INTERNACIONAL
Erika Kirk honors late husband Charlie in emotional White House tribute: ‘A free man made fully free’
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At a White House ceremony in the Rose Garden on Tuesday on what would have been her husband’s 32nd birthday, Erika Kirk accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of Charlie Kirk and delivered a powerful, deeply personal tribute to his life and legacy.
«Thank you, Mr. President, for honoring my husband in such a profound way,» she began. «Charlie always admired your commitment to freedom.»
She offered thanks to the first lady, the vice president, and friends and family «watching from all around the world,» along with Turning Point USA staff and chapters nationwide. «You are the heartbeat of this future and of this movement,» she said. «Everything Charlie built lives through you.»
Erika added that the Presidential Medal of Freedom itself is rooted in America’s Founding. «The very existence of the Presidential Medal of Freedom reminds us that the national interest of the United States has always been freedom,» she said.
CHARLIE KIRK POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED MEDAL OF FREEDOM ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS 32ND BIRTHDAY
Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, participates in a Medal of Freedom Ceremony for late US right-wing activist Charlie Kirk in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, on Oct. 14, 2025. Kirk was shot dead on a Utah college campus on Sept. 10, 2025, sparking a wave of grief among conservatives, and threats of a clampdown on the «radical left» from President Donald Trump. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
«Our founders etched it into the preamble of our Constitution, and those words are not relics on parchment. They are a living covenant. The blessings of liberty are not man’s invention. They are God’s endowment.»
She recalled how Charlie wrote about freedom often. «He believed that liberty was both a right and a responsibility. And he used to say that freedom is the ability to do what is right without fear. And that’s how he lived,» Erika said.
«His name, Charles, literally means ‘free man.’ And that’s exactly who my husband was,» she continued. «From the time I met him, sitting across from him being interviewed about politics, philosophy and theology, I saw the fire in his soul. There was this divine restlessness within him that came from knowing God placed him on this earth to protect something very sacred. He never stopped fighting for people to experience freedom.»
CHARLIE KIRK’S CLOSE FRIEND PRAISES ERIKA KIRK’S ‘RESILIENCE’ AHEAD OF EMOTIONAL WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY
Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, accepts the Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of her husband at the White House on Oct. 14. (Fox News )
Erika recalled Charlie often saying that «without God, freedom becomes chaos» and that liberty can only survive «when anchored to truth.» She remembered him telling an audience: «The opposite of liberty isn’t law. It’s captivity. And the freest people in the world are those whose hearts belong to Christ.»
Looking back at his years building Turning Point USA, she said, «While he was building an organization, he was also building a movement: one that called people back to God, back to truth, and a movement that was filled with courage.»
She described him as a man who loved life’s simplest pleasures: quiet walks, shelves full of books and Saturday mornings in the sun with decaf coffee and his phone turned off for the Sabbath. His birthday tradition, she recalled, was mint chocolate chip ice cream, enjoyed only on July 4 and his birthday.
«Last year, his one birthday wish was to see the Oregon Ducks play Ohio State — and they won,» she said. «Mr. President, I can say with confidence that you have given him the best birthday gift he could ever have.»
CHARLIE KIRK’S COLLEAGUES AND PASTORS PRAISE HIS PATRIOTISM AS TRUMP READIES HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOR
U.S. President Donald Trump posthumously awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to late conservative activist Charlie Kirk as he presents the Medal to his wife Erika Kirk (L) during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House on Oct. 14, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Turning to his final moments, Erika shared: «It was written across his chest in those final moments on one of his simple T-shirts that always carried a message — this one bearing a single word: freedom. That was the banner over his life.»
She said her husband never told anyone what to say but always encouraged them «to think outside of traditional political labels, anchored in wisdom and truth.»
«Charlie wasn’t content to simply admire freedom. He wanted to multiply it,» Erika said. «He wanted young people to taste it, understand it and defend it. He wanted them to see that liberty isn’t selfish indulgence — it’s self-governance under God.»
Every day, she recalled, he lived with fearless conviction. «He didn’t fear being slandered. He didn’t fear losing friends. He stood for truth and stood for freedom. Everything else was just noise to him. And it’s because his confidence in Christ was absolute.»
Erika said Charlie lived «only 31 short years on this side of heaven,» but filled every day with purpose. «He fought for truth when it was unpopular. He stood for God when it was costly. He prayed for his enemies. He loved people when it was inconvenient. He ran his race with endurance, and he kept the faith. And now he wears the crown of a righteous martyr.»
She told the audience, «Heaven gained what earth could no longer contain — a free man made fully free. To all watching, this is not a ceremony. This is a commissioning. I want you to be the embodiment of this medal. I want you to free yourself from fear. I want you to stand courageously in the truth. And remember that while freedom is inherited in this country, each of us must be intentional stewards of it.»
Before closing, Erika shared her daughter Gigi’s birthday message: «Happy birthday, daddy. I want to give you a stuffed animal. I want you to eat a cupcake with ice cream. And I want you to go have a birthday surprise. I love you.»
Her young son also gave his own gift, «deciding to become the man of the house and be fully potty-trained at 16 months.»
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«I know that you’re celebrating in heaven today, but gosh, I miss you,» she said through tears. «We miss you and we love you. And we promise we’ll make you proud. Charlie’s life was proof that freedom is not a theory. It’s a testimony. He showed us that liberty begins not in the halls of power, but in the heart of a man surrendered to God.»
She ended with a final tribute: «To live free is the greatest gift, but to die free is the greatest victory. Happy birthday, Charlie. Happy freedom day.»
charlie kirk,white house,donald trump
INTERNACIONAL
Ecuador incluirá la enseñanza del Holocausto en las escuelas tras acuerdo de cooperación con Israel
Los gobiernos de Ecuador e Israel firmaron un acuerdo de cooperación bilateral que, entre otros componentes, incluye la incorporación de contenidos educativos sobre el Holocausto en el sistema escolar ecuatoriano, como parte de una agenda más amplia orientada a fortalecer los vínculos entre ambos países en áreas como educación, ciencia, cultura y deporte.
El acuerdo corresponde a un Programa de Cooperación para el período 2026–2027 y fue suscrito en el marco de una política de acercamiento entre ambas naciones que prioriza el intercambio académico, el desarrollo científico y la promoción cultural. Según el boletín oficial del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana, el instrumento busca impulsar iniciativas conjuntas en sectores estratégicos, con énfasis en el trabajo entre instituciones educativas y el desarrollo de proyectos vinculados a la innovación y la tecnología.
En este contexto, la enseñanza del Holocausto se enmarca dentro de los esfuerzos por fomentar el entendimiento histórico, la memoria y la formación en valores en las nuevas generaciones. Aunque el documento oficial no detalla los contenidos curriculares específicos ni los mecanismos de implementación en el sistema educativo ecuatoriano, la inclusión de este tema responde a prácticas internacionales orientadas a prevenir el antisemitismo, la discriminación y otras formas de violencia basadas en el odio.
El acto de suscripción contó con la participación de la canciller ecuatoriana Gabriela Sommerfeld y del embajador de Israel en Ecuador, Tzach Sarid. Ambos destacaron la importancia del acuerdo como un paso significativo en la consolidación de una agenda conjunta que promueve el intercambio académico y científico, así como la cooperación entre instituciones educativas de ambos países .
Además del componente educativo, el programa contempla el fortalecimiento de iniciativas de intercambio juvenil, la cooperación en materia de patrimonio cultural, el impulso de actividades deportivas y la participación conjunta en eventos internacionales. Estas acciones están orientadas a fomentar el entendimiento mutuo y a consolidar relaciones bilaterales sostenidas en el tiempo, especialmente entre las nuevas generaciones.
La incorporación de la enseñanza del Holocausto en las escuelas ecuatorianas se alinea con estándares promovidos por organismos internacionales como la UNESCO y la Alianza Internacional para la Memoria del Holocausto (IHRA), que han impulsado la inclusión de este tema en los sistemas educativos como herramienta pedagógica para reflexionar sobre los riesgos de los regímenes autoritarios, la intolerancia y las violaciones masivas de derechos humanos.
En América Latina, varios países han avanzado en iniciativas similares en los últimos años, incorporando contenidos sobre el Holocausto y otros genocidios en sus currículos escolares como parte de políticas de educación en derechos humanos. En ese marco, el acuerdo entre Ecuador e Israel representa un paso en la convergencia con esas tendencias regionales e internacionales.
El documento oficial también subraya que el programa de cooperación reafirma el compromiso de ambos países de continuar trabajando conjuntamente en la construcción de oportunidades compartidas que impulsen el desarrollo y la integración a nivel internacional. En esa línea, la cooperación educativa es vista como un eje clave para fortalecer capacidades institucionales y promover valores democráticos.
Hasta el momento, no se han anunciado detalles sobre cuándo comenzaría la implementación de estos contenidos en el sistema educativo ecuatoriano ni si se realizará a través de reformas curriculares, programas piloto o capacitaciones docentes. Tampoco se ha especificado si la iniciativa contará con apoyo técnico o pedagógico por parte de instituciones israelíes especializadas en la enseñanza de la memoria histórica.
El acuerdo se produce en un contexto de fortalecimiento de las relaciones bilaterales entre Ecuador e Israel, que en los últimos años han profundizado su cooperación en distintos ámbitos, incluyendo seguridad, tecnología y comercio. La dimensión educativa se suma ahora como un componente estratégico en esta relación, con énfasis en la formación de nuevas generaciones y el intercambio de conocimiento.
Con esta iniciativa, Ecuador se incorpora a un grupo creciente de países que buscan integrar la enseñanza del Holocausto como parte de una política educativa orientada a la memoria, la prevención y la promoción de sociedades más inclusivas.
Auschwitz,Holocausto,Nazismo,prisioneros,Segunda Guerra Mundial,retratos,víctimas,historia,genocidio,fotografía
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Federal prosecutors are investigating whether a New York City councilmember and her sister, a top aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul, accepted bribes or kickbacks tied to city funding steered to a migrant shelter provider, according to a search warrant obtained by The Associated Press.
The March 19 warrant seeks evidence of possible criminal conduct involving Councilmember Farah Louis, a Brooklyn Democrat; her sister, Debbie Louis, Hochul’s assistant secretary for New York City intergovernmental affairs; and Edu Hermelyn, husband of Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.
A spokesperson for Hochul said Debbie Louis was placed on leave last week after the governor became aware of the federal corruption probe. Someone answering a phone number associated with Louis ended the call when asked by the AP about the investigation, and the AP reported messages left for Farah Louis and Hermelyn were not returned.
SEC SCOTT BESSENT: HOW TO STOP FRAUD IN MINNESOTA—AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY
New York City Councilmember Farah Louis is reportedly under federal investigation for an alleged bribery scheme. (Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Brooklyn Academy Of Music)
According to the warrant, investigators are examining whether the three received benefits in exchange for actions taken on behalf of BHRAGS Home Care Inc., a Brooklyn nonprofit that historically provided in-home care for sick and elderly clients.
As New York City’s migrant influx intensified in 2022, BHRAGS broadened its work to include emergency shelter operations for asylum seekers and other homeless services. Since then, public records show the group has been awarded more than a dozen contracts worth upward of $200 million from the city’s Department of Homeless Services.
«This is political persecution driven by the far-right, targeting immigrants and the leaders who stand with them,» a political insider tied to Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn told the New York Post on Monday. «There are no charges at this time, and the facts will ultimately lead to this case being dropped on its merits.»
DEPUTY AG TODD BLANCHE SHEDS LIGHT ON NEW DOJ FRAUD DIVISION TO ADDRESS ‘INSANE’ PROBLEM
An attorney for BHRAGS Executive Director Roberto Samedy declined to comment to the AP.
The warrant also seeks records of money transfers and communications involving Edouardo St. Fort, a former New York Police Department sergeant who retired in 2023. That same year, records indicate his firm, Fort NYC Security, secured a $3 million contract from the Department of Homeless Services. AP calls and emails seeking comment from St. Fort were not returned.
TRUMP’S FRAUD CZAR NOMINEE TOUTS MINNESOTA BLUEPRINT TO ROOT OUT OBAMACARE FRAUD, SENIOR SCAMS
The warrant’s existence does not mean charges are imminent. It indicates only that federal investigators convinced a judge they had sufficient grounds to search for and seize potential evidence.
The probe lands amid broader scrutiny over how New York City awarded emergency shelter contracts during the migrant crisis, when the arrival of tens of thousands of asylum seekers strained the city’s shelter system and prompted officials under then-Mayor Eric Adams to rapidly expand housing capacity through outside providers.
Some of those arrangements have drawn criticism from watchdogs and political opponents, who questioned the speed, scale and oversight of the contracting process.
FEDERAL PROSECUTOR CALLS NEWSOM ‘KING OF FRAUD’ AS TRUMP LAUNCHES CALIFORNIA CORRUPTION PROBE
The figures named in the warrant are all connected to Brooklyn’s Democratic political establishment, which has been rocked by a series of ethics controversies in recent years.
Hermelyn, who once served as a senior adviser to Adams, stepped down after questions were raised about whether his role as a Brooklyn district leader conflicted with rules barring certain dual government positions. He also went on to advise former Gov. Andrew Cuomo during Cuomo’s unsuccessful mayoral campaign.
The Trump administration, led by fraud investigation czar Vice President JD Vance, has prioritized federal law enforcement investigations nationwide.
VANCE SAYS BIDEN ADMIN ‘TURNED OFF’ ANTI-FRAUD PROTECTIONS, DEBUTS NEW TASK FORCE WITH FOCUS ON SOMALI SCHEMES
Just this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s Treasury Department announced it is offering whistleblowers a major financial incentive to help expose fraud, directing would-be tipsters to the Treasury.gov website, telling Fox News on Monday that the administration has already received more than 700 leads.
The Treasury’s whistleblower page says eligible tipsters can receive between 10% and 30% of monetary sanctions collected for successful actions.
While Minnesota fraud among the state’s Somali community has made headlines thus far thanks to independent journalist Nick Shirley’s reporting, Bessent actually praised that state for having some level of transparency that is not permitted in California or New York.
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«That’s why that young man, Nick Shirley, was able to go to see the scams, because it was: This is the name of the facility; this is the address; this is how much money they got,» Bessent said. «Oh look, it’s an empty storefront. There’s no one here. New York, California are hiding it.»
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
justice department, crime world, immigration, democrats elections
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