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Chile’s President Jose Antonio Kast speaks next to a group of soldiers near the Chacalluta border post along the Chile-Peru border. (AFP/File photo) Just three weeks into his term, Chile’s new President Jose Antonio Kast has lost no time in tilting the rudder sharply to the right as he looks to slash spending and crack down on immigration, both policies a major about-turn on predecessor Gabriel Boric.Kast, a lawyer of 60, has promised not to shrink from making radical policy choices to revive the economy but also bring illegal immigration under control.This week saw Kast’s team cancel leftist Boric’s plans to grant legal status to tens of thousands of migrants who entered the country without permission.Boric had prepared a decree giving the green light to 182,000 people who applied for legal status.But after Kast campaigned with a pledge to crack down on the issue, Migration Service director Frank Sauerbaum told AFP “we are not going to proceed with a massive granting of residency papers as proposed by the Boric government.”Kast had already ordered the start of construction of new barriers on the Peruvian border to crack down on people sneaking in. The border with Bolivia will also be tightened.He blames a rise in murders, kidnappings and extortion on undocumented immigrants.He has also axed more than 40 environmental decrees which he sees as holding back economic activity and cut ministry budgets by some three %.One of the new government’s most controversial measures is the scaling back of government schemes designed to cushion the impact of fluctuations in fuel prices, which have soared by 30% for petrol and 60% for diesel in a country heavily reliant on imports.Kast’s election brought the most right-wing president to power in Chile since the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet from 1973-1990.But the opening gambits of the professed Pinochet admirer have shocked some.”They’re undoing everything the left has achieved, and I don’t think they understand how ordinary people feel,” complains Rodrigo Araya, a 27-year-old chef from Santiago.For political scientist Rodrigo Espinoza, the change of direction was at least expected.Espinoza points out that “reversing certain decisions made by the previous administration was part” of Kast’s campaign pledges.Measures such as the migration clampdown were largely introduced by decree, bypassing congress, where the president lacks a majority.”These are tough measures,” Kast concedes.”But we cannot buy popularity with money we do not have.”The government cites a budget deficit running at 3.6% and public debt topping 40%, both as a portion of GDP.Kast’s embrace of austerity measures has already sparked protests, chiefly by students and environmental activists.Gonzalo Mueller, director of the Centre for Public Policy at Chile’s private University of Development, says the goal is to rectify controversial decisions rather than to “dismantle a legacy” of what went before Kast arrived.Kast has sought to hit the ground running on policy yet his approval rating has slumped from 57% to 43% since he took office on March 11, says a recent poll by the Cadem institute.Some of that loss of support is a reaction to scaling back Boric’s environmental protections.One focused on the protection of species such as the Humboldt penguin, which is endemic to the Chilean coast and classified as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.The measure proposed designating the creature a ‘natural monument’ and extending its protection to the whole of Chile, prohibiting any activity likely to affect it.”This sends the wrong signal,” warns Chilean scientist Alejandro Simeone, a specialist in the species.”We are in a situation where everything is so negative, so complex, that it is likely” the species will disappear within a few decades.According to a study he led, the population of the bird slumped 63% between 2022 and 2025, due to the combined effects of avian flu, the El Nino weather phenomenon and pressure from industrial fishing.Cristina Dorador, a specialist in salt desert conservation, said austerity and conservation are not mutually exclusive.”It is a mistake to frame the issue as a stark dichotomy: protecting nature does not mean giving up all economic activity.” Related Story…
Four astronauts are set to embark on Wednesday on the first crewed journey around the Moon since 1972, an odyssey that aims to launch the US into a new era of space exploration.The Nasa mission dubbed Artemis 2 has been years in the making after facing repeated setbacks and massive cost overruns, but is finally scheduled to take off from Florida as early as 6:24pm (2224 GMT).Under bright Florida sunshine, the rocket's giant tanks started filling with liquid hydrogen and oxygen at 8:35am.The team featuring Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch along with Canadian Jeremy Hansen will set forth on the approximately 10-day mission and hurtle around Earth's nearest celestial neighbour without landing — much like Apollo 8 did in 1968.The journey marks a series of historic accomplishments: it will send the first person of colour, the first woman and the first non-American on a lunar mission.It is also the inaugural crewed flight of Nasa's new lunar rocket, dubbed SLS.The mammoth orange-and-white rocket is designed to allow the US to repeatedly return to the Moon, with the goal of establishing a permanent base that will offer a platform for further exploration.’It's a stepping stone to Mars, where we might have the most likelihood of finding evidence of past life, but it's also a Rosetta Stone for how other solar systems form,’ Koch told reporters on the weekend.The mission was originally due to take off as early as February.But repeated setbacks stalled the mission and even necessitated rolling the rocket back to its hangar for analysis and repairs.As of Tuesday afternoon, Nasaofficials voiced confidence that engineering operations and final preparations were proceeding smoothly.If Wednesday's launch is cancelled or delayed, there are more liftoff opportunities through Monday, although weather later in the week was looking slightly less favourable.Melinda Schuerfranz, a retiree from Ohio, traveled to Florida for the launch.’We're looking forward to it, we've never seen anything like this,’ the 76-year-old swimsuit-clad beachgoer told AFP.But Schuerfranz remembers the Apollo era, and thinks some of the magic might be lost in today's more fragmented media environment.’I think it was way more exciting then,’ she said. ‘Everybody tuned into it.’Artemis is facing pressure from President Donald Trump, who has pushed the pace of the ambitious program that's aiming to see boots hit the lunar surface before his second term ends in early 2029.Artemis 2's objectives include verifying that both the rocket and the spacecraft are in working order in the hopes of paving the way for a Moon landing in 2028.That deadline has raised eyebrows among experts, in part because Washington is relying on the private sector's technological headway.The astronauts will require a second vehicle to descend to the moon's surface, a lunar lander that remains under development by rival space companies owned by billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.This contemporary era of American lunar investment has frequently been portrayed as an effort in competition with China, which is currently aiming to land humans on the Moon by 2030.For Nasa head Jared Isaacman, it's a multi-pronged pursuit related to scientific discovery, national security and economic opportunity — as well as some less tangible goals.’I guarantee after these astronauts fly around the moon, you're going to have more kids dressing up as astronauts for Halloween,’ Isaacman said during a recent television interview.’And that's going to inspire the next generation to take us further.’ Source link
French President Emmanuel Macron (third left) and his wife Brigitte Macron (second left) attend a dinner at Happo-en in Tokyo Tuesday. (AFP) French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Japan Tuesday for a visit that initially aimed to strengthen partnerships in nuclear energy and space innovation but will now be dominated by the Middle East war.Macron landed shortly before 5:30pm (0830 GMT) in rainy and windy Tokyo, ahead of an expected evening meeting with several cultural figures including a renowned kimono painter.He will then hold talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi today, and “the crisis in the Middle East will be at the heart of discussions”, the Elysee said ahead of his Asia trip, which will also include a visit to South Korea.The two leaders will discuss “how we can try to find common solutions”, it added.Japan depends on the Middle East for 95% of its oil imports and has had to dip into strategic stockpiles to temper the impact of rising fuel prices since the start of the war.Iran has virtually closed the vital Strait of Hormuz — through which a fifth of global crude and gas flows — since the US and Israel began striking the country on February 28.Economy and finance ministers of G7 countries, which include France and Japan, said on Monday they stood ready to take “all necessary measures” to ensure the stability of the energy market as they tackled the economic consequences of the war.Wednesday will be Macron’s “first full-fledged meeting” with Takaichi, according to a Japanese foreign ministry official, though the two met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in November.Among expectations for the talks was “continued communication” with a view towards the “calming down of the situation in Iran”, the official said.The two countries are also expected to discuss security and partnerships in the space sector, and intend to sign a roadmap on nuclear power in Japan, the Elysee said.Macron’s visit, his fourth to the country, comes as China-Japan ties worsen following Takaichi’s suggestion in November that Tokyo might intervene militarily in any Chinese attempt to take Taiwan.Macron visited China in December.He and his wife Brigitte are due to have lunch with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Thursday but a hoped-for viewing of Japan’s famous cherry trees in full bloom could be spoiled by rain forecast for the next three days in the Japanese capital.He will be in Japan until April 2, and he will then visit South Korea at the invitation of President Lee Jae Myung.”Macron will be the first European leader to make a state visit to South Korea since the launch of (our) new administration,” the South Korean presidential office said earlier this month. Related Story Source…
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announce their statements after their talks at the Akasaka guesthouse in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday. (Reuters) Japan and Indonesia have agreed to step up coordination on energy security, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tuesday, as the US-Israeli war on Iran squeezes oil and gas supplies vital to Asia.”In light of the Iran situation, the strategic importance of resources and energy security is once again being recognised globally. Indonesia is a major resource-rich nation,” Takaichi said alongside Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto after they met for talks in Tokyo.The summit comes amid mounting concern over the widening Middle East conflict, which has disrupted shipments of oil and gas through the key Strait of Hormuz.Indonesia is the world’s biggest exporter of thermal coal for power generation, supplying about half of global exports. It is also a major liquefied natural gas exporter, with roughly a quarter of its shipments bound for Japan.Japan said on Friday it will allow utilities to increase the use of coal-fired power plants from next month to cushion any disruption to liquefied natural gas imports caused by the war in the Middle East.Japan has also opened up its oil stockpiles, rolled out gasoline subsidies and is seeking energy supplies beyond the Middle East.Japan and Indonesia would “make their best efforts to convince all parties (in the Middle East) to de-escalate” the conflict, Prabowo said. He also invited “Japan’s participation” in the Indonesian economy, including in critical minerals, rare earths, industrialisation and nuclear energy.Neither leader gave details of how the two countries would coordinate in economic security. …
A satellite near-infrared image shows smoke rising from oil storage tanks at Russia’s Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga, which was struck multiple times in Ukrainian attacks,…
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Britain’s King Charles, as Trump departs Windsor Castle, in Windsor. (Reuters/File Photo) King Charles III will visit the US in late April, Buckingham Palace announced Tuesday, despite some calls for the trip to be cancelled or delayed amid strains over the Iran war.Confirmation of the monarch’s first state visit to the US comes at a rocky time for the so-called US-UK “special relationship”, with US President Donald Trump repeatedly criticising Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s reticence over the US-Israel war against Tehran.But Trump, whose mother came from Scotland and is a big fan of the British monarchy, welcomed news of the visit as “TERRIFIC”.The US leader posted on his Truth Social platform that the trip would take place on April 27-30 and include a “beautiful Banquet Dinner at the White House on the evening of April 28th”.”I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!” he added.The visit will come as the US marks its 250th anniversary of independence and will be followed by an official visit by the king to Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory.Washington’s envoy to Britain, Warren Stephens, warned last week it would be a “big mistake” for the US visit to be cancelled.Trump has repeatedly railed against Starmer since the start of the war, accusing him of not doing enough to support the US.”This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” Trump said earlier this month, after Starmer initially declined to let US warplanes fly from UK bases to strike Iran.”I’m disappointed with Keir,” Trump has also said, slamming Starmer’s “big mistake”.Trump also caused offence with recent remarks about UK troops’ participation in Afghanistan.The visit will be Charles’s first trip to the US as king, after he hosted Trump for a lavish state visit last September.The mercurial US president has frequently expressed admiration for Britain’s royal family, which treated him to a full state dinner at Windsor Castle, military parades and a flyover during last year’s visit.— Soft power diplomacy —It was an unprecedented second state visit for Trump, who was also hosted in 2019 by the late queen Elizabeth II before her death.But in his latest broadside aimed at Starmer’s government, Trump told countries like Britain to secure the Strait of Hormuz themselves because “the USA won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us”.A YouGov poll published on Thursday found nearly half of British citizens opposed the king’s visit to the US, with only a third saying it should go ahead.Emily Thornberry, a senior MP in Starmer’s ruling Labour party, said earlier this month it would be “safer to delay” the trip.She warned Charles and Camilla could be left feeling “embarrassed” because of the ongoing conflict.”Why are we rewarding Donald Trump with a state visit from our king?” asked Ed Davey, leader of the minority opposition Liberal Democrats party.The last British monarch to make a state visit to the US was Queen Elizabeth II in 2007.That visit was the last of four made by the late queen whose visit in 1991 included an address to Congress.The royal family’s soft power diplomacy is viewed as an important way of engaging with Trump.Charles helped smooth Starmer’s visit to the White House last year by signing a letter inviting Trump to visit the UK which the prime minister handed to the president in the Oval Office.In front of the TV cameras a beaming US president read the invitation and declared the king “a beautiful man, a wonderful man”. Related Story Source link
Mayor of London and co-chair of C40 Cities, Sadiq Khan, speaks during an interview as he attends the COP30 Local Leaders Forum at the Museum of…
A person works inside a tunnel that was used to bring tonnes of hashish from Morrocco into Spain, in Ceuta, Spain, in an undated picture released…
China announced on Wednesday its welcome for any participation or interaction from all countries and international organizations regarding the Chinese-Pakistani initiative aimed at restoring peace and de-escalating tensions in the Middle East.The China-Pakistan initiative on the Gulf and Middle East region is open, and all countries and international organizations are welcome to respond to and participate in it, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Mao Ning said.According to Xinhua News Agency, China and Pakistan put forward a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East region during talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing on Tuesday.Both countries have previously emphasized the priority of the UN Charter, urging the enhancement of multilateral cooperation and supporting the establishment of a comprehensive peace framework based on international law to achieve lasting regional stability. Source link
Weapons seized from Maoist rebels and fighters upon their surrender are displayed at a police facility in Dantewada in Chhattisgarh state’s Bastar division Tuesday. (AFP) Indian police Tuesday displayed large caches of arms and ammunition seized from Maoist rebels, a day after officials declared the six-decade-long insurgency was over following a sustained security crackdown.Over the last two years, India stepped up its campaign against the last remnants of the Naxalite rebellion, named after the village in the Himalayan foothills where the Maoist-inspired insurgency began nearly six decades ago.The rebellion controlled nearly a third of the country with an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 fighters at its peak in the mid-2000s.It has since been dramatically weakened, with most remaining armed cadres confined to the Bastar region of central Chhattisgarh state — a vast, mineral-rich expanse of dense forests and hills.In Bastar’s Dantewada district Tuesday, police laid out a haul of weapons ranging from crude, country-made mortars to carbine rifles looted from security forces.Rather than marking victory with a parade, officials said the display was intended to signal the rebels were “joining the mainstream”.Five former insurgents were presented copies of India’s constitution during the event.Bastar police chief P Sundarraj told AFP the strength of the insurgency had fallen to “single digits”, down from nearly 4,000 fighters less than half a decade ago.”Mission 2026 is coming to an end,” Sundarraj said, referring to the government’s long-promised deadline of defeating the rebellion by March 31, 2026.”There will be a new beginning from April 2026 onwards.”Sundarraj said the surrendered rebels were being given new civilian identities through vocational training and rehabilitation programmes.”Earlier someone was in the armed squad (but now) they will be identified as a tractor driver or an electrician,” he said. “Our focus is to get their violent past to be changed into a new identity.”At one such rehabilitation centre, women were seen knitting blouses while men welded metal salvaged from discarded electric rickshaws to build park benches.”I will hopefully set up my own tailoring shop back in the village,” said 19-year-old Kope Madvi, who quit the insurgency after six years as an armed fighter.Others said they longed for a simple life away from conflict.”I just want to go back home, farm and feed my family,” said Vijay Oyam, 26.More than 12,000 rebels, soldiers and civilians have died in the conflict since a handful of villagers rose up against their feudal lords in 1967.The Maoists said they were fighting for the rights of marginalised indigenous people in forest regions, where mining companies also eye valuable resources. …