International
Incidents in Argentina between police and state workers protesting 2,300 layoffs
A protest by Argentine state workers who were demonstrating for the dismissal of 2,305 state employees by the Government of Javier Milei ended on Monday with riots and two people arrested.
Representatives of the Association of State Workers (ATE) gathered in front of the headquarters of the National Institute of Industrial Technology, at the intersection of General Paz Avenue (the border between the capital and the province of Buenos Aires) and Constituyentes Avenue, with high circulation.
The Police of the city of Buenos Aires armed a cordon of troops with shields and helmets, which threw pepper spray at the demonstrators, many of them, with green breastplates with the ATE logo, and “liberated” the cutting of the streets, according to official sources.
“We arrested one person for assaulting police personnel and another for wielding a knife,” the Minister of Security of the government of the city of Buenos Aires, Waldo Wolff, reported in his X account.
One of the demonstrators who ended up on the floor, detained by the police, is the secretary general of ATE, Rodolfo Aguiar, who on Monday compared the dismissals of employees with the military dictatorship that the country suffered between 1976 and 1983.
“We face a systematic plan for the destruction of the State in which the newly disappeared are fired,” Aguiar told El Destape radio, where he also said that “Milei’s dismissals translate into a phenomenal loss of rights for the population.”
ATE counted about 2,305 layoffs until this Monday, but he believes that there will be many more when the casualties are counted in the interior provinces, which are in addition to the run of layoffs already made by the Executive last March.
The union leader said that it is a “shame” that this Monday the Executive has called for equal negotiations for state workers and added that for tomorrow a plenary of delegates from all over the country is convened to “define the deepening of the struggle plan.”
The Government of Milei applies a strong adjustment to public spending, which allowed it in the first five months of the year a fiscal surplus of 0.4% of GDP – from 6% of 2023 that it had inherited, in order to lower inflation that is still 276.4% per year last May -, while maintaining a security policy that imposes order on the streets.
According to the official data published by the Indec, until last May the casualties in the State were 25,218 workers compared to December 2023, when contemplating the National Public Administration and state companies and companies.
International
Colombia to Send High-Level Delegation to Ecuador to Ease Trade Tensions
Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that, at the instruction of President Gustavo Petro, a high-level delegation will travel to Ecuador in an effort to normalize bilateral relations, which have deteriorated following the imposition of reciprocal tariffs.
“In line with Colombia’s policy of good neighborliness and the spirit of cooperation and integration that guides its foreign policy,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez.
“Following instructions from the Presidency of the Republic, and as has been publicly reiterated, the Colombian delegation expects to reaffirm Colombia’s offer of support to the Republic of Ecuador to strengthen control over phenomena stemming from transnational organized crime,” the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry noted that the delegation will attend the meeting with a full willingness to engage in dialogue and to seek concrete solutions to the unilateral measures that have affected the longstanding relationship between the two neighboring countries.
Trade tensions between Ecuador and Colombia escalated on January 21, when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboaimposed a 30% tariff on Colombian products, citing a lack of cooperation in anti-drug efforts. Colombia responded with similar measures and the suspension of energy exports, while Ecuador increased transportation costs for Colombian crude oil.
Business associations in both countries have warned that the dispute is harming both economies and have called on the governments to resolve their differences through dialogue.
International
Super Bowl Halftime Show Puts Bad Bunny—and Immigration Politics—Back in the Spotlight
The long-standing argument that sports and politics should not mix may be put to the test on Sunday during the Super Bowl halftime show, which will be headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, a choice that has sparked backlash from segments of the U.S. right wing.
Just one week after his headline-making appearance at the Grammy Awards—where he sharply criticized the United States’ anti-immigration policies—Bad Bunny will once again take center stage on the global spotlight with his performance at the NFL final in Santa Clara, California.
Beyond the expectations surrounding the show itself, speculation has grown over whether the artist could again use the platform to protest policies associated with the administration of former President Donald Trump, in front of an audience expected to exceed 120 million viewers in the United States alone.
In fact, one of the most popular Super Bowl prop bets this year revolves around whether the Puerto Rican singer will deliver a direct message against ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), similar to the one he delivered at the Grammys last Sunday.
While few expect Bad Bunny to repeat such a pointed statement, the mere speculation highlights the delicate balance the NFL must manage during the most-watched broadcast of the year.
The world’s most powerful sports league has drawn criticism from the MAGA movement since announcing in September that Bad Bunny would headline a halftime show largely performed in Spanish.
Trump himself declined to attend the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, despite having made history last year as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl. He described the musical lineup—which also includes outspoken critics such as Green Day—as “a terrible choice” that would “sow hatred.” In response, his supporters have organized an alternative event dubbed the “All-American Halftime Show,” featuring like-minded artists such as Kid Rock.
International
Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo
Venezuela’s Parliament began debating on Thursday a sweeping amnesty bill that would cover the 27 years of Chavismo in power, while explicitly excluding serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence,” was introduced by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation.
The legislative session was convened for Thursday afternoon, with lawmakers holding an initial discussion focused on the general principles of the bill. This phase precedes a consultation process with civil society, after which the proposal will move to a final debate examining each article individually.
According to a draft of the bill obtained by AFP, the amnesty would apply to individuals accused of crimes such as “treason,” “terrorism,” and “incitement to hatred,” charges that were frequently brought against political prisoners over the past decades. The scope also includes offenses ranging from acts of rebellion to punishments imposed for social media posts or messages sent through private messaging services.
The bill’s explanatory text emphasizes reconciliation, stating that it seeks to move away from “vengeance, retaliation, and hatred” in favor of “opening a path toward reconciliation.”
However, the proposal explicitly excludes from its benefits crimes such as “serious human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, and drug trafficking.”
These exclusions, the text notes, are based on strict compliance with the Venezuelan Constitution, which already prohibits granting amnesties or pardons for such offenses.
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