International
Former Democratic senator Bob Menéndez is sentenced to 11 years in prison for corruption
Former Democratic senator for New Jersey Bob Menéndez, one of the most prominent Latino politicians in the United States, was sentenced today to eleven years in prison for corruption, in a sentence communicated this Wednesday by a federal judge in New York.
Judge Sindey Stein found Menéndez, 71, guilty of accepting bribes in the form of gold bars, a luxury car and briefcases full of money while presiding over the Foreign Relations Committee of the US Senate, where he amassed immense power and became an almost necessary channel for Latin American politics.
Menéndez led a whole plot of corruption fueled by the governments of Qatar and Egypt, the latter country from which his wife Nadine is originally, also accused in the same plot.
An FBI agent secretly recorded Nadine while offering her services as an intermediary to a senior Egyptian official.
When the FBI raided his home in New Jersey, he found 13 gold bars hidden in a safe in his room, as well as half a million dollars in bills scattered throughout the house and hidden even inside boots or in the pockets of the suits.
“You have been at the top of our political system,” the judge told you today when reading the sentence, “But somewhere along the way, you lost your way,” reported the media present at the hearing.
Visibly affected, Menéndez replied with a broken voice: “I have sat in this court for nine weeks, but you do not know me,” and went on to relate his childhood as a Cuban immigrant. “This is who I am, a man dedicated to serving others. I have lost everything that mattered to me, and for someone dedicated to public service, every day is a punishment.”
A historic member of the Democratic Party, Bon Menéndez carved out his career in his feud in New Jersey, a state he represented as a senator between 2006 and 2024; his own son Robert Menéndez is also a Democratic congressman.
Menéndez clung to his position as senator until last July, when his position became unsustainable when he was found guilty by a jury of the corruption crimes for which he was convicted today.
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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