logo
Violeta Chamorro, who brought peace to Nicaragua, dead at 95

Violeta Chamorro, who brought peace to Nicaragua, dead at 95

Violeta Chamorro, who brought peace to Nicaragua after decades of war and was the first woman elected president in the Americas, died on Saturday at the age of 95, her family said.
Chamorro, who led the Central American country from 1990 to 1997, 'died in peace, surrounded by the affection and love of her children,' said a statement issued by her four children.
As president, Chamorro managed to bring to an end a civil war that had raged for much of the 1980s as US-backed rebels known as the 'Contras' fought the leftist Sandinista government.
That conflict made Nicaragua one of the big proxy battlegrounds of the Cold War.
Chamorro put her country on the path to democracy in the difficult years following the Sandinista revolution of 1979, which had toppled the US-backed right-wing regime of Anastasio Somoza.
In a country known for macho culture, Chamorro had a maternal style and was known for her patience and a desire for reconciliation.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

6 pillars for peace to end wars in Asia
6 pillars for peace to end wars in Asia

South China Morning Post

time2 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

6 pillars for peace to end wars in Asia

For a time, it seemed that economic interdependence had put an end to war between states. When Canadian psychologist Steven Pinker declared in 2011 that such wars had 'almost vanished', many believed the arc of history was bending towards peace. But from Ukraine to the recent Thailand-Cambodia conflict , the resurgence of wars in recent years has shown that we must look deeper at what sustains harmony between nations – and why some regions are so much better at it than others. Southeast Asia, though seen today as a relative oasis of stability and economic dynamism, does not enjoy the same freedom from conflict as North America , for example, where the prospect of war between neighbours is virtually unthinkable. Scholars have long argued that economic integration, particularly through trade, lessens the risk of conflict. There is truth in this. Since World War II, trade has indeed proven a powerful force for peace and prosperity. But in a rapidly changing world, trade alone is no longer enough to guarantee security. New, more robust mechanisms are needed to ensure that tensions between nuclear powers, especially, are contained. There is cause for hope. The European Union and North America are living proof that deep integration can bring lasting calm. Realistically, there is little to no prospect of armed conflict between the states that make up these regions. But can the rest of the world replicate this? And if so, how? European Union flags fly in front of the the seat of the European Commission in Brussels. Photo: dpa Six pillars for integrated peace

‘We're blowing everyone away': Trump shrugs off Latin American nations looking to China
‘We're blowing everyone away': Trump shrugs off Latin American nations looking to China

South China Morning Post

timea day ago

  • South China Morning Post

‘We're blowing everyone away': Trump shrugs off Latin American nations looking to China

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he was not worried about Brazil Mexico and other Latin American nations moving closer to China, telling reporters in the Oval Office, 'They can do whatever they want.' Advertisement The remarks came during a brief exchange at the White House. Trump added: 'You know, none of them are doing very well, and what we're doing in terms of economics, we're blowing everyone away, including China. We're doing better than any other country in the world right now.' Trump's comments came as Brazil steps up coordination with Beijing to mount a multilateral response to the tariffs he imposed last month. On Tuesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke for about an hour by phone with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss the 'Brics bloc's role in countering unilateral trade measures'. The call was arranged after Washington announced a 50 per cent tariff on a wide range of Brazilian exports in late July, threatening billions of dollars in trade. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke by phone this week as the two nations step up coordination. Photo: AFP Trump has linked the tariffs to Brazil's political crisis, citing the criminal prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro on charges of plotting to overturn the 2022 election

Putin praises Trump's efforts to end Ukraine war ahead of Alaska summit
Putin praises Trump's efforts to end Ukraine war ahead of Alaska summit

South China Morning Post

time2 days ago

  • South China Morning Post

Putin praises Trump's efforts to end Ukraine war ahead of Alaska summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday praised US President Donald Trump's efforts to end the war in Ukraine, more than three years after Moscow launched its invasion, as the two leaders prepared for a pivotal US–Russia summit on Friday in Alaska. Advertisement Following a meeting on Thursday with top government officials on the summit, Putin said in a short video released by the Kremlin that the Trump administration was making 'quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities' and to 'reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved'. Putin also suggested that 'long-term conditions of peace between our countries, and in Europe, and in the world as a whole,' could be reached under an agreement with the U.S. on nuclear arms control. In Washington, Trump said there was a 25 per cent chance that the summit would fail, but he also floated the idea that, if the meeting succeeds, he could bring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Alaska for a subsequent, three-way meeting. In a radio interview with Fox News, Trump also said he might be willing to stay in Alaska longer, depending on what happens with Putin. Advertisement Meanwhile, Zelensky and other European leaders worked to ensure their interests are taken into account when Trump and Putin meet in Anchorage.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store