International
“Corruption is betrayal”: Sheinbaum defends armed corces’ values in Veracruz
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated on Saturday that defending the country’s sovereignty requires values rooted in both individuals and institutions—values she said the Armed Forces possess. Her remarks came amid an ongoing investigation involving senior Navy officials accused of participating in a fuel smuggling network known as “huachicol fiscal.”
Sheinbaum delivered her speech in the port city of Veracruz, during a ceremony marking the 204th anniversary of the founding of the Mexican Navy and the 201st anniversary of the 1824 Federal Constitution, the first republican charter that established the nation’s three branches of government.
“The Mexican Armed Forces uphold honor, which demands integrity and reminds us that every action represents our nation; loyalty, which means absolute faithfulness to the people and the homeland; duty, which drives us to fulfill our mission without hesitation; patriotism, which is love for the nation expressed through dedication and sacrifice; and honesty, the foundation that gives meaning and strength to all other values—because without it, nothing endures,” Sheinbaum said.
She emphasized that corruption is the opposite of honesty, describing it as “a betrayal of all values and an act of disloyalty.” She insisted it “must have no place in our institutions and must be firmly punished.”
Her statements come after revelations of a corruption network allegedly led by Vice Admiral Manuel Roberto Farías Laguna, the detained nephew-in-law of former Navy Secretary Rafael Ojeda Durán (2018–2024), a close ally of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The case also involves ten naval officers and customs officials.
“The loyalty we owe to the homeland also means loyalty to our values and to the truth,” Sheinbaum concluded, calling for honesty to be upheld as a core principle of public service.
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.
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