International

Emotional support dogs help firefighters fighting fires in California

At least three emotional support dogs have been deployed at the Incident Command Post (ICP) in Palisades, one of the most devastating fires that continues to be active in Los Angeles, California, in order to provide some “love and joy” to firefighters who continue to fight the flames.

From very early Brisket, a three-year-old golden retriever Labrador, walks with his coach and police officer Amy Tate at the ICP located in Zuma Beach, Malibu, to share a moment with the firefighters as they line up to receive their breakfast and prepare to return to the fire zone.

The city agent of Glendale (California) believes that the presence of these highly trained emotional support dogs helps firefighters feel a little “at home” in critical emergency moments like the one that has been living in Los Angeles County for more than a week.

“Many people miss their families and their dogs. So if we can give them a couple of minutes of a little dog love, that’s our job,” Tate replies to EFE.

When Brisket appears the firefighters “come very quickly and ask me to caress him, kiss him and hug him, and tell me about their dogs at home or dogs they have had in the past and show me photos, which is really great,” he explains.

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On normal days, Brisket is a service dog of the Glendale Police Department that, according to Tate, has become “a celebrity” for the various activities he carries out in the community.

The dog usually sits next to victims when they interview them and they have to remember the trauma.

Brisket “taste forty orders. He knows how to open and close doors, turn on lights, pick up things from the floor, help with the laundry, open the fridge, whatever you need,” he says.

In the same ICP also walks Ember (Brasa in Spanish), a Sheepadoodle dog that attracts firefighters who do not miss the opportunity to take a picture of her and spend some time with her.

The dog, who began her service in 2024, wears a Riverside County firefighters cap on her head and her trainer Bari Boersma points out that by petting these animals, people experience a decrease in tension and feel better.

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“All these dogs that are here in this camp are trained through the first recognized therapy organization and then continue and obtain one more certification in animal-assisted crisis response training. So they have higher certifications than therapy dogs,” he explains to EFE.

Since January 7, Los Angeles, California, has faced one of the worst devastation crises due to the outbreak of a series of fires that are still active and have left at least 25 dead.

The Palisades fire, one of the most lethal foci, has been able to contain itself by 19% and has devastated one of the most exclusive areas of the city of stars, while the Eaton has managed to contain itself by 45%.

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.