International

Young Presidents challenge traditional politicians in actions against the COVID-19

The worldwide emergency generated by the COVID-19, has put in the public eye the reactions and contention measures prompted and executed by the presidents of the world.

In a world that has been changing rapidly in the last decade, one of the biggest variations has been the arrival of very young political leaders directing the fate of the countries, and this health crisis has highlighted this trait.

The young leaders have taken very good decisions, that have impacted the results of emergency management in a positive way, Sanna Marin Prime Minister of Finland, Nayib Bukele President of El Salvador and Jacinda Arden Prime Minister of New Zealand have stood out for their severe but successful measures.

The vision of these 3 leaders, who are no more than 39 years of age, has been applauded by the authorities and public opinion worldwide, taking seriously the crisis, prioritizing the lives of their fellow citizens and creating public policies that prioritize social distancing have been the key factors in managing the crisis in their respective countries.

The president’s decisions were severely questioned by different groups in their countries, especially by their political opposition, however, they have bet differently; obtaining results that benefit its citizens.

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This attitude has been contrasted by the response of more traditional politicians with many years over their shoulders, such is the case of Donald Trump President of the United States, Jair Bolsonaro President of Brazil and Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico.

From the moment that the World Health Organization announced about the risk of the Coronavirus pandemic, these presidents looked down on the emergency, didn’t take preventive measures and their public policies didn’t prioritize imposed household quarantines.

To date, the results of deaths because of the virus and the overflow in their health care systems, are the indicators that allow saying that the young leaders have responded in a better way against the worldwide crisis.

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International

Ecuador oil spill worsens as containment dam collapses

The collapse of a containment dam holding back part of the 25,000+ barrels of oil spilled from a pipeline rupture nearly two weeks ago has worsened the environmental crisis in northwestern Ecuador, contaminating rivers and Pacific beaches.

The Ecuadorian government attributed the March 13 pipeline rupture—which led to the spill of 25,116 barrels of crude—to an act of sabotage. The spill affected three rivers and disrupted water supplies for several communities, according to authorities.

On Tuesday, due to heavy rains that have been falling since January, a containment dam on the Caple River collapsed. The Caple connects to other waterways in Esmeraldas Province, a coastal region bordering Colombia, state-owned Petroecuador said in a statement on Wednesday.

Seven containment barriers were installed in the Viche River, where crews worked to remove oil-contaminated debris. Additional absorbent materials were deployed in Caple, Viche, and Esmeraldas Rivers, which flow into the Pacific Ocean.

Authorities are also working to protect a wildlife refuge home to more than 250 species, including otters, howler monkeys, armadillos, frigatebirds, and pelicans.

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“This has been a total disaster,” said Ronald Ruiz, a leader in the Cube community, where the dam was located. He explained that the harsh winter rains caused river levels to rise, bringing debris that broke the containment barriersthat were holding the accumulated oil for extraction.

International

Federal court blocks Trump’s use of Enemy Alien Act for deportations

A federal appeals court upheld the block on former President Donald Trump’s use of the Enemy Alien Act on Wednesday, preventing him from using the law to expedite deportations of alleged members of the transnational criminal group Tren de Aragua.

With a 2-1 ruling, a panel from the Washington, D.C. Court of Appeals affirmed previous decisions by two lower court judges, maintaining the legal standoff between the White House and the judiciary.

On March 14, Trump invoked the 1798 Enemy Alien Act, a law traditionally used during wartime, to deport hundreds of Venezuelans whom he accused of belonging to Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization that originated in Venezuelan prisons.

The centuries-old law grants the president the power to detain, restrict, and expel foreign nationals from a country engaged in a “declared war” or an “invasion or predatory incursion” against the United States, following a public proclamation.

Central America

Kristi Noem in Latin America: Talks with Bukele on expulsions and security policies

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrived in El Salvador on Wednesday for a meeting with President Nayib Bukele. In a post on the social media platform X, she stated that her goal is to increase deportation flights and expel foreign nationals who have committed crimes in the United States.

El Salvador is the first stop on Noem’s three-nation tour of Latin America this week. On Thursday, she will travel to Colombia to meet with President Gustavo Petro, and on Friday, she will visit Mexico, where she is scheduled to meet with President Claudia Sheinbaum.

After arriving in El Salvador, Noem, along with Gustavo Villatoro, El Salvador’s Minister of Justice and Security, visited the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot)—the megaprison built under Bukele’s administration, designed to house 40,000 inmates. Noem said she wanted to “see firsthand the detention center where the worst criminals are held.”

Cecot is considered the largest prison in the Americas and a key symbol of Bukele’s controversial crackdown on crime.

According to the Salvadoran government, the prison—located about 70 kilometers from San Salvador—houses members of gangs such as MS-13 and Barrio 18, who have been convicted of serious crimes. The facility also holds the 238 Venezuelans deported from the United States on March 15, in an unprecedented transfer that has drawn criticism from Venezuela’s government and international human rights organizations.