International
Pentagon confirms death of air force member in self-immolation outside Israeli embassy
A spokesperson for the institution stated that the man, whose name was not disclosed, “succumbed to his injuries and passed away last night” on Sunday.
An active member of the United States Air Force died after self-immolating this weekend outside the Israeli embassy in Washington in protest of the conflict in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, the Pentagon reported on Monday.
A spokesperson for the institution stated that the man, whose name was not disclosed, “succumbed to his injuries and passed away last night” on Sunday. “We will provide additional details 24 hours after notifications to the relatives are completed,” they added.
Emergency teams responded on Sunday to the Israeli embassy in Washington just before 1:00 p.m. local time (18:00 GMT) following a “report of a person on fire” at that location, according to a message on the social media platform X from the Washington, D.C. Fire Department.
Upon arrival, they found that the fire had already been extinguished by Secret Service agents, the agency responsible for embassy protection in Washington.
Local media reported that the individual, dressed in uniform, apparently livestreamed on the social media platform Twitch, stating that he “will not be complicit in genocide” before dousing himself with liquid, in reference to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
He then self-immolated while shouting “Free Palestine!” until he fell to the ground, according to reports.
The incident occurred amidst increasing protests in the United States against Israel’s military actions in Gaza, subjecting it to intense bombings and continuous ground operations in retaliation for the unprecedented attack perpetrated on its territory on October 7 by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
On that day, militants killed 1,160 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli data.
The number of deaths in Gaza due to Israel’s response is nearing 30,000, mostly civilians, according to the Health Ministry of the area governed by Hamas, increasing international pressure on the United States to restrain its traditional ally Israel and call for a ceasefire.
International
Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
Peru’s interim president, José Jerí, stated Thursday that he has no intention of resigning from the post he assumed last Friday, following the removal of former president Dina Boluarte, despite growing unrest over the death of a protester during massive demonstrations in Lima on Wednesday.
“I will not resign,” Jerí declared outside the Government Palace in Lima, where he returned on foot after making a surprise visit to Congress headquarters alongside Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez.
Earlier, after leaving the Legislative Palace, the president acknowledged that the country is going through “difficult times” and condemned what he described as “a small group attempting to impose an agenda different from the citizens’ expression of discontent.”
Jerí expressed condolences for the death of Eduardo Ruiz, a 32-year-old man who died during Wednesday’s protest against the government and Congress, amid growing anger over corruption and insecurity.
“We stand in solidarity with his family,” he said, without offering further details about the incident, which has sparked outrage among Peruvians.
The president also described the demonstrations as “a legitimate civic expression” that later turned violent due to “certain groups seeking to provoke chaos by exploiting a peaceful citizen movement.”
“In a state governed by the rule of law, the rights of both demonstrators and security forces must be protected,” Jerí emphasized, adding that “as a result of that situation, this unfortunate death occurred outside the main area where the protest was taking place.”
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
International
New road and bridge explosions raise alarm amid indigenous protests in Ecuador
Ecuadorian authorities are investigating two explosions that occurred early Wednesday, one on a road in the southern part of the country and another under a bridge in Guayas province. These incidents follow the car bomb explosion in the coastal city of Guayaquil, also in Guayas, which occurred the day before and left one person dead and 30 injured.
Press reports indicate that one person was injured and several vehicles were damaged in the explosion on the Cuenca-Girón-Pasaje road in the south.
“Besides yesterday’s explosion in Guayaquil, we have received reports of explosives placed on bridges along the Guayaquil-Machala and Machala-Cuenca routes to disrupt traffic,” said Roberto Luque, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT).
On his X social media account, Luque reported that authorities have been deployed to the sites to assess the damage and determine the current condition of the structures.
“What they haven’t achieved with their call for a strike, some are trying to achieve through terrorism,” he stated, referring to the 24 days of protests organized by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie) against rising diesel prices and other demands.
The protests, called at a national level, have Imbabura province as their epicenter. Roadblocks have also been reported in the northern part of Pichincha province, whose capital is Quito, while activities in the rest of the country continue normally.
Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
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Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
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