International

Young Presidents challenge traditional politicians in actions against the COVID-19

The worldwide emergency generated by the COVID-19, has put in the public eye the reactions and contention measures prompted and executed by the presidents of the world.

In a world that has been changing rapidly in the last decade, one of the biggest variations has been the arrival of very young political leaders directing the fate of the countries, and this health crisis has highlighted this trait.

The young leaders have taken very good decisions, that have impacted the results of emergency management in a positive way, Sanna Marin Prime Minister of Finland, Nayib Bukele President of El Salvador and Jacinda Arden Prime Minister of New Zealand have stood out for their severe but successful measures.

The vision of these 3 leaders, who are no more than 39 years of age, has been applauded by the authorities and public opinion worldwide, taking seriously the crisis, prioritizing the lives of their fellow citizens and creating public policies that prioritize social distancing have been the key factors in managing the crisis in their respective countries.

The president’s decisions were severely questioned by different groups in their countries, especially by their political opposition, however, they have bet differently; obtaining results that benefit its citizens.

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This attitude has been contrasted by the response of more traditional politicians with many years over their shoulders, such is the case of Donald Trump President of the United States, Jair Bolsonaro President of Brazil and Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico.

From the moment that the World Health Organization announced about the risk of the Coronavirus pandemic, these presidents looked down on the emergency, didn’t take preventive measures and their public policies didn’t prioritize imposed household quarantines.

To date, the results of deaths because of the virus and the overflow in their health care systems, are the indicators that allow saying that the young leaders have responded in a better way against the worldwide crisis.

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International

Iran Reports 201 Dead, 747 Injured After U.S. and Israeli Strikes

The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported Sunday night (local time) that at least 201 people were killed and 747 injured following attacks carried out by Israel and the United States against the Islamic Republic.

A spokesperson for the humanitarian organization said more than 220 rescue teams have been deployed across affected areas and that relief operations are continuing without interruption. The official highlighted the difficulty of treating the large number of wounded and the urgent need for additional resources in impacted provinces.

Out of Iran’s 31 provinces, 24 have reported damage, according to a statement carried by the Isna news agency. This marks the first overall casualty toll released by Iranian state-affiliated media since the launch of the offensive.

Among the dead are 85 schoolgirls from a school in the southern city of Minab, according to the country’s judiciary. “The number of martyrs at the Minab girls’ school has risen to 85,” the local prosecutor’s office said, as quoted by the judiciary’s website, Mizan Online.

Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian described the attack as a “savagery” that “constitutes a new black page in the record of countless crimes committed by the aggressors.”

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Meanwhile, the international community continues to monitor the situation closely amid concerns about possible further reprisals and the broader impact on Middle East stability, energy markets, and global security.

AFP noted that it was unable to independently verify the casualty figures or the circumstances surrounding the events.

International

Pope Leo XIV Urges End to ‘Spiral of Violence’ in Middle East

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called for an end to the “spiral of violence” in the Middle East, following military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran and subsequent retaliatory bombardments in the region.

“Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions, I urge the parties involved to assume their moral responsibility and stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss,” the pontiff told the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Speaking during the Angelus prayer, the U.S.-born pope said stability and peace cannot be achieved through threats or weapons. “Stability and peace are not built with reciprocal threats or with arms that sow destruction, suffering and death, but only through reasonable, sincere and responsible dialogue,” he declared.

The leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics also called for diplomacy to “regain its role” amid escalating tensions.

In addition, the pope urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to urgently resume dialogue after several days of clashes between the two countries.

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International

Security Council to Hold Emergency Meeting on Middle East Crisis

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday condemned the “military escalation in the Middle East” following attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes, just hours before an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.

“I call for the immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation,” Guterres said in a statement.

The Security Council is scheduled to meet on Saturday at 21:00 GMT (4:00 p.m. in New York) to address “the situation in the Middle East,” the United Nations announced.

The meeting, during which Guterres will deliver remarks, was convened at the request of France, Bahrain, Colombia, Russia and China, according to a diplomatic source.