International
15 people killed in storm in Buenos Aires, Argentina
December 18 |
Argentine authorities confirmed Sunday that the death toll from the storm that has hit the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) since the early hours of the morning has risen to 15.
These are a woman in the town of Moreno, who perished crushed by a tree branch, and another person in Coronel Rosales, who drowned after falling on the public road into a well full of water.
“From the municipality we deeply regret the death of a neighbor of Moreno Sur. She has not yet been identified. The scientific police is working at the scene,” said the Buenos Aires municipality of Moreno in a statement.
The storm broke out in the early hours of the morning and initially left 13 people dead, among them a minor, due to the collapse of part of the roof of the Bahiense del Norte club, in Bahía Blanca.
There have also been reports of roofs and billboards being blown off, trees and electricity poles falling, which have affected the power supply and land communication routes.
Another 13 people were hospitalized early Sunday morning “with polytraumatisms, skull traumatisms and thorax fractures” after the explosion of the tent of a bar and restaurant named “La Isla de Battuta”, located in the Palermo Racetrack.
Towards midday, police and Buenos Aires Government sources announced to local media that at least five of these people had been discharged.
It was also reported that three other people were slightly injured at a party held at the Geba club.
On this day, the Buenos Aires authorities met with the presence of the president, Javier Milei, to assess the damages that have occurred so far.
In this regard, the Minister of Health of the Province of Buenos Aires, Nicolás Kreplak, recommended citizens to keep themselves informed, avoid unnecessary traffic, stay in safe places and have at hand the emergency telephone numbers provided by the municipalities.
On the other hand, the territory’s Civil Defense director, Fabían García, assured that they have been working together since early morning with the Minister (of Security) Javier Alonso, and there are 300 police firefighters, Civil Defense, Rescue and other police squads to attend to emergencies.
Due to the storm, several local flights that were to depart or land at the Metropolitan Aeroparque or Ezeiza air terminal were suspended or delayed between 03H00 and 08H00 (local time) this Sunday.
Meanwhile, international flights scheduled to arrive between 07H00 and 08H30 (local time) at the same Aeroparque, were diverted.
The National Meteorological Service (SMN) announced that the storm will extend throughout Sunday, with wind gusts between 42 and 50 kilometers per hour.
International
Iranian leader warns foreign powers have “no place” in Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said Thursday that the Persian Gulf is entering a new era marked by a “bright” future without the presence of the United States in the region.
His remarks came during the commemoration of Persian Gulf Day, amid ongoing regional tensions following recent military confrontations involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
“Today, two months after the largest military buildup and aggression by the bullies of the world in the region and the humiliating defeat of the United States, a new chapter is being written for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz,” Khamenei stated.
The Iranian leader insisted that the future of the region would be free from American influence and focused instead on the internal development and prosperity of Gulf nations.
“By the power and strength of God, the bright future of the Persian Gulf region will be a future without the United States and dedicated to the progress, welfare, and prosperity of its nations,” he said.
Khamenei also questioned the effectiveness of U.S. military bases in the region, arguing that they do not provide security even for Washington’s allies.
“Foreigners who come from thousands of miles away and commit evil and malicious acts have no place there except at the bottom of its waters,” he declared.
In addition, the Iranian leader defended new measures being prepared by Tehran to regulate maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, including fees for vessels passing through the strategic waterway. According to Khamenei, the policies would generate economic benefits and greater stability for the region.
Regional tensions remain high following the conflict that erupted on February 28 between the United States and Israel against Iran, leading to strategic blockades in the Strait of Hormuz, a route through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil supply previously passed. The situation has disrupted maritime trade and contributed to rising global oil prices.
Central America
U.S. and Regional Allies Back Panama Amid Dispute With China
The United States, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago issued a joint statement in support of Panama’s sovereignty, arguing that China’s recent actions represent an attempt to politicize maritime trade and undermine the sovereignty of nations in the hemisphere.
“We are closely monitoring China’s selective economic pressure and recent actions affecting vessels flying the Panamanian flag,” the statement released Tuesday said. “Panama is a pillar of our maritime trading system and, as such, must remain free from undue external pressure.”
The statement comes amid growing tensions surrounding the Panama Canal and the operation of key ports linked to global trade.
At the end of January, Panama’s Supreme Court invalidated the legal framework supporting the 1997 concession that granted Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison, the right to operate the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals located on the Pacific and Atlantic entrances of the Panama Canal.
The ruling followed mounting pressure from the United States to curb Chinese influence around the strategic waterway, through which roughly 5% of global maritime trade passes.
CK Hutchison, which managed the ports for nearly three decades, rejected the court’s decision and accused Panamanian authorities of illegally confiscating its assets. The company has launched international arbitration proceedings against Panama, seeking more than $2 billion in damages.
Following the court ruling, reports emerged of increased detentions and inspections of Panamanian-flagged vessels in China, actions widely viewed as retaliatory measures.
On Wednesday, China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the joint statement as “completely unfounded and misleading,” accusing the United States of politicizing port operations and warning that Beijing would take steps to protect its interests in Panama.
International
King Charles III Says U.S.-UK Alliance Is “Irreplaceable and Unbreakable”
King Charles III of the United Kingdom reaffirmed the strength of the British-American relationship on Tuesday during a speech before the United States Congress, describing the alliance between the two nations as “irreplaceable and unbreakable.”
The address, delivered at the Capitol, marked the first speech by a British monarch before Congress since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 and comes at a time of political tensions between Donald Trump’s administration and the Labour government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“As President Trump himself observed during his state visit to Britain last autumn, the bond of kinship and identity between the United States and the United Kingdom is invaluable and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable,” the king said.
While reflecting on the upcoming 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, which will be commemorated this year, Charles III stated that the partnership between the two countries “was born out of disagreement, but is no less strong because of it.”
The monarch emphasized the democratic values shared by both nations and noted that major global changes have occurred whenever the two allies found common ground.
“When we have found that way to agree, great changes have taken place not only for the benefit of our peoples, but for all peoples,” he said.
King Charles also quoted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently described the relationship as “an indispensable alliance.”
Concluding his speech, the monarch described the shared history of the United States and the United Kingdom as “a story of reconciliation, renewal, and an extraordinary partnership.”
He added that Washington and London have forged “one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”
“I pray with all my heart that our alliance continues to defend our shared values, together with our partners in Europe, the Commonwealth, and around the world, and that we ignore calls urging us to become increasingly isolationist,” Charles III stated.
The king ended by urging both nations to “recommit to one another in selfless service to our peoples and to all peoples of the world.”
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