International
Two replicas of 4.0 and 4.2 shake southern Peru, after a magnitude 7 earthquake
Two earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 and 4.2 shook southern Peru in the early hours of this Friday, less than an hour after another 7.0 earthquake shook the department of Arequipa and the neighboring regions.
The Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP) detailed on social network X that the two earrtakes occurred in the coastal district of Yauca and its neighbor Lomas.
The first tremor, of magnitude 7.0, occurred at 0:36 (5:36 GMT) with an epicenter 54 kilometers southwest of the coastal district of Yauca, where last Saturday there were two earthquakes of magnitude 5.7 and 5.
Shortly after, the Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation of the Peruvian Navy issued a tsunami alert for the area.
However, shortly after he detailed that “the arrival of the first wave is recorded at 12:51 a.m. from a height of the order of 15 centimeters.”
The Prime Minister, Gustavo Adrianzén, told the RPP station that the tsunami alert has already been lifted.
Peru is located in a region known as the Pacific Firebelt, where more than 80% of the world’s seismic activity is produced.
The last devastating earthquake in the country occurred in front of the coastal city of Pisco in August 2007, when a movement of magnitude 7.9 hit that town and the entire southern region of Ica, with a balance of more than 500 deaths, as well as millionaire losses in infrastructure and housing.
The Prime Minister of Peru, Gustavo Adrianzén, reported that the earthquake has caused material damage but, so far, no fatalities have been reported.
“Thank God, until this time we have no fatalities registered,” Adrianzén told the RPP station before adding that the tsunami alert that was launched after the strong telluric movement, which had its epicenter in the Pacific Ocean, has also been ruled out.
Adrianzén expressed his solidarity with the populations affected by the earthquake and asked them for “tranquility”, because the authorities are already doing the evaluations to address any emergency.
“Yes, there has been an affectation in some properties,” he confirmed before ratifying that all the information that is available is still preliminary.
The prime minister reiterated his call for “calm and tranquility,” but always asked to maintain security measures since, despite a tsunami having been ruled out, it is possible that an abnormal swell will appear on the coast.
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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