International
Sheinbaum appoints Lázaro Cárdenas Batel as head of the Presidency’s Office
Lázaro Cárdenas Batel, former coordinator of advisers of the current president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, will be the head of the Office of the Government of Claudia Sheinbaum, the future president of Mexico reported on Thursday.
Cárdenas, who was governor of the western state of Michoacán (2002-2008), is the son of the historic Mexican leftist leader Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas and grandson of former President Lázaro Cárdenas (1934-1940).
The last to occupy the position of head of office of the presidency was Alfonso Romo, whom Andrés Manuel López Obrador assigned in 2018 and resigned in 2020, leading to the temporary disappearance of this office.
“I deeply appreciate the confidence with which it distinguishes me by inviting me to occupy the position of head of the Office of the Presidency, it will be an honor to closely accompany the first head of state in the history of Mexico,” Cárdenas Batel said during the press conference in which the announcement was made.
He recalled that he has known Sheinbaum for more than three decades, because they coincided in the political struggle as part of the student movement of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in 1986.
“I am honored to participate in Dr. Sheinbaum’s team. Surely he will live up to the great responsibility that belongs to him, I have no doubt that the next Government will be consistent with Claudia Sheinbaum’s trajectory and with the causes that she has promoted and defended throughout her life,” he emphasized.
For her part, Claudia Sheinbaum, who will take office on October 1, highlighted her confidence in Cárdenas Batel.
“He held the position of governor, deputy, senator and has been in different spaces in international politics, so he will help me to follow up on strategic projects and, at the same time,
talking to many sectors in Mexico and in other parts of the world that may not be able to attend directly as president, but that Lázaro can attend with all the confidence,” he said.
According to the portal of the Government of Mexico, the Office of the Presidency was an administrative area that provided advice, technical support and dispatch of matters to the head of the Executive, “in order to provide elements for decision-making, without prejudice to the powers exercised by the dependencies and entities of the Federal Public Administration within the scope of their respective competences.”
When López Obrador came to power, in December 2018, he appointed Alfonso Romo Garza as head of the Office of the Presidency; however, two years later the official expressed his desire to leave office and the president said that he would dispense with the instance.
Despite the fact that this Thursday Sheinbaum was expected to announce the heads of the secretariats of Culture, Tourism and Labor, he only made the announcement of Cárdenas Batel, and commented that it will be until next Thursday that he will give the remaining appointments.
International
China calls for dialogue amid rising Iran-Israel conflict
The Chinese government emphasized on Monday the importance of “creating the conditions to return to the proper path of dialogue” between Iran and Israel, which have exchanged attacks in recent days resulting in more than 20 Israeli and over 220 Iranian deaths.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun expressed deep concern at a press conference over the Israeli attacks on Iran and the “sudden escalation” of the military conflict.
Guo called on all parties to “take immediate measures to ease tensions and prevent the region from descending into further turmoil,” stating that “force cannot bring lasting peace.”
“If the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to intensify or even expand, the countries of the Middle East will be the first to suffer the consequences,” he added, while noting that China “will continue to maintain communication with the relevant parties, promoting peace and dialogue.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke last Saturday with his Iranian and Israeli counterparts to condemn the Israeli airstrike on Iranian territory, which he described as a “violation of international law” with the potential to trigger “disastrous” consequences.
In both calls, Wang reiterated China’s rejection of the use of force, defended diplomacy as the only solution to the Iranian nuclear dispute, and offered China’s mediation to prevent further destabilization in the Middle East.
International
Suspect arrested in killing of Minnesota legislator and husband, governor Says
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced on Sunday the arrest of Vance Luther Boelter, 57, the main suspect in the killing of Democratic legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband in a Brooklyn Park suburb on Friday night.
Boelter, who also reportedly shot State Senator John Hoffman and his wife early Saturday morning, was apprehended in Sibley County following an intensive manhunt involving hundreds of law enforcement officers.
In a public statement, Governor Walz condemned Boelter’s “unthinkable actions,” which resulted in the death of a woman who “shaped the core of who we are as a state.”
“We cannot become numb to this. We are a deeply divided nation,” Walz said in a statement posted on his X account.
“We move forward not with hatred or violence, but with humility, grace, and civility,” he added.
Expressing solidarity with the victims’ families, Walz said the entire state of Minnesota is in mourning. He also thanked law enforcement for their bravery and professionalism: “They have saved lives,” he emphasized.
“As we heal, we will not let fear win,” Walz concluded. “We must honor Melissa by moving forward with understanding, service, and above all, humanity.”
Throughout Sunday, police and sheriff units searched a rural area in Minnesota for Vance Luther Boelter, a security company director and preacher who, according to Governor Walz, acted out of politically motivated violence.
International
40,000 tourists stranded in Israel amid airspace shutdown over Iran conflict
Approximately 40,000 tourists are stranded in Israel following the closure of the country’s airspace amid escalating hostilities with Iran, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism reported on Monday.
The ministry has set up a virtual office to provide information via email (virtual@goisrael.gov.il) and phone (+972-53-583-5808), as well as a Facebook page called Israel Virtual Tourist Office.
Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz is in contact with hotels and accommodations across the country to offer support to tourists in need, the ministry added.
Many stranded travelers are considering crossing overland into Jordan or Egypt to seek flights from those countries. The Israel Airports Authority reminded the public that land border crossings remain open.
Three German tourists stranded in Jerusalem told EFE today that they have not received any assistance from their country’s embassy in Israel, and their primary option currently is to cross into Jordan to catch a flight from there.
Since early Friday morning, Israel launched operations against Iran, targeting military personnel and infrastructure, including energy and nuclear facilities, as well as numerous residential areas in Tehran.
In response, Iran has fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel, some of which have struck various locations across the country, leaving at least 24 dead so far, according to Israeli authorities.
Iranian health officials report at least 224 deaths, mostly civilians, including at least 17 senior military officials—nine from the Revolutionary Guard—and more than a dozen nuclear scientists.
The Israeli military has warned that many more “targets” remain, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared on Monday that it will continue missile attacks against Israel until its “destruction.”
China calls for dialogue amid rising Iran-Israel conflict
Suspect arrested in killing of Minnesota legislator and husband, governor Says
40,000 tourists stranded in Israel amid airspace shutdown over Iran conflict
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