International

Gabriel Boric closes January with an average approval rating of 27 %

Photo: DiarioUChile

February 1^st |

The President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, closed January with 27 % approval, three points less than the previous month. While disapproval reached 68 %, four points higher than the previous month, published the research firm Cadem in its latest survey.

This level of disapproval is the highest figure since he took office on March 11, 2022. In his first month in the Executive, Boric obtained 28 % of disapproval, but consecutively this percentage increased.

The following month it was 49 %, in May 53 %, in June 54 %, in July 57 %, in August 56 %, in September 57 %, in October 65 %, in November 63 % and in December 64 %.

Meanwhile, 68 % of the participants said that they have lost confidence in the leftist president and only 31 % trust him. When he came to power, Chileans gave him 54 % confidence.

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In addition, 86 % of Chileans surveyed considered that Boric does not have the experience to govern. Cadem also shared that 68 % believe that he does not have the capacity to solve the country’s problems either.

Another 66 % considered that he will not be able to lead the necessary changes at the right pace. A 68 % said that he does not have authority and leadership and an equal percentage said the same about the government team, ministers and undersecretaries. Likewise, 69 % indicated that he does not have the capacity to manage crises.

The worst evaluated areas of Boric’s government are the fight against crime and drug trafficking, with 78 % disapproval; inflation, with 76 % disapproval; and immigration, with 82 % disapproval.

Other areas of disapproval are education, with 61 %; health, with 67 %; economy and employment, with 68 %; the Mapuche conflict, with 69 %; and public order, with 76 %.

On January 11, Congress approved the fifteenth extension of the state of emergency which continues in the Araucanía region and two Biobío regions until mid-February. This allows the President to order the deployment of the military in areas where Mapuche protests are taking place.

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Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

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.