International
The Legislature of the City of Buenos Aires declares Nicolás Maduro persona “non grata”
The Legislature of the City of Buenos Aires, the legislative body of the Argentine capital, approved a resolution that declares “persona non grata” to the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro. This is “because of the serious human rights violations against Venezuelan citizens in their country.”
The resolution, which was promoted by legislators Claudio Romero and Emmanuel Ferrario, of the conservative Republican Proposal (Pro), was processed “at the request of the Venezuelan diaspora in Argentina.” Likewise, it counted on the vote in favor of the majority of the members of the chamber, according to a statement from the institution, made up of sixty deputies.
However, the legislators of the Left Front abstained and the Union for the Homeland (kirchnerist) legislators voted against.
“In the City of Buenos Aires we are not going to tolerate dictators, people who come to violate human rights, people who make atrocities in their country in the name of a revolution that does not exist, people who use torture as a method of government,” said legislator Romero.
Elisa Trotta, general secretary of the Argentine Forum for the Defense of Democracy (FADD, an organization created in 2020), welcomed the decision adopted by the Buenos Aires Legislature, considering that it represents a strong message of support for the more than 220,000 Venezuelans “who have had to escape from their country and settle in Argentina.”
“Autocrats, like Maduro, must know that their crimes will not go unpunished and that the world is not their backyard to walk around with their hands stained with blood,” added Trotta, an Argentine Venezuelan diplomat.
The resolution was approved 45 days before the presidential elections that will take place in the Caribbean country.
“Venezuelans are in the streets, accompanying the national liberation movement led by María Corina Machado and Edmundo González (anti-Chavist opponents),” added Trotta, who declared that “the world is watching and will not allow the will of citizens to be expressed at the polls on July 28 to be stolen.”
Six citizens opposed to the Government of Venezuela have been in asylum since March 26 in the residence of the Argentine Embassy in Caracas.
On May 30, the Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs, Diana Mondino, demanded from Venezuela “the immediate issuance of safe-conducts,” in compliance with the 1954 Caracas Convention on Diplomatic Asylum, so that this group can leave the country.
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.
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.
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.
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.
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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