International

Colombian president appoints new minister of Labor amid government crisis

Colombian President Gustavo Petro appointed a new Minister of Labor on Wednesday, following the resignation of the former head of the ministry amid the ongoing internal government crisis, which has seen the departure of seven ministers and high-ranking officials.

The appointed minister is Antonio Sanguino, a sociologist and former senator from the centrist Green Party, who will face the main challenge of advancing the labor reform through Congress. This reform is one of Petro’s key political initiatives, as he promised to support the most vulnerable after being elected as the country’s first left-wing president.

“Antonio takes on the responsibility of implementing the pension reform and advancing the labor reform for the dignity of Colombian workers,” Petro stated on X, previously known as Twitter.

With this appointment, Petro begins to restructure the cabinet, which was left weakened by a series of irrevocable resignations from five ministers and one senior official, following internal tensions that became public over a week ago during an unprecedented live broadcast of a private ministerial meeting, where Petro demanded accountability and received criticism in return.

International

U.S. reinforces southern border with additional military personnel

U.S.-Mexico border crossing closed due to protests

The U.S. military has announced the deployment of more than 600 additional troops to the Mexico border, reinforcing President Donald Trump’s efforts against illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

According to the U.S. Northern Command (Northcom), the new deployment includes 40 Air Force intelligence analysts and 590 Army engineers. This move will increase the total number of troops currently stationed or scheduled for deployment at the southern border to approximately 9,600.

The decision aligns with the administration’s broader border security strategy, emphasizing intelligence gathering, infrastructure development, and operational support for law enforcement agencies.

International

New ‘Bitcoin Bonds’ could save U.S. government $554 Billion, says investor Andrew Hohns

Andrew Hohns, renowned investor and founder of Newmarket Capital, recently introduced his ‘Bitcoin Bonds’ at the Bitcoin for America event. This innovative mechanism combines traditional U.S. Treasury bonds with investments in Bitcoin, aiming to lower federal debt costs while building a strategic Bitcoin reserve for the government.

Hohns’ plan proposes issuing $2 trillion in bonds, allocating 10% to Bitcoin purchases and 90% to other government expenditures. These bonds would offer a significantly lower interest rate of 1%, compared to the current 4.5% on 10-year bonds—potentially saving the federal government $554 billion over a decade.

A unique feature of these bonds is that investors would not only receive the standard 4.5% annual interest but also share profits from Bitcoin’s value appreciation with the government. Additionally, Hohns advocates for tax exemptions on capital gains and interest earnings from these bonds, making them an attractive option for American families looking to hedge against inflation.

“This plan doesn’t just cut debt costs—it provides American families with a new savings tool,” said Hohns.

International

Pedro Castillo suffers health crisis, rushed to hospital

Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, who has been on a hunger strike since Monday, was hospitalized after suffering a health crisis, the court handling his trial announced on Thursday.

The 55-year-old was rushed to the Vitarte Hospital, the nearest facility to the presidential prison where he has been detained since December 2022. Judge Norma Carbajal stated that Castillo experienced a decompensation just hours before his trial resumed. However, medical reports confirm that he is now stable and out of danger.

Despite a request from Castillo’s public defender to suspend the hearing, the court decided to continue with the proceedings.