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.

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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.

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International

Family of “El Mencho” Seeks Return of Body After Deadly Military Operation

Relatives of Mexican drug trafficker Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” have formally requested the release of his body, Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office said Wednesday.

Oseguera died Sunday during a military operation in the western state of Jalisco. His death triggered a wave of violence, including the burning of businesses and highway blockades in 20 of the country’s 32 states.

The Fiscalía General de la República said in a statement that it “received a written request, submitted by a person claiming to be the legal representative of Oseguera’s relatives,” seeking the handover of his remains.

“El Mencho,” 59, led the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and had been considered the most wanted drug trafficker by the United States government, which had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture. His body was transferred to federal facilities in Ciudad de México.

Aftermath of the Operation

At least 27 security agents, 46 suspected criminals and one civilian were killed during the operation and subsequent clashes, according to authorities.

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It remains unclear where Oseguera, who was born in Aguililla, will be buried. He could be laid to rest either in his hometown in the mountainous region of Michoacán or in neighboring Jalisco, where he founded and expanded the CJNG.

The prosecutor’s office also reported that two alleged bodyguards arrested during the operation were transferred to a maximum-security prison in the central state of México.

International

Iran’s President Optimistic Ahead of Geneva Nuclear Talks with U.S.

Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, expressed optimism on Wednesday ahead of a new round of negotiations with the United States in Geneva, after U.S. President Donald Trump accused Tehran of developing missiles capable of reaching American territory and continuing its nuclear ambitions.

Trump has intensified threats of military action against Iran if no agreement is reached over Tehran’s nuclear program. He has also maintained pressure through a significant U.S. military presence in the Middle East, including aircraft carriers.

During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump stated that Iran is working to “build missiles that could soon reach the United States” and is pressing forward with what he described as “sinister nuclear ambitions.”

However, the U.S. president also indicated that he would prioritize diplomatic efforts ahead of the new round of talks scheduled for Thursday in Geneva, under the mediation of Oman.

Diplomatic efforts resume in Geneva

Pezeshkian said he sees a positive outlook for the upcoming discussions, which on the Iranian side will be led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who has already traveled to Geneva.

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“We see a favorable perspective for the negotiations,” Pezeshkian said in a speech. “We continue the process under the guidance of the Supreme Leader to move beyond this situation of ‘neither war nor peace,’” he added.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqai rejected Trump’s claims, calling the statements “lies.”

According to Iranian authorities, the country’s longest-range missiles can reach up to 2,000 kilometers. However, the U.S. Congressional Research Service estimates their maximum range at approximately 3,000 kilometers—less than one-third of the distance to the U.S. mainland.

International

Nine People Killed in Two Armed Attacks in Manabí, Ecuador

At least nine people were killed Monday in two nearly simultaneous armed attacks in the province of Manabí, located on Ecuador’s Pacific coast, one of the areas hardest hit by violence in the country, according to the National Police.

The first attack left seven people dead and took place in Camarones, a rural area of the Jama canton. The second occurred in the sector known as La Y, in the seaside town of Canoa, part of the San Vicente canton, where two people were killed.

According to preliminary reports, both incidents occurred early Monday morning when armed men intercepted the victims. Authorities said the motives behind the attacks remain under investigation.

The assault in Camarones happened around 1:15 a.m. local time, when a group of armed individuals stormed a ranch in the area. The victims have not yet been officially identified.

About 15 minutes later, in Canoa, two men traveling in a motorized taxi were intercepted by armed suspects riding motorcycles and shot. One of the victims was identified as a 28-year-old passenger, while the identity of the driver has not yet been confirmed.

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The attacks occurred just days after another multiple homicide on February 12 at a ranch in San Juan de las Cucarachas, a rural area of the Santa Ana canton in Manabí, which left six people dead.

Manabí has been experiencing escalating insecurity linked to disputes among organized crime groups, including drug trafficking networks and territorial control conflicts. In response, the government has maintained a state of emergency in the province since August to address the surge in violence attributed to these criminal organizations.