PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panamanians began voting Sunday In an election Even though the country’s former president was not on the ballot, it was consumed by exposure to the drama surrounding him.

Voters lined up outside polling stations as scorching heat beat down on the usually sleepy Central American nation. Panamanians, eager for change after months of political turmoil and protests, are weighing promises of economic prosperity and migrant crackdowns against corruption.

“Panama’s election will be one of the most complicated in its modern history. The referendum was marked by increased political fragmentation and social discontent at the exit President Laurentino CortizoArantza Alonso, senior U.S. analyst at risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, said before the poll began.

The presidential race remained in uncertain waters until Friday morning, when Panama’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of the leading presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino allowed to operate. It said he was eligible despite allegations that his nomination was not valid because he was not elected in the primaries.

Mulino joined the race late to replace the former president Riccardo Martinelli As a party candidate who achieves goals. The fiery Martinelli was banned from running in March after being jailed for more than 10 years for money laundering.

Martinelli, the business magnate who was Panama’s president from 2009 to 2014, dominated much of the race. He campaigned for his former running mate from within the walls of the Nicaraguan embassy He sought asylum in February After receiving political asylum. On Sunday morning, Mulino was escorted by photographers inside the Nicaraguan embassy and enveloped Martinelli in a big hug, calling him “brother.”

In Martinelli’s absence, Mulino maintained his connection to the former president. He is rarely seen without his blue “Martinelli Mulino 2024” hat and has pledged to help Martinelli if elected, a move welcomed by the former president’s supporters.

Bus driver Juan Jose Tinoco, 63, was among those queuing outside a polling station in the coastal area of ​​Panama City. Tinoco, who lives in a working-class neighborhood of small, concrete houses surrounded by luxury skyscrapers, said he plans to vote for Mulino because it’s the closest thing to Martinelli. During the tenure of the former president.

“We have health services, education, garbage on the streets … and corruption that never goes away,” Tinoco said. “We have money here. It is a country of great wealth, but we need a leader who will dedicate himself to the needs of Panama.

Mulino promised to create the humming economy seen under Martinelli, and stopped short Migration through the Darien GapThe dangerous jungle stretch that connects Colombia and Panama was crossed by half a million migrants last year.

On many voters’ minds are the anti-mining protests that rocked the country for weeks last year and the drought that has effectively shut down trade through the Panama Canal.

Mulino’s message resonated with many voters fed up with the political establishment in Panama, with many like 68-year-old Uber driver Emanuel Romero agreeing that the country needs change, but with a new leader.

Romero’s car was painted with banners of candidate Ricardo Lombana, who denounced corruption and sought the votes of young Panamanians eager for change.

“If we want to see corruption and our country in disarray, let’s vote for the same people. “I will vote for an independent, I believe he will do better things to save the country,” Romero said.

Mulino is leading with around 35% of the vote, while his rivals are lagging behind. According to a March poll by the Panamanian Institute of Civic Studies, former President Martin Torrijos was second with 15%, while former presidential candidates Romulo Roux and Lombana received 14% and 12%, respectively.

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Tap here for play-by-play and in-game boxscore

The Timberwolves and Nuggets meet tonight in Game 1 of their playoff series. Wolves beat reporter Chris Hine of the Star Tribune has live reports from Ball Arena in Denver.

7:47 pm: Wolves have a strong third, 2 lead in the fourth quarter

The Wolves’ offense opened up in the third quarter, and they led 73-71 heading into the fourth.

Karl-Anthony Towns came out on fire for the Wolves as he scored 11 of Minnesota’s first 14 points of the quarter and increased his game total to 20.

Mike Conley got his shot after going scoreless in the first half with 11 points in the third.

The Wolves went with a short lineup to end the quarter that featured Naz Reed at five, and they were able to make it pay.

Anthony Edwards was fouled late in the quarter after staring down Reggie Jackson.

Jamaal Murray, scoreless in the first half, led Denver with seven points in the quarter.

7:03 p.m.: Jamal Murray scores no points but the Nuggets lead 44-40 at halftime.

The Timberwolves had no offense — except for Anthony Edwards — and they trailed the Nuggets 44-40 at halftime.

Edwards had 25 of Minnesota’s 40 points on 10-of-17 shooting, while the rest of the Wolves were just 6-of-27. Karl-Anthony Towns had three of those field goals for nine points.

The Wolves’ defense has done an admirable job of limiting the efficient Denver offense — the Nuggets are just 16-of-40 from the floor — but the Wolves have failed to capitalize on the other end.

The Wolves shut down Jamaal Murray, who finished the half 0-for-5, as Edwards handled a lot of one-on-one duties against Murray. Murray was the hero of Denver’s first-round win over the Lakers, hitting the winning shots in Games 2 and 5.

Nikola Jokic had 15 points, four rebounds and five assists for Denver, while Michael Porter Jr. had 13.

6:35 p.m.: Denver rallied from an 18-4 hole to take a 25-23 lead in the first quarter.

The Wolves couldn’t have started the first quarter better – and they couldn’t have finished it worse.

After they went on an 18-4 run to start the game, Denver went on a 21-5 run to close the quarter and take a 25-23 lead.

Anthony Edwards scored 16 points for the Wolves, shutting out Denver when teams kept their starters on the floor. They held Jamal Murray to 0-for-3 from the field and held Denver to within four points over the first 7:10 of the game.

But Denver never chases down more than one run to get back in a game.

One of their future strengths coming into the series, Wolves bench minutes were disastrous in the first quarter. Naz Reid tried too hard to make things happen at times and missed an easy shot and had a costly turnover. The Wolves had trouble scoring outside of Edwards.

Nikola Jokic, who could be the NBA MVP for the third time this season, had nine first for the Nuggets.

6:10 pm: Finch has a good spot as coach

The question of how Chris Finch will coach Wolves tonight was answered very quickly and conveniently.

Finch sat to the right of lead assistant coach Micah Norrie, one row behind Norrie. A radio broadcast schedule protects Finch from oncoming traffic.

Finch can get up and talk to players during timeouts.

4:40pm: Wolves coach Chris Finch sits near the team bench as Micah Nori plays on.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch left his crutches with a member of the team’s public relations staff and took the press conference podium before the game.

“That’s easy,” Finch joked Wednesday before delivering his first public remarks since surgery on a torn right patellar tendon.

Finch suffered an injury in Sunday’s first-round series finale at Phoenix, and there were questions about what his role would be in the series.

He will be on the bench for game assistant Micah Norrie, who will handle game interaction and game flow duties as a sideline coach.

“I feel really good, all things considered. The plan is to try to be here all the time,” Finch said. “See how I feel day to day. Then figure out logistically how I can work with the bench and the other coaches.”

Finch has been using crutches to get around in Wolves training for the past few days and before the game. Finch said he’s been a target for Denver since the injury and will help out any way he can after Wednesday’s surgery.

“I was open about everything,” Finch said. “They told me they really wanted me to rest. I’ve been trying to do that. But I wanted to be here and if I can be here, that’s the most important thing for me. Take it day by day and see how I feel.”

CNN
—

Sadiq Khan won a third term as London’s mayor, ending a round of local elections across England that confirmed Labour’s political dominance and spelled doom for Britain’s Conservative government.

Khan won 43.7% of the vote, defeating Conservative challenger Susan Hall by about 11 percentage points, extending her control of the capital since 2016.

It follows Success streak Around the UK for Labor who are firmly positioned to wrest power from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Conservatives in a general election in the coming months.

The Conservatives lost control of 10 local councils and nearly 500 councilors on Thursday, suffering an electoral defeat at the hands of the general populace that almost everyone – including those within the party – expected.

Labor leader Keir Starmer told reporters on Saturday: “I’m sorry, I don’t care what political party you support, if you leave your country worse than you found it after 14 years, you don’t deserve to be.” One more moment government”

But Chung saw a slim enough victory to withstand a challenge to his leadership threatened by rebel Tories depending on Thursday’s election result.

The party had hoped to retain the mayoralty in the West Midlands on Saturday, giving an increasingly embattled Sunak something to look forward to at least uniting his lawmakers in Westminster after previously holding the same post in the Tees Valley.

Thursday’s vote marked the final run-off before the general election, which must take place by January. Sunak has resisted calls to outline when he would hold that referendum, and Labor is leading opinion polls by a wide margin.

Starmer’s opposition won control of eight councils and won a Westminster by-election in Blackpool on Thursday.

The results confirmed the usual poll narrative that the group was on track to win power, but failed to shake off the red tide some in Labor had hoped for, losing some of the trickier contests it faced.

There are also signs that dissatisfaction with the party’s stance on Israel’s war in Gaza has hurt Labor among voters in areas with large Muslim populations. Especially the loss of the north-west English city of Oldham Council, where a quarter of the population is Muslim.

“We recognize the strength of the sentiment and we will continue to work as we do in every area across the country to win votes in the future,” Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC.

If his victory is confirmed, Khan will become the first mayor of London to serve a third term since the post was created in 2000.

The city of nine million people is more multicultural, liberal and pro-European than England as a whole, leading Khan to occasionally clash with successive Labor leaders, particularly over the issue of Brexit.

He prioritized emissions-cutting policies in an effort to reduce the city’s reputation as a polluter, and long made international headlines. General clue With former US President Donald Trump during his administration.

But critics have attacked Khan’s record on knife crime and the recent expansion of the world’s first low-emissions zone, which conservatives say will hit poor families outside London the hardest.

By Josh Robbins, Joe Wharton, Tim Cato and Law Murray

The Dallas Mavericks defeated the LA Clippers 114-101 on Friday night to advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

Luka Doncic led Dallas with his elite playmaking in the first half — finishing with 13 assists — while co-star Kyrie Irving filled American Airlines Arena with his dazzling scoring in the second half with 30 points and five 3-pointers. .

No Clippers starter scored more than 18 points, and James Harden and Paul George combined to shoot 11 of 34 from the field and 2 of 16 from 3 in the elimination game.

Mavericks 114, Clippers 101

Series: 4-2, Mavericks advance

Dallas rides into the next round with an elite defense

The Mavericks are advancing to the conference semifinals for the second time in three seasons. The team has reached this point with an elite defense, and the team is steadily building its roster to create and provide the grit needed to elevate its two stars. In Friday’s Game 6, even when Doncic, the team’s owner, struggled with his shot, Dallas shut it down by showing that defense.

Doncic finished with 28 points on just 9-for-26 shooting. But that’s why Dallas has two stars, and Irving scored 30 to help keep Dallas’ series-clinching win comfortably in hand throughout the second half.

There are three questions for Dallas’ upcoming series against the Oklahoma City Thunder that begins Tuesday. First, Dallas had the most volume since acquiring Daniel Gafford, who made his Mavericks debut, for 19 points and nine rebounds off the bench against the Thunder in February. Rookie center Derek Lively II didn’t play in that game, but the two now form a massive two-headed center rotation, the type of physical size that has been the Thunder’s main weakness all season. Can Dallas gain an advantage with second-chance points and offensive rebounds?

Second, Oklahoma City forced the league’s most turnovers in the regular season, while Dallas’ offense had the league’s fourth-lowest rate. Who will win that battle?

Third, Doncic has struggled with his shot all series, and while he’s made up for it with a better defensive effort, he hasn’t been an MVP-caliber player. But surely, at some point, he’ll hit some shots against the Thunder, right? – Tim Cato, Mavericks beat writer

The lineup changes spelled disaster for the Clippers

Both of the Clippers’ wins in the series came with Amir Coffey replacing Kawhi Leonard. The starting spot at forward opposite All-Star George was a wild card in the starting five after Leonard was unable to play well due to a sprained right knee.

Game 5 was a turning point of sorts. Coffey struggled early, making just 3 points on 1 of 6 field goals. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue pulled him early in the third quarter. Later in the third quarter, PJ introduced Tucker for the series after four DNP-CDs.

Tucker has been an underachiever this season with no expectations. The Clippers landed Tucker at 1.9 points per game. The only players with a worse plus-minus for the Clippers this season are K.J. Martin (played in two games), Kobe Brown (rookie), Xavier Moon (two-way contract), and Brandon Boston Jr. (rarely used). The Clippers were 11-17 this season when Tucker played.

But Lue changed the starting lineup before Game 6. He didn’t reveal who pregame, but instead of helping the offense with Norman Powell or the defense with Russell Westbrook, he chose Lou Tucker to score first over George and Harden. .

It is an immediate and predictable disaster. The lack of collective athleticism was evident right away, as the Clippers were killed in offensive rebounding and the battle for possession.

By the time Tucker left for the first time, the Clippers trailed 20-10 with 4:45 left in the first quarter. With Tucker on the bench in the first half, the Clippers were able to tie the game at 52 at halftime. Powell went on a 19-6 run with the starters in the final 6:11 of the second quarter.

But Tucker was right back there to start the second half. Dallas took 108 seconds to start the third quarter on an 8-0 run that featured fast breaks and the game’s first 3s for a previously ineffective Donczyk and a previously invisible Irving. Tucker didn’t leave the floor until the 4:25 mark of the third quarter, with the Clippers down 74-63 despite being tied at the half. Dallas outscored the Clippers by 21 points through three quarters in Tucker’s minutes.

Unfortunately for the Clippers, Tucker finished the game with 8 points, 2 rebounds, 3 turnovers and 5 fouls, worse than Irving’s 4-point game. The Clippers didn’t play well enough after halftime with Tucker on the ground or on the floor, but both halves of the early holes destroyed the Clippers and hastened the end of their season. — La Murray, Clippers beat writer

Series: 3-3

The Magic are making their lineup bigger

With Gary Harris out, Magic coach Jamaal Mosley picked up in Game 6, starting the same big lineup he used to finish Game 5: Jalen Suggs, Frans Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr.

All but Chuck are at least 6-foot-10.

Why did Mosley choose that group? This put two of his best defenders, Chucks and Isaac, on the ground at the same time. It also kept the Magic’s usual second unit of Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz, Joe Ingles, Isaac and Mo Wagner intact (because Isaac left midway through the first quarter and returned to start the second). And it helped Mosley not rely on junior Anthony Black or second-year swingman Caleb Houston, who haven’t played meaningful minutes in weeks, to give young players confidence.

Did it work? It can be a mixed bag. Although Orlando “won” the first quarter, outscoring Cleveland 29-25, the same starting lineup was on the floor to open the third quarter as Cleveland went on a 13-2 run.

Defensively, the super tall lineup was certainly a factor in holding the Cavs to 7-of-28 shooting from 3-point range. But the Cavs outscored the Magic 66-38 in the paint.

Mosley made a significant adjustment in the fourth quarter, going with Anthony instead of Isaac for most of the time. Anthony, who had been slumping in the series, played a big role, defending an offensive layup and immediately following to extend Orlando’s lead to 96-91.

One of Mosley’s greatest strengths is his ability to adjust on the fly.

On Friday, it paid off big time.

As Game 7 approaches Sunday, Mosley is sure to continue to trust his gut and adjust on the fly if necessary.

It has carried his team this far.

The Magic are one more win away from reaching the second round. – Josh Robbins, senior NBA writer

The Cavaliers’ non-LeBron playoff drought lives on

The Cavaliers haven’t won a playoff series since 1993 without LeBron James wearing their jersey.

They came close Friday night, and Donovan Mitchell did his best LeBron impression — 50 points on 36 shots in 42 minutes. Had Cleveland won Game 6 and the series, it would have been a signature performance in Mitchell’s career, regardless of team. The number of players coach JP Bickerstaff could rely on dwindled with each game, and the tinge of fatigue wore off — Mitchell’s turnover with 56 seconds left, Cleveland trailing 98-93 in a timeout. A prime example. The turnover was one of eight for Cleveland in the fourth quarter.

Mitchell and Darius Garland (21 points in 43 minutes) both played the entire fourth quarter and most of the second half. Meanwhile, Carys LeVert did not play after the break. This is not a criticism; Bickerstaff needed to win a game, had a five-point lead in the fourth quarter, and went with the players he felt could bring it home. Mitchell scored all 18 of the Cavs’ points in the final frame.

Go deeper

Donovan Mitchell leads the Cavaliers to a franchise-changing Game 7 despite the loss

You wouldn’t have imagined Marcus Morris Sr. not just on the floor in crunch time — but at the start of the game. With Jared Allen unable to return to action due to a rib injury, Bickerstaff replaced Isaac Okoro with Morris, who started in that spot in Game 5. The idea is likely to reduce Orlando’s size, but not the extra spacing Cleveland enjoyed in Game 5 Friday.

Morris finished with 2 points on 1-of-7 shooting. Evan Mobley, long named the future of the franchise, had 3 points and 7 rebounds.

Overall, the Cavs couldn’t make a 3. They shot better than the 7-of-28 they did for Game 6, which could have gone to Boston. Again, Cleveland enjoyed an incredible 66-38 advantage in paint scoring despite a size disadvantage.

After the game, Mitchell and Bickerstaff pointed out the glaring free throw discrepancy in Game 6, when Orlando shot 26 times at the line compared to Cleveland’s 10. Mitchell said that was not the only reason they lost, but his 66 runs. Getting points and 10 free throws in the paint is “crazy”.

Game 7, Five Boy, will soon be upon us. So much is at stake for the Cavs and the people inside that locker room. Futures are on the line. They should sleep on that thought, as well as this one: Mitchell played like the best version of himself, and it just wasn’t enough in a close game.

It’s a heavy thought. — Joe Varden, veteran NBA writer

Required reading

(Photo: (Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Washington – Representative of the Democratic Party. Henry Guller and his wife have been indicted on more than a dozen federal charges alleging they took hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from an Azerbaijan government-owned oil company and a Mexican bank, the Justice Department said Friday.

A 54-page indictment filed in federal district court in Houston was unsealed Friday and charges Gullar with 14 counts, including conspiracy, bribery and money laundering. He is also accused of acting as a foreign agent to benefit the government of Azerbaijan.

Cuellar and his wife, Imelda Rios Cuellar, made their first appearance before a federal magistrate judge in Houston, where they both pleaded not guilty and were released on unsecured bond. A jury trial is tentatively scheduled to begin on July 8.

Speaking outside court on Friday, the congressman maintained that he and his wife were innocent and predicted he would win re-election in the fall.

Federal prosecutors allege that Cuellar and Imelda Cuellar took at least $598,000 in bribes from the Azerbaijan Oil and Gas Company and Bank, headquartered in Mexico City. They alleged bribery in the form of bogus consultancy contracts to shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar through front companies and middlemen. The congressman’s wife, according to the indictment, “did little or no proper work” under the consulting contracts.

In exchange for bribes, prosecutors said, he agreed to use “the power and prestige of his office” to advance the interests of an Azerbaijani and foreign bank not identified in the indictment.

NBC News was there First to report An indictment is expected Friday. The congressman indicated in a statement before the charges were made public that he and his wife face criminal charges and that they are innocent.

The congressman said in a statement that he sought legal advice from the House Ethics Committee before taking any action — it was unclear from the statement what actions he was referring to. The panel gave a written opinion and a second opinion from a national law firm, he said. Cuellar and his wife also requested a meeting with lawyers in Washington, DC, to “explain the facts,” he said, but they declined to discuss the case with them.

A spokesman for Democratic Chairman Hakeem Jeffries said the congressman will be on leave as the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Appropriations Committee while the case is pending.

“Henry Cuellar has dedicated his career to admirable public service and is a valued member of the House Democratic Caucus. Like any American, Congressman Cuellar is entitled to his day in court and the presumption of innocence throughout the legal process,” Christy Stephenson, a Jefferies spokeswoman, said in a statement.

Allegations in the charge sheet

The congressman’s ties to Azerbaijan began in early 2013, the indictment says, when he and his wife traveled to Istanbul and Baku, Azerbaijan, on a trip sponsored by an organization led by a Houston resident. The unidentified resident leads two non-profit organizations dedicated to advancing Azerbaijan’s interests, prosecutors said.

The groups receive funding from Azerbaijan’s state-owned energy company.

After the trip, according to prosecutors, officials in the Azerbaijani government “discussed recruitment. [Cuellar] To promote Azerbaijan’s interests in the United States Congress.”

A year later, in February 2014, the Justice Department said the Cuellars negotiated a “corruption agreement” with a government-linked oil company that would pay a shell company owned by Imelda Cuellar “monthly for strategic consulting and advisory services . . .”

By May of that year, after the shell companies were created, investigators alleged that Gullard had taken overt steps to benefit a foreign government, telling his contacts that he “put language into that year’s National Security Authorization Act to create a strategic framework for the United States.” State security force assistance and cooperation in the European and Eurasian regions, including Azerbaijan.

The relationship continued for several years, investigators said. According to court documents, in 2017, an ambassador from Azerbaijan sent information to Congress about demining operations in the region, which Azerbaijan opposed.

“I see it. We’re working on it,” Cuellar replied. “Thanks Boss,” the diplomat wrote back, according to court documents.

Prosecutors accused congressional staffers of pressuring the State Department to renew the US passport of the Azerbaijani ambassador’s daughter, and Gullar recommended amendments to legislation related to Azerbaijan.

But it is not only Azerbaijan. Investigators said Cuellar and his wife set up shell companies and contracts with a Mexican retail bank in an attempt to launder additional funds.

According to the prosecutors, the exchange of currency required better mutual relations with US financial institutions. In 2015, Cuellar reportedly agreed to put some language into House bills to support such transactions.

“From May to July 2016, [Cuellar] U.S. Official-3, a high-level executive branch official responsible for the supervision of banks, advised and pressured Foreign Bank-1 to take official actions that benefited Foreign Bank-1,” investigators said in court documents.

The indictment alleges the Cuellars used most of their alleged illegal proceeds to pay federal and state taxes, credit card and car payments. Prosecutors said tens of thousands of dollars were spent at restaurants and shops, and they paid $12,000 for a “custom gown,” $7,000 for a new car and $27,000 for insurance and telecommunications companies.

Search by the FBI

The scheme comes two years after the FBI allegedly involved an Azerbaijani and Mexican bank Held “Court Recognition”. Cuellar’s lawyer seeks congressional home and campaign office in Laredo in January 2022 told CBS News The congressman was not the target of a federal investigation at the time. A source familiar with the investigation said the activity at Guler’s home was part of an investigation involving Azerbaijan and several American businessmen.

While the Congress party office said at the time that he was fully cooperating with the investigation, Khullar denied wrongdoing.

Cuellar was elected to the House in 2005 and represents the 28th Congressional District. His district stretches from San Antonio south to the US-Mexico border. Considered a moderate Democrat, Cuellar faced a tough primary challenge Jessica Cisneros, an immigration attorney, ran from her former coach during the 2022 election cycle, but defeated him in a runoff.

Cuellar, who is Catholic, is the only “pro-life” Democrat left in the House. He was in the news in October 2023 He said the car was hijacked By three gunmen while returning to his home at the Navy Yard in Washington, DC

Andres Triay contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is expected to announce the indictment of longtime Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, on Friday, two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.

Cuellar’s home and campaign office in Laredo, Texas, were raided in January 2022 as part of a federal investigation into Azerbaijan and a group of American businessmen with ties to the country, law enforcement said at the time. His office pledged to cooperate with the investigation. In April, Cuellar’s attorney, Joshua Berman, told some news agencies Federal officials told him he was not a target for investigation.

Guler is a one-time co-chairman of the Azerbaijan Caucus of Congress.

It was not immediately clear if the allegation was related to the 2022 test. The Justice Department declined to comment.

Cuellar’s staff called other members’ offices Friday to get advice on how to handle the situation, a source with knowledge of those calls told NBC News.

In a statement Friday, Cuellar denied any wrongdoing, saying he “proactively sought legal advice” from the House Ethics Committee, which issued “more than one written opinion” on the matter. Much of his statement focused on his wife, Imelda Cuellar, although it was not immediately clear why.

“I want to make it clear that my wife and I are innocent of these allegations. Everything I did in Congress was to serve the people of South Texas,” Cuellar said in his statement, later adding: “The actions I took in Congress were consistent with the actions of many of my colleagues and were in the best interest of America. People…”

“Imelda and I have been married for 32 years. In addition to being a wonderful wife and mother, she is an accomplished businesswoman with two degrees. She has spent her career working in banking, tax and consulting,” he continued. “The allegation that she is qualified and hard-working is false and offensive.”

A defiant Cuellar also made it clear that he would seek re-election: “Let me be clear, I am running for re-election and I will win this November.”

A year after the raid on his home — which previously yielded no arrests or charges — Cuellar told the Texas Tribune: “There was no wrongdoing on my part. … My focus has remained the same since my first day in office: delivering results for Texans across my district.”

Despite the ordeal, Cuellar defeated a progressive challenger, Jessica Cisneros, in her 2022 primary and won re-election to her seat that November. He does not face a primary challenger this year and will be on the ballot this November for his 11th term in Congress.

Two years ago, Gullard easily defeated Republican candidate Casey Garcia, 57% to 43%. His district turned blue when he took parts of San Antonio following redistricting. But the indictment will make Cuellar more vulnerable than in the past; In 2020, Joe Biden won Culler’s district over Donald Trump by 7 percentage points.

The two Republicans will face each other in a late May runoff for a chance to face Cueller in the fall.

“Henry Cuellar doesn’t put Texas first, he puts himself first,” said Delanie Bomar, spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. “If his colleagues truly believed in putting ‘people above politics’, they would call for his resignation. If not – they are hypocrites whose statements on public service are not worth the paper they are written on.”

Cuellar, 66, is an attorney, a former customs broker and Texas secretary of state. A member of the centrist Blue Dogs and the New Democratic Alliance, Guller was elected to the House in 2004.

He is the only Democrat left in Congress who opposes abortion rights — a move that has angered many in his party.

Ragus orangutan uses plant leaves to heal its wound.

Humans are the only known animal to treat their wounds by applying medicines and applying ointments. But in Indonesia, scientists observed an orangutan deliberately using a medicinal plant to treat a wound on its face. According to CNN, this is the first time such behavior has been documented in any species other than humans. The orangutan Ragus first chewed the leaves of the climbing plant Agar Kuning and repeatedly applied the juice to a wound on its face.

An article documenting this has been published in the journal Scientific reports.

Ragus then covered the wound with chewed leaves, which are used in traditional medicine to treat ailments such as diarrhoea, diabetes and malaria. CNN Scientists are quoted as saying.

Study lead author Isabelle Lamar said they were “extremely excited” by the observations recorded in June 2022 at the Suak Palimping Research Area in Indonesia’s Gunung Leuser National Park.

“This potentially novel behavior provides the first report of active wound management with a biologically active plant in a great ape species,” he told the outlet.

The scientists noticed that the 30-year-old male did not coat any other part of his body, leading them to conclude that the animal was treating its injury. Scientific alert.

Analysis of the plant’s chemical composition has revealed antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antioxidant properties, all of which are helpful in wound healing.

Researchers believe the orangutan was injured in a fight with another male. Ragus was on half-day rest during the recovery period, which surprised even the teammates.