International
NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary in the city and the scenario that saw it born
“If there is something certain today, if there is something inevitable in the future, it is the will of the peoples of the world for freedom and for peace,” the then president of the United States Harry S. Truman (1945-1953) from the now named Andrew W. Auditorium. Mellon of Washington, where NATO will commemorate its 75th anniversary.
It was April 4 and, when he articulated these words, the president was about to sign the North Atlantic Treaty, which established the international organization, in this imposing building of classical architecture in the center of the American capital.
After 75 years, the Atlantic Alliance gathers again this week in the city, in this case for the celebration of its annual summit of leaders in a Washington convention center. And they will also take the opportunity to return to the Mellon Auditorium that saw her born.
In that space that since 1987 bears the name of the American banker Andrew William Mellon, the heads of state and government of NATO, today made up of 32 countries, will gather this Tuesday.
Originally from Pittsburgh (Pennylvania), W. Mellon was born in 1855 and, apart from his important impetus in industries such as aluminum, steel and petroleum, he was an American ambassador to the United Kingdom and Secretary of the United States Treasury.
In addition, a collector and philanthropist, he helped build the National Gallery of Art of the United States, located a few streets from the auditorium that remembers him.
It was inaugurated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) on February 25, 1935 and, since then, with its six Doric columns in the portico, it has been imposed in the historic center of Washington.
A few hours before the souvenir event, in the surroundings of the complex of government buildings of the Federal Triangle – of which the Auditorium is part – there is a tense calm, since the construction is located within the perimeter of control that the security forces have delimited for these days.
It is not usual that the important avenue that gives access to the auditorium can be seen so lonely and that, during the three days that the summit lasts, it will be completely fenced to prevent any unauthorized vehicle or person from crossing the established borders.
The presence of vehicles from the District of Columbia Police and the United States Secret Service on every corner shows that streets without traffic respond to the sharp increase in security measures.
At the time of the foundation, it was the flags of 12 countries that presided over one of the rooms of the Auditorium: those of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the United States, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom.
In the same auditorium, the start will be given to a summit focused on storpin support for Ukraine and with current challenges on the table, among which the Russian war in Ukraine or the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza stand out.
“For us, war is not inevitable. Men with courage and vision can still determine their own destiny,” former President Truman said in 1949 with applause; in 2024, and from the same city, the partners have the opportunity to endorse that conviction.
International
Mexico requests extradition of ‘Mini Lic’ for murder of journalist Javier Valdez
The Mexican government has requested the extradition of Dámaso López Serrano, a former high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel, who is accused of masterminding the 2017 murder of Mexican journalist Javier Valdez, the Attorney General’s Office announced on Tuesday.
López Serrano, known as “Mini Lic,” was arrested last Friday in Virginia, United States, on charges of fentanyl trafficking, a crime he committed while on parole.
“This is the key issue for us, he [López Serrano] is the mastermind of this murder. The rest of the perpetrators are already processed and in jail, he was the one missing,” said Attorney General Alejandro Gertz.
“We immediately made the extradition request,” the official added during the routine morning press conference of President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Valdez, an award-winning reporter specializing in drug trafficking and correspondent for AFP and the newspaper La Jornada, was murdered on May 15, 2017, in front of the office of his magazine Riodoce in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa state.
“Mini Lic” was originally arrested in 2017 when he voluntarily turned himself in to U.S. authorities and pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. In 2022, he was released on parole.
Gertz confirmed that the Mexican Attorney General’s Office had requested López Serrano’s extradition “countless times,” but Washington had declined to act on the request because he had become a “protected witness” for the U.S. government and “was providing a lot of information.”
“Now, with this situation where they themselves are acknowledging that this individual is still committing crimes, I think there are more than enough reasons for them to support us,” the prosecutor added.
The Sinaloa Cartel is one of the largest drug trafficking organizations in Mexico and was founded by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who is serving a life sentence in the United States.
Culiacán has been shaken by a wave of murders since the arrest of Ismael “Mayo” Zambada, another key leader of the cartel alongside Guzmán, on July 25 in New Mexico, United States.
International
Cuba’s government stresses openness to serious, respectful U.S. relations
Cuba reiterated on Tuesday its willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States, just weeks before Republican President Donald Trump assumes office. During his first term, Trump halted the historic rapprochement between the two countries, which had been initiated just ten years earlier by Democrat Barack Obama.
“It will not be Cuba that proposes or takes the initiative to suspend the existing dialogues, to suspend the existing cooperation. Not even the discreet exchanges on some sensitive issues,” said Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Fernández de Cossío at a press conference in Havana.
“We will be attentive to the attitude of the new government, but Cuba’s stance will remain the same as it has been for the last 64 years. We are willing to develop a serious, respectful relationship with the United States, one that protects the sovereign interests of both countries,” he added.
His statements come on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the historic rapprochement announcement between Washington and Havana.
On December 17, 2014, Cuban leader Raúl Castro (2006-2021) and Barack Obama (2008-2016) announced the beginning of a thaw in relations, which led to the restoration of diplomatic ties in 2015, after more than half a century of confrontation.
This process of thawing bilateral relations was later halted by businessman Donald Trump, who significantly reinforced economic sanctions against the communist-ruled country. The Republican will return to the White House on January 20.
Cuba, under a U.S. trade embargo since 1962, was re-listed in 2021 on the “blacklist of countries supporting terrorism,” blocking financial and economic flows to the island of 10 million inhabitants.
Subsequently, the administration of current Democratic President Joe Biden made only slight adjustments to the sanctions and also kept Cuba on this list. However, his administration resumed bilateral contacts with Havana on migration issues and the fight against terrorism.
International
Mexican government to use church atriums for gun surrender program to combat violence
The atriums of Mexican Catholic churches will be used for the voluntary surrender of weapons in exchange for economic and legal incentives as part of a plan announced on Tuesday by the government to reduce violence.
According to the Mexican government, there is a link between the illegal trafficking of weapons—almost entirely coming from the United States—and the spiral of criminal violence that has plagued the country since late 2006, when a controversial military anti-drug offensive was launched.
“The idea is to set up areas in the church atriums where people can voluntarily surrender their weapons, and in return, they will receive financial resources based on the weapon they are turning in,” explained President Claudia Sheinbaum during her regular press conference.
The left-wing leader emphasized that the program, called “Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace,” guarantees that those who surrender their weapons will not face any “investigation.”
“What we want is to disarm. This will be implemented next year. We also did it in Mexico City, and it had significant results,” added the former mayor of the capital, with a population of 9.2 million.
The disarmament plan is part of the government’s “comprehensive security strategy,” one of whose pillars is promoting a culture of peace, especially in regions severely affected by organized crime violence, Sheinbaum pointed out.
More than 450,000 people have been murdered in Mexico since the government launched its military-led anti-drug operation, alongside about 100,000 people who have gone missing.
Despite being a secular state, the Mexican Catholic Church has played a key role in efforts to contain violence, with priests acting as mediators between citizens and criminals. Several clergy members have been killed for this cause.
Just last week, the Catholic hierarchy called on cartels to declare a truce in their violent actions during the celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12 and the upcoming Christmas holidays.
El Salvador’s MARN monitors ongoing seismic activity in La Unión department
Real Madrid clinches fourth Intercontinental Cup with 3-0 victory over Pachuca
Mexico requests extradition of ‘Mini Lic’ for murder of journalist Javier Valdez
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
-
International3 days agoFrance will send a diplomatic delegation to Syria after 12 years without official representation
-
Central America2 days agoEl Salvador’s $9.663 billion budget for 2025 focuses on key sectors with no new debt issuance
-
Central America4 days agoCosta Rica takes step toward full membership in Pacific Alliance to Stimulate Trade and Jobs
-
Central America4 days agoHonduras Seizes Over 26 Tons of Cocaine in 2024, Marking Major Drug-Fighting Achievements
-
International2 days agoChrystia Freeland resigns as Canada’s deputy PM over dispute with Trudeau on U.S. Tariff Threats
-
International4 days agoGustavo Petro visits the Galápagos Islands for bilateral talks with Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa
-
International2 days agoVenezuela announces 179 new releases in post-election violence cases
-
International2 days agoTrinidad and Tobago Education Minister Lisa Morris-Julian dies in house fire with her children
-
International2 days agoAt least 12 injured in shooting at abundant life christian school in Wisconsin
-
International2 days agoEl Salvador’s bitcoin reserves soar in value as cryptocurrency’s bullish surge continues
-
Central America8 hours agoAmnesty International condemns Nicaragua’s unprecedented repression of dissent
-
International8 hours agoMexico requests extradition of ‘Mini Lic’ for murder of journalist Javier Valdez
-
International8 hours agoMexican government to use church atriums for gun surrender program to combat violence
-
Sports8 hours agoReal Madrid clinches fourth Intercontinental Cup with 3-0 victory over Pachuca
-
Central America8 hours agoEl Salvador’s MARN monitors ongoing seismic activity in La Unión department
-
International2 days agoMilan’s Via MonteNapoleone overtakes Fifth Avenue as world’s most expensive retail destination
-
International3 days agoMaría Corina Machado says that Nicolás Maduro is “cornered” inside and outside Venezuela
-
International2 days agoNearly 40 dead in Istanbul after consuming contaminated alcohol in six weeks
-
International8 hours agoCuba’s government stresses openness to serious, respectful U.S. relations
-
International8 hours agoNASA delays return of two astronauts stranded on ISS until at least March
-
International4 days agoVenezuelan opposition in Argentine embassy urges Brazil to expedite safe passage
-
International4 days agoEcuador police intercept major drug shipment destined for Europe
-
International4 days agoMayor Brandon Johnson Vows to Protect Chicagoans from ICE Actions
-
International3 days agoNetanyahu: “Israel’s policy in Syria will depend on the emerging reality”
-
International8 hours agoBegoña Gómez defends her actions as investigations into her role at Complutense University continue
-
International1 day agoAustrian man arrested in Croatia with deceased woman as passenger in his car
-
International1 day agoHomemade landmine explosion in Michoacán kills two soldiers, injures five
-
International1 day agoColombian nationals arrested for human trafficking and disappearance of migrant boat
-
International3 days agoLula asks for severe sanction if the guilt of general arrested for coup is proven
-
International3 days agoThe new Syrian authorities plan to end compulsory military service
-
International3 days ago
The Constitution of Venezuela, a quarter of a century later
-
International8 hours agoPatient hospitalized with severe avian flu case in Louisiana, CDC reports
-
International8 hours agoUkraine’s security a priority as NATO discusses future of conflict with Russia
-
International1 day agoEcuador announces debt swap of $1.527 billion to protect Amazon rainforest