International
Argentine President fires seven thousand government workers
December 27 |
Within the package package of the Argentine President Javier Milei that labor centers and unions reject, 7,000 government employees are expected to be dismissed, through a decree that vetoes the renewal of state workers’ contracts.
The determination is part of the new economic adjustment plan with which the President wants to put the Argentine economy back on track, since among the measures has been the dissolution of nine ministries. The total number of layoffs corresponds to all personnel hired during the current year.
The provision will reach the workers of the National Administration of Social Security (ANSES), the Program of Integral Medical Attention (PAMI) and the Federal Administration of Public Revenues (AFIP).
At a press conference, presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni indicated that public contracts discharged in 2023 that end next December 31 will not be renewed in 2024, while the rest will enter into a ninety-day review process.
With respect to social plans, the Argentine Executive will initiate the audit of more than one million social plans and foresees, based on the estimates of judicial investigations, that 160,000 beneficiaries could be receiving these benefits in an “irregular” manner.
According to the spokesman, these plans would have a total value of 10 billion Argentine pesos (12.45 million dollars). “Argentines should not be in charge of this money,” Adorni emphasized.
The order issued also includes that the employees hired before January 1, 2023 will only be renewed for a period of 90 days, since the objective is that the authorities of each jurisdiction “carry out an exhaustive survey of the hired personnel in order to evaluate the renewal” of their labor relationship with the Argentine Government.
On this day, the Argentine Congress starts extraordinary sessions called by the ultra-liberal President Milei to debate complementary laws to a mega-decree of economic deregulation resisted by the opposition and the labor unions, which are asking the courts to declare it unconstitutional.
“The deputies and senators will have to choose between accompanying the change that the people have voted for or continue obstructing and putting sticks in the wheel”, said Adorni in a press conference.
The complementary package to be debated by Congress until January 31 includes reforms to taxation, electoral law and the functions of the State.
International
China calls for dialogue amid rising Iran-Israel conflict
The Chinese government emphasized on Monday the importance of “creating the conditions to return to the proper path of dialogue” between Iran and Israel, which have exchanged attacks in recent days resulting in more than 20 Israeli and over 220 Iranian deaths.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun expressed deep concern at a press conference over the Israeli attacks on Iran and the “sudden escalation” of the military conflict.
Guo called on all parties to “take immediate measures to ease tensions and prevent the region from descending into further turmoil,” stating that “force cannot bring lasting peace.”
“If the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to intensify or even expand, the countries of the Middle East will be the first to suffer the consequences,” he added, while noting that China “will continue to maintain communication with the relevant parties, promoting peace and dialogue.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke last Saturday with his Iranian and Israeli counterparts to condemn the Israeli airstrike on Iranian territory, which he described as a “violation of international law” with the potential to trigger “disastrous” consequences.
In both calls, Wang reiterated China’s rejection of the use of force, defended diplomacy as the only solution to the Iranian nuclear dispute, and offered China’s mediation to prevent further destabilization in the Middle East.
International
Suspect arrested in killing of Minnesota legislator and husband, governor Says
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced on Sunday the arrest of Vance Luther Boelter, 57, the main suspect in the killing of Democratic legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband in a Brooklyn Park suburb on Friday night.
Boelter, who also reportedly shot State Senator John Hoffman and his wife early Saturday morning, was apprehended in Sibley County following an intensive manhunt involving hundreds of law enforcement officers.
In a public statement, Governor Walz condemned Boelter’s “unthinkable actions,” which resulted in the death of a woman who “shaped the core of who we are as a state.”
“We cannot become numb to this. We are a deeply divided nation,” Walz said in a statement posted on his X account.
“We move forward not with hatred or violence, but with humility, grace, and civility,” he added.
Expressing solidarity with the victims’ families, Walz said the entire state of Minnesota is in mourning. He also thanked law enforcement for their bravery and professionalism: “They have saved lives,” he emphasized.
“As we heal, we will not let fear win,” Walz concluded. “We must honor Melissa by moving forward with understanding, service, and above all, humanity.”
Throughout Sunday, police and sheriff units searched a rural area in Minnesota for Vance Luther Boelter, a security company director and preacher who, according to Governor Walz, acted out of politically motivated violence.
International
40,000 tourists stranded in Israel amid airspace shutdown over Iran conflict
Approximately 40,000 tourists are stranded in Israel following the closure of the country’s airspace amid escalating hostilities with Iran, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism reported on Monday.
The ministry has set up a virtual office to provide information via email (virtual@goisrael.gov.il) and phone (+972-53-583-5808), as well as a Facebook page called Israel Virtual Tourist Office.
Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz is in contact with hotels and accommodations across the country to offer support to tourists in need, the ministry added.
Many stranded travelers are considering crossing overland into Jordan or Egypt to seek flights from those countries. The Israel Airports Authority reminded the public that land border crossings remain open.
Three German tourists stranded in Jerusalem told EFE today that they have not received any assistance from their country’s embassy in Israel, and their primary option currently is to cross into Jordan to catch a flight from there.
Since early Friday morning, Israel launched operations against Iran, targeting military personnel and infrastructure, including energy and nuclear facilities, as well as numerous residential areas in Tehran.
In response, Iran has fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel, some of which have struck various locations across the country, leaving at least 24 dead so far, according to Israeli authorities.
Iranian health officials report at least 224 deaths, mostly civilians, including at least 17 senior military officials—nine from the Revolutionary Guard—and more than a dozen nuclear scientists.
The Israeli military has warned that many more “targets” remain, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared on Monday that it will continue missile attacks against Israel until its “destruction.”
China calls for dialogue amid rising Iran-Israel conflict
Suspect arrested in killing of Minnesota legislator and husband, governor Says
40,000 tourists stranded in Israel amid airspace shutdown over Iran conflict
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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