International

The fiscal and police team investigating the president of Peru, at the Government Palace of Lima

The team of prosecutors and police officers that entered around midnight on Friday at the home of the president of Peru, Dina Boluarte, arrived around 4.30 a.m. (9.30 GMT) this Saturday at the Government Palace of Lima, where it will continue with the proceedings of an open investigation against the ruler.

Anti-corruption prosecutors and agents of the High Complexity Crimes Investigation Division (Diviac) of the Peruvian National Police (PNP) arrived at the government headquarters, in the historic center of the Peruvian capital, after staying for more than five hours in the house of Boluarte, in the Lima district of Surquillo.

The participants in the operation broke the lock of the main door of the Boluarte house after their requests to access the property were not met. The ruler was not at home at that time.

Both the prosecutors and the police officers who intervened in the operation told the journalists that the investigation is confidential and they cannot offer more information about the investigations.

The entrance to the Boluarte house and the Government Palace is made as part of a preliminary investigation opened against Boluarte for the alleged commission of the crime of illicit enrichment.

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The Prime Minister of Peru, Gustavo Adrianzén, declared himself this Saturday “indignant” by the raid that the Prosecutor’s Office made on the president’s house and considered that there has been “an intolerable abuse of the dignity” of the Head of State.

“I am outraged by what happened, what has happened this midnight constitutes an intolerable abuse of the dignity of the presidency of the Republic and the nation it represents,” Adrianzén told the RPP station.

The prime minister added that “it is not possible” that they have to “witness absolutely disproportionate and if not unconstitutional actions,” since the ruler is protected by the immunity granted by her office.

The Boluarte house was searched by a team of prosecutors and agents of the Peruvian National Police (PNP) as part of a preliminary investigation opened against the ruler for the alleged commission of the crime of illicit enrichment.

The prosecutors carried out the operation for the purpose of registration and seizure of the luxury watches that, according to local media, Boluarte used in different public activities and has allegedly not declared as part of his estate.

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Adrianzén recalled that the president requested that the proceedings of the case be rescheduled, but said that this “has not been granted” by the Prosecutor’s Office.

“It is unusual, to say the least, that at midnight and on a holiday, as we are right now, these actions have to be carried out,” he emphasized.

The Presidency of Peru and the Public Ministry have maintained a controversy in recent days regarding the proceedings initiated as part of the investigation opened for the alleged lack of declaration by the ruler of her luxury watches.

Last Wednesday, the Prosecutor’s Office denounced that the visits to the ruler were frustrated both at her home and in the Government Palace, while the Presidency assured that representatives of the Public Ministry were attended by members of the staff of the Boluarte office, who received a notification for the president.

Supreme Prosecutor Hernán Mendoza declared before the Congressional Oversight Commission that the president “had frustrated” the investigations by not attending the citations made for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

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After that situation, the legal defense of Boluarte asked to reschedule the proceedings in the investigation of the case of luxury watches that the president did not declare and for which she is being investigated for illicit enrichment.

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.