International
Houthi rebels vow to intensify attacks after israeli bombardment of Yemen
Israeli warplanes bombed the Presidential Palace in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, on Sunday in a series of retaliatory strikes against Houthi rebels after they launched a cluster-bomb missile toward Israel. At least two people were killed and 35 others injured in the attacks, which also targeted two power plants and a fuel storage facility.
“The Houthi terrorist regime is paying a very high price for its aggression,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallantdeclared from Tel Aviv, standing alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. Netanyahu warned: “We will strike anyone who strikes us. Whoever plans to attack us, we will attack.”
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the strikes destroyed the military complex housing the Presidential Palace, as well as the Haziz and Assar power plants and a fuel depot allegedly used for Houthi military operations. According to the IDF, the operation was launched in response to “repeated missile and drone attacks” from Yemen against Israeli territory.
Last Friday, Houthi forces fired, for the first time, a missile equipped with cluster munitions — a weapon banned under international law — which hit a residential home in the Israeli city of Ginaton. Although there were no casualties, security sources confirmed the projectile was only partially intercepted, raising concerns about the Houthis’ growing long-range strike capabilities.
In response, Houthi leaders accused Israel of attempting to “boost the morale of its settlers” through its airstrikes, vowing that their offensive “will continue in support of Gaza.” Hezam al-Asad, a senior member of the Ansar Allah political bureau, warned that operations against Israel “will escalate” and stressed that the movement “will not be intimidated.”
Houthi officials reported that the strikes destroyed the Haziz power plant, which supplied electricity to hospitals and homes across Sanaa, resulting in a widespread blackout.
“We hold the Zionist enemy and its U.S. partner fully responsible for this heinous crime and for the loss of innocent lives,” the Houthi government said in a statement. They accused Israel of “launching an open war against the Arab and Islamic nations” and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause, declaring: “Supporting Palestine is a religious, national, and humanitarian duty.”
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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