News Wire | June 2023 Archive

Beijing Plans a New Training Facility in Cuba, Raising Prospect of Chinese Troops on America’s Doorstep

By Warren P. Strobel, Gordon Lubold, Vivian Salama and Michael R. Gordon | The Wall Street Journal (free)

China and Cuba are negotiating to establish a new joint military training facility on the island, sparking alarm in Washington that it could lead to the stationing of Chinese troops and other security and intelligence operations just 100 miles off Florida’s coast, according to current and former U.S. officials.

Ukraine Downs Russian Drones but Some Get Through Due to Gaps in Air Protection

By Susie Blann | Associated Press (free)

Ukrainian air defenses downed 32 of 35 Shahed exploding drones launched by Russia early Tuesday, most of them in the Kyiv region, officials said, in a bombardment that exposed gaps in the country’s air protection after almost 16 months of war.

Guatemala Prepares to Vote After a Tumultuous Presidential Campaign

By Sonia Pérez D. | Associated Press (free)

This has been one of the most turbulent election seasons in Guatemala’s modern history. Some of the most popular aspirants will be on the sidelines in Sunday’s voting because electoral authorities and courts blocked some from running and cancelled the candidacies of others who were initially allowed to enter the race.

More from WPR: Change Isn’t on the Ballot in Guatemala’s Presidential Election

Mexican Presidential Hopefuls Kick Off Race to Succeed López Obrador

By Juan Montes | The Wall Street Journal

Early polls show that whoever is nominated by López Obrador’s leftist Movement for National Regeneration, or Morena, will be favored to win the presidency. The main contenders have pledged to continue the policies of the nationalist president, an agenda that has led to tensions with the U.S. over drug trafficking and trade disputes.

More from WPR: AMLO’s Electoral ‘Reform’ Has Mexico in the Streets