International

Honduran opposition deputies are accused of usurpation

Photo: Congreso Honduras

November 13 |

Lawyer Gustavo Varela filed a complaint this Saturday with the Public Prosecutor’s Office against deputies of the Honduran political opposition, accusing them of usurpation of functions.

They are deputies Iroshka Elvir and Suyapa Figueroa of the Salvador Party of Honduras (PSH) and Marlon Lara of the Liberal Party. According to the complaint, these congressmen are usurping functions that correspond to the board of directors of the National Congress: “we are filing a complaint against these citizens since they have usurped the functions of the board of directors”.

The denunciation is due to the fact that, in the extraordinary sessions of the opposition benches, Iroshka Elvir acted as president, Suyapa Figueroa as secretary and Marlon Lara as pro-secretary.

The crime for which he is denouncing them is abuse of authority, and he is willing for the Public Prosecutor’s Office to add others, he added.

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The means of evidence against the deputies are a resolution and a decree with the signatures of the three legislators. Likewise, the lawyer asserted that the denunciation is a citizen action, since he cannot allow that the vices of the past continue to be repeated.

The denunciation refers that on Wednesday of this week, the political opposition of the National Congress in “extraordinary session” approved a motion to question the Minister of Security, Gustavo Sánchez, and the manager of the Empresa Nacional de Artes Gráficas (ENAG), Edis Moncada.

In the session, deputy Iroshka Elvir acted as president, PSH deputy, Suyapa Figueroa, as secretary and Liberal Party deputy, Marlon Lara, as pro-secretary.

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.