International
Vance pays a claim to Trump and affirms in his first speech that they are united to win
The Ohio senator J.D. Vance, elected by Donald Trump to be his vice president in case of returning to power, gave him a plea in his first speech, during the Republican National Convention, and thanked him for not taking the easy path because although “he did not need politics, politics needed him.”
“The man I have personally met in recent years is tough, but he cares about people. He can be defiant to a murderer in one moment, and urge national recovery in the next,” he said in Milwaukee, where he stressed that both “they love the country and are united to win.”
“I will never take for granted the trust you have placed in me. What an honor to help you capture the extraordinary vision you have for the country. I promise all Americans, whatever party it is, that I will give everything at their service,” he added.
Vance, 39 years old and whose intervention had been preceded by that of his wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, said that this Wednesday night was “a night of hope, a celebration of what the United States once was.”
“And with the grace of God it will be again,” he said, recalling that it cannot be forgotten that this moment could have been very different, if Thomas Matthew Crooks had missed his shot on Saturday during a rally in Pennsylvania and the bullet would have killed Trump instead of touching his ear.
With a slow tone, he stressed that Trump represents the last hope of something that has been lost and may not be found again: “A country where a working-class boy, far from the corridors of power, can be in this scenario as the next vice president of the United States.”
“But this moment is not about me, but about all of us and who we are fighting for. This is an automotive sector worker in Michigan who wonders why politicians are destroying their jobs. This is the worker of a Wisconsin factory who does things with his hands and is proud of American craftsmanship.”
Vance alluded to his humble origins and gave part of the prominence to his mother, acclaimed by those present at the Fiserv stadium. “A single mother who had a hard time with money and addictions but never gave up: I am proud to say that my mother has been sober for ten years.”
The senator stressed that Trump created “the best economy in history for workers” and asked the public to imagine what he will achieve if he gets another four years in the White House in case of winning on November 5.
Trump commissioned him by announcing that it would be his “number two” to focus “strongly on the people he fought for so brilliantly, American workers and farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota,” all of them key states, and “much beyond.”
“We are going to build factories again, put people to make real products for American families, made by American workers. We will protect the salaries of Americans and stop China from raising its middle class at the expense of Americans,” he concluded.
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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