International
Wine Tales from the White House: A historic blend of american influence
In the annals of recent U.S. history, amid episodes like the 2021 Capitol siege, America’s experience with unforeseen circumstances dates back to 1829. It was a time when the raucous celebration of the seventh president’s inauguration, Andrew Jackson, spun out of control for a clear reason: wine.
“At that time, anyone could enter the White House, and with alcohol, the crowd went wild at the inaugural party, damaging objects in the building,” detailed Frederick J. Ryan in an interview with EFE. Ryan, who served as chief of staff for former President Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) after his tenure at the White House, reveals such secrets and anecdotes in the new edition of ‘Wine and the White House: A History,’ shedding light on the historical significance of wine in the life within the president’s official residence.
“The staff had to take alcohol to the front yard of the White House to get people out of the house,” continued the author, who was one of the creators of the Politico portal in 2007 and later served as editor and executive director of The Washington Post for a decade.
Exploring Wine’s Influence
The hefty tome aims to support the educational mission of the White House Historical Association. The author recently released a second updated edition of the work that originally hit shelves in 2020, garnering 12 national and international awards since then.
“Wine has been used in diplomacy since the founding of the country. There are records of President George Washington drinking wine while planning the War of Independence,” affirmed Ryan from his office at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, where he currently chairs the board of trustees.
Tradition and Change
Ryan added that wine serves as “a tool of protocol and persuasion,” a hallmark of significant encounters with its own language: “Toasting, raising a glass at the table, is a way of showing respect.”
The White House has hosted presidents with great interest in the field, such as Richard Nixon and Thomas Jefferson, who meticulously noted the wines served at banquets. Ronald Reagan, as recounted by his former chief of staff to EFE, was familiar with the wine industry from his years as governor of California (1967-1975).
These profiles contrast with more recent ones, as three of the last four U.S. presidents are teetotalers: George Bush, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden do not drink, but wine continued to play a central role during their presidencies, with alternatives like fruit juice, water, or other beverages being served for toasts.
Wine Policy at the White House
Nevertheless, Ryan clarified that the wine quantities served at these gatherings are “moderate” because hosts and guests “are about to make important decisions.”
Currently, the White House cellar shelves exclusively hold American wines in small quantities. Instead of storing thousands of bottles for years, “the president and his staff purchase wine before each special event.”
Celebrating Cultural Diversity
The final selection always features American labels to showcase that “all 50 states now have good wine.” Thus, the geographical connection with guests is established based on other aspects, such as the vintner’s origin.
“When King Juan Carlos I of Spain visited in 2000, three different American wines produced by vintners of Spanish descent were served,” explained Ryan, offering an example while displaying the dedicated page in the book.
Paradoxically, wine remained in the White House even during the Prohibition era, leading Ryan to believe that “its presence at the presidential table will not wane,” becoming an integral part of American and global power customs.
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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