International

Countries of the global south call for solutions with justice

Photo: MINREX Cuba

September 15 |

Heads of State and Government of member countries of the Group of 77 (G77) plus China called Friday for global solutions with justice, in the framework of the summit of the bloc taking place in Havana, Cuba.

The president of the Union of the Comoros and president pro tempore of the African Union, Azali Assoumani; the prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and president pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Ralph Gonsalves; and the president of Angola (and next president pro tempore of the G77), Joao Laurencio, spoke on this topic.

Assoumani welcomed China’s initiative on the new Silk Road and Belt because he believes it “points to a balanced, coordinated and inclusive global digital economy landscape on the basis of win-win cooperation.”

He also called on the G77+China countries to define the general lines of a concrete action mechanism that would allow member nations to move in that direction, and added that this summit in Havana is a good starting point to move forward in the search for consensus to protect the populations of our countries in these areas.

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For his part, Gonsalves highlighted the holding of this summit in Havana and urged to put solidarity among peoples as a premise and to resist creatively with a “program that is our own and that we possess”.

Likewise, the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and pro tempore president of Celac ratified the need for solidarity among the G77+China countries.

In turn, the president of Angola, Joa Laurencio, insisted on the need to maintain the principles that led to the birth of this group, among them unity, cooperation, solidarity and complementarity.

Laurencio described the United States (US) blockade against Cuba as a policy contrary to the principles of trade and international cooperation which affects the right of peoples to self-determination.

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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.