Violeta Chamorro, Who Led Nicaragua's End to Cold-War Era Civil War, Dies at 94
Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, Latin America's first elected female president whose stunning victory at the polls in 1990 helped bring an end to eight years of a civil war in Nicaragua that involved the U.S., has died at 94.
Doña Violeta, as she was known in Nicaragua, died after a long illness in Costa Rica, where she had been taken by her family in 2023. Her body will remain in Costa Rica until Nicaragua is again free and democratic, her family said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fast Company
4 hours ago
- Fast Company
The debate over state-level AI bans misses the point
Both sides are missing the point entirely as Congress debates the proposed 10-year ban on state AI laws contained in the 'Big, Beautiful Bill.' The current wrangling over who should regulate privacy, deepfakes, and bias in AI confuses the forest for the trees because it solely focuses on who decides what we should not do. In contrast, state AI leaders from across the country are gathering this week in New Jersey to ask the critical question: What can we do to responsibly take advantage of powerful AI tools to solve our hardest problems, improve governance, and strengthen democracy? More than just another conference, the June 16 gathering in Princeton of these newly appointed senior AI leaders is a working meeting to produce concrete answers to questions like: What should government build? What should we buy? Who should own and control it? What investments should governments make to ensure we are building the technology to address challenges like climate change, literacy, and the integrity of our democracy? And how do we ensure the tools we put in schools, government agencies, and our communities are designed to improve lives? Since the Cold War, we have viewed technology as either a tool of bureaucratic control and dehumanization or an opportunity for wealth creation and profit. But as federal discourse revolves around unrestricted development or regulation, states are serving as laboratories for democratic AI innovation. So beyond black and white bans, we must expand the debate to include how we can actually improve our institutions with AI. Not just corporate-owned tools like ChatGPT, but AI tools specifically designed from the ground up for government. Ineffective government services have become a political punchline, but a growing number of local governments are using AI to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of critical services with promising results. State officials in Ohio are using AI to analyze its sprawling administrative code to cut red tape. Two centuries of accumulated regulations have created a confusing warren of obsolete, redundant, and conflicting demands that businesses must navigate, hindering progress. AI helped identify outdated requirements, conflicting rules, and opportunities for modernization including cutting 600,000 words from the building code alone, eliminating 521 rules for defunct lottery games, and moving paper-based processes online. The governor's office estimates these changes will save taxpayers $44 million and eliminate 58,000 hours of unnecessary government work over the next decade. Meanwhile, Maryland, Colorado, Hawaii, and New Jersey have been using machine learning to analyze labor market data to provide workers with career and training recommendations tailored to their skills and hopes. In New Jersey, the Department of Labor and the Office of Innovation have used AI to help rewrite emails in plain language, which residents are responding to 35% faster. At its Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR) property tax relief program hotline, the state's division of taxation has been using AI tools to analyze calls to generate better self-service menu options so residents can find what they need without waiting to speak to an agent. This has led to a 50% increase in the number of successfully resolved calls. Despite those who believe institutions can be replaced by markets or decentralized networks, democracy's survival depends on strong, effective institutions. The task ahead is to harness AI's power to upgrade their capacity, and next week, state leaders will do just that in Princeton. Artificial intelligence holds as much potential to bolster democracy as to harm it. It can incite division, but it can also foster civil discourse. It can spawn disinformation, but also help us identify it. We can choose to use these increasingly ubiquitous tools to reinforce our democracy, mend the tears, and strengthen the bonds. We have built extraordinary tools. But we're not yet using them where they're needed most: to fix our democratic institutions. What if we treated democracy like we treat cancer or carbon? Where is the National Institutes of Health of democratic trust? The Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy of elections? So the debate around AI must extend beyond just regulation, and states are showing what is possible when we think bigger about these powerful tools and use them responsibly. It is time our federal government does so as well.
5 hours ago
A guide to what the Juneteenth holiday is and how to celebrate it
It was 160 years ago that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed — after the Civil War's end and two years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. The resulting Juneteenth holiday — it's name combining 'June' and 'nineteenth' — has only grown in one-and-a-half centuries. In 2021, President Joe Biden designated it a federal holiday — expanding its recognition beyond Black America. This year will be the first Juneteenth under President Donald Trump's second administration, which has banned diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, or DEI, in the federal government. This has included removing Black American history content from federal websites. Trump officials have also discouraged some federal agencies from recognizing other racial heritage celebrations. Still, many people anticipate getting Juneteenth off work. There are a plethora of street festivals, fairs, concerts and other events planned throughout the week leading into the holiday. But with the current political climate, some may wonder if their company will honor it. 'I don't think anyone should be intimidated or obligated into not celebrating the day,' said Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League. 'I've not heard of anyone being denied. I think it would be absolutely reprehensible.' People who never gave the occasion more than a passing thought may be asking themselves, is there a 'right' way to celebrate Juneteenth? For beginners and those brushing up on history, here are some answers: It depends on what you want. Juneteenth festivities are rooted in cookouts and picnics. Originally celebrated as Black Americans' true Independence Day, outdoor events allowed for large, raucous reunions among formerly enslaved family, many of whom had been separated. The gatherings were especially revolutionary because they were free of restrictive measures, known as 'Black Codes,' enforced in Confederate states. Codes controlled whether liberated slaves could vote, buy property, gather for worship and other aspects of daily life. Last year, the White House kicked things off early with a concert on the South Lawn for Juneteenth and Black Music Month. The atmosphere was primarily festive with Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black vice president, dancing on stage with gospel singer Kirk Franklin. Plans for a Juneteenth event or proclamation this year have not been decided, according to the White House press office. Others may choose to treat Juneteenth as a day of rest and remembrance. That can mean doing community service, attending an education panel or taking time off. 'The most important thing everyone should do is be able to quickly answer the question 'What is Juneteenth?'' Morial said. Dr. David Anderson, a Black pastor and CEO of Gracism Global, a consulting firm helping leaders navigate conversations bridging divides across race and culture, never did anything on Juneteenth in his youth. He didn't learn about it until his 30s. 'I think many folks haven't known about it — who are even my color as an African American male. Even if you heard about it and knew about it, you didn't celebrate it,' Anderson said. 'It was like just a part of history. It wasn't a celebration of history.' For many African Americans, the farther away from Texas that they grew up increased the likelihood they didn't have big Juneteenth celebrations regularly. In the South, the day can vary based on when word of Emancipation reached each state. Search online and you will find gatherings nationwide varying in scope and tone. Some are more carnival-esque festivals with food trucks, arts and crafts and parades. Within those festivals, you'll likely find information on health care, finance and community resources. There also are concerts and fashion shows to highlight Black creativity. There will also be panels to educate about Juneteenth's history. The National Park Service is again making entry into all sites free on the holiday, according to its website. The red, black and green African Liberation Flag, also known as the Pan-African flag, has historically been displayed at both Black History Month and Juneteenth celebrations. Red represents bloodshed and sacrifice of enslaved ancestors. Black symbolizes Black people. Green represents richness of the land in Africa. More people, however, have leaned into the Juneteenth flag created in 1997 by activist Ben Haith, who founded the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation. Like the American flag, it is red, white and blue to indicate those freed are also Americans. The five-point white star in the middle is a tribute to Juneteenth's birthplace of Texas. It is encircled by another white starry line that represents the spreading of freedom. Aside from barbecue, the color red has been a through line for Juneteenth food for generations. Red symbolizes the bloodshed and sacrifice of enslaved ancestors. A Juneteenth menu might incorporate items like barbecued ribs or other red meat, watermelon and red velvet cake. Drinks like fruit punch and red Kool-Aid may make an appearance at the table. In recent years, Juneteenth has become more commercialized with national chains selling Juneteenth party supplies, T-shirts and other merchandise. However, this year, Juneteenth items appear to be fewer or only online. Morial says he would be disappointed if companies decided selling Juneteenth items out in the open was too risky because of politics. At the same time, it might be a good opportunity for consumers. 'I would also encourage people to go online and look for an African American vendor,' Morial said. 'If you got to participate in that (commercialism), that's what I would do.' Dr. Karida Brown, a sociology professor at Emory University whose research focuses on race, said there's no reason to feel awkward about wanting to recognize Juneteenth just because you have no personal ties or you're not Black. In fact, embrace it. 'I would reframe that and challenge my non-Black folks who want to lean into Juneteenth and celebrate,' Brown said. 'It absolutely is your history. It absolutely is a part of your experience. ... Isn't this all of our history? The good, the bad, the ugly, the story of emancipation and freedom for your Black brothers and sisters under the Constitution of the law.' Over the decades, Juneteenth has also been called Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, Black Fourth of July and second Independence Day among others. 'Because 1776, Fourth of July, where we're celebrating freedom and liberty and all of that, that did not include my descendants,' Brown said. 'Black people in America were still enslaved. So that that holiday always comes with a bittersweet tinge to it.' It's typical to wish people a 'Happy Juneteenth' or 'Happy Teenth,' according to Alan Freeman, a comedian who has organized a June 19 comedy show at Club 68, which local media has described as the last Black bar and club on Galveston Island. The day after he will host a stand-up comedy and jazz show at his Houston restaurant and lounge, the Frisky Whisky. 'You know how at Christmas people will say 'Merry Christmas' to each other and not even know each other?' Freeman said. 'You can get a 'Merry Christmas' from everybody. This is the same way.'
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tanks, flypasts, missiles: what to expect at Trump's ‘dictator chic' military parade
It will be a parade fit for a king – which is precisely why critics worry what message it will send the rest of the world about the future of democracy in America. On Saturday there will be tanks on the streets of the nation's capital as Washington hosts a celebration of the US army's 250th anniversary, which happens to coincide with Donald Trump's 79th birthday. While the army has said it has no plans to recognize Trump's birthday, the president will play a major role in a made-for-TV extravaganza that will reportedly feature rocket launchers and missiles. The show of military might comes just a week after Trump activated thousands of national guard troops and marines to quell protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles. Opponents draw a direct line from that crackdown to Saturday's authoritarian display of dominance. Related: US immigration officials raid California farms as Trump ramps up conflict 'He's adopted not only the signifiers of dictator chic but the actual articles of its faith,' said Rick Wilson, a political strategist and co-founder of the Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump group. 'North Korea: military parades. China: military parades. Russia: military parades. 'These aren't parades to celebrate a victory and it's certainly not to celebrate the United States army's birthday. This is a parade to aggrandise Donald Trump's ego. No one who knows either Trump or his pattern of behavior would think for a minute this is anything else.' The army's 250th anniversary was originally conceived as a modest affair: a year ago it filed a permit request for an event on the National Mall featuring 300 people, a concert by the army band and the firing of four cannon. Trump's election, however, led to a radical change of plan. About 6,700 troops, 150 vehicles and 50 aircraft will be in Washington for a grand celebration. The vehicles have been moved to the city on trains and bigger trucks, while the helicopters will fly in. There will be a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday morning followed by a fitness competition and an army birthday festival on the National Mall, including equipment displays and military demonstrations. The day will culminate with a parade through the city. A total of 28 M1 Abrams tanks, each weighing more than 60 tons, as well as 28 tracked Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 28 wheeled Stryker combat vehicles, four tracked M-109 Paladin self-propelled howitzers and other towed artillery will maneuver to the start of the parade route just off the National Mall. They will travel toward the White House, driving over thick metal plating to protect the streets at some points where the vehicles make a sharp turn. The parade will also feature 34 horses, two mules and one dog. The Axios news site reported that a system used to launch rockets in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria will also on be show, and there will be a static display of precision-guided missiles. A flypast will include Apache and Black Hawk helicopters along with Chinooks. Older aircraft like a second world war-era B-25 bomber and P-51 Mustang will also take part. The helicopters are flying at a time when sharing Washington airspace is still a sensitive issue after a January collision between an army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet killed 67. Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday: 'It's going to be a parade the likes of which I don't know if we've ever had a parade like that. It's going to be incredible. We have a lot of those army airplanes flying over the top and we have tanks all over the place. And we have thousands and thousands of soldiers going to bravely march down the streets.' It will be the kind of spectacle in which Trump is known to revel. He will preside over an enlistment and re-enlistment ceremony. The US army Golden Knights team will parachute in and present him with a flag. There will also be a fireworks display in the Washington night sky. Bill Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution thinktank in Washington, said: 'It speaks to something quite fundamental in Trump's overall outlook. In many ways he is a very visual person and he is obsessed with not only how he looks but how everybody else looks as well. The spectacle of a big parade appeals to him for its visuality, if I could coin a term.' Yet Trump is an unlikely warrior. He did not serve in Vietnam, instead receiving five deferments – four for university, one for the medical reason of bone spurs in his heels. He was the first person to be elected president with no prior political or military experience. He has been forced to deny a report that he disparaged dead soldiers as 'losers' and 'suckers'. Sidney Blumenthal, a former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, suggests that Trump is using the military as a prop. 'He doesn't particularly like the military,' Blumenthal said. 'He's wary of the military. He's engaging in retribution against the military. He's fired much of the upper level of the flag officers because he doesn't trust them. 'He said he wants generals like Hitler's generals. He said he wanted to execute Mark Milley, the former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. He fired General CQ Brown, the last chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, because he made a single remark involving racial dignity. He has no use for the military except as decoration of his own grandiosity.' Critics say the display of pomp and pageantry is wasteful, especially as Trump slashes costs throughout the federal government, and represents an effort to link his projection of power with military authority. Public opposition will be expressed in more than 2,000 protest events all over the country under the rubric 'No Kings'. Organisers say they will not be hosting an event in Washington because they do not want the birthday parade to be the centre of gravity. Instead a major flagship march and rally will be held in Philadelphia, the cradle of US democracy. Even so, thousands of agents, officers and specialists from law enforcement agencies from across the country will descend on Washington. Security preparations include Secret Service drones, 18.5 miles of anti-scale fencing, 17 miles of concrete barriers, 175 magnetometers and officers from federal, state and local agencies standing guard. Officials said the Secret Service was tracking nine possible demonstrations in Washington and was ready to respond if they turn violent. Matt McCool, US Secret Service special agent in charge, told a press briefing on Monday: 'That will be handled swiftly.' The army expects as many as 200,000 people could attend and that putting on the celebration will cost an estimated $25m to $45m. That includes the parade itself as well as the cost of moving equipment and housing and feeding the troops. It excludes costs the city of Washington will have to bear, such as trash cleanup, although the army has said it will pay for any unexpected repairs. Democrats argue that Trump is taking over the army's birthday for himself. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate armed services committee, told the Reuters news agency: 'This is Trump. This is all about his ego and making everything 'him', which is, I think, a discredit to the military, the army.' Military parades in the US are generally rare, although Presidents Harry Truman and John F Kennedy's inaugurations featured displays of equipment. In 1991 tanks and thousands of troops, led by Gen Norman Schwarzkopf, paraded through Washington to celebrate the ousting of the Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's army from Kuwait in the Gulf war. Trump has made no secret of his desire to hold military parades. During his first administration, he ordered the Pentagon to look into a display of military might after a 2017 trip to France where he and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, reviewed that country's defense forces marching down the Avenue des Champs-Elysées in Paris. Trump subsequently told reporters: 'It was one of the greatest parades I've ever seen. It was two hours on the button, and it was military might, and I think a tremendous thing for France and for the spirit of France.' He previewed: 'We're going to have to try to top it.' But the Pentagon had other ideas. Jim Mattis, Trump's first defence secretary, compared the idea to Soviet Union-like displays of authoritarian power and privately remarked, 'I'd rather swallow acid,' according to Holding the Line, a 2019 book by Guy Snodgrass, a retired navy pilot and former Mattis aide. Trump ultimately settled for a display of tanks and other armoured vehicles during an independence day celebration in Washington on 4 July 2019. Nearly six years later, however, Trump will get his way now that the likes of Mattis have been succeeded by devout loyalists such as the current defence secretary, Pete Hegseth. Wilson of the Lincoln Project said: 'This is one more example that there is no adult in the room with Trump. There are no guardrails. There are no restraints. There are no wiser heads and quieter voices. It is all now what would you like, Mr President, and we shall deploy it.' He added: 'It's a birthday present for Donald Trump at a time when we're told we have to cut rural hospitals and cut Medicare and Medicaid. It certainly plays to his ego and his character and I don't think we should have expected anything less than this. This is what he was going to get because there are no restraints on Trump's behaviour by his own staff and his own team.'
