International
Noboa proclaims victory in the referendum and assures that Ecuador said “‘Yes’ to the future”
The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, said after winning the ‘Yes’ in nine of the eleven questions of the referendum held on Sunday that the result was a “victory of the people” because “the country said ‘Yes’ to the future.”
In his first public speech since the plebiscite, Noboa expressed his satisfaction with the wide support received for the issues that seek to reinforce the State’s fight against organized crime gangs.
With more than 95% of the votes scrutinized, the triumph of the ‘Yes’ was consolidated in nine of the eleven questions related to security issues.
The ‘No’ was based on economic reforms related to legalizing hourly labor contracting and allowing international arbitrations on investments in any jurisdiction.
“After the country said yes to the future, we will not give in a single step to violence, corruption and impunity,” Noboa said during a speech.
“We have more tools to judge these crimes and tighten the penalties for their perpetrators,” the president added, referring to the initiative to raise the penalties to a series of crimes related to organized crime.
Among them, terrorism and its financing.
The proposals raised on security received between 75% and 61% support.
In addition to tightening penalties, they also imply that the Armed Forces participate permanently together with the Police in operations against organized crime. And that Ecuadorians can be extradited when they are required by the Justice of other countries.
They also supported the creation of a system of courts in constitutional matters, military surveillance around prisons and the equipment of state forces with weapons seized from crime.
In turn, the crime of possessing weapons for the exclusive use of the Police and Armed Forces and a mechanism for the expropriation of illicit property will be created.
Noboa asserted that “they will not stop the new Ecuador.” “This victory is of the people and the people who want a better future and that their children live better than them,” he said.
In Noboa’s statements, the president made no mention of the two questions where he won the ‘No’.
Those points constitute, according to former President Rafael Correa (2007-2017), a “categorical defeat” for Noboa because in his opinion they were “the two questions that (really) mattered to him.”
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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