International

Latin America defends the Cartagena Process on refugees in cases of xenophobia

Authorities of the region, representatives of civil society and international organizations commemorated this Wednesday in Chile the 40th anniversary of the Cartagena Process, a pioneering model of regional collaboration for the protection of refugees, and claimed its importance in the face of the increase in xenophobic discourses and the suspicion of multilateralism.

“We are in a world where the successes of multilateralism are scarce and the international community seems increasingly unable to prevent and resolve conflicts. A world in which mixed movements of refugees and migrants have reached unimaginable figures,” Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said at the ceremony.

In that scenario, Grandi added, “reaching agreements that positively and significantly change the course of history has become difficult,” so – he said – “it is a pleasure and an honor to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the historic Cartagena Declaration on Refugees.”

40th anniversary of the Cartagena Process

Adopted in 1994, the declaration is a technical, legal, political and strategic instrument of cooperation and shared responsibility between Latin American countries to develop solutions and strengthen the international system of protection for refugees, forcibly displaced and stateless persons.

With this adoption, the so-called Cartagena Process began and the concept of refugee stipulated in the 1951 Refugee Statute was expanded.

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“This process that in an innovative, flexible, pragmatic, gradual, cumulative and multi-stakeholder way has created an institutionality that, recognizing the links with international human rights law, plays a crucial role in the protection of displaced persons,” said the secretary of the ECLAC Commission, Luis Fidel Yanez.

From 2004, the creation of common ten-yer action plans were established.

Roadmap for the next decade

Authorities of the region, such as the foreign ministers of Chile, Brazil or Colombia, representatives of civil society and international organizations will debate for two days at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), in Santiago, the roadmap for the next 10 years to continue protecting refugees and displaced people.

“Only through cooperation and regional integration will we be able to consolidate the protection of human rights and provide effective responses to the challenges we face,” said Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren.

Due to various social conflicts, poverty, climate change or natural disasters, thousands of Latin Americans have been forced to migrate in recent years and have plunged the region into a recent unparalleled migration crisis.

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A recent study by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) revealed that up to 7 out of 10 migrants or mobile people in the Americas need comprehensive health services due to their situation.

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.