International
Lula da Silva says that Bolivia “can’t fall into the trap again” of coups d’état
The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, said on Tuesday that Bolivia “cannot fall back into the trap” of the coups d’état, in reference to the military uprising that occurred on June 26 at the presidential headquarters in La Paz.
Da Silva is in Bolivian territory as part of a two-day official visit, in which he held meetings with his Bolivian counterpart, Luis Arce, to sign bilateral integration agreements.
“On the eve of celebrating its bicentennial, in 2025, Bolivia cannot fall into this trap again. We cannot tolerate authoritarian dreams or coups d’état,” Lula da Silva said in his official statement, after the signing of several agreements and meeting with Arce, in the eastern city of Santa Cruz.
The ruler of Brazil thanked his Bolivian peer for receiving him in the midst of a situation in which Bolivia demonstrated “its courage in the face of a serious threat,” after the armed uprising more than two weeks ago.
“We have the enormous responsibility to defend democracy in the face of attempts to push it back,” said Lula da Silva.
Military personnel under the command of the ousted Army commander Juan José Zuñiga took the headquarters of the Executive in La Paz for a few hours, on June 26.
After the military had a confrontation with the Bolivian president, he withdreted along with tanks and soldiers. Hours later he was arrested and is currently in pre-trial detention in a prison in the center of the country.
The president of Brazil said that his visit not only means the resumption of a friendship, but also represents “the communion of two countries whose trajectories have important parallels.”
Lula mentioned what happened in his country in 2022, when Brazil celebrated its bicentennial. “Instead of celebrating it, we were invaded by a wave of extremism that ended on January 8 with an attempted coup,” he recalled.
He affirmed that, like Brazil, Bolivian democracy “has prevailed after a long journey dotted with coups d’état and dictatorships.”
“All over the world, the disunity of democratic forces has only served the extreme right,” said the Brazilian president.
With Lula da Silva’s visit to Bolivia, bilateral relations were strengthened with the signing of 10 agreements in different areas such as health, migration, energy, security, mining and agriculture, among others.
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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