International
Putin did not set the alarm clock to follow the debate between Biden and Trump, according to the Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin did not set the alarm clock to follow the electoral debate between the President of the United States, Joe Biden, and Republican candidate Donald Trump, as reported today by the Kremlin.
“I don’t think you expect the president of Russia to set the alarm clock to follow the debate in the United States,” said Dmitri Peskov, spokesman for the Russian Presidency, during his daily telephone press conference.
Peskov stressed that this debate is not “an event that covers the agenda of the day” in Russia, where “there are many issues that are really important for our country.”
We have no intention of issuing an assessment of these debates. It is an internal matter of the United States. It is the electoral campaign of the United States,” he said, although he assured that the Kremlin will be duly informed about the statements made by both.
He insisted that Russia “never interfered in an electoral campaign in the United States,” of which she was accused in relation to the 2016 elections won by Trump.
“If you remember, there were several investigations in the United States. There, many accused Russia, launched very expensive campaigns and came to the conclusion that no interference had been detected. We don’t intend to do it this time either,” he said.
During the debate, Trump rejected the initiative presented two weeks ago by Putin to end the war in Ukraine, which involves the annexation of the four regions occupied by Moscow, the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the east and south of the country, and Kiev’s resignation from NATO entry plans.
Meanwhile, Biden again assured that Putin is “a war criminal” who has killed thousands of people, that he wants to re-establish the Soviet Union and that he will seek to invade new territories after Ukraine.
Putin has assured on a couple of occasions that the Kremlin prefers Biden’s victory, since he is a much more predictable leader than Trump, who took it as a compliment.
At the same time, he defended Trump from judicial persecution, a process he considered “political,” and denounced the fraud of the postal vote in the 2020 presidential elections.
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
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