MUZAFFARABAD: Four children were killed and three other people were injured when a van carrying them to a madrasah plunged into a ravine in the upper reaches of Neelum Valley on Saturday, officials said.
Neelum Valley District Disaster Management Officer Akhtar Ayoub said the van was travelling from Nagdar, about 22 kilometres from the district headquarters of Athmuqam, via the Keran bypass link road when it plunged into a ravine.
“The accident occurred around 8:30am near Ghorray Nakkah Morr in Nagdar, barely half a kilometre into the journey, as the driver negotiated a sharp bend,” he said.
The van plunged more than 500 metres off the road into a rocky ravine, killing three children on the spot and initially injuring four other occupants. One of the injured children later died at the District Headquarters Hospital in Athmuqam, Ayoub said.
The injured were later shifted to Muzaffarabad for treatment due to their critical condition, he added.
Expressing grief over the loss of young lives, Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq extended his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“Deeply saddened by the loss of precious young lives in the tragic accident in Neelum Valley today. My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he wrote on X.
“Mountain roads demand utmost caution; even a momentary lapse can have tragic consequences. Please drive carefully,” he added.
A similar accident occurred in April when three people were killed, and 10 others were injured when a passenger van plunged into a deep ravine in the Maidan Nambatai area.
On May 11, four people, including two women, were killed and two others injured after a passenger jeep plunged hundreds of feet into a rocky streambed.
The Sindh government has written to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and the Sindh Rangers to nominate members to a joint investigation team (JIT), recommended by a judicial panel, to investigate Mir Raza Ali’s murder, it emerged on Friday.
The 25-year-old businessman had gone missing on July 28 after leaving his home in PECHS, and his body, bearing a gunshot wound, was found in the bushes in Gulistan-i-Jauhar a day later.
In its 62-page report, submitted to the government on October 15, a commission had recommended forming a JIT, calling it a “most viable path” to mitigate ongoing reputational damage to the Sindh government.
Sindh High Court judge Justice Omar Sial, who headed the single-member commission, recommended integrating senior representatives from the ISI, IB, Sindh Rangers, and the NCCIA in the JIT to “ensure an impartial, comprehensive, and credible resolution”.
The commission had also recommended West Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Irfan Baloch to lead the team.
Acting on the commission’s directives, the Sindh Home Minister, on Thursday, announced that the JIT would be formed under the DIG Baloch, and the summary had been sent to the chief minister.
The letters, dated October 23, were sent through the Sindh Home Department and seen by Dawn. They requested the ISI, IB, NCCIA and Sindh Rangers to nominate a senior officer, not below the rank of BS-18, to serve on the JIT headed by DIG Baloch to investigate Mir Raza’s murder.
The letters requested the aforementioned authorities to nominate their representatives within seven days so that the JIT could commence its work.
In its letter to the NCCIA, the Home Department specifically requested a senior official with “expertise in digital forensics, as the investigation involves the analysis of mobile phones, Apple Watch, iCloud, social media and cryptocurrency (Binance) records”.
Letter to IGP for action against officers
The provincial government, through its Home Department, also wrote to the Sindh inspector general of police (IGP), asking him to take action against police officials found guilty of negligence by the judicial commission.
“This case demonstrates an epic failure by the police in their investigation,” declared the 62-page report submitted by Justice Sial.
“The police breached all required procedures, both knowingly and unknowingly, necessary to withstand judicial scrutiny and a successful prosecution,” the report stated.
It said the police investigation “failed in its most basic duty: to establish the truth”.
According to the commission, an active cover-up in the initial stages of the investigation cannot be conclusively ruled out. It noted that senior police officers swept clear investigative lapses under the carpet, without acknowledging them, addressing them, or even attempting to do so.
“Dozens of police officers – authorised and unauthorised – were involved in collecting evidence in this case, approaching and interrogating crucial persons, and in most cases not documenting it in any manner,” it said, adding that, therefore, no officer was willing to take responsibility for the lapses.
Listing its observations for certain police officials involved in the case, the judicial panel identified “criminal negligence” on the part of Station House Officer (SHO) Adeel Afzal of Ferozabad police station.
It also found criminal negligence by Sub-inspector Shabbir Leghari, the first investigating officer (IO) in the case, and called for disciplinary proceedings against him and his suspension.
Dr Osama Sheikh suspended
In its report, the judicial panel had called out “extreme immaturity” and “childish behaviour” of Medico-Legal Officer (MLO) Dr Osama Sheikh, who conducted the first medico-legal examination, whose findings were later proven incorrect after a second autopsy.
“Overconfidence. Unprofessional conduct not befitting a medical professional. Must not be assigned medico-legal duties unless he has undergone at least two years of rigorous academic and practical training,” the commission observed.
In a letter to the Sindh health secretary, the provincial government conveyed the decision of its sub-committee, constituted to implement the recommendations of the judicial commission, in light of the commission’s observations.
Under the decision, Dr Osama would be suspended and proceeded against under the E&D (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules. He would also be sent for training, as recommended by the commission.
Request to interior ministry
The single-member judicial commission had stated that it did not have investigative powers and that it was difficult to conclusively determine whether an active cover-up had occurred. The commission noted that “certain inexplicable actions are difficult to justify and raise the possibility that one may have occurred”.
Therefore, it recommended that a high-level committee, preferably headed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), be constituted to initiate criminal proceedings against any police officials found culpable.
Acting on the commission’s recommendations, the Sindh government also wrote to the Ministry of Interior.
In its letter, the provincial government requested the FIA to nominate a senior officer, not below the rank of BS-20 and with expertise in investigations, to head the committee. DIG Baloch and Special Branch DIG Naeem Ahmed Sheikh would serve as its members.
Examination of police officers
A one-member committee comprising Additional IGP Counterterrorism Department (CTD) Sindh Zulfiqar Ali Larik had also been notified to examine each of the officers named in the commission’s report. DIG Baloch would assist the committee.
According to a notification, the committee had the following terms of reference (TORs):
To examine each of the officers/officials named in the report of the commission of inquiry and assess their leadership qualities and efficiency in light of the specific observations recorded against them by the Commission;
To evaluate their overall policing performance;
To further probe the role of Inspector Ghaus with regard to the burning of the crime scene; and
To submit its report, with findings and recommendations in respect of each officer/official, to the Sindh IGP.
US State Department reduces staffing at four Middle East embassies due to threats from Tehran and Houthis; US agencies reportedly assess danger at highest level since war began
ISLAMABAD – The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has outlined a simple way for citizens to check the status of their identity documents if they lose or forget their application tracking number.
Speaking during a NADRA podcast, spokesperson Syed Shabahat Ali addressed a citizen’s question about what to do when a tracking token is lost, damaged or no longer available.
He said citizens do not need to worry in such situations, as they can contact NADRA’s mobile helpline by dialling 1777 from their phones.
Applicants must provide their Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) number and specify which document they applied for to obtain information about their application status.
According to the spokesperson, the facility covers various documents, including identity cards, Child Registration Certificates (CRCs), Family Registration Certificates (FRCs), duplicate copies and Pakistan Origin Cards (POCs).
The authority also advised citizens to collect their completed documents promptly after submitting an application.
NADRA officials clarified that completed identity cards and other documents are not kept at registration centres indefinitely. If an applicant fails to collect a prepared card within three months, it is destroyed, the spokesperson said.
Citizens have therefore been urged to visit their relevant NADRA centre and collect their identity cards or certificates as soon as they are ready to avoid inconvenience.
KARACHI – The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a criminal case against and arrested one of its own inspectors over the disappearance of seized items in a customs smuggling case.
The FIA spokesperson said the matter came to light during an internal inspection of the agency’s storage facilities, when officials discovered that items seized in a smuggling case was missing from the room where the inspector had reportedly kept it in his custody.
Following approval from the competent authority, the FIA registered a case against the inspector under Sections 409 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. The inspector was subsequently arrested.
The agency has assigned the investigation to an independent team, which will examine the circumstances surrounding the missing property and assess whether any other individuals were involved.
The spokesperson said the FIA is taking legal steps to recover the missing items and ensure effective prosecution of the underlying smuggling case, which is currently before the court.
The agency said that identifying the alleged irregularity through its own internal monitoring system reflected its commitment to accountability and the rule of law. It added that no official would be shielded from legal action because of their position or rank.
Former officials say that SpaceX CEO was also asked to activate the service in Iran after US smuggled in terminals in bid to provide internet access to population amid uprising
Lula promises to expand full-day schooling and student aid as Flávio Bolsonaro challenges his education record and attacks his family.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pledged to bring full-day schooling to every school through the secondary level if re-elected, while opposition candidate Flávio Bolsonaro accused his government of cutting education funding and attacked the president’s family over online gambling.
The exchange during an education segment of the presidential debate centered on extended school hours, student assistance and childcare before turning into a personal confrontation over jogo do tigrinho, an online gambling game.
Lula, of the Workers’ Party (PT), challenged Bolsonaro to explain his plans for full-day schooling. Bolsonaro, of the Liberal Party (PL), responded that he would deliver what the current government had failed to achieve, accusing Lula’s administration of cutting federal funding for the program and attempting to conceal the reductions.
Enseñanza de tiempo integral enfrenta a Lula y Bolsonaro en el debate
🏫 Lula se comprometió a "concluir en el próximo mandato el 100% de las escuelas de tiempo integral en este país hasta la enseñanza media".
Text Reads: Full-Day Schooling Pits Lula Against Bolsonaro in Debate Lula committed to “concluding in the next term 100% of full-day schools in this country up to secondary education.” He defended his administration and highlighted the creation of ProUni. He also denounced the conditions in which he received the presidency regarding education.
Bolsonaro then shifted the discussion to online gambling, accusing Lula of being responsible for the rise of jogo do tigrinho. He claimed the game was created and authorized in 2022 by those now in government and alleged that its cancellation was being pursued only as the election approached. He also invoked the nicknames Lulinha and Tigrinho in referring to the president’s sons.
Lula responded by pointing to his party’s record on education since it first took office in 2003. He credited former education ministers Fernando Haddad and Camilo Santana with leading what he described as a transformation of Brazil’s education system. If re-elected, he said, he would ensure that all schools offered full-day schooling through the secondary level.
He also pledged to expand Pé de Meia, a financial assistance program designed to keep students in school, making it available to all secondary students and extending it to university students. Lula said the program had helped prevent 66% of participating students from dropping out, arguing that no young person should have to abandon their education.
“Não existe nenhum país do mundo que conseguiu se desenvolver sem antes investir na Educação. A gente tem mais universidades, IFs e escola em tempo integral. A gente cuidou da educação como jamais tinha sido cuidada na história desse país"
– Lula no debate da Globo…
— União Brasileira das/dos Estudantes Secundaristas (@ubesoficial) October 24, 2026
Text Reads: “There is no country in the world that managed to develop without first investing in Education. We have more universities, IFs, and full-time schools. We took care of education like it had never been taken care of in the history of this country” – Lula in the Globo debate
The president further recalled that his administration had inherited 5,600 stalled projects involving daycare centers, schools and federal institutes from the previous government. He contrasted those unfinished projects with the civic-military school model promoted by his predecessors, which he also described as incomplete.
Bolsonaro rejected claims that he intended to abolish Pé de Meia, calling the allegation a falsehood spread by his opponent’s campaign. He pledged to maintain the program and cited measures taken under the administration of his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, including the cancellation of nearly 99% of the debt owed by students who had completed higher education and a 33% teacher salary increase, which he described as the largest in history.
The opposition candidate also proposed a childcare subsidy for mothers unable to work because they lacked access to daycare. He said more than one million children had no place in the public childcare system and pledged to allow families to enroll them in private facilities where public places were unavailable.
On full-day schooling, Bolsonaro proposed using the additional hours for vocational training and instruction in technology, artificial intelligence and application development. He argued that keeping children closer to school would put them farther from crime.
The candidates presented contrasting approaches to education, with Lula emphasizing universal full-day schooling and expanded financial support for students, while Bolsonaro focused on childcare subsidies and vocational training alongside accusations over education funding and the president’s family.
Joan Coromines (1905-1997), fill de l’escriptor Pere Coromines (i quan dic escriptor no vol dir que només fos escriptor, com es veu al magnífic retrat que li fa Francesc Pujols a Concepte general de la ciència catalana), sempre va estimar i idolatrar la figura del seu pare fins a uns extrems desmesurats, com es veu en una de les dedicatòries de la seva grandiosa catedral, per dir-ne així, perquè Joan Coromines és com un Gaudí que hagués acabat la sagrada família, però el temple d’en Coromines és un diccionari de 10 volums, cada un dels quals (excepte l’últim, d’índexs i un suplement, que ja va sortir pòstum) porta una dedicatòria a algun mestre de la llengua, i totes són emocionants i solemnes; el volum novè, l’últim que va publicar en vida, i amb el qual, arribant al final de la zeta, va concloure el diccionari, va dedicat al seu pare amb aquesta forma:
Typhoon Champi swept past Taiwan on Saturday, killing 1 person and injuring more than 500, downing trees and severing power, as it continued to weaken and head north towards the Chinese coast though it was not expected to make landfall there.
At one point a super typhoon and one of the strongest storms in the Pacific this year, Champi is weakening though still packing gusts of around 126 kph (78 mph) near its centre, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration.
The storm was about 170 km (106 miles) northeast of Taiwan, having glanced off the island’s northeastern coast in Yilan County early on Saturday, the CWA said.
The centre of the storm turned south around midnight, hugging the Yilan coastline before making a rare loop offshore and moving away northward. Wind gusts touched 227 kph (141 mph) in some coastal areas, knocking down power lines and sending roof tiles flying.
‘MOST TERRIFYING AROUND MIDNIGHT’
“It was most terrifying around midnight,” said a retired teacher surnamed Lin as he inspected downed banana trees in his garden in Yilan. “It was a sleepless night. I haven’t seen anything like this in many years.”
The storm’s forecast track shows it turning north, tracking up the Chinese coast and eventually moving into southern Japan.
Taiwan’s fire department said the death toll remained at 1, a man swept away by waves from the island of Liuqiu, with 527 injuries during the heavy wind and torrential rain.
Taipower said more than 288,000 homes had lost electricity, though most had been reconnected.
The transport ministry said 259 flights were cancelled, an improvement from Friday, when the number was almost 1,000.
In the capital Taipei, there were downed trees and on-off squally rain showers.
Taipei resident Thomas Wang, 70, said the storm felt like something out of the horror film “Poltergeist”.
“It was quite scary,” he said, out running morning errands.
Governments in a swathe of northern and central Taiwan, including Taipei, declared a second day of office and school closures on Saturday.
Although more common in summer, typhoons can strike in autumn too.
China’s emergency management ministry sent a team to the eastern province of Zhejiang as Champi approached, warning of strong winds and heavy rain through Sunday. It said it had readied 400 rescue workers and 600 pieces of equipment, while more than 41,000 firefighters were on emergency duty.
In Taizhou, a city on Zhejiang’s coast, more than 3,800 fishing boats returned to harbour, offshore fish-farm workers were brought ashore and 2,084 island visitors were evacuated, state media reported.
Authorities halted 25 offshore construction projects and suspended 18 passenger ferry routes.
Pakistan has strongly condemned the “heinous terrorist attack” on a funeral procession at a church in Jordan’s Karak Governorate, reiterating its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Gunmen killed at least seven people and wounded dozens at a church in southern Jordan on Friday. According to reports, the assailants stormed the compound of a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud in Karak Governorate and opened fire.
According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO), Pakistan extended its heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, particularly the bereaved families, and expressed its wishes for the speedy recovery of those injured.
“Pakistan stands in firm solidarity with the brotherly people of Jordan in their fight against terrorism, and reiterates its strongest condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”, the statement added.
The incident occurred when gunmen got out of a vehicle and opened fire during a funeral procession, Jordan’s Public Security Directorate said in a statement, adding that a manhunt was under way for the perpetrators.
“The terrorist attack against Karak will be met with the harshest retaliation,” King Abdullah II said in a post on X.
“We will strike with an iron fist against those who dare to threaten our nation.” According to images from state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka, the king arrived in Karak on Friday evening.
After authorities gave a death toll of six, Director of Public Security Major General Abdullah Al-Maaytah said it had risen to seven with 34 injured, 27 of whom were still receiving treatment.
Footage aired by Al-Mamlaka showed two gunmen dressed in casual clothes and brandishing pistols, with a third carrying a long gun as they opened fire on the church.
A witness said the gunmen fired continuously for five minutes before fleeing. Between 150 and 200 people were in and around the church at the time, the witness said.
SHAHDADPUR – A newlywed couple who married by choice through a court in Nawabshah was found shot dead near a drain in Shahdadpur, police said.
The victims were identified as Nisar Ahmed Lashari and Zakiya Balochi. According to police, the suspects allegedly left the bodies near the drain before fleeing the scene.
Police sources said the couple had contracted a court marriage in Nawabshah two days before their bodies were discovered.
Following their marriage, they held a press conference at the Nawabshah Press Club, appealing to authorities for protection amid fears for their lives.
During the press conference, Zakiya alleged that her brother, father and cousin had become hostile towards the couple because of their decision of love marriage. She urged the relevant authorities to ensure their safety.
Police suspect the couple may have been killed in the name of honour. However, the circumstances surrounding the killings and the identities of those responsible remain under investigation.
Shahdadpur police took custody of the bodies and shifted them to a taluka hospital for further legal and medical procedures.
Buenos Aires, 24 oct (Prensa Latina) Las señales negativas que emanan de la economía de Argentina se acumulan hoy: a ocho de cada 10 de sus habitantes no les alcanza los ingresos para llegar a fin de mes, según la consultora Brain Network.
RAWALPINDI: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control has summoned the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP), regional police officer (RPO), city police officer (CPO) Rawalpindi, SSP Investigation and additional inspector general of the Crime Control Department (CCD) to brief it on the investigation into the alleged brutal murder of Hina Javed.
The committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 2pm in the committee room at Parliament House, Islamabad.
The police officials will brief committee members on the latest developments in the high-profile murder case.
The Punjab government has also formed a three-member high-powered committee to review the investigation into Hina Javed’s murder. Her husband and domestic servant have been placed on judicial remand at Adiala Jail in connection with the case.
The committee has already visited Rawalpindi, questioned the deceased woman’s husband and domestic servant at Adiala Jail, met her family and inspected the crime scene.
The panel comprises Additional IG CCD Sohail Chatta, DIG Lahore Shoaib Khurram Janbaz and SSP Investigation Rawalpindi Saifullah.
According to the postmortem and DNA report analysis, evidence collected during the investigation indicated that Hina Javed had been brutally tortured. The report noted blue marks on her hands and arms and a 27-centimetre-deep wound on her neck.
The report also stated that DNA collected from bloodstains, bedsheets allegedly used in the strangulation, a door lock and a door handle matched the DNA of the domestic servant.
Evidence collected for DNA testing included swabs from the deceased’s left-hand fingernails, samples taken from her body and pieces of cloth from a bedsheet bearing suspected bloodstains and spermatozoa. According to the report, the samples matched the domestic worker’s blood.
A reddish piece of carpet bearing suspected stains was also recovered from the southeastern bedroom of the apartment where the crime occurred. The report said the stains matched the blood and sperm attributed to Zeeshan Arshad.
The investigation has focused on the domestic servant’s alleged involvement, with the reported DNA findings forming part of the evidence under examination.
Meanwhile, Hina Javed’s family has again expressed mistrust in the Rawalpindi police investigation and the claims made by the CCD chief, demanding the formation of a judicial commission to probe the murder.
The family has alleged that police are protecting the main accused while holding the domestic servant responsible for the crime.
The initial postmortem examination and police report stated that Hina Javed’s body was found in the washroom of her apartment with signs of torture, including a strangulation mark around her neck, an injury below her right lip and bleeding from her nose.
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan strongly condemned the heinous terrorist attack at a funeral procession in a church in Karak Governorate, Jordan, which resulted in the loss of several precious lives, with many injured.
Pakistan extends its heartfelt condolences to the Government and the people of the brotherly Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, especially the bereaved families, on the loss of their loved ones, and expresses its sincere wishes for the speedy recovery of those injured, the Foreign Office said in a statement on Saturday.
Pakistan stands in firm solidarity with the brotherly people of Jordan in their fight against terrorism, and reiterates its strongest condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
At least seven people have died and 34 others sustained injuries after armed assailants attacked a funeral gathering in central Jordan on Friday, according to officials.
The shooting took place at a church in Hmoud, located in the Karak governorate. Initial reports indicate that the attackers arrived by car, entered the church and opened fire before escaping from the scene.
The identities of the gunmen remain unknown, and no group has claimed responsibility for the assault.
Jordanian Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities were taking steps to track down and arrest those responsible. Speaking at a press conference, he described the suspected perpetrators as a group of extremists.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to establish the circumstances surrounding the deadly incident.
Three police officials, including the Station House Officer (SHO) of Lahore’s Defence B police station, have been removed from their posts following allegations of providing protocol to TikToker Samea Mubarak and releasing her after her arrest in exchange for money.
Reports said the action was taken against the SHO, the police station’s muharar and a female constable over their alleged conduct in the case.
Samea Mubarak, the sister of well-known TikToker Nadeem Nani Wala, was reportedly stopped by police while travelling in a vehicle without a number plate. The officers involved were accused of exceeding their authority and allegedly accepting money to release suspects.
The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations said the three personnel had been removed from their positions to ensure a transparent investigation into the allegations.
The inquiry has been assigned to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations, who will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the conduct of the officers concerned.
The DIG Operations stated that departmental action would be taken against the personnel if the allegations were substantiated during the investigation.
LAHORE: The police on Friday claimed to have arrested a man who had allegedly tortured and injured a young woman riding a scooty on busy Mozang Link Road in the city.
Identified as Ghulam Mustafa, the attacker was tracked down and arrested by the police with the help of data of dozens of the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) cameras, besides using traditional investigation techniques. He was sent behind the bars after being nominated in a criminal case.
A CCTV footage of the incident, which took place late on Thursday, sparked widespread public outrage once footage was aired.
The footage showed the suspect overtook the scooty rider on the busy road, placed his bike in front of her two wheeler and subjected her to brutal torture in the presence of several passersby.
It was shocking to observe that none of the onlookers tried to intervene and rescue the woman. The man pulled her hair and slapped her repeatedly.
As per initial police reports, the woman suffered facial injuries, including nasal bone fracture, during the brutal attack.
A police official says the attacker also threw the victim’s bag on the ground that contained a laptop valuing around Rs90,000, resulting in severe damage to the laptop. The suspect later fled the scene in the presence of several onlookers, he adds.
A special police team, under the supervision of Civil Lines Superintendent of Police (SP) Maniza Karamat, tracked down and arrested the suspect using modern digital tracking technology.
The official says that a case has been lodged against the attacker on the complaint of the victim’s father.
Tractors swarm across Iowa’s cornfields. Farmers are rushing the harvest before rains arrive and ruin their season. Chip Hoffman is among the lucky ones. He has already gathered nearly the entire crop from the family farm, which spans several dozen hectares. It’s Wednesday morning and the 66-year-old farmer is helping his older brother position a hopper to unload grain from the truck into the silo. “These are hard times. Fuel, insurance, even machinery repairs have gone up and they’re extremely expensive,” says Chip. He blames tariffs and the war with Iran for the surge in inflation and the squeeze on profit margins that has hit Iowa’s farmers.
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) neither forgets nor forgives. On its official website it hosts a microsite called “Justice for Kiki” dedicated to agent Enrique Camarena, who was killed in Guadalajara in February 1985. In the welcome message for the memorial, the DEA names Rafael Caro Quintero as the principal perpetrator of the kidnapping, torture and murder of its most famous agent, describing him as “a cartel kingpin who unleashed violence, destruction, and death.” The “Narco of narcos” is back in the headlines as he negotiates a deal that could lead him to plead guilty for events that took place 41 years ago. The story of this drug trafficker — one of the founders of the powerful Guadalajara Cartel in the 1980s — could end with an image far removed from the terrifying legend that surrounds Mexican kingpins of that era: a 74-year-old, battered man with a head full of gray hair, asking forgiveness for his sins before a jury in the U.S. Federal Court in Brooklyn.
“Tenemos suerte”, suspira Volodímir, de 77 años, asomado al balcón de su casa medio destruida en Kramatorsk. Delante, los hierros retorcidos y roídos por las llamas de lo que hasta una semana antes eran dos de los autobuses de línea de la ciudad. Una bomba planeadora rusa cayó en medio de ambos y mató a 30 personas el 8 de octubre. Volodímir y su mujer, Ludmila, de 67 años, habían salido unos minutos antes al mercado. Al regresar, se toparon sin esperarlo con el infierno en la calle Yuvileina, que transcurre delante de su edificio. “Tenemos suerte”, repite incidiendo en los cuantiosos daños que sufre su apartamento al tiempo que acaba de cubrir las ventanas con tablones facilitados por unos soldados.
Hubo un tiempo muy lejano en que Felipe González fue tan coherente que mantuvo sus promesas de principio a fin. Nos sacó de la OTAN, como había defendido, su gobierno combatió el terrorismo solo con las armas de la ley y, una vez que la corrupción empezó a anegar sus filas, en los primeros noventa, se retiró para asumir la responsabilidad de lo ocurrido. Con una generosidad inmensa, dio un paso atrás y permitió que los mejores renovaran el PSOE. En esos tiempos nadie se atrincheraba en el poder y no se distorsionaban “los valores democráticos” como dice que ocurre hoy. Y bla, bla, bla.
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