International
Rifle of the alleged shooter who tried to kill Trump was legally bought by the father
The rifle that Thomas Matthew Crooks allegedly used to try to assassinate former President Donald Trump was legally acquired by the attacker’s father, investigative sources reported to Fox News.
Sources involved in the investigation indicated the AR-15 rifle that was found in the lifeless body of Crooks, 20 years old, was acquired by his father totally legally.
Other sources of local security forces indicated that they have found two devices with explosive material in the vehicle of the suspect in the assassination attempt, as well as at his home in Bethel Park (Pennylvania).
Crooks was killed by the Secret Service after shooting several times from an elevated position on a roof of a building on one floor near the stage where Trump participated in a rally in the town of Butler (Pennsylvania) about an hour away from his home.
One of the shots hit Trump in the right ear, but the former president left the stage walking, with his fist up and surrounded by Secret Service agents.
In the shooting, a rally assistant died and two adult men were seriously injured.
Former Republican former and candidate Donald Trump assured this Sunday in a comment on the social network Truth Social that he is not “afraid” and will remain strong and “defiant” after the assassination attempt he survived last afternoon at a rally in Butler (Pennsylvania).
“Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers yesterday. It is as if it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will not be AFRAID, but we will remain strong in our faith and defiant in the face of evil,” said the former president, who is in New Jersey.
The president, as he did on Saturday, referred to the family of the fatal victim as well as the injured people, about whom he asked for his early recovery.
“At this moment, it is more important than ever that we stay united and show our true character as Americans, staying strong and determined and not allowing evil to win,” he added.
Trump pointed out that he hopes to be part of the Republican National Convention to be held in Wisconsin, which begins tomorrow and on Thursday he plans to make official his nomination as the party’s candidate in next November’s elections.
In a previous message on his social network, Trump explained that the bullet that the shooter shot pierced the top of his right ear.
“I immediately knew that something was wrong because I heard a buzz, gunshots and I immediately felt the bullet going through the skin,” he said.
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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