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Mercosur and Canada resume free trade agreement negotiations after years of impasse

  What is happening between Mercosur and Canada? After more than a decade of stalled talks, the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) and Canada announced in September 2025 the formal resumption of negotiations for a free trade agreement. The decision was confirmed at a meeting between representatives of the two blocs during the United Nations General Assembly in New York and represents a strategic step toward strengthening economic ties between South and North America. This move is not just symbolic: it could pave the way for one of the largest trade agreements in the South American region in recent years, with direct impacts on the economies of millions of people—from farmers to small business owners. Why does this agreement matter? A free trade agreement between Mercosur and Canada has the potential to eliminate or reduce tariffs on thousands of products, facilitate investment, increase business competitiveness, and generate new job opportunities. For ord...
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Man accused of killing Israeli Embassy staff in Washington confesses to crime and is formally indicted

 

Elias Rodriguez, 31, was officially charged on Thursday (22) with the murder of two members of the Israeli Embassy in the United States. The crime took place the night before, Wednesday (21), shortly after an event held at a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C.


According to information released by authorities, Rodriguez approached the victims as they were leaving the museum and opened fire. At the time of his arrest, the suspect reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” and later told police that the attack was motivated by support for the Palestinian cause and in response to the situation in Gaza.


During questioning, he also revealed that he admired a man who set himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in February of this year, calling him “brave” and a true “martyr”.


 The case is being treated as a possible terrorist act and also as a hate crime, since the victims were part of the Jewish community. The District Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, stated that new charges could be filed in the coming days. She reinforced the position of local authorities against any type of religious intolerance: “Anti-Semitism will not be tolerated, especially in the nation’s capital. Violent acts motivated by another’s faith are demonstrations of cowardice, not heroism,” she declared. According to court documents, Elias bought tickets for the event a few hours before the tragedy. Images captured by security cameras show the moment he shoots the victims, even after they were already lying on the ground. The victims were identified as Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, and Sarah Milgrim, an American. They were a young couple and, according to family members, were about to get engaged. The Israeli ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, revealed that Lischinsky had purchased a ring and planned to propose to Sarah during a trip to Jerusalem next week. In light of the attack, Israeli diplomatic missions in various countries have stepped up security measures and flown their flags at half-mast as a sign of mourning. The crime occurred amid a new Israeli military offensive against the Hamas group in the Gaza Strip and in a global context of increasing anti-Semitic attacks.


The investigations are ongoing, and the case continues to gain international attention due to its seriousness and the impact on diplomatic relations.

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