International

Irish mobster Hutch is rending for general elections after arrest in Spain

Dublin gangster Gerard Hutch, popularly known as ‘The Monk’, confirmed on Monday his intention to run in the Irish general elections, while he is on bail after being arrested in Lanzarote (Spain) last October.

Hutch, whom the police consider the leader of one of the most dangerous organized crime organizations in this country, assured the media today upon his arrival at Dublin airport that he will be a “one hundred percent” candidate in the elections of November 29.

In the videos circulating on social networks, ‘El Monje’, 61, assured from Terminal 1 that he has begun the legal procedures to register as a candidate for a seat in the Dáil (lower house) for the northern district of Dublin, which includes some of the poorest areas of the capital.

He also stated that he is not concerned about his detention in Lanzarote (Canary Islands), where he resides for much of the year, and that he is “innocent.”

Alleged crime of money laundering

Hutch was arrested on October 25 along with eight other people for alleged money laundering crimes in the context of an international criminal organization, after a joint operation by the Spanish and Irish security forces, who also searched his home in Dublin.

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Days later, the Court of Instruction number 2 of Arrecife (Lanzarote) released him on bail of 100,000 euros and decided not to impose additional precautionary measures.

In this regard, the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands explained that the judge and the prosecutor of the case understood that removing Hutch’s passport or imposing some other restriction beyond the bail could cause irreparable damage to his right to run in the elections, while recalling that only a final judgment can prevent him from running in those elections.

In the event that this Dublin gangster finally becomes a candidate, most of his election campaign will run online, as he is threatened with death by the rival gang of the Kinahan family, one of the most persecuted organized crime organizations worldwide.

Both mafia families have been warting a war since 2016 that has claimed 18 fatalities to date, most of them on the Hutch side.

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International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”