International

Water crisis continues in Uruguay despite July rains

Photo: Contrahegemonía web

August 10|

The Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology (Inumet) said Wednesday that the water deficit in Uruguay remains despite the rains recorded in July.

According to its report “evaluating the last year and the last quarter (May-June-July), the water deficit in the country is maintained, mainly in the center-south, southwest and east region”, although it specified that “on a national scale and in average terms, July 2003 culminated with 100.7 millimeters; value that is above the climatological normal expected for this month (83.6 millimeters)”.

The Uruguayan agency mentioned that the drought continues in the south of the country, especially in the departments of Montevideo, Canelones, Maldonado, Lavalleja, Rocha and Florida, as well as Durazno (center).

Although some regions in the departments of Colonia and San José, and Artigas (north) have received rainfall, it is insufficient.

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The worst drought in Uruguay’s history has brought the reservoir of the Paso Severino dam, on the Santa Lucia river and source of drinking water for Montevideo and the metropolitan area, to minimum levels.

In view of this situation, social organizations and popular platforms have denounced the government’s position in the country.

For her part, Silvia Ribeiro in an article shared on August 4 on the Contrahegemonía web platform asserted that “for almost three months now, Uruguay, a country known for its abundance of fresh water, has been without drinking water in its capital, Montevideo, and surrounding areas.”

“The public water system (OSE) distributes brackish water, with chemical residues above the permitted standards, which the government baptized drinkable water, not potable, while arbitrarily increasing to more than double, almost triple, the permitted presence of those substances,” he stressed.

The opinions held by Ribeiro state that “the country is experiencing a prolonged drought, but the government, instead of addressing the causes of vulnerability to it, is advancing in measures that will worsen it, such as handing over part of the water treatment to private entrepreneurs (Neptuno project), who will take water from wherever it is most profitable for them, whether saline or contaminated”.

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Adding that they also favor the installation of new transnational industries which are voracious consumers of fresh water: the production of green hydrogen and the installation of mega data centers of Google and other technological titans, Silvia Ribeiro added that “this water crisis is not a one-off anecdote nor is it the result of the drought, although the main policy of the Uruguayan government is to wait for rain”.

International

Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deported “more than half a million” migrants due to pressure from former President Donald Trump.

During a cabinet meeting highlighting the “achievements” of Trump’s administration in its first 100 days, Noem asserted that under the Republican leader’s influence, “Mexico has finally come to the table” to negotiate on migration and fentanyl trafficking.

“The president of Mexico told me she has returned just over half a million people before they reached our border,” Noem stated, criticizing media reports that suggest the Biden administration deported more migrants than Trump’s.

“I wish those deportations were counted,” Noem added, “because those people never made it to our border—she sent them back because you made her.” She went on to thank Trump: “They never made it here because they got the message—because you were so aggressive.”

Noem has made controversial claims about Sheinbaum in the past, prompting the Mexican leader to refute them.

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On April 1, Sheinbaum responded to one such statement by declaring, “The president answers to only one authority, and that is the people of Mexico,” after Noem said on Fox News that she gave Sheinbaum “a list of things Trump would like to see” and that Mexico’s actions would determine whether Trump granted tariff relief.

International

Vatican releases special “Sede Vacante” stamps ahead of papal transition

he Vatican’s post offices and select collector shops began selling special edition stamps this week to mark the period between the death of Pope Francis and the election of his successor.

Known as “Sede Vacante” stamps, they feature an image used on official Vatican documents during the interregnum between popes — two crossed keys without the papal tiara. These stamps went on sale Monday and will remain valid for postal use only until the new pontiff appears at the window overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

Until then, they can be used to send letters, postcards, and parcels. “Once the new pope is elected, the stamps lose their postal validity, but their collectible value rises,” said Francesco Santarossa, who runs a collectors’ shop across from St. Peter’s Square.

The Vatican has issued the stamps in four denominations: €1.25, €1.30, €2.45, and €3.20. Each is inscribed with “Città del Vaticano” and “Sede Vacante MMXXV” — Latin for “Vacant See 2025.”

International

Conclave to choose pope Francis’ successor could begin in early may

The conclave, which in the coming weeks must choose the successor to Pope Francis, will strictly follow a precise protocol refined over centuries.

The 135 cardinal electors, all under the age of 80, will cast their votes four times a day — except on the first day — until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority. The result will be announced to the world through the burning of the ballots with a chemical that produces the eagerly awaited white smoke, accompanied by the traditional cry of “Habemus Papam.”

The start date for the conclave could be announced today, as the cardinals are set to hold their fifth meeting since the pope’s passing. Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich suggested it could begin on May 5 or 6, following the traditional nine days of mourning. According to German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the conclave could last only “a few days.”

Although the late Argentine pontiff appointed the majority of the cardinal electors, this does not necessarily ensure the selection of a like-minded successor. Francis’ leadership style differed significantly from that of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, a German theologian who was less fond of large public gatherings. It also marked a contrast with the popular Polish pope, John Paul II.

The Argentine Jesuit’s reformist papacy drew strong criticism from more conservative sectors of the Church, who are hoping for a doctrinally focused shift. His tenure was marked by efforts to combat clerical sexual abuse, elevate the role of women and laypeople, and advocate for the poor and migrants, among other causes.