International
Brussels will continue to explore the development of deportation centers for migrants outside the EU
The European Commission (EC) will continue to explore the idea of creating migrant deportation centers in countries outside the European Union, as a formula to increase the returns of those who do not obtain the right to stay in the community area.
“Some Member States are asking to explore possible ways to advance solutions, such as the idea of developing deportation centers outside the EU,” said European Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, on Wednesday in a debate on migration held in the European Parliament.
“The Commission will continue to explore possible progress on the idea of developing deportation centres outside the Union, especially in the view of a legislative proposal on returns,” he added.
Respect for fundamental rights
According to the comissar, “significant attention will be paid to respect for fundamental rights, when considering measures such as deportation centers.”
In this sense, Dalli has assured that he is in contact with organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees “to ensure that International Law and the principle of non-return are always respected in all cases.”
The commissioner made this clarification after last week the President of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen, sent a letter to the leaders of the Twenty-Seven in which she asked to “continue exploring” to advance the idea of developing deportation centers outside the EU and called for lessons from the implementation of the agreement between Italy and Albania.
He did so before a European summit in which it was discussed how to increase the return of migrants, a priority issue for all Member States, which are beginning to consider the possibility of creating deportation centers abroad, ruled out a few years ago by doubts about its compatibility with Community and international legislation.
Reviews of Von der Leyen
In the debate, the PP MEP Dolors Montserrat assured that the southern border of Europe, in reference to the Spanish Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, “is at serious risk of collapse due to the constant arrival of irregular immigrants.”
Montserrat accused the Government of Spain of this situation because “it does not defend our borders or our security forces, evades international cooperation, disobeys Europe and despises Frontex’s help.”
Meanwhile, the president of the social democratic group, Iratxe García Pérez, warned that her party will not allow Von der Leyen’s letter about deportation centers to “bury” the recently agreed European migration pact.
In his opinion, “indiscriminate” deportations represent “the most unworthy abdication of the values of the European project.”
“Now that the Italian Justice has ruled that the agreement of the Government of (Giorgia) Meloni with Albania is illegal, Mrs. Von der Leyen must abandon her inhuman and illegal proposal to create deportation centers in third countries,” she said.
From Sumar, Estrella Galán said that “building prisons for refugees in Europe is an outrageous” and accused Von der Leyen of having crossed a red line for a handful of votes.
For ERC, Diana Riba criticized “the blackmail” experienced by the EU by Turkey or Morocco, who she said have been converted into “border guards.”
From Vox, Jorge Buxadé called for “against illegal immigration, deportation” and “against mass immigration, mass deportations.”
International
At Least Eight Dead and 19 Injured in Deadly Bus Crash in Veracruz, Mexico
A tragic bus accident in the eastern state of Veracruz left at least eight people dead and 19 others injured on Wednesday afternoon, according to local authorities.
The vehicle was traveling through the town of Zontecomatlán when it crashed near a ravine, state Civil Protection officials reported late Wednesday night. “Regrettably, the prosecutor’s office has confirmed eight fatalities,” the agency stated in an official release.
Emergency Response and Medical Care Rescue teams worked into the night to assist the survivors. The 19 injured passengers were stabilized at the scene before being transported to hospitals in the nearby municipalities of Chicontepec and Huayacocotla. While the identities of the victims have not yet been released, Mexican press reports indicate the bus was en route from Mexico City to Chicontepec.
A Recurring Issue on Mexican Highways Road accidents involving long-haul passenger buses and freight transport are a frequent occurrence in Mexico. Experts often cite excessive speed, mechanical failure, or driver fatigue as the primary catalysts for these tragedies.
This latest incident follows another major disaster in late November, where 10 people were killed and 20 injured in a similar bus crash in the western state of Michoacán. The recurring nature of these accidents continues to spark national debate regarding the enforcement of stricter safety regulations for commercial transport units.
International
Jair Bolsonaro Hospitalized for Inguinal Hernia Surgery While Serving Sentence for Attempted Coup
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for an attempted coup, underwent surgery this Thursday for an inguinal hernia. The procedure took place at the DF Star Hospital in Brasilia, according to his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro.
The 70-year-old former leader left prison on Wednesday for the first time since his incarceration in late November to prepare for the operation. “My love has just gone to the surgical center,” Michelle Bolsonaro posted on Instagram, where she has been documenting her accompaniment during his hospitalization.
Surgical Expectations and Health History Medical professionals treating the far-right ex-president (2019-2022) anticipate the operation will last approximately four hours. His recovery period in the hospital is expected to extend between five and seven days.
Dr. Claudio Birolini explained on Wednesday that while the surgery is standardized, it remains complex due to the patient’s history. Bolsonaro continues to suffer from the long-term effects of a 2018 campaign rally stabbing, an injury that required several major abdominal surgeries in the years following the attack.
“There is no such thing as a simple surgery. However, this is a scheduled and standardized procedure, so we expect it to be carried out without major complications,” Dr. Birolini stated.
Potential Additional Procedures Following the hernia repair, the medical team will evaluate whether Bolsonaro can undergo a second procedure: an anesthetic block of the phrenic nerve. This nerve controls the diaphragm, and the intervention would aim to resolve a chronic case of recurrent hiccups that has plagued the former president for years.
Bolsonaro remains under heavy security at the medical facility as he serves his lengthy sentence related to the events surrounding the January 2023 institutional crisis in Brazil.
International
Trump Orders Construction of New ‘Golden Fleet’ to Revitalize U.S. Naval Superiority
President Donald Trump issued an executive order this Monday for the immediate construction of two new warships that will bear his name. These vessels will be the pioneers of what he described as the “Golden Fleet,” a future generation of “Trump-class” battleships that he claimed would be “100 times more powerful” than those currently in service.
The announcement took place at his private residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. The President indicated that following the initial two ships, the administration aims to commission up to 25 additional vessels. He is scheduled to meet with Florida-based contractors next week to expedite production, criticizing existing defense firms for failing to deliver results efficiently.
This naval expansion is a cornerstone of Trump’s goal to revitalized the American shipbuilding industry and address the strategic gap between the U.S. and competitors like China.
The move comes amid heightened geopolitical tension. Just last week, Trump ordered the seizure of all sanctioned tankers involved with Venezuela’s “ghost fleet” to cripple the country’s crude oil industry. Since December 10, the U.S. military—deployed in the Caribbean under the guise of counter-narcotics operations—has already detained two tankers linked to Venezuelan oil transport.
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