Ukraine’s Zelenskyy calls for united US-Europe support against Russia
Ukraine’s president meets leaders at Munich Security Conference amid a push to end Russia-Ukraine war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for the United States and Europe to band together to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. Speaking on Friday at the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy also said the US, including former President Joe Biden’s administration, never saw Ukraine as a NATO member. Ukraine will need “security guarantees” before any talks with Russia, he said, as US President Donald Trump presses both countries to find a quick end to the three-year war. Shortly before sitting down with US Vice President JD Vance, Zelenskyy said he would only agree to meet in person with Russian President Vladimir Putin after a common plan is negotiated with US President Donald Trump. The roughly 40-minute meeting between Vance and Zelenskyy produced no major announcements detailing the way out of the deadliest war in Europe since World War II. “We want peace very much,” Zelenskyy said. “But we need real security guarantees.” Vance, for his part, said the Trump administration is committed to finding a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia. Advertisement Earlier this week, Trump upended years of steadfast US support for Ukraine with a phone call with Putin, after which Trump said the two leaders would likely meet soon to negotiate a peace deal. In Munich on Friday, some world leaders – including conservative party leader Friedrich Merz, who is seen as the likely next chancellor of Germany – sided with the Trump administration. “There was also agreement that the path to a lasting peace can only succeed in the closest coordination between America and Europe,” Merz said on the sideline of the conference. But there were more widespread concerns among other leaders at the summit. “There is concern that there may be a deal that Washington wants to do with Putin effectively excluding not just the Europeans but the Ukrainians too,” Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor James Bays said from Munich. But there was a stern warning from Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian dissident Alexey Navalny, who died in a Russian penal colony: ”Even if you decided to negotiate with Putin, just remember he will lie.” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also expressed concerns about the Trump administration’s proposal to reinstate Russia in the Group of Seven (G7) leading economies. “As G7 partners, we have repeatedly made it clear over the last three years following this brutal Russian full-scale invasion: There can be no normal cooperation with Russia,” Baerbock said. Just hours before Vance and Zelenskyy met, a Russian drone armed with a warhead struck the protective shell of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Kyiv region, site of the world’s worst nuclear accident in 1986. Advertisement Zelenskyy and the UN atomic agency confirmed that radiation levels remained unchanged. Zelenskyy later told reporters in Munich that the attack was a “very clear greeting from Putin and the Russian Federation to the security conference”. Adblock test (Why?)
Champions Trophy: Pakistan lose to New Zealand in warm-up series decider
New Zealand gears up for Champions Trophy by beating Pakistan in tri-nation series final. New Zealand has rounded off a perfect preparation for the Champions Trophy by thumping Pakistan by five wickets in a tri-nation series final. Five days before the teams meet again to open the Champions Trophy, host Pakistan was dismissed for 242, and New Zealand cruised to 243-5 in the 46th over on Friday. Fast bowler Will O’Rourke staked his claim for Wednesday’s opener with 4-43, and captain Mitchell Santner returned his best-ever economical one-day international figures of 2-20. None of the Pakistan batters got a half-century while Daryl Mitchell (57) and Tom Latham (56) led New Zealand to a third successive win in the tournament, clinched by Pakistan’s 16th wide delivery. New Zealand’s Tom Latham celebrates after scoring fifty [Fareed Khan/AP] The Black Caps had beaten both Pakistan and South Africa in group games in Lahore. “Different guys stepping up at different times is good, but it means nothing till we play that first game at the Champions Trophy,” Santner said. The teams will return to the same ground on Wednesday. “It [the pitch] was a bit slower than what we thought it would be,” Santner said. “We just wanted to put in a good spot and build pressure. If we take wickets up front, it makes the job easier in the middle.” Left-hander Latham, who came into the final without a run in both games at Lahore, could have been dismissed on 15 and 27. Advertisement However, he was dropped both times, and Pakistan didn’t go for an LBW video referral when replays suggested leg spinner Abrar Ahmed could have overturned the on-field umpire’s decision. Latham stretched his luck when he successfully reviewed an on-field out ruling for caught behind off Shaheen Shah Afridi. He reached his half-century off 60 balls. Latham and Mitchell put on 87 runs off 88 balls, dominating the spinners with sweep shots, before both fell late in the run chase. “He [Latham] is pretty relieved as well,” Santner said of Latham’s 64-ball knock. “We know how good he is, and it was just a matter of time. It was nice for different guys to fire as well.” Pakistan’s Naseem Shah, left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of New Zealand’s Devon Conway [Fareed Khan/AP] Devon Conway (48) played another meaningful knock after being inserted as an opener while Rachin Ravindra was rested after a head knock in the field during the first game against Pakistan. Conway laid the foundation in a 71-run partnership with Kane Williamson (34), who missed out on his third successive half-century. Conway top-edged Naseem Shah (2-43), which brought Latham to the crease to join Mitchell. New Zealand perfectly read the tacky pitch after losing the coin toss and pinned down Pakistan with pacers hitting tight lengths early and Santner drying out the runs in the middle overs. Babar Azam became the joint fastest batter to reach 6,000 ODI runs with Hashim Amla of South Africa but perished soon after the achievement in his 123rd innings. Advertisement O’Rourke struck in his second over when Fakhar Zaman (10) struggled to gauge the two-paced pitch and chipped an easy catch to square leg, and Saud Shakeel (eight) was clean-bowled by off-spinner Michael Bracewell in his first over inside the batting powerplay. Babar looked to shape up well for a big innings and struck cover-driven boundaries until he offered a tame return catch to Nathan Smith on 29. Babar threw down his bat in dismay as Pakistan’s most accomplished white-ball batter totalled 62 runs in three innings. Pakistan’s Khushdil Shah, left, in action during the tri-series ODI cricket final match [Fareed Khan/AP] Captain Mohammad Rizwan (46) and Salman Ali Agha (45) tried to revive the innings with an 88-run stand but couldn’t score at the pace they managed in the epic run chase against South Africa on Monday. O’Rourke clean-bowled Rizwan with a scrambled seam in his return spell, and Salman reverse-swept Bracewell to short third man, where Jacob Duffy caught the ball over his shoulders. “We wanted to bat first because we thought in the second half the pitch would be tough,” Rizwan said. “Credit goes to their bowlers. I tried to build a partnership with Agha, but they were not giving us the [loose] balls.” Tayyab Tahir (38 off 33 balls) tried to up the scoring rate after Rizwan and Salman fell within five overs, but he was caught at mid-wicket, and Santner chipped in with two wickets in one over to finish with impressive figures. All-rounder Faheem Ashraf, playing his first ODI since 2023, was dropped twice before O’Rourke bagged him and finished Pakistan’s below-par effort with the bat by claiming the last two wickets. Advertisement Adblock test (Why?)
Osasuna vs Real Madrid: LaLiga – preview, team news, kickoff time
Who: Osasuna vs Real MadridWhat: Spanish LaLigaWhere: El Sadar Stadium, Pamplona, SpainWhen: Saturday at 9pm (20:00 GMT)Follow Al Jazeera sport’s live text and photo commentary stream of the match. Defending champions Real Madrid have the chance to extend their lead at the top of LaLiga to four points, even if only for a couple of hours, when they travel to Osasuna. Second-placed Atletico Madrid, who drew 1-1 at Real in the sides’ last outing, are in action later on Saturday when they entertain Celta Vigo. Barcelona, who finished second in the league phase of the Champions League, are third in the Spanish top flight – two points behind the leaders. The Catalan club travel to high-flying Rayo Vallecano on Monday. Along with the home draw with Atletico, Real lost their previous league match in a shock defeat at Espanyol, adding to the pressure heading into the next fixture as LaLiga tightens at the top. The form book is not completely against Carlo Ancelotti’s Real, however, as his team have won their last two cup matches, including their 3-2 win at Manchester City in their Champions League playoff first-leg tie. Advertisement What did Ancelotti say about two winless LaLiga matches? “We are well motivated, and it’s an opportunity to keep the lead, which is our goal,” the Madrid manager told reporters on Friday. “It’s going to be a difficult game, obviously, but we did well in the last game, and I think we have to confirm it. “It’s a game where we have to repeat all the good things we have done in the game against City. “The quality of this team is never in doubt – this is the way forward. “This is where the season really starts.” 📊 DRAMA at the top and bottom of the #LALIGAEASPORTS standings! pic.twitter.com/42bDakX6Il — LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) February 13, 2025 Did Ancelotti offer any news on Vinicius Junior’s future at Real Madrid? Ancelotti said he is tired of answering questions about speculation linking forward Vinicius Jr with a move to Saudi Arabia and instead he wanted to focus on how well the player was performing. Vinicius is believed to be close to signing a new contract with Real, but a rumoured move to Saudi Arabia was once again the main focus at the news conference before Saturday’s LaLiga game away to Osasuna. “So many questions. Am I tired of this topic? Yes. Am I worried? No. Do I see him happy? Yes,” Ancelotti said. “We are happy with him. There is nothing more to add than what I have added a week or two weeks ago. We don’t talk about this topic here. He doesn’t talk about it either. “I see him as the same old Vinicius with a lot of desire to do things right. He has done it very well in the last game.” Real Madrid’s players emerge from the tunnel at Man City to see a tifo that reads, ‘Stop crying your heart out,’ with a picture of Rodri kissing the Ballon d’Or trophy, which he won over Real’s Vinicius Junior [Michael Regan/Getty Images] Did the Rodri banner at Man City upset Vinicius? That last game for Real was a 3-2 away win over City on Tuesday when Vinicius was named player of the match. Advertisement The Brazilian had been the target of a banner showing City midfielder Rodri with the Ballon d’Or trophy with the caption “Stop crying your heart out” in reference to the Real forward saying he believed he should have won the award. “I see him very motivated, especially because of what he has done in the game against City, where he had a lot of pressure, and he has endured this pressure very well, making a difference in the game,” Ancelotti said. “Whether he has received an offer or not, I can tell you what I see here, a happy player who wants to do things well and make history with this club.” What are Osasuna’s chances against Real? With Real embroiled in a battle for European survival, Osasuna are hoping to capitalise when the LaLiga leaders arrive at El Sadar. Los Blancos host Premier League champions Man City in the second leg of their Champions League playoff on Wednesday. Osasuna, 2023 Copa del Rey runners-up, are ninth in the league but often rise to the occasion when Spain’s biggest sides arrive in Pamplona. In September, they romped to a 4-2 victory over Barcelona, inflicting what was the Catalans’ first league defeat of the season. Croatian striker Ante Budimir netted twice and with 12 goals trails only Barcelona duo Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha and Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe in the standings. In January, Budimir became Osasuna’s record overseas goal scorer and has netted 62 for the club since first arriving on loan in the 2020-2021 season from Mallorca before signing permanently. Ante Budimir made his move to Osasuna from Mallorca permanent in 2021 [Vincent West/Reuters] Budimir, 33, netted a brace against Real Sociedad at the beginning of this month to earn his team an impressive victory at El Sadar that ended a nine-game winless run in LaLiga. Advertisement “[Budimir] is making history. He’s doing his thing, and he keeps doing it. He’s not going to stop,” Osasuna coach Vicente Moreno said. “He works hard every day and can go in [good or bad] runs of form, but he’s a player who has earned his place, and for us, it’s great he’s putting them away.” The preceding negative streak was started by a 4-0 defeat by Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, which Osasuna will try to avenge on Saturday. 10 – Only Ousmane Dembélé (15) has scored more goals in all competitions than Kylian Mbappé (10) in 2025 among players in Europe’s top five leagues. On.#MCIRMA #UCL pic.twitter.com/bw2SF50Sy6 — OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 11, 2025 Osasuna team news Osasuna will be missing suspended key centre back Flavien Boyomo, who scored their late equaliser on Monday at Mallorca. Real Madrid team news Madrid have a raft of
Winners and losers: Who came out on top — and who didn’t — in the Texas House’s committee assignments
There were only so many chair positions to go around, with 30 committees for 88 Republicans, making it inevitable that some would miss out on plum appointments.
Judge extends order blocking Musk’s DOGE team from Treasury payment system
A federal judge on Friday extended a temporary order that blocks Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team from accessing payment systems within the Treasury Department. The extension comes after 19 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over DOGE’s access to the payment system, which has information about Americans’ Social Security, Medicare and veterans’ benefits, tax refund information, and much more. The lawsuit claims the Musk-run agency illegally accessed the Treasury Department’s central payment system at the Trump administration’s behest. TREASURY ‘MISTAKENLY’ GAVE MUSK DOGE WORKER ABILITY TO CHANGE PAYMENTS SYSTEM: COURT DOCS The lawsuit was filed in New York by New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office and includes attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. TREASURY DEPARTMENT SAYS DOGE WILL HAVE ‘READ ONLY’ ACCESS TO PAYMENT SYSTEMS IN LETTER TO CONGRESS U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan on Friday said that she wasn’t going to issue a ruling yet on the attorneys general request for a longer preliminary injunction, leaving the temporary order issued last Saturday in place. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told FOX Business last week that the concerns about DOGE’s access to the Treasury Department are not valid. “DOGE is not going to fail,” he said. “They are moving a lot of people’s cheese here in the capital, and when you hear this squawking, then some status quo interest is not happy.” He continued, “At the Treasury, our payment system is not being touched. We process 1.3 billion payments a year. There is a study being done — can we have more accountability, more accuracy, more traceability that the money is going where it is? But, in terms of payments being stopped, that is happening upstream at the department level.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The newly-created DOGE aims to cut government waste and has been given access to more than a dozen government agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Education and the Department of Labor.
DOGE says it dug up another $1.9 billion in taxpayer money ‘misplaced’ by Biden admin
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Elon Musk-led group tasked with eliminating wasteful spending, on Friday said it found $1.9 billion that was misplaced by the Biden administration. The funds were from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and have been recovered. “$1.9 billion of HUD money was just recovered after being misplaced during the Biden administration due to a broken process. These funds were earmarked for the administration of financial services, but were no longer needed,” a DOGE post on X stated. THROUGH THE EPA, WE CAN PURSUE ENERGY DOMINANCE, LEE ZELDIN SAYS | FOX NEWS VIDEO HUD Secretary Scott Turner worked with DOGE to “fix the issue” and “de-obligated the funds which are now available for other use by the Treasury.” On Thursday, Turner announced the creation of a DOGE task force within his agency. “We will be very detailed and deliberate about every dollar spent in serving tribal, rural and urban communities across America,” he said in a video posted on X. TRUMP TAPS FORMER NEW YORK REP LEE ZELDIN TO LEAD EPA Turner said his team had identified $260 million in savings just two days prior. DOGE has identified billions of dollars in questionable spending. With the help of DOGE, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin said he has canceled a Biden-era $50 million environmental justice grant to an organization that believes “climate justice travels through a Free Palestine.” The EPA also sent $160 million to a Canadian electric bus manufacturer under the Biden administration, Zeldin said during a Thursday appearance on “The Story with Martha MacCallum.” He noted that the Biden administration sent the full amount to the manufacturer, rather than making payments along the way as school buses were being produced. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Since receiving the money, he added, the company has declared bankruptcy.
Justice Department moves to drop case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams
Federal prosecutors on Friday asked a judge to drop the Justice Department’s case against New York Mayor Eric Adams, following the departure of several prosecutors who opted to resign rather than follow through with bringing the charges against Adams. The news comes after a federal prosecutor, Hagan Scotten, resigned Friday in a scathing letter, accusing top DOJ officials of looking for a “fool.” NYC MAYOR ADAMS, TRUMP BORDER CZAR HOMAN ANNOUNCE ‘GAME CHANGER’ FOR ICE ENFORCEMENT “Any assistant U.S. attorney would know that our laws and traditions do not allow using the prosecutorial power to influence other citizens, much less elected officials, in this way,” Scotten told acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove. Adams reacted to the news of his indictment being dropped Friday, clarifying that he had not made a deal to drop his case. “I want to be crystal clear with New Yorkers: I never offered — nor did anyone offer on my behalf — any trade of my authority as your mayor for an end to my case. Never,” Adam’s said in a statement released. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle called the decision to dismiss Adam’s’ indictment “yet another indication that this DOJ will return to its core function of prosecuting dangerous criminals, not pursuing politically motivated witch hunts. NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS SAYS HE WILL RUN FOR RE-ELECTION AS A DEMOCRAT “The fact that those who indicted and prosecuted the case refused to follow a direct command is further proof of the disordered and ulterior motives of the prosecutors. Such individuals have no place at DOJ,” Mizelle said in a statement released Friday. A federal judge still needs to sign off on the order before the case against Adams can be formally dismissed.
‘You’re my rock’: Politicians trade roses and thorns this Valentine’s Day
Political power couples celebrated their love on social media this Valentine’s Day — but not without a few jabs from opposing political parties. Several political organizations took to X to post Valentine’s Day messages trolling their rivals, including a meme from the White House with a message to illegal immigrants. “Violets are blue, come here illegally, and we’ll deport you,” the official Trump White House X account posted. Some X users embraced the deportation meme, while others found it insensitive. The top reply on the White House’s post says: “ROSES ARE RED VIOLETS ARE BLUE YOUR ANCESTORS WERE IMMIGRANTS AND SO ARE YOU LET’S EMBRACE OTHERS AND THEIR DREAMS TOO.” Chris LaCivita, a GOP political strategist and a former advisor to President Donald Trump, posted a photo of Trump with a bandage on his ear from the July 2024 assassination attempt captioned, “I’d take a bullet for you.” A Valentine from the Republican National Committee to the Democratic National Committee said: “Roses are red, violets are blue; We won seven Swing States, what did you do?” Democrats had some fun with their Valentine’s Day message, too, poking fun at the power dynamics at play between Elon Musk and Trump. “The left can’t meme,” multiple users replied to the Democrats’ post on X. Another X user replied with a photo of Trump and former first lady Jill Biden speaking at the reopening of the Notre Dame captioned: “Will you be my Valentine?” Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama celebrated 32 years of marriage with matching selfies across their social media accounts amid divorce rumors. “If there’s one person I can always count on, it’s you, @BarackObama. You’re my rock. Always have been. Always will be. Happy Valentine’s Day, honey!” Michelle said. Former President Joe Biden joined the love fest with a photo of his wife Jill sporting a “LOVE” jacket captioned, “Happy Valentine’s Day, Jilly!” PRINCE WILLIAM STEALS KISS FROM KATE MIDDLETON IN RARE VALENTINE’S DAY PHOTO Former second gentleman Doug Emhoff posted a photo wishing former Vice President Kamala Harris a happy Valentine’s Day, saying, “Grateful to be by your side through it all.” Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., fresh off being sworn in as Secretary of Health and Human Services, posted a photo on a hike with his wife, actress Cheryl Hines. He thanked her for “being my partner in this adventure.” SENATE CONFIRMS ROBERT F KENNEDY JR. TO SERVE AS TRUMP’S HEALTH SECRETARY “Thanking the love of my life Dina for her incredible support and love during the craziest year of our lives! Happy Valentine’s Day!” Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., said to his wife Dina, who served as deputy national security advisor during President Donald Trump’s first term. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, posted a charming photo with his valentine of 70 years. Meanwhile, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., wished his wife Mindy a happy first Valentine’s Day as a married couple. The 59-year-old was a longtime bachelor before announcing his engagement to a “lovely Christian girl” in January 2024. The couple got married in August at the Seacoast Church in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. California Gov. Gavin Newsom thanked his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, for championing the rights of Californians. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Jen. I’m lucky to call my best friend the love of my life. Thank you for all that you do to champion the rights of Californians. I love you,” Newsom said in a post. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., posted a throwback photo with his wife of 25 years, calling the life they built in Southwest Florida his “greatest blessing.” “My high school sweetheart, the mother of our four amazing kids, the love of my life, and Pennsylvania’s First Lady! Happy Valentine’s Day, Lori,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote in a post. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., wished his wife a happy Valentine’s Day with an Audrey Hepburn quote: “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other. New York City Mayor Eric Adams opted for a solo photo, holding up heart hands in his Valentine’s Day post and telling New Yorkers what he really loves is “making our city MORE affordable, building even MORE affordable housing, and making sure EVERY New Yorker has a job…so they can treat their boo to a night out.”
Trump so far has freed 11 hostages in his first month as president; Biden released around 70 in four years
President Donald Trump’s administration has secured the release of 11 U.S. hostages held by foreign governments since taking office less than one month ago, according to the White House. The Trump administration has emphasized arranging the release of U.S. hostages under his second administration and welcomed U.S. Marc Fogel, a U.S. history teacher who had been detained in Russia since 2021, back to the U.S. Tuesday. Other hostages released since Trump’s inauguration include six Americans detained in Venezuela, two Americans detained in Belarus and Israeli-American citizen Keith Siegel, who was held hostage by Palestinian militant group Hamas. There are at least two living American citizen hostages believed to be held in Gaza. By comparison, former President Joe Biden said in 2024 his White House secured the release of more than 70 hostages during his four years in office, according to an August 2024 statement. Fox News Digital didn’t find any available data to compare numbers from Biden’s first month in office. Trump claimed to have helped release 58 in his first term as president. ISRAELI PRESIDENT CALLS TRUMP A ‘TRUE FRIEND’ ON INAUGURATION DAY, PRAISES HIS WORK TO RELEASE HOSTAGES There were 46 American nationals known to be held captive in 16 different countries in 2024, according to the nonprofit Foley Foundation, which advocates for U.S. hostages and was named after James Foley, a U.S. journalist kidnapped while reporting in Syria in 2012 and killed by ISIS in 2014. That number is now likely closer to the low 30s after the recent releases of hostages in January and February. On Tuesday, Trump met with Fogel, who was arrested in August 2021 at a Russian airport for possessing drugs and was slated to serve a 14-year sentence. Fogel’s family said the drugs he had on him were medically prescribed marijuana. “I want you to know that I am not a hero in this at all,” Fogel said Tuesday after meeting Trump. “And President Trump is a hero. FREED ISRAELI HOSTAGE SPEAKS OUT FOR FIRST TIME “These men that came from the diplomatic service are heroes,” Fogel said. “The senators and representatives that passed legislation in my honor — they got me home — they are heroes.” Following Foley’s return and after announcing the release of another, unnamed hostage held in Belarus Wednesday, Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler said Trump “has made bringing Americans home a top priority, and people respond to that.” The names of most of the hostages released in February have not been publicly shared. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital about which hostages the U.S. was planning to release next. Just before Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20, both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration coordinated to secure a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which included provisions to release dozens of hostages on both sides. Biden and Trump separately boasted about their individual efforts to secure the deal, and State Department spokesman Matthew Miller described the Trump administration’s involvement as “critical” to getting the deal over the finish line. Trump also touted his administration’s involvement in a social media post Jan. 15, claiming it occurred “as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies.” Although Biden said the two teams had been “speaking as one team” during the negotiations, he also mocked suggestions that Trump was responsible for securing the ceasefire deal. “Who in the history books gets credit for this, Mr. President, you or Trump?” Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich asked Biden Jan. 15 after a White House news conference. ISRAEL RELEASES 90 PALESTINIAN PRISONERS AS PART OF CEASEFIRE DEAL TO FREE HOSTAGES “Is that a joke?” Biden said. When Heinrich said it was not, Biden replied, “Oh. Thank you.” The Associated Press and Fox News’ Emma Colton and Landon Mion contributed to this report.
Rubio greenlights $7M+ in waivers to keep border security efforts in Mexico alive amid funding freeze
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is using waivers to keep programs in Mexico and related to border security and anti-fentanyl efforts going amid a federal funding freeze – as he seeks to put pressure on Mexico to increase its efforts. A senior State Department official told Fox News Digital on Friday that Rubio has been granting waivers to the administration-wide pause on federal funding for efforts under the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Program. The INL program provides aid to border security agencies in other countries that could pose a threat to the U.S. if narcotics production, organized crime and terrorist activity are allowed to flourish. MEXICAN TROOPS BEGIN ARRIVING AT US-MEXICO BORDER FOLLOWING DEAL MADE TO PAUSE TRUMP-APPROVED TARIFFS “INL programs aim to reduce the entry of illegal drugs into the United States and minimize the impact of international crime on the United States and its citizens,” the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website says. That includes programs that target fentanyl smuggling. Illicit fentanyl, which can be fatal in tiny doses, is typically made in Mexico using Chinese precursors and then smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico land border. Fentanyl overdoses kill tens of thousands of Americans each year. Rubio recently completed a tour of Latin America, where he secured a number of commitments from foreign governments in terms of border security. The official said that INL programming has been coming back online in those countries since that trip. Reuters reported on Thursday that INL programming in Mexico had been halted, including programs that train Mexican authorities to find and destroy fentanyl labs and to stop precursor chemicals entering Mexico. But the State Department official disputed that, telling Fox News Digital that some Mexican programming has already been granted waivers. Specifically, there has been $5.2M in waivers approved to date for Mexico, with an additional $2.5 million pending resubmission. They said those waivers included funding for law enforcement in Mexico that has supported the extradition of transnational criminal organization members to the U.S. who have exported fentanyl and smuggled migrants into the U.S. Other programs include a wire intercept program and programs that assist with drug trafficking investigations of cartel members. MEXICO AGREES TO DEPLOY 10,000 TROOPS TO US BORDER IN EXCHANGE FOR TARIFF PAUSE The official said that announcements of those waivers have not been forthcoming because Rubio is planning on visiting Mexico and is hoping to secure additional commitments from Mexico on border security. “A new administration in the US has taken office, and we need increased commitments on the part of Mexico to assure us that they’re serious when it comes to stopping the flow of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs,” the official said. The official said there have been some waivers so far because the U.S. wants to show it is a reliable partner, but other programs are being reviewed and “we don’t want to turn them on yet until we know that our Mexican counterparts are going to promise various actions in return.” CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE One of the areas that the U.S. wishes to see further action on is the rejection of INL assistance by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who the U.S. previously said had refused to participate in a U.S. program to train and equip Mexican police. The new Sheinbaum administration has now approved part of that assistance, officials say, but has not approved the rest, or eliminated an approval system that caused the blockage. Officials believe Rubio’s visit will confirm Mexico’s commitment and that the announcement of resumption of more INL funding will follow. The push comes amid a migration-focused start by the Trump administration and the State Department. The administration has secured a number of border-related commitments from Mexico and Canada, as well as promises to accept migrants being returned from Venezuela and Colombia. The Associated Press contributed to this report.