International

Historic verdict: Bouterse ordered to prison for opposition killings

Former Surinamese President Desi Bouterse must report to a detention center on Friday to serve a 20-year prison sentence for the murder of 15 opposition figures in 1982, as announced by the prosecutor on Wednesday.

“The Public Prosecutor’s Office has already executed the appeal judgments, and the convicted persons must report to the prison institution on January 12, 2024, according to the ruling, to serve their sentences,” stated the prosecutor in a press release.

In addition to Bouterse, four co-defendants were also sentenced in this 16-year-long trial.

The 78-year-old former president appeared free during his trial and was absent during the December 20 hearing, where his 20-year prison sentence was confirmed. Although the prosecutor expressed the intention to execute the sentence, some experts estimated that the ex-president might not go to jail.

Bouterse still has the option to request a pardon. Thousands of his supporters gathered a few days before his sentencing on December 16, expressing their support with the slogan “Free Bouta,” his nickname. Bouterse, in a speech, called for calm, saying, “Let’s not sow chaos. We will endure until the 2025 elections.”

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However, he warned that “things can get out of control,” referring to potential problems arising from his imprisonment. A coup leader twice, Bouterse, who led a military junta in 1982, was elected president of Suriname in 2010 and held the position until 2020.

Central America

U.S. extradites Iranian man over alleged sanctions evasion scheme

The United States has extradited from Panama an Iranian national accused of evading economic sanctions against Iran by illegally exporting U.S. technology. He is scheduled to appear this Monday before a court in Seattle.

Reza Dindar, 44, was extradited on April 17 after being detained in Panama since July 2025 on charges related to export control violations between 2011 and 2012, allegedly carried out through companies based in China.

The defendant appeared before a U.S. district court in Seattle, where he faces charges of violating sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran in 1995 during the administration of Bill Clinton. These sanctions prohibit the unauthorized export, re-export, or supply—directly or indirectly—of U.S. goods, technology, or services to Iran or its government.

According to the indictment, between 2010 and 2014, Dindar led the company New Port Sourcing Solutions in Xi’an, China, which allegedly concealed the procurement of U.S. products for shipment to clients in Iran.

International

Elon Musk skips French court appearance over X investigation

Billionaire Elon Musk did not appear this Monday before French authorities, who had summoned him for a voluntary statement as part of an investigation into his social media platform X, prosecutors told AFP.

The platform has been under investigation since early 2025 following complaints from lawmakers alleging bias in its algorithms, which may have altered its functioning and interfered in politics in France.

The probe has since expanded to include other alleged offenses, such as complicity in the distribution of child sexual abuse material, as well as the role of Grok in spreading denialist content and sexually explicit fake images.

In early February, investigators raided X’s offices in Paris. The company has denied any wrongdoing, describing the searches as “political” and “abusive.”

At that time, the Paris prosecutor’s office summoned Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino to provide voluntary testimony as those responsible for the platform during the period under investigation.

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Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau also stated that X employees were called to testify as witnesses between April 20 and April 24.

International

Four injured in shooting at Teotihuacán archaeological site in Mexico

Four more people were injured by gunfire during the ആക്രമ attack at Teotihuacán, one of the most emblematic archaeological complexes in Mexico, authorities confirmed.

The Secretary of Security of the State of Mexico, Cristóbal Castañeda, reported that the victims include two Colombian nationals, one Russian, and one Canadian. Additionally, two other individuals were injured due to falls, according to a statement from local authorities.

President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed concern over the incident, stating on social media that “what happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us.”

Federal authorities recovered a firearm, a knife, and ammunition at the scene, which remains under the protection of state police and the Guardia Nacional, according to the federal Security Cabinet.

Located about 50 kilometers from Mexico City, Teotihuacán is a major tourist destination frequently visited by both domestic and international travelers.