International
Biden approves the speech of the Democratic senator who called for elections in Israel
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, expressed on Friday his approval of the speech of the leader of the Democrats in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, who called for elections in Israel considering that his Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is an “obstacle to peace.”
“He gave a good speech and I think he expressed a serious concern shared not only for him, but for many Americans,” Biden told the press when he started a meeting in the White House with the Prime Minister of Ireland, Leo Varadkar.
The US president also confirmed that Schumer had previously informed the White House that he was going to deliver that speech before the plenary of the Senate.
Schumer, the first Jew to occupy the position of leader of the majority of the Senate, accused Netanyahu on Thursday of being one of the biggest “obstacles to peace” in the region and called for elections to be held in Israel.
It is the most critical message of a senior leader of the Democratic Party against the Israeli government since the beginning of the offensive against the Gaza Strip, which started after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7
The Likud party, led by Netanyahu for decades, responded to Schumer that Israel “is not a banana republic, but an independent and proud democracy.”
The relationship between Netanyahu’s far-right government and Joe Biden’s Democratic Administration is going through a moment of tension due to Israel’s blockade of the entry of humanitarian aid by land into the Gaza Strip.
The United States supports Israel’s war against Hamas by sending weapons, but is expressing increasing frustration with the humanitarian consequences of the offensive.
There is also increasing concern in the Democratic Party about the impact that the Gaza War may have on the November U.S. presidential elections, in which Biden will seek his re-election.
During the meeting with Biden, the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) claimed the need for “a ceasefire as soon as possible” in Gaza that allows the entry of food and medicine, as well as the exit of the hostages from Hamas.
“We need to talk about how we can make this happen and also move towards the two-state solution,” Varadkar added.
The Irish Prime Minister met with Biden in compliance with the tradition of visiting the United States on the occasion of St. Patrick’s Day, which will be celebrated next Sunday.
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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