International
The United States expresses condolences for the “unfortunate” accident that ended Raisí’s life
On Monday, the United States expressed its “official condolences” for the “very unfortunate” accident that killed former president of Iran, Ebrahim Raisí, and said it had no information about the causes of the accident.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller expressed his “official condolences” for the death of Raisí and the Iranian Foreign Minister, Hosein Amir Abdolahian, in a helicopter crash that U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin considered “very unfortunate” in another statement.
“While Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms,” Miller said in a statement.
In a subsequent press conference, the same spokesman defined Raisí as one of those responsible for “the brutal repression of the Iranian people for almost four decades,” including the executions of thousands of political dissidents in 1988.
“We regret any loss of life. We don’t want to see anyone die in a helicopter accident, but that doesn’t change their history,” Miller said.
The spokesman also revealed that Iran asked the United States for assistance in the search and recovery of the damaged helicopter, but did not give more details about it.
Meanwhile, at a press conference, Austin said that the United States “had nothing to do” with that accident and, when asked if Israel could be involved, he said that it will be the investigation being carried out by the Iranian authorities that sheds light on what happened.
“Regarding the death of the Iranian president in the very unfortunate helicopter accident, we continue to monitor the situation, but at this time we do not have details about the origin of the accident,” he emphasized.
Faced with the question of whether the United States would modify the deployment of its troops in the region in the face of the uncertainty generated by the death of Raisí, the head of the Pentagon ruled out changes in this regard and stated that, for the moment, they do not expect there to be an impact on the security of the region.
Raisí lost his life on Sunday in a helicopter accident, after the aircraft made a forced landing in the Varzaghan area, in northwestern Iran.
The Foreign Minister, the governor of East Azerbaijan, Malek Rahmati, the leader of the Friday prayers of the city of Tabriz, Mohammad-Ali Ale-Hashem, also traveled on the aircraft, in addition to two pilots of the aircraft, a flight attendant, the presidential head of security and a guard.
Everyone died in the accident.
After the announcement of Raisí’s death, the supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, approved on Monday that the first vice president, Mohamad Mojber, assume as interim president of the country and declared five days of national mourning for the death of Raisí and his companions.
International
Trump says GOP ‘learned a lot’ after democratic election wins
U.S. President Donald Trump said that he and the Republican Party “learned a lot” from the Democratic victories in Tuesday’s state and local elections. He also compared Democrats to “kamikaze pilots” over the ongoing budget standoff.
Speaking at an event with Republican senators on Wednesday, Trump described the results as an unexpected setback.
“These were very Democratic areas, but I don’t think it was good for Republicans. In fact, I don’t think it was good for anyone. But we had an interesting night and we learned a lot,” he said during remarks broadcast by the White House.
Trump agreed with pollsters that two key factors led to Republican losses in New York’s mayoral race and the gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia.
International
Bolivia’s Jeanine Áñez freed after Supreme Court annuls her conviction
Former Bolivian interim president Jeanine Áñez was released from a women’s prison in La Paz on Thursday, where she had spent more than four and a half years for an alleged coup, after her conviction was annulled, AFP journalists confirmed.
Dozens of supporters and family members gathered outside the facility to celebrate her release. Áñez left the prison waving a Bolivian flag around 15:00 GMT.
“It is comforting to see that justice will once again prevail in Bolivia. She was the only woman who took on the role with bravery and courage,” said Lizeth Maure, a 46-year-old nurse who had come to show her support.
Áñez, a 58-year-old lawyer and conservative politician, governed Bolivia for nearly a year until November 2020, when she handed power to leftist leader Luis Arce.
She was arrested in 2021 and sentenced the following year to 10 years in prison for “resolutions contrary to the Constitution,” accused of illegally assuming the presidency after Evo Morales resigned in 2019 amid social unrest.
Her sentence was overturned on Wednesday by the Supreme Court of Justice, Bolivia’s highest judicial authority.
The court ruled that Áñez should have been subjected to a “trial of responsibilities” before Congress— a constitutional process reserved for sitting presidents, vice presidents, ministers, and top judges — rather than prosecuted in an ordinary criminal court.
As she was welcomed by relatives and supporters upon release, Áñez declared:
“I feel the satisfaction of having fulfilled my duty to my country, of never having bowed down. And I will never regret having served Bolivia when it needed me.”
International
Peru declares Mexico’s president Persona Non Grata over political asylum dispute
Peru’s Congress declared Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum persona non grata on Thursday, accusing her of “unacceptable interference in internal affairs” after granting political asylum to former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chávez.
The motion, introduced by right-wing parties, passed with 63 votes in favor, 33 against, and two abstentions. Lawmakers argue that Sheinbaum has maintained a hostile stance toward Peru since taking office.
Peru severed diplomatic relations with Mexico on Monday following the asylum decision. Chávez, who is facing charges for her alleged involvement in former President Pedro Castillo’s failed coup attempt in December 2022, remains under protection at the Mexican embassy residence in Lima.
Following the diplomatic break, interim President José Jerí said on X that Mexico’s chargé d’affaires in Peru, Karla Ornela, has been notified by the foreign ministry that she must leave the country within a strict deadline.
The Mexican government condemned Lima’s decision as “excessive and disproportionate,” asserting that offering asylum to Chávez is a legitimate act grounded in international law and does not constitute interference in Peru’s domestic matters.
Trump says GOP ‘learned a lot’ after democratic election wins
Bolivia’s Jeanine Áñez freed after Supreme Court annuls her conviction
Peru declares Mexico’s president Persona Non Grata over political asylum dispute
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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