International
Paraguayan opposition protests against election results
May 8 |
Groups of demonstrators closed this Monday an access lane to Asuncion in the vicinity of the Supreme Tribunal of Electoral Justice, in protest against the results of the elections of two weeks ago that gave the victory to the ruling party candidate Santiago Peña.
The protest actions take place after representatives of the opposition had called for a demonstration on Monday morning at the site, in order to demand mainly the opening of envelope 4 of the electoral process, which contains the ballot papers, and that the TSJE’s computer system be made transparent.
Previously, the leader of the Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico (PLRA) and former candidate for the Concertación Nacional, Efraín Alegre, published on Sunday a video in his social networks, through which he called for a citizen mobilization for “transparency”.
In the same sense, he stated that on that occasion they will demand the release of all those who were arrested during the last demonstrations, including his political adversary Paraguayo Cubas.
On the other hand, representatives of the so-called Guasu Front also joined the mobilization. Through a note sent to the Electoral Justice, they demanded the opening of envelope 4, the manual counting of the votes and a computer audit.
Meanwhile, members of different organizations of truck drivers announced that they will also mobilize from this Monday in several points of the country to demand the same claims to the TSJE.
TSJE Minister César Rossel stated what would happen in the eventual opening of envelope No. 4 of the Electoral Justice, which contains the ballot papers deposited in the last general elections
“Opening all the envelopes and starting the recounts in all the elections, where you had absolute control of the whole process, is never going to end up in an election again. Because everyone who loses, is going to ask you for a recount and we are never again going to have legal stability about what elections are.”
From the National Crusade Party, led by the former Paraguayan presidential candidate Cubas, they asked for the opening in claiming an alleged electoral fraud, to which other sectors of the opposition later adhered.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
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