International
Colombian government and ELN resume round of talks in Mexico
December 5 |
The Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN), began this Monday the fifth round of peace talks in Mexico, a country that has hosted the negotiation processes between the participating delegations.
In a message from the Mexican Foreign Ministry, Mexico reiterates its permanent commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the promotion of peace and security in Latin America, as well as its firm and unequivocal support to the peace process between the Government of Colombia and the ELN.
Likewise, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged that this new round of dialogues and negotiations contribute to open ways to reach a definitive and lasting solution to the conflict.
For its part, the ELN from its Twitter account stated that “our delegation is back in Mexico to start the V Cycle of talks of the Dialogue Table. Here we sign the Mexico Agreement, which contains a different model of Peace negotiation, which is distinguished because it demands changes and transformations for Peace”.
In the joint declarations issued by both negotiating countries, it is stated that they will continue to count on the accompaniment of the host country and the Governments of Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Norway and Venezuela; of the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Colombia and of the Colombian Episcopal Conference.
According to the Head of Delegation of the National Liberation Army ELN, Peace Dialogues, Pablo Beltrán, and published by Colombia Informa, “to date no public statement has been made by the national government, the ELN, friendly countries or the monitoring mechanism on the allegations made by the communities on the collusion of paramilitaries with the security forces”.
These statements have taken place after what happened with Luis Manuel Díaz, “who was kidnapped and later released by that insurgent group”, while “the issue of how to resolve the ELN’s support returned to the center of the debate”.
Likewise, Colombia Informa stated that the Government and ELN will resume the Fifth Cycle of Peace Talks in Mexico in the midst of tensions, “where the issue of kidnapping and ELN financing will be mandatory topics, however, little is known about what priority will be given to the complaints against the Colombian army for collusion with paramilitary groups, as denounced by the communities”.
The platform, which permanently addresses these issues within its informative agenda, emphasized that “it is also unclear when there will be results from the Colombian State to resolve the humanitarian crisis that is being experienced in the regions”.
According to Indepaz, a few days before the end of 2023, more than 150 social leaders, 39 peace signatories and 90 massacres have been assassinated in Colombia.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
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