Global Pulse

标签： South America

南美洲

  • Small plane crash in Bahamas kills 10 people

    Small plane crash in Bahamas kills 10 people

    A devastating aviation tragedy has shaken the Caribbean nation of the Bahamas, leaving 10 people dead after a small passenger plane crashed on the country’s 53rd Independence Day, according to official statements. The Cessna 402 model aircraft, operated by local Bahamas-based carrier Flamingo Air, departed from Lynden Pindling International Airport located just outside the capital city of Nassau for a short domestic flight to San Andros Airport.

    The Bahamas Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority reported that the flight crew encountered unexpected difficulties mid-flight before the aircraft crashed into a dense bushy area while it was attempting to approach the destination airport for landing. What was supposed to be a day of national celebration turned into a period of national grief, Prime Minister Philip Davis confirmed during an emergency press briefing shortly after the incident.

    “Today is a day of celebration but it has become a day of mourning,” Davis told reporters. “Once again, a chapter in our nation’s story has been marked by tragedy.” Initially, officials believed there was one survivor pulled from the wreckage, but Davis confirmed several hours later that the injured passenger had succumbed to their injuries, bringing the final death toll to 10, including nine passengers and the pilot. As of the latest update, no personal details of those on board, including full names, ages or nationalities, have been released to the public as authorities work to notify next of kin.

    In a precautionary safety move following the crash, the Bahamas Ministry of Aviation announced it has temporarily suspended Flamingo Air’s air operator certificate, halting all of the carrier’s commercial operations pending investigation. The ministry clarified that this temporary grounding is not classified as an adverse compliance action against the airline, noting that the decision was made after two separate safety incidents involving the carrier were recorded on the same Friday.

    According to CBS News, the BBC’s U.S. news partner, aviation minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis confirmed that an earlier Flamingo Air flight was forced to turn back to Nassau after the pilot reported a mechanical issue mid-flight. After the plane landed safely and all passengers had disembarked, an onboard fire broke out on that aircraft. No injuries were reported in that earlier incident.

    The BBC has reached out directly to Flamingo Air for additional comment and more details on the incidents. In an initial statement to local Bahamian media, the airline said that it is currently collecting information and confirming details related to the crash, and that it will fully cooperate with all relevant national authorities as investigations move forward. The crash is currently under full investigation to determine the root cause of the fatal accident.

  • Outgoing Colombia minister warns climate gains could be at risk under new government

    Outgoing Colombia minister warns climate gains could be at risk under new government

    BOGOTA, Colombia — As Colombian politics undergoes a sharp rightward shift ahead of the August 7 inauguration of President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, outgoing Environment Minister Irene Vélez Torres has issued a stark public warning that the new administration could unravel years of hard-won progress on climate action and conservation. In an exclusive interview with the Associated Press, Vélez laid out multiple grave concerns about the incoming government’s policy priorities, which she argues put Colombia’s most fragile ecosystems and communities at immediate risk at a time when the country is already grappling with worsening climate impacts.

    Colombia is currently contending with the extreme weather effects of El Niño, the natural climate cycle that warms Pacific waters and triggers devastating droughts, severe flooding and record-breaking heat across much of the country. Against this backdrop of growing climate vulnerability, Vélez warned that the incoming administration’s open embrace of climate skepticism and fossil fuel expansion is a dangerous course for the nation. “Arriving with an attitude of climate denialism is absolutely dangerous,” Vélez emphasized.

    Over the past four years, the outgoing administration led by President Gustavo Petro positioned Colombia as a leading global voice on climate action, making the protection of the Colombian Amazon— which covers 42% of the country’s total territory— and a just transition away from fossil fuels central pillars of its environmental agenda. The government also made unprecedented strides in centering Indigenous territorial governance as a core strategy for rainforest protection, formally recognizing Indigenous authorities as key decision-makers on environmental issues and funding community-led conservation initiatives.

    But de la Espriella, who secured a narrow election victory with campaign backing from former U.S. President Donald Trump, campaigned on a platform centered on reviving Colombia’s stagnant oil sector, opening new areas to hydraulic fracturing (fracking), and leveraging the country’s abundant natural reserves to drive short-term economic growth. Environmental activists and Indigenous community leaders have repeatedly warned that an increased focus on extractive industries will bring unprecedented pressure to the Amazon and other environmentally sensitive ecosystems, undoing years of progress in curbing deforestation.

    For Vélez, one of the most pressing at-risk gains is the expansion of Indigenous environmental stewardship in the Amazon. She expressed deep fear that the new administration will walk back recent legal recognition of Indigenous decision-making power and slash funding for community-led territorial governance programs that have proven effective at reducing deforestation rates.

    Beyond Amazon conservation, Vélez also raised the alarm over the incoming government’s hints that it could resume the aerial spraying of glyphosate on illicit coca crops, a practice the previous administration ended over public health and environmental concerns. The World Health Organization has classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen, and decades of widespread spraying in Colombia have left lasting contamination of water sources and chronic health impacts for rural communities, according to multiple peer-reviewed studies.

    Vélez also warned that expanded fossil fuel exploration and industrial mining could be approved for Colombia’s unique páramos, high-altitude wetland ecosystems that act as natural water towers supplying clean drinking water to millions of Colombians across the country. These fragile mountain ecosystems support hundreds of endemic species and act as natural carbon sinks, making their protection critical to both climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation.

    The incoming administration has pushed back against some of Vélez’s characterizations. Fabio Arjona, a marine biologist tapped by de la Espriella to serve as the next environment minister, has argued that environmental policy debates have become overly ideological, criticized what he labels “environmental hysteria,” and defended fracking as a viable energy source so long as it is carried out under strict regulations and excluded from protected areas including national parks and páramos. As of publication, neither representatives for de la Espriella nor Arjona had responded to requests for additional comment on Vélez’s warnings.

    In closing, Vélez emphasized that the progress made over the past four years on cutting deforestation, restoring degraded ecosystems, and strengthening protections for the Amazon, páramos and wetlands should transcend political divisions. “We have a legacy that, despite our differences, should be preserved,” Vélez said. “It would be an unforgivable mistake to abandon this agenda simply because it comes from a different political sector. Social and environmental justice must remain at the center of the political agenda.”

  • Lionel Messi and Argentina play upstart Switzerland in World Cup quarterfinals at Arrowhead Stadium

    Lionel Messi and Argentina play upstart Switzerland in World Cup quarterfinals at Arrowhead Stadium

    KANSAS CITY, Missouri — When the final World Cup quarterfinal kicks off Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium, two teams separated by decades of footballing prestige and history will face off for a spot in the tournament’s final four. Defending World Cup champions Argentina enter the match as undeniable favorites, fielding a star-studded squad led by Lionel Messi — widely hailed as the greatest player of his generation — alongside elite attacking talents like Lautaro Martinez and Julián Alvarez.

    Standing in their way is Switzerland, a side that has defied expectations to reach this stage, and enters the matchup as one of the tournament’s biggest underdogs. On paper, the contrast could not be starker: Argentina claims three World Cup titles and a global legacy of footballing excellence, while Switzerland has never advanced past the quarterfinal round, with their last appearance in this stage of the tournament dating back to 1954, when they fell to Austria as tournament hosts.

    Yet Argentine fans and pundits alike have been reminded repeatedly in this tournament that no victory is guaranteed, even for the sport’s most dominant sides. La Albiceleste already scraped past a stubborn Cape Verde side earlier in the competition, and just days ago needed a dramatic late comeback from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Egypt in the round of 16, with Messi equalizing in the 83rd minute before Enzo Fernández scored a stoppage-time winner. That history of hard-fought wins has given Switzerland, which knocked out Colombia on penalties to earn this quarterfinal spot, quiet confidence that they can pull off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.

    “We know Argentina has many fine qualities. Few talk about the Swiss qualities,” Swiss captain and defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka told reporters Friday. “Tomorrow we will talk on the pitch, and we will show what we can do, and everything else doesn’t matter.”

    Defender Manuel Akanji echoed that sentiment, acknowledging the magnitude of the challenge while emphasizing his side’s readiness to compete. “It’s obviously a very tough challenge, but I think we’re ready. I think we can play against any opponent and make it hard for them,” Akanji said. “We know it’s going to be difficult but we’re going to give our best.”

    Switzerland’s path to an upset runs through their stout defensive structure, which has conceded just three goals across five matches in the tournament. The side held Colombian star Luis Díaz scoreless across 120 minutes of play in the round of 16, and the full responsibility of containing Messi will fall to Xhaka, Akanji, Remo Freuler, Nico Elvedi and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Even Xhaka admits that shutting down the Argentine icon for a full 90 minutes is nearly unachievable, but says his side has a clear gameplan to limit his impact.

    “I don’t know that we can stop him over 90 minutes. It’s going to be difficult,” Xhaka said. “But we have to be smart, compact, close the gaps and not give him too many spaces. We just try to play our game.”

    For Argentina, momentum is firmly on their side. La Albiceleste carries an 11-match World Cup unbeaten streak dating back to the 2022 Qatar tournament, and has scored multiple goals in every one of those wins — a streak that ties with Uruguay for the longest in World Cup history.

    Messi, who notched a hat trick against Algeria in an earlier group stage match at Arrowhead Stadium, remains locked in a tight race for the tournament’s Golden Boot. He enters Saturday’s match level with France’s Kylian Mbappe on eight goals, and has extended his all-time record to 21 career World Cup goals, including at least one goal in a record six consecutive knockout matches. Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said Messi’s consistent brilliance makes him an irreplaceable role model for the rest of the squad.

    “Especially for those players on the bench, the players who watch Lionel Messi play and can’t believe what they’re watching — he should be a role model for them,” Scaloni said. “He tries again and again, and I get goosebumps.”

    In terms of injury news, Argentina enters the match fully healthy, but Switzerland will be without key midfielder Johan Manzabi, who remains sidelined with a knee injury. The SC Freiburg star scored twice in a 4-1 group stage win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, and head coach Murat Yakin said the entire squad has missed his presence and energy. “We tried everything we could to get him back in peak form,” Yakin said. “Momentum was on his side, and there was so much joy when he plays, and he has his teammates by his side. Everything worked out so well for him until now.”

    One variable that will not impact the match is extreme Kansas City weather, which has been a persistent concern for tournament organizers amid summer heat indexes regularly topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit and severe storm activity across the American Heartland. Forecasters predict favorable conditions for kickoff, with temperatures around 88 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) and only a minimal chance of rain.

    The match has also drawn pre-game attention to the officiating, after multiple high-profile refereeing decisions sparked debate throughout the tournament. In a break from standard protocol, which usually sees FIFA appoint referees from confederations unrelated to both competing teams to avoid bias, Portuguese referee João Pinheiro — a member of UEFA, the same confederation as Switzerland — will take charge of Saturday’s match.

    The winner of the clash will advance to a semifinal spot next Wednesday in Atlanta, where they will face off against the winner of the quarterfinal between Norway and England for a place in the World Cup final.

  • Tigers’ emotional Eduardo Valencia thanks family, honors Venezuela after he homers in 1st MLB at-bat

    Tigers’ emotional Eduardo Valencia thanks family, honors Venezuela after he homers in 1st MLB at-bat

    DETROIT – For 26-year-old catcher Eduardo Valencia, Thursday night at Comerica Park was more than just a long-awaited Major League Baseball debut. It was a history-making, emotion-filled moment that extended beyond the diamond, dedicated to his family and a nation reeling from devastating disaster. Called up from the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens just hours before first pitch, Valencia became the 10th player in Detroit Tigers franchise history to hit a home run in his first career plate appearance, powering the team to a 4-1 win over the Oakland Athletics and cementing a three-game series sweep.

    The opportunity for Valencia’s promotion opened unexpectedly when Tigers All-Star catcher Dillon Dingler was sidelined by a bruised right hand, clearing a spot for the eight-year minor league veteran on the big league roster. Entering as a pinch hitter for outfielder Kerry Carpenter in the seventh inning against Oakland reliever Hogan Harris, Valencia connected on a 425-foot blast to center field, rounding out the scoring for Detroit and sending the home crowd into a roar.

    In a post-game on-field interview with the Tigers’ broadcast team, Valencia struggled to contain his emotion, his voice cracking with tears as he reflected on the years of grind that led to the milestone. “I was waiting a lot for this, for my family, for Venezuela and I’m so excited,” he said, describing his approach at the plate: “I was just thinking, like, I was trying to hit for contact. Get a good pitch, just be the most calm that I can do it. I was so excited.”

    A native of Valencia, Venezuela, Valencia made the meaning of the moment clear as he celebrated around the bases. After connecting, he pointed to the sky, pounded his chest, and gestured a heart toward his wife, who was in the stands waiting to share a victory embrace on the field after the final out. His parents were unable to travel from Venezuela for the debut, and Valencia made sure to dedicate his historic hit to the entire Venezuelan people, who are still recovering from a rare double earthquake that struck the country on June 24. The disaster has killed at least 920 people, injured more than 3,300, and left hundreds more missing and presumed dead.

    “This is for all Venezuela people,” Valencia said. “They gave me everything.”

    Valencia’s historic debut marks the first time a Tigers player has homered in their first big league at-bat since outfielder Akil Baddoo achieved the same feat on April 4, 2021. Signed by the Tigers as an 18-year-old prospect back in 2018, Valencia spent more than eight seasons climbing the ranks of the club’s minor league system, appearing in 439 minor league games before earning his first call-up. He only reached the Triple-A level last year, notching 50 games with Toledo in 2023 before posting 76 appearances with the club this season ahead of his promotion.
    After his historic home run, Valencia stayed in the game as Detroit’s designated hitter, and was hit by a pitch in his second plate appearance. Following the final out, his jubilant teammates celebrated the milestone by dousing him with a cooler of water as the remaining home crowd cheered. Still overwhelmed by the moment, Valencia summed up the experience simply: “I mean, this is so exciting. I’m just trying to help the team to win. … I was waiting a lot of time for this moment. It’s so exciting. … I can’t talk right now.”

  • Chronic illness and diarrhea surge in quake-hit Venezuelan communities as humanitarian crisis builds

    Chronic illness and diarrhea surge in quake-hit Venezuelan communities as humanitarian crisis builds

    Less than a month after powerful back-to-back earthquakes tore through northern Venezuela, thousands of survivors and at-risk community members are flooding into humanitarian relief hubs run by nongovernmental organizations across the hardest-hit regions, as the United Nations formally launches a $300 million emergency appeal to support 1.3 million Venezuelans in urgent need of assistance.

    The twin quakes, which struck on June 24, left an official death toll of 3,811 people, destroyed 190 buildings, and damaged another 856 structures. Venezuelan government data confirms roughly 18,000 people were left displaced by the disaster, with many now crowding into converted schools, public parks, sidewalks, and plazas after their homes were rendered uninhabitable. The northern coastal state of La Guaira bore the brunt of the destruction, and today mobile kitchens, pop-up clinics, and temporary field hospitals are scattered across the region’s public spaces to meet the growing need for support.

    The current open access for humanitarian groups marks a sharp shift from years of government repression targeting nongovernmental organizations in Venezuela. When acting President Delcy Rodríguez served as vice president under former President Nicolás Maduro, independent aid groups were regularly labeled as fronts for anti-government activity, and the UN’s local human rights office was expelled from the country. Today, the operational freedom for local and global humanitarian groups reflects a rare departure from past political tensions, a shift echoed by senior UN officials leading the response.

    During an on-site visit to affected communities, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, the body’s top relief coordinator, told the Associated Press that unmet long-term health needs have emerged as a critical priority two weeks after the disaster. “It is clear at displacement sites that, particularly after two weeks, that people are turning up because they haven’t been able to get their other treatments,” Fletcher explained. “So, they’re not turning up with just the fractures now, they’re turning up with those longer-term health needs. And it’s vital that we’re there for them.”

    Local medical teams working in Catia La Mar, one of La Guaira’s hardest-hit coastal communities, have already documented a sharp rise in preventable health conditions linked to poor post-disaster living conditions. Doctors report growing caseloads of skin irritations and diarrheal diseases, alongside a surge in requests for maintenance medications for chronic conditions including diabetes and hypertension. Public health experts note these emerging outbreaks stem from overcrowded displacement sites and inadequate access to clean water and sanitation — gaps that many communities faced even before the earthquakes struck.

    Seventy-six-year-old Irma Echarri, a Catia La Mar resident whose home escaped major damage, joined dozens of other locals waiting for care at a mobile clinic set up on a sidewalk across from a local church. Echarri brought her empty prescription boxes for daily eyedrops and pain relievers, hoping to replenish her supply after the quakes disrupted local pharmaceutical access. She also sought care for new chronic nose pain that developed after the earthquakes. “It hurts a lot,” Echarri said while waiting to be seen. “It hurts because it hurts.” Many of Echarri’s neighbors were not as fortunate, and are now sleeping outdoors or in temporary shelters after the quakes destroyed their homes.

    Forty-one-year-old Zulbey Reyes is one of the thousands of displaced survivors, who lost both her home and her job as a nanny in the disaster. She visited a clinic run by local Venezuelan NGO Paluz in partnership with the International Rescue Committee, a global humanitarian group, to seek care for new onset chest pain that developed after the quakes. After receiving a diagnosis of inflamed nerve tissue triggered by the extreme stress of the disaster, Reyes said, “I thought it was my heart that was sick. But it’s a nerve that became inflamed after the screams that day.”

    The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction estimates total direct physical damage to housing and public infrastructure from the quakes totals roughly $37 billion. Fletcher confirmed that to date, the United States has contributed the largest share of funding for the earthquake response effort, with most on-the-ground aid delivery led by local Venezuelan NGOs partnered with global humanitarian organizations.

    Fletcher emphasized that the unprecedented scale of the disaster has pushed political differences to the background to prioritize saving lives. “When you have a crisis of this magnitude, people put the politics to one side and are able to focus on saving as many lives as possible, and that’s what I’m seeing so far in this response,” he said.

  • Colombia’s court on the conflict with FARC rebels in limbo as president-elect vows to dismantle it

    Colombia’s court on the conflict with FARC rebels in limbo as president-elect vows to dismantle it

    Ten years after the Colombian government signed a landmark peace agreement that ended Latin America’s longest-running guerrilla insurgency, the specialized justice body created to investigate and prosecute conflict-related crimes stands at a crossroads, as incoming president Abelardo de la Espriella has pledged to dismantle it.

    Known officially as the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP), the tribunal has been a source of deep national division since its creation, mirroring the longstanding political split over the 2016 peace deal with the now-disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). De la Espriella, a conservative candidate endorsed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, has publicly labeled the SJP a “failed” institution. However, legal analysts and international law experts warn that dismantling the body is far from a straightforward process, as it is protected by both domestic constitutional safeguards and international legal frameworks.

    The SJP is enshrined in Colombia’s constitution and receives formal backing from the International Criminal Court (ICC). In 2021, the ICC closed its own 18-year preliminary investigation into the Colombian conflict, concluding that the country was meeting its international justice obligations largely due to the steady progress made by the SJP. Alejandro Ramelli, president of the tribunal, told the Associated Press that the ICC’s decision to close its probe was explicitly conditional on the SJP continuing its mandated work. An abrupt end to the tribunal, Ramelli warned, would push Colombia into violation of its international legal commitments to the global court.

    The SJP’s official mandate runs through 2028, with an additional five-year window set aside for completing ongoing trials, after which Colombia’s Congress will hold a vote on whether to extend the body’s authority for another five-year term. It began formal operations in 2018, and to date has opened cases involving more than 14,000 suspects accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the decades-long conflict. Of these suspects, approximately 70% are former FARC guerrillas, 29% are retired or former members of Colombian security forces, and the remaining 1% are civilians linked to conflict violence.

    Supporters of the tribunal frame it as a historic breakthrough for transitional justice, crediting it with creating the conditions for ending the insurgency and finally holding perpetrators of atrocities accountable to victims. Critics, meanwhile, have repeatedly argued that the court is structurally biased against former military personnel. In a seeming contradiction, the stance of de la Espriella’s own transition team has shifted slightly in recent weeks: Iván Cancino, the president-elect’s nominee for justice minister, told Colombia’s Caracol Radio this week that the administration does not plan to fully eliminate the SJP, but will instead push for faster results and launch a full review of the tribunal’s spending.

    Colombia’s outgoing president Gustavo Petro, who has himself expressed criticism of the SJP’s performance over his term, recently took to social media platform X to argue that the tribunal’s budget “must be strengthened,” emphasizing that “establishing the judicial truth about the conflict is fundamental to national reconciliation.” Even as political debate swirls around its future, Ramelli warned that budget cuts to the court would “seriously affect the fundamental right of access to justice” for millions of victims of the decades-long armed conflict, and that an abrupt termination of the SJP’s work would leave thousands of unresolved cases in legal limbo.

    Ramelli pointed to the court’s key landmark rulings to underscore its impact: the tribunal has convicted FARC’s former top leadership for their role in more than 21,000 kidnappings, and convicted a group of former military officials for over 100 documented extrajudicial killings. In both high-profile cases, the accused parties acknowledged responsibility, and were granted alternative non-custodial sentences that required them to complete community restitution projects directly benefiting victims of the crimes. The court has also handed down a 20-year prison sentence to a former soldier who rejected charges of involvement in extrajudicial killings.

    Ramelli emphasized that beyond convictions and sentencing, the tribunal has unlocked critical truth about the full scale of the conflict’s violence that was previously unknown to the Colombian public. “What is the value of the truths uncovered through the judicial process?” he said. “We now know the true scale of FARC kidnappings, the recruitment of more than 18,677 children, the sexual violence committed by the FARC and the extrajudicial killings carried out by security forces. The country simply did not know the full extent of these crimes.”

    Today, a decade after the original peace accord was signed, Colombia still struggles to break a persistent cycle of violence: armed groups including FARC dissident factions that rejected the 2016 deal, the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group, and the Clan del Golfo drug cartel continue to battle for control of lucrative illegal economies centered on drug trafficking and unregulated mining.

  • Mexico to press for criminal charges over deaths in US custody

    Mexico to press for criminal charges over deaths in US custody

    A fatal shooting of a Mexican citizen by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Houston, Texas, has triggered widespread public protest and formal legal action from the Mexican government, escalating tensions between the two nations over immigration enforcement practices.

    Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old undocumented migrant who had worked as a construction builder in the Houston region for 30 years, was shot and killed by an ICE agent on Tuesday while he was traveling to his job site, according to his family. His son, Ronaldo Salgado, pushed back against early official framing of the incident, telling reporters that his father did not deserve to be reduced to a dehumanizing headline labeling him as just a ‘Mexican man shot and killed by ICE.’

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the agent’s actions in a public statement posted to the social platform X, claiming the shooting was an act of self-defense. Officials wrote that ICE agents were conducting a vehicle stop as part of a targeted enforcement operation when Salgado allegedly attempted to evade arrest, rammed an ICE vehicle, ignored repeated verbal orders, and used his car as a weapon to try to run over an officer.

    The incident quickly sparked outrage on both sides of the border. On Wednesday, more than 1,000 demonstrators gathered in Houston to protest the killing, joining the growing chorus of voices calling for accountability. Four Democratic members of the U.S. Congress have also joined the call, demanding a fully independent and transparent investigation into Salgado’s death. In a letter to DHS leadership, the lawmakers noted that this fatal shooting is far from an isolated incident, pointing to a pattern of unnecessary deadly force use by ICE agents. They reminded DHS Secretary of the 2025 January killing of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal agents in Minneapolis, an incident that sparked nationwide protests over excessive force. The lawmakers criticized DHS and ICE for repeating familiar justifications for the killing — claims of evasion, vehicle weaponization, and self-defense — without providing meaningful answers or accountability to the public.

    Beyond U.S. domestic criticism, the Mexican government has announced it will take formal legal action against the deaths of its citizens connected to ICE operations and custody. Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco confirmed Wednesday that the government would pursue forceful legal action in the U.S. to protect the human rights of Mexican nationals living north of the border. Official counts from the Mexican government show that 14 Mexican citizens have died while held in ICE detention facilities, and three more have been killed during ICE arrest operations. The Houston shooting of Salgado pushed the administration to move beyond diplomatic protest.

    Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office earlier this year, has called for action beyond formal diplomatic notes, directly instructing Velasco to file criminal complaints over the deaths. The legal filings will seek to have all deaths of Mexican nationals in ICE custody or during ICE operations investigated as criminal cases. Velasco added that the Mexican government also plans to file civil lawsuits against the private companies that manage the U.S. detention facilities where the 14 Mexican citizens died.

    Community leaders in Houston have echoed calls for transparency, noting that the incident has deepened existing mistrust between local immigrant communities and federal immigration enforcement agencies, as community members gather to support Salgado’s grieving family in the wake of the shooting.

  • Nobody can question integrity of World Cup referees – Collina

    Nobody can question integrity of World Cup referees – Collina

    A fresh wave of controversy has swept through the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a dramatic last-16 clash between Egypt and Argentina, which saw the reigning champions overturn a 2-0 second-half deficit to secure a 3-2 stoppage-time win. The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has launched a formal complaint against the match officials, demanding that they be removed from the remainder of the tournament and that an investigation be opened into allegations of officiating double standards. Now, FIFA’s top refereeing chief is pushing back strongly against what he calls baseless accusations, defending the integrity of the sport’s match officials at the global tournament.

    The root of Egypt’s anger lies in two key second-half decisions that altered the course of the match. First, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened to disallow a potential go-ahead goal from Egypt’s Mostafa Zico, after officials determined that midfielder Marwan Attia committed a foul by stepping on Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez’s foot in the opening phase of the attacking build-up. Just moments before Argentina scored their late winning goal, a claimed foul by Egypt star Mohamed Salah in the Argentinian penalty area was also dismissed by match officials.

    Speaking publicly about the high-profile dispute — a break from the usual policy of not commenting on specific in-tournament incidents — FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina backed the outcomes of both VAR reviews. He outlined that the protocol for VAR checks requires officials to review every phase of attacking possession leading up to a goal, with no fixed limit on how far back an incident can be reviewed, or how much time can pass between a foul and the resulting goal. If an undetected foul is found that impacted the build-up, Collina explained, VAR is obligated to intervene. “We believe that a foul is a foul,” he said. “Regardless of whether the foul appears ‘obvious’, if the referee did not see it on the field of play, the VAR can intervene.”

    Collina added that the second controversial incident, involving Salah and Argentinian forward Julian Alvarez, was correctly ruled as legal, noting that the contact qualified as standard physical play common in football, not a foul. While he acknowledged that a small degree of subjectivity is unavoidable in 50-50 officiating calls, Collina stated the governing body is satisfied with how officiating protocols have been applied across the 2026 tournament.

    Egypt’s head coach Hossam Hassan doubled down on the EFA’s allegations after the match, claiming his side had suffered clear unfair treatment. He even suggested officials had deliberately favored Argentina to ensure the defending champions and star player Lionel Messi remained in the competition. Collina rejected these accusations firmly, stressing that no one has grounds to question the integrity of World Cup match officials. “Of course, constructive discussion about decisions will always be part of football, but unfounded allegations have no place in our sport,” he said. “When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against [officials] and their families. This is not right.”

    Collina also pushed back on claims that FIFA leadership can influence refereeing decisions, noting that FIFA President Gianni Infantino has consistently granted the refereeing department full independence to carry out its work. “Nobody can claim that FIFA refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even by the FIFA president,” he said. “He has always shown his full support for FIFA Team One while trusting us to work with complete independence. Match officials make honest decisions and, just like players and coaches, they always try to do their best.”

    The Egypt dispute is not the only officiating controversy FIFA is navigating at this tournament. The governing body has also faced widespread criticism from UEFA and other stakeholders over its decision to overturn an automatic red card ban for US striker Folarin Balogun from a qualifying match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. European football’s governing body UEFA called the decision “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”, and even former US President Donald Trump confirmed he had asked FIFA to review the initial ruling to lift the ban.

  • Your World Cup team’s been knocked out. Who should you support now?

    Your World Cup team’s been knocked out. Who should you support now?

    If your home country’s team has already been eliminated from the 2026 Men’s World Cup, continuing to watch the knockout stages can feel purposeless without a team to root for. For many soccer fans, switching support to a side that isn’t your national team feels unthinkable. But there is no shame in wanting to keep enjoying the world’s biggest sporting event – and this guide is here to help you pick a new favorite from the eight remaining quarterfinalists, complete with official tournament betting odds sourced from a consensus of leading U.S. sportsbooks as of Wednesday, key team details, and iconic fan chants to help you cheer along. The teams are listed below in alphabetical order:

    ### Argentina
    Odds to win the World Cup: +400 (a $10 bet returns $40 in profit for a win)
    Star Player: Lionel Messi (yes, *that* Lionel Messi)
    What to know: Argentina is gunning for back-to-back men’s World Cup titles, a feat no nation has pulled off since Brazil claimed consecutive championships in 1958 and 1962. Messi, the global icon leading the side, is already the men’s World Cup’s all-time top goalscorer with 21 career tournament goals, and leads all players at this year’s edition with eight goals to date.
    Iconic fan chant: “Vamos, vamos Argentina” (“Let’s go, Argentina”)
    Choose Argentina if you love: Safe title contenders, flavorful South American steak, and generational talent wearing the iconic No. 10 jersey.

    —

    ### Belgium
    Odds to win the World Cup: 30-1 (a $10 bet returns $300 in profit for a win)
    Star Players: Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois
    What to know: Belgium knocked the United States out of the tournament in the round of 16, a result many fans around the world viewed as poetic justice after former U.S. President Donald Trump intervened publicly to push for Folarin Balogun’s inclusion in the U.S. starting lineup for the match. Entering this World Cup, expectations were low for Belgium, as most of the veteran players that defined its “golden generation” have aged out of the squad.
    Iconic fan chants: “Waar is dat feestje” (“Where is the party”) or “Tous ensemble” (“All together”)
    Choose Belgium if you love: Belgian waffles, artisanal chocolate, viral on-field dance celebrations, and long-running golden generations that consistently outperform expectations.

    —

    ### England
    Odds to win the World Cup: +450 (a $10 bet returns $45 in profit for a win)
    Star Players: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham
    What to know: It is a fact that rarely gets highlighted, but England’s senior men’s national team has not won a major international tournament since hosting and claiming the 1966 World Cup. Despite inventing the modern game of soccer, England has rarely claimed the sport’s top prize despite consistent deep runs in recent tournaments.
    Iconic fan chant: “It’s coming home”
    Choose England if you love: Britpop, lions, classic fish and chips, and rooting for a side that has carried decades of near-miss heartbreak.

    —

    ### France
    Odds to win the World Cup: +180 (a $10 bet returns $18 in profit for a win)
    Star Players: Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise
    What to know: France claimed the 2018 World Cup title and finished as runners-up in 2022, making them the consensus favorite to lift the trophy this year. Didier Deschamps, the team’s departing head coach, is already a legend of the tournament: he won the World Cup as France’s captain in 1998, then led the side to the title 20 years later as head coach.
    Iconic fan chant: “Allez les bleus” (“Go Blues”)
    Choose France if you love: Traditional baguettes, the Eiffel Tower, fine Champagne, and one of the most fearsome attacking lines in the tournament.

    —

    ### Morocco
    Odds to win the World Cup: 27-1 (a $10 bet returns $270 in profit for a win)
    Star Players: Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou
    What to know: Four years ago in Qatar, Morocco made history as the first African and Arab nation to reach a men’s World Cup semifinal, a transformative moment for global soccer. They have matched that run this year, and now have a chance to go one step further – but first, they must get past France, the same side that knocked them out of the 2022 tournament in the semifinal stage.
    Iconic fan chant: “Dima Maghrib” (“Morocco Forever”)
    Choose Morocco if you love: Sahara desert landscapes, bustling traditional souks, and rooting for a tenacious underdog.

    —

    ### Norway
    Odds to win the World Cup: 14-1 (a $10 bet returns $140 in profit for a win)
    Star Players: Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard
    What to know: This is Norway’s first appearance in a men’s World Cup since 1998, and the first time the side has ever advanced to the quarterfinal stage of the tournament. Norwegian fans, both inside tournament stadiums and back home, have become famous for their raucous “Viking Row” supporter celebrations that have gone viral throughout the tournament.
    Iconic fan chant: “Ro! Ro!” (“Row! Row!”)
    Choose Norway if you love: rowing, viral social media trends, towering world-class strikers, and upsets over powerhouse Brazil.

    —

    ### Spain
    Odds to win the World Cup: +360 (a $10 bet returns $36 in profit for a win)
    Star Players: Lamine Yamal, Rodri
    What to know: Spain holds a unique record at this year’s tournament: the side has not conceded a single goal across five matches heading into the quarterfinals. Their breakout star is winger Lamine Yamal, who was just 16 when he helped Spain win the 2024 European Championship, and will turn 19 the day after their quarterfinal match.
    Iconic fan chant: “Lolololo”
    Choose Spain if you love: Spanish tapas, clean sheets, possession-focused soccer, and generational young talent on the wing.

    —

    ### Switzerland
    Odds to win the World Cup: 30-1 or longer, the longest odds of any quarterfinalist across most sportsbooks
    Star Players: Granit Xhaka, Johan Manzambi
    What to know: Switzerland has long been a consistent contender at the European Championship, but this year marks the first time the side has advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals in 72 years. They are notoriously difficult to beat within 90 minutes of regulation play.
    Iconic fan chants: “Hopp Schwiiz” (German) or “Hop Suisse” (French), both meaning “Go Switzerland”
    Choose Switzerland if you love: tennis legend Roger Federer, multilingual national culture, more cowbell, progressive immigration policy, and efficient high-quality public transport.

  • Egyptian Football Association ‘cannot remain silent’ about officiating in loss to Argentina

    Egyptian Football Association ‘cannot remain silent’ about officiating in loss to Argentina

    ATLANTA — The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has broken its silence to publicly denounce what it calls unjust, biased refereeing decisions that directly led to its 2-3 round-of-16 defeat against Argentina at a men’s World Cup, a match that already goes down as one of the most stunning comebacks in tournament history.

    The result shocked football fans across the globe: Egypt held a solid 2-0 lead for much of the second half, before Argentina’s side led by Lionel Messi struck three unanswered goals in just 13 second-half minutes to seal a dramatic comeback victory. Within hours of the final whistle, Egyptian head coach Hossam Hassan and multiple first-team players had already openly criticized the performance of the match officials, saying they were left stunned by inconsistent calls that altered the game’s trajectory.

    In an official statement released Wednesday, the EFA emphasized that protecting the national team’s legitimate rights is a non-negotiable core responsibility, not an issue that can be sidelined or downplayed. “It is a responsibility that we carry with full conviction and determination,” the statement read.

    The most contentious call came in the 58th minute, when Egypt appeared to score a second goal to double its lead. However, a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review overturned the goal, ruling that Egyptian midfielder Marwan Attia had fouled Argentina center-back Lisandro Martínez in the build-up. The EFA argues that the on-field referee misapplied the VAR system during this key sequence, an error that it says ultimately swung the outcome of the match.

    “Several key incidents raised serious concerns and left profound questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the course of the game,” the statement added.

    After the overturned goal, Egypt managed to extend its lead to 2-0 in the 67th minute through a finish from Mostafa Ziko, but the momentum completely shifted in the 79th minute when Messi set up Cristian Romero for Argentina’s first goal, kicking off the 13-minute scoring run that secured Argentina’s win. With Argentina scoring the game-winning goal two minutes into stoppage time, coach Hassan made an “X” gesture with his arms to signal what he says is racially biased officiating, telling reporters post-match that his side had been wronged by a global football system that prioritizes protecting Messi and Argentina.

    In the chaotic closing minutes of the match, Egypt’s goalkeeping coach Saafan Elsaghir was sent off with a red card, and multiple Egyptian players received yellow cards. The EFA noted in its statement that a number of independent football experts and analysts have backed Egypt’s claims, reinforcing that the world’s biggest football tournament requires strict commitment to officiating integrity, fairness, and transparency.

    The statement also gave voice to the widespread frustration shared by Egypt’s players, coaching staff, and millions of supporters across the country and around the globe. “Every player who wears the Egyptian shirt, and every supporter who stands behind the team, deserves fairness, respect, and equal application of the laws of the game,” it concluded.