International

Trump chooses the members of his government in charge of health and epidemics in the US

The president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, announced this Friday the main figures who will become part of his Government and will be in charge of health issues, including the director of the agency that was in charge of the government strategy in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thus, Trump announced the appointment of former Congressman Dave Weldon as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a doctor with more than four decades of experience and an army veteran.

In his political career, he worked in the Labor Allocations subcommittee in the preparation of budgets for organizations such as the CDC and also to promulgate a ban on human embryo patents.

In a statement, the president-elect said that Weldon stands out as “a respected conservative leader in fiscal and social issues.”

Trump seeks trust in health institutions

With his arrival in the Government, Trump will seek to get Americans to regain “confidence” in the CDC and federal health authorities, “who have participated in censorship, data manipulation and misinformation,” said the former president (2017-2021).

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The future president also announced today that Janette Nesheiwat will be the Surgeon General of the United States, a position that is responsible for being the main spokesperson for public health issues in the country.

Nesheiwat, he said, “is a fierce defender and a strong communicator of preventive medicine and public health.”

“She is committed to ensuring that Americans have access to affordable and quality health care, and believes in empowering people to take charge of their health to live longer and healthier lives,” he said.

During the covid-19 pandemic, Trump recalled, he worked on the front line in New York City treating thousands of Americans. He also provided medical treatment in the field after Hurricane Katrina and the Joplin tornadoes and has participated in international crises in Morocco, Haiti and Poland.

“His experience and leadership have been fundamental during some of the most challenging health care crises of our time,” he said.

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Nominated for the FDA

The Republican leader also nominated surgeon Marty Makary as FDA commissioner on Friday, an organization that, in his opinion, has also “lost the trust of Americans and has lost sight of its main objective as a regulator.”

Makary will work under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s controversial election as Secretary of Health.

Among other things, he will be in charge of “adequately evaluating harmful chemicals that poison the food supply” and medicines and biological products that are supplied to young people, in order to “address the epidemic of chronic childhood diseases.”

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.