SANTA CRUZ DAS FLORES, Portugal: Hurricane Gabrielle is forecast to batter the Portuguese Azores archipelago on Thursday with winds of 200 kilometers (124 miles) per hour and waves higher than 10 meters (33 feet).
“The archipelago will feel the first effects from late Thursday afternoon,” the Portuguese meteorological office (IPMA) said in its latest update on the popular tourist destination.
Gabrielle, which was still classified as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday evening, is expected to lose momentum and reach the Azores from the west as a Category 1 hurricane, the IPMA said.
Later becoming a “post-tropical depression,” Gabrielle will make landfall in mainland Portugal on Saturday.
On Thursday night, the eye of the storm will barrel through the Azores’ two western islands and then its five central islands, which are on red alert.
The regional government has ordered schools and public buildings on the seven islands of the Western and Central Groups to close for 24 hours from 6:00 p.m. local time (1600 GMT).
The Eastern Group, comprising the two remaining islands in the archipelago and a cluster of islets, have not received similar orders.
Winds could attain 150 kph in the western islands of Flores and Corvo before strengthening to up to 200 kph in the central islands of Faial, Pico, Sao Jorge, Terceira and Graciosa.
The ocean is expected to be rough with swells of eight to 10 meters. Waves could reach heights of 14-18 meters.
The regional civil protection service has urged islanders to limit their movements to those strictly necessary, avoid all activity at sea and secure their homes by strengthening roofs, doors and windows.
The district of Santa Cruz das Flores, in the north of Flores island, remained calm on Thursday morning but local fishermen said they were afraid violent waves would damage the port.
Firefighters in Flores told an AFP photographer they were worried that the intense rainfall forecast for the evening might trigger landslides.
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Portugal’s Azores brace for Hurricane Gabrielle
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Portugal’s Azores brace for Hurricane Gabrielle
- “The archipelago will feel the first effects from late Thursday afternoon,” the Portuguese meteorological office said
- On Thursday night, the eye of the storm will barrel through the Azores’ two western islands and then its five central islands, which are on red alert
Norway launches probe of Middle East diplomat and husband over Epstein links
- Mona Juul resigned from her position as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq
- Juul and her husband Terje Rod-Larsen played key roles in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations which led to the Oslo Accords
OSLO: Norwegian police said Monday they have launched an “aggravated corruption” investigation against a high-profile diplomat, Mona Juul, and her husband Terje Rod-Larsen, over the couple’s links to late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The police economic crime unit Okokrim said in statement that the probe began last week and that an Oslo residence was searched on Monday, as well as a residence belonging to a witness.
“We have launched an investigation to determine whether any criminal offenses have been committed. We are facing a comprehensive and, by all accounts lengthy investigation,” Okokrim chief Pal Lonseth, said.
Juul, 66, and Rod-Larsen, 78, played key roles in the secret Israeli-Palestinian negotiations which led to the Oslo Accords of the early 1990s.
Epstein left $10 million in his will to the couple’s two children, according to Norwegian media.
“Among other things, Okokrim will investigate whether she received benefits in connection to her position,” the statement said.
On Sunday, the foreign ministry announced that Juul had resigned from her position as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq.
“Juul’s contact with the convicted abuser Epstein has shown a serious lapse in judgment,” Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in connection to the announcement.
She had already been temporarily suspended last week pending an internal investigation by the ministry into her alleged links to Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.
Norway’s political and royal circles have been thrust into the eye of the Epstein storm, including the CEO of the World Economic Forum Borge Brende.
Former prime minister Thorbjorn Jagland, is also being investigated for “aggravated corruption” over links to Epstein while he was chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee — which awards the Nobel Peace Prize — and as secretary general of the Council of Europe.
Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has also come under scrutiny for her relationship with Epstein, which on Friday she said she “deeply regretted.”
On Monday, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store voiced support for the establishing of an independent commission set up by Parliament, to fully examine the nature of the ties between these figures and Epstein.
The police economic crime unit Okokrim said in statement that the probe began last week and that an Oslo residence was searched on Monday, as well as a residence belonging to a witness.
“We have launched an investigation to determine whether any criminal offenses have been committed. We are facing a comprehensive and, by all accounts lengthy investigation,” Okokrim chief Pal Lonseth, said.
Juul, 66, and Rod-Larsen, 78, played key roles in the secret Israeli-Palestinian negotiations which led to the Oslo Accords of the early 1990s.
Epstein left $10 million in his will to the couple’s two children, according to Norwegian media.
“Among other things, Okokrim will investigate whether she received benefits in connection to her position,” the statement said.
On Sunday, the foreign ministry announced that Juul had resigned from her position as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq.
“Juul’s contact with the convicted abuser Epstein has shown a serious lapse in judgment,” Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in connection to the announcement.
She had already been temporarily suspended last week pending an internal investigation by the ministry into her alleged links to Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.
Norway’s political and royal circles have been thrust into the eye of the Epstein storm, including the CEO of the World Economic Forum Borge Brende.
Former prime minister Thorbjorn Jagland, is also being investigated for “aggravated corruption” over links to Epstein while he was chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee — which awards the Nobel Peace Prize — and as secretary general of the Council of Europe.
Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has also come under scrutiny for her relationship with Epstein, which on Friday she said she “deeply regretted.”
On Monday, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store voiced support for the establishing of an independent commission set up by Parliament, to fully examine the nature of the ties between these figures and Epstein.
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