International
Peace talks begin in the Colombian port of Buenaventura
July 19 |
As part of the total peace agenda promoted by President Gustavo Petro, the Colombian government began dialogues on Tuesday with two criminal groups that dispute the control of illicit businesses in the port of Buenaventura.
The dialogue table was installed in the Casa de Encuentros Heriberto Correa Yepes in the presence of the high commissioner for peace, Danilo Rueda; the president of the Senate, Alexander López, and the archbishop of the city, Monsignor Rubén Darío Jaramillo, in addition to international organizations, businessmen and members of civil society.
“We believe that they are on the right path to be able to achieve these transformations without violence in Buenaventura,” said the high commissioner for peace during the event.
Representatives of the criminal groups the Shottas and the Espartanos, met publicly for the first time on the occasion of the installation of the so-called “urban peace table”.
The spokesmen for the criminal gangs said they were willing to take the message of peace to the gang members.
We came “for those boys and girls, so that they don’t go later to take up arms,” said Jose Jimmy Garcia, a community leader representing the Shottas.
The spokesman for the Espartanos, Félix Orlando Luna, followed the same line: “The people want peace (…) between all of us we can build peace and move forward,” he said.
The Shottas and the Espartanos were born in 2020 and have since been responsible for shootouts and murders amid their dispute for control of illegal businesses such as drug trafficking and extortion.
The high commissioner for peace, Danilo Rueda, recalled that the Colombian government maintains a policy to address the causes of violence in a systemic, comprehensive and effective manner.
According to Rueda, since September 2022, when the truce that brought the city of Buenaventura to 100 days without homicides began, 14 discreet and private meetings have been held with both organizations in different areas of the city.
Recent clashes between criminal organizations have caused displacement on the outskirts of the Colombian port city.
In the midst of the policy of total peace, the Colombian government maintains dialogues with the illegal structures of Medellin and holds political negotiations with the National Liberation Army (ELN).
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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