International

Alarm is growing in Russia for crimes of convicts pardoned by Putin to fight in Ukraine

The increase in crimes committed by convicts pardoned to fight in Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin, has triggered the social alarm among Russians.

“The murder of a 12-year-old girl in the Kémerovo region has revealed a terrible threat (…) A man tried on several occasions, convicted of homicide, was released from prison to participate in the war and returned to civilian life committed a new brutal crime,” Russian deputy Nina Ostánina denounced on Telegram.

The crime, which has impacted Russian society, came to light on Wednesday, when the lifeless body of the minor was found with signs of a violent death.

The authorities attributed it to a former war combatant who had been recruited from prison, where he was serving a sentence of 13 and a half years for the murder of a woman, after having been tried at least six times for various crimes.

The legislator, responsible for the committee for the protection of the family and children of the Russian Duma or chamber of deputies, warned that “there will be more crimes like this.”

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“When returning from the front, these people turned out not to be ready for their social reintegration and represent a threat to society,” he said.

Therefore, he called on the Russian authorities to “assume the responsibility of protecting citizens from criminals like these” through “constant control” and help their reintegration into labor.

In addition, he made the preparations for a bill that would regulate this matter.

“We must act without delay. Nightmares like this cannot be allowed to repeat. Our children deserve a safe life and protection from ruthless criminals,” he said.

After the beginning of the war in Ukraine and the call to the ranks of inmates, a practice promoted by the Russian mercenary company Wagner, Russia has been affected by a wave of crimes and crimes committed by these people upon their return from the battlefield.

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This same Thursday, the digital media Gazeta.ru reported the case of a pregnant young woman who lost her child as a result of a beating by a member of Wagner who had also been recruited from between bars.

The doctors found that the woman suffered head injuries, fracture of ribs and phalanges of the hands, as well as multiple bruises and cardinals, however, despite the fact that the culprit was arrested, he managed to avoid the trial when he returned to the front.

In April of this year, another Wagnerite killed a woman in the Leningrad region and dismembered her; and in March, another ex-convict and member of Wagner stabbed at least 15 times to the woman he lived with and later cut her ear, just two examples from a long list.

According to the independent digital media Viorstka, in the last two years about fifty people have died at the hands of veterans of war in Ukraine recruited from Russian prisons.

Most of the victims turn out to be the relatives or neighbors of these people for domestic reasons and are usually crimes related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages

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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.