International
The US pauses the delivery of Patriot and NASAM missiles to other countries to send them to Ukraine
The United States announced on Thursday that it decided to paralyze the delivery of Patriot anti-missile systems to other countries so that that weaponry can go to Ukraine as quickly as possible.
“Many of our allies and partners have also taken historic steps, but obviously more is needed and it is needed now,” the spokesman of the White House National Security Council, John Kirby, said in a call with journalists.
Consequently, he added, the US Executive “has made the difficult but necessary decision to change the priorities of the short-term plan of deliveries of military sales to other countries so that they go to Ukraine instead.”
Ukraine will receive “in the coming weeks, before the end of the safe summer,” those systems that were originally going to go to other countries.
The Joe Biden Administration pointed out that they are talking to the affected nations, whose name was not specified, to evaluate the new delivery times. “We will do our best to minimize that delay as much as possible,” the spokesman said.
Kirby did state that “this reprioritization will not affect Taiwan and what Taiwan continues to need and receive from the United States for its self-defense.”
The decision is made to help Ukraine cope with Russian airstrikes.
“In recent months, Russia has accelerated its missile attacks against cities and civilian infrastructure. They are trying to destroy Ukraine’s energy system. This is not a new tactic for them, but they have certainly applied much more energy and effort,” he said.
The Ukrainian Army, he added, “desperately needs additional air defense capabilities” and the United States takes its associations “very seriously,” “especially when a partner like Ukraine is at such a crossroads.”
Kirby pointed out that the response received from the nations affected by the change of military strategy in the short term has been generally positive.
This same Thursday, Romania said that it will deliver a Patriot long-range ground-to-air missile system to Ukraine so that it can better defend itself from “the constant and massive attacks of Russia,” in the words of the presidency of the Balkan country.
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.
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
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