Politics

As of this Saturday, four days post the Nov. 8 midterm elections, the fate of the U.S. Senate remains in limbo. Prior to the elections, Republicans only needed to secure one seat to gain a majority capable of obstructing a significant portion of President Joe Biden’s agenda. The Senate is presently deadlocked at 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, with Democrats holding the edge due to Vice President Kamala Harris’s tie-breaking vote. Democrats are eager to expand their lead. With Vice President Kamala Harris potentially tipping the scales, Democrats stand a chance to maintain Senate control by clinching the undecided Nevada race or the upcoming Georgia runoff next month. Following Kelly’s triumph in Arizona over Republican Blake Masters, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, Rep...

Latin America has encountered one of its most lackluster growth periods since the turbulent “lost decade” of the 1980s, with a mere 0.9% growth rate recorded between 2015 and 2024. José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), warns that the region risks entering a third decade of stagnation unless significant structural reforms are implemented. Within this context, Panama emerges as a notable case study. Despite ECLAC revising its growth projections downward to 1.8% for 2024 due to global uncertainties and the slowdown of major economies like the US and China, as well as tight financial conditions, Panama is forecasted to achieve a growth rate of 2.7% for the same year, positioning itself mid-range compared t...

The head of the European Agency for Disease Prevention and Control stated on Friday that more cases of the monkeypox strain, referred to as Mpoxen, are expected in the upcoming weeks. However, the risk of sustained transmission remains low. Following an assessment on Friday, the agency upgraded the risk level of sporadic cases of Mpox clade I in Europe to “moderate.” The risk was deemed high for travelers who had close contact with affected areas in Africa and moderate for their contacts. Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner emphasized the anticipation of additional cases in the near future but highlighted the current very low risk to the European population. She urged European nations to heighten their preparedness and awareness to curb further spread. The monkeypox outbreak in the Democratic Rep...

Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday, pledging to unify the nation and bring a pragmatic approach to the presidency if elected in November. Addressing a diverse audience with varying political beliefs during the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Harris assured, “I commit to being a president for all Americans.” She emphasized her intent to unite people around their shared ambitions and highlighted her qualities as a leader who listens, is practical, and possesses common sense, always advocating for the American populace. Harris also expressed her dedication to strengthening the middle class, a personal objective given her own background. Her speech not only echoed President Joe Biden’s endorsement but also pres...