International

Gabriel Boric closes January with an average approval rating of 27 %

Photo: DiarioUChile

February 1^st |

The President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, closed January with 27 % approval, three points less than the previous month. While disapproval reached 68 %, four points higher than the previous month, published the research firm Cadem in its latest survey.

This level of disapproval is the highest figure since he took office on March 11, 2022. In his first month in the Executive, Boric obtained 28 % of disapproval, but consecutively this percentage increased.

The following month it was 49 %, in May 53 %, in June 54 %, in July 57 %, in August 56 %, in September 57 %, in October 65 %, in November 63 % and in December 64 %.

Meanwhile, 68 % of the participants said that they have lost confidence in the leftist president and only 31 % trust him. When he came to power, Chileans gave him 54 % confidence.

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In addition, 86 % of Chileans surveyed considered that Boric does not have the experience to govern. Cadem also shared that 68 % believe that he does not have the capacity to solve the country’s problems either.

Another 66 % considered that he will not be able to lead the necessary changes at the right pace. A 68 % said that he does not have authority and leadership and an equal percentage said the same about the government team, ministers and undersecretaries. Likewise, 69 % indicated that he does not have the capacity to manage crises.

The worst evaluated areas of Boric’s government are the fight against crime and drug trafficking, with 78 % disapproval; inflation, with 76 % disapproval; and immigration, with 82 % disapproval.

Other areas of disapproval are education, with 61 %; health, with 67 %; economy and employment, with 68 %; the Mapuche conflict, with 69 %; and public order, with 76 %.

On January 11, Congress approved the fifteenth extension of the state of emergency which continues in the Araucanía region and two Biobío regions until mid-February. This allows the President to order the deployment of the military in areas where Mapuche protests are taking place.

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Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

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.”