International

Iran, Russia and Turkey will meet to discuss the conflict in Syria

The Foreign Ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey will meet at the end of this week to discuss the conflict in Syria, where rebel factions have launched a major offensive against the Damascus Government.

The meeting between the members of the so-called Astana Process – formed to end the Syrian civil war – will be within the framework of the Doha Forum to be held on December 7 and 8, according to the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchí and reported on Wednesday by the state agency IRNA.

Iran accuses Israel and the United States

Iran and Russia are allies of the Government of Syrian President Bashar al-Asad, while Turkey has supported armed opposition groups in recent years.

Araqchi will discuss with his counterparts from Russia and Turkey, Sergey Lavrov and Hakan Fidan, respectively, the situation in Syria, where Islamist insurgent factions began a broad military offensive in the northwest of the country on November 27.

Since then, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian colleague Masud Pezeshkian have reaffirmed their “unconditional” support for Al Asad.

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Iran has also accused the United States and Israel of reactivating violence in Syria, amid the conflict already existing in the Middle East.

Contacts with Arab countries

The Syrian government has launched a campaign of contacts with Arab countries, as well as with Iran, its main ally, in search of support, after the start of the broad offensive of Islamist factions.

This alliance is led by the Levante Liberation Agency, a former subsidiary of Al Qaeda in Syria.

It is also made up of pro-Turkish factions and together they have since managed to completely control the city of Idlib and most of Aleppo, the second largest after Damascus.

At the moment they continue their advance towards Hama, about 210 kilometers north of the capital.

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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.