International

The leaders of the United States Congress invite Netanyahu to the hemicycle

The leadership of the United States Congress this Friday invited the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, to give a speech before the two chambers to talk about the “defense of democracy” and the “fight against terrorism.”

In a letter, the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives asked Netanyahu to intervene in Congress to present the Israeli government’s vision of how to “establish a just and lasting peace in the region.”

“We join the State of Israel in its fight against terror, especially while Hamas keeps American and Israeli citizens captive,” the legislators highlighted in the letter, which does not specify the date of that future speech.

The letter, dated this Friday, was signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, as well as the leader of the Democratic majority of the Senate, Chuck Schumer.

The also Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, leader of his bench in the Lower House, and Republican Mitch McConnell, the number 1 of this party in the Senate, joined in the letter.

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The bipartisan invitation to Netanyahu comes amid criticism that the US Executive has received from civil society and human rights organizations for its unconditional support for Israel.

Joe Biden’s Administration insisted this week on its commitment to Israel’s “defense” after the country’s Defense Forces carried out an attack on a displacement camp in Rafah last Sunday.

Bombs used in this attack, which killed dozens of Palestinians, were manufactured in the United States, according to several US media.

The Israeli air attack affected a tent camp in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, where the war has caused about 36,000 deaths, more than 70% civilians, since the offensive began more than seven and a half months ago.

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Central America

Nicaragua revokes legal status of 10 more NGOs, bringing total to over 5,600

The Nicaraguan government canceled the legal status of 10 more non-profit organizations on Friday (March 28, 2025), including the Swiss Foundation for Development Cooperation, bringing the total number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) shut down since December 2018 to over 5,600.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, the Swiss Foundation for Development Cooperation, which had been registered since March 9, 2002, was found to be in non-compliance for failing to report its financial status for 2024 and for having an expired board of directors.

Among the 10 NGOs whose legal status was revoked were religious organizations, educational groups, consumer associations, and aquaculture organizations, all dissolved “voluntarily” or closed under similar reasons.

As of today, more than 5,600 NGOs have been dismantled following the popular protests that erupted in April 2018 in Nicaragua. In most cases, the assets of these organizations have been ordered to be transferred to the state.

International

Marco Rubio warns Venezuela against military action against Guyana

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Venezuela on Thursday that a military attack on Guyana would be “a big mistake” and “a very bad day for them,” expressing his support for Georgetown in its territorial dispute with Caracas.

“It would be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they attacked Guyana or ExxonMobil. It would be a very bad day, a very bad week for them, and it would not end well,” Rubio emphasized during a press conference in Georgetown alongside Guyanese President Irfaan Ali.

International

Ecuador oil spill worsens as containment dam collapses

The collapse of a containment dam holding back part of the 25,000+ barrels of oil spilled from a pipeline rupture nearly two weeks ago has worsened the environmental crisis in northwestern Ecuador, contaminating rivers and Pacific beaches.

The Ecuadorian government attributed the March 13 pipeline rupture—which led to the spill of 25,116 barrels of crude—to an act of sabotage. The spill affected three rivers and disrupted water supplies for several communities, according to authorities.

On Tuesday, due to heavy rains that have been falling since January, a containment dam on the Caple River collapsed. The Caple connects to other waterways in Esmeraldas Province, a coastal region bordering Colombia, state-owned Petroecuador said in a statement on Wednesday.

Seven containment barriers were installed in the Viche River, where crews worked to remove oil-contaminated debris. Additional absorbent materials were deployed in Caple, Viche, and Esmeraldas Rivers, which flow into the Pacific Ocean.

Authorities are also working to protect a wildlife refuge home to more than 250 species, including otters, howler monkeys, armadillos, frigatebirds, and pelicans.

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“This has been a total disaster,” said Ronald Ruiz, a leader in the Cube community, where the dam was located. He explained that the harsh winter rains caused river levels to rise, bringing debris that broke the containment barriersthat were holding the accumulated oil for extraction.