International
Argentine president Milei’s cryptic hebrew post hints at new legislation amidst political turmoil
Argentine President Javier Milei posted a message in Hebrew on his social media accounts this Friday, hours before his appearance before the Legislative Assembly, suggesting the possibility of introducing new laws to Parliament following the failed processing of the so-called ‘omnibus law.’
On his X social media account, the libertarian economist posted a message with his well-known slogan “VIVA LA LIBERTAD CARAJO” (Long live freedom, damn it) written three times, accompanied by a text in Hebrew.
“God said to Moses: Write on two new tablets (like the first ones) the laws that I gave you on the first tablets that you broke,” reads the text from the book of Exodus (Old Testament) 34:1, shared by Milei a few hours before his speech to the Assembly.
This quote, referring to the Ten Commandments, alludes to another passage from the same book (32:15), in which God had given Moses the original tablets. Moses threw them on the ground and broke them when he saw that the people were worshiping the golden calf as a deity.
Possible Allusion
This biblical imagery could be an allusion by Milei to his Basic Principles and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines Law project, better known as the ‘omnibus law,’ which failed to gain sufficient support in parliamentary proceedings and returned to square one. It may also hint at the idea of being able to send future reforms to Parliament.
The president himself stated that he would prefer not to reprocess it rather than “dismantle it,” which he claimed was what the opposition intended to do.
The Freedom Advances, a far-right party led by Milei, has 38 deputies and 7 senators (the third parliamentary minority), while none of the 24 regional government leaders (23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires) belong to his party.
This situation forces the libertarian to seek support from other opposition forces to advance his bills, a task that has become complicated in recent times due to his direct confrontation with provincial governors over the reduction of funds that the state must send to their territories.
Several of these local rulers recently requested “dialogue” to reach possible agreements, although they demanded “respect” in the treatment of the Argentine president towards them, following some derogatory or dismissive comments shared on social media.
Milei will speak this Friday at 9:00 p.m. (00:00 GMT on Saturday) in his first appearance before the Legislative Assembly less than three months after assuming the presidency on December 10. On that day, he chose to deliver his inaugural speech on the street rather than inside the Congress.
International
Ecuador declares state of emergency in five provinces to combat organized crime
The Ecuadorian government has declared a state of exception in the provinces of El Oro, Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, and Santa Elena for 60 days to combat organized armed groups amid escalating hostilities, according to Executive Decree 250 published on Tuesday.
The Armed Forces and National Police are jointly working to “maintain sovereignty and the integrity of the state.”
With this measure, the right to inviolability of the home has been suspended, meaning security authorities are permitted to conduct inspections, raids, and searches on properties where they believe members associated with armed groups may be hiding.
Authorities will also seize “materials or instruments” that could be used to commit crimes to neutralize threats.
In response to the criminal activity in the territory, the government will also establish an Anti-Criminal Investigation Force in the coming days aimed at reducing intentional homicides.
The national director of Crimes Against Life, Violent Deaths, Disappearances, Extortion, and Kidnapping of the National Police (Dinased), Freddy Sarzosa, noted that the main cause of criminal violence is linked to drug and arms trafficking.
International
Argentine president criticizes spanish PM amidst political row
Argentine President Javier Milei sharply criticized Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, suggesting he “has more significant issues to address,” in response to comments made by Spain’s Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, on Friday.
“The government of Pedro Sánchez has more significant issues to deal with, such as the corruption allegations against his wife, a matter that even led him to consider resignation,” stated Argentine President Javier Milei.
In this regard, the Argentine leader expressed his expectation that the judiciary would act “swiftly” in this corruption case, which he mentioned “affects the stability” of Spain and relations between the two nations.
Moreover, Milei accused Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of “endangering” the unity of Spain by “negotiating with separatists,” harming women by “allowing illegal immigration of those who threaten their physical integrity,” and damaging the middle class through “socialist policies that only bring poverty and death.”
The Argentine presidency issued these statements in response to remarks from Spain’s Minister of Transport and Mobility, Óscar Puente, who accused Milei of “substance ingestion,” which the Argentine presidency labeled as “slander and libel.”
“I saw Milei on TV and, hearing him, I couldn’t tell in what state he was in, before or after the ingestion of whatever substances, and he came out to say that and I thought, it’s impossible that he wins the elections, he’s dug his own grave, but no,” Puente declared at a colloquium on communication and social media held this Friday in Salamanca.
International
The death toll of the devastating floods in Kenya amounts to 210
The death toll from the devastating floods caused by the torrential rains that hit Kenya since mid-March amounted to 210, while about 165,500 people have been displaced, the Kenyan Ministry of the Interior reported on Friday.
The total death toll increased after 22 more deaths were confirmed in the last 24 hours, the Ministry said in a statement collected by local media.
Likewise, the injured and missing remain at 125 and 90, respectively, and a total of 196,000 have been affected by the floods throughout the country, immersed in the long rainy season, which has especially hit the center, south and west of its territory.
To respond to this crisis, the Ministry said, the Kenyan authorities have created at least 115 camps distributed in 19 of the 47 counties of Kenya, where more than 27,500 people have taken refuge.
The Government published these data after the Kenyan Minister of the Interior, Kithure Kindiki, urged on Thursday to move all Kenyans who reside in areas vulnerable to landslides or near dams and rivers.
In a message published on social network X late on Thursday, Kindiki pointed out that all neighbors in those areas are “ordered” to “leave these areas immediately” in the next 24 hours, before a “mandatory evacuation” is launched.
“The Government has adopted adequate measures to provide temporary accommodation, as well as essential food and non-food supplies to all those who will be affected by the eviction,” the minister said.
The truth is, however, that, according to the Human Rights Watch (HRW) organization, the Government of Kenya did not act in time or respond adequately to the serious floods, despite the weather predictions it had.
In a statement released on Thursday, the NGO warned that the destruction caused by the rains “has exacerbated socioeconomic vulnerabilities” by more severely hitting the poor population, rural residents, the elderly and people with disabilities.
In the same vein, a report by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) published on Tuesday pointed out that the storms have aggravated the lack of food in Kenya to the point that about two million Kenyans need food aid.
Severe storms will last at least until next week, and the rains will continue to be intense during this month, according to the prediction of the Department of Meteorology of Kenya.
In recent years, the long rainy season, which runs from March to May and also affects other countries in East Africa, has been intensified by the El Niño weather phenomenon, a change in atmospheric dynamics caused by the increase in the temperature of the Pacific Ocean.
The west, center and south of the country – including the capital, Nairobi – have so far taken the worst part, and the overflow of a river on Monday especially hit Nakuru County, where at least 71 people died as a result of the tragedy.
Ecuador declares state of emergency in five provinces to combat organized crime
Argentine president criticizes spanish PM amidst political row
The death toll of the devastating floods in Kenya amounts to 210
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Ecuador prison riot leaves at least 43 dead
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