International
Trudeau warns that Trump returns to power with “clearer ideas” of what he wants to do
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned on Monday that Donald Trump’s second term will be more difficult because the Republican leader’s team has “clearer ideas of what they want to do immediately” and that the threat of tariffs to Canada and Mexico is “serious.”
Trudeau, who on November 30 traveled unexpectedly to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump, explained at an event in the city of Halifax (Canada) that in relation to the first presidency of the Republican leader (2017-2021), “this time it will be different.”
“It’s going to be a little more difficult. They arrive with clearer ideas of what they want to do immediately than last time,” he said.
He also pointed out that Trump’s threat to immediately impose 25% of tariffs on Canada and Mexico must be seriously considered and that it would be “devastatinging” for the Canadian economy.
Trudeau, concerned about possible Trump measures
“But they would also pose real problems for Americans. The United States buys 65% of its oil from Canada, large amounts of electricity and all natural gas exported by Canada. They depend on our steel and aluminum, as well as a variety of agricultural imports,” he said.
The Canadian ruler added that all those products would be more expensive for Americans and that Trump won the presidential election in November “with the commitment to improve the lives of Americans and make it more affordable.”
Canada would also impose tariffs
Finally, Trudeau said that if Trump imposes tariffs, Canada will do the same and in products chosen to harm the president-elect, a strategy that already worked during the first term of the American.
“Of course, as we did eight years ago, we will respond to unfair tariffs in various ways. We are looking at the appropriate way to respond but last time, our reaction to unfair tariffs on steel and aluminum ended up eliminating them,” he said.
“It was the fact that we put tariffs on bourbon, Harley-Davidson (motorcycles), ketchup and other things that were carefully chosen for their political impact on the president and his colleagues. But we know that when Donald Trump says something, he is serious. And at the same time we know that his approach will be challenging to destabilizing,” 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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