International

The Supreme Court of Brazil decriminalizes the carrying of marijuana for personal use

The Supreme Court of Brazil decriminalized on Tuesday the carrying, cultivation and consumption of marijuana for personal use, so that this is considered just as an illicit act of an administrative nature.

A majority of magistrates interpreted that drug use is not a crime because the current law, passed in 2006, has already decriminalized it and those convicted of it only face minor punishments such as the provision of community services.

“Consumption is not punishable by detention or imprisonment, therefore, it is not a crime. The user should not be criminalized, it must be treated with public health and socio-educational policies,” said Judge José Antonio Dias Toffoli during the discussion.

In addition, Toffoli pointed to the “stigma” associated with criminalization, which can keep users away from asking for the help they need.

However, and in the face of the criticisms made in recent months by legislators of the conservative majority in Congress, the magistrates insisted that consumption is not being legalized, a measure that is the responsibility of the Legislative Branch.

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“The use of illicit drugs is a bad thing and the role of the State is to combat trafficking and treat dependents,” said the president of the court, Luís Roberto Barroso.

Most of the magistrates agreed on the need to set an amount of marijuana to distinguish the user from the trafficker, who does face prison sentences, because the current law does not establish it.

The absence of a limit opens the doors to arbitrary behavior by the police and judges, which according to the magistrates can lead to cases of discrimination that mainly affect poor blacks.

According to data cited during the debate in the Supreme Court, 20 grams of marijuana are enough for a young black and illiterate to consider himself a trafficker, while in the case of a white man with studies the amount is 58 grams on average.

“We want to avoid that discrimination between rich and poor, we want a rule that is the same for everyone,” Barroso said during a session last week.

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The magistrates have proposed amounts ranging from 10 to 60 grams, although a minority within the court has pointed out that Congress should be the one who established it.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.