International
Grenada urges UN to respond with greater urgency to crises
September 23 |
The Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, intervened in the fourth day of debates of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UN), held in New York City, United States.
During his speech, the premier reflected on the context of the pandemic and the resilience of the Grenadian people, and in that sense, he stressed the importance of international cooperation, the sharing of resources, information and continuous dialogue through the UN.
“We continue to live in a world and a context where our citizens continue to suffer from hunger, poverty, gender-based violence, climate disaster, and other problems that affect our planet and, above all, that has to do with the aspirations of achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he stressed.
Likewise, he urged the UN to unite and respond to crises with the utmost urgency through multilateral efforts and collaborations, so that everyone helps their fellow citizens when in need.
He referred to climate action and stated that “a climate disaster of some kind is likely to occur in one or more of the member states and will have devastating effects on our citizens, our economies and will inevitably affect the development situation and progress of the country in question”.
He also called for a special effort in climate action and justice for those on the front lines of the crisis and demanded the need for urgent efforts to address financing and tackle climate change efforts.
“States that contribute the least to the climate crisis bear the highest burden and without immediate and deep cuts in emissions across the board, I fear we are headed down a path of worse outcomes if we don’t take meaningful action now,” he said.
The Premier called for Latin America and the Caribbean to remain a Zone of Peace and reiterated the call for the elimination of the economic and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba.
He also requested that Cuba be removed from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism. With respect to Venezuela, he reiterated the call to end the imposition of unilateral coercive measures contrary to the norms and principles of international law and the UN Charter.
He expressed concern about the situation in Haiti and the state of violence, and asked for support in security and humanitarian needs to counteract armed gangs. In this regard, he said that the support of the Security Council is expected as a demonstration of commitment.
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.
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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