International

Kamala Harris rescues Biden for her presidential campaign

The Democratic candidate for the White House, Kamala Harris, rescued the president, Joe Biden, as an asset for his electoral campaign a month after he resigned his own candidacy in an exhibition of unity that leaves behind the political storm that shook the party.

The campaign was prudent when choosing the site. Far from the stadiums that Harris and his new vice president, Governor Tim Walz, have crowded in recent days in the key states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada or Wisconsin.

With Biden, the now vice president appeared at a small gym in Prince George County, Maryland, part of the overwhelmingly Democratic suburbs of Washington; with nothing at stake in the November 5 elections.

In addition, the event, officially of the White House to promote a drop in drug prices negotiated with pharmaceutical companies, attended by a predominantly African-American audience, a sector among which Biden still retains some popularity.

“I could talk all afternoon about the person I’m with in this scenario,” said the Democratic candidate after jumping on the stage with Biden.

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“There is a lot of love in this room for our president,” said the vice president, showing a great affection for Biden, who a little less than a month ago gave him the Democratic candidacy.

Harris dedicated part of his speech to praising Biden for his legacy, giving him credit for the government inheritance.

“I think that love is for many, many reasons; including that few leaders in our nation have done more on so many issues, such as the expansion of access to affordable health care,” the vice president added while the public cheered “thank you Joe, thank you Joe!”, in an evident feeling of farewell.

Both praised each other, being proud to have been key to the approval of a reform that allows the Government to negotiate the abusive prices of medicines with pharmaceutical companies, a great concern among older citizens in the country.

When it was his turn, Biden went to the Democratic base for the first time with Harris next to him since he resigned from the candidacy: “Friends, I have an incredible partner,” he said.

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Harris and Biden thus made a display of partisan unity after the president was forced to resign his candidacy for re-election under pressure from several party leaders, including the influential former president of the Lower House Nancy Pelosi.

Democrats were alarmed by the nefarious polls and the broad public perception that Biden, 81, is too old to govern one more term. That campaign of harassment and demolition opened major wounds among the Democrats, who have managed to heal in record time.

Harris took the reins of the campaign immediately that same Sunday the 21st and in less than a month he has managed to turn around some polls that gave Trump as the winner almost by acclamation and arouse an enthusiasm in the Democratic base not seen since the time of Barack Obama.

Biden, for his part, had moved away from the campaign during these weeks, dedicated only to executive functions, a respite that even allowed him to enjoy a summer day at the beach with his family this past Saturday in Delaware.

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International

Dominican court postpones hearing in deadly nightclub collapse case

10 reported dead after explosion in Dominican Republic

A Dominican court on Monday postponed until March a preliminary hearing against the owners of a nightclub that collapsed last year, killing more than 200 people.

The roof of the Jet Set nightclub collapsed in the early hours of April 8, 2025, during a concert by popular merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who died along with 235 other people.

Jet Set owner and manager Antonio Espaillat and his sister Maribel, who served as the club’s administrator, were arrested on charges of involuntary manslaughter but were later released on bail after posting approximately $842,500.

Both appeared at the Palace of Justice, where they were met by a small protest from relatives and friends of the victims.

“Thirty years in prison is not enough” and “President, we want JUSTICE,” read signs held by demonstrators.

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The preliminary hearing determines whether there is sufficient evidence to send the case to trial. The court decided to reschedule the hearing for March 16.

“We don’t want money and we’re not demanding anything else, only justice for those who died,” said Secundino Pérez, a 75-year-old shopkeeper who lost 12 friends in the Jet Set tragedy.

“Antonio and his family celebrated Christmas sitting at a table, celebrating their freedom,” said Edgar Gómez, who lost his daughter in the collapse.

The Dominican Republic’s Public Prosecutor’s Office maintains that the defendants “significantly altered” the structure of the nightclub. Prosecutors filed formal charges in November and requested that the case proceed to trial.

The charge of involuntary manslaughter carries a sentence of three months to two years in prison.

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“May your conscience never let you sleep. I lost my son,” a woman shouted through tears before the hearing, while others chanted, “Murderers, murderers, murderers.”

International

Venezuelan opposition leader dedicates Nobel Prize to Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump said last week that he was “eager” to welcome the opposition leader, who left Venezuela clandestinely with U.S. assistance, to receive her Nobel Prize in Oslo.

Machado dedicated her Nobel Prize to Trump, who nevertheless showed a very cautious attitude toward including her in any potential political transition in Venezuela.

The opposition leader said on Monday, after an audience with Pope Leo XIV, that “the defeat of evil is closer” in Venezuela following the U.S. military operation that overthrew and removed President Nicolás Maduro and his wife from the country.

Trump has claimed that he is now in control of the South American nation, stating that the primary objective at this stage is to stabilize the country before considering elections.

Venezuelan oil is Washington’s main objective, Trump added after Maduro’s overthrow.

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International

Police hunt gunmen after fatal shooting in Corsica

A man was shot dead on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica, local media reported. The victim was identified as Alain Orsoni, former president of local football club AC Ajaccio, according to sources close to the investigation cited by French news channel BFMTV.

Orsoni, 71, was killed in the town of Vero, near Ajaccio, the island’s capital, while attending his mother’s funeral.

He was also a former member of the National Liberation Front of Corsica (FLNC), a nationalist organization that has long sought independence for the island, reports said.

BFMTV reported that the gunmen fled the scene and remain at large. Local police have opened an investigation into the shooting.