Latest news with #ConsulateGeneral
CBS News
07-05-2025
- CBS News
5 charged with human smuggling after boat capsized off San Diego, killing Indian teen and two Mexican nationals
Five Mexican nationals are facing human smuggling charges after a small boat carrying over a dozen people capsized off the coast of San Diego, killing at least three passengers, including a 14-year-old boy from India, U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of California announced Tuesday. The boy's parents and two others were hospitalized, prosecutors confirmed in a news release. Nine other migrants were missing from the boat and were presumably dead, but authorities later located eight of them in Chula Vista, nearly 30 miles away from Del Mar, where the boat was found. A 10-year-old Indian girl, the boy's sister, remains missing, prosecutors said. "The drowning deaths of these children are a heartbreaking reminder of how little human traffickers care about the costs of their deadly business," U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said in a statement. The Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego on Tuesday confirmed that two of the deceased and two of the people hospitalized are Mexican nationals. Two of the five alleged traffickers, Jesus Ivan Rodriguez-Leyva and Julio Cesar Zuniga-Luna, were arrested on Monday at the beach where the overturned boat washed ashore, according to prosecutors. They were charged with Bringing in Aliens Resulting in Death and Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Prosecutors said the other three suspects, Melissa Jennelle Cota, Gustavo Lara and Sergio Rojas-Fregoso, had previously been deported on Dec. 19, 2023. They were arrested late Monday night after Border Patrol agents in Chula Vista identified a vehicle seen at beach in Del Mar and investigated. While the driver of said vehicle fled, officers located two other vehicles involved and found the missing migrants, according to news release. Cota, Lara and Rojas-Fregoso were charged with being in the U.S. illegally, as well as for Transportation of Illegal Aliens. It was unclear where the boat was coming from before it flipped about 35 miles north of the Mexico border, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Chris Sappey told The Associated Press. He said similar vessels were commonly used by smugglers. In 2023, eight people were killed when two boats capsized off San Diego coast.
Borneo Post
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Outgoing Indonesian Consul-General in Kuching calls for continued efforts to benefit Borneo communities
The KJRI Kuching team presented a memento as a token of appreciation to their outgoing Consul General, Raden (right). – Photo by Mohd Faisal Ahmad KUCHING (April 26): Outgoing Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching, Raden Sigit Witjaksono, urged his future successor to build on the initiatives from his tenure, especially those focused on benefiting communities across Kalimantan, Sarawak, and the broader Borneo region. 'If possible, we hope the new Consul-General will be even better. We've already started paving the way. What we really want is for everyone in this shared region—Kalimantan, Borneo—to be able to benefit,' he said. He was speaking to reporters at Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI), Kuching premises here on Friday (April 25), during the Dissemination of the Achievements of Indonesian Diplomacy in Sarawak 2022–2025, held alongside a farewell dinner to mark the conclusion of his official duties in Sarawak. Earlier that day, Raden paid a farewell courtesy visit to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at Wisma Bapa Malaysia, where he highlighted the importance of regional connectivity. 'Improved access is important to strengthen our connectivity, whether from West Kalimantan to Sarawak, or in the future, from Sarawak to East Kalimantan,' he said. He added that the development of Indonesia's new capital in East Kalimantan would make closer ties even more valuable, benefitting not just Kalimantan and Sarawak, but the wider region including Sabah and beyond. The visit was among his final official engagements before concluding his three-year term in Sarawak on April 30, 2025. When asked what key message he would relay to the Indonesian government based on his experience in Sarawak, Raden highlighted the urgency of addressing nationality issues and ensuring protection for Indonesian citizens. 'At the moment, nationality issues are quite prominent. We want to do our utmost to improve how these matters are handled,' he said. He stressed that clarity on an individual's citizenship status is crucial to ensure access to basic services. 'With clear identification of one's nationality, it becomes easier to access education and healthcare—both of which are extremely important. 'If this status is unclear, it will cause difficulties and complications in that person's life journey,' he said. Raden also praised Sarawak leaders for their positive attitude towards cooperation with Indonesia. 'I think it's been extremely positive. From the Head of State, to the Premier, ministers, even the mayors—everyone has responded warmly to cooperation with Indonesia. We hope this does not stop here.' Raden also highlighted the strong potential for collaboration between Indonesia and Malaysia across various sectors, including energy, infrastructure, education, and healthcare, which could benefit both countries.
CNN
27-03-2025
- CNN
Several Russians killed after tourist submarine sinks off Egyptian coast, embassy says
Four of those killed aboard the submarine that sank off Egypt's Red Sea resort city of Hurghada were Russian, according to a Facebook post by the Russian embassy in Egypt. The incident occurred at 10:00 a.m. local time Thursday, when the submarine Sindbad 'crashed at a distance of 1 km from the shore,' the embassy said, adding that all 45 tourists on board the vessel were Russian. Minors were among the passengers on the submarine, which belonged to a hotel bearing the same name, but it is unclear if they are among the fatalities. The vessel was on a regular underwater excursion to inspect the coral reef, the embassy added. 'According to initial data, most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada,' the embassy said, adding that 'the fate of several tourists is being clarified.' 'Diplomats from the Consulate General are on the pier of the Sindbad Hotel,' the embassy said. Local Egyptian media reported Thursday that six people were killed in the incident. Those killed were foreign nationals, Reuters said, citing the Hurghada governorate office. CNN has reached out to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for comment. The operator of the submarine has an 'expert team' with 'years of experience,' according to its website, adding that its submarines were 'engineered in Finland to sustain underwater pressure up to 75m, ensuring safety and reliability.' In an emergency, the company says 'oxygen masks are located overhead and life vests under the seats.' Sindbad Submarines says it has two 'recreational submarines' in its fleet, each of which could carry 44 passengers and two pilots with a 'sizable round viewing window' for each passenger. The vessel could reach a depth of 25 meters below sea level for 40 minutes, allowing passengers to explore '500 meters of coral reef and its marine inhabitant.' The 'spacious air-conditioned cabin' is also said to feature 'comfortable seats and personal TV monitors.' In November, at least 16 people went missing after a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea following warnings about rough seas. At the time, it was not immediately clear what caused the four-deck, wooden-hulled motor yacht to sink. Egypt's tourism economy is among its key sources of revenue. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Korea Herald
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
KFPI to hold hansik contest in 13 countries
Competition to focus on creating dish using Korean jang As part of South Korea's initiative to expand the reach of "hansik," or Korean cuisine, the Korean Food Promotion Institute said Tuesday it would jointly host hansik cooking contests abroad with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and in collaboration with 13 overseas diplomatic missions. For this year's edition, the competition will focus on creating a dish using Korean jang, or fermented soy-based sauces, to celebrate its inclusion on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list in December last year. In Asia, the Middle East and Africa, the competition will take place at the Korean Cultural Centers in Nigeria and Hong Kong, as well as the Korean Embassies in Indonesia, Thailand and Turkey. The same contest will take place at the Korean Embassies in Costa Rica, Peru and Chile, and at the Consulate General in Seattle for those in North and South America. In Europe, it will be hosted by the Korean Embassies in Ireland, the UK and Romania, and at the Consulate General in Barcelona. Detailed schedules for the competition will be announced at a later time by each diplomatic mission. More information is available on each overseas diplomatic mission's official website. The KFPI said the event would be a great opportunity to allow people in other countries to come up with their own takes on hansik by putting a local twist on them or sticking to traditional recipes. "(We) hope that the contest will help spread the unique flavors of traditional jang and Korean cuisine to a global audience. The KFPI will continue teaming up with overseas diplomatic missions to promote hansik and encourage cultural exchanges," Lee Gyu-min, president of the KFPI, said via press release. The KFPI has been organizing cooking contests every year since 2011 in countries such as the US to promote Korean cuisine. For example, the Consulate General in Seattle and the KFPI jointly held the "Culinary Class Wars in Seattle" contest in November last year.
Express Tribune
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Wooden Scriptures Exhibition amazes city
KARACHI: The Wooden Scriptures Exhibition showcased exquisite artworks and scriptures crafted by the Iranian artist Parvez Abdi using wood from various trees, including jujube, orange, simaroubaceae, walnuts and barberry on Friday. The exhibition was jointly organised by the Arts Council of Pakistan and the Consulate General of Iran at the Ahmed Parvez Art Gallery, located in the Ahmed Shah Building. Renowned Iranian artist Parvez Abdi was present at the venue. The exhibition showcased breathtaking scriptures, featuring iconic verses such as Ayat al-Kursi, Surah Al-Hamd, and the four Quls. These intricate masterpieces were complemented by stunning depictions of roses, birds, tigers, and poignant scenes of sacrifice and jubilation. Initially resembling exquisite paintings, the artworks revealed their remarkable wooden texture upon closer inspection, leaving visitors in awe.
