rule out invading, and the disputed South China Sea, among other locations.
About 150 Australian soldiers and representatives of the French Navy will also participate in the exercises, which are not explicitly directed against China, while Japan, among other countries, will send observers.
Logico stressed that they have sent an invitation to the Japanese troops to join next year.
The military exercises are held after the trilateral meeting organized last Thursday in Washington between US President Joe Biden; Filipino Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, where various aspects of security and defense were discussed, with a view to countering Beijing.
Tensions between Manila and Beijing have been increasing lately due to incidents between vessels from both sides in areas that are disputed in the South China Sea, where the United States supports the Philippines – with which it has a mutual defense treaty – in order to maintain the right to free navigation in waters through which about 30% of the world’s maritime trade transits.
Marcos Jr., who took power in June 2022, has turned the foreign policy of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, closer to Beijing, to approach his traditional ally, the United States, in turn concerned about China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Manila and Washington announced last year a defense agreement by which the Asian country will allow US troops to use four military bases – some with easy access to and the South China Sea – which are in addition to the access agreed in 2014 over five other bases.
In parallel, the Philippines and Japan are advancing on a security agreement that could also include access to bases similar to that of Manila and Washington.
International
Seven bodies found with signs of torture in Sinaloa
Mexican authorities discovered seven lifeless bodies on Wednesday, showing clear signs of torture, in the rural area of Culiacán, Sinaloa, just one day after the same number of bodies was found in several municipalities in the western state of Mexico.
Six of these seven victims were found along the side of the highway that connects Culiacán to Mazatlán, near Laguna de Canachi, according to local media reports, which also noted that messages addressed to a criminal group were found near the bodies.
This brings the total number of violent deaths in the region to seven within just 24 hours. On Tuesday, authorities reported more victims found in the municipalities of Culiacán, Elota, and Mazatlán.
Among the victims identified was a local cattle rancher named Ramón Velázquez Ontiveros, as well as a police officer from Mazatlán, who was killed by a motorcyclist outside his home in San Marcos.
International
Málaga paralyzed by new storm as torrential rains hit Spain
Thousands of people were evacuated and trains were suspended as torrential rains once again struck Spain on Wednesday, following the devastating floods that killed at least 223 people two weeks ago, most of them in the Valencia region.
The national meteorological agency (Aemet) issued a maximum, red-level alert for the Andalusian province of Málaga in the south, and for Tarragona in the northeast, due to the new DANA (isolated depression at high levels), also known as a cold drop.
The city of Málaga appeared to be the hardest hit by the rains, with more than 3,000 people evacuated from 1,000 homes near rivers, flooded streets, and the suspension of urban transport and train services to Madrid.
“Today Málaga is paralyzed,” said Andalusia’s regional president, Juan Manuel Moreno, to reporters. “I know it is a problem for citizens not being able to take their children to school or go to work, but after what we saw in Valencia, we need to ‘prevent’ and minimize the impact in terms of loss of life,” he added.
The storm also led to the postponement of a match between Spain and Poland in the Billie Jean King Cup women’s tennis competition, which was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Málaga.
International
Hezbollah launches explosive drone strike on Israel’s defense headquarters
The Lebanese Islamist movement Hezbollah claimed on Wednesday that it launched an attack with explosive drones against the Israeli army’s headquarters in Tel Aviv.
The Iran-backed organization reported in a statement that it had carried out “an aerial attack with a squadron of explosive drones” targeting the site that houses Israel’s main defense institutions.
Hezbollah later stated that it also fired a barrage of rockets at the Glilot military intelligence base in the suburbs of Tel Aviv.
The Israeli military indicated that “sirens sounded in several areas of northern and central Israel following the launch of projectiles from Lebanon.”
It later clarified that “five projectiles were identified over the territory, and some were intercepted.”
Seven bodies found with signs of torture in Sinaloa
Málaga paralyzed by new storm as torrential rains hit Spain
Hezbollah launches explosive drone strike on Israel’s defense headquarters
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
-
Central America3 days agoBukele begins official visit to Costa Rica based on security, cooperation and trade
-
Central America2 days agoNicaraguan Naval Force seizes cocaine on Pacific Coast, suspects escape
-
Central America2 days agoEl Salvador delivers aid to Costa Rica amid severe flooding and red alerts
-
Central America2 days agoBukele urges Costa Rica to reform prison system amid rising crime rates
-
International2 days agoMarco Rubio considered for Secretary of State in Trump administration, reports say
-
International2 days agoSheinbaum pledges support for mexican migrants amid U.S. border enforcement plans
-
International3 days agoDaniel Ortega turns 79: 29 in power, 17 “governing from below”, and 7 in prison
-
International3 days agoLe procureur vénézuélien dénonce une campagne visant à présenter les “criminels” comme prisonniers politiques
-
International3 days agoLes migrants qui ont été retenus en Albanie par le gouvernement de Meloni arriveront ce soir en Italie
-
International3 days agoShooting at Tuskegee University leaves one dead and several injured
-
International3 days agoA US flight to Haiti is deflected after being shot when approaching Port-au-Prince
-
International2 days agoElon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency
-
International2 days agoPresident-elect Trump chooses Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense
-
International17 hours agoMálaga paralyzed by new storm as torrential rains hit Spain
-
Internacionales2 days agoMexico deploys 12,000 security agents to Guerrero amid escalating violence
-
International3 days agoIrish mobster Hutch is rending for general elections after arrest in Spain
-
International18 hours agoEcuadorian judge orders preventive detention for nine inmates after deadly prison clashes
-
Internacionales3 days agoTropical storm Rafael weakens over gulf of Mexico after devastating Cuba
-
International17 hours ago
Seven bodies found with signs of torture in Sinaloa
-
International17 hours agoHezbollah launches explosive drone strike on Israel’s defense headquarters
-
International3 days agoTrump appoints an ally without experience in the sector to the environmental agency
-
International18 hours agoTrump nominates Matt Gaetz as attorney general
-
International17 hours agoSantiago Uribe cleared of homicide and paramilitary charges
-
International3 days agoThe court of El Salvador postpones the preliminary hearing for the massacre of Jesuit parents in 1989
-
International18 hours agoMarco Rubio to become first latino U.S. diplomacy chief under Trump