International
The Justice of Suriname refuses to suspend the conviction of former former President Bouterse fugitive
The Court of Justice of Suriname rejected the appeal to suspend the convictions of former fugitive president Desi Bouterse and the other four convicted of the murder of 15 political opponents in 1982.
The former president’s lawyers alleged that the judicial process against his clients was not fair, and that is what the Court of Justice had to determine today, which declared it “inadmissible.”
The former governor must thus serve his 20-year prison sentence, issued last December, since the court decided not to suspend the sentence or its execution.
However, one of the lawyers, Murwin Dubois, quoted by the Surinamese media, indicated that they will “carefully study the considerations of the court” to determine other steps to be taken.
Dubois said that the legal team still believes that procedural errors were made in the trial.
Although the legal options for Bouterse and the other four convicts – sentenced to 15 years in prison – to avoid punishment were exhausted, the question remains whether the former president will serve that sentence.
Bouterse, 78 years old and president between 2010 and 2020, has been a fugitive from the Surinamese authorities since last January, when he should have appeared before the authorities, and his whereabouts are unknown.
Interpol issued a red notice against Desi Bouterse last week for law enforcement around the world to locate and arrest him.
Bouterse, who led a military government in the 1980s, had already been sentenced in 2021 for the massacre of opponents to 20 years in prison by the Surinamese Martial Court, which confirmed a similar ruling in 2019.
The victims – journalists, military, union leaders, lawyers, businessmen and university professors – arrested on December 8, 1982 and transferred to the then headquarters of the Surinamese National Army, where they were tortured and later summarily executed.
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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