International
15 people killed in storm in Buenos Aires, Argentina
December 18 |
Argentine authorities confirmed Sunday that the death toll from the storm that has hit the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) since the early hours of the morning has risen to 15.
These are a woman in the town of Moreno, who perished crushed by a tree branch, and another person in Coronel Rosales, who drowned after falling on the public road into a well full of water.
“From the municipality we deeply regret the death of a neighbor of Moreno Sur. She has not yet been identified. The scientific police is working at the scene,” said the Buenos Aires municipality of Moreno in a statement.
The storm broke out in the early hours of the morning and initially left 13 people dead, among them a minor, due to the collapse of part of the roof of the Bahiense del Norte club, in Bahía Blanca.
There have also been reports of roofs and billboards being blown off, trees and electricity poles falling, which have affected the power supply and land communication routes.
Another 13 people were hospitalized early Sunday morning “with polytraumatisms, skull traumatisms and thorax fractures” after the explosion of the tent of a bar and restaurant named “La Isla de Battuta”, located in the Palermo Racetrack.
Towards midday, police and Buenos Aires Government sources announced to local media that at least five of these people had been discharged.
It was also reported that three other people were slightly injured at a party held at the Geba club.
On this day, the Buenos Aires authorities met with the presence of the president, Javier Milei, to assess the damages that have occurred so far.
In this regard, the Minister of Health of the Province of Buenos Aires, Nicolás Kreplak, recommended citizens to keep themselves informed, avoid unnecessary traffic, stay in safe places and have at hand the emergency telephone numbers provided by the municipalities.
On the other hand, the territory’s Civil Defense director, Fabían García, assured that they have been working together since early morning with the Minister (of Security) Javier Alonso, and there are 300 police firefighters, Civil Defense, Rescue and other police squads to attend to emergencies.
Due to the storm, several local flights that were to depart or land at the Metropolitan Aeroparque or Ezeiza air terminal were suspended or delayed between 03H00 and 08H00 (local time) this Sunday.
Meanwhile, international flights scheduled to arrive between 07H00 and 08H30 (local time) at the same Aeroparque, were diverted.
The National Meteorological Service (SMN) announced that the storm will extend throughout Sunday, with wind gusts between 42 and 50 kilometers per hour.
International
King Charles III Says U.S.-UK Alliance Is “Irreplaceable and Unbreakable”
King Charles III of the United Kingdom reaffirmed the strength of the British-American relationship on Tuesday during a speech before the United States Congress, describing the alliance between the two nations as “irreplaceable and unbreakable.”
The address, delivered at the Capitol, marked the first speech by a British monarch before Congress since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 and comes at a time of political tensions between Donald Trump’s administration and the Labour government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“As President Trump himself observed during his state visit to Britain last autumn, the bond of kinship and identity between the United States and the United Kingdom is invaluable and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable,” the king said.
While reflecting on the upcoming 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, which will be commemorated this year, Charles III stated that the partnership between the two countries “was born out of disagreement, but is no less strong because of it.”
The monarch emphasized the democratic values shared by both nations and noted that major global changes have occurred whenever the two allies found common ground.
“When we have found that way to agree, great changes have taken place not only for the benefit of our peoples, but for all peoples,” he said.
King Charles also quoted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently described the relationship as “an indispensable alliance.”
Concluding his speech, the monarch described the shared history of the United States and the United Kingdom as “a story of reconciliation, renewal, and an extraordinary partnership.”
He added that Washington and London have forged “one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”
“I pray with all my heart that our alliance continues to defend our shared values, together with our partners in Europe, the Commonwealth, and around the world, and that we ignore calls urging us to become increasingly isolationist,” Charles III stated.
The king ended by urging both nations to “recommit to one another in selfless service to our peoples and to all peoples of the world.”
International
Trump Administration Considers Denying Green Cards Over Political Views
The administration of President Donald Trump is evaluating new immigration guidelines that could deny permanent residency to immigrants based on their political views, according to a report published by The New York Times.
The proposed measures, outlined in internal Department of Homeland Security documents, would instruct immigration officials to take applicants’ public expressions and ideological positions into account when reviewing green card applications.
According to the report, cases involving “possible anti-American and/or antisemitic conduct or ideologies” would need to be referred to higher authorities for additional review.
Even if applicants have not violated any laws, authorities could still reject residency requests if they determine that individuals have “endorsed, promoted, or supported anti-American views.”
Among the factors listed in the guidelines are participation in pro-Palestinian activities, actions considered antisemitic, and the burning of the U.S. flag.
The documents reportedly describe such actions as “heavily negative” factors in immigration evaluations, potentially blocking applicants from obtaining permanent residency and, eventually, U.S. citizenship.
The directives also place particular attention on demonstrations held on university campuses following the 2023 Hamas attacks against Israel.
However, flag burning has previously been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court as a form of protected free speech under the Constitution.
The proposal has sparked criticism from immigrant advocacy organizations, including the New York Immigration Coalition.
Its president, Murad Awawdeh, warned that the policies could pose a threat to fundamental rights and freedoms.
International
Mexico Arrests CJNG Leader “El Jardinero” in Nayarit
Mexican authorities arrested Audias Flores, known as “El Jardinero,” on Monday during a naval operation in the western state of Nayarit, delivering another major blow to the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).
Flores was considered one of the top regional leaders within the cartel and had reportedly overseen criminal operations along Mexico’s Pacific coast. Security analysts viewed him as a potential successor to slain drug kingpin Nemesio Oseguera.
The arrest was carried out by Mexico’s Navy Special Forces in a planned operation, according to Security Minister Omar García Harfuch.
The United States Department of the Treasury had previously identified Flores as a “significant foreign narcotics trafficker,” while U.S. authorities offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture and extradition.
A U.S. grand jury indicted Flores in 2021 on charges including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin.
His capture comes months after the reported death of “El Mencho,” an operation that Mexican authorities considered a priority due to the cartel leader’s alleged involvement in a 2020 assassination attempt against García Harfuch.
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