International
Salvadoran Congress decrees emergency due to storm Pilar
October 30 |
The Congress of El Salvador declared on Sunday a state of emergency throughout the country in view of the imminent arrival of tropical storm Pilar from the Pacific Ocean, expected for next Tuesday.
“Declare a state of national emergency, throughout the territory of the republic for a period of 15 days”, states the decree that allows activating different institutions and mobilizing funds to address eventualities caused by the tropical storm.
Hours before, the General Directorate of Civil Protection of El Salvador decided to declare a red alert due to the proximity of storm Pilar, which could cause heavy rains, strong winds and high tides.
The governmental entity informed Sunday night that it leaves without effect the orange alert established for the Pacific coastal zone of the Central American country and the Metropolitan Area of San Salvador, and the yellow alert for the rest of the country.
According to the Observatory of Threats of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN), the storm Pilar is approaching the southwest coast of El Salvador and already brings some rain in certain parts of the country, which allows predicting the extension and impact of the meteor.
Authorities have come to coordinate civil and economic protection efforts, while advising the population to travel with caution on public roads, drive carefully at night and in the rain, and refrain from crossing rivers, streams, canals or “any stream of water that is generated during a storm”.
The Ministry of Education (Mined) reported the suspension until next Wednesday, November 1, of all on-site and virtual classes, both in the public and private sectors, as well as academic activities of all kinds, including for public and private higher education institutions.
So far, no casualties or material damages have been reported due to the rains in the last hours, especially in the east and west of El Salvador.
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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