International

The number of deaths from heavy rains in southeastern Brazil rise to twelve

At least twelve people have died due to landslides and waterspouts caused by the rains that fall on the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espíritu Santo, in southeastern Brazil, official sources reported on Saturday.

The storms were unleashed during the night of this Friday and punished various areas of the southeast of the country, with a special incidence in the mountain region located about 100 kilometers from the city of Rio de Janeiro.

In that mountainous region, due to landslides caused by the rains, five of the deaths have been recorded in the last 24 hours and, according to the regional authorities, three other deaths occurred in different areas of Rio de Janeiro.

In addition, four people have died in Espíritu Santo, where the rains also began on Friday night and have continued strongly during this day.

The most serious situation has occurred in Petrópolis, one of the main cities in the fluminense mountains, where several houses have been practically walled up by a hill that collapsed due to the impact of the rains.

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The authorities tried this Saturday to clean up the mudslide that the streets have become and about 500 people have had to leave their homes in the face of the possibility of new landslides.

One of the evicted, Adriana Correia de Almeida, told EFE that both she and her family have moved to the residences of relatives, since her house is located next to a plot of land that, according to the authorities, can collapse at any time.

All of Rio de Janeiro was declared on “alert” due to the intense rains, and the authorities keep the members of the Fire and Civil Defense Corps in the starns, the same situation as in Espíritu Santo.

The weather service has warned that the storms will continue over the weekend and that they can spread to other areas of southeastern Brazil, such as the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, which are also suffering from heavy rains since this Friday.

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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.