International
Peruvian president summoned to testify for protest deaths
May 25 |
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte was summoned by the prosecutor’s office to testify in an investigation for the alleged crimes of genocide, aggravated homicide and serious injuries committed during the anti-government protests that left more than 60 people dead in three months, the president’s lawyer said on Wednesday.
Joseph Campos told local radio RPP that Boluarte is due to testify before Attorney General Patricia Benavides on May 31. The president was summoned in January, February and March, but has not testified. In March she was not questioned because the prosecutor’s office asked to be included to participate in the proceedings.
The president did not make a statement during the day. The Associated Press asked the prosecutor’s office about the summons to the president’s office, but did not receive a response at the time.
Prime Minister Alberto Otárola was questioned in January and February in the same investigation. The protests have left 67 dead and more than 1,300 injured, according to the Ombudsman’s Office. Almost all of the dead are civilians, most of them were shot by firearms and some were hit by gunshots to the head.
Due to the rank of those investigated, the investigation is in charge of the Attorney General. Genocide is punishable by a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison. Also included in the investigation are former Prime Minister Pedro Angulo and other former officials.
Boluarte came to power on December 7 when his predecessor, then president Pedro Castillo, attempted to dissolve Parliament and was removed from office. Castillo is being held for 18 months for the alleged crime of rebellion in a prison for presidents in Lima.
Since then, protests began to ignite in the rural areas of the southern Andes demanding the resignation of Boluarte and the members of Parliament. The demonstrations spread in the south as far as Lima, but died down in mid-February.
However, Congress has not yet decided to bring forward the presidential and parliamentary elections. Four plans to shorten the term of Boluarte and the legislators were shelved for not reaching the necessary votes.
According to the most recent May poll by Ipsos Peru, 75% disapprove of Boluarte and 16% support her.
International
Paris prosecutors alert U.S. over alleged deepfake strategy linked to Elon Musk
The Paris Prosecutor’s Office said on Saturday that it had alerted authorities in the United States over suspicions that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk may have encouraged the spread of sexualized deepfake content on the social platform X to artificially boost the company’s valuation.
According to prosecutors, the controversy surrounding explicit AI-generated videos—reportedly linked to Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence system—may have been deliberately triggered to increase the market value of X and X AI.
The office added that the alleged strategy could be tied to the planned June 2026 public listing of a new entity formed through the merger of SpaceX and X AI.
French authorities said they contacted the U.S. Department of Justice as well as legal representatives at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) earlier this week to share their concerns.
Responding on X in French to a report about the case, Musk referred to French prosecutors using an offensive term.
When contacted, X’s legal representative in France did not immediately comment.
Grok, the platform’s AI system, has its own account on X, allowing users to interact with it or request content generation. For a period, users were able to tag the bot in posts to generate or edit images, a feature that may have facilitated the spread of such material.
International
Netanyahu vows to target Iran’s leadership after missile strikes in southern Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to target Iran’s leadership directly, escalating rhetoric amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran.
Speaking during a visit to the southern city of Arad, which was struck by an Iranian missile a day earlier, Netanyahu said Israel would intensify its response against Tehran.
“We are going after the regime. We are going after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, that gang of criminals,” he told reporters while standing among the debris left by the தாக்க.
He added that Israel intends to strike “personally” at Iran’s leadership, as well as its facilities and economic assets.
In addition to Arad, Iranian missiles also hit the city of Dimona on Saturday. The area is widely believed to host Israel’s undeclared nuclear facilities. The strike caused significant damage following a direct impact.
Netanyahu also visited Dimona, where he urged residents to strictly follow military instructions and seek shelter whenever warning sirens are activated.
“The entire nation is a front line, and the home front is also a front line. And when we are on the front line, we follow these instructions,” he said.
International
US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy
The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.
According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.
The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.
“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.
However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.
“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.
When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.
Paris prosecutors alert U.S. over alleged deepfake strategy linked to Elon Musk
Netanyahu vows to target Iran’s leadership after missile strikes in southern Israel
Guatemala narrows emergency measures to hardest-hit gang violence areas
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
-
Central America4 days agoCosta Rica closes embassy in Cuba, citing human rights concerns
-
Central America2 days agoGuatemala narrows emergency measures to hardest-hit gang violence areas
-
International3 days agoMeningitis outbreak in England rises to 27 cases with two deaths reported
-
International3 days agoU.S. lowers travel advisory for much of Venezuela but keeps high-risk zones under warning
-
International3 days agoEU lawmakers move to ban AI tools that generate non-consensual nude images
-
International3 days agoBrazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint
-
International2 days agoUS panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy
-
International4 days agoHiroshima survivor who embraced Obama dies at 88
-
International2 days agoFed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict
-
International4 days agoColombia seeks ‘total suffocation’ of armed groups with regional support
-
Central America4 days agoCosta Rica closes Cuba embassy as president escalates rhetoric
-
International3 hours agoNetanyahu vows to target Iran’s leadership after missile strikes in southern Israel
-
International3 hours agoParis prosecutors alert U.S. over alleged deepfake strategy linked to Elon Musk