International

Uruguayans mourn José Mujica as thousands gather at Legislative Palace

The public began entering Montevideo’s Legislative Palace on Wednesday afternoon to pay their final respects to former Uruguayan President José Mujica, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 89.

After the arrival of Mujica’s coffin at the seat of the Legislative Branch around 1:15 p.m. local time (4:15 p.m. GMT), the wake was initially closed for a few hours to a select group of individuals.

Among those present were Mujica’s widow, Lucía Topolansky, as well as Uruguay’s President Yamandú Orsi and Vice President Carolina Cosse.

Around 3:00 p.m. local time (6:00 p.m. GMT), the general public—many of whom had formed a long line hours earlier—began entering through the Libertador Avenue entrance to say goodbye to the former leader. As they passed the coffin, many left offerings such as flowers and flags.

The wake will continue at the Legislative Palace until midnight on Thursday (3:00 a.m. GMT), when the building will temporarily close.

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The doors will reopen at 8:00 a.m. local time (11:00 a.m. GMT), though the total duration of the wake has not yet been confirmed. It has been officially announced, however, that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Chilean President Gabriel Boric will arrive in Montevideo on Thursday to attend the ceremony.

Earlier in the day, at 10:00 a.m. local time (1:00 p.m. GMT), a funeral procession departed from the Executive Tower toward the Legislative Palace, accompanied by thousands. Along the route, it passed the headquarters of the Tupamaros National Liberation Movement, the Popular Participation Movement, and the Broad Front.

Pepe Mujica passed away on Tuesday in Montevideo, nearly one week before his 90th birthday, a year after being diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his esophagus.

“With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of our compañero Pepe Mujica. President, activist, leader, and guide. We will miss you dearly, old friend. Thank you for everything you gave us and for your deep love for your people,” President Orsi wrote on X.

On April 29 of last year, Mujica publicly revealed he had a tumor in his esophagus. Shortly after, he confirmed it was malignant and underwent radiotherapy in Montevideo. Earlier this year, he told local weekly Búsqueda that the cancer had spread to his liver.

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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.