This is the curated content of the most relevant daily events around the world.
We welcome you to the International Report, today is Friday, December 21 and we start with the most relevant news from around the world. Thank you for being part of this space and supporting what we do at Delfino.cr.
EU reaches agreement on migration and asylum reform
– After three years of negotiations, the Council and Parliament of the European Union (EU) announced the Pact on Migration and Asylum. This reform is expected to support countries in dealing with the growing number of immigrants while curbing more nationalist opinions against the bloc.
– This pact proposes stricter standards at EU borders. In addition, the process to deport people who do not meet the conditions for asylum will be easier and faster, and a “mandatory solidarity mechanism” was established to relieve countries with the greatest burden.
– Thus, countries that receive fewer immigrants are expected to meet a distribution quota or give financial support to countries with greater migratory pressure such as Greece, Cyprus, Malta and Italy. If you do not comply, the fine will be 20,000 euros per refused transfer.
– International Amnesty He did not view the agreement favorably and warned:
The agreed reforms […] by the EU around the pact […] “They will set back the right to European asylum for decades and cause more human suffering.”
– It is expected that the “express asylum” will make it difficult for migrants from Pakistan and Venezuela to enter, because the recognition of refugee status is low.
– The pact highlights the need for cooperation between member states. Ursula von der Leyenpresident of the European Commission highlighted:
“Immigration is a European challenge that requires European solutions.”
– Although it has not yet reached the numbers of 2015, when more than a million refugees arrived in Europe escaping the war in Syria, Europe is currently facing a new migration crisis. The effects are manifested in the growing popularity of nationalist parties, as happened in the recent elections in Sweden and the Netherlands.
– The next European Parliament elections, in June 2024, served as an incentive to reach an agreement soon. The pact, proposed in 2020, has already been approved by negotiators from all EU institutions and is likely to pass the approval process and thus enter into force soon.
In summary: After three years of negotiations, the European Union announced a migration and asylum pact to deal with the growing migration crisis. A few months before the parliamentary elections and amid the growing popularity of nationalist parties, this measure attempts to relieve countries with high migration burdens and reduce the total number of immigrants to the EU.
Elections in DRC are marked by violence and logistical failures
– The second day of general elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was marked by chaos and logistical failureswhich the opposition sees as a threat to the credibility of the results.
– DRC is the second largest country in Africa and plays an important role for the global supply chain for its mineral deposits.
– In the elections in which the current president Felix Tshisekedi ran for a second term, and which began on Wednesday, the votes of some 44 million Congolese were expected.
– However, some polling stations did not open until Thursday in the morning. That is why the elections were extended by one day. The first results will be announced this Friday.
– “There are many citizens who were not allowed to vote because their names were not on the lists… There were polling centers that opened at 2, some at 7, others at 3, this is discouraging, frustrating and creates tensions. It also impacts the credibility of the voting process.”said a coordinator of the Electoral Observation Mission.
– Depending on the mission, more than 27% of polling stations did not open. They also reported several cases of violence and interruption of voting. The opposition demands the reorganization of these “failed elections.” Likewise, several national and international observers denounced these elections for lack of transparency.
– DRC has experienced an environment of violence for decades, but this has increased even more since the resurgence of the rebel group M23. Due to the high rates of violence, it was previously decided that the Masisi, Rutshuru and Kwamouth territories would not hold the elections. According to UNHCR, more than 5 million Congolese are displaced, due to the confrontations. They can’t register to vote either.
– In past years, the post-election period was marked by disputes over the credibility of the results and the same is expected in the following months.
In summary: Due to several reports of technical failures, the general elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were extended by one day. Millions of displaced people, as well as at least three territories, were not authorized to vote. Now, election observers and the opposition highlight their disbelief in the results.
Hamas rejects hostage exchange without permanent ceasefire
– Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas, is negotiating conditions for another truce in Egypt, while Israeli officials met with their Qatari and American counterparts to do the same. Negotiations between Hamas and Israel for a second truce face challenges various obstacles.
– According to Hamas, they will only accept a pact that prescribes a permanent ceasefire. At once, Benjamin NetanyahuIsraeli Prime Minister, assured that they will only stop if Hamas surrenders or ceases to exist.
– A Hamas spokesperson confirmed that “there will only be talks for a prisoner exchange agreement after a complete cessation of aggression”.
– This Thursday, the UN Security Council tried again to approve a resolution on war. Negotiations began at 6:00 pm local time and were later postponed to Friday.
– The most recent draft, sponsored by the United Arab Emirates, calls for “urgent measures to immediately enable safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, and also to create the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.”
– In eleven weeks, the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 20,000 and it is estimated that some 129 hostages remain captive in Gaza.
In summary: It will be difficult to reach a second truce due to the existing disagreements between Hamas and Israel, while the UN Security Council cannot agree to avoid a US veto and ask for an end to the violence and after days of Negotiations postponed a vote on a resolution on war.
Radar
– Argentina: “Today you go and buy the dollars you want and no one is going to chase you.” Javier Miley announced that the purchase and sale of foreign currencies will be allowed as part of the new measures to “allow economic activity to rebound.”
– USA: Kamala HarrisUS vice president, announced that “in recognition” of the cooperation of her allies, NASA’s Artemis program plans to lead to a international astronaut on the moon.
– Peru: The Inter-American Court of Human Rights affirmed that Peru “has incurred contempt” for the release of former President Alberto Fujimori from prison despite the contrary order from the IACHR. So, Peru joins Nicaraguathe previously only country in “contempt” for ignoring IACHR resolutions.
Buttons
#Apple: Apple accelerates production to launch the Apple Vision Pro, a “revolutionary space computer” in February.
#The last week Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and their children, former members of British royalty, They spent their vacations in Guanacaste.
Thank you for joining us in one more installment of international events, this is the last international report for 2023, see you in 2024!
2023-12-22 06:11:57
#European #Union #agrees #pact #migration #asylum
