International
Commissioner recognizes that the Government of Colombia did not analyze an alert of violence in the Catatumbo
The Commissioner of the Peace of Colombia, Otty Patiño, acknowledged on Monday that the Government did not analyze the early warning issued last year by the Ombudsman’s Office about a possible confrontation between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and a FARC dissident in the Catatumbo region, as has been the case since January 16.
“What was noticeable through the alerts was an exacerbation of the conflict. There was not, and I want to be very self-critical, an in-depth analysis of why that exacerbation of the confrontations between those who had a situation of coexistence, between what they call (…) the Front 33, and the ELN in that region,” said Patiño.
Patiño participated in a technical session of the unconstitutional state of affairs (ECI) of the security guarantees to the signatories of the Peace Agreement, organized by the Constitutional Court, in which they talked about what is happening in the Catatumbo, a region located in the department of Norte de Santander, since the guerrilla violence has left at least six FARC ex-combatants killed.
The humanitarian and security crisis in Catatumbo was something announced by various authorities, including the Ombudsman’s Office, which on November 15 warned, through its early warning system, of “the risk situation” for the civilian population due to the presence and threats of illegal armed groups.
Since January 16, the clashes between the ELN guerrillas and the 33rd Front of the FARC dissidents in the Catatumbo have left between 60 and 80 dead according to the counts of the Ombudsman’s Office and the Government of Norte de Santander, while the number of displaced people is more than 50,000 people.
However, the authorities have only been able to collect 47 bodies due to the situation that the most remote rural areas continue to experience, where the authorities have not yet been able to access.
In addition, it became known that a humanitarian commission, led by the Catholic Church, the UN Mission in Colombia and the Ombudsman’s Office, will address the crisis in the Catatumbo region (border with Venezuela), caused by guerrilla violence that since January 16 has left at least 47 dead.
The Ombudsman’s Office detailed on Monday that the objective is to “address the situation in the Catatumbo region, in order to improve the lives of people in vulnerable situations” due to the clashes between the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the 33rd Front of the FARC dissidents in that region of the department of Norte de Santander.
“The Northeast War Front of the ELN has committed to respecting the actions of the humanitarian commission,” the agency added.
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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