International

Cuba recognizes “very strong” damage to houses and infrastructure due to the passage of Rafael

The Cuban Government recognized in its first damage assessment after the passage through the west of Hurricane Rafael Island with category 3 (of five) on the Saffir-Simpson scale that the effects on housing, infrastructure and agriculture have been “very strong.”

The cyclone made landfall at 16:20 local time (21:20 GMT) off the south coast of the province of Artemisa and left Cuban territory more than two hours later on the north coast of Pinar del Río.

The Meteorological Institute (Insmet) of Cuba measured winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour and recorded intense rains, up to 200 millimeters (or liters per square meter).

“Great effects” by Rafael in Cuba: Díaz-Canel

The country’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, wrote on social networks at the end of a meeting of the National Defense Council that “great effects have been recorded in Artemisa, Mayabeque and Havana,” three western provinces.

He also advanced that he plans to visit from this Thursday “the territories most impacted by the hurricane.” “A new recovery process is already beginning,” he said.

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For his part, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero added in a special intervention on state television that the damage has been “very strong in housing, infrastructure and agriculture.”

He also explained that the total blackout caused in the country by this cyclone, the second event of “zero national energy coverage” in just two weeks, is still to be evaluated due to inclement weather.

Urgent repairs

To the technical complexity of the restoration of the National Electric Service (SEN) must be added the physical repair of cables and poles damaged by strong winds, explained in this regard on social networks the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Mined), which demanded “time” for recovery.

“Work is underway to create electrical subsystems in central and eastern Cuba. In the West this process will be slower, the necessary lines and electrical installations must be reviewed,” said the Mined.

Marrero concluded his speech by saying: “Rest assured that we will recover and get ahead. Until victory always!”

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Rafael has affected more than four million Cubans and its ravages will begin to be visible from this Thursday.

This is the second hurricane to touch Cuba so far this year. The previous one, Oscar, passed through the northeastern end of the island a little over two weeks ago and left 8 dead, damaged 12,000 homes and 13,000 hectares of damaged crops.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.