International
Lula and Biden meet in Washington and pledge to “stand united” to protect democracy
February 13 |
The presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and the United States, Joe Biden, met this Friday in Washington to advance issues on the common agenda and open a new moment in bilateral relations, a meeting in which both leaders pledged to “stand united” to protect democracy.
The portion of the meeting that was open to the press passed in a relaxed atmosphere, in which both leaders were comfortable, cracked jokes and kept the conversation focused on common causes such as peace, democracy and the environment, away from sensitive issues such as foreign policy and their positions on China and Russia.
“The strong democracies of our two nations have been tested recently, have been really tested, and our institutions were also put in jeopardy,” Biden said as he welcomed Lula da Silva to the Oval Office.
The U.S. president alluded to the attack by supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on public institutions in Brasilia on January 8, and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to Brazil and to maintaining the good relationship between the two nations.
“The United States and Brazil are the two largest democracies in the hemisphere,” Biden told Lula, while insisting that the two nations “reject political violence” and maintain a firm commitment to “stand together” to defend democratic values around the world.
Lula, for his part, thanked Biden for the support shown almost immediately after he won the elections, his “stance in defense of democracy in Brazil” and congratulated him for his State of the Nation address a few days ago.
The veteran ruler, who last January 1 began his third term as head of state in Brazil, criticized – without mentioning his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro – the state in which his country remained isolated in the international arena during the last four years.
“Brazil is a country that does not seek litigation with anyone, it is a country that loves peace,” he asserted.
This is Lula’s seventh visit to Washington as president of Brazil. The two leaders already knew each other and had spoken on several occasions by telephone since the Brazilian won the elections in October, but this is the first time they have met face to face since they assumed the presidencies of their respective countries.
International
Argentina’s Milei opens dialogue with parties to push “Second-Generation Reforms”
Empowered by his midterm election victory, Argentine President Javier Milei is relaunching his administration and opening dialogue with other political forces, focusing on three major reforms: tax, labor, and pension systems, which form the core of his ultra-liberal agenda.
The government approached the legislative elections amid financial turbulence, which eased following Milei’s triumph. It now faces the challenge of reviving a stagnant economy while consolidating its political project.
The first step will be negotiating the country’s first budget law in two years, with the vote likely postponed until December, when the government expects to have more favorable numbers in Congress.
Milei’s party will have an expanded bloc, but it will not gain full control of the legislature. Preliminary results indicate that, starting December 10, the administration will hold around 100 of 257 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 19 of 72 seats in the Senate.
To advance his so-called “second-generation reforms” in 2026, Milei has called for dialogue with provincial governors and other political parties.
International
Melissa leaves path of destruction in Caribbean, 735,000 evacuated in Cuba
Hurricane Melissa caused significant damage and widespread flooding in Cuba on Wednesday (October 29, 2025), following its devastating passage through Jamaica as the strongest storm to make landfall in the island in 90 years.
After striking Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane with violent winds and torrential rains, the Jamaican government declared the country a disaster zone. In Haiti, the cyclone has already caused 20 fatalities, although authorities expect the number to rise due to an unknown number of missing persons.
In Jamaica, there were three deaths, the same number reported in Panama, and one death in the Dominican Republic.
Melissa then made landfall in eastern Cuba with slightly reduced strength and maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h. “It has been a very difficult night. Significant damage has occurred, and Hurricane Melissa is still over Cuban territory,” said President Miguel Díaz-Canel in his first assessment of the situation.
In Santiago de Cuba, the second-largest city in the eastern region, the storm flooded homes and streets and knocked down trees, utility poles, and power lines. Cuban authorities reported that around 735,000 people were evacuated, particularly in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, and Guantánamo.
International
Jamaica faces widespread destruction as hurricane Melissa hits the island
Jamaican authorities reported on Tuesday that Hurricane Melissa, which weakened to a Category 4 storm just hours after making landfall in Jamaica, caused damage to six hospitals and left roads flooded, along with downed power lines and fallen trees, according to preliminary data.
Videos shared by local media and social media users show strong gusts of wind impacting Kingston in the southeast and southern municipalities of the island, causing power outages and damaging the roofs of several homes.
Flooded roads and damage to several medical institutions have also been reported. The Bustamante Children’s Hospital in Kingston experienced blocked access after a utility pole fell onto its premises. Part of the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland also suffered severe damage when hurricane-force winds ripped off its roof.
Additionally, Health and Wellness Minister Christopher Tufton reported on Tuesday that four hospitals sustained “significant damage” due to Melissa. The affected medical facilities are Noel Holmes Hospital in Hanover, Black River Hospital in Saint Elizabeth, Cornwall Regional Hospital in Saint James, and Falmouth Hospital in Trelawny.
At Cornwall Regional Hospital, damage was limited to staff areas, which have since been repurposed for other uses. The Ministry stated that it is actively coordinating with the Southern Regional Health Authority and emergency services to stabilize hospital operations.
Argentina’s Milei opens dialogue with parties to push “Second-Generation Reforms”
Melissa leaves path of destruction in Caribbean, 735,000 evacuated in Cuba
Jamaica faces widespread destruction as hurricane Melissa hits the island
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Argentina’s Milei opens dialogue with parties to push “Second-Generation Reforms”