International
More than 2,000 protests in the US will condemn Donald Trump’s “authoritarianism” this Saturday
More than 2,000 events have been called this Saturday in the 50 US states to coincide with a controversial military parade that President Donald Trump wanted to hold in Washington and protest against what the organizers describe as “authoritarianism” by his Government.
The parade, which coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday, has been criticized by the conveners and other figures who consider that the president seeks to feed his ego with an event that is actually celebrated to honor the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US Army.
The day of protests that was baptized as ‘Day Without Kings’, because the groups behind them consider that the president is acting as one since his return to the White House, and they also highlight that Trump is using the Army, which was founded to face precisely the British monarchy, to cover himself with glory.
“On June 14, Flag Day, President Trump wants tanks in the streets and a television display of domination for his birthday. A show that aims to simulate strength. But true power is not displayed in Washington. It rises everywhere,” reads the call for the ‘Day without kings’.
“From the blocks of cities to small towns, from the steps of the courts to community parks, we take measures to reject authoritarianism and show the world what democracy really is like,” adds the message published on the internet.
No act has been called in Washington on purpose to try to prevent what happens in the capital from being “the center of gravity” and it is expected that the protest in Philadelphia, a city 200 kilometers northeast of the capital and considered the cradle of the independence movement and American democracy, will be one of the largest that will be held tomorrow.
“On June 14, we will present ourselves where he is not: to say no to the thrones, no to the crowns, not to the kings,” concludes the organizers’ message.
Both the military parade and the ‘Day without kings’ also come after a tumultuous week in which protests against the aggressive raids against migrants of the Trump Administration have caused protests and riots in Los Angeles since last June 6, and that have found support in other cities with hundreds of arrests throughout the country.
Trump has said that in Washington it will be held “in style” and has warned that “if there is any protest, when they come out they will face a very powerful force.”
The president also decided to mobilize thousands of National Guard troops to suppress the Los Angeles protests, a decision questioned by local authorities, who consider that the riots were under control and that Trump’s order only sought to increase tension.
A federal judge ruled yesterday that the president’s decision is illegal, although a court of appeals suspended the order hours later.
For his part, the governor of the state of Texas, Greg Abbott, has followed in Trump’s footsteps and on Thursday announced that he has ordered the deployment of more than 5,000 National Guard troops, along with more than 2,000 state police officers, to respond to the ongoing demonstrations and in preparation for those called for the ‘Day without kings’.
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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