In a tragic turn of events, former Chilean president Sebastián Piñera passed away in a helicopter accident, sending shockwaves throughout the country. Thousands of citizens gathered to pay their respects during the wake, while the Government and Piñera’s family make preparations for a State funeral in the Santiago cathedral. Piñera, who served as the first right-wing president after the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, leaves behind a lasting legacy that has garnered respect and admiration from the people of Chile.

Cecilia Morel, Piñera’s widow and former first lady, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support from people across Chile. The suddenness of the accident has left the nation in disbelief, and the grieving process will take time to process. Meanwhile, close advisers like Andrés Chadwick emphasized Piñera’s lasting impact on the hearts of the people.

The helicopter crash occurred over Lake Ranco, a popular vacation spot for Piñera and his family. While Piñera was piloting the helicopter, his sister Magdalena and two other passengers managed to escape the accident. Investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

Representatives from various political backgrounds have gathered to bid farewell to Piñera at the former headquarters of the National Congress in Santiago. Even anonymous citizens, such as Lizy Muñoz and Aníbal Araya, have expressed their appreciation for Piñera’s leadership and accomplishments. The Piñera government’s successful response to the 2010 earthquake and the famous rescue of the trapped miners in the San José Mine are notable highlights of his term.

As preparations for the State funeral continue, the presence of current government ministers from President Gabriel Boric’s administration has drawn criticism from the more radical left-wing factions. Nevertheless, the funeral will proceed as planned, with former Chilean presidents and international leaders expected to attend.

Sebastián Piñera’s passing marks a significant loss for Chile. He will be remembered as a pivotal figure in the country’s history, navigating both triumphs and challenges during his time in office. His funeral will be a somber moment of unity as Chile bids farewell to a respected leader.

A rare earthquake of magnitude 4.0 struck on Wednesday night, approximately 163 kilometers away from Cape Canaveral on the east coast of Florida. The earthquake, recorded by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), occurred at a shallow depth of just over 9 kilometers. It was felt in various locations such as Titusville, Vero Beach, Melbourne, Merritt Island, and Cocoa Beach. Despite being felt by some, the earthquake did not cause any damage or injuries, with only a few reports of weak or light tremors.

The USGS mentioned that the most recent earthquake in Florida occurred on September 3, 2020, with a magnitude of 1.8. However, the area where the recent tremor took place has only experienced one earthquake since 1900, a 3.3 magnitude event in June 2001. The Miami Herald also highlighted that “eight additional incidents of shaking of the seabed” have been recorded since 2000. These incidents, with magnitudes ranging from 3.7 to 3.9, have been attributed to “experimental explosions” rather than natural tectonic activity. Authorities have not reported any experimental explosions in relation to this recent earthquake, and there is no evidence of tectonic plate boundaries in the area.

Coincidentally, in the early hours of Thursday, the PACE mission of NASA and the company SpaceX successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. The mission aims to study the atmosphere and oceans in the coming years.

This Thursday, the judges of the United States Supreme Court issued reservations about the implications that validating the state of Colorado's decision to eliminate Donald Trump (2017-2021) from the Republican primaries for his role could have at the national level for the November elections. in the assault on the Capitol.

Both the most progressive justices – such as Sonia Sotomayor or Elena Kagan – and the most conservative ones – among them the president of the Supreme Court, John Roberts – suggested in their interventions discomfort with the idea of individual states interpreting the constitutional eligibility of a candidate for a national position.

“It's all going to come down to a handful of states that will decide the presidential election,” and this is “a pretty discouraging consequence,” said Roberts, who predicted that a decision in favor of Colorado could lead to attempts across the country to disqualify to candidates.

This has been one of the central arguments of the hearing after which it will be determined whether Trump's expulsion from the Republican primaries in Colorado for his role in the assault on the Capitol in January 2021 is constitutional and if, therefore, Trump is disqualified from returning to the White House.

The Supreme Court's decision will not be known this Thursday, but according to many analysts, the arguments seem to indicate that the judges, with a conservative majority, may not decide to support Colorado for fear of altering the November presidential elections.. Trump is the favorite to win the Republican nomination and once again face President Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate.

In his speech, the lawyer representing the voters who questioned Trump's eligibility, Jason Murray, denied that Colorado is going to interfere at the national level since “ultimately, it is this court (the Supreme Court) that is going to decide.” and “resolve the issue for the nation.”

Not doing so, he noted, would mean betting on “chaos,” since the elections would go ahead with the possibility that Trump would win and then be disqualified from assuming office, following the conclusion of the criminal proceedings he faces.

Assault on the Capitol

Although the question of whether there was an insurrection on January 6 was not the focus of the hearing, Murray insisted that the assault on the Capitol “was incited by a sitting president” who participated “in an insurrection,” so he is affected by Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, the focus of the debate.

An opinion not shared by Trump's lawyer, Jonathan Mitchell, who stated that an insurrection requires “an organized and concerted effort to overthrow the government through violence” and that this did not occur.

“This was a riot, not an insurrection. “The events were shameful, criminal, violent, all those things, but they did not qualify as an insurrection as that term is used in Section 3,” he stressed.

This now famous Section establishes that no “member of Congress or officer of the United States” who has sworn an oath to the Constitution and “participated in an insurrection or rebellion” may be “elected president or vice president,” among other public offices.

It was approved in 1868, after the Civil War, with the objective of preventing the southern rebels of the Confederacy who betrayed the Magna Carta from returning to power.

Mitchell also argued that the amendment cannot be applied to Trump because the text speaks of “officials” and does not mention presidents and also maintained that excluding a presidential candidate from the electoral ballot is the exclusive function of Congress and requires the approval of a law.

The Supreme Court will have to make a decision quickly due to the tight electoral calendar, but analysts doubt that there will be a ruling before Super Tuesday on March 5, when 15 states, including Colorado, will hold their primaries.

In an unprecedented ruling, the Colorado Justice determined in December that the 14th Amendment disqualifies the Republican for the “insurrection” of the assault on the Capitol, when a horde of Trumpists attacked Congress to try to stop the ratification of Biden's victory.

Under the same argument, Maine electoral authorities also expelled Trump from the primaries. In addition, several activists and organizations have filed similar lawsuits in at least 11 states and are waiting for the Supreme Court to rule.

Trump says “it was not an insurrection”

Former President Donald Trump was quick to comment on the matter.. During a brief press conference he offered outside his residence in South Florida, he stated that there is “no case” against him to disqualify him in the general elections and that it is more of a case of “electoral interference by Democrats.”

“It was not an insurrection,” said Trump, who at the same time highlighted his good position in the polls, both in the Republican Party primaries and in an eventual face-to-face with President Joe Biden, who is seeking re-election.

Sweden’s handling of the case involving an Iraqi citizen who repeatedly burned the Koran within its territory has drawn international attention and condemnation. A Swedish court recently confirmed the deportation order for Salwan Momika, the individual responsible for the Koran burnings. However, the court has decided not to execute the deportation at this time, citing the potential risks Momika may face if returned to Iraq.

Karin Dahlin, chief counsel of the Immigration Court, stated, “The deportation order cannot be carried out while there is a risk of persecution.” Although Momika no longer has international protection, the court upheld his deportation order. The court found that Momika had deliberately provided false and omitted vital information during his residence permit application process in Sweden.

The decision to deport Momika comes after the Swedish General Directorate of Migration authorized his deportation last October. However, the process is currently on hold until Momika’s residence permit expires on April 16.

Sweden’s tolerance of the Koran burnings has sparked criticism from Muslim-majority countries. Some nations have even summoned Swedish diplomats to seek explanations for the incident.

Paola Roldán, a 42-year-old woman who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), made history in Ecuador by successfully legalizing euthanasia. The Constitutional Court issued a ruling on Wednesday in favor of Roldán’s claim, recognizing her right to a dignified death.

In its ruling, Ecuador’s highest court did not declare article 144 of the penal code, which penalizes homicide, unconstitutional. Instead, it approved its “conditional constitutionality.”

Under this formulation, the Court determined that the article will be constitutional as long as a doctor agrees to the request for euthanasia from a patient who is suffering intensely from a serious and irreversible bodily injury or an incurable illness.

The court also declared the “additive constitutionality” of article 6 of the Code of Medical Ethics, empowering doctors to perform euthanasia without facing charges of homicide.

In order for Roldán to access euthanasia, the Constitutional Court ordered the preparation of a law to regulate the procedure, which will be carried out by the Ombudsman’s Office, the National Assembly, and the Ministry of Public Health.

The Ombudsman’s Office will have six months to prepare the bill, the Ministry will have two months to make the regulations, and the Assembly will have one year to debate and issue the regulatory body.

During the hearing of her case, Roldán expressed her desire for a death with dignity. She has lived a full life and believes it is her right to have a dignified death.

Roldán presented her lawsuit before the Constitutional Court almost six months ago. Despite opposition from anti-abortion and euthanasia groups, her case was successful in the court.

With 95% disability due to ALS, Roldán has limited mobility and relies on artificial respiration for support. However, her mind remains sharp and she is determined to fight for the right to euthanasia.

Diagnosed with ALS three years ago, Roldán’s condition has progressively worsened, leaving her with no mobility in any part of her body. Despite her challenges, she has made preparations for her son’s future moments and milestones.

The president of Argentina, Javier Milei, emphasized his strong support for Israel during his visit to the country. He expressed his commitment to promptly designate Hamas as a terrorist group and relocate the Argentine embassy to Jerusalem. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the new Argentine government for its unconditional support for Israel’s right to defend itself. The meeting between Netanyahu and Milei took place in Jerusalem, where Milei also engaged in other activities such as visiting the Holocaust Museum and touring the Old City.

During their meeting, Netanyahu and Milei discussed the shared challenges of peace and security in the region, particularly in relation to Iran. They expressed their desire for cooperation in the fields of security and diplomacy. The violent attack by Hamas against Israel on October 7, supported by Iran, resulted in extensive casualties and kidnappings, including Israeli-Argentine citizens. Netanyahu commended Milei for recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and relocating the embassy there, calling him a great friend of the Jewish State.

Milei confirmed his intention to transfer the Argentine embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move that has generated controversy in the international community. While the annexation of the eastern half of Jerusalem by Israel in 1980 led to embassies being relocated to Tel Aviv, the decision by former US president Donald Trump to reopen the US legation in Jerusalem in 2018 encouraged other countries to follow suit. Netanyahu and Milei also agreed to establish joint trade delegations and promote free trade between Israel and Argentina.

During his visit to the Holocaust Museum, Milei referred to Hamas terrorism as a modern form of Nazism. He called for the release of the kidnapped individuals and expressed disappointment in the lack of action from the free world in demanding their freedom. Milei planted a tree in the Forest of Nations as a symbol of his visit. He will also visit the Nir Oz kibbutz, which was heavily affected by the Hamas attack and where many Israeli-Argentines resided.

Italian Vice President Matteo Salvini has made a strong call for chemical castration of the seven young men, three of them minors, who raped a 13-year-old girl in Catania. Salvini, who is also the Minister of Infrastructure and leader of the Northern League, expressed his demand on X (formerly Twitter), urging for a bill he has previously presented to the Senate to be revived. In a social media post, he stated, “In the face of horrors of this type, there can be no mercy, only a cure: chemical castration.”

This is not the first time Salvini has called for this measure, as it is one of the key points of his party program. He previously demanded it after a group rape in Palermo last summer and now urges his colleagues to vote in favor of his proposal.

In September, the Northern League presented a bill to the Senate, allowing for the voluntary or coercive use of total androgen blockade (chemical castration) as a pharmacological treatment. The judge has the authority to decide whether or not to administer the treatment, with automatic activation if the violation is a relapse or committed against minors.

The case of the minor from Catania has deeply shocked Italian public opinion. The incident took place in public bathrooms in the Villa Bellini garden, where the seven young men, two of whom abused the girl while the others watched and restrained her boyfriend. In her desperate plea, the girl begged for her release and not to be harmed. Eventually, she managed to escape from the second perpetrator and flee with her boyfriend.

The world is on the brink of chaos, according to the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres. In his address to the General Assembly, Guterres highlighted several threats that are contributing to a dangerous and unpredictable global landscape. These threats include an uncontrolled climate crisis, unregulated artificial intelligence, non-representative international institutions, and increasing inequalities. Guterres emphasized the urgent need for reform within the UN Security Council and international financial institutions, citing their outdated and unfair design.

Guterres also drew attention to the growing loss of confidence in institutions and the political process, as well as the devastating impact of armed conflicts in various regions around the world. He expressed concern over governments that disregard multilateralism and human rights with impunity, and the deepening divisions caused by hate speech, discrimination, and extremism. Developing countries are facing unprecedented levels of debt, while the concentration of artificial intelligence in a few companies and countries exacerbates inequalities.

Furthermore, Guterres reiterated the urgency of addressing the climate crisis and highlighted the unstoppable nature of the renewable energy revolution. However, he stressed the need to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030. Each country must present a national climate plan to achieve this goal.

In conclusion, Guterres emphasized that the responsibility to create a peaceful and sustainable future lies with both individual and collective actions. He vowed to continue his fight for peace and a better future for future generations.