International
Macron: France will accompany Morocco in the defense of its autonomy plan for the Sahara
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that his country will accompany Morocco in international bodies to defend the autonomy plan proposed by Rabat in 2007 as a solution to the Western Sahara conflict.
“Anchored in history, respectful of reality and promising for the future. This position is what France will implement to accompany Morocco in international instances,” Macron said in a speech delivered before the two chambers of the Moroccan Parliament on the second day of his state visit to Morocco.
The only basis for resolving the Sahara conflict
Macron again defended “autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty” as the “only basis” to resolve the conflict of the former Spanish colony, words that provoked the applause of the parliamentarians, who stood in the hemicycle.
“I reaffirm it here before you: for France, the present and future of this territory is part of the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,” said Macron, who recalled the letter he sent to King Mohamed VI on July 30 in which he expressed France’s new vision regarding this conflict.
Macron said that Morocco and France are “faithful allies in murky times” and said that his country “has never failed Morocco in all the existential issues it faces.”
According to the French president, at the head of these issues is the conflict of the former Spanish colony, administered 80% by Morocco and whose sovereignty is disputed by the Saharawi independence fighters of the Polisario Front.
Macron: we have decided to write a new book
The French president specified that France’s new position on the Sahara “is not hostile to anyone” but “allows us to open a new page among us as with all those who want to act in a framework of regional cooperation in the Mediterranean with the neighboring countries of Morocco and with the European Union.”
Macron said that he has agreed with King Mohamed VI to “write a new book together” in their bilateral relationship to face “the challenges of the century,” a “historical opportunity and a strategic duty” for both countries.
His state visit to Morocco puts an end to almost three years of diplomatic crisis and one of its high points has been the speech before parliamentarians, in which also the phenomenon of irregular immigration and the need for a “natural and fluid cooperation in consular material.
“This is a matter of mutual trust,” he said, and emphasized that “for many French people it is one of the most important expectations,” so he indicated that “results” are needed.
International
King Charles III Says U.S.-UK Alliance Is “Irreplaceable and Unbreakable”
King Charles III of the United Kingdom reaffirmed the strength of the British-American relationship on Tuesday during a speech before the United States Congress, describing the alliance between the two nations as “irreplaceable and unbreakable.”
The address, delivered at the Capitol, marked the first speech by a British monarch before Congress since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 and comes at a time of political tensions between Donald Trump’s administration and the Labour government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“As President Trump himself observed during his state visit to Britain last autumn, the bond of kinship and identity between the United States and the United Kingdom is invaluable and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable,” the king said.
While reflecting on the upcoming 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, which will be commemorated this year, Charles III stated that the partnership between the two countries “was born out of disagreement, but is no less strong because of it.”
The monarch emphasized the democratic values shared by both nations and noted that major global changes have occurred whenever the two allies found common ground.
“When we have found that way to agree, great changes have taken place not only for the benefit of our peoples, but for all peoples,” he said.
King Charles also quoted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently described the relationship as “an indispensable alliance.”
Concluding his speech, the monarch described the shared history of the United States and the United Kingdom as “a story of reconciliation, renewal, and an extraordinary partnership.”
He added that Washington and London have forged “one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”
“I pray with all my heart that our alliance continues to defend our shared values, together with our partners in Europe, the Commonwealth, and around the world, and that we ignore calls urging us to become increasingly isolationist,” Charles III stated.
The king ended by urging both nations to “recommit to one another in selfless service to our peoples and to all peoples of the world.”
International
Trump Administration Considers Denying Green Cards Over Political Views
The administration of President Donald Trump is evaluating new immigration guidelines that could deny permanent residency to immigrants based on their political views, according to a report published by The New York Times.
The proposed measures, outlined in internal Department of Homeland Security documents, would instruct immigration officials to take applicants’ public expressions and ideological positions into account when reviewing green card applications.
According to the report, cases involving “possible anti-American and/or antisemitic conduct or ideologies” would need to be referred to higher authorities for additional review.
Even if applicants have not violated any laws, authorities could still reject residency requests if they determine that individuals have “endorsed, promoted, or supported anti-American views.”
Among the factors listed in the guidelines are participation in pro-Palestinian activities, actions considered antisemitic, and the burning of the U.S. flag.
The documents reportedly describe such actions as “heavily negative” factors in immigration evaluations, potentially blocking applicants from obtaining permanent residency and, eventually, U.S. citizenship.
The directives also place particular attention on demonstrations held on university campuses following the 2023 Hamas attacks against Israel.
However, flag burning has previously been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court as a form of protected free speech under the Constitution.
The proposal has sparked criticism from immigrant advocacy organizations, including the New York Immigration Coalition.
Its president, Murad Awawdeh, warned that the policies could pose a threat to fundamental rights and freedoms.
International
Mexico Arrests CJNG Leader “El Jardinero” in Nayarit
Mexican authorities arrested Audias Flores, known as “El Jardinero,” on Monday during a naval operation in the western state of Nayarit, delivering another major blow to the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).
Flores was considered one of the top regional leaders within the cartel and had reportedly overseen criminal operations along Mexico’s Pacific coast. Security analysts viewed him as a potential successor to slain drug kingpin Nemesio Oseguera.
The arrest was carried out by Mexico’s Navy Special Forces in a planned operation, according to Security Minister Omar García Harfuch.
The United States Department of the Treasury had previously identified Flores as a “significant foreign narcotics trafficker,” while U.S. authorities offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture and extradition.
A U.S. grand jury indicted Flores in 2021 on charges including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin.
His capture comes months after the reported death of “El Mencho,” an operation that Mexican authorities considered a priority due to the cartel leader’s alleged involvement in a 2020 assassination attempt against García Harfuch.
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Trump Administration Considers Denying Green Cards Over Political Views
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