International News
Missing Children Found Alive In Colombian Amazon After 40 Days
President Gustavo Petro announced on Friday that four Indigenous children, who had been missing for over a month following a small plane crash in the Colombian Amazon rainforest, have been discovered alive.
Sharing the news with the media in the capital city of Bogota, Petro described the day as “magical” after revealing the successful rescue of the children.
He said “They are weak. Let’s let the doctors make their assessment.”
Earlier, President Gustavo Petro took to Twitter and shared a photograph depicting several adults, some wearing military fatigues, attending to the children who were seated on tarps in the midst of the jungle. In the image, a rescuer could be seen holding a bottle to the mouth of the youngest child, cradling them in their arms.
“A joy for the whole country! The 4 children who were lost 40 days ago in the Colombian jungle were found alive,” he wrote on Twitter.
Late on Friday, the Defense Ministry shared a video capturing the moment the children were lifted into a hovering helicopter, surrounded by the towering trees in nearly pitch-black darkness.
Belonging to the Huitoto Indigenous group, the children, aged 13, nine, four, and one, had been traversing the jungle alone since May 1, when the Cessna 206 aircraft they were traveling in crashed.
The pilot had alerted authorities about engine issues shortly after departure from the Araracuara region, located around 350 kilometers (217 miles) away from the town of San Jose del Guaviare.
Tragically, the remains of the pilot, the children’s mother, and a local Indigenous leader were discovered at the crash site, where the plane was lodged almost vertically amidst the trees.
Authorities later revealed that the group had been escaping from threats posed by members of an armed group, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding their ill-fated journey.
Since the children went missing, an extensive search operation involving 160 soldiers and 70 Indigenous individuals with deep knowledge of the jungle had been underway, attracting global attention.
The region where the children were lost is inhabited by jaguars, snakes, and other predatory animals, as well as armed drug smuggling groups.
However, ongoing clues such as footprints, a diaper, and partially consumed fruit gave authorities hope that they were on the right path.
Concerned that the children might continue to wander, making it increasingly challenging to locate them, the air force dropped 10,000 flyers into the forest. The flyers contained instructions in both Spanish and the children’s own Indigenous language, urging them to stay in one place.
In addition to instructions, the leaflets provided crucial survival tips, and the military delivered food parcels and bottled water to aid the children in their survival.
Rescuers also took the initiative to broadcast a recorded message from the children’s grandmother, imploring them to remain stationary and await help.
After an arduous search effort, the military reported that the children were discovered approximately five kilometers (three miles) to the west of the crash site, bringing immense relief to all involved.
The Huitoto children, being part of the Huitoto Indigenous group, possess extensive knowledge of hunting, fishing, and gathering in the jungle. The children’s grandfather, Fidencio Valencia, shared with AFP that they are well-versed in navigating and surviving in the wilderness.
The news of the successful rescue coincided with President Gustavo Petro’s return from Cuba. During his visit, he had signed a six-month truce with the ELN, Colombia’s last active guerrilla group. The rescue brought a sense of joy and relief amidst the backdrop of this significant development in the country’s peace efforts.
President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to take sweeping actions against what he described as “transgender lunacy,” signaling a push to reverse policies protecting transgender individuals in schools, sports, and the military.
Speaking at the AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Trump outlined his administration’s priorities, stating, “I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military, and out of our elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.”
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He also vowed to “keep men out of women’s sports” and asserted, “It will be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”
The president-elect’s remarks come amid growing national debate over transgender rights, with states divided over issues such as gender-affirming medical care and the inclusion of books addressing transgender topics in schools.
The controversy escalated last week when Congress passed a defense budget provision blocking funding for certain gender-affirming care for the children of service members.
Trump’s speech drew strong reactions, with critics warning that his policies could strip essential protections from transgender individuals.
Civil rights advocates have raised concerns about the implications of these proposals on marginalized communities.
In addition to his focus on cultural issues, Trump used the event to outline his vision for the nation under his leadership.
He described his presidency as a turning point, promising to address international conflicts and restore American dominance.
“On January 20, the United States will turn the page forever on four long, horrible years of failure, incompetence, national decline, and we will inaugurate a new era of peace, prosperity, and national greatness,” Trump declared, referring to his upcoming swearing-in.
He pledged to end the war in Ukraine, stabilize the Middle East, and avert global conflict. “I will stop the chaos in the Middle East, and I will prevent, I promise, World War III,” he said.
The president-elect also reiterated his commitment to reclaiming control of the Panama Canal and combating crime linked to illegal immigration.
“I can proudly proclaim that the golden age of America is upon us,” Trump concluded.
A Madrid court on Friday handed down a sentence of more than four years in prison to Rodrigo Rato, the former chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Spain’s ex-economy minister.
Rato was convicted of multiple charges, including tax crimes, money laundering, and corruption.
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The court found Rato guilty of “three offences against the treasury, one offence of money laundering, and one offence of corruption between individuals,” according to an official statement.
Details shortly………..
South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol has been banned from leaving the country, the Justice Ministry confirmed Monday, following a week of political chaos triggered by his brief declaration of martial law.
The ban marks the first time a sitting president has faced such a restriction in the nation’s history.
Recall that on December 3, Yoon ordered special forces and helicopters to the National Assembly in an attempt to impose martial law.
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Lawmakers swiftly overturned the decree, forcing Yoon to rescind the order. Although he survived an impeachment motion on Saturday, public anger has continued to mount, with large protests demanding his resignation.
Authorities are now investigating Yoon and his close allies for their roles in last week’s events, including allegations of insurrection.
Among those facing travel bans are former Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyun, who is in custody, and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min.
General Park An-su, who led the martial law operation, and Defence Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung have also been barred from leaving the country.
General Park was questioned by investigators on Monday as the probe intensified.
Yoon’s impeachment failed after members of his ruling People Power Party (PPP) walked out of the National Assembly, denying the opposition the required two-thirds majority.
In exchange for their support, Yoon reportedly agreed to delegate his powers to the prime minister and the PPP chairman.
“This is an unlawful, unconstitutional act of a second insurrection and a second coup,” said Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the opposition Democratic Party.
Critics argue that Yoon’s decision to hand power to unelected officials violates the constitution.
“It seems to resemble an unconstitutional soft coup,” said Kim Hae-won, a constitutional law professor at Pusan National University.
“Their attitude of placing themselves above the constitution mirrors that of insurrectionist Yoon Suk Yeol,” added Park Chan-dae.
Despite Yoon’s apology for the “anxiety and inconvenience” caused by his martial law order, his approval rating has plummeted to 11%, according to a recent Gallup poll.
Opposition leaders have announced plans for a second impeachment vote on Saturday, with massive protests expected outside the National Assembly.
The PPP’s claim that Yoon can remain in office while delegating his powers to party officials has also been widely criticized.
“If there are issues with the president, the constitution lays out clear procedures, such as suspension or impeachment,” said Professor Kim Hae-won.
The ongoing crisis has raised concerns about South Korea’s leadership amid tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea.
The Defense Ministry confirmed Monday that Yoon remains the official commander in chief, despite questions about his authority.
“Legally, (control of military forces) currently lies with the commander in chief,” said Defense Ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-Kyou.
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