International
Fifth cycle of peace talks between the Colombian Government and the ELN come to an end
December 18 |
The fifth cycle of peace talks between the Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN) concluded this Sunday in Mexico City with six agreements that reinforce the willingness of the two parties to move forward in the negotiations, which began last year.
Of the agreements, the first is a reaffirmation of the agreement reached here in Mexico last March. Two, the suspension of withholdings for economic purposes as part of the extension of the ceasefire that ends in January and will now be extended.
Three, the creation of conditions for the extension of the ceasefire, a verification mechanism and measures against the actions of paramilitary forces and armed groups. Four, the creation of economic and financial conditions to materialize the Mexico agreement.
Five, the resumption of the process of participation of society to be designed in April of next year. Six, the creation of eight critical zones of humanitarian action. It was announced that the sixth cycle of dialogues will be held in Cuba on January 22.
The head of the government delegation, Vera Grabe, also announced that other agreements are the extension of the ceasefire, the creation of an observatory to work on the issue of paramilitarism, the consolidation of 8 peace zones, humanitarian actions for ELN political prisoners and the provision of information on people in captivity.
For his part, the head of the ELN delegation, alias Pablo Beltrán, affirmed that the guerrillas and the Colombian government are pursuing the same goal: peace.
“We are partners, we are responsible for building that mandate,” he stressed at the same event.
For this reason, he affirmed that the Peace Dialogues are a contribution to change the culture of confrontation and to seek conciliation in the South American country.
However, he pointed out that it is difficult to advance in the construction of peace when there are media wars and progress is forgotten, focusing only on conflicts and tensions.
“We delegations express our recognition and gratitude to the people and government of the United Mexican States, for their support to this process and for having hosted the V Cycle of Dialogues for Peace,” both delegations indicated after the closing ceremony of the event.
They also thanked Cuba for its support to this process and announced that the country will host the VI Cycle starting on January 22, 2024 and that it will facilitate the Inter-Cycle Contact Point of the Dialogue Table.
The text of the agreements was read in a ceremony attended by senior Colombian government officials, leaders of the ELN mission, guests from the group of guarantor countries, representatives of the United Nations and the Colombian Catholic Church, among others.
The guarantor countries are represented by Brazil, Cuba, Chile, Mexico, Norway and Venezuela, the permanent accompaniers are the Colombian Episcopal Conference and the UN Secretary General, in addition to the Group of Accompanying, Support and Cooperation Countries (GPAAC), made up of Germany, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
International
Floods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in central Vietnam has risen to 28, with six people reported missing and 43 injured, local newspaper VnExpress reported Friday night.
More than 22,100 homes remain flooded, primarily in the cities of Hue and Da Nang. Floods and landslides have destroyed or swept away 91 houses and damaged another 181, the report added.
Around 245,000 households are still without electricity, particularly in Da Nang, where over 225,000 homes are affected.
Additionally, 80 stretches of national highways are blocked or disrupted due to landslides. Authorities expect the flooding to continue for another day or two in the region.
International
FBI foils ISIS-Inspired attack in Michigan, arrests five teens
Kash Patel did not provide further details, but police sources told CBS News that the potential attack was “inspired” by the Islamic State (ISIS).
“This morning, the FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested several individuals in Michigan who were allegedly planning a violent attack during the Halloween weekend,” Patel wrote on X.
“Thanks to swift action and close coordination with our local partners, a possible terrorist act was prevented before it could be carried out,” he added.
CBS reported that five people between the ages of 16 and 20 were arrested on Friday. At least one of them was reportedly acquainted with a former member of the Michigan National Guard, who was arrested in May for plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on a U.S. military facility in the Detroit suburbs.
International
U.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressed concerns over China’s growing military activity near Taiwan during a meeting on Friday with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in Kuala Lumpur.
“It was a constructive and positive meeting,” Hegseth wrote on X. “I emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and raised U.S. concerns about China’s actions around Taiwan,” the self-governed island that Beijing claims and does not rule out invading.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. According to Trump, Taiwan was not discussed during their talks.
“The United States does not seek conflict and will continue to firmly defend its interests, ensuring it maintains the capability to do so in the region,” Hegseth added in his message.
Friday’s encounter followed a September 9 video call between Hegseth and Dong. Their previously planned meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore was canceled due to Dong’s absence from the event.
Trump’s sit-down with Xi — their first since 2019 — resulted in some trade agreements but avoided addressing the issue of Taiwan, a long-standing source of tension between the world’s two largest powers.
Trump has taken a more ambiguous stance on Taiwan’s future compared with former President Joe Biden, who repeatedly stated that Washington would support Taipei if China launched an invasion. The Republican president has also criticized Taiwan for “stealing” the U.S. semiconductor industry.
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