International

Macri and Bullrich’s party rules out merging with President Milei’s

Republican Proposal (PRO), the Argentine conservative political party of former Argentine governor Mauricio Macri (2015-2019) and the current Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich, has ruled out merging with La Libertad Avanza, the far-right formation of the current president, Javier Milei.

The leadership of the PRO, in a party assembly held this Thursday in the midst of intense debates, decided not to merge with the libertarians. The main reason for this decision was to maintain the identity and principles of the party without diluting itself into an alliance that could compromise its fundamental values.

“The ninety percent voted for a renewal, a different leadership style that keeps the PRO as an independent party that will support this Government,” Deputy Martín Yeza, president of the assembly, told the press today.

The decision not to merge with the libertarians implies that the PRO will have to rethink its electoral strategy. Without the alliance with Milei, the party needs to consolidate its base and define its platform for the next legislative elections, which will take place in 2025 and in which half of the Chamber of Deputies and a third of the Senate will be renewed.

In an unexpected turn in Argentine politics, the Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich, decided to break with Mauricio Macri, marking a deep fracture within the PRO.

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Bullrich announced his political separation from former President Macri in the midst of growing tensions and strategic differences over the direction of the party.

To which Deputy Martín Yeza replied: “I am surprised that Bullrich and his team say that the PRO is a small and loser party; that is not done.”

The rupture has generated internal tensions in the PRO blocs in Congress. Deputies and senators of the party are now divided between loyal to Bullrich and followers of Macri. This subdivision could hinder the legislative cohesion and effectiveness of the PRO, affecting its ability to present a united front in the face of the next elections and important parliamentary decisions.

Patricia Bullrich has shown herself to be in favor of a strong and determined leadership, moving away from what she considers Macri’s “indecision”. For his part, the former president has not yet publicly commented on the rupture, although close sources cited by the Argentine media indicate that he is evaluating his position and next steps within the political scene.

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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.