International
The Government of Colombia presents twelve questions that it will propose in a popular consultation to promote its reforms
The Government of Colombia announced this Tuesday the twelve questions that will be included in the popular consultation that President Gustavo Petro will file on May 1 before the Senate to achieve the approval of the stagnant reforms in Congress.
The twelve questions are focused on the labor reform proposed by the Government and which was archived after its third debate in the Seventh Senate Commission last month.
“If we were not sure that these questions would get the yes, we would not be proposing them, it was that simple,” said the Minister of Labor, Antonio Sanguino, at a press conference with the Minister of the Interior, Armando Benedetti.
For his part, Benedetti said: “If the consultation is won, Congress has two periods before then to pass the law based on what was approved in the consultation or if not the president takes it out by decree.”
The consultation is binding if it obtains the necessary majorities and is declared valid in terms of participation.
In Colombia there are 40,963,370 people qualified to vote, so at least 13,654,456 citizens must pay for the popular consultation to be valid and for half plus one of the votes to be expressed in favor of each question of the Government.
Therefore, the consultation is “mandatory, first for Congress and then for the President of the Republic,” Benedetti added.
These questions “constitute the soul and backbone of the labor reform that will be proposed in the popular consultation that we hope will be endorsed or facilitated with the approval of the Senate of the Republic in its plenary,” explained Minister Sanguino at the press conference.
The consultation will consist of closed-answer questions: Colombians must vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ before each initiative and to move forward, “each question has to pass the threshold” required, Benedetti added.
The questions are aimed at improving the labor rights of all Colombians with proposals such as the regulation of the working day with a maximum of eight hours a day or the guarantee of medical permits, including licenses for disabling menstrual pain.
In addition, they have a section focused on the business world with proposals such as the elimination of outsourcing and abusive intermediation in employment contracts, minimum hiring quotas for people with disabilities or the guarantee of fair wages for rural workers.
The complete content of the questionnaire, according to the ministers, was built from more than 20,000 proposals sent by citizens through the portal enabled until last Monday, April 21.
The popular consultation must be officially filed by President Gustavo Petro, on May 1, as, as he said, a tribute to the working class of Colombia within the framework of International Labor Day.
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.
Costa Rica Goes to the Polls as Voters Choose Continuity or Change
U.S. and Guatemala Sign Trade Deal Granting Zero Tariffs to Most Exports
Panama Supreme Court Strikes Down Panama Ports Concession as Unconstitutional
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International5 days agoU.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
-
Central America4 days agoPanama Supreme Court Strikes Down Panama Ports Concession as Unconstitutional
-
Central America4 days agoU.S. and Guatemala Sign Trade Deal Granting Zero Tariffs to Most Exports
-
International5 days agoStorm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
-
International5 days agoMan Arrested After Vehicle Crashes Into Jewish Institution in Brooklyn
-
International5 days agoTrump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
-
Central America2 days agoCosta Rica Goes to the Polls as Voters Choose Continuity or Change