International
Pope Francis appoints 21 new cardinals
Pope Francis appointed 21 new cardinals on Sunday, significantly increasing the number of members in the College of Cardinals and solidifying his influence on the group of prelates that will one day choose his successor.
Among those selected by the first Latin American pope in history were leaders from several important dioceses and archdioceses in South America. These include Archbishop Vicente Bokalic Iglic of Santiago del Estero, Argentina; Archbishop Jaime Spengler of Porto Alegre, Brazil; Archbishop Fernando Natalio Chomali Garib of Santiago, Chile; Archbishop Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera of Guayaquil, Ecuador; and Archbishop Carlos Gustavo Castillo Mattasoglio of Lima, Peru.
He also named the oldest cardinal to date: Monsignor Angelo Acerbi, a 99-year-old retired Vatican diplomat who was once held hostage for six weeks in Colombia by leftist guerrillas, and the youngest, the 44-year-old head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Melbourne, Australia, Bishop Mykola Bychok, appointed as a nod to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The new cardinals will receive their red hats at a ceremony known as a consistory on December 8, a major holiday that officially marks the start of Christmas celebrations in Rome. This will be Francis’ tenth consistory and the largest infusion of voting-age cardinals into the college in his 11 years as pope.
Even before Sunday’s announcement, Francis had already appointed the majority of the voting-age cardinals who will one day participate in a conclave to elect his successor. According to Vatican statistics, prior to Sunday, 92 of the cardinals under 80 years old—therefore eligible to vote in a conclave—had been chosen by Francis, compared to 24 named by Pope Benedict XVI and six by St. John Paul II.
International
Authorities Say Teotihuacán Gunman Was Obsessed With Mass Shootings and Extremist Symbolism
Julio César Jasso Ramírez, identified by authorities as the gunman behind the armed attack at the archaeological site of Teotihuacán, had allegedly spent years building a personal narrative shaped by an obsession with historical mass shootings, extremist symbolism, and an increasing detachment from reality.
According to preliminary findings from the Fiscalía General de Justicia del Estado de México, the 27-year-old suspect, originally from the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, acted alone and appeared to have carefully planned the attack.
Investigators also pointed to signs of a severe psychological or psychiatric disorder. One official involved in the case stated that the suspect seemed to live in “his own reality,” disconnected from the world around him.
“I would not speak of a motive; I would speak of psychopathy, a condition, an illness,” the official said while discussing the ongoing investigation.
Authorities reported that Jasso Ramírez was allegedly fixated on mass violence incidents that occurred outside Mexico, particularly in the United States.
Among the items found in his possession were writings, images, and materials reportedly linked to the Columbine High School massacre, the school shooting that took place on April 20, 1999.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue analyzing evidence connected to the suspect’s background and mental state.
International
Iran refuses to reopen strait of Hormuz amid ongoing U.S. Naval blockade
Iran reaffirmed on Wednesday that it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz while the United States maintains its naval blockade against Iranian ports and vessels, amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohamad Baqer Qalibaf warned that reopening the crucial maritime route depends on Washington honoring the ceasefire agreement. According to Qalibaf, Iran considers the deal to be violated due to ongoing U.S. actions.
The Iranian official accused the United States of carrying out a “naval blockade and the hijacking of the global economy,” while also pointing to Israeli military operations in Lebanon as part of the broader conflict affecting the region.
Qalibaf stated that military and economic pressure would not force Iran to change its position. “The United States and Israel failed to achieve their goals through military aggression, and they will not succeed through intimidation. The only path forward is to recognize the rights of the Iranian nation,” he said.
His remarks come amid stalled negotiations between Iran and the United States following direct talks held on April 11 and 12 in Islamabad.
The discussions, led by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iranian representatives, have shown little progress in recent days, increasing uncertainty over whether dialogue between the two sides will resume.
U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced an extension of the ceasefire but decided to keep the naval blockade in place, a move Tehran considers incompatible with ongoing negotiations.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intensified operations in the area by seizing two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing them of operating without the required permits and escorting them into Iranian territory.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical oil trade routes, and any prolonged disruption could have significant consequences for global energy markets.
International
Maradona’s daughter accuses medical team of “horrible manipulation” in court
One of the daughters of Diego Maradona testified in court this Tuesday, breaking down in tears as she denounced what she described as “absolute and horrible manipulation” by her father’s medical team, during an emotional hearing in Argentina.
Gianinna Maradona stated that she and her siblings agreed to home hospitalization after doctors presented it as the best option following the neurosurgery Maradona underwent on November 3, 2020.
The football icon died on November 25 of that year, and the ongoing trial seeks to determine whether the conditions of his home care were appropriate.
According to Gianinna, what the family found at the residence where Maradona was recovering did not match what had been promised. She testified that there was no adequate medical equipment, constant monitoring, or even an ambulance available, despite assurances of continuous care.
“The manipulation was absolute and horrible,” she said during the hearing in San Isidro, near Buenos Aires.
She accused members of the medical team, including neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, and psychologist Carlos Díaz, of misleading the family.
“I trusted these people, and all they did was manipulate us and leave my son without a grandfather,” she added.
Later in her testimony, recalling that six years have passed since her father’s death, she became emotional and said she struggled deeply with grief in the aftermath.
Authorities Say Teotihuacán Gunman Was Obsessed With Mass Shootings and Extremist Symbolism
Iran refuses to reopen strait of Hormuz amid ongoing U.S. Naval blockade
Maradona’s daughter accuses medical team of “horrible manipulation” in court
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
-
International3 hours agoIran refuses to reopen strait of Hormuz amid ongoing U.S. Naval blockade
-
International2 days agoFour injured in shooting at Teotihuacán archaeological site in Mexico
-
Central America2 days agoBukele administration surpasses 1,100 homicide-free days amid ongoing crackdown
-
Central America2 days agoU.S. extradites Iranian man over alleged sanctions evasion scheme
-
International4 days agoAir Canada suspends JFK flights amid soaring fuel costs linked to Iran conflict
-
International2 days agoElon Musk skips French court appearance over X investigation
-
International1 day agoVenezuelan opposition demands election date and minimum wage increase
-
International1 day agoTrump extends Iran ceasefire after Pakistan mediation request
-
International1 day agoMaradona’s daughter accuses medical team of “horrible manipulation” in court
-
International3 hours ago
Authorities Say Teotihuacán Gunman Was Obsessed With Mass Shootings and Extremist Symbolism