International
The Democratic leader in the US Senate calls for elections in Israel to replace Netanyahu
The leader of the Democrats in the United States Senate, Chuck Schumer, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday of being an obstacle to achieving peace in Gaza and called for elections to replace him.
These statements are the most critical message of a senior leader of the Democratic Party against the Israeli government since the beginning of the offensive on the Gaza Strip that started after the Hamas attack on October 7.
“Tentanyaho’s coalition no longer adapts to Israel’s needs after October 7. The world has changed radically since then and the Israeli people are being suffocated by a vision of Government stagnant in the past,” Schumer said to the plenary of the Upper House.
The leader of the majority in the Senate, the first Jew to hold that position, opined that Netanyahu is one of “the biggest obstacles to peace” along with Hamas, the Israeli far-right and the president of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmud Abbas.
For Schumer, the prime minister “has lost his way by putting his political survival as a priority,” having surrounded himself with far-right ministers and having tolerated the high number of victims in Gaza, which has caused “support for Israel worldwide to be at historic lows.”
“Israel cannot survive if it becomes an ous,” the senator warned.
Therefore, he opined that “new elections are the only way to facilitate a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel.”
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, supports the war against Hamas and continues to supply weapons for Israel, but has also pressured Netanyahu to take care of the lives of civilian Palestinians.
There is increasing concern within the Democratic Party about the electoral impact that support for the Gaza War may have in the United States presidential elections next November, in which Biden will seek his re-election.
The leader of the Republicans in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, lashed out against Schumer’s request for elections, a fact he considered “unprecedented.”
“In no way can we treat other democracies like this,” said McConnell, who opined that the Democratic Party is “anti-Israeli.”
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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