International

Ousted Peruvian Attorney General denounces plot against her

Photo: RPP

December 9 |

The attorney general of Peru, Patricia Benavides, who was suspended the day before, will hand over her position next Monday, after denouncing that she is being sanctioned by the highest judicial body for what she called a “political plot” against her.

In this regard, Benavides accused the National Justice Board (JNJ) of not respecting due process and stressed, in a video posted on digital networks, that the “express resolution issued against her has political motivations that have converged to suspend her and thus achieve that the forces that were behind this political plot, evidently coordinated, return to install themselves in the Public Ministry”.

Benavides charged against the JNJ that suspended her on Wednesday and for six months as part of the process that this entity has opened against her as a result of the investigation of her environment for allegedly forming a network of influence peddling.

She pointed out: “I reaffirm and reiterate: I have no responsibility in the facts imputed to third parties and I do not lead any criminal organization”. Likewise, the suspended prosecutor called on the prosecutors “not to let themselves be intimidated and to continue with the investigations” they have in progress.

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In the same way, she added that “those dark hands that plotted to achieve this suspension cannot be allowed to stop investigations in cases such as those where families need justice”.

For this reason, Benavides accused the JNJ of not having respected the due process in her case, despite the fact that she stated on Wednesday in a hearing that she would submit to the investigations “as long as guarantees are given”.

Meanwhile, Benavides’ lawyer, Juan Peña, declared that she will hand over her position on Monday because this Thursday and Friday are holidays in Peru, reason why “it is impossible” to do it before.

He explained that after the announcement this Wednesday of the temporary suspension of Benavides, they will try to obtain “some report or some document” that will tell them how the investigation against advisors of the Attorney General for an alleged network of influence peddling in the Public Prosecutor’s Office is going.

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International

Nine People Killed in Two Armed Attacks in Manabí, Ecuador

At least nine people were killed Monday in two nearly simultaneous armed attacks in the province of Manabí, located on Ecuador’s Pacific coast, one of the areas hardest hit by violence in the country, according to the National Police.

The first attack left seven people dead and took place in Camarones, a rural area of the Jama canton. The second occurred in the sector known as La Y, in the seaside town of Canoa, part of the San Vicente canton, where two people were killed.

According to preliminary reports, both incidents occurred early Monday morning when armed men intercepted the victims. Authorities said the motives behind the attacks remain under investigation.

The assault in Camarones happened around 1:15 a.m. local time, when a group of armed individuals stormed a ranch in the area. The victims have not yet been officially identified.

About 15 minutes later, in Canoa, two men traveling in a motorized taxi were intercepted by armed suspects riding motorcycles and shot. One of the victims was identified as a 28-year-old passenger, while the identity of the driver has not yet been confirmed.

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The attacks occurred just days after another multiple homicide on February 12 at a ranch in San Juan de las Cucarachas, a rural area of the Santa Ana canton in Manabí, which left six people dead.

Manabí has been experiencing escalating insecurity linked to disputes among organized crime groups, including drug trafficking networks and territorial control conflicts. In response, the government has maintained a state of emergency in the province since August to address the surge in violence attributed to these criminal organizations.

International

Over 40 Million Affected by Major Snowstorm in Northeastern U.S.

More than 40 million people across the northeastern United States are facing a new major snowstorm this Monday, including residents of New York City, where local authorities have shut down roads to traffic.

The storm triggered widespread flight cancellations early in the morning and caused power outages affecting thousands of homes and businesses throughout the region.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani banned non-essential vehicle travel at least until noon and ordered the closure of public schools as a precautionary measure. Authorities in neighboring states, including New Jersey and Rhode Island, imposed similar restrictions to ensure public safety.

This marks the second major winter storm to hit the East Coast in less than a month, leading to growing frustration among residents.

“I’m fed up. I don’t want to see another snowflake,” said Vincent Greer, a resident of Wildwood, New Jersey, as he shoveled accumulated snow from in front of his building.

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Officials continue to urge residents to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and monitor local advisories as crews work to clear roads and restore power.

International

Ninth Victim Recovered After Deadliest U.S. Avalanche in Decades

Rescue teams in California on Saturday recovered the body of the ninth and final victim of a deadly avalanche in the Sierra Nevada mountains, according to the local sheriff’s office.

The avalanche struck a group of 11 skiers and four guides on Tuesday as they were returning from a three-day backcountry trip near Castle Peak, a 2,777-meter (9,111-foot) mountain and popular tourist destination on the U.S. West Coast.

Six people were rescued alive on Tuesday. Authorities said the incident marks the deadliest avalanche in the United States since 1981.

“All nine individuals who lost their lives in the February 17 Castle Peak avalanche have been safely recovered from the mountain,” the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

“There are no words that can truly capture the magnitude of this loss, and our hearts grieve alongside the families affected by this catastrophic event,” Sheriff Shannan Moon said.

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Officials had warned on Thursday that search operations would likely continue through the weekend due to severe weather conditions in the area.

Survivors were able to call for help shortly after the avalanche occurred. However, near-zero visibility and the risk of additional snow slides prevented rescue teams from reaching them for several hours.