International
NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary with a summit that sets its sights in Ukraine
NATO finalizes the preparations for the summit that begins on Tuesday in Washington with a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Alliance, in which it will reaffirm its long-term support for Ukraine at a time when Russia has intensified its attacks against Ukrainian civilian targets.
“In Ukraine, Russia continues its brutal war. This Monday we have seen horrendous missile attacks against Ukrainian cities, killing innocent civilians, including children. I condemn these atrocious attacks,” said the Secretary General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, in a statement with the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin.
The Norwegian politician pronounced himself from the US capital about the latest Russian missile attacks against Ukraine, which affected a pediatric hospital and left at least 37 dead, including children.
He made it clear that Russia cannot expect NATO to abandon Ukraine but that “it will have to sit down and accept a solution in which Ukraine prevails as a sovereign and independent nation.”
Russia declared that it will continue with “maximum attention” the development of the summit.
“With the utmost attention,” the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, replied at a press conference to the question of how Russia will observe the NATO summit and added: “You know that it is an alliance that considers Russia an enemy, an adversary.
NATO, he said, “is an alliance that has openly declared the objective of asserting Russia a strategic defeat on the battlefield.”
The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, for his part, traveled to Washington to participate in the NATO summit, where greater cooperation between the Atlantic alliance and Tokyo will be discussed in the face of China’s military boom or the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Japanese conservative leader hopes that the summit “the idea of an indivisible relationship between the Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific will be reaffirmed,” and ways will be addressed to “strengthen cooperation between Japan and NATO,” as the Executive’s spokesman, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said at a press conference today.
For his part, the Turkish president, the Islamist Recep Tayyip Erdogan, opined that NATO should not be part of the war caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The heads of state and government of the 32 allies will support a new comprehensive support package for Ukraine that, in the words of the US ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, “will help Ukraine modernize its forces, create a force for the future, work on aspects such as interoperability with the Alliance and continue to transform its Army.”
“We are building a bridge to bring Ukraine closer to NATO membership,” Smith said on the American public radio NPR.
An entry that the allies agree that it will happen when the country is ready, although at this summit they will continue to not specify a date for it.
The allies are expected to approve an aid package for Ukraine that includes a leading role of NATO in the management of international arms contributions for the invaded country, the training of its soldiers and a fund of about 40 billion euros to pay for the military equipment that Kiev needs to defend itself.
They will also address their most pressing needs on the battlefield, especially those related to anti-aircraft defenses and artillery ammunition.
The president of the United States. Joe Biden will host a ceremony on Tuesday night in the Andrew W auditorium. Mellon to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty, foundation of the Alliance, which was signed in that same place on April 4, 1949.
Biden will host this summit at a time of doubts about his ability due to his age to be the Democratic candidate in the November presidential elections after his weak performance in the recent debate with the Republican candidate, Donald Trump.
“We are not perceiving any signs about it in the previous conversations we have with them. Rather the opposite. They are enthusiastic about this summit, about the possibilities and actions that we will undertake together, specifically to help Ukraine,” said one of the spokesmen of the White House, John Kirby.
On Wednesday, the allied leaders will hold a first working session in which they hope to approve the summit declaration, focused on underpinning lasting support for Ukraine, strengthening the policy of deterrence and defense and deepening relations with Pacific partners in the face of the challenges posed by China.
On Thursday, a NATO-Ukraine Council will take place where the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenski, will participate, and a session with the partners of the Pacific (Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand) and the European Union.
NATO is convinced that its security “is not regional, but global,” as Stoltenberg said on Monday, that Iran, North Korea and China are “supporting and allowing Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.”
To comply with NATO’s 360-degree defense strategy, leaders plan to approve a new strategy to pay more attention to the challenges (migration waves, political instability), but also to opportunities from the countries of the Southern Neighbourhood of the Alliance, from the Middle East to the Gulf of Guinea.
In order to face these challenges, the allies will reaffirm their commitment to invest at least 2% of their GDP in military spending. Up to 23 allies already invest that figure, while ten years ago, when they set that goal, there were only three.
International
Two fans killed in gate collapse outside Chile’s Estadio Monumental
Two people lost their lives near the Estadio Monumental in Santiago, Chile, following a chaotic incident that occurred before the Copa Libertadores match between Colo Colo and Brazil’s Fortaleza on April 10. According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the victims were crushed after a fence on the stadium perimeter collapsed, though authorities are investigating whether a police armored vehicle may have played a role.
It was a black Thursday at Chile’s Estadio Monumental. Two local fans died outside the stadium after a yet-unclarified incident caused a metal gate to fall on them, leading to fatal asphyxiation.
Local media reports indicate that a group of fans attempted to force their way into the stadium before kickoff. In response, local police allegedly deployed armored vehicles to block the breach.
Preliminary reports cited by local newspapers and news agencies like EFE identify the victims as two young individuals—one 18 years old and the other just 13.
International
Dominican Republic mourns over 200 dead in Jet Set nightclub collapse
On Thursday, April 10, 2025, the Dominican Republic began mourning the more than 200 victims of the collapse of Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, although many families are still desperately waiting for the remains of their loved ones.
The roof of the Jet Set club collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday, April 8, during a live performance by iconic merengue singer Rubby Pérez.
Rescue workers were completing the recovery of human remains from beneath the rubble of corrugated metal and steel beams, as search efforts ended with no further hope of finding survivors.
Around the morgue, the atmosphere was one of grief, anguish, and despair. A list of the deceased was posted on a canvas covering a nearby tent, where crowds gathered in distress. Health Minister Víctor Atallah stated that forensic teams are working at full capacity and urged patience. “No one will go unidentified, and no one will be left without answers,” he promised. “We will turn over every last stone if we have to.”
The tragic collapse also claimed the lives of several foreigners, including a significant number of Venezuelan nationals who were present at the club, according to local newspaper Listín Diario. The outlet reported the official death toll at 221, which included one Haitian, two French nationals, one Italian, and one Kenyan.
Meanwhile, relatives, friends, and fans of Rubby Pérez released white balloons outside the National Theater shortly before the hearse departed with the remains of the beloved singer, known for hits like “Enamorado de ella” and “Buscando tus besos.” Draped over his coffin were both the Dominican and Venezuelan flags, the latter symbolizing the country where his fame took off.
International
Venezuelan oil shipments resume after tariff-induced delays
Many buyers of Venezuelan oil have resumed loading tankers after a week of pauses and delays at the country’s ports, caused by tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on importers of crude from the OPEC member nation, according to shipping data and documents.
In March, the United States gave Chevron and other foreign partners and clients of Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, until May 27 to gradually wind down operations and cease crude exports from the country. Days later, Washington imposed tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan oil and gas.
The measures triggered the suspension of some shipments at the country’s main oil port, Jose, and caused delays at smaller terminals. Many vessels that had left the Jose port and moved away from the coast amid the announcement of the measures have since returned to complete their loadings. In recent days, tankers have begun departing Venezuelan waters en route to destinations such as India and China, according to data and internal documents from PDVSA.
“There was a moment of panic when ships pulled away, but they later received instructions to finish loading,” said a source at PDVSA.
Two fans killed in gate collapse outside Chile’s Estadio Monumental
Dominican Republic mourns over 200 dead in Jet Set nightclub collapse
Venezuelan oil shipments resume after tariff-induced delays
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
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