International
The Security Council approves a US resolution in support of the proposed truce in Gaza
The UN Security Council approved a resolution presented by the United States in support of the truce proposal announced by President Joe Biden on May 31, which establishes a three-phase plan to end the war in Gaza.
The resolution, approved by 14 votes in favor with Russia’s only abstention, is already the fourth approved in the Security Council regarding the war in Gaza, although the previous three have been left on paper when Israel refused to stop the offensive in Palestinian territory, a conflict that has already claimed more than 37,000 deaths.
The document “sends a clear message to Hamas: to accept the ceasefire on the table. Israel has already given its approval to the agreement, and the fighting could stop today if Hamas does the same,” said the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, although the Jewish State Government has so far been ambiguous about the terms of that plan.
The resolution, which obtains unprecedented and almost unanimous support, calls for the approval of that truce proposal that calls for “an immediate ceasefire and the release of the hostages” in the hands of Hamas.
The US resolution had already been among the members for a week, and although at first it contained requests only for Hamas, the final version “urges the two parties to implement the terms (of the proposal) without delay or conditions.”
In addition, the text has an unequivocal “refaction of any attempt at territorial or demographic modification in Gaza, including any action to reduce the territory,” a message addressed to the “hard wing” of the Israeli government and that can thus reap support among Arab countries.
In his last paragraph, he reiterates “the importance of unifying Gaza and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority” (PA), which means leaving out Hamas, one of the most controversial points given the lack of acceptance of the PA among Palestinians in Gaza.
“Now we are all waiting, waiting for Hamas to agree to the ceasefire it proclaims to want, but we cannot afford to wait and wait,” Thomas-Greenfield stressed.
And thus summarized the peace plan – which Biden presented at the first time as an Israeli, although it seems more a product of the will of the United States -: “This agreement will bring hostages home, guarantees the security of Israel, allows to increase humanitarian aid and essential services such as electricity, medical services and the removal of debris, in addition to preparing the stage for a political settlement,” said Thomas-Greenfield.
Previously, there have already been three resolutions on the war in Gaza; in November, December and March – which called for the cessation of hostilities or the entry of humanitarian aid – but none has been implemented on the ground, despite its theoretically binding nature.
Israel said in the UN Security Council that it does not intend to “commit to endless and meaningless negotiations” for a ceasefire in Gaza, minutes after the Council approved a resolution presented by the United States to support a truce plan in Gaza.
The political coordinator of the Israeli diplomatic mission, Reut Shapir, who took the floor after the intervention of the fifteen members of the Council, did not make it clear whether her country supports the resolution, as the US ambassador to the UN had previously assured, but implied otherwise.
“Israel clings to its principles, and these have not changed. We will continue (fighting) until all the hostages return and dismantle all the combat and government capabilities of Hamas,” Shapir said, without expressly mentioning that resolution, which calls in a first phase for a ceasefire and the release of certain hostages (women, elderly and wounded).
“This means that Israel is not going to engage in endless and meaningless negotiations, which can be exploited by Hamas as a means of buying time,” Shapir said.
For their part, the Arab countries welcomed the resolution, and considered that it will contribute to curbing the crisis in the Strip.
Egypt asked “both Israel and Hamas to take serious measures to respond to this (proposal of agreement) as soon as possible and start implementing its terms without delay or conditions.”
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry stressed in a statement that the resolution “supports (the proposal for) a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the return of the displaced Palestinians” to their homes.
It also “guarantees full access to humanitarian aid that meets the needs of the inhabitants of the Strip,” he added.
In similar terms, the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem al Bedewi, expressed himself, who considered that the resolution “will contribute to stopping the crisis in Gaza and achieving security and stability in the region and in the world.”
International
Deportation flight lands in Venezuela; government denies criminal gang links
A flight carrying 175 Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States arrived in Caracas on Sunday. This marks the third group to return since repatriation flights resumed a week ago, and among them is an alleged member of a criminal organization, according to Venezuelan authorities.
Unlike previous flights operated by the Venezuelan state airline Conviasa, this time, an aircraft from the U.S. airline Eastern landed at Maiquetía Airport, on the outskirts of Caracas, shortly after 2:00 p.m. with the deportees.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, who welcomed the returnees at the airport, stated that the 175 repatriated individuals were coming back “after being subjected, like all Venezuelans, to persecution” and dismissed claims that they belonged to the criminal organization El Tren de Aragua.
However, Cabello confirmed that “for the first time in these flights we have been carrying out, someone of significance wanted by Venezuelan justice has arrived, and he is not from El Tren de Aragua.” Instead, he belongs to a gang operating in the state of Trujillo. The minister did not disclose the individual’s identity or provide details on where he would be taken.
International
Son of journalist José Rubén Zamora condemns father’s return to prison as “illegal”
The son of renowned journalist José Rubén Zamora Marroquín, José Carlos Zamora, has denounced as “illegal” the court order that sent his father back to a Guatemalan prison on March 3, after already spending 819 days behind barsover a highly irregular money laundering case.
“My father’s return to prison was based on an arbitrary and illegal ruling. It is also alarming that the judge who had granted him house arrest received threats,” José Carlos Zamora told EFE in an interview on Saturday.
The 67-year-old journalist was sent back to prison inside the Mariscal Zavala military barracks on March 3, when Judge Erick García upheld a Court of Appeals ruling that overturned the house arrest granted to him in October. Zamora had already spent 819 days in prison over an alleged money laundering case.
His son condemned the situation as “unacceptable”, stating that the judge handling the case “cannot do his job in accordance with the law due to threats against his life.”
International
Miyazaki’s style goes viral with AI but at what cost?
This week, you may have noticed that everything—from historical photos and classic movie scenes to internet memes and recent political moments—has been reimagined on social media as Studio Ghibli-style portraits. The trend quickly went viral thanks to ChatGPT and the latest update of OpenAI’s chatbot, released on Tuesday, March 25.
The newest addition to GPT-4o has allowed users to replicate the distinctive artistic style of the legendary Japanese filmmaker and Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away). “Today is a great day on the internet,” one user declared while sharing popular memes in Ghibli format.
While the trend has captivated users worldwide, it has also highlighted ethical concerns about AI tools trained on copyrighted creative works—and what this means for the livelihoods of human artists.
Not that this concerns OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, which has actively encouraged the “Ghiblification”experiments. Its CEO, Sam Altman, even changed his profile picture on the social media platform X to a Ghibli-style portrait.
Miyazaki, now 84 years old, is known for his hand-drawn animation approach and whimsical storytelling. He has long expressed skepticism about AI’s role in animation. His past remarks on AI-generated animation have resurfaced and gone viral again, particularly when he once said he was “utterly disgusted” by an AI demonstration.
Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending
Deportation flight lands in Venezuela; government denies criminal gang links
Son of journalist José Rubén Zamora condemns father’s return to prison as “illegal”
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
-
International4 days agoFederal court blocks Trump’s use of Enemy Alien Act for deportations
-
Central America4 days agoHonduran group in U.S. pushes for voter registration to prevent election fraud
-
Central America4 days agoKristi Noem in Latin America: Talks with Bukele on expulsions and security policies
-
International4 days agoEcuador oil spill worsens as containment dam collapses
-
Central America3 days agoNicaragua denounces Costa Rica’s position in SICA as aligned with foreign interests
-
Central America3 days agoNicaragua’s new judicial law consolidates power in Ortega and Murillo’s hands
-
Central America3 days agoPanama’s president declares Darién gap ‘closed’ amid sharp drop in migrant flow
-
International3 days agoMarco Rubio warns Venezuela against military action against Guyana
-
International1 day agoSon of journalist José Rubén Zamora condemns father’s return to prison as “illegal”
-
International1 day agoMiyazaki’s style goes viral with AI but at what cost?
-
Central America1 hour agoPanama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending
-
International1 hour agoDeportation flight lands in Venezuela; government denies criminal gang links
-
Central America2 days ago
Nicaragua revokes legal status of 10 more NGOs, bringing total to over 5,600