International
The most ranking Hispanic legislator in the US appeals to Latinos to recover Congress
Democrat Pete Aguilar has been the highest-ranking Hispanic legislator in the US Congress since 2023. A position that he says he takes as an honor and from which he works so that his party snatts control of the House from the Republicans with the support of the vote of that community: “Trump chooses division, we chooses collaboration,” he tells EFE.
On November 5, Americans will not only vote for their future president, but also for the renewal of the Lower House, where he presides over the Democratic caucus, and a third of the Senate, in which his formation holds control.
“These are the most important elections we have seen in the last 50 or 60 years. This is our opportunity to get up as a community and ensure that we go forward and not backward. I will do everything in my power to make sure that I do my part,” explains the Californian legislator in an interview in his office.
Legislator says that Latinos play a key role in the US.
The Democrats need to snatch four seats from the Republicans to regain the Lower House. At the presidential level, the fight is fought between Vice President Kamala Harris and former Conservative President Donald Trump (2017-2021).
And in that fight, Latinos play a key role: their number of voters has gone from 27 million in 2016 to the current 36, but in this time their support for Democratic candidates has been significantly reduced, so we must not take their support for granted.
“The Latino community is not monolithic. We need to understand that they are different, that the first generation can be different from those of the fourth. We have the responsibility to ensure that we communicate effectively and culturally competently to mobilize our voters,” he says.
His strategy, he says, bets on talking about the benefits already achieved and those that could continue to be achieved when the majority is obtained: from discounts on the price of health services to an increase in economic opportunities.
A mandate marked by the blockade
The current division in Congress, with a Republican Lower House and a Democratic Senate, has been characterized by a constant blocking of legislative projects. The rival bench, Aguilar maintains, “is not concerned about a government that works for the people, but about voting no and making Trump happy.”
Among Republican voters, the economy, immigration and violent crime are the main concerns. Health care and Supreme Court appointments prevail among Democrats, according to the non-partisan organization Pew Research Center.
For the legislator they are not opposite priorities. “They are all important. Now, the way in which candidates talk about them is very different. Trump chooses division and we choose collaboration and not chaos, but I have the feeling that the economy will be a driving force in these elections and we must underline what we have done to help it.”
Aguilar, born in California and with Mexican roots, admits that the reform of the immigration system is another pending issue. “It’s broken and needs to be fixed. I think the Latino community understands the difference between border security and immigration,” he says.
“As president, Harris will work with Congress to address this issue,” says the legislator, confident that the candidate is committed to giving opportunities for immigrants to succeed in the United States.
The current Administration, however, has not been exempt from criticism for imposing measures that restrict the right to asylum on the border with Mexico.
Republicans don’t offer solutions
The 45-year-old legislator urges not to believe the republican rhetoric: “They are more concerned with writing down points politically than with offering solutions. (…) We have to make it very clear that it is important to have a strong border.”
And from the experience given by his position as number three of the Democrats in the Lower House and as a member of the parliamentary committee that investigated Trump for his role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, he also warns of the need not to lower his guard in these future elections.
“I’m afraid I’m going to do the same and we must take precautions to be prepared.” At the moment Harris remains in the lead in voting intentions and gets Trump 2.6 percentage points, according to the average of polls of the FiveThirtyEight website.
The United States could have its first female president. Will there be a Latino in the White House? “I know there will be,” says Aguilar, who assures that he does not aspire to that position. “We need to benefit from our diversity and only then, when people see themselves in those positions of power, will the country have faith in what we do.”
International
Ukraine declares nationwide energy emergency amid russian attacks and extreme cold
The Ukrainian government on Wednesday declared a nationwide energy state of emergency amid continued Russian military attacks and extreme winter weather, with nighttime temperatures dropping as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius.
“The consequences of Russian attacks and worsening weather conditions are severe (…) Overall, a state of emergency will be declared for Ukraine’s energy sector,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement posted on social media following a meeting with senior officials.
Zelensky announced the creation of a “permanent coordination headquarters” to manage the crisis in the capital, Kyiv, and tasked former defence minister and current energy chief Denys Shmyhal with overseeing support efforts for affected individuals and communities, including addressing power outages, heating shortages and other “practical issues.”
“There are many problems that require urgent solutions,” the president said, noting that repair crews, energy companies, municipal services and the State Emergency Service are working “around the clock” to restore electricity supplies. Kyiv has been particularly affected after Russian strikes last Friday disabled key parts of the power grid, as daytime temperatures hover around minus 12 degrees Celsius and plunge to minus 18 at night.
Zelensky added that public authorities will “maximize efforts with partners to obtain the necessary equipment and additional support,” while the government will ensure “maximum deregulation of all processes” to speed up the connection of backup power equipment to the grid. He also confirmed that work is underway to significantly increase electricity imports into Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader further instructed his Cabinet to review curfew regulations in light of the extreme cold, arguing that citizens must have the greatest possible access to assistance centers, while businesses should be given flexibility to plan their operations according to the state of the energy system.
International
France joins Denmark’s ‘Operation Arctic Resistance’ in Greenland amid U.S. tensions
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed in the early hours of Thursday (Wednesday afternoon in El Salvador) that France will take part in “Operation Arctic Resistance,” after Denmark announced it would expand its military presence in Greenland amid rising tensions with the United States over Washington’s stated ambitions regarding the semi-autonomous territory.
“At Denmark’s request, I have decided that France will participate in the joint exercises organized by Denmark in Greenland, ‘Operation Arctic Resistance,’” Macron said in a brief message posted on social media at 5:18 p.m.
The French president added that “the first French military elements are already on their way, with others to follow,” though he did not specify the number of troops being deployed or the scale of France’s planned contribution.
The governments of Sweden, Norway and Germany have also confirmed the deployment of military contingents to Greenland. Germany’s armed forces will send a 13-member reconnaissance team to the Greenlandic capital, Nuuk, to take part in a mission scheduled to run from Thursday through Saturday, according to the German Ministry of Defence.
Denmark’s announcement came shortly before a Danish delegation met at the White House with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss Washington’s plans regarding Greenland. Copenhagen said the military activities would be carried out “in close cooperation with NATO allies.”
International
Iran closes airspace amid U.S. threats and deadly nationwide protests
Iranian authorities closed the country’s airspace in the early hours of Thursday, according to data from flight-tracking website FlightRadar24, amid growing threats of a possible U.S. attack as protests across the country continue and have reportedly left thousands dead.
According to FlightRadar24, the Iranian government suspended all flights to and from the country, except for international flights that have received special authorization. The notice was initially issued for a duration of just over two hours.
The move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump in recent days threatened to strike Iran if its security forces failed to halt the deaths linked to weeks-long protests that began in Tehran and later spread to other Iranian cities. Despite the threats, the White House said diplomacy remains Trump’s preferred option.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump claimed that “the deaths in Iran have stopped” and said there would be no executions of protesters following his warnings to Tehran. He added that his administration would seek to verify those claims.
“I’ve been told the deaths in Iran are stopping. They’ve stopped, and that there are no plans for executions,” Trump told reporters, cautioning that the United States would be “very upset” if those assurances proved to be untrue.
The statements contrast with reports from rights groups. The Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) said on Wednesday that more than 3,400 people have been killed since the protests erupted. Meanwhile, Kurdish-Iranian rights group Hengaw reported this week that a 26-year-old Iranian man, Erfan Soltani, was facing execution as of Wednesday.
Ukraine declares nationwide energy emergency amid russian attacks and extreme cold
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