International

The left proposes in France the veteran communist Chassaigne as a candidate to preside over the Assembly

he left-wing coalition of the New Popular Front (NFP), in arduous negotiations to form a Government, managed on Wednesday to agree to present tomorrow, Thursday, a common candidate for the presidency of the French National Assembly, the communist veteran André Chassaigne.

Chassaigne, 74, is the name agreed by La Francia Insumisa (LFI), the Socialist Party (PS), the ecologists and the French Communist Party (PCF) to dispute the fourth hierarchical position of the French State that will be elected this Thursday at the opening of the legislative work.

Deputy since 2002, the politician of Puy-de-Dôme would have about 190 votes, those of the NFP and its partners, ahead of those of the centrist alliance of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the National Association (RN) of Marine Le Pen, second and third groups of the Lower House, respectively.

“We have the collective legitimacy to preside over the Assembly,” Chassaigne told the press, who said that he will be “faithful” to the values of the four groups that make up the New Popular Front, which won the legislative elections of June 30 and July 7 by a few dozen seats.

For the deputy from the interior of France, his experienced profile and knowledge of the parliamentary intricays have endorsed him to be chosen by the left.

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The communist will have several rivals in the vote, the first two rounds decided by an absolute majority and, if there is no result, by a simple majority and a third.

On behalf of the macronist Renaissance aspires to repeat the position Yaël Braun-Pivet, president between 2022 and 2024, and the far-right Sébastien Chenu, among others, will also be presented.

Behind the scenes, it is speculated that Chenu may withdraw after the first round of voting, leaving the way free through an eventual abstention of Braun-Pivet, in case it achieves the votes of the classic right and its partners, which would surpass the left.

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.