International
The US will recognize in Syria a government that comes out of a process without “external interference”
The United States will recognize and support a Syrian government that results from an inclusive transition process without external interference, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Tuesday.
“The Syrian people will decide the future of Syria. All nations must commit to supporting an inclusive and transparent process, and refrain from any external interference,” he said in a statement.
In addition, the head of US diplomacy added that his country “will fully recognize and support the future Syrian government that emerges from this process.”
“We are willing to provide all the necessary support to the various communities and sectors of the population of Syria,” stressed Blinken, who called for “credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governance that meets international standards.”
The US sees minority rights as key for the transition in Syria
The transition process and the new government, Blinken said, must respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance, prevent Syria from becoming a base for terrorism and safely destroy chemical weapons.
Joe Biden’s Administration has celebrated the fall of Bashar Al Asad as a defeat for Iran and Russia, but fears that the struggle for power within the rebel ranks will fragment the country or that a void will be generated that will be exploited by the Islamic State, which in 2014 came to control vast areas of Syria and Iraq.
On Tuesday, rebel forces appointed Mohamed al Bashir, linked to the Islamist group Levante Liberation Agency (Hayat Tahrir al Sham or HTS, in Arabic), who led the offensive against Al Asad and which Washington considers a terrorist organization, as acting prime minister.
The United States is not considering lifting the sanctions on the HTS for now, but it is “watching” what the Islamist group does, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday.
Likewise, Kirby said that the fall of the Al Asad government is an “opportunity” to gather more information about the whereabouts of Austin Tice, an American journalist kidnapped in 2012 while covering the Syrian war.
Prevent the conflict from escalating in Syria
The United States also expressed on Tuesday its rejection of any action that aggravates the conflict and hinders the transition in Syria, after Israel bombed several military facilities.
Asked at a press conference by the Israeli operative, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that the United States will discuss this matter “privately” with Israel before giving a public opinion.
“I would say that, in general terms, of course, we do not want to see any action that hinders the process led by Syria and, ultimately, we want there to be a peaceful process, not an escalation of the conflict,” he added.
The Israeli Army estimates that it has destroyed more than 70% of the military capabilities of the already overthrown Al-Assad regime in Syria after having attacked in recent days some 320 “strategic targets” from Damascus to Tartus.
Targets destroyed in the attacks include Syrian air defense systems, missile depots, drones, helicopters, fighter jets, tanks, radars and warships.
Central America
El Salvador extends condolences to Turkey following deadly hotel fire
The Government of El Salvador extends its condolences and expresses solidarity with the Government of Turkey following the death of at least 76 people and more than 50 injuries in the fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu Province on January 21.
“El Salvador offers its hopes for the swift recovery of those affected and expresses its deepest sympathy to the families of the deceased due to this tragic event,” said a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Our country reaffirms the strong bonds of friendship shared with the Republic of Turkey, especially during this time of profound sorrow.”
The Turkish government began burying the victims on Wednesday, amid accusations of negligence.
International
Trump’s decree to halt electric vehicle subsidies and support combustion engines
A presidential decree signed on Monday after the inauguration aims to bring internal combustion engines back to the forefront and suspend federal subsidies for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in the United States.
Other measures could follow, such as the elimination of a federal tax credit for those purchasing electric vehicles, or the cancellation of an exemption that allows California to have stricter automotive standards than the rest of the country.
Upon taking office, Trump stated that he intends to end the “Green New Deal,” an initiative that includes the incentives promoted by Biden to stimulate electric vehicle sales.
Shares of electric vehicle manufacturers like Rivian and charging equipment providers such as EVgo fell on the stock market. Tesla, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, a close ally of Trump, also saw a decline.
For Kathy Harris, director of the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), which focuses on clean energy vehicles, Trump is seeking to please “the big bosses of the oil industry.”
Harris insists that electric vehicles are better for the environment and allow for fuel savings.
The presidential decree on electric vehicles, like other ones signed since Monday, could lead to legal challenges.
International
Student killed, two injured in shooting at Nashville High School
A student was killed and two others were injured in a shooting that occurred this morning at a high school in Nashville, the capital city of Tennessee, in the southern United States, according to the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department.
The shooter, a 17-year-old student armed with a handgun, opened fire in the cafeteria of Antioch High School around 11:00 a.m. local time before taking his own life, police reported during a press conference.
One student was fatally shot. Of the injured, one student sustained a gunshot wound to the arm and is in stable condition at a hospital. Another student suffered a facial injury that was not caused by a gunshot and is receiving treatment, according to ABC News.
The school was placed on lockdown following the shooting. Students were transported by bus to an off-campus reunification site where distraught parents picked them up.
“Antioch High School is on lockdown due to shots fired inside the school building,” the school posted on social media. “Metro police are on the scene. The person responsible for the shooting no longer poses a threat.”
A SWAT team cleared the school, and authorities have launched an ongoing investigation.
Antioch High School serves approximately 2,000 students in grades nine through twelve, according to its website.
El Salvador extends condolences to Turkey following deadly hotel fire
Trump’s decree to halt electric vehicle subsidies and support combustion engines
Student killed, two injured in shooting at Nashville High School
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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