International
Lula asks Argentines to vote for a president who likes democracy
November 15 |
The President of Brazil, Luis Inázio Lula da Silva, called on Tuesday on the Argentine population to vote this coming Sunday for a president who “likes democracy”, although he did not directly support any of the candidates who will run in the ballot, Sergio Massa (Unión por la Patria) and Javier Milei (La Libertad Avanza).
According to the head of state, Argentina is Brazil’s main trading partner in South America and whatever choice the Argentines make, it has an important socioeconomic repercussion for its neighbors.
“Brazil needs Argentina and Argentina needs Brazil. The jobs that Brazil generates in Argentina and the jobs that Argentina needs in Brazil, the trade flow between the two countries and how much we can grow together,” stated Da Silva.
Lula added that Argentina’s next president must be someone who “respects the institutions, who likes Mercosur, who likes South America and who thinks about creating an important bloc.”
“I just wanted to ask the Argentine people at the time of voting, to think about Argentina. Your vote is sovereign, but think a little bit about the kind of South America you want to create, the kind of Latin America you want to create and the Mercosur you want to create. Together we will be strong, separated we are weak”, he said.
This Sunday, November 19, Milei and Massa will face each other at the polls in a divided election with no clear voting intention on the part of the electorate.
Milei’s statements regarding Brazil include breaking diplomatic relations with that country, since he considers Lula as a “socialist with a totalitarian vocation”, as well as eliminating the Southern Common Market (Mercosur).
On the other hand, Massa has shown himself in favor of strengthening integration and Mercosur, and promoting again the Union of South American Nations (Unasur), among other projections that would boost multilateralism and confidence in his country among the international community.
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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