International

The Libyan government controls the situation in Tripoli after violent clashes

The Tripoli Executive considered controlled on Tuesday the security situation in the Libyan capital, which last night was the scene of violent clashes between militias after the death of Abdel Ghani al Kikli, leader of the head of the powerful Libyan militia Stability Support Apparatus (SSA).

Mahmoud Hamza’s Brigade 444, affiliated with the Tripoli Military District, and Abdul Salam Zubi’s 111th Brigade, attached to the Ministry of Defense, took the SSA bastions after the militia personnel fled.

The Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GUN), Abdulhamid Dbeiba praised the Ministries of the Interior and Defense, “for their important achievements in establishing security and imposing state authority in the capital.”

“Today’s achievements confirm that regular institutions are able to protect the homeland and preserve the dignity of citizens,” Debeiba said on his social networks.

The head of the powerful Libyan militia Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) Abdel Ghani al Kikli, known as ‘Gheniwa’, died this Monday in the clashes recorded in Tripoli, in a sudden military escalation.

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The capital was the scene of an intense exchange of shots and explosions of heavy artillery, which forced the evacuation of areas near the airports and the suspension of activity in educational centers for this Tuesday.

Military operations were also recorded in the city of Garián, controlled by the SSA, while Libyan forces took control of the headquarters of Battalion 555 affiliated with the Kikli and all the elements inside fled.

In the early evening, the GUN urged citizens to stay in the homes, before the military mobilization with convoys arriving from Zawiya, Zintan and Misrata.

For its part, the UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL), which had already warned in the morning about military movements in the Libyan capital, urged all parties to “cease fire immediately” and warned that “attacks against civilians or civilian property can constitute war crimes”.

The Emergency Medicine and Libyan Support Center today recovered six bodies in the Abu Salim neighborhood, in southern Tripoli.

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According to a statement from the center, the bodies, whose identity is still unknown, were located by the Corpse Recovery Unit in the streets near the epicenter of the conflict.

For its part, the University Hospital of Tripoli reported that five citizens were injured in a mild and moderate state, including one who had to undergo surgery.

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.