International
Four dead, 70 hurt in Bolivian university stampede
AFP
A stampede at a university in Bolivia Monday left four students dead and more than 70 injured when a tear gas grenade was detonated during an assembly, the institution and police said.
Five of the injured were in intensive care, said Roxana Choque, public prosecutor of the Potosi region in Bolivia’s southeast where the Tomas Frias university is based.
Hundreds of students had gathered in an enclosed sports arena of the university for student council elections, rector Pedro Lopez told reporters.
A heated debate ensued, and at least one student detonated a tear gas cannister, provoking the stampede, according to regional police chief Bernardo Isnado.
The institution, Lopez added, was “in mourning.”
Two suspects have been arrested, said police official Nelson Pacheco. One is a student leader involved in convening the assembly and the other is suspected of actually setting off the tear gas grenade, he said.
Choque said many of the wounded had suffered multiple injuries, including broken bones, and the deceased had died of asphyxiation.
The public hospital of the city of some 270,000 inhabitants was overrun with wounded and relatives seeking information on missing students.
A woman, who did not give her name, sobbed as she told local media her daughter was in intensive care.
“Are they going to give me my daughter alive?” she asked through tears.
“Please be patient. The hospital is overrun. There is no space,” an official of the institution urged dozens of family members jostling for space and news.
The government has announced an investigation into the events.
Fights between students in Bolivia are not uncommon, and tear gas had been deployed in previous confrontations.
In March last year, 12 students died at a different university when a railing collapsed during another assembly confrontation.
International
Claudia Sheinbaum: Operation Against ‘El Mencho’ Was Based on Pending Arrest Warrants
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday rejected claims that the military operation that resulted in the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was carried out under pressure from the United States government.
Sheinbaum explained that the deployment of federal forces was aimed at executing outstanding arrest warrants against Oseguera Cervantes, who was considered one of the most wanted criminals in both Mexico and the United States.
“That was not the objective (to ease pressure from the United States). It is very important, and I want to repeat it. This individual had an arrest warrant, or several,” Sheinbaum said, referring to the operation conducted on February 22.
According to the president, the initial goal was to capture Oseguera Cervantes, but military forces responded after coming under attack during the intervention.
“The operation was to detain him. The problem is that they were attacked — the Secretariat of National Defense — and they responded at that moment,” she said.
The president insisted that the action was not carried out in response to external demands, although she acknowledged intelligence cooperation with the United States.
“It was not done in any way because of pressure from the United States, not at all. Of course, there was intelligence information from the United States that was used specifically,” she concluded.
International
Spain Denies Any Agreement to Cooperate with U.S. Military in Iran Operations
Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares on Wednesday firmly denied that Madrid has agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military in operations against Iran, contradicting statements made minutes earlier by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“I categorically deny it,” Albares said in a radio interview cited by EFE. “The position of the Spanish government regarding the war in the Middle East, the bombings in Iran, and the use of our bases has not changed by a single comma.”
Earlier in the day, Leavitt told reporters that Spain had “agreed to cooperate with the United States military in recent hours,” following President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a trade embargo on Madrid. Trump had warned of economic measures after Spain reportedly refused to allow the Pentagon to use facilities at Spanish bases for operations related to Iran.
“I have no idea what that could be referring to or where it could be coming from,” Albares said, insisting that Spain’s position “has not changed at all” and therefore “remains absolutely unchanged.” He added that he had “no desire” and “almost no time” to speculate about the White House spokesperson’s remarks.
Albares reiterated Spain’s “No to war” stance, which he said had been clearly and forcefully expressed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in an institutional address. According to the foreign minister, that position has been supported by “many European colleagues.”
International
White House Says Spain Agrees to Cooperate with U.S. Military After Trump Threatens Trade Embargo
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that Spain has agreed “in recent hours” to cooperate with the U.S. military, following President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a trade embargo on Madrid.
Trump had warned of potential commercial measures after Spain reportedly refused to allow the Pentagon to use facilities at Spanish military bases for operations related to Iran.
“With respect to Spain, I think you heard the president’s message yesterday loud and clear, and I understand that in recent hours they have agreed to cooperate with the United States military,” Leavitt said during a press briefing.
She added that the U.S. military is currently coordinating with its counterparts in Spain. However, the president expects broader support.
“The president expects that all of Europe, all of our European allies, of course, will cooperate in this important mission — not only for the United States, but also for Europe,” Leavitt said.
Her remarks came in response to questions about Spain’s position and its role as a U.S. ally amid rising tensions surrounding operations involving Iran.
Claudia Sheinbaum: Operation Against ‘El Mencho’ Was Based on Pending Arrest Warrants
Nicaragua Held Responsible for Harassment of Opposition Prosecutor and His Family
Spain Denies Any Agreement to Cooperate with U.S. Military in Iran Operations
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International4 days agoIran Reports 201 Dead, 747 Injured After U.S. and Israeli Strikes
-
International3 days agoBrazil’s Supreme Court Rejects Bolsonaro’s Bid for House Arrest
-
International3 days agoAnti-ICE Billboard Campaign Targets Immigration Spending in 31 U.S. Cities
-
International2 days agoSpain’s Prime Minister to Address Nation Amid Trump’s Trade Threats
-
International4 days agoPope Leo XIV Urges End to ‘Spiral of Violence’ in Middle East
-
International1 day agoWhite House Says Spain Agrees to Cooperate with U.S. Military After Trump Threatens Trade Embargo
-
International3 days agoTrump Warns of ‘Major Wave’ of Attacks as Iran Conflict Escalates
-
International2 days agoNew York Announces First 2,000 Seats in Universal 2-K Program
-
International3 days agoMexico Calls for Immediate Probe After National Dies in ICE Custody
-
Central America2 days agoGuatemala’s Attorney General Fails in Bid for Top Court Seat Amid Corruption Allegations
-
International1 day ago
Spain Denies Any Agreement to Cooperate with U.S. Military in Iran Operations
-
International2 days agoWarner Bros. Developing First ‘Game of Thrones’ Movie With ‘Andor’ Writer
-
Central America1 day agoNicaragua Held Responsible for Harassment of Opposition Prosecutor and His Family
-
Central America3 days agoPanama Canal Monitoring Trade as Middle East Conflict Disrupts Shipping
-
International3 days agoBolivia Orders Three Investigations Into Deadly Military Plane Crash
-
International1 day agoClaudia Sheinbaum: Operation Against ‘El Mencho’ Was Based on Pending Arrest Warrants