Middle East Escalation and Regional Responseactive

The conflict in the Middle East enters its 31st day of war this Monday, March 30th. Tensions are rising regarding what might happen in the Strait of Hormuz, attacks continue, and the State of Israel is intensifying its efforts in Lebanon. Donald Trump stated that there has already been a "regime change" in Iran and asserted that the Islamist government will allow the passage of 20 oil tankers through the strait. These are the key points to understand what is happening and why it is concerning the world. Here are the main news stories about the conflict today: U.S. officials have reported that the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran. From Tehran, they accuse that, while claiming to want to negotiate, U.S. authorities are secretly planning an offensive. Israel is seeking to advance into Lebanese territory to create a "buffer zone" against Hezbollah. Despite Trump's claim of having destroyed Iran's military capabilities, Iran continues to be involved in attacks in various countries in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the war is reshaping the political landscape of the United States, and potential candidates to succeed Trump are emerging. The new Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, thanked Iraq for its support in the war against the United States and Israel. Trump claims that Iran will allow 20 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days. Other important developments: Israel prevented the celebration of Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy…

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the possibility of U.S. forces seizing the Iranian island of Kharg, the main oil terminal in the Persian Gulf, in an interview published Sunday night by the Financial Times. "Maybe we will take the island of Kharg, maybe we won't. We have many options," he stated. "That would also mean we would have to be there (on the island of Kharg) for a while." In the same interview, Trump said that Iran had agreed to allow the passage of 20 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning and for the coming days, "as a sign of respect." "I would only say that we are doing extraordinarily well in that negotiation, but with Iran, you never know, because we negotiate with them and then we always have to destroy them," he declared. Meanwhile, Pakistan announced that it would host talks between the United States and Iran, although there was no immediate confirmation from Washington or Tehran, and it was unclear whether the talks would be direct or indirect. The speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, dismissed the initiative, calling it a "cover" following the arrival of approximately 2,500 U.S. Marines in the Middle East, trained in amphibious operations. Early Monday morning, Israel launched an attack on infrastructure belonging to the Iranian regime in several locations in Tehran, while Iran carried out attacks against Tel Aviv...

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated on Sunday evening that Washington had reached an agreement with Iran regarding the imminent passage of 20 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked since the beginning of the war in the Middle East and is crucial for the global supply of crude oil. The President assured that the movement of the ships would begin immediately. "We have been given, I believe out of respect, 20 oil tankers, large, very large oil tankers, that are going to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and that will begin tomorrow morning, over the next few days," Trump told reporters. The head of state insisted that Tehran had allowed the passage as a "gift" and a "sign of respect" towards the United States, as part of diplomatic contacts that, according to him, are progressing towards an understanding. The announcement comes against a backdrop of heightened military tension in the region. Trump reiterated that negotiations with Iran are progressing favorably and stated that both countries will reach an agreement "very soon." However, his statements coincide with a significant increase in the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, where Washington has deployed approximately 50,000 personnel, amid reports of possible plans by the Pentagon for a ground incursion into Iranian territory. From Tehran, public and private signals indicate a different stance. The President of the Iranian Parliament, Mohamad Baqer Qalibaf, stated on…

The President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, arrives in Germany on Monday for talks focused on the war in the Middle East, the reconstruction of his country, and the return of Syrian refugees. This marks his first visit to German territory since the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad at the end of 2024. During his visit, Sharaa is scheduled to meet with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The Syrian leader, a former Islamist rebel leader, has in recent months established ties with Western governments and has undertaken tours of the United States, France, and Russia, in an effort to reposition Syria on the international stage after more than a decade of civil war. This diplomatic rapprochement has led to the lifting of numerous international sanctions that had been imposed on Syria. From Berlin, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius confirmed that the bilateral agenda includes discussions on the war in the Middle East, the internal political situation in Syria, reconstruction efforts, and the return of Syrian citizens to their country. In parallel, Sharaa will participate in a political and business forum in Berlin that addresses the prospects for economic recovery. A spokesperson for the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that "with the lifting of numerous sanctions by the EU, the UN, and other organizations following the end of the Assad regime, the foundations have been laid for economic recovery." Prior to his arrival…

TOKYO. Asian stocks mostly fell at the start of Monday's trading session, as concerns persisted about the sharp increase in oil prices and the possibility of further escalation in the conflict between the United States and Iran. The declines in the Asian market followed the significant drops on Wall Street last Friday, which closed its fifth consecutive week in the red, its longest losing streak in nearly four years. The Nikkei 225 index in Japan fell by 4.5% in the morning trading session, closing at 50,979.54 points. The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia lost 1.2% and stood at 8,417.00 points. The South Korean Kospi plunged 3.2% to 5,264.32 points. The Hong Kong Hang Seng index fell by 1.7% to 24,519.63 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.7% to 3,884.57 points. (Source: AP) U.S. President Donald Trump stated in an interview with the Financial Times on Sunday that he could "very easily" take the Iranian island of Jarg. The island of Jarg, located off the western coast of Iran, is a vital oil terminal for the Middle Eastern country and is in the sights of the Pentagon for potential ground operations, although the United States has insisted that it would not resort to a large-scale invasion. When asked about the state of Iran's defenses on the island, Trump replied: "I don't think..."

Charity believes Middle East crisis may lead to even busier spring and summer in 2026 The number of people helped by RNLI lifeguards on the beaches of the UK and the Channel Islands doubled last year and the charity believes the Middle East crisis may lead to an even busier spring and summer in 2026. While RNLI lifeguards went to the aid of about 18,000 people in 2023 and 2024, this leapt to more than 35,000 in 2025, the spike put down to a combination of good weather and an increased interest in seaside pursuits. Continue reading...

The audiovisual sector in Panama started 2026 with a performance that confirms its consolidation as a driver of investment and job creation, registering over $5.2 million in investment during the first quarter of the year. This figure not only reflects the sustained interest of international producers, but also the impact of state incentives and the maturation of a local creative ecosystem that is beginning to establish itself more strongly in the region. Between January and March, the country recorded 17 audiovisual productions, a figure higher than the 14 recorded in the same period of 2025, representing a 21.4% increase in the volume of projects. This increase translates into a greater diversification of formats, including film, documentaries, digital content, television and commercial productions, expanding the scope of the sector and its ability to attract different types of investment. The economic impact is also reflected in job creation, with over 760 jobs generated, primarily filled by Panamanian talent. This represents a significant increase compared to the 281 people involved in the first quarter of the previous year, demonstrating an expansion of labor demand and greater participation of local professionals in the various stages of production. In terms of investment, the increase is even more significant. The year-on-year growth reached 116.4%, driven by the arrival of productions…

The National Assembly of Panama has approved a bill in its third reading that aims to combat cyber fraud by creating a free certificate of conformity. This certificate will be issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) to verify the identity of companies and individuals operating through websites. The initiative, corresponding to Bill 302, stipulates that all companies offering products or services online, whether from within the country or abroad, must include a visible corporate identity profile in the "footer" of their websites. This profile must detail the company's legal name, business or tax address, and other verifiable information. Among the strictest requirements, the regulation mandates that the declared address must be a verifiable and accurate physical location, including information such as office, storefront, floor, district, and province. This is intended to prevent the use of false addresses that facilitate digital fraud schemes. The bill also creates a free registry with the Directorate General of Electronic Commerce of the MICI, which will allow for the verification of the authenticity and legality of websites and their owners, serving as an additional mechanism for control and traceability within the Panamanian digital ecosystem. The congressman, Jamis Acosta, who proposed the initiative, argued during the debate that the growth of e-commerce and the digitalization of services has...

The Israeli Knesset approved the state's general budget for 2026 in the early hours of Monday. This spending plan amounts to approximately 850 billion shekels—around $270 billion—and significantly increases defense spending to record levels, as Israel is simultaneously engaged in a conflict with Iran and Hezbollah. The vote concluded with 62 legislators in favor and 55 against, according to the French news agency, AFP. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government thus managed to meet a critical deadline. Israeli law stipulates that if the budget does not receive parliamentary approval before March 31st, the Knesset automatically dissolves, and the country must hold early elections within three months. The next elections are scheduled for October 2026. The allocation for defense is, by far, the largest portion of the budget. According to a statement from the Parliament, "As part of the updated budget, and in light of Operation Swords of Iron, more than 30 billion shekels—$10 billion—have been added to the Ministry of Defense's budget, bringing it to over 142 billion shekels." This figure is further supplemented by 22 billion shekels, primarily conditional on U.S. military aid transfers. In proportion to the GDP, Israeli military spending is around 8%, the highest level since the 1990s. The budget also sets the ceiling for the fiscal deficit in 2026 and...

The Iranian military stated that it eagerly awaited the opportunity to destroy U.S. ground forces if President Trump ordered an invasion. These statements came after the arrival of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in the Middle East, giving the president more options in a conflict that has already lasted for two months. In this context, Iran launched a campaign called "Janfada," or "Sacrifice of Life," to recruit volunteers to fight against U.S. forces, amid reports suggesting that the United States might launch a ground operation against the Islamic Republic, according to a text message sent to mobile phone subscribers in Iran. "Simultaneously with the threats from the U.S.-Zionist enemy against Iran's islands and borders, the national Janfada campaign has been launched to declare our readiness to defend the country's territory," the text message stated. Furthermore, CNN reported that Tehran is using social media, chat platforms, and other means to inspire individual acts of vandalism and violence around the world, a development that William Wechsler, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counter-Narcotics and Global Threats, considers a cause for concern. "I am more concerned about the people who are actively recruited and ideologically aligned, and I am more concerned about the l..."

TEHRAN – An attack on a U.S. military base in Saudi Arabia, resulting in injuries to dozens of soldiers. Two drones targeted a port in Oman, and another attack hit Kuwait International Airport. Additionally, a missile and drone attack struck an aluminum factory in the United Arab Emirates, leaving several workers injured. President Donald Trump claims that the United States has decimated Iran's military capabilities and portrays it as a disarmed adversary. The U.S. military asserts that the number of attacks launched by Iran has decreased by approximately 90% since the beginning of the conflict, and the Israeli military claims to have disabled nearly 70% of the hundreds of missile launchers belonging to the ayatollah regime. However, with its recent series of attacks against Israel and the countries of the Gulf, Iran has once again confirmed that it possesses sufficient missiles and drones to destabilize the region and severely punish its enemies, demonstrating that, contrary to Trump's claims, it remains engaged in a relentless war. Millions of Israelis continue to seek refuge in bomb shelters day and night to protect themselves from the barrage of Iranian missiles, a daily routine of sirens and explosions that paralyzes and instills terror. According to Israel's emergency services, the missile attack on Thursday against the center of the country resulted in seven injuries. Images show…

A Russian airstrike killed three people in Kramatorsk on Sunday, including a 13-year-old boy, and injured seven others, in an attack that occurred as peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv remain stalled, and violence against civilians continues in eastern Ukraine. The head of the Donetsk regional administration, Vadim Filashkin, reported the impact at noon via his Telegram channel. The injured range in age from 20 to 85 years old, and the projectile damaged numerous multi-story buildings. Filashkin denounced that Russian forces are "once again launching a deliberate attack on a peaceful city and killing children," and described the bombing as an "act of deliberate terrorism." "They will undoubtedly have to answer for every life lost and every home destroyed," he added. On the same day, another minor died as a result of overnight drone attacks. A 13-year-old girl who was seriously injured in a Russian attack on the community of Voskresenske, in the Mykolaiv region, died in the hospital, according to the head of the regional military administration, Vitali Kim. In that attack, ten people were injured, eight of whom were minors between the ages of 10 and 16, and two women aged 40 and 18. Early Sunday morning, another 15-year-old girl and the oldest woman remained in critical condition; the prognosis for six other minors was moderately serious. The…

Most of those who read this column will soon be entering a period of maturity: a stage in life where older people remain active, driving profound cultural change through intergenerational integration. Our latest census confirms the demographic transition from a pyramid shape to a "vase" shape: life expectancy in Chile has reached 81.4 years, surpassing even that of the United States. The population over 65 years old has doubled since 1992, increasing from 6.6% to 14% in 2024. The aging index has reached 79, significantly higher than the 56.9 recorded in the previous census. These figures urgently necessitate adapting policies related to pensions, employment, healthcare, and urban planning. The new generation of older adults will be more independent, educated, prosperous, and active. Many will have savings or assets accumulated over a lifetime, and will be available to contribute to industries such as consulting, tourism, culture, services, and caregiving. We will be more aware of our rights and responsibilities, and if we leverage this human capital, the social and economic benefits will be substantial. To achieve this, we need cities that are friendly to longevity: neighborhoods with local businesses and services within walking distance, accessible healthcare centers, efficient public transportation, continuous sidewalks, parks, and high-quality public spaces. We also need a diverse cultural offering. And, of course, we must ensure universal accessibility in buildings and public spaces, complying with Law 20.422, so that those who face mobility challenges can…

Amidst an increasingly international focus on climate financing, Panama has secured a position that strengthens its profile in the region. During the B44 meeting of the Board of Directors of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), held in South Korea, the country was chosen to host the new Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, a decision that places it at the center of coordinating resources for environmental projects. This designation comes at a time of expansion for this international mechanism, which already has a portfolio exceeding $20 billion and has become a major source of support for developing countries facing the effects of climate change. With this selection, Panama not only gains international visibility but also expands its role as a platform for connecting financing, technical cooperation, and project implementation in the region. The Green Climate Fund was created as part of multilateral commitments to address climate change, with the aim of channeling resources towards mitigation and adaptation initiatives in vulnerable economies. Its structure allows it to finance projects ranging from large-scale infrastructure to community programs, always with a focus on sustainable development and climate resilience. It is an official financial mechanism established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), meaning…

The Pakistani government announced this Sunday that it will host a round of talks between the United States and Iran, in an attempt to de-escalate the conflict in the Middle East. The Pakistani Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, stated that the initiative has the support of Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, whose representatives participated in recent meetings in Islamabad to define the framework of the dialogue process. The Pakistani Foreign Minister clarified that both Washington and Tehran have expressed their willingness to accept Pakistan's mediation, although neither party has confirmed their participation in the negotiations. According to Dar, the details regarding the format and scope of the talks are still being finalized, and it has not yet been determined whether the contacts will be direct or indirect. The immediate goal is to create an effective channel to address differences and reduce military tensions in the region. "Pakistan is very pleased that both Iran and the United States have expressed their confidence in Pakistan's ability to facilitate the talks," the minister said. The Pakistani government is taking on the role of mediator due to its diplomatic ties with both powers. Officials in Islamabad explained that the announcement is the result of weeks of discreet efforts and private conversations, which are now being made public given the seriousness of the situation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs avoided providing details about the duration of the process or...

Pakistan has stated that it will host potential talks between the United States and Iran in the coming days, aiming to encourage diplomatic efforts. This Sunday, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced via its official X account that their country has "the honor of hosting and facilitating meaningful conversations between the two sides in the coming days, towards a comprehensive and lasting resolution of the ongoing conflict." Therefore, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan met for the second time today in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The first meeting of the four countries took place on March 19th. During the meeting, they discussed the regional situation in detail and explored ways to achieve a permanent end to the conflict. The four countries agree that the talks between Washington and Tehran, promoting diplomacy and dialogue, should also take place in Islamabad. Furthermore, the Ministry's statement indicates that China also supports the idea of facilitating these diplomatic talks. There is currently no confirmation from the United States or Iran regarding the meeting, but the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by Ishaq Dar, emphasizes that both nations have expressed confidence in Pakistan's ability to facilitate the talks. In fact, the same post on X highlights that Pakistan has an important relationship...

The foreign ministers of the four countries have issued a joint statement expressing concern regarding the potential approval of the bill.

This Sunday, the Communist Party organized a motorcade and a commemorative event in memory of Manuel Guerrero, José Manuel Parada, and Santiago Nattino, the three party members who were murdered as part of the "Decapitations Case" in 1985. The motorcade began in front of the Communist Party headquarters, and the commemorative event was scheduled for noon at the "Tres Sillas" Memorial in the municipality of Renca, the site where the bodies of the victims were found on March 30th. During the event, the president of the party, Lautaro Carmona, delivered a speech to those present, beginning by saying, "Our comrades were executed for the so-called crime, or rather, for the merit of being outstanding anti-fascist fighters, champions of freedom and democracy, and exemplary communist militants." Carmona also remembered other victims of the dictatorship, including MIR militants Paulina Aguirre and the brothers Rafael and Eduardo Toledo Vergara, who were murdered on March 29th. Furthermore, the leader of the PC addressed the international situation and ongoing conflicts, describing them as "the most dramatic since World War II." "Genocides are underway, such as those in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, the Horn of Africa, and Cuba. Attempts are being made to strangle entire peoples, as is being done against Palestine, Venezuela, and Cuba. International law is being violated and disregarded in a blatant manner,"…

Bolotnaya Square, the site of some of the largest anti-government protests in recent Russian history, was once again the epicenter of citizen resistance against the Kremlin this Sunday. This time, the reason wasn't Vladimir Putin's re-election or the war in Ukraine: protesters took to the streets to demand the right to use the internet and to communicate through Telegram, the country's most popular messaging app, which is scheduled for a final shutdown on Tuesday, April 1st. Authorities detained at least 12 people in Moscow, according to the OVD-Info portal, which specializes in tracking political arrests. Among those detained was Alexander Podrabinek, a 72-year-old Soviet dissident, journalist, and writer whose history of opposition dates back to the Brezhnev era. He was arrested in 1978 for publishing "Punitive Medicine," a study on the use of psychiatry as a tool of repression. Police took him to the station after finding him taking photographs of the protest. The arrests were not limited to the capital. OVD-Info also reported arrests in St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Voronezh. In the latter city, an activist was detained while holding a sign that read "Enough of blockades and censorship." In recent weeks, authorities have rejected requests for demonstrations in more than thirty cities, forcing citizens to choose between resignation...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the expansion of the security zone under Israeli military control in southern Lebanon this Sunday. The measure aims to keep attacks by the Hezbollah terrorist group at bay and strengthen protection on the northern border, in the context of an intensifying regional conflict. Netanyahu announced the decision in a video message, where he detailed that the measure seeks to keep anti-tank missiles at a distance and thwart attempts to infiltrate from Lebanese territory. "I have decided to further expand the existing security zone, in order to ultimately thwart the threat of invasion and keep the launch of anti-tank missiles away from our border," Netanyahu stated. He explained that the decision was made after consulting with the military leadership and represents a structural change in the situation in the north of the country. The Prime Minister emphasized that Hezbollah maintains the capability to launch rockets towards Israel, which necessitates increasing the military presence and control in the region. "We are taking the initiative, we are attacking, and we have created three security belts deep within enemy territory," Netanyahu said. He detailed that the Israeli army is deployed in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, maintaining strategic positions. According to the Israeli Prime Minister, the expansion of the security zone is a response to the need to eliminate the risk of attacks and change the reality on the border.

Russia launched a hypersonic Kinzhal missile and 442 attack drones against Ukraine last night. Ukrainian defense forces managed to shoot down or neutralize 380 of these, according to a report from the Ukrainian Air Force on Sunday. The report also stated that 16 drones impacted seven locations, and fragments fell in fourteen other areas. The statement specifies that Russian forces launched the Kinzhal missile from the airspace of the Russian region of Ryazan, as well as 442 Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other types of attack drones from Russian locations including Bryansk, Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and from Gvardeiskoye and Chauda, in the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Approximately 300 of the drones launched since 6:00 PM on Saturday (5:00 PM GMT) and during the night were Shahed drones, the report published on Telegram added. As of 9:00 AM (7:00 AM GMT) on Sunday, Ukrainian air defenses had shot down or neutralized 380 of these enemy drones, the Air Force stated, warning that the attack is ongoing and that there are still several drones in Ukrainian airspace. In the Voskresensk community, in the Mykolaiv region, ten people were injured in the overnight drone attack, including eight minors aged between 10 and 16, and two women aged 40 and 18, according to a report from the head of the regional administration, Vitali Kim, on Telegram. All the injured were hospitalized, and initially...

A study by the University of Surrey revealed that the tourism and hospitality sector allows its employees to develop highly valued transferable skills, with implications for European public policies and educational materials. The study, published in the scientific journal *Annals of Tourism Research*, identified that these human capabilities have driven changes in the perception of employment in the tourism sector, according to the European Tourism Commission (ETC). Working in tourism fosters skills such as empathy, resilience, communication, and problem-solving. These competencies extend far beyond the sector itself, strengthening employability in various fields and forming a "human skills ecosystem" that is difficult to replace with automation or artificial intelligence. The University of Surrey, in collaboration with the ETC, identified 116 transferable skills that employees in the sector develop in their daily work. The list covers cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal areas, and includes essential attributes such as intercultural understanding. According to the study, this finding challenges the notion that tourism is a low-skilled sector, positioning the industry as a developer of adaptable human capital. Institutional and political recognition of the tourism sector The European Tourism Commission, which brings together 36 national tourism organizations in Europe, adopted the framework of...

Two new individuals were arrested early Sunday morning as part of the investigation into the thwarted attack against the Paris headquarters of Bank of America, according to the French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office. With these arrests, there are now three suspects in police custody, including a minor whose detention has been extended by the authorities. The case is being led by a specialized anti-terrorism agency, which continues to gather information about the planning of the attack. The attempted attack was thwarted early Saturday morning when police arrested a young man who was preparing to detonate an explosive device in front of the bank's offices, located on Boétie Street in Paris. Background of the attack According to sources close to the investigation, the device consisted of a five-liter container filled with flammable liquid and an ignition system, as well as a firecracker containing approximately 650 grams of explosive material. The suspect was not acting alone. According to police records, he was accompanied by another individual who managed to escape the scene, while a third person is believed to have been involved in transporting him to the site of the attack in a vehicle. During questioning, the detainee claimed to have been recruited through the Snapchat application, where he was offered 600 euros in exchange for carrying out the operation. The French Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, stated that the case would…

The spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, stated this Sunday that Iranian militias are waiting for the opportunity to "crush" the U.S. military if President Donald Trump's threats of a land invasion materialize. In a statement broadcast on Iranian television, the spokesman noted that U.S. soldiers face death daily while their commanders seek refuge in civilian and economic centers of neighboring countries. However, he also asserted that these locations will remain targets. Regarding a potential U.S. invasion, he added that it "will only result in the humiliating capture and mutilation of the aggressors. U.S. soldiers and commanders will be nothing more than easy prey for the sharks of the Persian Gulf." This Saturday, the U.S. Central Command announced that the USS Tripoli, carrying more than 2,500 soldiers and sailors, had been deployed to the Persian Gulf, awaiting any decision. The Iranian spokesman also mentioned that "there is no doubt that Trump, having become a puppet of the prime minister of the Zionist entity and under pressure from the Mossad due to his scandals in the Epstein case, is dragging his country into an aggression against Iran." He also referred to Trump as a "deceptive and unstable" person who has caused great damage to the American people and the world, and who "has shown that the only language he understands is that of force." …

TEHRAN (AFP) – The speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, accused the United States on Sunday of secretly planning a ground offensive, while publicly sending messages of peace aimed at ending the war in the Middle East. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has maintained ambiguity on this possibility for weeks. According to the Washington Post, which quoted anonymous U.S. officials, the Pentagon is preparing to carry out ground operations that would last several weeks. These would not be a large-scale invasion, but rather incursions into Iranian territory by special forces. "Publicly, the enemy sends messages of negotiation and dialogue, while secretly planning a ground offensive," Qalibaf said in a statement released by the official IRNA news agency. Meanwhile, the head of U.S. diplomacy, Marco Rubio, dismissed this hypothesis on Friday, stating that the "objectives" of the war in Iran could be achieved without sending ground troops. A U.S. amphibious assault ship, leading a naval group that includes approximately 3,500 sailors and Marines, arrived in the region on Friday. In parallel, diplomatic efforts continue to try to end the war that broke out on February 28 with the joint offensive by Israel and the United States against Iran. Representatives from Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia are meeting…

Up to 27 countries joined the declaration published on March 19 by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan, in which they expressed their willingness to "contribute to the efforts" to ensure the safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. This proposal, however, is far removed from the initiative of the U.S. President, Donald Trump, who had called for collaboration to forcibly open the strategic waterway, which is under Iranian control. The signatory countries "strongly condemn the recent attacks by Iran against unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf," while also extending their condemnation to the attacks on "oil and gas facilities" and the "de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces." "We express our willingness to contribute to the appropriate efforts to ensure the safe passage through the Strait," states this coalition of countries, which values the commitment of the nations participating in "preparatory planning." This declaration was published following Washington's demands for a naval deployment in Ormuz, a strait that has been blocked as a result of the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28. Now, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bahrain, Lithuania, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates have joined.

Leading diplomats from key regional powers met in Pakistan on Sunday to discuss how to end the fighting in the Middle East, although there were few signs of progress as Israel and the United States continued to attack Iran, and Tehran responded by launching missiles and drones across the region. Pakistan indicated that the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were participating in the talks in Islamabad. The Pakistani Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, stated that he and the Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, had "extensive discussions" about the regional hostilities. More than 3,000 people have died in the month-long war, which began with attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran, triggering Iran's attacks on Israel and neighboring Arab states in the Gulf. The war has also threatened oil and gas supplies, and Iran's control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz has rattled global markets. The United States and Israel were not participating in the talks in Pakistan. The United States has sent additional troops to the Middle East, while Houthi rebels in Yemen joined the fighting over the weekend, threatening to expand the war and further complicate global maritime transport. Israel announced waves of incoming attacks from Iran on Sunday, and explosions were heard throughout Tehran. Middle Eastern leaders are trying to...

This Sunday, Pope Leo XIV delivered a passionate appeal for peace during the Palm Sunday Mass, urging people to lay down their arms and rejecting the notion that God can be invoked to justify any war, addressing tens of thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. "Christ, King of Peace, continues to cry out from his cross: 'God is love! Have mercy! Lay down your arms, remember that you are brothers!'" proclaimed the first American pope in history during the homily of the celebration, which marks the beginning of Holy Week and commemorates Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Without explicitly mentioning any particular conflict, the pontiff's words resonated strongly in the context of the second month of the war between the United States and Israel against Iran, and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Pope Leo XIV was emphatic: "God rejects war, and no one can use him to justify conflict." "He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them," he added. The Pope emphasized that Jesus, as King of Peace, "did not arm himself, did not defend himself, did not wage any war. He showed the gentle face of God, which always rejects violence, and instead of saving himself, he allowed himself to be crucified." In his homily, he pointed out that "in his final cry addressed to the Father, we hear the lament of those who are afflicted, of those who lack hope, of..."

In the third week of the war in the Middle East, international analyst Juan Negri discussed the duration of the conflict and how its conclusion will impact the Iranian regime. In an interview with LN+, the specialist stated that Iran is in "survival mode" to demonstrate the consequences of the attack on the world. He argued that the primary consequence is related to energy. "The United States has had to ease sanctions on Russia in order to lower the price of oil," the analyst said, adding, "Iran is willing to attack those who pass through the Strait of Hormuz." Juan Negri, political analyst How will the war in the Middle East end? Negri pointed out that the Iranian regime is weakening and will ultimately be "devastated" after resisting the war against the United States and Israel. "The United States may lose a lot, but I don't think Iran will win," he stated, emphasizing, "I believe there will be an agreement between Iran and the United States without a change of regime." When asked about who might mediate the agreement between Washington and Tehran, he suggested, "Perhaps a Gulf monarchy, like Oman, which has already served as a diplomatic bridge." The duration of the conflict According to Negri, the situation is such that the war will last longer than the United States had anticipated. In this context, he argued, "I don't believe Iran has much capacity to resist the world's leading power." And he continued: "...

In February 2022, the now-famous book "The Revenge of the Powerful" by the renowned Venezuelan intellectual Moisés Naím was published. This publication, which offers a profound and unflinching analysis of the decline of democracy in many parts of the world, quickly became an important reference for describing and analyzing the trends towards authoritarianism that have been occurring over the past decade. Using his well-known equation of the "3 Ps" – polarization, populism, and post-truth – Naím describes the formulas that some leaders have been using, exploiting the strengths of democratic institutions to co-opt them and put them at the service of authoritarianism. Examples abound, as evidenced in recent years by leading global democracy indicators such as the V-Dem Index, from the University of Gothenburg, which measures five key components that determine whether a political system can be considered democratic: electoral, liberal, participatory, deliberative, and egalitarian. According to the V-Dem Index, the number of countries that at least partially adhere to the principles of democracy has been declining dangerously in the last decade. This means that just over 60% of the world's population lives in territories with openly authoritarian governments or that are on the path to becoming so; a stark contrast to the great democratic revolution that erupted in various regions starting…

Israel completed a new wave of attacks against "mobile command centers" of the Iranian government and weapons production facilities in Tehran last night, according to a statement from the Israeli military on Sunday. According to a military statement, in recent days, "the Iranian regime had begun to relocate its command centers to mobile units, after most of them had been targeted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) over the past month." According to the military report, Israeli fighter jets destroyed several of these temporary command centers, "including the commanders operating within them," during the latest series of airstrikes. In addition, the Israeli military stated that the attacks also targeted infrastructure within Iran's weapons production industry, hitting "dozens of storage facilities and armories." The Iranian retaliation against Israeli territory resulted in 18 deaths, according to official figures. Among the victims were two killed in attacks by Hezbollah. Furthermore, four Palestinian women died as a result of an Iranian attack in the West Bank, a region that lacks shelters and siren warning systems. A barrage of missiles crossed the skies of Israel during the early hours of Sunday, in a nighttime attack that the Israeli military identified as being launched from Iran. On Saturday, Israel launched airstrikes against the headquarters of the O…

Helplines for seafarers reported being overwhelmed with messages from crews stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the war in the Middle East, desperately seeking repatriation, compensation, and supplies onboard. "I am writing to urgently inform you that our vessel is currently facing a critical situation regarding food supplies and the health of a crew member," read an email sent by a seafarer on March 24th to the seafarers' support team of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). "An immediate supply of food, drinking water, and essential items is required to sustain the crew," the message sent to the helpline team stated. The ITF reported receiving over 1,000 emails and messages from seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz and the surrounding region since the war began with the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28th. Bombing Attacks Some were trying to clarify their rights while navigating a war zone, while others sent videos of bombings occurring near their ship and requested the federation's assistance in disembarking, according to ITF documents seen by the AFP news agency. "It is an extraordinary situation, there is a lot of panic," Mohamed Arrachedi, coordinator of the network, told AFP.

The United States reported that its forces attacked more than 11,000 targets belonging to the Iranian regime in the first month of the war in the Middle East, in addition to 150 ships belonging to the Islamic Republic's navy. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), based in Florida, detailed that the operations also targeted command and control centers, intelligence sites of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), ballistic missile facilities, submarines, air defense systems, military communication infrastructure, drone factories, and armaments. In a report released on its social media channels, CENTCOM stated: "For decades, Iranian ships have threatened and harassed global commerce in regional waters, but those days are over." The report also indicated that the U.S. offensive resulted in the deaths of 13 soldiers and left approximately 300 injured. To date, the Iranian regime has not released official figures on casualties, although the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) claims that at least 1,167 military personnel and 695 other individuals have been killed, with the identities of some not yet revealed. The White House has kept the possibility of a ground operation in Iranian territory open, which has prompted renewed threats from Tehran to intensify its attacks against Israel and U.S. positions in countries in the Persian Gulf. Furthermore, Tehran has warned of increased Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz.

During the early hours of Sunday, Israel reported the latest wave of attacks targeting "mobile command centers" of the Iranian regime and weapons production facilities in Tehran. The military spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) estimated that "approximately 90%" of the sites where Iran developed weaponry were bombed. Amid the regional escalation, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard declared that it now considers Israeli and American universities in the Middle East as military targets and demanded their evacuation, after accusing Washington and Tel Aviv of attacking Iranian educational institutions. For their part, the Houthi Shia rebels of Yemen, allies of the Islamic Republic, carried out "the second military operation" on Saturday with the launch of cruise missiles and drones targeting several military sites in southern Israel, according to the insurgent group. On the military front, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that U.S. forces destroyed more than 11,000 Iranian targets, including nearly 150 vessels, during the first month of the war against Iran. Below is a minute-by-minute update: Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt begin two days of talks in Pakistan regarding the Iran war. The Pakistani government invited the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt to participate in two days of discussions…

The conflict in the Middle East enters its 30th day of war this Sunday, March 29th, amidst ongoing tensions. The Houthi rebels of Yemen have launched two attacks against Israel, joining the conflict, while the Iranian regime continues its provocations against neighboring countries in the Persian Gulf, and the Israeli state has intensified its attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon. These are the key points to understand what is happening and why it is concerning the world. Key news updates from the conflict today: The Houthi rebels of Yemen have entered the war with two attacks against Israel. Iranian missiles struck a city in central Israel on Saturday, leaving at least 11 people injured. An Iranian missile attack on a base in Saudi Arabia damaged aircraft and injured U.S. soldiers. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has threatened to attack U.S. universities in the Middle East. Other important developments: An amphibious assault ship carrying U.S. Marines has arrived in the Middle East. Three Lebanese journalists were killed in an Israeli attack that targeted the vehicle they were traveling in in southern Lebanon. Despite a U.S. proposal, neither Israel nor Iran has confirmed that a dialogue channel has been opened between the parties. Trump has extended the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to April 6th. The airport in Kuwait suffered "considerable" damage after attacks by Iranian drones. Why the United States and Israel attacked Iran: Eight…

4,500 years ago, two cities fought for vital resources, leaving behind the first written record of a war.

The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, inaugurated the "Beatriz González Ortega" bean processing and packaging plant, with the aim of strengthening support for the agricultural sector. She also announced plans to analyze the expansion of the procurement program in response to falling bean prices and increased demand from producers. During her visit to the municipality of Sombrerete, the federal leader noted that the program has experienced significant growth, increasing from 40,000 beneficiaries in 2025 to 96,000 in 2026. This growth is prompting a review of a second phase that would allow for increased coverage without compromising the financial stability of the project. "We cannot promise something we cannot deliver; that is why we are carefully reviewing how to expand the program," she stated. She explained that the Directorate for Food for Well-being will soon return to Zacatecas to present a technical proposal that will define the additional volume of procurement, the number of bags to be received, and the terms of the guaranteed price, in coordination with state authorities and representatives of the productive sector. Also read: Tensions rise over bean producers' protest in Zacatecas; they are maintaining a sit-in at the Plaza de Armas. The new plant will have the capacity to process up to 1,400 tons of beans per month through cleaning, shelling, polishing, and packaging processes, with presentations of 1 and 25 kilograms (kg).

During the presentation of the "Frijol Zacatecas" plan, the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, rejected any confrontation with the United States (US) after the American president, Donald Trump, imitated her voice in a mocking tone while recreating a supposed phone call between them regarding the name of the Gulf of Mexico. The head of the federal executive emphasized that Mexico maintains a cooperative relationship with the United States and does not seek diplomatic conflicts, but reiterated that the correct name is "Gulf of Mexico." "And it is not a conflict, not at all, and we do not want any problems with the government of the United States. We are partners, we love our brothers and sisters who live there, we defend them, but yesterday they said again that the Gulf of Mexico was called the 'Gulf of America.'" Also read: Trump recreates a call with Sheinbaum about the "Gulf of America"; claims that Google Maps changed the name. "What is the name of the gulf?" she asked the attendees, who responded "Mexico!" These statements occurred after Trump, during the FII Priority event organized by Saudi Arabian investors, recounted a supposed conversation with Sheinbaum after announcing the name change of the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America." The American president claimed that he made the decision arguing that the US owns the majority of the maritime area, and stated that even digital platforms had changed the name.

The mental burden of unpaid caregiving in Mexico has a direct impact on the lives of millions of women: 73% have turned down personal or professional opportunities, 70% have had to alter their life plans, and 62% report emotional exhaustion, according to the first national exploratory survey conducted by the Iberoamericana University. The study, developed by the Center for Critical Gender and Feminist Studies (CECRIGE) and the Institute for Research on Equitable Development (EQUIDE), reveals that the mental dimension of caregiving—anticipating, planning, and organizing the daily lives of others—remains outside of statistics, despite its impact on well-being. Based on a sample of 680 caregivers, whose results are extrapolated to an estimated population of 63 million people in the country, the data show that the impact of caregiving goes beyond time or physical effort. Also read: FGR will request the deportation of César Duarte's wife from the United States to Mexico; no investigation has been opened yet, according to sources. The effects of caregiving and housework: Among women who provide care, 63% say that these responsibilities interfere with their rest or leisure time; 56% experience insomnia, and 71% report emotional distress. The findings highlight a constant pressure of organization, anticipation, and emotional responsibility that disproportionately falls on them. "The public conversation about caregiving..."

Multiple footage showed law enforcement officers removing demonstrators in Tel Aviv. Similar scenes were filmed by activists in the northern city of Haifa.

MINNEAPOLIS – Massive protests are taking place this Saturday in the United States and other countries against President Donald Trump, with millions of people outraged by what they perceive as an increasingly authoritarian and law-breaking trend. This is the third time in less than a year that Americans have taken to the streets as part of a movement called "No Kings," the most visible face of the opposition to Trump since he began his second term in January 2025. And now they have a new reason for outrage: the war in Iran that Trump launched alongside Israel, with objectives and timelines that are constantly changing. The demonstrations are taking place in several cities, including Washington, Boston, and Atlanta, where thousands of people gathered in a park to denounce the authoritarianism. "No country can govern without the consent of the people," Marc McCaughey, a 36-year-old military veteran, told the press in Atlanta. "We are here because we feel that the Constitution is under threat in multiple ways. Things are not normal. They are not right." In the town of West Bloomfield, near Detroit, Michigan, people braved sub-zero temperatures to protest. And in Washington D.C., protesters, some carrying signs that read "Trump must go now" and "Fight against fascism," crossed a bridge over the Potomac River towards the Lincoln Memorial, the site of historic demonstrations...

PARIS. Four years, one month, and five days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the war continues to claim lives and cause material losses on both sides, without respite. While Moscow continues to indiscriminately attack civilian targets without making significant progress, Ukraine has managed to extend its response to Russian territory, significantly impacting its port infrastructure, energy facilities, and logistical networks. "Ukraine is extending the war to Russian territory. Russian rear areas are no longer safe. What the Kremlin has been selling to its people for years as a 'distant war' is slowly, methodically, and very concretely coming home," says Alexandre Melnik, a former Russian diplomat and professor at the ICN Business School. In the past 90 days, Russia has launched more than 6,000 drones against Ukraine. However, Ukraine is no longer playing the role of a passive target. According to Russian reports, during the same period, it has used approximately 1,200 to 1,300 drones against Russian territory. And these are no longer symbolic gestures, but a systematic campaign. "Kyiv has not only begun to reach Russia, but also to shatter its sense of invulnerability," adds Melnik. According to numerous specialists, the Russian rear is feeling the effects of the war not only along the border: Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk remain under constant pressure. But the attacks are now reaching further: to the regions of Moscow and St. Petersburg...

ZURICH – The Swiss food giant Nestlé reported this Saturday the theft of a large shipment of KitKat chocolate bars and warned that this could lead to shortages in stores just before Easter. KitKat confirmed in a statement on Saturday that "a truck carrying 413,793 units of its new range of chocolates was stolen during transport in Europe." The shipment, weighing approximately 12 tons, disappeared in a country not specified last week while being transported between production and distribution centers, the company said. KitKat is a chocolate-covered wafer biscuit, first created by the company Rowntree Limited in York, England, in 1935. After Rowntree was acquired by the multinational corporation Nestlé in 1988, this company markets KitKat in most countries, except in the United States, where it is marketed in the western part of the country by Hershey's and in the eastern part by Nabisco. Nestlé estimates that approximately 635 KitKat bars are consumed worldwide every second. "We always encourage people to take a break with KitKat," commented a spokesperson for the brand, referring to its slogan "Have a break, have a KitKat." "But it seems that the thieves took the message too literally and 'took a break' with more than 12 tons of our chocolate," he added. The brand warned that "the theft could lead to..."

The U.S. military denied this Saturday that the Iranian regime had attacked U.S. bases in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, and killed 500 people, as claimed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. "Fact: No U.S. personnel have been attacked in Dubai. The Iranian regime is fabricating lies on social media to hide the reality that its military capabilities are, undeniably, degraded," stated the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) on X. The military organization, based in Florida, refuted the statements of the spokesman for the Joint Operations Command of Khatam al-Anbiya, Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfagari, who hours earlier claimed that Iran had attacked two alleged U.S. facilities with missiles and drones, one with 400 people and the other with over 100 people in Dubai. In a message broadcast by Iranian media, Zolfagari warned U.S. President Donald Trump that "the region will become a graveyard for American soldiers." Furthermore, the military shared a video showing the moment of the attacks on Iranian ships: "For decades, Iranian naval vessels have threatened and harassed global maritime transport in regional waters, but those days are over," CENTCOM stated. The message comes a day after an attack on an air base in Saudi Arabia in which at least 12 U.S. military personnel were injured on Friday, two of them grievously…

The process of obtaining permanent residency in the United States through the Green Card involves waiting periods that significantly impact the lives of millions of people. Processing times can range from less than a year to several decades, depending on the applicant's immigration category, country of origin, and the chosen application pathway, according to the federal immigration agency, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the U.S. Department of State. This variability in processing times affects those seeking family reunification, foreign workers, and applicants for international protection. The most recent institutional information indicates that these delays are largely due to the annual quota system and the historical backlog of cases. The federal government maintains different procedures for immediate relatives of citizens, employment-based applications, humanitarian cases, and categories subject to preference. USCIS updates estimated processing times monthly and publishes tools for individual inquiries, while the Visa Bulletin, the official monthly publication of the Department of State, establishes the availability of slots for each group and nationality. The legal and administrative context of 2026 reveals record numbers of pending cases and periodic adjustments to eligibility criteria...

On March 27, 2026, the White House launched OnlyFarms.gov, a website designed to direct public attention to official agricultural resources provided by the United States government. Accessing this domain redirects users directly to the agriculture section of the government portal, where information is concentrated on financial support, regulatory programs, technical assistance, and economic measures for rural producers. According to the international news channel NDTV, the name was chosen as part of a digital communication strategy, designed to capture public attention by using a name that evokes popular internet platforms, although the content remains strictly institutional. The launch of OnlyFarms.gov took place during a presentation in Washington D.C., attended by over 800 representatives from the agricultural sector. The initiative aims to centralize the dissemination of policies, data, and benefits related to agriculture, within the context of economic reforms being implemented by the United States government to strengthen the national food chain. The domain functions as a digital alias and redirects users to the official agriculture section, without offering its own tools or additional features. According to NDTV, the initiative is a response to the need to make federal resources more accessible, optimizing the visibility of state and federal support programs for…

The Israeli military intensified its attacks on targets in southern Lebanon on Saturday, a day marked by the deaths of at least three journalists and six healthcare workers, prompting strong criticism from the Lebanese government, which accused Israel of committing "war crimes." According to reports, one of the bombings struck a vehicle carrying journalists. Among the victims were Ali Shoeib, who worked for the Al Manar channel – linked to Hezbollah – as well as journalist Fatime Ftuni and a relative who was with her. Israel confirmed the attack and stated that one of the deceased had ties to the militia, a claim that has been questioned by Lebanese authorities and international organizations. In another bombing in the same area, five healthcare workers were killed after being struck while on duty, adding to the death of a healthcare worker hours earlier in a separate attack. The escalation of violence is occurring in a context of increasing tension in the region. On Saturday, Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for launching a missile towards Israeli territory, marking their first direct action since the conflict began approximately a month ago. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are underway to contain the escalation. Pakistan has summoned representatives from Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia with the aim of exploring a solution.

The Panamanian banking system started 2026 with sustained credit expansion, a significant increase in deposits, and a slight rise in non-performing loans, compared to the same period in 2025. Between January and February, the International Banking Center showed growth driven by consumption, trade, and housing, while the system maintains a strong position in terms of assets and liquidity. As of the end of February 2026, the net loan portfolio reached $100.348.3 billion, reflecting an annual increase of 5.39%, equivalent to an additional $5.134.8 billion compared to the same period in 2025. This performance confirms that credit continues to be the main driver of the banking system, with a rate of expansion higher than that recorded a year earlier, when growth was more moderate. Within this portfolio, credit was concentrated in the areas of consumer goods, trade, and mortgages, which increased their combined share from 78.7% to 80.3% of the total. The consumer segment maintained a key role, with a portfolio of personal loans exceeding $30 billion, within which auto loans recorded a growth of 11.36%, reaching amounts close to $3 billion, while credit cards exceeded $8 billion, with an increase of 8.14% compared to the same period in 2025. Mortgage credit, on the other hand, exceeded $18 billion, with a growth of nearly 5.8%, driven by demand for housing…

José Luis Sierra is back in management after a difficult spell at Unión Española, starting a campaign that ended with the club's historic second relegation to the Primera B division. Sierra has been announced as the new coach of Al-Wakrah in the Qatar Stars League. The 57-year-old coach returns to the Middle East, although this will be his first experience in the country that hosted the last World Cup. He has also coached Al-Ittihad, Al-Tai (in two separate stints), and Al-Wehda in Saudi Arabia, as well as Shabab Al-Ahli in the United Arab Emirates. His stints at Colo Colo and Palestino mark the end of his career as a head coach. With Al-Ittihad, he won his only titles outside of Chile. He secured the Saudi Arabian Cup in 2017 and the King's Cup in 2018. It is worth noting that Sierra is returning to the Middle East during a complex period for the region, due to the ongoing conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran. In this context, he arrives at Al-Wakrah, a team that has been champion of the Qatari league twice, with a surprise: Luis Jiménez will be part of his coaching staff. "El Mago" has had numerous experiences in the Middle East as a player. After 19 rounds of matches, the club is in eighth position with 23 points. His first words: Sierra gave his first statements after conducting his first training session in Qatar: "It's going well. We will get to know each other. For a first meeting, I have a very good impression of the first training session and everything they did,"...

The United States government announced the extension of the Deferred Forced Departure (DFD) mechanism for residents of Hong Kong and Liberia, delaying the deportation of these groups until 2027. The measure was formalized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which detailed the validity period of the protection and the requirements for obtaining work and travel permits. The decision affects individuals who meet specific criteria for residency and nationality, according to publicly available documents from the federal government. According to USCIS, the DFD does not grant formal immigration status, but it allows beneficiaries to legally remain in the country, apply for work authorization, and, under certain conditions, apply for departure and re-entry permits. The protection for residents of Hong Kong extends until February 5, 2027, while the protection for nationals of Liberia will end on June 30, 2026. The DHS stated that the extension is in response to presidential guidelines related to foreign policy and the situation in the countries of origin. The Deferred Forced Departure mechanism has been used by the White House to provide temporary protection to groups affected by conflicts, humanitarian crises, or political changes in their countries. In the case of Hong Kong, the decision is linked to recent developments regarding civil rights and changes...

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, signed several agreements with countries in the Gulf region during his tour this week, aimed at helping these states defend themselves against Iranian attacks. The Ukrainian leader reached agreements with leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to share their expertise on drone offensives and new technologies, in exchange for receiving financial assistance for their conflict with Russia. He also held discussions with officials from Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait on the same matter. Since the beginning of the conflict, Iran has attacked various U.S. facilities in the Middle East. A recent attack targeted the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, where officials reported that at least ten U.S. military personnel were injured. In the past few hours, two people were also reported dead in the United Arab Emirates following a missile attack on a highway in the capital, Abu Dhabi. Previously, Zelensky told Reuters in an interview that "Russia is providing intelligence support to Iran. We have evidence from our intelligence services." Furthermore, the Ukrainian president accused Russia of "blackmailing" the United States, threatening to stop sharing intelligence with Iran if the United States stopped sharing information with Ukraine. "Could this lead to the United States suspending the exchange of data?..."

The Ministry of Education of Panama announced that the country will return to the PISA assessment in 2029, marking a shift in the national education strategy and a direct modification of the position adopted in 2024, when the current Minister of Education, Lucy Molinar, decided to withdraw the country from the assessment scheduled for 2025. This new decision aims to align participation with a process of structural transformation of the education system. According to the official statement, the return to the international assessment is part of a planned strategy, not an immediate decision, with the goal of ensuring that the results reflect concrete progress in curriculum redesign, teacher training, and the integration of technology in classrooms. The Ministry anticipates that by 2029, the country will be in an intermediate phase of implementing reforms, which will allow for a more accurate measurement of the impact of the changes. This announcement represents a turnaround from the decision made after President José Raúl Mulino took office, when in 2024, the decision was made not to participate in the PISA 2025 assessment. At that time, authorities argued that the education system was not prepared to reflect real improvements, and that immediate participation would not provide useful information for decision-making. The decision to withdraw generated criticism from various educational and academic sectors, who questioned the loss of a key tool for international assessment…

The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, reported this Saturday, during a video conference press conference from Qatar, on an intelligence report that reveals that U.S. military bases and other facilities in the Middle East have been identified as targets by Iran and recently photographed by Russian satellites. Among these facilities is the Anglo-American naval base of Diego Garcia, located in the Chagos archipelago in the Indian Ocean. According to official U.S. sources, Iran attacked this base with two ballistic missiles on March 20th. Ukrainian intelligence also indicates that a gas production plant in Kuwait and an unspecified location in the Israeli city of Haifa have also been photographed. Other countries where, according to Ukrainian intelligence, images of strategic infrastructure have been taken include Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Some of these photographs were obtained in the past week, according to the information presented by Zelensky. The President stated: "Every day I read about facilities in Ukraine that have been photographed by satellites (Russian satellites). Now I am reading about facilities in the Middle East that have been photographed by satellites. Every time we know that a facility in Ukraine has been photographed, we know that we need to protect it because they are planning some kind of operation to destroy it." He added: "Everyone knows what those photos are for." According to Zelensky...

The conflict between the United States and Israel with the Iranian regime, and the subsequent attacks by Tehran on Gulf countries, disrupted the stability of financial markets. After just one month, the price of Brent crude oil rose by 55%, reaching $112 per barrel. Uncertainty dominated this period, with the confirmation of a prolonged conflict driving up the prices of oil and gas. Damage to energy infrastructure and fears of a reduced global supply put upward pressure on prices. Brent, the European benchmark, increased by 55.31% and approached $120. West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the benchmark in the United States, rose by 48.67% and is currently around $100, the highest level since mid-2022. The price of natural gas increased by more than 70%, reaching €54.155 per megawatt-hour. Major stock exchanges experienced significant declines. The IBEX in Spain fell by 8.49%; Frankfurt fell by 11.8%; Paris fell by 10.24%; London fell by 8.64%; and Milan fell by 8.11%. According to Manuel Pinto, an analyst at XTB, "these declines reflect a pessimistic scenario regarding a possible economic slowdown, driven by rising energy prices, a resurgence of inflation, and the expectation of interest rate hikes." In Asia, the Seoul stock exchange fell by 12.9%; Tokyo fell by 9.31%; and Hong Kong fell by 5.53%. In the United States, the Nasdaq Composite fell by 16.07%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 7.82%, and the S&P 500 fell by 7.42%. By sector, the most cyclical...

The arrival of April 2026 marks one of the most eventful astronomical periods of the year, with the first full moon of spring, the maximum elongation of Mercury, a new moon, and the Lyrids meteor shower all taking center stage in the night sky. These events, confirmed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the International Meteor Organization (IMO), will be visible to observers in both hemispheres and represent key dates for scientific outreach and naked-eye observation. According to the schedule published by the specialized platform Sea and Sky and reported by the science publication National Geographic, the key dates will be April 2nd, when the full moon known as the Pink Moon will reach its maximum brightness; April 3rd, with the greatest angular separation of Mercury from the Sun; April 17th, during the new moon phase; and the night of April 21st to 22nd, during the peak activity of the Lyrids. The figures and times have been validated by the aforementioned organizations, which officially update their data. The observation of astronomical phenomena such as these has a long history in scientific and cultural traditions, as well as in the development of agricultural and religious calendars. The interest in meteor showers and lunar phases has driven the creation of historical records and the organization of public and private activities related to astronomy, according to…

The war in Iran and the renewed oil price shock, coupled with the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, expose Brazil's energy insecurity. This vulnerability was exacerbated by the suspension of refinery expansion projects in the country, a consequence of the "Lava Jato" operation and pressure from multinational oil companies. This is the assessment of José Sergio Gabrielli, former president of Petrobras, who launched the book "The Economics of Hydrogen: An Energy Paradigm for the Future" this week, focusing on the prospects for using hydrogen in the energy transition. The book was published by the Institute for Strategic Studies of Oil, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (Ineep). Related news: Petrobras discovers oil in Marlim Sul, in the pre-salt layer off the coast of Campos. The European Union calls on the UN to take action to allow the export of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of Finance raises its inflation projection for 2026 due to rising oil prices. In an interview with Agência Brasil, Gabrielli pointed out that the United States (USA) is attempting to interfere in the global oil market through interventions in Venezuela and Iran; that the war will alter the geography of this trade, with a likely greater participation from Brazil, Canada, and Guyana in supplying crude oil to China and India. However, without sufficient refining capacity to meet domestic demand, particularly for diesel, Brazil would be vulnerable to the turbulence of the current period. The former president of Petrobras also commented on the role of fuel importers in Brazil and the impact of the war on the energy transition...

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, referred to the Strait of Hormuz as the "Trump Strait" this Friday evening. He compared this to the proposed renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America." "We are currently negotiating (with Iran), and it would be great if we could do something, but they have to open it. They have to open the Trump Strait, I mean, the Strait of Hormuz. Excuse me, I'm very sorry, what a terrible mistake," the president stated at the FII Priority event, organized by Saudi investors in Miami. Trump joked about the name change while recalling that opening the strait is one of his main demands after nearly a month of tension with Iran, which has prevented transit through the area, causing Brent oil prices to rise this week to $112.57 per barrel for deliveries in May, the highest price since June 2022. "The 'fake news' will say that he (Trump) said it accidentally. There are no accidents with me, not many," the president said. The Republican compared the name change of the strait to the one he ordered at the beginning of his second term, renaming the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America," a change that appears on maps in the United States despite criticism from the Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum. "It took about an hour (to change it), and it was done. The president called me. It's really a good..."

The peak of Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure coincided with unusually intense activity from automated networks – bots, fake accounts, and similar entities – surrounding the topic of energy. Thousands of fake accounts posted or flooded the comments sections of real posts on Facebook, Threads, TikTok, X, and Telegram, competing to blame Ukrainian authorities for the power outages, the ineffective use of international aid, and corruption. AI-generated videos were also widely disseminated. Analysts at the Center for Countering Disinformation, which operates under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and studies Russian information and psychological operations, have dubbed the campaign "Black Winter." "The goal of the campaign was to shift the responsibility for the consequences of the attacks on energy infrastructure to the Ukrainian authorities," explained CCD analyst Anait Khoperiia. According to her, the narratives being promoted went beyond simply claiming that the Ukrainian government had lost control or was misusing funds. They also included accusations that DTEK, one of the country's largest energy companies, was irrationally and unfairly distributing electricity, as if DTEK, and not the Russian attacks, were the ones depriving the population of electricity. "We also observed active attempts to..."

Russia is continuing the evacuation of Russian personnel from the Iranian nuclear power plant in Bushehr, which has been attacked for the third time this Friday by the United States and Israel, according to the Russian embassy in Armenia, a neighboring country to Iran. "On March 27, thanks to the coordinated work of Russian diplomats and Armenian representatives, another 164 employees of the Rosatom corporation returned to their homeland," a statement from the diplomatic mission said, as reported by Russian news agencies. Since the beginning of the war in the Middle East, more than 320 Russian citizens have returned to their country via Armenia. Moscow expressed its "deep indignation" this week regarding the second attack, which occurred on Tuesday in an area near the number one power unit of the plant, despite statements by U.S. President Donald Trump about a pause in airstrikes against Iranian energy infrastructure. According to Russia, both the United States and Israel must understand that if one of the missiles hits the number one unit of Bushehr, the "humanitarian and ecological consequences will be irreversible." The lives of the plant personnel, including the Russian specialists, remain under constant threat, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, considering this situation "unacceptable." The Rosatom corporation had previously announced that it had evacuated 163 workers from Bushehr on Wednesday. "The situation at the Bushehr nuclear power plant..."

The promise of complete connectivity, regardless of location, has taken a significant step forward in the country. Following the initial deployment last November in the Pan de Azúcar National Park – where SMS messaging via satellite was enabled – Entel announced this week the expansion of its Direct to Cell service in partnership with Starlink. Now, users will be able to access everyday applications such as WhatsApp, Google Maps, AccuWeather, and X (formerly Twitter) in areas where terrestrial mobile networks are non-existent. In this way, Chile becomes the first country in Latin America and the seventh globally to implement this technology, placing it alongside major powers such as the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Digital Security and Sovereignty This announcement has strategic implications. In a country characterized by geographical complexity and exposure to natural disasters, the ability to maintain active communication channels through low-orbit satellites becomes a public safety asset. The Undersecretary of Telecommunications, Romina Garrido, emphasized that this technology strengthens the response to emergencies, integrating into an agenda that seeks to modernize the digital economy through the combination of fiber optics, 5G, and now, direct satellite support for mobile phones. For his part, the CEO of Entel, Antonio Büchi, highlighted that this advancement is part of a technical roadmap that began four months ago. "This is the…

Artificial intelligence has become a critical budgetary item for companies. This was the central message conveyed at Tech World Chile, an event organized by Lenovo this week at the Claro Arena, where the company outlined its roadmap for the region: a strategy based on what they call "hybrid AI." The company's proposal addresses a logistical and security issue. The concept of hybrid AI implies that data processing should not occur exclusively in the public cloud, but should be distributed between the company's local infrastructure, edge computing, and the end-user's personal devices. According to Jaime Pomareda, General Manager of Lenovo Chile, the hybrid model aims to "create more intelligent, efficient, and scalable technology ecosystems," as stated in a company press release. In practice, this means that companies can keep sensitive information within their own firewalls, while delegating less critical or more demanding tasks to the cloud. Market data for Latin America Perhaps the most revealing aspect of the event was the analysis of the sector. Lenovo and the consulting firm IDC presented the "CIO Playbook 2026," a study that surveyed 500 technology leaders in Latin America. The figures show a market that has moved beyond the initial phase of wonder and is now in the full implementation stage. 84% of companies in the region are already in the pilot phase or actively adopting the technology...

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported early this morning the detection of a missile launched towards its territory from Yemen, marking the first attack of its kind in the context of the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which is entering its second month this Saturday. "Air defense systems are operational to intercept the threat," the message posted on the IDF's Telegram channel stated, urging the public to follow official guidelines. Approximately fifteen minutes later, authorities updated that, following their assessment, people were allowed to leave designated safe zones throughout the country. The Houthi rebels of Yemen, allies of Iran, declared on Friday night that they are prepared to become involved in the conflict with a direct military intervention if new actors join the United States and Israel in the offensive against Iran, or if the Red Sea is used for attacks against Tehran. In a televised statement, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea stated that the group's forces have "their fingers on the trigger" and are prepared to intervene under those specific conditions, which would expand the war in the region. Sarea indicated that these conditions include "the arrival of any new alliance with the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran" and "the use of the Red Sea for hostile operations" against the Iranian regime or any Muslim country. These statements come at a time when…

Just a month after the start of the war, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated in Miami that the Iranian regime is "devastated" and that he desires to reach an "agreement" to end the war in the Middle East. Marco Rubio stated that the Islamic Republic has not yet responded to the proposal. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) condemned new waves of nighttime bombings, using missiles and drones, against their territories. Another attack on one of Oman's main ports left a foreign worker injured, according to authorities in the Gulf country. The Houthi rebels of Yemen, allies of Iran, announced on Friday evening their threat to intervene militarily in the Middle East conflict if new actors join the United States and Israel in the offensive against Iran, or if the Red Sea is used to launch attacks against Tehran. Hours later, Israel intercepted a missile launched from Yemen. Diplomats from several countries, including Pakistan and Turkey, are attempting to organize a direct meeting between representatives of the United States and Iran. On the other hand, the foreign ministers of the G7, meeting in France on Friday, formally requested an immediate cessation of attacks against populations and infrastructure. Below is minute-by-minute coverage: A foreign worker was injured in an Iranian attack against Oman. An Iranian drone attack targeted one of the main ports...

The conflict in the Middle East enters its 29th day of war this Saturday, March 28th, amidst ongoing tensions. An Iranian operation targeting a base in Saudi Arabia injured U.S. soldiers, while the Israeli military announced "large-scale" attacks on Tehran. Here are the key points to understand what is happening and why it is concerning the world. Key news developments in the conflict today: An Iranian missile attack on a base in Saudi Arabia damaged aircraft and injured U.S. soldiers. The irony of the U.S. President's statement at the FII Priority Summit: "The Trump Strait." The President warned that Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz to reach an agreement. The USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier is expected to be deployed to an area near the conflict with Iran. Trump says, "Cuba is next." Wall Street closes lower, concerned about the effects of the war in the Middle East. The United States expects Israel to take action against violence by settlers. Other important developments: Trump is considering sending troops to Iran, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Israeli military says it carried out "large-scale" attacks on Tehran. Despite the U.S. proposal, neither Israel nor Iran has confirmed that a dialogue channel has been opened between the parties. Trump extends the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to April 6th. Why the United States and Israel attacked...

The drones were shot down over the Bryansk, Leningrad, Smolensk, Belgorod, Kursk, Pskov, Kaluga, Tver, Voronezh, Rostov, Ryazan, Oryol, Tula, Yaroslavl, Novgorod and Moscow regions, as well as over Crimea, the statement reads

During the early hours of this Saturday, at least ten people were injured, two of them seriously, as a result of a Russian drone attack on civilian infrastructure in the port city of Odesa, in southern Ukraine, including a hospital. "So far, it is known that ten people have been injured as a result of the enemy attack on the city. They are receiving the necessary medical assistance. The staff and patients of the maternity hospital have been evacuated," said the regional administrator of Odesa, Serhi Lisak, in a message shared on his Telegram channel. The post also detailed that "all relevant services are working at the scene. The extent of the damage is being assessed." Lisak, who initially reported four injuries, indicated that in addition to the maternity and children's hospital – whose staff and patients managed to reach safety – there was also "partial damage between the fourth and fifth floors of a high-rise building" and in several nearby residential buildings, which were affected by the blast wave of the attack. Furthermore, the administrator reported that "in the Primorski district, damage was also reported to three educational centers" and "in the Khajebey district, a multi-story building was hit." He also clarified that no injuries were reported in those areas and that emergency services were already working at the scene, where...

This Friday, at least ten U.S. military personnel were injured in an attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, after an Iranian missile struck facilities located in Al Kharj, in the center of the Saudi territory. According to information from U.S. and Saudi officials to CBS, two of the soldiers were seriously injured, and eight suffered injuries of considerable, but less severe, nature. The attack, carried out with missiles and drones launched from Iran, also affected several U.S. aircraft. BREAKING: 🔴 10 U.S. service members were injured after an Iranian missile struck Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, damaging several U.S. refueling aircraft, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. pic.twitter.com/KqaLLoA2Cf — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 27, 2026 According to preliminary information, the damaged aircraft include several in-flight refueling planes and an AWACS E-3 Sentry command and control aircraft. A source familiar with the matter told CBS that Prince Sultan Air Base was also attacked in another incident earlier this week, resulting in 14 injuries. However, the source did not reveal the nationalities of those affected. Another U.S. official stated that that attack was less severe than the one that occurred during this day. To date, more than 300 U.S. military personnel have been injured in combat during the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran…

Throughout the month of April, from the 2nd to the 29th, film enthusiasts will be delighted by the twenty-first edition of the "Euroscopio" Film Festival, which returns with 15 films that will be screened in major cinemas across the country, as well as in various partner venues throughout the national territory. Organized by the European Union Delegation in Venezuela, the program stands out for its diversity. It features 6 films directed by women, selected from a range of productions that includes animation, documentaries, family films, dramas, and comedies. This year, the festival focuses on pressing global issues such as diversity and inclusion, the environment, and migration, reflecting the European Union's vision of tolerance and respect, while also promoting the ritual of cinema as an opportunity for thoughtful entertainment, according to the press release. The "Euroscopio" 2026 festival opens with "Jippie No More!", the moving and fascinating film by Dutch director Margien Rogaar, which tells the story of a teenager with Down syndrome experiencing first love. The opening ceremony will also feature the presentation of the award for the winner of the second edition of the poster competition, which was held to select the visual identity for this year's festival. This year, the winning design was submitted by the designer Pedro Lizardo. The organization of this festival is supported by the embassies of Germany, and…

DEAR EDITOR: Given the recent fiscal discussions, the first question is whether the Chilean state is financially bankrupt. The answer is a resounding no. The gross debt of the Central Government closed 2025 at 41.7% of GDP, still below the prudent level of 45%. The Treasury's assets were equivalent to 4.1% of GDP, so the net financial position stood at -37.6% of GDP. Furthermore, the Foreign Exchange Reserve Fund (FEES) held US$3.889 billion at the end of December 2025. Chile, therefore, maintains its investment grade rating – A2/A-/A according to Moody's, Fitch, and S&P – and remains among the credit-rated economies with the best ratings in Latin America. However, this does not mean that the inherited situation was healthy or comparable to that of previous periods. Minimizing the deterioration would be just as wrong as exaggerating it. The Structural Balance closed 2025 at -3.6% of GDP, with a deviation of 2.5 percentage points of GDP from the original target and 2.0 percentage points from the current target. The CFA itself described this deviation as high in historical terms for a comparable year. Moreover, this was the third consecutive failure to meet the structural target, following 2023 (-2.7%) and 2024 (-3.3%), in years that also lacked crises or extraordinary events. Furthermore, the problem was not only the final figure, but also its composition. The CFA attributed the deviation to projection errors, changes in cyclical adjustments, low effectiveness of the corrective plan, and increased spending. It also warned that the stability...

JERUSALEM – An Iranian missile attack injured several U.S. military personnel and damaged some aircraft at a base in Saudi Arabia on Friday, according to a U.S. official familiar with the situation. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters, said the attack on Prince Sultan Air Base involved an Iranian missile and drones. It damaged several U.S. refueling aircraft. The Wall Street Journal reported that approximately 10 soldiers were injured in the attack, two of them seriously. According to officials who spoke to the Journal, the injured soldiers were inside a building at the base that was struck by the attack. The attack also damaged several U.S. refueling aircraft. At least one missile hit the base, as well as several unmanned aerial vehicles, according to two of the officials. This missile attack is at least the second to target the base during the conflict with Iran. Five refueling aircraft were damaged in a previous attack, the Journal reported. The attack comes as Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries are reportedly moving closer to joining the war and adopting a more aggressive stance against Iran, while the United States and its allies are facing a dwindling supply of air defense interceptors after four weeks of conflict. U.S. Central Command said earlier that more…

The government's decision, announced last Monday by the Minister of Finance in a series of interviews with major television channels, to modify the parameters of the Fuel Price Stabilization Mechanism (Mepco), led to a historic increase in gasoline prices this week, the largest in 46 years. The price of 93 octane gasoline increased by $370, and diesel by $580, raising their average total value to $1,550 and $1,500, respectively. The government's rationale for this decision is based on sound technical grounds. Mepco was created in 2014, under law 20.765, as a tool to mitigate sharp increases or decreases in the value of fuels through variations in the specific tax rate. Thus, if fuel prices experienced a significant increase, the rise would be offset by a reduction in the associated tax, and if the situation was the reverse, the tax burden would increase. Given the current situation, driven by the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, and the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz – through which approximately 20% of the world's crude oil is traded – which has pushed the price of oil to over US$100 per barrel on average, maintaining the stabilization system in its current form would have imposed an excessive cost on the national treasury, according to the Minister. According to the Minister of Finance's calculations, the weekly cost of Mepco, without the actual adjustment...

The Panamanian government has launched a comprehensive security operation for Holy Week, aiming to ensure citizen safety throughout the country during the period of peak travel. The plan involves deploying 26,596 personnel to 456 locations, in a strategy designed to provide protection to both nationals and foreigners traveling to various tourist and religious destinations. The Minister of Public Security, Frank Alexis Abrego, explained that this operation will be supported by 1,474 vehicles and motorcycles, as well as 42 boats for maritime surveillance and 18 aircraft to reinforce aerial patrols. He stated that this is a comprehensive deployment that will allow for an immediate response to any eventuality during this period of high mobility. The Minister of Security emphasized that security is a shared responsibility, and he called on citizens to act with prudence and responsibility. In this regard, he reiterated the importance of respecting traffic laws and avoiding risky behavior. "If you are going to drive, do not consume alcohol," he insisted, highlighting that prevention is key to avoiding accidents and ensuring that families return home safely. As part of the actions, the National Police will set up 150 checkpoints and surveillance points distributed across 18 police zones, supported by 997 vehicles, including cars and motorcycles.

PARIS. He is considered one of the foremost theorists of ethics and justice in warfare. Michael Walzer, an American philosopher and social theorist, has also worked extensively in areas such as politics, democracy, and equality. Born on March 3, 1935, in New York, Walzer taught political philosophy at Harvard and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, and for 30 years, he co-edited "Dissent," a magazine representing the "third way" in the United States. He is the author of, among other books, "Just and Unjust Wars," which reignited modern reflection on the ethics of war and served as a framework for understanding for the international intellectual community during conflicts in Yugoslavia and Rwanda, among others, and "Spheres of Justice," a defense of pluralism and equality, a true counterpoint to American analytic philosophy. "We are facing an imprudent war with no clear end in sight. And that makes it wrong and unjust," Walzer told LA NACION in a telephone conversation between New York and Paris. - As the leading expert on just and unjust wars, what do you think of this war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran? - Your question goes to the heart of the matter. I have been trying to write about this, not very successfully. You are going to have to listen to a complicated answer. Imagine two just wars, and then I want to compare them to what is happening now. Suppose that Americans, or Americans and Israelis, were to...

The Hezbollah guerrilla warfare in southern Lebanon and the actions of Shia militias in Iraq, which are pushing for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country, have surprised Israel and the United States in the Middle East conflict against Iran. Hezbollah has announced dozens of daily military operations against Israelis along the southern Lebanese border. According to the group, "nearly" 100 Merkava tanks have been destroyed during this period of conflict. In the last 24 hours alone, the Lebanese group claims to have carried out 103 operations against Israel. Israeli neighborhood after an attack by Iranian missiles - Reuters/Roei Kastro/No reproduction allowed Related news: G7 calls for an end to attacks against civilian populations and infrastructure. Economic pressure from Iranian resistance forces a new U.S. retreat. Map monitors inputs to reduce the impact of the war on agriculture. In Iraq, the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has taken a tougher stance against the United States and Israel after a headquarters and a medical clinic occupied by Iran-backed Shia militias were attacked, killing 15 fighters from the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in the city of Habbaniyah. The Iraqi government authorized the PMF to exercise the right to self-defense, openly accused Washington of these attacks in Iraq, and summoned the U.S. chargé d'affaires in Baghdad, to whom a "strong protest letter" was presented. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group that brings together various factions...

The war in the Middle East, pitting the United States and Israel against Iran, has begun to have tangible effects on the Ecuadorian economy, ranging from rising fuel prices to disruptions in key exports, all within a context of high energy dependence and logistical vulnerability for the country. One of the most immediate impacts is being felt in the fuel market. The international price of diesel, a key benchmark for Ecuadorian imports, has more than doubled in less than three months. Before the conflict, at the beginning of January 2026, a gallon of ultra-low sulfur diesel was priced at USD 1.99, while by March it had reached USD 4.09, driven by restrictions on the production and transportation of crude oil in the Persian Gulf. This increase is due, among other factors, to limitations in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage for global oil trade, as well as the reduced operational capacity of refineries in the region. This pressure on supply has created a chain reaction that directly impacts importing countries like Ecuador. Domestically, the impact is not immediate to the same extent due to the band system implemented after the reduction of fuel subsidies in 2025. However, the price of diesel in the country has already registered sustained increases and reached USD 2.82 per gallon between March and April 2026, the highest price in decades. This mechanism limits…

The President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, ratified a cooperation agreement with the European Union, which will allow for the exchange of data for security purposes. This takes place against a backdrop of increasing organized crime and Ecuador's growing role as a strategic point in drug trafficking routes to Europe. The decision was adopted through a presidential decree, following an institutional process that included a ruling by the Constitutional Court of Ecuador, which on January 29th determined that the agreement did not require prior legislative approval. This interpretation allowed the executive branch to proceed directly with the ratification of the international agreement, originally signed in September 2025. The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between Ecuador and Europol, the agency responsible for coordinating criminal intelligence among the member states of the European bloc. The central objective is to strengthen the exchange of information, including personal data, to combat transnational crimes such as drug trafficking and terrorism. According to official information released by the European Commission after the signing of the agreement, this mechanism will improve the operational capabilities of both parties by providing access to relevant information in real-time, under standards that include safeguards for data protection and fundamental rights. The implementation of the agreement will be the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of…

MADRID – The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, once again opposed the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in an interview published on Thursday, a gesture that reinforces his image as the leading European voice of opposition to the American president, Donald Trump. "Good allies are like good friends. We tell each other the truth, no matter what," the Prime Minister told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in an interview at La Moncloa, the seat of the Spanish government, referring to the relationship between Madrid and Washington. Since the allies began their offensive in the Middle East, Sánchez has openly opposed the conflict, reviving the slogan "no to war" – which mobilized Spain in 2003 against the invasion of Iraq – and even denied the possibility of the American military using air bases in his country for the war, directly confronting the American president and clearly diverging from his European allies. The Spanish president's stance angered Trump, who criticized his government and threatened to impose economic sanctions, while simultaneously making him the visible face of a segment of the European population frustrated by the continent's reluctance to confront the American president. "No to war" On Wednesday, the socialist leader clearly defined his government's official position on the war with a strongly worded speech before the Congress of Deputies...

Joint attacks by the United States and Israel targeted a heavy water reactor in central Iran and a uranium processing plant, according to Iranian media reports. "The heavy water complex in Khondab was attacked in two phases by the American and Zionist enemy," the Fars news agency reported, citing Hassan Ghamari, an official from the central Markazi province. Fars and other media outlets reported that there were no casualties or radiation leaks at the facilities. For its part, the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization stated that a uranium processing plant was also hit. It has not yet provided further details. In other news, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced on Friday that it had intercepted three ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, and added that the waterway is closed to ships traveling to and from ports "belonging to allies and sympathizers of the Zionist-American enemies." "This morning, following the lies of the corrupt American president who claimed that the Strait of Hormuz was open, three container ships of different nationalities were intercepted after a warning from the Revolutionary Guard Navy," the Guard stated on its Sepah News website. "The movement of any ship from and to ports of origin belonging to allies and sympathizers of the Zionist-American enemies, to any destination...

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expressed its "concern" this Thursday regarding the "significant deterioration" of essential services in Cuba, due to the fuel shortage linked to the U.S. oil embargo, a critical health situation, and high social vulnerability. The IACHR and its Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights (REDESCA) warned in a statement about a potential humanitarian collapse due to the deterioration of services, with "particularly serious impacts on prisoners and vulnerable groups such as girls, boys, and adolescents, pregnant women, and the elderly." They emphasized that the high dependence on imported fuels increases the fragility of the healthcare system, in a context of shortages of supplies and medications, and limitations in diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. In addition, prolonged power outages are occurring, severely affecting access to drinking water, along with a sustained increase in food prices. The IACHR, the main and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), warns that the humanitarian crisis is unfolding in a context of "serious human rights violations and serious structural problems, especially due to the continuation of a single-party model, the absence of free elections and political pluralism, and the prohibition of political associations." It also denounces that the...

WASHINGTON – Washington can only definitively say that it has destroyed approximately one-third of Iran's vast missile arsenal, according to five people familiar with U.S. intelligence, as the war between the United States and Israel and the Islamic regime approaches its first month. The status of another third is less clear, but the bombings likely damaged, destroyed, or buried those missiles in underground tunnels and bunkers, four of the sources clarified, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information. One of them said that the intelligence assessment was similar regarding Iran's drone capabilities, noting that there was a certain degree of certainty that approximately one-third had been destroyed. The assessment, which had not been previously reported, shows that, although most of Iran's missiles are destroyed or inaccessible, Tehran still retains a significant inventory and could recover some of those that are buried or damaged once the fighting stops. The intelligence information contradicts the public statements made by U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, when he claimed that Iran had "very few rockets left." He also appeared to acknowledge the threat that the remaining Iranian missiles and drones pose to any future U.S. operations aimed at protecting the economically vital Strait of Orm…

Bill No. 230, which establishes a voluntary exchange program for firearms, ammunition, explosives, and related materials in exchange for food, medicine, or school supplies, was approved in its third reading by the National Assembly and will be sent to the Executive Branch for its approval or veto. The initiative aims to enshrine a mechanism that has previously operated as a temporary program into law, with the goal of ensuring its continuity over time, regardless of changes in government, and to strengthen its impact as a tool for public safety. The legislative proposal explicitly states that the exchange will not be conducted in cash, but through a monetary transfer documented on the individual's identification card, which can only be used in authorized businesses for the purchase of food, medicine, or school supplies. This point is crucial, as it seeks to prevent the misuse of the economic incentive and to ensure that the benefit has a direct social impact on the households participating in the program. The approved text also defines the operational mechanism of the program, stating that collection days for firearms must be held at least quarterly, organized by the Ministry of Government in coordination with the provincial governments, with the participation of the Ministry of Security and the National Police. These collection days will be announced in advance, including the date, time, and location, which introduces…

In the years following Barack Obama's presidency, it became almost an article of faith that one of his central mistakes in foreign policy was the "red line" he established in Syria. He had warned that he would attack Syria if it used chemical weapons, but when evidence emerged that it had indeed used them, he transferred the decision to intervene to Congress, which chose not to act. "A disaster," Donald Trump called it at the time. "A cause of generational and reputational damage," said then-Senator Marco Rubio (Republican of Florida). "Part of an incoherent maze" of foreign policy, argued Pete Hegseth some years later. By ignoring a red line he himself had drawn, Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican of South Carolina) explained, Obama had put the credibility of the United States at risk in the world. Obama's retreat on that red line now seems like a model of careful decision-making compared to what we have seen since the beginning of the conflict with Iran. Last week, President Trump posted on social media that "if Iran does not IMMEDIATELY and COMPLETELY open the Strait of Hormuz, within the next 48 HOURS, the United States will attack and DESTROY its various ENERGY FACILITIES, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE." The rest of the story is well-known. Iran was not intimidated by the threat and continued its attacks and the blockade of the strait.

Ukraine and Saudi Arabia have signed a cooperation agreement that will allow Kyiv to share its experience in defending against attacks from Iranian-made Shahed drones, according to a senior official who spoke to the AFP news agency. "The purpose of the agreement is for Ukraine to help them develop the necessary components for air defense that they need to counter the Shaheds and other drones," the official explained. The document was signed on Thursday during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the Saudi city of Jeddah, according to another senior official quoted by AFP. Zelensky announced the signing of an "important" cooperation agreement "in the field of defense" between the two countries on social media. "We are ready to share our expertise and our systems with Saudi Arabia," he stated. Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, "the Ukrainians have been defending themselves against the same terrorist bombings, ballistic missiles, and drones that the Iranian regime is launching today in the Middle East and the Gulf region," Zelensky noted. Saudi Arabia is one of the Gulf countries to which Ukraine recently sent military experts to share their experience in intercepting Shahed drones, designed by Iran and now mass-produced by Russia to attack Ukrainian territory. During his stay in Jeddah, Zelensky met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and with military specialists...

The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is participating this Friday in France at the meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7), which is being held at the Abbey of Vaux-de-Cernay, amidst growing tensions between Washington and its allies regarding the military offensive against Iran and its impact on the global energy market. Rubio departed on Thursday for the meeting, located about forty kilometers southwest of Paris, marking his first trip abroad since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on February 28th. The meeting is taking place in a context of divisions within the bloc, which, according to diplomatic sources, are at their highest point in over a decade. Before departing, the Secretary of State emphasized the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, which is affected by the military escalation. "Other countries obtain much more fuel from there than we do," he noted. The maritime passage concentrates nearly a fifth of the crude oil and liquefied natural gas that circulates globally, and its closure caused one of the largest energy disruptions in recent decades. Rubio also referred to indirect contacts with Tehran. He acknowledged progress in the negotiations through intermediary countries, although he avoided specifying any timelines. Meanwhile, the special envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed at the White House that Washington maintains channels with Iran through…

France announced that its military chief, Fabien Mandon, held discussions with representatives from 35 countries on Thursday, aiming to identify potential partners and proposals for a mission designed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz once the war between the United States and Israel against Iran concludes. The Western allies of the United States have stated that they will not participate in the current conflict, but this active diplomacy reveals a concern that, after the fighting, the Iranian regime may continue to threaten this vital waterway, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes. Shipping in the region has already slowed to near a standstill, following Iranian attacks on ships in the midst of its conflict with the United States and Israel. A statement from the French Ministry of Defense did not specify the names of the countries that participated in the large-scale video conference with Mandon, the head of the armed forces, but indicated that they came from all continents. The initiative was described as strictly defensive. The statement indicated that these were preliminary discussions to understand the perspectives of the countries involved in the crisis, to offer ideas, and to gather opinions on how an international mission might be developed. "This initiative, independent of the ongoing military operations in the region, is of a strictly defensive nature. Its purpose is to organize the resumption of..."

The conflict in the Middle East enters its 28th day of war this Friday, March 27th, amidst ongoing cross-border attacks and negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. Donald Trump, for his part, presented Iran with a 15-point plan to end the war, but is also considering sending troops to Tehran. Here are the key points to understand what is happening and why it is concerning the world. Key news developments in the conflict today: The United States presented Iran with a 15-point plan to end the war. Trump is considering sending troops to Iran, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The Israeli military claims to have carried out "large-scale" attacks on Tehran. Despite the U.S. proposal, neither Israel nor Iran has confirmed that a dialogue channel has been opened between the parties. Trump has extended the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to April 6th. Wall Street experienced its worst day since the beginning of the war with Iran. Iran has banned its sports teams from traveling to "hostile" countries. Oil prices are rising due to fears of an escalation in the Middle East. Iran has allowed Spanish ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz following a statement by Prime Minister Sánchez. In the event that a negotiated solution fails, Trump is considering attempting to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by force. Other important developments: The Pentagon has deployed an elite airborne force, indicating a deepening of the military deployment by the United States.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is participating in a meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) in France this Friday. Before traveling to the French capital, the official emphasized the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, which is affected by the escalating military tensions. "Other countries obtain far more fuel from there than we do," he noted. Abbas Araqchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, stated in a telephone conversation with the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, that maintaining the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz against ships linked to "enemies" constitutes a "legal right" of the country. Meanwhile, the Israeli military, amidst its offensive against the Hezbollah terrorist group, stated that it needs to increase the number of soldiers on the front line with Lebanon. The Defense Forces announced "large-scale" attacks against the heart of Tehran, particularly targeting the infrastructure of the Iranian regime. In parallel, Iran continues its pressure on the countries of the Gulf: Kuwait shot down two drones in different areas of the country, and the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense reported several attacks in the eastern region during the night, as well as the interception of six drones. Below is a minute-by-minute update: To continue viewing the latest updates from the live coverage: https://www.infobae.com/america/mundo/2026/03/27/en-vivo-irael-y-estados-unidos-atacan-iran…

The crisis in the Middle East is forcing regional governments to grapple with the delicate balance of buying fuel in US dollars while trying to pass on as little of the price increases as possible to their populations. Across Asia, countries that were already vulnerable to disruptions in energy supplies from the Persian Gulf are now facing a worrying side effect. Their currencies are being squeezed by a strengthening US dollar. The war in the Middle East has virtually halted the flow of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage that has become the world's most dangerous bottleneck. The conflict has also highlighted a second painful point of congestion. Approximately 90 percent of international trade in goods – including oil and gas, whose prices are soaring – uses the US currency. As is often the case during times of global upheaval, investors are pulling money out of the riskiest regions and putting it into US assets. This is driving up the value of the dollar, which is nearing its highest level against Asian currencies in the past two decades. The result is that many currencies are weakening just when their purchasing power is most needed. The combined effect of these pressures has weakened economies across Asia, where some local energy costs are even higher than the prices…

The UK's Defence Intelligence agency stated that Russia shared intelligence information and provided training to Iran on the use of drones and electronic warfare tactics before the conflict with the United States and Israel began, according to statements made by British Defence Secretary John Healey. The official stated that "there is an axis of aggression between Russia and Iran" and emphasized that "similar tactics and technologies to those used by Russia in Ukraine" have been observed. In an interview with the BBC, Healey said: "Before this conflict, Russia was sharing intelligence information and providing training to Iran, including the use of drones and electronic warfare." The minister added that this cooperation is not unexpected and directly linked the Russian president to the situation in the Middle East. "This should not surprise anyone, just as it should not surprise anyone that we have Putin's hidden hand in Iran, just as we do in Ukraine," he stated. He also recalled the previous flow of military equipment between the two countries and pointed out: "We have seen Iran supplying drones to Russia to be used against Ukraine." In this context, Healey warned that Moscow is trying to divert international attention from its operations in other areas. "While Putin wants us to be distracted from his activities elsewhere, we will not allow it," he declared. He also reiterated the UK's commitment to Kyiv and mentioned...

The Iraqi government condemned "any attack" against the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Jordan, following recent calls from these countries for Baghdad to halt attacks launched from its territory by Iranian-backed militias. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the government's "categorical rejection of any aggression against the Gulf states and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan." Simultaneously, Iran announced new waves of attacks against Israel and U.S. targets in countries in the Persian Gulf region early Friday morning. The statement emphasizes that the security of its Arab sister states is "an integral part of Iraqi national security" and that regional stability is a common interest, expressing a willingness to work together to address these attacks in a "responsible and timely manner." Iraqi authorities reiterated their rejection of the use of their territory to attack other countries, as well as their commitment to taking necessary measures to preserve their sovereignty, strengthen relations, and prevent actions that could affect security and stability in the Middle East. The statement came after Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain condemned the attacks by Tehran and urged Baghdad to prevent militias operating within Iraqi territory from targeting their countries, in order to avoid further escalation of the conflict.

The Israeli military stated this Thursday that it needs to increase the number of soldiers deployed on the front line with Lebanon to sustain its operations against the Hezbollah terrorist group and to advance the creation of a security zone. The military spokesperson, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, said that the current deployment is insufficient given the expansion of operations along the northern border. "In the Lebanese front, the forward defensive zone we are creating requires additional forces," Defrin stated in a televised address. The officer emphasized that the army is operating simultaneously in multiple scenarios, which necessitates the redistribution of resources and an increase in personnel. "More soldiers are needed for that," he added. The request for reinforcements comes amid an intensification of Israeli operations in southern Lebanon, where the armed forces are seeking to establish a separation zone that would reduce Hezbollah's offensive capabilities. According to Israeli authorities, this security zone aims to keep threats, such as anti-tank missiles, away from communities in the north of the country. In recent weeks, Israel has ordered the evacuation of areas located south of the Litani River, a region considered strategically important due to the presence of Iranian-backed militias. Israeli troops have erected fortifications in that sector and carried out demolitions in evacuated towns, as part of…

The leader of the Houthi rebels in Yemen, Abdul Malik al Huti, stated that his movement is prepared to intervene militarily in the Middle East conflict if the situation requires it. In a speech broadcast by the Saba news agency, which is under Houthi control, Al Huti threatened to respond "without hesitation" to any circumstances that require armed action against the United States or Israel. "At the moment when it becomes necessary to respond militarily, we will intervene without hesitation, as we have done before," the Yemeni leader affirmed. So far, the Houthis have not directly participated in the hostilities that began on February 28, but their leader's statements add a new element of uncertainty to an already tense regional situation. Al Huti also announced that Yemen will fulfill what he described as its "duty" towards its adversaries. "We will not hesitate and we will fulfill our Islamic duty of jihad," he emphasized, reiterating that any intervention, if it occurs, will be decisive. In his message, the rebel leader urged other Muslim-majority countries to join forces against what he described as a regional aggression. He specifically called on Saudi Arabia to change its stance in the conflict and reduce the pressure on Yemen. According to Al Huti, Riyadh should avoid getting involved in a foreign war and allow Yemenis to confront their enemies "directly." "It must...

Israel experienced one of the most intense days of attacks since the beginning of the conflict with Iran on Thursday, with ten waves of Iranian missiles launched in less than twelve hours and over one hundred projectiles fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon. This escalation resulted in one fatality in the northern coastal city of Nahariya and at least 22 minor injuries across the country. The emergency medical service, Magen David Adom, reported the first alarms shortly before seven in the morning, local time, and the last ones after six in the evening, in a series of Iranian barrages primarily targeting the Tel Aviv region and central Israel, with some also aimed at Jerusalem and the port city of Haifa. None of these projectiles resulted in fatalities, and no direct hits on Israeli territory were reported, although military censorship prevents the dissemination of information regarding potential impacts on critical infrastructure. The only fatality of the day was the result of a Hezbollah attack. A rocket fired from Lebanon struck three parked vehicles in front of a building in Nahariya, killing Uri Peretz, a 43-year-old man whose identity was confirmed by local media. Another man, 50 years old, was seriously injured. The attack occurred around four in the afternoon, local time. This is the second Israeli fatality caused by Hezbollah projectiles since the Shia terrorist group resumed attacks on March 2, in response to the offensive...

Traders are investing heavily in oil options, betting that Brent crude will reach a record high of at least $150 per barrel by the end of April, as the war in the Middle East continues to disrupt supply through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent LCOc1, which is currently trading around $107 per barrel for May delivery, has surged nearly 50% since February 28, when the war between the United States and Israel against Iran began, effectively blocking the transit of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Prices remain volatile despite tentative signs that Washington and Tehran are seeking a way to end the conflict. Trading activity in options on the derivatives market indicates that bets on oil reaching at least $150 per barrel by the end of April have increased tenfold in recent weeks, with traders taking positions due to short-term volatility. The price would surpass Brent's historical high of $147 per barrel from 2008, when a surge in demand tested the limits of supply capacity. Data from ICE shows that contracts expiring at the end of April that give the holder the option to buy June Brent futures LCOc2 at $150 – known as call options – are nearly ten times higher than they were a month ago. "These call options are clear signals that..."

The Foreign Minister, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, met with the President of the Jordanian Senate, Faisal Akef Al-Fayez, who is on a working visit to Mexico. During the meeting at the Foreign Ministry, he thanked Jordan for its support in facilitating the evacuation of nationals who were in conflict zones in the Middle East. Furthermore, he emphasized that cooperation between the two countries should be based on respect, solidarity, and generosity, which allows for "coordinated and efficient" responses to situations like this. Also read: SRE reports 13 Mexican deaths in the US during ICE operations or while in ICE custody; expresses condemnation in 14 diplomatic communications. Accompanying De la Fuente were the Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, María Teresa Mercado; the President of the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, Alejandro Murat; and the Director General for Political Coordination, Pedro Matar. Representing Jordan were Adli Qasem Al-Khaledi; the Secretary General of the Senate, Abdel Rahim Al-Waked; and the Senate's Media Advisor, Hikmat Shaher Al-Momani. Join our channel! EL UNIVERSAL is now on Whatsapp! Stay informed about the most important news of the day, opinion pieces, entertainment, trends, and more, all from your mobile device. dft/bmc

The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, departed on Thursday for France to participate in the G7 foreign ministers' meeting, which will be held this Friday at the Abbey of Vaux-de-Cernay, about forty kilometers southwest of Paris. This is his first trip abroad since Washington and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on February 28th, and it comes at a time when divisions within the bloc are more visible than at any point in the last decade. Before embarking, Rubio warned that all G7 members have a direct interest in contributing to reopening the Strait of Hormuz. "Other countries obtain far more fuel from there than we do," he noted. The maritime passage, in times of peace, accounts for approximately one-fifth of the crude oil and liquefied natural gas that flows globally, and its closure triggered one of the most severe energy disruptions in decades. The Secretary of State acknowledged progress in negotiations with Tehran through intermediary countries, although he refused to speculate on timelines. The special envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed at a White House cabinet meeting that Washington maintains channels with Iran through Pakistan. However, signals from Tehran are contradictory: Iranian media reported on Wednesday that the Islamic Republic rejected a ceasefire offer and presented a counterproposal.

NEW YORK.- Stocks plummeted on Thursday, and oil prices rose, as uncertainty once again gripped Wall Street following a brief glimmer of hope regarding a potential end to the conflict with Iran. The S&P 500 fell by 1.7% on Thursday and is heading for a fifth consecutive week of losses. This decline stretches back to before the conflict with Iran began, and would mark its longest losing streak of this kind in nearly four years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 469 points, or 1%, and the Nasdaq composite plunged 2.4%, falling more than 10% below its historical high set earlier this year. This sharp decline has a name among professional investors: a "correction." Stock markets also tumbled across much of Asia and Europe. These are the latest jolts to financial markets in a week that began with high hopes after President Donald Trump said that productive conversations had taken place regarding ending the conflict. However, Iran denied that direct talks were underway and subsequently dismissed a U.S. ceasefire proposal delivered through Pakistan. On Thursday, fighting continued, and thousands more U.S. troops moved closer to the region. Meanwhile, Iran tightened its control over the crucial Strait of Hormuz. It appears that Iran is charging a toll for vessels to pass through...

The IFF Panama Foundation has announced the fourteenth edition of the International Film Festival of Panama (IFF Panama), which will take place from April 9th to 12th, 2026. The event, considered the hub of cinema in Central America and the Caribbean, will bring together authorities, executives, media representatives, and industry professionals to solidify Panama's position as a bridge between global cinema and the region's identity. In this edition, the festival reaffirms its role as a driver of the creative economy and a platform for international visibility for local and regional talent. The festival will feature a carefully curated selection of 40 films from Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia, including seven Panamanian productions. Of these, three will have their national premiere, and two will have their international premiere, further strengthening the presence of Panamanian cinema at the event. Among the notable local titles are "Saloma" (directed by Miguel González), "Paraíso Tropical" (Abner Benaim), "El viaje del Kokodrit" (Elio B. Cumampio and Guido Bilbao), "En busca del indio conejo" (Annie Canavagio), and "Cautiverio" (Omar Calvo). The program also includes the international premiere of the Puerto Rican dramatic comedy "Sana y Salva," by Arí Maniel Cruz, and the Chilean film "La misteriosa mirada del flamenco," by Diego Céspedes. The official opening ceremony will take place on Friday, April 10th, at the historic National Theater, with…

The National Energy Secretariat has decided to postpone the implementation of the mandatory ethanol blending requirement in fuels, a measure that had been proposed as part of the country's energy diversification strategy. The resolution states that the start of the program is being delayed to allow for technical, logistical, and regulatory adjustments, in a context where doubts still persist regarding the operational capacity to implement the change in an orderly manner. The resolution, published in the Official Gazette, confirms that the implementation of ethanol in Panama has been postponed on two previous occasions. Originally, it was scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2024, then postponed to April 1, 2026, and now it is being suspended again without a defined date. The National Energy Secretariat is making its implementation conditional on the fulfillment of technical, logistical, and national production requirements, which demonstrates that the country does not yet have the necessary conditions to execute the program. This new postponement reflects a discrepancy between energy planning and the actual capacity of the market to support the mandatory blending requirement. According to the resolution, one of the main factors contributing to the postponement is the need for adequate infrastructure for the storage, transportation, and blending of ethanol, as well as ensuring quality standards in the fuels. It also mentions the importance of completing...

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he would suspend attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure for 10 days, until April 6th, claiming that Tehran had requested the measure. On Monday, Trump announced that he would suspend his threat to attack Iran's nuclear facilities until Friday, a deadline that has now been extended again. "At the request of the Iranian government, I am suspending the program to destroy the power plant for 10 days, until Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Negotiations are continuing, and despite the misleading statements from the media that spread false news, they are progressing satisfactorily," Trump posted on social media. Developing.