International

“Never again the illegal assault on an embassy,” Mexico asks before the OAS General Assembly

The Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights of Mexico, Joel Antonio Hernández, asked on Thursday for “strict observance of the inter-American legal framework” and avoiding “the use of force at all costs,” alluding to the assault on his country’s embassy in Ecuador that led to the breakdown of relations between the two nations.

“Never again an illegal assault on an embassy, no more attacks on diplomatic envoys, never again the theft of a protected person, never again violence as a solution to anything,” Hernández said in his speech at the first session of the 54th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), which is held in the Paraguayan city of Luque.

Hernández, who heads the Mexican representation before the continental conclave, defended that “all integration is based on budgets and principles that are unbreakable or should be,” such as trust, compliance with the committed word and strict observance of the inter-American legal framework.

In addition, he pointed out because it is an “imperative” the peaceful solution of the controversies that may arise between States and the obligation to “avoid at all costs the use of force in a way incompatible with the principles of the United Nations” and the OAS.

“If in the 21st century there are States in this region that are not absolutely convinced and violate these minimum understandings, we must not only denounce and condemn their actions but also demand responsibility from them,” he added.

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Last April, the president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, ordered the assault on the Mexican Embassy in Quito to arrest Jorge Glas, former vice president of Rafael Correa (2007-2017), because the Mexican Government had given him asylum hours earlier.

The fact caused a break in diplomatic ties between the two countries.

On the other hand, the diplomat stressed that the Mexican Leticia Bonifaz aspires to be appointed in this General Assembly judge of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (CorteIDH), as the “only female candidate” in that election.

Likewise, he stressed the role of the OAS mission in last June’s elections in his country and the resolution adopted in the inter-American meeting in favor of Haiti.

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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.