International

Paraguayan opposition protests against election results

Photo: ÚltimaHora

May 8 |

Groups of demonstrators closed this Monday an access lane to Asuncion in the vicinity of the Supreme Tribunal of Electoral Justice, in protest against the results of the elections of two weeks ago that gave the victory to the ruling party candidate Santiago Peña.

The protest actions take place after representatives of the opposition had called for a demonstration on Monday morning at the site, in order to demand mainly the opening of envelope 4 of the electoral process, which contains the ballot papers, and that the TSJE’s computer system be made transparent.

Previously, the leader of the Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico (PLRA) and former candidate for the Concertación Nacional, Efraín Alegre, published on Sunday a video in his social networks, through which he called for a citizen mobilization for “transparency”.

In the same sense, he stated that on that occasion they will demand the release of all those who were arrested during the last demonstrations, including his political adversary Paraguayo Cubas.

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On the other hand, representatives of the so-called Guasu Front also joined the mobilization. Through a note sent to the Electoral Justice, they demanded the opening of envelope 4, the manual counting of the votes and a computer audit.

Meanwhile, members of different organizations of truck drivers announced that they will also mobilize from this Monday in several points of the country to demand the same claims to the TSJE.

TSJE Minister César Rossel stated what would happen in the eventual opening of envelope No. 4 of the Electoral Justice, which contains the ballot papers deposited in the last general elections

“Opening all the envelopes and starting the recounts in all the elections, where you had absolute control of the whole process, is never going to end up in an election again. Because everyone who loses, is going to ask you for a recount and we are never again going to have legal stability about what elections are.”

From the National Crusade Party, led by the former Paraguayan presidential candidate Cubas, they asked for the opening in claiming an alleged electoral fraud, to which other sectors of the opposition later adhered.

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International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”