International
Netanyahu says that the attack on Iran affected its ability to develop missiles
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the attack launched against Iran in the early hours of Saturday affected its defensive capabilities and its ability to develop missiles.
The attack was “precise and powerful, fulfilling all its objectives,” said the president in what are his first public statements about the event, during a ceremony by the Israeli soldiers killed in the war in Gaza and collected by the Israeli press.
Saturday’s attack, in response to the launch of some 180 missiles by Iran in early October, caused the death of four soldiers and damage to some radars.
First time Israel recognizes an attack on Iran
It is the first time that Israel publicly admits to having attacked Iran, although there was already a reprisal, never officially recognized, after the first Iranian attack on the country in April.
“The regime must understand something very simple. Whoever hurts us, we will hurt him,” the president said, using one of his most repeated phrases in his messages to Iran.
Before his statements, Israeli President Isaac Herzog (who already congratulated the air force last night for the attack), said that the “critical” task has not yet been achieved: rescue the Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip.
“The elimination of the arch-terrorist (Yahya) Sinwar (leader of Hamas) and other enemies, and the impressive battle of the Army and security forces have created an opportunity that we cannot miss,” he said.
Netanyahu also spoke about the hostages in Gaza, assuring that bringing them back is a “sacred” mission, while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant made it clear that to achieve it will have to make “painful concessions.”
The minister, who has had some public encounters with Netanyahu about the management of the war, said that Hamas “has stopped operating” as a militia, while the Shiihite group Hezbula does not stop receiving blows, after the elimination of its leadership in a series of Israeli bombings against Lebanon in recent weeks.
The groups “are no longer an effective tool in the hands of Iran,” he said, adding that not all objectives can be achieved on the basis of military force, and that rescuing the kidnapped is Israel’s “responsibility”.
Later, during a similar ceremony in honor of the civilians killed in the October 7 Hamas attacks and in the following war year, a group of protesters interrupted Netanyahu’s speech shouting “shame” and remembering his murdered loved ones.
Israel negotiates in Qatar the release of Hamas hostages
The head of the Mossad, David Barnea, arrived in Qatar this Sunday to participate in new negotiations on the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners imprisoned in Israel and the possibilities of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, sources close to the talks informed EFE.
Barnea “is in Qatar with the aim of holding new talks on the agreement of prisoners and hostages with Hamas” after the murder of the top leader of the Palestinian Islamist group, Yahya Sinwar, more than a week ago in southern Gaza, sources said on condition of anonymity.
They also pointed out that the head of the Mossad will meet in Doha with the heads of intelligence of the United States, William Burns, and Egypt, Hassan Rashad, as well as with the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohamed bin Abderrahmán.
International
Dominican ‘False Hero’ Arrested for Faking Role in Nightclub Collapse That Killed 231
A man identified as Rafael Rosario Mota falsely claimed to have rescued 12 people from the collapse of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo—a tragedy that left 231 people dead—but he was never at the scene.
Intelligence agents in the Dominican Republic arrested the 32-year-old man for pretending to be a hero who saved lives during the catastrophic incident, authorities announced.
Rosario Mota had been charging for media interviews in which he falsely claimed to have pulled survivors from the rubble after the nightclub’s roof collapsed in the early hours of April 8, during a concert by merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was among those killed.
“He was never at the scene of the tragedy,” the police stated. The arrest took place just after he finished another interview on a digital platform, where he repeated his fabricated story in exchange for money as part of a “media tour” filled with manipulated information and invented testimonies.
“False hero!” read a message shared on the police force’s Instagram account alongside a short video of the suspect, in which he apologized: “I did it because I was paid. I ask forgiveness from the public and the authorities.”
Central America
Nicaraguan Exiles to Mark 7th Anniversary of 2018 Protests with Global Commemorations
The Nicaraguan opposition in exile announced on Thursday that it will commemorate the seventh anniversary of the April 2018 protests against the government of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, with events in Costa Rica, the United States, and several European countries.
The commemorative activities—which will call for justice for the victims, as well as freedom and democracy for Nicaragua—will include religious services, public forums, cultural fairs, and other public gatherings, according to official announcements.
In April 2018, thousands of Nicaraguans took to the streets to protest controversial reforms to the social security system. The government’s violent response quickly turned the demonstrations into a broader call for the resignation of President Ortega, who is now 79 and has been in power since 2007.
The protests resulted in at least 355 deaths, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), although Nicaraguan organizations claim the toll is as high as 684. Ortega has acknowledged “more than 300” deaths and maintains the unrest was an attempted coup d’état.
International
Arsenal stun Real Madrid at the Bernabéu to reach Champions League semifinals
Arsenal enjoyed a “historic night” on Wednesday after defeating Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, knocking them out of the Champions League quarterfinals, midfielder Declan Rice said.
“It’s such a special night for this club, a historic night for this club,” said Rice, who scored twice in the first leg in London, speaking to TNT Sports.
The English international was named Man of the Match in both legs — the 3-0 win in London and the second leg in Madrid.
“It’s amazing. I knew we were on an upward trajectory and we’ve done incredibly well in this competition. We deserve it and we have full confidence in our coach. Reaching the semifinals is unbelievable,” Rice added.
Dominican ‘False Hero’ Arrested for Faking Role in Nightclub Collapse That Killed 231
Nicaraguan Exiles to Mark 7th Anniversary of 2018 Protests with Global Commemorations
Arsenal stun Real Madrid at the Bernabéu to reach Champions League semifinals
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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