International

President of Brazil meets with his Argentine counterpart

Photo: AP News

May 3 |

The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received on Tuesday the President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández at the Alvorada Palace, Brasilia, as part of the bilateral agenda of both countries.

“From the political point of view, I committed with my friend Alberto Fernandez, to do everything and any sacrifice so that we can help Argentina in this difficult moment,” said the Brazilian president in a joint press conference after the meeting.

In this sense, Lula emphasized that he has spoken with the Brics group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), and revealed his intention to talk with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), so that it does not continue to pressure Argentina for the payment of the debt.

“The IMF knows to whom it lent the money, and therefore it cannot continue pressuring a country that only wants to grow, generate jobs and improve the life of the people”, he said.

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Likewise, the dignitary pointed out that in this way, Brazilian businessmen who export to Argentina are also helped. “We are discussing to find a way for our exporters to keep their companies working and thus imports between Brazil and Argentina can continue to grow”.

For his part, the Argentine president highlighted the importance of the meeting held for more than four hours, where aspects related to the complicated economic situation of his country due to the drought were reviewed, and solutions were put in place.

“They have made the decision to help Brazilian companies to continue exporting to Argentina and they had asked us to do some homework that we have done, they have to do with the necessary guarantees so that Brazil can favor those credits”, said President Fernandez.

Alberto Fernández also celebrated the explicit position that Brazil has taken with respect to Argentina and the IMF.

“As you know, we are negotiating with the Fund the program that we committed at the time because the conditions have changed, and knowing that now we can count on the help of Brazil and President Lula is of great value for us”, he assured.

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According to the Casa Rosada, the Argentine delegation was represented by the Chief of Cabinet, Agustín Rossi; the Ministers of Economy, Sergio Massa, and of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, Santiago Cafiero; the Argentine Ambassador to Brazil, Daniel Scioli; the Secretary General of the Presidency, Julio Vitobello, and the spokesperson of the Presidency, Gabriela Cerruti.

On April 27, both presidents spoke by videoconference on cooperation relations, in addition to offering assessments on the role of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur).

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.