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Mexico severs diplomatic relations with Ecuador following arrest at embassy
Mexico Breaks Diplomatic Ties With Ecuador After Embassy Arrest
In a dramatic turn of events, Ecuadorean police arrested politician Jorge Glas at the Mexican Embassy in Quito, prompting Mexico to suspend diplomatic relations with Ecuador. Mexico described the arrest as a forced entry that violated its sovereignty and resulted in injuries to Mexican diplomatic personnel. The incident further fueled tensions between the two countries that had been simmering for months.
Glas, a former vice president of Ecuador, had been living at the Mexican Embassy since December after being sentenced to prison for corruption. Ecuador’s presidential office issued a statement confirming the arrest, stating that there was a warrant out for Glas’s arrest. Mexico had granted him political asylum earlier on the same day.
The arrest at the embassy raised questions about the violation of diplomatic immunity, as embassies are considered to be sanctuaries for citizens of their respective nations. Ecuadorean authorities claimed that Mexico had abused the immunities and privileges granted to the diplomatic mission by granting asylum to Glas.
The rift between Ecuador and Mexico had been escalating prior to the arrest, with both countries exchanging criticisms. Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, condemned the arrest as a violation of international law and sovereignty and announced the suspension of diplomatic relations with Ecuador.
The arrest of Glas, a key figure in Ecuadorean politics, marked a new chapter in the strained relations between the two countries. The fallout from the incident has yet to be fully realized, but it has cast a shadow over diplomatic relations in the region.
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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Protesters reach an agreement to dismantle encampment
Protesters at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have agreed to end their pro-Palestinian encampment following an agreement reached with the school, university officials announced on Sunday. The encampment, which had been in place for two weeks, will be dismantled by Tuesday, marking the end of what was believed to be the last standing encampment at a Wisconsin college.
University officials had allowed the encampment to remain on a patch of lawn between Mitchell Hall and a busy thoroughfare on the campus’s southern boundary, opting not to involve law enforcement. This approach differed from the response at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where police were called in to remove tents after negotiations fell through. Despite initial efforts to disband the encampment, Wisconsin-Madison eventually reached an agreement with protesters to voluntarily dismantle the camp prior to commencement ceremonies.
Chancellor Mark Mone of Wisconsin-Milwaukee stated last Wednesday that the university had exhibited “the widest possible amount of patience and restraint.” However, he also cautioned that patience was wearing thin and hinted at potential action by the school. Following discussions with the UWM Popular University for Palestine Coalition, the university agreed to advocate for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, condemn the destruction of schools and universities in Gaza by Israeli forces, and hold meetings with protest leaders regarding university investments.
Additionally, the university pledged to urge the Water Council, a Milwaukee organization of water technology companies, to sever connections with two Israeli government-owned entities, Mekorot and the Israel Innovation Authority. Chancellor Mone serves as the treasurer on the Water Council’s board of directors.
In return for these commitments, the protesters agreed to dismantle the encampment beginning on Sunday and completing the process by Tuesday. They also agreed not to disrupt the university’s commencement ceremonies scheduled for Sunday. In a statement, the protesters expressed their satisfaction with the agreement, stating, “After hard fought edits and careful consideration by the coalition, we determined we had obtained all possible benefits from the encampment.”
The resolution of the encampment at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee represents a successful outcome of negotiations between university officials and protesters. By reaching a compromise that addresses the concerns of both parties, a peaceful resolution has been achieved, allowing for the encampment to be taken down without incident.