Moscow, Jun 23 (Prensa Latina) Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi arrived in Moscow to examine the situation after the US attacks against the Persian country, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed today.

“Indeed, the Iranian Foreign Minister arrived in Moscow to hold a series of talks,” the institution's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, told the press on Monday.

Previously, the IRNA agency advanced that Araghchi arrived in Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other high-ranking officials. According to the media, the head of Iranian diplomacy will discuss in Moscow the situation in the Middle East after the U.S. attacks against his country.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, the United States attacked several nuclear facilities in Iran, an act that was condemned by many nations of the world. The Iranian government warned that it was reserving all options to respond to the U.S. aggression.

Tehran demanded the convening of an extraordinary session of the UN Security Council to ensure that those responsible for this “flagrant act of aggression” do not go unpunished.

It also demanded an urgent meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) “to assume its responsibility” for the U.S. attack on civilian nuclear facilities under its strict supervision.

Iranian authorities claim that the United States acted “in full coordination” with Israel, which has been bombing nuclear centers and military facilities throughout Iranian territory since June 13, claiming that they constitute an alleged existential threat to the Jewish state.

So far, the Israeli attacks have left more than 430 dead and 3,500 wounded in Iran, according to the most recent balance sheet of the Ministry of Health.

The Iranian response attacks, according to the Israeli Health Ministry, have so far caused 25 deaths and more than 2,800 injuries.

VIJAYAWADA: In a significant verdict affirming the rights of transgenders, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Saturday ruled that trans women (individuals who transition from male to female) cannot be denied recognition as women under the Indian law solely on the grounds of their inability to bear children.

The court further categorically rejected the argument that womanhood is tied exclusively to reproductive capacity, stating that such a claim is ‘completely incorrect and legally unsustainable’. It made it clear that defining womanhood by the ability to reproduce goes against the spirit of the Constitution, which guarantees dignity, equality and identity to all citizens, irrespective of gender.

Justice Venkata Jyothirmai Pratapa highlighted the Supreme Court directions in the landmark NALSA vs Union of India case, which clearly upheld the rights of transgenders, including the right to self-identify their gender. The High Court stated that this recognition is protected under Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution.

The court observed that trans women are entitled to protection under IPC Section 498A - a provision dealing with cruelty by a husband or his relatives - just like cisgender women. “Denying such protection by questioning their womanhood amounts to discrimination,” the Judge noted.

While hearing a petition filed by Viswanathan Krishnamurthy and his parents, who challenged a dowry harassment case registered against them by Shabana, a trans woman from Ongole, who alleged cruelty and dowry demands from her husband and in-laws.

The couple lived together in Ongole for a brief period before Viswanathan reportedly left for Chennai, and ceased communication. Shabana subsequently approached the Ongole women police station, alleging that her in-laws threatened to kill her, and that her husband verbally abused her. Based on her complaint, the police registered a case against Viswanathan, his parents, and relatives under IPC Section 498A.

However, the petitioners approached the High Court in 2022 seeking quashing of the case, arguing that Shabana, being a trans woman, could not invoke this legal provision of Section 498A.

The counsel on behalf of petitioners contended that trans women do not fall under the legal definition of woman due to their inability to conceive, and the charges under Section 498A should not apply. They also claimed the allegations levelled by Shabana were baseless, and unsupported by evidence.

However, the High Court dismissed the argument, stating that gender identity is not dependent on biological factors such as childbirth. It held that trans women, too, have the right to file complaints under Section 498A, and enjoy all constitutional rights available to women.

However, the court quashed the case against Viswanathan and his family - not on grounds of gender - but due to lack of evidence. The bench noted that there was no material to support Shabana’s claims of dowry demands or cruelty. It observed that continuing the trial in the absence of any prima facie evidence would amount to misuse of judicial process.

Justice Jyothirmai further elaborated on the evolving understanding of gender identity, citing that a person’s gender need not correspond to the sex assigned at birth. “A trans woman is a person born male, who later transitions to female. She is legally entitled to be recognised as a woman,” the Judge asserted.

La Paz, Jun 29 (Prensa Latina) Former Bolivian minister Mariana Prado (2017-2019) remains today as running mate of the presidential candidate of the leftist Alianza Popular, Andrónico Rodríguez, in view of the general elections of next August 17.

He also ratified her as a candidate for the vice-presidency of the State during a massive rally in the Villarroel square, in La Paz, at the official launching of her campaign for the elections.

Prado's possible candidacy was criticized by several sectors, despite being, together with Eva Copa (presidential candidate of the National Renewal Movement, Morena), the only woman candidate for one of the two most important posts in the country. For that reason her candidacy remained in suspense until now, however, against all odds, Rodriguez ratified it.

“With our colleague Mariana, who we made the decision to assume with so much responsibility for the future, we want to thank you for your contributions to the government program”, said the senatorial leader to his thousands of followers.

Likewise, he thanked his running mate for following him and ratified the purpose of leading the country after a victory in the elections.

Prada was next to the candidate in the platform installed in the center of the Villarroel Square, without making any speech, although he did greet the different popular sectors that attended the event.

Referring to the process of public acts that begin this week, Rodriguez warned about the intention of a “dirty war”. and reaffirmed that he “will not give up” in the fight for “better days”.

"We have 50 days of campaign and work to reach the Presidency and change our homeland.

Our process has to be up to the demands of the new times", said the legislator, originally from the Chapare area of Cochabamba.

He took the opportunity to criticize the candidates of other parties, whose past he criticized.

“The political actors that today are presenting themselves with a renewed suit are the same ones that have been part of the coalition governments, which have led to regression”, he said in reference to the right-wing candidates Jorge Tuto Quiroga, Samuel Doria Medina and Manfred Reyes Villa.

Five parties and five political alliances are competing in the campaign, according to the current electoral calendar.

Next August 17, Bolivians will go to the polls to elect the country's president, vice-president, 130 deputies, 36 senators and nine representatives to supra-state bodies.

All this is taking place in a context of division within the ruling party and the national popular movement camp, in which there is a fierce fight between the sectors related to Morales, President Luis Arce and Rodríguez, as if “the main enemy” did not exist, deplore the supporters of unity.