International

U.S. senators’ request for sanctions against Bolivia rejected

Photo: PL

March 26 |

The president of the Bolivian Senate, Andrónico Rodríguez, and the vice minister of Foreign Affairs, Freddy Mamani, rejected on Saturday the request of six U.S. congressmen to the Government of that country to apply unilateral restrictive measures against the South American country for alleged human rights violations.

In a statement released through his social networks, Rodríguez stated that “the international community must know and hold this U.S. senator and others from his country responsible for promoting interventionist policies in different regions of the world”.

He recalled that respect for the sovereignty of each country is a fundamental principle of the harmonious coexistence of the international community. He added that these “interventionist insinuations” are linked to statements made by the head of the U.S. Southern Command, General Laura Richardson, regarding Washington’s interest in lithium and other Latin American resources.

In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Mamani made it clear that the prosecution of Áñez and Camacho is not the responsibility of the U.S. Government.

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He considered that the request came from “only six congressmen, out of 435 in the U.S. Congress”. He added that it lacks seriousness and has no basis whatsoever.

Mamani asserted that his country watches over human rights and access to justice, “and that commitment is demonstrated in the openness of our government to invite the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which will arrive to observe the human rights situation in our country,” he said.

He affirmed that the international community recognizes Bolivia’s commitment in this matter, which is why it chose Bolivia to occupy a vice-presidency of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

This week, Senators Marco Rubio, Rick Scott and Bill Cassidy, as well as Representatives Carlos Giménez, María Elvira Salazar and Mario Díaz-Balart, all ultraconservatives, sent a letter to President Joe Biden requesting the application of sanctions against Bolivia.

According to them, human rights violations have been committed in the South American nation in connection with the detention of the former de facto governor Jeanine Añez and the coup leader and governor of Santa Cruz, Luis Fernando Camacho.

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In the opinion of the congressmen, their arrests weaken the opposition in Bolivia and open the door for the Chinese Communist Party and “other authoritarian regimes to further impose their strategic interests in the South American country and the region”.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.