International
Senator Menéndez plans to resign in August after being found guilty of corruption in the United States
U.S. Senator Bob Menéndez plans to resign on August 20 after being found guilty of all the charges in a corruption trial in New York last week and in the face of the threat of expulsion of other politicians from the Democratic Party.
According to the local media New Jersey Globe, which cites three sources familiar with the matter, Menéndez could publish his resignation letter today, while Axios anticipates that the senator’s employees were informed on Tuesday of the plans to leave office in August.
Menéndez, 70 years old and of Cuban origin, entered the U.S. Senate in 2006 and came to the position of president of the influential Foreign Relations Committee of the chamber, a position he abandoned after the indictment, unlike the seat for New Jersey, which he has resisted leaving.
The Prosecutor’s Office accused Menéndez and his wife, Nadine, of accepting luxury gifts, including a Mercedes-Benz and gold bars, from three New Jersey businessmen – also accused – in exchange for political favors for the Governments of Egypt and Qatar, to the point of qualifying him as a “foreign agent.”
Menéndez maintained his innocence and refused to sign a guilt agreement that could have reduced his sentence; he also did not testify during the trial of more than two months, but he described in public the gifts received as something natural in the activity of a politician.
The senator had about six months left in office and ran for re-election as an independent after the break with his party; now that his seat is unoccupied, it will be the governor of New Jersey, Democrat Phil Murphy, who chooses his replacement.
Possible candidates include the first lady, Tammy Murphy; the deputy governor, Tahesha Way; former Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells and the judge of the U.S. District Court. Esther Salas.
The leader of the Senate, Democrat Chuck Schumer, again asked for Menéndez’s resignation after the verdict was known, but among the chorus of voices in the Upper House, those demanding his expulsion begin to be heard, a highly unusual measure that requires a vote and a two-thirds majority.
The sentence against Menéndez will be announced on October 29 and faces a maximum penalty of 222 years in prison, although the sentence will probably be much lower because he has no history.
The still senator faced another trial for corruption – not related to the recent charges – in 2017 but the jury did not reach unanimity in the verdict, so the process was declared null and void.
Central America
Young actress Adriana Isabel Mojica dies in tragic accident in Torrelodones
Young actress and singer Adriana Isabel Mojica, 19 years old, died Thursday morning after being struck by a vehicle in Torrelodones, Spain, confirmed the town’s mayor.
“I am deeply shocked by the death of our young neighbor Adriana Isabel in this tragic accident. My heartfelt support goes to her family and friends during these terribly difficult times. Rest in peace,” posted Almudena Negro, Mayor of Torrelodones.
According to Spain’s El Mundo newspaper, the incident occurred on the A-6 motorway, at kilometer 31.5, at 7:35 a.m.
International
Salvadoran Day celebration returns to Dallas with cultural festivities and free admission
With great joy, Salvadorans residing in Dallas, Texas, will celebrate Salvadoran Day this Saturday, a festival that will bring together thousands of Salvadorans to revive the culture of our country.
The event will take place at the Levy Event Plaza in Irving, Texas. Admission is free, and it is one of the largest Salvadoran events in the United States.
The festival has been held for 25 years, starting in Los Angeles, California, and has expanded to other states, with Dallas hosting it for the second consecutive year.
“Last year, we celebrated it, and thank God it was a success. This year, we will feature our mythological characters, which we started implementing last year and want to continue. It will be a family event, and we want all Hispanics living in Dallas to join us,” said Evelyn Molina, the event organizer.
International
Panama boosts deportations of migrants through Darién gap amid significant drop in arrivals
The Panamanian government pledged on Tuesday to increase the number of deportations of irregular migrants arriving in the country through the Darién Gap, a dangerous jungle that connects with Colombia. The flow of migrants through this area dropped by more than 50 percent in August after President José Raúl Mulino promised to drastically reduce the influx.
“It is clear and evident that given the volume of people, it is difficult to say that we will deport about 500 per day, but we are improving logistics. We are at the beginning of this program,” said Minister of Public Security Frank Alexis Ábrego, as reported by the newspaper ‘El Siglo.’
Ábrego noted that repatriations are voluntary and depend on individuals who wish to return to their countries. He also mentioned the detection of criminals “sought by Interpol and police forces from Ecuador, Colombia, and other countries” who entered Panama through the Darién Gap.
“The goal is to cut off the passage of these criminals to the United States. Our primary interest is to protect our citizens from these criminals attempting to transit through our country; for example, in the last two months, we have detected two members of the Salvadoran gang MS-13, and the most recent one was already residing in our country,” he added.
Finally, he stated that the United States contributed approximately six million dollars to fund deportation flights as part of the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries.
Over half a million people crossed this area in 2023, where three crossings were closed in July to try to reduce or at least manage arrivals. The Biden administration has also sought cooperation from Panamanian authorities to control the migrant flow to its southern border with Mexico.
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