International

How has Latin American and Caribbean unity been strengthened?

Photo: EFE

June 22 |

This Thursday, June 22, marks a new anniversary of the Day of Latin American and Caribbean Unity, and is received with renewed encouragement after the electoral triumph of progressive options that promote the integration of the region and the consolidation of initiatives that work towards this goal.

It was in 2001 when the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) decreed that the Day of Latin American and Caribbean Unity be celebrated every June 22, the date on which the Amphictyonic Congress was installed in 1826.

The Amphictyonic Congress, installed on June 22, 1826 in the city of Panama, responded to the dreams of integration that the Liberator Simón Bolívar had and whose objective was to collaborate in the consolidation of the unity of the new republics, creating a confederation of the Ibero-American peoples from Mexico to Chile and Argentina.

In recent years, progressive options in the subcontinent have won elections to establish integrationist governments, examples of which are Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Chile, Honduras and most recently Colombia, which has been governed since August 2022 by the leftist Gustavo Petro.

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After Petro’s victory in the second round of elections held on June 19, the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), stated that his arrival marked the beginning of “a new stage” in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

He also recalled that “when we arrived (in 2018) there were few countries with progressive governments. From our arrival a new stage began and there began to be important triumphs,” he said in reference to Petro’s victory.

Latin America saw an increase in the number of progressive administrations at the end of 2022, with the victory of leftist Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva, who defeated the far-right Jair Bolsonaro.

Another recent moment of consolidation of regional integration occurred within the framework of the IX Summit of the Americas, held in June 2022 in the city of Los Angeles, California, which had the characteristic that the host country, the United States (US), excluded the governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

After learning of this decision, Mexican President López Obrador, and others such as those of Honduras, Argentina and Bolivia, among others, conditioned their presence in the continental conclave to the participation of the leaders of the excluded nations.

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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.