International

Funeral ceremonies begin in Iran for the death of President Raisí

Iran began on Tuesday the funeral ceremonies by President Ebrahim Raisí and Foreign Minister Hosein Amir Abdolahian, who died on Sunday in a helicopter accident along with seven other people, which will last for several days.

The events began in Tabriz, capital of the northwestern province of Eastern Azerbaijan, the largest city closest to the site of the accident, which occurred in the mountainous area of Varzeqan.

According to Iranian televisions, thousands of people took to the streets of Tabriz to watch the convoy that carries the coffins of eight of the nine who died in the accident pass by, in a procession that left Shohada Square (martyrs) and which was destined for the great Mosala mosque.

The streets of Tabriz were a tide of turbans, the garment worn by the clerics in the Islamic Republic, and photos of Raisí, carried by the attendees at the events.

Shops, schools and government offices in the city are closed, something that has not happened throughout the country, in the second of the five days of mourning decreed by the supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei.

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After the acts of Tabriz, the coffins will be transported this afternoon to the sacred city of Qom, one of the main centers of the predominant Shii Islam in the country, and tomorrow Wednesday it will arrive in Tehran.

In the Iranian capital, foreign authorities are expected to participate in what will be a non-working day throughout the country.

After the capital, an event will be held on Thursday in the city of Birjand, where Raisí was a representative in the Assembly of Experts, the body in charge of electing the supreme leader in case of a vacancy.

Finally, the deceased will be buried on the same day in the sacred city of Mashad (northwest).

The helicopter in which Raisí and his companions were traveling disappeared on Sunday when he was returning from Tabriz along with two other aircraft – which arrived at their destination without problems – in what the official IRNA agency has described as a “technical failure.”

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The American ‘Bell 212’ device acquired in the 1970s was found a day later with the lifeless bodies of its occupants.

The governor of East Azerbaijan, Malik Rahmati, the leader of the Friday prayers of the city of Tabriz, Mohammad-Ali Al-Hashem, also died in the accident, in addition to two pilots of the aircraft, a flight attendant, the presidential security chief and a guard.

Khamenei approved on Monday that the first vice president, Mohamad Mojber, be appointed interim president of the country.

Iran will hold presidential elections on June 28.

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International

Nine People Killed in Two Armed Attacks in Manabí, Ecuador

At least nine people were killed Monday in two nearly simultaneous armed attacks in the province of Manabí, located on Ecuador’s Pacific coast, one of the areas hardest hit by violence in the country, according to the National Police.

The first attack left seven people dead and took place in Camarones, a rural area of the Jama canton. The second occurred in the sector known as La Y, in the seaside town of Canoa, part of the San Vicente canton, where two people were killed.

According to preliminary reports, both incidents occurred early Monday morning when armed men intercepted the victims. Authorities said the motives behind the attacks remain under investigation.

The assault in Camarones happened around 1:15 a.m. local time, when a group of armed individuals stormed a ranch in the area. The victims have not yet been officially identified.

About 15 minutes later, in Canoa, two men traveling in a motorized taxi were intercepted by armed suspects riding motorcycles and shot. One of the victims was identified as a 28-year-old passenger, while the identity of the driver has not yet been confirmed.

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The attacks occurred just days after another multiple homicide on February 12 at a ranch in San Juan de las Cucarachas, a rural area of the Santa Ana canton in Manabí, which left six people dead.

Manabí has been experiencing escalating insecurity linked to disputes among organized crime groups, including drug trafficking networks and territorial control conflicts. In response, the government has maintained a state of emergency in the province since August to address the surge in violence attributed to these criminal organizations.

International

Over 40 Million Affected by Major Snowstorm in Northeastern U.S.

More than 40 million people across the northeastern United States are facing a new major snowstorm this Monday, including residents of New York City, where local authorities have shut down roads to traffic.

The storm triggered widespread flight cancellations early in the morning and caused power outages affecting thousands of homes and businesses throughout the region.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani banned non-essential vehicle travel at least until noon and ordered the closure of public schools as a precautionary measure. Authorities in neighboring states, including New Jersey and Rhode Island, imposed similar restrictions to ensure public safety.

This marks the second major winter storm to hit the East Coast in less than a month, leading to growing frustration among residents.

“I’m fed up. I don’t want to see another snowflake,” said Vincent Greer, a resident of Wildwood, New Jersey, as he shoveled accumulated snow from in front of his building.

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Officials continue to urge residents to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and monitor local advisories as crews work to clear roads and restore power.

International

Ninth Victim Recovered After Deadliest U.S. Avalanche in Decades

Rescue teams in California on Saturday recovered the body of the ninth and final victim of a deadly avalanche in the Sierra Nevada mountains, according to the local sheriff’s office.

The avalanche struck a group of 11 skiers and four guides on Tuesday as they were returning from a three-day backcountry trip near Castle Peak, a 2,777-meter (9,111-foot) mountain and popular tourist destination on the U.S. West Coast.

Six people were rescued alive on Tuesday. Authorities said the incident marks the deadliest avalanche in the United States since 1981.

“All nine individuals who lost their lives in the February 17 Castle Peak avalanche have been safely recovered from the mountain,” the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

“There are no words that can truly capture the magnitude of this loss, and our hearts grieve alongside the families affected by this catastrophic event,” Sheriff Shannan Moon said.

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Officials had warned on Thursday that search operations would likely continue through the weekend due to severe weather conditions in the area.

Survivors were able to call for help shortly after the avalanche occurred. However, near-zero visibility and the risk of additional snow slides prevented rescue teams from reaching them for several hours.