International
U.S. Congress reveals a budget that cuts aid to UNRWA and strengthens the border
A group of legislators from the US Congress revealed on Thursday a budget agreement valued at $1.2 trillion that cuts aid to the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and strengthens the border with Mexico with more agents and funds for surveillance.
The budget package amounts to that amount because it aims to finance for the rest of the fiscal year, until September 30, such important departments as Defense, to which 886 billion dollars would be allocated, 3% more than last year.
Legislators are now entering a race against the clock to give the green light to the project before midnight on Friday, when the deadline for approving a new budget expires.
If it does not reach enough votes, the Administration must cease its activities, when it runs out of funds, something that in the United States is known as the “government closure.”
The legislative text reached after intense negotiations between leaders of the Republican party and the Democrat of both Houses and includes concessions to conservatives, such as the increase in the budget for “border security” and the withdrawal of United States funds from UNRWA until March 2025.
At the end of January, Washington “temporarily” paused funding to the UN agency, after Israel denounced that some of UNRWA employees were allegedly linked to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
The United States is the main donor of this UN agency, which provides assistance to the inhabitants of the Palestinian territories, including Gaza and the withdrawal of funding from the agency was described as “inhuman” by the Secretary General of Amnesty International, Agnes Callamard.
The agency opened an investigation to investigate these complaints and after a preliminary report was known, where it was concluded that the agency respects the “neutrality” principle, while Canada and Sweden decided to restore their financial support, which they had removed following the U.S. decision.
One of the points to reach the budget agreement was the financing of the Department of Homeland Security, because migration has become an important issue.
The project includes an increase in the capacity of detention centers for migrants, up to 42,000 beds, as well as money to hire more workers of the Border Patrol, increasing the staff by about 7,000 agents.
In turn, he proposes to reduce federal aid to non-profit organizations that help migrants by 20%, an idea that came from Republican legislators, who accuse these groups of “incenting” migration.
The text also indicates granting 12,000 special visas for Afghan citizens who have collaborated with the U.S. Government during the war in this country.
On the other hand, the agreement increases the salary of the military by 5.2% and allocates 300 million dollars in military aid to Ukraine, through the Pentagon’s Security Assistance program.
To be approved, the project needs the support of two-thirds of the Lower House. Members of the ultra wing of the Republican party, called Caucus de la Libertad, have said that they disagree.
International
Zelenski urges global action after russian ballistic missile strike
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski called on the international community Thursday to “respond” to Russia’s ballistic missile strike on Ukraine, which he said has heightened the “escalation and brutality” of the conflict.
“The world must react. So far, there has been no strong response,” Zelenski lamented in a social media statement.
“We must act. We must pressure. We must push Russia towards real peace, which is only achievable through strength,” he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Thursday that Russia had launched a new type of hypersonic ballistic missile against Ukraine in its “non-nuclear configuration.”
International
Elon Musk plans sweeping cuts to U.S. bureaucracy and spending
Elon Musk has pledged massive cuts to government programs, subsidies, and bureaucracy in his anticipated role as a “State Efficiency” leader, according to an article published Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal.
The billionaire entrepreneur plans to target hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending, including funds for public broadcasting and Planned Parenthood. Musk called government bureaucracy an “existential threat” to American democracy.
Teaming up with fellow businessman and Trump ally Vivek Ramaswamy, Musk aims to streamline federal regulations and implement significant administrative and cost reductions.
“We are entrepreneurs, not politicians. We will serve as external volunteers, not federal officials or employees,” Musk and Ramaswamy stated in the article.
International
Putin warns of escalation, suggests strikes on western weapon suppliers
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that the conflict in Ukraine is taking on the characteristics of a “global war,” warning that Russia might target Western nations supplying Ukraine with weapons used in attacks on Russian territory.
These remarks come after a day of heightened tensions, during which Russia launched a state-of-the-art medium-range missile designed to carry a nuclear warhead. However, this particular missile was loaded with conventional explosives.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the missile strike, calling it the action of a “deranged neighbor” using Ukraine as a “military testing ground.”
Earlier, Ukraine accused Russia of attacking the central-eastern city of Dnipro with a missile exhibiting “all the characteristics” of an intercontinental missile, an unprecedented development in the ongoing conflict.
Zelenski urges global action after russian ballistic missile strike
Elon Musk plans sweeping cuts to U.S. bureaucracy and spending
Putin warns of escalation, suggests strikes on western weapon suppliers
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