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Leaders
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Leaders
Catalonia Closes its Trade Office in Tel Aviv over Gaza Genocide
The Government of Catalonia announced on Thursday, May 22, the immediate closure of its trade office in Tel Aviv over Israel's genocide in Gaza, according to Aljazeera. Wide International Criticism This remarkable move comes amid mounting international criticism of Israel's heavy airstrikes and its blockade of humanitarian aid in Gaza. These genocidal actions have caused widespread calls across Europe to press on Israel to end the war and allow the entry of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians who are suffering unthinkable conditions. Eurovision Furthermore, the Catalan government has also criticized Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. It described it as 'double standards' in addressing the genocide in Gaza, where 'basic rights are being violated.' 'We are fully committed to human rights, and this double standard regarding Israel's participation in Eurovision weakens us,' Catalan Government Spokesperson Sílvia Paneque stated during a press conference. A Call for Exclusion In this context, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that the Eurovision song contest should exclude Israel over its war in Gaza. Sanchez has also expressed solidarity with 'the people of Palestine who are experiencing the injustice of war and bombardment.' Sanchez's remarks come after protests against Israeli participation marked last weekend's extravaganza in Switzerland. Russians have not been allowed to take part in the competition because of Russia's invasion on Ukraine. 'Therefore, Israel shouldn't either, because what we cannot allow is double standards in culture,' Sanchez said at an event in Madrid. During his speech, the Spanish PM stressed Spain's commitment to applying the international law and human rights nothing that 'Europe's should be too.' 'Genocidal State' Last week, Sanchez called Israel a 'genocidal state' during his speech in the Spanish parliament, stating that Madrid 'does not do business' with such a country. The PM's remarks came as a response to a provocative comment from an anti-Israel member of parliament who condemned Spain's trade relations with what he called the 'genocide state' of Israel. Sanchez's comments sparked anger in Israel, prompting Israel's Foreign Ministry to summon the Spanish Ambassador, Ana Salomon, for a formal reprimand scheduled for Thursday in Jerusalem. 'Following the severe remarks made by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish ambassador to Israel has been summoned for a reprimand meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem tomorrow,' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Related Topics: Joint Statement: Over 70 UN Member States Call for Protecting Gazans Gaza War Prompts UK, EU Action against Israel France 'Determined' to Recognize Palestinian State, PM Says Short link : Post Views: 1
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Family members of drug lord El Chapo enter US, Mexican officials say
Family members of drug lord El Chapo enter US, Mexican officials say Show Caption Hide Caption El Chapo's family crosses into US in controversial border entry Over a dozen relatives of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman have entered the US, sparking debate and confusion over the approval process. Aljazeera - AJ+ Several family members of the infamous drug lord "El Chapo" have entered the United States as part of negotiations over one of his sons' trafficking charges, Mexico's security secretary said. Ovidio Guzmán López, the son of former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán, was considered one of the leaders of the cartel and was extradited to the United States in 2023 to face federal charges that he and his brothers – known as "Los Chapitos" – made hundreds of millions of dollars by flooding the country with fentanyl. "It's evident that his family is going to the United States because of the negotiation or opportunity the Justice Department has given him," Omar García Harfuch, Mexico's secretary of security and civilian safety, told Mexican radio network Radio Fórmula, when asked about reports that 17 family members had left Mexico. He said the family members who entered the United States were not wanted by Mexican authorities. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo told reporters she was caught off guard by the news, and has asked the prosecutor's office to ask the U.S. Department of Justice for more information. Court records show Guzmán López, also known as "El Ratón," is set to appear in federal court in July to enter a change of plea. He previously pleaded not guilty. The records do not include details about a possible plea agreement. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to May 14 request for comment from USA TODAY on the entry of his relatives to the country or the terms of his plea. Jeffrey Lichtman, an attorney representing Guzmán López, told Reuters earlier in May "we have no completed agreement yet but hope to in the future."Lichtman and another attorney listed for Guzmán López did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on May 14. The sons of Joaquin"El Chapo" Guzmán are credited by U.S. authorities with rebuilding their father's international drug empire since his 2017 extradition and 2019 incarceration. Guzmán López was first arrested in Mexico in 2019 but released after cartel members attacked civilians in Culiacán. He was arrested again in 2023 in an operation that led to 30 more deaths. Contributing: Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAY; Karol Suárez and Beth Warren, Louisville Courier Journal; Reuters
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First Post
07-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
‘If I can help, I will be there': Trump urges India and Pakistan to de-escalate
Trump said the US maintains friendly ties with both India and Pakistan and wants the tensions to come to an end, adding, 'If I can do anything to help, I will be there.' read more US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for India and Pakistan to halt their fighting and offered to help as the world saw the worst violence between the nuclear-armed countries in two decades. 'I want to see them stop,' AFP quoted Trump as saying at the White House. He said the US has friendly relations with both countries and wants the tensions to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. 'And if I can do anything to help, I will be there,' he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump's remarks came shortly after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to strike back after India's attack on nine terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. 'We resolve that we will avenge the blood of our innocent martyrs,' Aljazeera quoted Sharif as saying in address to the nation. Pakistani prime minister also praised his country's air force following a claim that it downed 5 Indian jets. 'Last night, we showed that Pakistan can deliver a jaw-breaking response for its defence. At the Line of Control, the dogfight raged for about an hour. Pakistani pilots remained in their airspace, the enemy's planes were shattered to pieces,' he claimed, adding, 'In conventional warfare last night, we proved that Pakistan prevailed.' Meanwhile, India has warned Pakistan to 'behave or get punished' if it chooses to retaliate. According to a News18 report, citing top government sources, India has identified additional 'terror hubs' and is prepared to deliver a 'befitting reply' if Pakistan escalates.'India is not scared to continue its fight against terror. India is willing to teach Pakistan a lesson yet again,' News 18 quoted the sources as saying. 'Behave well or get punished,' they added. In direct message to Pakistan, the sources said there will be no leniency on the non-military front. With inputs from agencies
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Trump says he's revoking Harvard's tax-exempt status: 'It's what they deserve!'
Trump says he's revoking Harvard's tax-exempt status: 'It's what they deserve!' Show Caption Hide Caption Harvard protests Trump's threats to international students Harvard students and staff push back against Trump administration threats. Aljazeera WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump said he is taking action to remove the tax-exempt status of Harvard University, escalating his fight with one of the country's most prestigious universities. "We are going to be taking away Harvard's Tax Exempt Status. It's what they deserve!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social on the morning of May 2. The move to use executive power to revoke Harvard's tax-free designation ‒ a status held by the vast majority of U.S. colleges and universities ‒ is expected to be challenged in federal court. The Internal Revenue Service grants federal tax exemptions in accordance with federal law. More: Harvard vs. Trump: What to know about the standoff costing the university billions Trump, who had previously threatened targeting Harvard's tax-exempt status, has accused Harvard of being an "anti-Semitic, far-left Institution." His administration in April said it is freezing more than $2 billion in federal funding for the Ivy League school after Harvard leaders said they would not agree to a list of Trump administration demands, which included a mask ban and removal of diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Harvard responded by suing the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully threatening the school's "academic independence" and "pathbreaking research." More: Harvard sues Trump administration over attacks on school funding Trump has increasingly made the elite university a go-to punching bag. "It is clear to see the next chapter of the American Story will not be written by the Harvard Crimson," Trump told graduates of the University of Alabama on May 1, referencing the name of Harvard's college newspaper. "It will be written by you, the Crimson Tide." Similar to many other nonprofit colleges, Harvard is exempt from federal and state income taxes. The president doesn't necessarily have the unilateral authority to revoke an organization's tax-exempt status, but there are processes by which the Internal Revenue Service can rescind nonprofit status. A bill introduced in Congress last year would give the president and Treasury secretary more latitude to target colleges' tax exemptions. "There is no legal basis to rescind Harvard's tax-exempt status," Harvard spokesman Jason Newton said in an April statement. "The unlawful use of this instrument more broadly would have grave consequences for the future of higher education in America." Contributing: Zach Schermele. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
USA Today
27-04-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
At least nine killed in Vancouver after vehicle plows into Filipino festival
At least nine killed in Vancouver after vehicle plows into Filipino festival Show Caption Hide Caption Germany car ramming incident: At least 20 injured after man drives car into crowd in Munich A car drives into a crowd in Munich injuring at least 20 people. The driver has been detained. Aljazeera At least nine people were killed when a man drove through a crowd at a Filipino community festival in Vancouver on Saturday evening, Canadian police said in an X post on Sunday. Police said they had arrested a 30-year-old Vancouver man at the scene, who was "known" to them. The suspect was initially chased down and held by people at the scene. A number of people were also injured. "At this time, we are confident that this incident was not an act of terrorism," Vancouver police said in an X post. The incident happened shortly after 8 p.m., as the Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party, celebrating a Philippine national hero, was taking place. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on X: "I am devastated to hear about the horrific events at the Lapu-Lapu festival in Vancouver earlier this evening." Canada's federal election takes place on Monday. Vancouver's Mayor Ken Sim and British Columbia Premier David Eby posted similar comments on X. The government of British Columbia officially recognised April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023, acknowledging the cultural contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community, one of the largest immigrant groups in the province. One witness told CTV News he saw a black vehicle driving erratically in the area of the festival just before the crowd was struck. 'Horrific' Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada's New Democratic Party, was among the attendees at the event, but left minutes before the vehicle arrived, CTV News said. "This is so horrific, I don't even know what to say," CTV quoted Singh as saying. "I was just there, and I just imagine the faces of the kids that I saw smiling and dancing." Another witness, who did not wish to be identified, said he had seen about 15 people lying on the ground after the dark SUV plunged into the crowd. The witness said the driver had tried to run but was chased down by festival-goers and held against a fence for about 10 minutes until police arrived. Vancouver city councillor Peter Fry told CTV News he had also been at the event earlier in the day. "This was a great day. A wonderful event. Huge community event. And to have it end in tragedy like this, it won't break us or the community but it's horrible," he said. The festival, celebrated especially in the central Philippines, honors Datu Lapu-Lapu, a Filipino chieftain who defeated Spanish forces led by Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan in 1521. The centerpiece of the festivities in Vancouver is a multi-block street party in the Sunset neighborhood featuring Filipino food and traditions, live performances and cultural displays. The Vancouver Sun said thousands of people had been in the area. "I didn't get to see the driver, all I heard was an engine rev," Yoseb Vardeh, co-owner of food truck Bao Buns, said in an interview with Postmedia. "I got outside my food truck, I looked down the road and there's just bodies everywhere," said Vardeh, his voice breaking with emotion. "He went through the whole block, he went straight down the middle." (Reporting by Harshita Meenaktshi, Devika Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill, Alex Richardson and Ros Russell)
