International
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit the first free town in America, in the Colombian Caribbean
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, visited this Saturday San Basilio de Palenque, which located in the Colombian Caribbean is the first free people in America, where they talked with leaders about cultural identity, structural racism and advances towards historical reparations for slavery.
Accompanied by the Colombian vice president, Francia Márquez, the dukes first visited the Tambores de Cabildo de La Boquilla School in Cartagena de Indias, where they talked with children and young people and were able to play the ancestral drums, as a first step in a day of investment to the most African roots that Colombia has.
“When we look at that sea, we remember our African heritage. (…) In this piece of land we receive the boys and girls to protect them, with the drums we seek to change their lives (…) we invite them to help us take care of them and take care of our territory, which is threatened,” the director of this school, Rafael Ramos, told them upon arrival.
The vice president made them a teacher on this tour, assuring that they were in an “ancestral territory” that was there “since we were kidnapped in Africa,” and claimed a “sustainable, ecological tourism that does not commodify women,” from one of the most touristic points in the country.
From Cartagena, the dukes and the deputy minister moved to San Basilio de Palenque, declared Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, to preserve the musical, cultural and oral traditions of their people, with African roots, as well as their language, the palenquero.
In a short visit, of just an hour, the cultural exhibitions allowed Prince Harry and Meghan to interact with the Afro communities and they also visited the cultural house and the Benkos Biohó square, which is named after the leader who commanded the Maroon slave rebellion in the 17th century, after which he became king of St. Basil, which is why he was hanged and dismembered in 1621.
“I wanted our guests to know the essence of what we are as a black people, of our spirituality, of our culture. The strength of the women and men of Palenque. That ancestral legacy that Benkhos, Wiwa, our ancestors, left us, which is what has allowed us to say that we can, that we continue to fight for the restoration of our people and our country,” the vice president claimed in the square.
Meanwhile, Meghan assured that they understand the importance of the people and what they represent for Colombia and was grateful to have been able to know it.
And Prince Harry alleged: “what we are seeing here is all that is a community, do not forget the message of the vice president, they are stronger together, they are stronger united as one.”
During their first visit to Colombia, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex toured several schools in Bogotá since Thursday, focused on children and technologies to promote education and the fight against cyberbullying, and tomorrow they will finish their tour in the city of Cali.
International
German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday that trust between the United States and its Western allies has been “lost,” warning that the damage could persist beyond the presidency of Donald Trump.
“The rupture is very deep, and the loss of trust in U.S. great power policy is significant—not only among its allies, but also, as I observe, globally,” Steinmeier said during a speech in Berlin marking the 75th anniversary of Germany’s Foreign Ministry.
Referring to the future of transatlantic relations, he stated that “there is no return to the situation before January 20, 2025,” the date marking the start of Trump’s second term in the White House.
“Even a future U.S. administration will no longer be able to resume the role of a benevolent hegemon guaranteeing a liberal international order,” added Steinmeier, who previously served as Germany’s foreign minister.
He also criticized the war against Iran, describing it as “contrary to international law” and calling it “a political mistake with serious consequences.”
“This war is avoidable and unnecessary,” he said.
Although the German presidency is largely ceremonial, Steinmeier’s remarks reflect a broader concern within Germany, aligning with the government’s cautious stance while going further in tone.
International
Trump claims talks with Iran as G7 meets to address global tensions
U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States has held talks with Iran—a claim denied by Tehran—and has temporarily paused his threat to target the country’s electrical infrastructure.
In his first overseas trip since the United States and Israel launched their offensive on February 28, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to address key global issues, including the situation in the Middle East, according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven will meet in Cernay-la-Ville, close to Versailles, on the outskirts of Paris.
During the meeting, Rubio will hold discussions with his counterparts on “the war between Russia and Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and threats to global peace and stability,” Pigott said.
France currently holds the presidency of the G7, whose members also include the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Although all G7 nations are close allies of the United States, none has offered explicit support for Washington’s military actions against Iran, a stance that has reportedly frustrated Trump.
Last Saturday, G7 foreign ministers called for an “immediate and unconditional end” to Iranian attacks against U.S. allies in the Middle East.
International
Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Persian Gulf as Middle East tensions escalate
The Pentagon is planning to deploy nearly 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Persian Gulf, according to two senior officials cited Tuesday by Spanish newspaper El País.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah warned it would confront any attempt at occupation following Israel’s announcement that its military will take control of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, located about 30 kilometers from the border.
In recent hours, the Israel Defense Forces carried out airstrikes on Beirut, while Iran and Hezbollah responded with attacks on Israel, leaving at least six people with minor injuries in Tel Aviv.
The escalation comes as global markets react to renewed instability. The price of oil rose again above $100 per barrel after a brief decline the previous day, following an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump of a five-day truce on attacks targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure.
Despite the announcement, Iranian authorities reported that two projectiles struck a gas pipeline in Khorramshahr and administrative buildings at a gas facility in Isfahan early Tuesday.
German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions
Trump claims talks with Iran as G7 meets to address global tensions
Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Persian Gulf as Middle East tensions escalate
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
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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