标签： South America

A sudden fire erupted at the venue of the U.N. climate talks in Belem, Brazil, on Thursday, leading to swift evacuations on the penultimate day of the conference. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, according to officials. The blaze, which originated near the China pavilion, rapidly spread to adjacent structures, including several Africa pavilions and a youth-focused pavilion. Organizers confirmed that the fire was quickly brought under control, with firefighters and security teams responding promptly and maintaining vigilance at the site. Samuel Rubin, an organizer of an entertainment and culture pavilion, recounted witnessing flames a few pavilions away, prompting his team and others to use fire extinguishers as smoke filled the area. The fire also affected a health and sciences pavilion, as reported by technical personnel Victoria Martins and Júlia Aguiar. Journalists, including those from the Associated Press, were evacuated from the media center as a precaution. The incident, while disruptive, did not derail the conference’s proceedings, which are set to conclude on Friday.

BELEM, Brazil — U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres issued a compelling call for compromise and flexibility during the final days of the COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil. Addressing negotiators on Thursday, Guterres emphasized the urgency of delivering tangible results, even if they fall short of the most ambitious measures sought by some nations. “We are down to the wire, and the world is watching Belem,” he declared, urging participants to engage in good faith despite the missed deadline for progress on key issues earlier in the week. The summit, which often extends beyond its two-week schedule, has drawn global attention as communities on the front lines of climate change demand action. Guterres highlighted the plight of those affected by flooding, failed harvests, and lost livelihoods, stating, “They’ve heard enough excuses and demand results.” On contentious topics such as phasing out fossil fuels and providing financial aid to poorer nations, Guterres expressed confidence in the possibility of compromise, rejecting the notion that weaker measures equate to failure. He also called on wealthy nations to significantly increase adaptation finance, tripling it from $40 billion to $120 billion annually, to help vulnerable countries cope with climate-induced disasters. Earlier in the week, officials from disaster-stricken nations delivered emotional appeals for immediate action. Guterres stressed that while no delegation would achieve all its goals, every country, particularly major emitters, must contribute more. Key unresolved issues include delivering $300 billion in annual financial aid, strengthening climate plans, addressing trade barriers, and improving transparency in reporting progress. COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago had set a Wednesday deadline for a package deal on these issues, but no agreement was reached. Over 80 countries have advocated for a detailed roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels, a topic that remains contentious despite a general agreement at the previous COP in Dubai. Guterres referenced this agreement but stopped short of committing to a detailed plan, a stance that contrasts with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s earlier push for specificity. The summit continues under mounting pressure to deliver meaningful climate action.

Mexican police have apprehended a man believed to be the orchestrator of the assassination of Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan, who was gunned down on November 1 during a public Day of the Dead event. Manzo, a vocal opponent of cartel violence in Michoacán, was shot seven times in front of his family, sparking widespread protests across the country. Security Minister Omar García Harfuch announced the arrest, linking the suspect, Jorge Amando, alias ‘The Graduate,’ to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). According to García Harfuch, Amando allegedly ordered the attack via WhatsApp, instructing his men to open fire despite the crowded setting. Manzo had been a prominent critic of cartel extortion targeting avocado growers in the region and had called on President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration to take stronger action against the cartels. The CJNG, known for drug trafficking, kidnapping, and extortion, is notorious for targeting public officials who resist their influence. The assassination has intensified public outrage, with protests erupting in Mexico City, where demonstrators carried banners declaring ‘we are all Carlos Manzo.’ The arrest marks a significant step in dismantling the criminal networks responsible for the violence, though the broader struggle against cartel dominance in Michoacán remains a pressing challenge.

A devastating snowstorm in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park has resulted in the tragic deaths of five tourists, including Victoria Bond, a 40-year-old public relations consultant from Cornwall, UK. The incident, described as a ‘deeply regrettable tragedy’ by park authorities, also claimed the lives of two German and two Mexican nationals. Their bodies were discovered on Tuesday amidst extreme weather conditions, with winds reaching up to 118 mph (190 km/h).

Victoria Bond, who had been leading public relations for Visit Isles of Scilly for over six years, was on what was described as a ‘trip of a lifetime’ with friends in Argentina and Chile. She was hiking in the park when the storm struck, trapping her and the others.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font praised the efforts of search and rescue teams who braved the intense snowfall and high winds to locate the victims. The Chilean National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) has initiated an internal investigation to determine any potential liability and to review safety and communication protocols within the park.

The ‘O’ circuit, a popular hiking route where the tragedy occurred, remains closed as investigations continue. CONAF has emphasized its commitment to improving prevention and emergency response capabilities in the park, which spans a vast and complex terrain. The organization also highlighted the coordinated efforts between CONAF and concessionary companies that operate shelters and camps within the park.

This incident has cast a somber shadow over the region, with CONAF expressing its solidarity with the families of the deceased and all those affected by the tragedy. The review of safety measures aims to prevent such incidents in the future, ensuring the protection of visitors to one of Chile’s most renowned natural landmarks.

A former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, Ryan Wedding, who is currently on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list, is now facing additional charges related to the murder of a federal witness. Authorities allege that Wedding orchestrated the January killing in Colombia to evade extradition to the U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the charges on Wednesday, revealing that ten other defendants have already been arrested in connection with the case. Wedding is accused of running a multi-national drug trafficking network, moving approximately 60 tons of cocaine annually between Colombia, Mexico, Southern California, and Canada. He is believed to be hiding in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa cartel, with whom he is said to collaborate closely. The U.S. government is offering a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest. Wedding and his co-conspirators allegedly used a Canadian website, “the Dirty News,” to post a photograph of the witness, leading to his identification and subsequent execution in Medellín. Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor for the Central District of California, stated that Wedding’s belief that the witness’s death would dismiss charges against him was misguided. The U.S. government is also offering up to $2 million for information on others involved in the killing.