International
The extreme right pressures Netanyahu to start a war against Hezbollah
The far-right sector of the Israeli Government yesterday pressured the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, during the meeting of the Security Cabinet, to opt for a large-scale offensive against Hezbollah, in Lebanon where tension does not stop escalating.
These demands emerged after the message conveyed to the White House by the Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, during his visit to the United States this week, in which he indicated that Israel advocates a diplomatic solution with the pro-Irani militia before starting an open war.
“Have we not learned anything from the last 20 years of (diplomatic) agreements? In a year or two, they will rape our women and murder our children,” Ben Gvir said in leaked statements to several Israeli media.
“An agreement with Hezbollah will lead to another October 7. You can’t reach an agreement with the Nazis,” Ben Gvir said.
According to the Israeli newspaper The Times of Israel, Netanyahu said yesterday during the meeting that achieving a diplomatic agreement under “adequate conditions” is the best scenario for Israel.
The border between Israel and Lebanon is experiencing its biggest peak of tension since 2006 with an intense exchange of fire since October 8 that has been exacerbated in recent weeks.
Yesterday, Thursday, was another day marked by crossfire, since Hizbulah launched about thirty rockets against Israel after the death of three of its members in Israeli attacks.
This Friday, the Army reported the arrival of several anti-tank projectiles launched from Lebanon into the area of Galilee and specified that no victims have been reported.
“The soldiers identified terrorists who were operating within a military structure of Hezbollah in the Kfarkela area, in southern Lebanon. Our forces quickly attacked the structure and the terrorists,” they explain in a statement.
Hostilities in the partition have caused more than 60,000 Israelis living in the northern communities to remain evacuated more than eight months later, and the international community fears that this scenario will result in an open war.
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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