International
Arnold Schwarzenegger donates one million dollars to fight the fires in Los Angeles
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a donation of one million dollars to fight the fires that are registered in Los Angeles, Southern California (USA).
In a post on his social networks, which are echoed this Wednesday by American media, the interpreter of ‘Terminator’ said that his donation will be distributed between the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the California Fire Department Foundation and the Los Angeles chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
“I don’t like it when companies or the rich ask their fans to donate for them,” the actor, who was governor of California between 2003 and 2011, wrote on Instagram.
Schwarzenegger also announced the sale of T-shirts with an image of him to raise funds for those organizations.
The actor joins in this way a series of Hollywood celebrities, such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyoncé or Eva Longoria, who have allocated donations to fight the fires, as well as companies such as Disney and Netflix.
This Wednesday, a new uncontrolled and rapidly advancing fire broke out in Los Angeles County, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people, after days of significant progress since a wave of devastating fires broke out that claimed the lives of at least 28 people.
The Hughes fire was declared this Wednesday morning in northern Castaic and in less than two hours swept just over 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) driven by the strong winds that hit southern California, the California Fire Department (Cal Fire) reported in a statement.
This new fire breaks out after a week of significant progress in the containment of the historic fires that reduced entire communities of Los Angeles to ashes since January 7 and that are still active.
The Palisades fire, which destroyed more than 9,300 hectares, has managed to contain itself by 68% since its start 15 days ago. For its part, the Eaton, in the city of Pasadena, swept more than 5,600 hectares and is 91% extinct, Cal Fire said.
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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