International

The president of Peru calls on opponents to establish “a pact for governance”

The president of Peru, Dina Boluarte, invoked her political opponents this Sunday to establish “a pact for the governance” of her country that allows, as she said, to fulfill “the historical responsibility” of meeting the needs of the 33 million Peruvians.

“Away from the voices that divide, that expect us to give up, that we go back on this road for the struggle for the progress of the homeland, he invoked a pact for Peru, a pact for governability, for democracy,” Boluarte said during a ceremony held at the Government Palace of Lima.

The president made this approach two days after the plenary of Congress refused to admit to processing three motions for vacancy (dismissal) that had been presented against her by opposition legislators, mostly from left-wing political groups.

Boluarte added that “a divided, intolerant country, even if it is a minority group that moves these aspects that I indicate, affects unity.”

“The country demands the unity of its authorities to move forward,” he emphasized.

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The head of state also remarked that “all” politicians have “a historical responsibility with the more than 33 million Peruvians.”

“Therefore, work in unity, as I always say, in a single patriotic heart, will make our homeland bigger, and that within it Peruvians have greater rights,” he concluded.

Last Friday, the Prime Minister of Peru, Gustavo Adrianzén, said that the Executive “will not allow governance to be broken in his country,” referring to the three motions of dismissal presented against Boluarte.

“We tell that small group of benches and parliamentarians that they are not going to make it, that we are not going to allow someone to want to break the governance of the country to lead us to instability and chaos,” he said.

The three motions, which were rejected by a simple majority, called for the dismissal of Boluarte for an alleged moral inability to exercise the head of state and demanded that he offer explanations for the latest complaints that have been made against him, which are also investigated by the Prosecutor’s Office.

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Among the arguments was an alleged “abandonment from office,” which a journalistic complaint pointed out by Boluarte for 12 days between the end of June and the beginning of July 2023 to undergo alleged aesthetic procedures.

Also, his alleged involvement in the investigation against one of his brothers, Nicanor Boluarte, by deactivating a police team that supported a prosecutor’s group that specifically prosecutes the crimes of corruption committed by senior public officials a day before his preliminary arrest.

In this case, the Public Ministry opened a preliminary investigation of the president for the alleged commission of the crime against the administration of justice, in the form of personal cover-up.

International

ICE to remain at airports amid DHS shutdown, Homan says

The U.S. “border czar,” Tom Homan, said Sunday that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will remain deployed at airports until operations return to “100% normal,” as the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues.

“We will maintain ICE presence until airports feel they are fully back to normal operations,” Homan said during an interview on Face the Nation on CBS.

Homan justified the deployment on security grounds, noting that the measure was ordered by President Donald Trumpamid widespread absenteeism among agents of the Transportation Security Administration, who have gone without pay for over six weeks due to the DHS shutdown.

According to acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill, at least 460 TSA agents have resigned during the shutdown, while daily absenteeism has averaged 11%, exceeding 50% at some airports.

Homan warned that if TSA staffing levels do not recover after the shutdown, ICE agents will continue filling the gap. “ICE is there to support our TSA brothers and sisters. We will remain as long as needed to ensure airport security,” he said.

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The DHS shutdown reached 44 days on Sunday, making it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The impasse stems from disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over ICE funding.

A recent bipartisan Senate proposal to fund DHS without including ICE failed after being blocked by House Republicans, who insist on full funding for the agency.

Amid the deadlock, Trump signed an executive order directing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately pay TSA agents to address what he called an “emergency situation” and restore order at airports, with payments expected to begin Monday.

International

Oil prices surge again as Middle East tensions persist

Oil prices climbed again on Friday for a second consecutive session, as markets remained concerned about a prolonged conflict in the Middle East with no tangible diplomatic progress.

North Sea Brent crude for May delivery rose 4.22% to close at $112.57 per barrel.

Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) approached the $100 mark, settling at $99.64, up 5.46%.

The decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to delay by ten days his ultimatum for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz failed to reassure market participants.

“It means there will be ten additional days of disruptions in the Middle East for crude and refined product flows,” said Andy Lipow, of Lipow Oil Associates.

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“For prices to come down, a resolution to the conflict is necessary,” Lipow added. “And even in the event of a ceasefire, it is not certain that Iran would allow oil shipments to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.”

International

Young Spanish Woman Receives Euthanasia After Legal Battle, Sparking Debate

A 25-year-old Spanish woman, Noelia Castillo, received euthanasia on Thursday following a prolonged legal dispute with her father.

She passed away at a care center in Sant Pere de Ribes, about 40 kilometers from Barcelona, where she had been living for some time, according to Spanish media reports.

In an interview broadcast a day earlier on Antena 3, Castillo expressed her exhaustion after enduring prolonged suffering. She indicated that her decision was influenced by a combination of personal circumstances and health-related challenges, including family conflicts and a condition of paraplegia following a previous incident that left her with lasting physical consequences.

Spain legalized euthanasia in 2021, becoming one of the few countries that allow patients under strict conditions to seek medical assistance to end their lives in order to avoid what the law defines as unbearable suffering.

The case has reignited debate in Spain over the ethical, legal, and family dimensions surrounding euthanasia, as well as the broader issue of support for individuals in vulnerable situations.