International
More than 2,000 protests in the US will condemn Donald Trump’s “authoritarianism” this Saturday
More than 2,000 events have been called this Saturday in the 50 US states to coincide with a controversial military parade that President Donald Trump wanted to hold in Washington and protest against what the organizers describe as “authoritarianism” by his Government.
The parade, which coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday, has been criticized by the conveners and other figures who consider that the president seeks to feed his ego with an event that is actually celebrated to honor the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US Army.
The day of protests that was baptized as ‘Day Without Kings’, because the groups behind them consider that the president is acting as one since his return to the White House, and they also highlight that Trump is using the Army, which was founded to face precisely the British monarchy, to cover himself with glory.
“On June 14, Flag Day, President Trump wants tanks in the streets and a television display of domination for his birthday. A show that aims to simulate strength. But true power is not displayed in Washington. It rises everywhere,” reads the call for the ‘Day without kings’.
“From the blocks of cities to small towns, from the steps of the courts to community parks, we take measures to reject authoritarianism and show the world what democracy really is like,” adds the message published on the internet.
No act has been called in Washington on purpose to try to prevent what happens in the capital from being “the center of gravity” and it is expected that the protest in Philadelphia, a city 200 kilometers northeast of the capital and considered the cradle of the independence movement and American democracy, will be one of the largest that will be held tomorrow.
“On June 14, we will present ourselves where he is not: to say no to the thrones, no to the crowns, not to the kings,” concludes the organizers’ message.
Both the military parade and the ‘Day without kings’ also come after a tumultuous week in which protests against the aggressive raids against migrants of the Trump Administration have caused protests and riots in Los Angeles since last June 6, and that have found support in other cities with hundreds of arrests throughout the country.
Trump has said that in Washington it will be held “in style” and has warned that “if there is any protest, when they come out they will face a very powerful force.”
The president also decided to mobilize thousands of National Guard troops to suppress the Los Angeles protests, a decision questioned by local authorities, who consider that the riots were under control and that Trump’s order only sought to increase tension.
A federal judge ruled yesterday that the president’s decision is illegal, although a court of appeals suspended the order hours later.
For his part, the governor of the state of Texas, Greg Abbott, has followed in Trump’s footsteps and on Thursday announced that he has ordered the deployment of more than 5,000 National Guard troops, along with more than 2,000 state police officers, to respond to the ongoing demonstrations and in preparation for those called for the ‘Day without kings’.
International
Looting Spreads in Venezuela’s Hardest-Hit Areas After Deadly Earthquakes
Not even the wires were left behind at a small grocery store. Before the ground had even stopped shaking, looting and theft began in the areas hardest hit by the double earthquake that struck Venezuela.
Reports of robberies have multiplied in the coastal state of La Guaira, located near Caracas and now transformed into a landscape of collapsed buildings and debris.
Videos circulating on social media show groups of people removing boxes of household appliances from a damaged store. Other images show similar boxes being carried on top of vehicles and motorcycles.
Social media platforms have also been filled with accusations against police officers and military personnel who allegedly stole from homes and even from victims who died during the disaster.
A branch of a major pharmacy chain was looted, along with supermarkets and other businesses. Some residents have described the situation as “disaster tourism,” while others say the looting reflects hunger and desperation among people who lost everything in a country already facing a prolonged economic crisis.
“Is it fair that our own people turn against our own people?” said María Esther Bernal, 71, who rented commercial spaces to Chinese merchants, all of which were looted. “They left nothing behind, not even the wallpaper. They even took the cables,” she said.
“Next door, a man died. He was Chinese. People walked over his body while they looted the place. It was a supermarket,” she added.
An AFP journalist witnessed looting in La Guaira since Thursday, following the earthquakes.
Jenifer Mayora, 34, defended some of the actions, saying that “the things people took were because the owners of the stores allowed us to take them.”
However, she criticized the limited response from authorities. “I have been waiting for a mattress so my children can sleep,” she said.
Residents have expressed anger over what they describe as a slow and insufficient response from authorities after the double earthquake, which has left around 1,450 people dead and tens of thousands missing.
Communities are demanding not only faster rescue operations in La Guaira, but also stronger security measures and urgent assistance with food, water, and medicine.
International
UN warns Venezuela earthquakes could affect up to 6.76 million people
Up to 6.76 million people could be affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, according to an assessment released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency.
The organization said the projections are based on available population data and damage assessments, and include up to two million people living in Caracas, the country’s capital.
The estimates highlight the potentially massive humanitarian impact of the disaster, the IOM warned.
Entire buildings collapsed in La Guaira, a coastal area north of Caracas, following the powerful twin earthquakes that reached magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 on Wednesday.
The national death toll has risen to 920, while rescue teams continue searching for people trapped beneath the rubble in coastal regions and other affected areas.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told AFP on Friday that more than 50,000 people were reported missing.
The IOM also revealed that it worked with Microsoft’s artificial intelligence laboratory on an initial satellite mapping analysis, which showed that 31.5% of buildings in the town of Catia La Mar had suffered damage.
Authorities and international rescue teams continue operations as Venezuela faces one of its largest humanitarian emergencies in recent years.
International
United Nations Coordinates Relief Efforts as Venezuela Death Toll Rises After Twin Quakes
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday expressed his condolences to the people of Venezuela following the two devastating earthquakes that struck the country and highlighted the ongoing coordination between UN humanitarian teams and interim President Delcy Rodríguez.
Speaking during the UN’s daily press briefing, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Guterres was deeply saddened by the loss of life and widespread destruction caused by the disaster.
“The Secretary-General is deeply distressed by the loss of life and the widespread devastation caused by the earthquakes that struck Venezuela yesterday. He extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured,” Dujarric stated.
Venezuela was struck on Wednesday by two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. According to official figures, the disaster has left at least 164 people dead and 971 others injured.
Dujarric noted that preliminary reports indicate significant damage across several states, including the capital, Caracas. Numerous casualties have been reported, while other individuals remain trapped beneath collapsed structures or are still missing.
“Critical infrastructure has been damaged and essential services have been disrupted,” the spokesperson said.
The United Nations confirmed that its humanitarian team remains in close contact with interim President Delcy Rodríguez and other relevant authorities as emergency operations continue.
To support relief efforts, the UN has established a coordination center in Caracas and is assisting local authorities to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches affected communities as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Guterres also welcomed the expressions of solidarity and offers of assistance from countries around the world that responded following news of the disaster, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in addressing the humanitarian emergency.
Looting Spreads in Venezuela’s Hardest-Hit Areas After Deadly Earthquakes
UN warns Venezuela earthquakes could affect up to 6.76 million people
United Nations Coordinates Relief Efforts as Venezuela Death Toll Rises After Twin Quakes
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