International
25 provinces placed on rain alert in Dominican Republic
December 20 |
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) of the Dominican Republic placed 25 provinces on alert on Tuesday, including four in red, 13 in yellow and eight in green due to heavy rainfall caused by a cold front.
The system that has been affecting the country since the day before has already caused heavy rains, and up to 120 millimeters of water is expected to fall in Santo Domingo, warned the COE directors in a press conference.
The director of this organization, Juan Manuel Méndez, warned the population not to cross rivers, streams and creeks which have a larger than usual water course. He also reported that the Valdesia dam is almost at the point of overflowing.
Méndez reported that the provinces of San Cristóbal, Perabia, the National District and the province of Santo Domingo are on red alert. On yellow alert are María Trinidad Sánchez, Puerto Plata, Espaillat, Hermanas Mirabal, Monseñor Nouel, San Pedro de Macorís, Santiago, La Vega, Monte Plata, Azua, Duarte, Espaillat and Samaná. Only Sanchez Ramirez, La Altagracia, Hato Mayor, San Juan, Barahona, Independencia, Pedernales and El Seibo are on green alert.
The COE confirmed that the rains will last between 24 and 36 hours more, and that they will be felt more strongly in the capital of the country during the night of today. The Ministry of Public Administration (MAP), in response to this announcement, has already suspended work in the public sector in the regions under red alert.
Likewise, the agency also alerted small and medium-sized boats to follow the weather conditions, since the frontal system is almost stationary over Haiti and is accompanied by a pre-frontal trough over the Dominican Republic.
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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