International

Former Trump adviser Peter Navarro is released from prison to participate in the Republican convention

Peter Navarro, former adviser to former president and Republican candidate Donald Trump, was released from prison on Wednesday in Miami after a four-month sentence for failing to comply with a summons from Congress related to the investigation of the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 by Trumpistas.

According to the campaign of former President Trump (2017-2021), the former economic adviser of the White House plans to present himself at the Republican National Convention, which takes place from Monday in Milwaukee and ends this Thursday.

The former president, who was already proclaimed this Monday as the official Republican candidate, said last May that he would “absolutely” hire Navarro again in case of returning to the White House.

Navarro completed his sentence in a federal prison in Miami on Wednesday after the conviction he received in 2023 on two counts of contempt for not presenting documents related to the investigation and skipping his statement before the select committee of the House that investigated the assault on the Capitol.

Congressional investigators wanted to collect the testimony of the former White House official about his post-election actions, in which the current president of the United States, Democrat Joe Biden, was the winner.

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Navarro, who surrendered to the authorities on March 19, failed in his attempt to evade prison while appealing the sentence, after U.S. Supreme Court judge John Roberts dismissed a request made by his defense.

Throughout the judicial process, Navarro argued that he believed that, based on an invocation of executive privileges by then President Trump, he did not have to comply with the demands of the chamber committee.

Before entering the prison, Navarro pointed out that his sentence was “an unprecedented assault on the constitutional separation of powers.”

During the trial, the Prosecutor’s Office affirmed that Navarro demonstrated “total contempt” for the committee of the House of Representatives that investigated the insurrection and “for the rule of law.”

The former adviser prepared at least three reports related to the 2020 elections in which he cited versions of alleged fraud, and in January 2021 the then President Trump alluded to one of those reports when he summoned his followers to a protest in Washington, which ended in the temporary seizure of the Capitol by the protesters.

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For the assault on the Capitol he has also been sentenced to four months in prison for contempt Steve Bannon, Trump’s former head of strategy, however another court ruled that he could be released pending an appeal.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.