International

Kamala Harris promises the end of the war in Gaza in Michigan, where the Arab vote is key

The Democratic candidate for the US presidency, Vice President Kamala Harris, promised in the key state of Michigan that she will work to end the Israeli war in Gaza and Lebanon and give the Palestinians the “dignity” they deserve.

At a rally in East Lansing, the candidate addressed the Arab community directly, a key group to be able to win the 15 votes of the state’s Electoral College, to recognize “that this year has been difficult due to the death and destruction in Gaza and the deaths and displacement of civilians in Lebanon.”

“I will do everything in my power to end the war in Gaza”: Harris

“As president, I will do everything in my power to end the war in Gaza, return the hostages to their homes and end the suffering in Gaza, guarantee the security of Israel and ensure that the Palestinian people can achieve their right to dignity, freedom, security and self-determination,” Harris said.

The Arab vote in Michigan is key to tieting the balance on Tuesday in favor of the Democrats, who with President Joe Biden in 2020 managed to surpass Republican Donald Trump by more than 20 points.

However, this year the polls give Trump the advantage in voting intention among the Arabs, who could turn their backs on Harris for being part of the Biden Administration, which continues to support Israel with weapons in its operations in Gaza, Lebanon or Yemen against militias aligned with Iran.

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Not a mention of Trump

Harris did not mention Trump by name even once in this rally, but he traced the differences with his policies and his character, while trying to convey a positive message.

The vice president asked the young people of Generation Z, those born in the first decade of 2000, to mobilize their acquaintances to vote and said that “I see your power.”

That group of voters, who normally do not participate highly in the elections, is another of the strategic population segments to win the state, where today Harris focused all his campaign activity two days before the day of the election.

International

Security Council to Hold Emergency Meeting on Middle East Crisis

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday condemned the “military escalation in the Middle East” following attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes, just hours before an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.

“I call for the immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation,” Guterres said in a statement.

The Security Council is scheduled to meet on Saturday at 21:00 GMT (4:00 p.m. in New York) to address “the situation in the Middle East,” the United Nations announced.

The meeting, during which Guterres will deliver remarks, was convened at the request of France, Bahrain, Colombia, Russia and China, according to a diplomatic source.

International

Trump Floats “Friendly Takeover” of Cuba Amid Rising Tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration is considering what he described as a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, as Washington continues to increase pressure on the island’s communist government.

“The Cuban government is talking to us and they have very serious problems, as you know. They have no money, they have nothing at this moment, but they are talking to us and maybe we will see a friendly takeover of Cuba,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for a trip to Texas.

Earlier in the week, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Cuba needed a “radical change,” shortly after Washington eased restrictions on oil exports to the island for what officials described as “humanitarian reasons,” amid a deep economic crisis.

The United States has imposed an energy blockade on Cuba since January, citing what it calls an “extraordinary threat” posed by the communist-run island, located roughly 150 kilometers (90 miles) off the coast of Florida, to U.S. national security.

International

Argentina’s Senate Reviews Milei-Backed Labor Overhaul

Argentina’s Senate on Friday began reviewing the Labor Modernization Law promoted by the administration of President Javier Milei, a proposal that would significantly reshape labor rules across the country.

The upper chamber opened its final discussion of the contentious initiative, which revises the method used to calculate severance payments — lowering the amounts owed in dismissal cases — and introduces an “hour bank” mechanism that allows overtime to be offset with paid leave rather than extra wages.

The legislation also broadens the classification of essential services, a change that would place new limits on the right to strike in designated sectors.

The bill was initially approved by the Senate on February 11 and then moved to the Chamber of Deputies, where lawmakers passed it with amendments. It has now returned to the Senate for definitive approval.

Outside the Congress building in Buenos Aires, workers, trade unions and left-wing organizations staged demonstrations beginning at midday. The gathering later thinned out amid reports of disturbances and a strong police presence. Security forces had secured the area surrounding the legislature since early morning hours.

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Union leaders contend that the reform weakens labor protections, while many business representatives back the measure but stress that sustainable formal employment will require economic expansion, improved credit conditions, greater investment and a more dynamic domestic market.