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
ICE to prioritize security over immigration enforcement during 2026 World Cup, says official
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will prioritize event security and the protection of attendees over immigration enforcement during the 2026 World Cup, according to its director, Tom Homan.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and is expected to draw millions of visitors across the three countries.
Speaking in an interview with ABC, Homan said the agency’s main responsibility during the competition will be to prevent any security threats that could disrupt one of the world’s largest sporting events.
“We have a national security responsibility that we are going to carry out,” Homan stated, emphasizing that ICE operations during the tournament will focus on intelligence, prevention, and the protection of critical infrastructure rather than immigration enforcement actions targeting undocumented individuals.
He added that the agency’s priority will be safeguarding players, teams, fans, and stadiums throughout the event.
However, Homan clarified that immigration status could still be taken into account in cases where national security concerns arise. “If we find a national security issue and it involves an illegal alien, of course we will take action,” he said.
The comments came in response to questions about concerns from international visitors regarding possible immigration enforcement activity during the tournament.
Homan reiterated that ICE’s operational focus will remain strictly on security-related matters. Known as the “border czar” within the U.S. administration, he said the agency will concentrate on preventing risks and ensuring the safety of all participants and spectators.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 national teams, significantly increasing travel and logistical demands across the host nations. As a result, authorities are coordinating extensive security preparations involving federal, state, and international agencies.
Officials have described the tournament as one of the most complex security and organizational challenges ever undertaken in North America, with preparations already underway to ensure its safe and orderly execution.
International
Two Police Officers Shot During Road Clearance Operation in Eastern Bolivia
At least two police officers were wounded by gunfire on Saturday during an operation to clear roadblocks in Bolivia’s eastern Santa Cruz region, which has remained partially cut off for 24 days amid protests demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz.
The joint operation involving the Police and the Armed Forces began at 6:00 a.m. local time near the town of San Julián, approximately 117 kilometers northeast of Santa Cruz city. The effort focused on reopening an alternative highway linking the region with Beni and western Bolivia.
According to Santa Cruz Police Commander David Gómez, protesters initially responded aggressively to the security operation.
“Local groups organized themselves and began attacking us brutally with firecrackers, stones, and other objects,” Gómez told reporters. “We used chemical agents in an attempt to disperse the crowd, which was behaving aggressively.”
Authorities initially succeeded in reopening the roadway, allowing vehicles to pass through. However, protesters later regrouped and engaged in renewed clashes with police forces that lasted for more than four hours.
During the confrontation, gunshots were heard, forcing both police and military personnel to withdraw from the area.
Gómez reported that one officer suffered a gunshot wound to the head, while another was struck in the right thigh. Both officers were evacuated for medical treatment.
The police commander stated that demonstrators not only carried out physical attacks against officers but also used firearms during the confrontation, prompting authorities to order a tactical retreat.
The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions surrounding the ongoing protests in Santa Cruz, where demonstrators have maintained roadblocks for more than three weeks as part of their campaign against the government.
International
U.S. to invest $700 million in coal plants and mines under Trump initiative
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday a $700 million funding package aimed at supporting the American coal industry, marking the latest step in his administration’s efforts to boost the use of the fossil fuel.
According to Trump, the funding will be used to keep 14 coal-fired power plants operating across ten states, maintain 42 coal mines, and support the construction of two new power plants and an export terminal.
The president said the initiative will be financed through the Defense Production Act, a law enacted in 1950 that grants emergency powers to the president to support and direct domestic industries considered critical to national interests.
Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has pursued policies designed to expand domestic energy production and roll back a number of environmental regulations. He has also repeatedly questioned the scientific consensus regarding human-caused climate change.
Coal remains the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel and is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions among major energy sources, making it a central focus of debates over climate policy and energy security.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright defended the initiative, describing coal as a critical resource for both electricity generation and industrial production.
The announcement comes as global energy markets continue to evolve. According to an analysis by the Global Energy Monitor, the world added and commissioned more coal-fired power capacity in 2025, although overall coal consumption declined. The report also found that the United States was the only major economy to record a significant increase in coal-fired power generation during that period.
The new funding package underscores the administration’s commitment to supporting traditional energy industries while debate continues over the balance between energy security, economic growth and environmental objectives.
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