Pentagon officials placed “unusual” restrictions on the D.C. National Guard before the Capitol riot, its commander told senators Wednesday, saying the military leaders’ fears of a repeat of aggressive tactics used during racial justice protests last year slowed decision-making and squandered time as the violence by a pro-Trump mob escalated.

Military and federal security officials detailed in a joint Senate committee hearing the additional security breakdowns that led to the failure to quell the mob attack on Jan. 6. Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, the D.C. National Guard commander, said he did not receive approval to mobilize troops until more than three hours after he had requested it.

The delay he outlined was longer than previously known and came to light in the latest hearing by lawmakers investigating the attack.

Days before the riot, the Pentagon had removed Walker’s authority to quickly deploy his troops, he testified. He said he was unable to move troops even from one traffic stop to another without permission from Ryan D. McCarthy, the Army secretary. Once Walker had approval for deployment, the guard arrived at the Capitol only minutes later, at 5:20 p.m., and helped reestablish the security perimeter on the east side of the building.

Walker said he could have had 150 troops to the complex hours earlier. The violent rampage that unfolded over nearly five hours caused injuries to nearly 140 police officers and left five people dead.

“That number could have made a difference,” Walker said of the possibility of deploying his troops earlier.

“Seconds mattered,” he added. “Minutes mattered.”

In response to questions from senators, Walker said he believed that a double standard existed in the military decision-making, pointing out differences between the quick and aggressive tactics he was authorized to use during protests last spring and summer of police killings of Black men and the slower response to the violence of Trump supporters. He said military officials had expressed concerns about the optics of sending troops into the Capitol to subdue Americans.

“The Army senior leaders did not think it looked good” and did not think “it would be a good optic,” Walker said. “The word I kept hearing was the ‘optics’ of it.”

When asked whether a similar debate had played out last year, Walker said no.

“It was never discussed the week of June,” he said. “It was never discussed July 4, when we were supporting the city. It was never discussed Aug. 28, when we supported the city.”

“Did you think that was unusual?” asked Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, the Democratic head of the Homeland Security Committee.

“I did,” Walker said.

The restrictions were put in place because of the widely criticized crackdown by the guard on mostly peaceful protesters in Washington in June, said Robert G. Salesses, a senior Defense Department official testifying at the hearing.

He said that McCarthy and other military officials, including Christopher Miller, the acting defense secretary, delayed deciding whether to deploy forces on Jan. 6 because they wanted to know more about what the troops would be doing. They had assumed deployment authority over the D.C. National Guard to avoid a repeat of last year, Salesses said.

“Secretary Miller wanted to make the decisions of how the National Guard was going to be employed on that day,” Salesses testified.

Walker recounted how the day had unfolded as Trump supporters protesting congressional certification of the election results devolved into violence. He said he had received a “frantic call” at 1:49 p.m. from Steven A. Sund, then the chief of the Capitol Police, about half an hour before rioters breached the Capitol.

“Chief Sund, his voice cracking with emotion, indicated that there was a dire emergency at the Capitol,” Walker testified. “He requested the immediate assistance of as many available National Guardsmen I could muster.”

He said he had immediately alerted Army leaders and even put troops on buses “ready to move to the Capitol.” But Miller did not approve the request until 3:04 p.m., after military officials had expressed their concerns about optics. Walker did not receive word that Pentagon officials had authorized his request until 5:08 p.m. — three hours and 19 minutes after he had received Sund’s plea.

“I keep thinking of the hours that went by, and the people who were injured and the officers whose lives were changed forever,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. and the chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee. “We must get to the bottom of why, that very day, it took the Defense Department so long to deploy the guard.”

After hearing Walker’s testimony, Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, the top Republican on the committee, told reporters he wanted to hear from higher-ranking military officials.

“Certainly we’ll have questions for Secretary McCarthy and for acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller,” Blunt said. “It’s definitely going to require an opportunity to ask them questions about their view from their perspective of why this decision-making process went so horribly wrong.”

The testimony came at the latest bipartisan investigative hearing of the Homeland Security and Rules Committees. At a hearing last week, Chief Robert J. Contee III of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington testified that he was “stunned” at the slow deployment of the National Guard on Jan. 6, noting that even as the violence escalated, the Army had expressed reluctance to send troops.

At that hearing, the first joint oversight meeting of the two committees, three former top Capitol security officials deflected responsibility for failures that contributed to the riot, blaming the other agencies, one another and at one point even a subordinate for the breakdowns that allowed hundreds of Trump supporters to storm the Capitol.

The officials testified that the FBI and the intelligence community had failed to provide adequate warnings that rioters planned to seize the Capitol and that the Pentagon was too slow to authorize guard troops to help overwhelmed police forces after the attack began.

In addition to Walker and Salesses, the officials who testified Wednesday were Melissa Smislova, a senior official from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, and Jill Sanborn, the FBI’s assistant director of its counterterrorism division.

After the attack, law enforcement officials have been focusing on rioters who are members of militias and extremist groups as part of their investigation. Sanborn testified that few of the 257 rioters arrested so far were being investigated by the FBI before the attack.

“I can only recall from my memory one of the individuals that was under investigation prior,” she said.

The testimony came as the Capitol Police said they were increasing security this week on Capitol Hill, warning of “potential threats toward members of Congress or toward the Capitol complex.”

Testifying at a House hearing, Yogananda D. Pittman, the acting Capitol Police chief, told lawmakers that her agency had received “concerning” intelligence about possible threats against the Capitol for Thursday. But she said the information was law-enforcement sensitive and she would share it only in a closed briefing. She assured committee members that the police force would be ready.

Pittman noted that threats against lawmakers were “through the roof,” rising almost 94% the first two months of this year over 2020.

After Jan. 6, the Capitol Police leadership is asking for almost $620 million in total spending, an increase of nearly 21% over current levels to pay for new equipment, training and an additional 212 officers for assignments such as a permanent backup force. Pittman also told the lawmakers that she would be working with the architect of the Capitol to design more “physical hardening” of the building after it was overrun by the rioters.

Pentagon officials placed “unusual” restrictions on the D.C. National Guard before the Capitol riot, its commander told senators Wednesday, saying the military leaders’ fears of a repeat of aggressive tactics used during racial justice protests last year slowed decision-making and squandered time as the violence by a pro-Trump mob escalated.

Pentagon officials placed “unusual” restrictions on the D.C. National Guard before the Capitol riot, its commander told senators Wednesday, saying the military leaders’ fears of a repeat of aggressive tactics used during racial justice protests last year slowed decision-making and squandered time as the violence by a pro-Trump mob escalated. Military and federal security officials detailed in a joint Senate committee hearing the additional security breakdowns that led to the failure to quell the mob attack on Jan. 6. Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, the D.C. National Guard commander, said he did not receive approval to mobilize troops until more than three hours after he had requested it. The delay he outlined was longer than previously known and came to light in the latest hearing by lawmakers investigating the attack. Days before the riot, the Pentagon had removed Walker’s authority to quickly deploy his troops, he testified. He said he was unable to move troops even from one traffic stop to another without permission from Ryan D. McCarthy, the Army secretary. Once Walker had approval for deployment, the guard arrived at the Capitol only minutes later, at 5:20 p.m., and helped reestablish the security perimeter on the east side of the building. Walker said he could have had 150 troops to the complex hours earlier. The violent rampage that unfolded over nearly five hours caused injuries to nearly 140 police officers and left five people dead. “That number could have made a difference,” Walker said of the possibility of deploying his troops earlier. “Seconds mattered,” he added. “Minutes mattered.” In response to questions from senators, Walker said he believed that a double standard existed in the military decision-making, pointing out differences between the quick and aggressive tactics he was authorized to use during protests last spring and summer of police killings of Black men and the slower response to the violence of Trump supporters. He said military officials had expressed concerns about the optics of sending troops into the Capitol to subdue Americans. “The Army senior leaders did not think it looked good” and did not think “it would be a good optic,” Walker said. “The word I kept hearing was the ‘optics’ of it.” When asked whether a similar debate had played out last year, Walker said no. “It was never discussed the week of June,” he said. “It was never discussed July 4, when we were supporting the city. It was never discussed Aug. 28, when we supported the city.” “Did you think that was unusual?” asked Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, the Democratic head of the Homeland Security Committee. “I did,” Walker said. The restrictions were put in place because of the widely criticized crackdown by the guard on mostly peaceful protesters in Washington in June, said Robert G. Salesses, a senior Defense Department official testifying at the hearing. He said that McCarthy and other military officials, including Christopher Miller, the acting defense secretary, delayed deciding whether to deploy forces on Jan. 6 because they wanted to know more about what the troops would be doing. They had assumed deployment authority over the D.C. National Guard to avoid a repeat of last year, Salesses said. “Secretary Miller wanted to make the decisions of how the National Guard was going to be employed on that day,” Salesses testified. Walker recounted how the day had unfolded as Trump supporters protesting congressional certification of the election results devolved into violence. He said he had received a “frantic call” at 1:49 p.m. from Steven A. Sund, then the chief of the Capitol Police, about half an hour before rioters breached the Capitol. “Chief Sund, his voice cracking with emotion, indicated that there was a dire emergency at the Capitol,” Walker testified. “He requested the immediate assistance of as many available National Guardsmen I could muster.” He said he had immediately alerted Army leaders and even put troops on buses “ready to move to the Capitol.” But Miller did not approve the request until 3:04 p.m., after military officials had expressed their concerns about optics. Walker did not receive word that Pentagon officials had authorized his request until 5:08 p.m. — three hours and 19 minutes after he had received Sund’s plea. “I keep thinking of the hours that went by, and the people who were injured and the officers whose lives were changed forever,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. and the chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee. “We must get to the bottom of why, that very day, it took the Defense Department so long to deploy the guard.” After hearing Walker’s testimony, Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, the top Republican on the committee, told reporters he wanted to hear from higher-ranking military officials. “Certainly we’ll have questions for Secretary McCarthy and for acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller,” Blunt said. “It’s definitely going to require an opportunity to ask them questions about their view from their perspective of why this decision-making process went so horribly wrong.” The testimony came at the latest bipartisan investigative hearing of the Homeland Security and Rules Committees. At a hearing last week, Chief Robert J. Contee III of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington testified that he was “stunned” at the slow deployment of the National Guard on Jan. 6, noting that even as the violence escalated, the Army had expressed reluctance to send troops. At that hearing, the first joint oversight meeting of the two committees, three former top Capitol security officials deflected responsibility for failures that contributed to the riot, blaming the other agencies, one another and at one point even a subordinate for the breakdowns that allowed hundreds of Trump supporters to storm the Capitol. The officials testified that the FBI and the intelligence community had failed to provide adequate warnings that rioters planned to seize the Capitol and that the Pentagon was too slow to authorize guard troops to help overwhelmed police forces after the attack began. In addition to Walker and Salesses, the officials who testified Wednesday were Melissa Smislova, a senior official from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, and Jill Sanborn, the FBI’s assistant director of its counterterrorism division. After the attack, law enforcement officials have been focusing on rioters who are members of militias and extremist groups as part of their investigation. Sanborn testified that few of the 257 rioters arrested so far were being investigated by the FBI before the attack. “I can only recall from my memory one of the individuals that was under investigation prior,” she said. The testimony came as the Capitol Police said they were increasing security this week on Capitol Hill, warning of “potential threats toward members of Congress or toward the Capitol complex.” Testifying at a House hearing, Yogananda D. Pittman, the acting Capitol Police chief, told lawmakers that her agency had received “concerning” intelligence about possible threats against the Capitol for Thursday. But she said the information was law-enforcement sensitive and she would share it only in a closed briefing. She assured committee members that the police force would be ready. Pittman noted that threats against lawmakers were “through the roof,” rising almost 94% the first two months of this year over 2020. After Jan. 6, the Capitol Police leadership is asking for almost $620 million in total spending, an increase of nearly 21% over current levels to pay for new equipment, training and an additional 212 officers for assignments such as a permanent backup force. Pittman also told the lawmakers that she would be working with the architect of the Capitol to design more “physical hardening” of the building after it was overrun by the rioters.

Officials put ‘unusual’ limits on DC National Guard before riot, commander says

National Guard troops who are flooding into Washington to secure the Capitol for Inauguration Day will be armed, the Army secretary, Ryan McCarthy, has decided, Defense Department officials said Tuesday.

The armed troops will be responsible for security around the Capitol building complex, the officials said.

As up to 15,000 troops continued to arrive in Washington from all over the country, Defense Department officials had been weighing whether to deploy them with arms. McCarthy has decided that at the very least those around the Capitol building will carry weapons, said the officials, who confirmed the decision on the condition of anonymity.

McCarthy’s decision came after a meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Pelosi, according to congressional staff members, demanded that the Pentagon take a more muscular posture after a mob, egged on by President Donald Trump last week, breached the Capitol.

Pentagon officials say they are worried about protests that are planned for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden next week. About 16 groups — some of them saying they will be armed and most of them made up of hard-line supporters of Trump — have registered to stage protests in Washington, officials said.

One Defense Department official said law enforcement agencies are planning for a range of outcomes, including a worst-case scenario in which people with firearms try to attack dignitaries, “suicide-type aircraft” try to fly into the capital’s restricted airspace and even remote-controlled drones that could be used to attack the crowd.

While those scenarios are among the more extreme, the officials said they were particularly worried about the possibility of multiple, violent confrontations, including with firearms, simultaneously flaring up around the inaugural dignitaries.

Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington sent a letter to Trump on Sunday asking for an emergency declaration to obtain additional funding for inauguration security.

“In light of the attack on the Capitol and intelligence suggesting further violence is likely during the inaugural period, my administration has re-evaluated our preparedness posture for the inauguration, including requesting the extension of D.C. National Guard support through Jan. 24, 2021,” Bowser wrote.

Defense Department officials said that the White House had signed off on the decision to arm some of the National Guard troops coming to Washington to provide security. Pentagon officials have underscored that the National Guard — not active-duty military troops — will be assigned to those duties.

Defense Department officials said that even the National Guard troops who were not directly supporting the Capitol complex, but were stationed elsewhere in the Washington area, would not be far from their weapons.

“We want our individuals to have the right to self-defence,” Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said Monday during a telephone news conference. “If senior leadership determines that that’s the right posture to be in, then that is something we will do.”

All the National Guard troops coming to Washington, he said, are bringing their weapons with them.

The National Guard is expected to officially announce the arming of some of the troops Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. The decision is important because in the past, federal and local officials have shied away from militarizing the Capitol.

But the riots last week have brought into sharp focus the potential dangers that lawmakers and, potentially, the next president, face from supporters of Trump, who has continued to falsely claim that he, not Biden, won the election.

National Guard troops who are flooding into Washington to secure the Capitol for Inauguration Day will be armed, the Army secretary, Ryan McCarthy, has decided, Defense Department officials said Tuesday.

National Guard troops who are flooding into Washington to secure the Capitol for Inauguration Day will be armed, the Army secretary, Ryan McCarthy, has decided, Defense Department officials said Tuesday. The armed troops will be responsible for security around the Capitol building complex, the officials said. As up to 15,000 troops continued to arrive in Washington from all over the country, Defense Department officials had been weighing whether to deploy them with arms. McCarthy has decided that at the very least those around the Capitol building will carry weapons, said the officials, who confirmed the decision on the condition of anonymity. McCarthy’s decision came after a meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Pelosi, according to congressional staff members, demanded that the Pentagon take a more muscular posture after a mob, egged on by President Donald Trump last week, breached the Capitol. Pentagon officials say they are worried about protests that are planned for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden next week. About 16 groups — some of them saying they will be armed and most of them made up of hard-line supporters of Trump — have registered to stage protests in Washington, officials said. One Defense Department official said law enforcement agencies are planning for a range of outcomes, including a worst-case scenario in which people with firearms try to attack dignitaries, “suicide-type aircraft” try to fly into the capital’s restricted airspace and even remote-controlled drones that could be used to attack the crowd. While those scenarios are among the more extreme, the officials said they were particularly worried about the possibility of multiple, violent confrontations, including with firearms, simultaneously flaring up around the inaugural dignitaries. Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington sent a letter to Trump on Sunday asking for an emergency declaration to obtain additional funding for inauguration security. “In light of the attack on the Capitol and intelligence suggesting further violence is likely during the inaugural period, my administration has re-evaluated our preparedness posture for the inauguration, including requesting the extension of D.C. National Guard support through Jan. 24, 2021,” Bowser wrote. Defense Department officials said that the White House had signed off on the decision to arm some of the National Guard troops coming to Washington to provide security. Pentagon officials have underscored that the National Guard — not active-duty military troops — will be assigned to those duties. Defense Department officials said that even the National Guard troops who were not directly supporting the Capitol complex, but were stationed elsewhere in the Washington area, would not be far from their weapons. “We want our individuals to have the right to self-defence,” Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said Monday during a telephone news conference. “If senior leadership determines that that’s the right posture to be in, then that is something we will do.” All the National Guard troops coming to Washington, he said, are bringing their weapons with them. The National Guard is expected to officially announce the arming of some of the troops Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. The decision is important because in the past, federal and local officials have shied away from militarizing the Capitol. But the riots last week have brought into sharp focus the potential dangers that lawmakers and, potentially, the next president, face from supporters of Trump, who has continued to falsely claim that he, not Biden, won the election.

Pentagon to arm National Guard troops deploying to Capitol for inauguration

The United States has activated several hundred unarmed National Guard troops in Washington D.C. and put them on standby in order to protect national monuments.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-anti-racism-protests-the-obsession-with-statues-308374/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The US National Guard in a statement said that about 400 D.C. National Guard members had been activated after a request from the interior secretary. "They will support US Park Police at key monuments to prevent any defacing or destruction," the statement added.

The development comes after protesters tried to tear down a statue of former president Andrew Jackson in a park near the White House amid the Black Lives Matter protests.

US President Donald Trump had lashed out at protesters earlier saying: "Now they are looking at Jesus Christ, they are looking at George Washington, they are looking at Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson," while adding, "it's not going to happen, not going to happen as long as I am here."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Very sad to see States allowing roving gangs of wise guys, anarchists &amp; looters, many of them having no idea what they are doing, indiscriminately ripping down our statues and monuments to the past. Some are great works of art, but all represent our History &amp; Heritage, both....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1275998584551374849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The US president had threatened to use "serious force" after protesters tried to topple a statue of former president Andrew Jackson.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
....the good and the bad. It is important for us to understand and remember, even in turbulent and difficult times, and learn from them. Knowledge comes from the most unusual of places!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1275998585377652737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Interior secretary David Bernhardt in a tweet said: "We will protect these places with dispatch and severity!"

Protesters have targeted several statutes across America in the wake of George Floyd's death on May 25 who was killed by a Minneapolis cop after he knelt on his neck. Protesters have repeatedly targeted Civil War-era pro-slavery Confederate leaders.

The demonstrators have also called for the removal of Abraham Lincoln's "Emancipation" statute from Washington, D.C&nbsp;which depicts the former US president standing over a kneeling freed African-American man.

The United States has activated several hundred unarmed National Guard troops in Washington D.C. and put them on standby in order to protect national monuments. Watch Video: The US National Guard in a statement said that about 400 D.

The United States has activated several hundred unarmed National Guard troops in Washington D.C. and put them on standby in order to protect national monuments. Watch Video: The US National Guard in a statement said that about 400 D.C. National Guard members had been activated after a request from the interior secretary. "They will support US Park Police at key monuments to prevent any defacing or destruction," the statement added. The development comes after protesters tried to tear down a statue of former president Andrew Jackson in a park near the White House amid the Black Lives Matter protests. US President Donald Trump had lashed out at protesters earlier saying: "Now they are looking at Jesus Christ, they are looking at George Washington, they are looking at Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson," while adding, "it's not going to happen, not going to happen as long as I am here." Very sad to see States allowing roving gangs of wise guys, anarchists & looters, many of them having no idea what they are doing, indiscriminately ripping down our statues and monuments to the past. Some are great works of art, but all represent our History & Heritage, both.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2020 × The US president had threatened to use "serious force" after protesters tried to topple a statue of former president Andrew Jackson. ....the good and the bad. It is important for us to understand and remember, even in turbulent and difficult times, and learn from them. Knowledge comes from the most unusual of places! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2020 × Interior secretary David Bernhardt in a tweet said: "We will protect these places with dispatch and severity!" Protesters have targeted several statutes across America in the wake of George Floyd's death on May 25 who was killed by a Minneapolis cop after he knelt on his neck. Protesters have repeatedly targeted Civil War-era pro-slavery Confederate leaders. The demonstrators have also called for the removal of Abraham Lincoln's "Emancipation" statute from Washington, D.C which depicts the former US president standing over a kneeling freed African-American man.

US mobilizes National Guard troops to protect monuments in Washington

Members of the Washington DC National Guard have tested positive for coronavirus in the wake of their deployment during recent protests in the US capital. Watch report.

COVID-19 spreads to Washington National Guard: Number of infected guardsmen not known yet

Two-thirds of&nbsp;Puerto&nbsp;Ricans&nbsp;remained&nbsp;without&nbsp;power&nbsp;and nearly a quarter lacked drinking water on Wednesday&nbsp;after&nbsp;earthquakes&nbsp;battered the Caribbean island, including the&nbsp;most&nbsp;powerful to strike the US&nbsp;territory in 102 years.

The&nbsp;quakes, including one of magnitude 6.4 on Tuesday, killed at least one person and destroyed or damaged some 300 homes, provoking a state of emergency on the island of 3 million people and the activation of the National Guard.

<img alt="Earthquake" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efeb7d92-dc36-4348-84ac-a688436cac78" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2852%29.jpg" />

The south of the island was hardest hit, with dozens of homes collapsing in towns like Yauco, Guanica, and Guayanilla.

Thousands prepared to spend another night&nbsp;sleeping&nbsp;outdoors, fearful their houses might fall down if there was another major quake.

"Many&nbsp;apartments collapsed, everything was lost in some houses," said Yauco resident Luiz Cruz Aponte, standing in a community parking lot filled with cots, mattresses, and shelters for people who had lost or fled their homes.

About 500,000 of the island's 1.5 million customers had electricity on Wednesday, up from 100,000 on Tuesday night, and the island was generating 955 megawatts of electricity, the&nbsp;power&nbsp;authority AEE said, well short of demand of around 2,300 megawatts.

The&nbsp;power&nbsp;outages evoked memories of the&nbsp;aftermath of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hurricane-maria-killed-2975-in-puerto-rico-study-162171">Hurricane Maria</a> in 2017 when&nbsp;Puerto&nbsp;Ricans&nbsp;endured lengthy blackouts following a disaster that killed nearly 3,000 people.

About 24 per cent of the population had no running water and more than 2,200 people left homeless had taken refuge in government shelters, said Carlos Acevedo, commissioner of disaster agency NMEAD.

In Guanica, supermarket owner Santo Manuel Ruiz Pietri began cleaning up collapsed shelves and surveying structural damage to his building.

"It was nearly complete devastation at our Guanica location, inside and outside," said Ruiz Pietri, estimating the damage to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Public health emergency

The earthquakes&nbsp;followed a series of natural and man-made disasters to afflict the US&nbsp;territory in recent years. The island is also going through bankruptcy and its former governor resigned amid a political scandal and massive street protests last year.

US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bloomberg-trump-to-air-dueling-super-bowl-ads-272836">Donald Trump</a> on Tuesday declared an emergency in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/puerto-rico-justice-secretary-says-she-doesnt-want-to-be-governor-239149">Puerto&nbsp;Rico</a> and authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief with&nbsp;Puerto&nbsp;Rican officials.

The US&nbsp;Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency on the island to ensure local hospitals had funding to meet medical needs.

Power&nbsp;and water returned to some areas of the capital, San Juan, but resident Luis Borri had neither at his home. He said he got a message from the AEE that electricity services for all customers would not resume until the weekend.

<img alt="Earthquake" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7c668fa1-f28a-4cd1-9ee3-600b99a4592d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2853%29.jpg" />

More than 500 earthquakes&nbsp;occurred in the south of the island between December&nbsp;28 and Tuesday, including 32 greater than magnitude 4, putting the US&nbsp;territory's biggest&nbsp;power&nbsp;plant out of service and damaging energy infrastructure.

The 6.4 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday morning was the&nbsp;most&nbsp;powerful to hit&nbsp;Puerto&nbsp;Rico since 1918, when a 7.3 magnitude quake and tsunami killed 116 people, according to the&nbsp;Puerto&nbsp;Rican seismology institute, Red Sismica.

Puerto&nbsp;Rico is accustomed to hurricanes, but&nbsp;powerful&nbsp;quakes&nbsp;are rare.

Two-thirds of Puerto Ricans remained without power and nearly a quarter lacked drinking water on Wednesday after earthquakes battered the Caribbean island, including the most powerful to strike the US territory in 102 years.

Two-thirds of Puerto Ricans remained without power and nearly a quarter lacked drinking water on Wednesday after earthquakes battered the Caribbean island, including the most powerful to strike the US territory in 102 years. The quakes, including one of magnitude 6.4 on Tuesday, killed at least one person and destroyed or damaged some 300 homes, provoking a state of emergency on the island of 3 million people and the activation of the National Guard. The south of the island was hardest hit, with dozens of homes collapsing in towns like Yauco, Guanica, and Guayanilla. Thousands prepared to spend another night sleeping outdoors, fearful their houses might fall down if there was another major quake. "Many apartments collapsed, everything was lost in some houses," said Yauco resident Luiz Cruz Aponte, standing in a community parking lot filled with cots, mattresses, and shelters for people who had lost or fled their homes. About 500,000 of the island's 1.5 million customers had electricity on Wednesday, up from 100,000 on Tuesday night, and the island was generating 955 megawatts of electricity, the power authority AEE said, well short of demand of around 2,300 megawatts. The power outages evoked memories of the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017 when Puerto Ricans endured lengthy blackouts following a disaster that killed nearly 3,000 people. About 24 per cent of the population had no running water and more than 2,200 people left homeless had taken refuge in government shelters, said Carlos Acevedo, commissioner of disaster agency NMEAD. In Guanica, supermarket owner Santo Manuel Ruiz Pietri began cleaning up collapsed shelves and surveying structural damage to his building. "It was nearly complete devastation at our Guanica location, inside and outside," said Ruiz Pietri, estimating the damage to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Public health emergency The earthquakes followed a series of natural and man-made disasters to afflict the US territory in recent years. The island is also going through bankruptcy and its former governor resigned amid a political scandal and massive street protests last year. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared an emergency in Puerto Rico and authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief with Puerto Rican officials. The US Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency on the island to ensure local hospitals had funding to meet medical needs. Power and water returned to some areas of the capital, San Juan, but resident Luis Borri had neither at his home. He said he got a message from the AEE that electricity services for all customers would not resume until the weekend. More than 500 earthquakes occurred in the south of the island between December 28 and Tuesday, including 32 greater than magnitude 4, putting the US territory's biggest power plant out of service and damaging energy infrastructure. The 6.4 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday morning was the most powerful to hit Puerto Rico since 1918, when a 7.3 magnitude quake and tsunami killed 116 people, according to the Puerto Rican seismology institute, Red Sismica. Puerto Rico is accustomed to hurricanes, but powerful quakes are rare.

Most Puerto Ricans still without power, many sleeping outdoors after quakes

US Defense Secretary James Mattis has signed a memo according to which the National Guard will deploy up to 4,000 troops to the US-Mexico border.

According to the Hill, the move permits the use of the Pentagon money for up to 4,000 National Guard personnel to support the Department of Homeland Security's "southern border security mission while under the command and control of their respective governors through September 30, 2018."

The memo reportedly further states that the troops will not be used for law enforcement or interaction with immigrants unless Defense Secretary James Mattis approves it and that the troops will be armed only if required for self-defence.

It will be valid for the current budget year, which ends on 30 September, however, the memo does not say how much the mission will cost.

The initial deployment of 500 will include soldiers and airmen.

"Always Ready, Always There! Moving up to 500 #NationalGuard troops immediately on the SW border security mission. Vehicles, equipment & helicopters on the way tonight," National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Joseph Lengyel wrote on Twitter.&nbsp

The initial deployment of 500 will include soldiers and airmen

US Defense Secretary James Mattis has signed a memo according to which the National Guard will deploy up to 4,000 troops to the US-Mexico border. According to the Hill, the move permits the use of the Pentagon money for up to 4,000 National Guard personnel to support the Department of Homeland Security's "southern border security mission while under the command and control of their respective governors through September 30, 2018." The memo reportedly further states that the troops will not be used for law enforcement or interaction with immigrants unless Defense Secretary James Mattis approves it and that the troops will be armed only if required for self-defence. It will be valid for the current budget year, which ends on 30 September, however, the memo does not say how much the mission will cost. The initial deployment of 500 will include soldiers and airmen. "Always Ready, Always There! Moving up to 500 #NationalGuard troops immediately on the SW border security mission. Vehicles, equipment & helicopters on the way tonight," National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Joseph Lengyel wrote on Twitter.

Mattis approves deployment of National Guard troops at US-Mexico border

Saudi King,&nbsp;Salman, appointed two new ministers on Saturday to key security and economic posts, removing one of the royal family&#39;s most prominent members as head of the National Guard and boosting the kingdom&#39;s young crown prince.

The king also announced the creation of a new anti-corruption committee chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman which Al Arabiya TV said had already detained 11 princes, four current ministers and tens of former ministers. The suspects were not named.

The cabinet reshuffle saw Prince Miteb bin Abdullah replaced as minister of the National Guard by Khaled bin Ayyaf, while Economy Minister Adel Fakieh was removed in favour of his deputy Mohammed al-Tuwaijri, according to a royal decree carried by state-run media.

Prince Miteb, the preferred son of the late King Abdullah, was once thought to be a leading contender for the throne before the unexpected rise of Prince Mohammed two years ago.

He had inherited control of the National Guard, an elite internal security force built out of traditional tribal units, from his father, who ran it for five decades.

Prince Miteb was the last remaining member of Abdullah&#39;s branch of the family to hold a position in the upper echelons of the Saudi power structure.

The move consolidates Crown Prince Mohammed`s control of the kingdom&#39;s security institutions, which had long been headed by separate powerful branches of the ruling family.

Prince Mohammed, the king&#39;s 32-year-old son, already serves as defence minister and was named heir to the throne in a June reshuffle that sidelined his older cousin, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef who had also served as interior minister.

He has been responsible at the same time for running Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s war in Yemen, dictating an energy policy with global implications and behind the plans for the kingdom to build a future after oil.

Prince Mohammed, who has pledged to go after graft at the highest levels, will now also head up the new anti-corruption body, which was given broad powers to investigate cases, issue arrest warrants and travel restrictions, and freeze assets.

&quot;The homeland will not exist unless corruption is uprooted and the corrupt are held accountable,&quot; the royal decree said.

The country&#39;s&nbsp;new economy minister, Tuwaijri, is a former Saudi air force pilot and former chief executive of HSBC&rsquo;s Middle East operations who has led the economy ministry&#39;s programme to privatise some $200 billion of government assets.

He replaces Fakieh, who served as the point man for the kingdom&#39;s wide-ranging economic reforms since his appointment as economy and planning minister in 2015. 
A former food executive with a reputation for pushing through politically sensitive reforms, Fakieh had previously served as labour minister, health minister and mayor of Jeddah.

Fakieh faced down fierce opposition from the business community as labour minister when he established quotas for foreign workers to boost jobs for Saudis.

Under Prince Mohammed, Fakieh led the development of a national transformation plan and privatisation drive launched last year to end the kingdom&rsquo;s vulnerability to an unpredictable oil market.

His replacement comes as the kingdom makes adjustments to that plan, a process dubbed NTP 2.0.

The royal decree did not say whether Fakieh would hold any other government position. Former ministers often serve in advisory roles after leaving their posts.

The king also announced the creation of a new anti-corruption committee chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman which Al Arabiya TV said had already detained 11 princes, four current ministers and tens of former ministers.

Saudi King, Salman, appointed two new ministers on Saturday to key security and economic posts, removing one of the royal family's most prominent members as head of the National Guard and boosting the kingdom's young crown prince. The king also announced the creation of a new anti-corruption committee chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman which Al Arabiya TV said had already detained 11 princes, four current ministers and tens of former ministers. The suspects were not named. The cabinet reshuffle saw Prince Miteb bin Abdullah replaced as minister of the National Guard by Khaled bin Ayyaf, while Economy Minister Adel Fakieh was removed in favour of his deputy Mohammed al-Tuwaijri, according to a royal decree carried by state-run media. Prince Miteb, the preferred son of the late King Abdullah, was once thought to be a leading contender for the throne before the unexpected rise of Prince Mohammed two years ago. He had inherited control of the National Guard, an elite internal security force built out of traditional tribal units, from his father, who ran it for five decades. Prince Miteb was the last remaining member of Abdullah's branch of the family to hold a position in the upper echelons of the Saudi power structure. The move consolidates Crown Prince Mohammed`s control of the kingdom's security institutions, which had long been headed by separate powerful branches of the ruling family. Prince Mohammed, the king's 32-year-old son, already serves as defence minister and was named heir to the throne in a June reshuffle that sidelined his older cousin, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef who had also served as interior minister. He has been responsible at the same time for running Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen, dictating an energy policy with global implications and behind the plans for the kingdom to build a future after oil. Prince Mohammed, who has pledged to go after graft at the highest levels, will now also head up the new anti-corruption body, which was given broad powers to investigate cases, issue arrest warrants and travel restrictions, and freeze assets. "The homeland will not exist unless corruption is uprooted and the corrupt are held accountable," the royal decree said. The country's new economy minister, Tuwaijri, is a former Saudi air force pilot and former chief executive of HSBC’s Middle East operations who has led the economy ministry's programme to privatise some $200 billion of government assets. He replaces Fakieh, who served as the point man for the kingdom's wide-ranging economic reforms since his appointment as economy and planning minister in 2015. A former food executive with a reputation for pushing through politically sensitive reforms, Fakieh had previously served as labour minister, health minister and mayor of Jeddah. Fakieh faced down fierce opposition from the business community as labour minister when he established quotas for foreign workers to boost jobs for Saudis. Under Prince Mohammed, Fakieh led the development of a national transformation plan and privatisation drive launched last year to end the kingdom’s vulnerability to an unpredictable oil market. His replacement comes as the kingdom makes adjustments to that plan, a process dubbed NTP 2.0. The royal decree did not say whether Fakieh would hold any other government position. Former ministers often serve in advisory roles after leaving their posts.

Saudi king sacks top ministers, gives more power to crown prince

After a much-criticised delay, President Barack Obama visited flood-stricken Louisiana Tuesday, defending his administration&#39;s response and urging citizens to pitch in and help ravaged communities. 
 
Obama - decked out in hiking boots and with shirt sleeves rolled up - touched down in Baton Rouge and toured a hard-hit and debris-strewn parish, promising Louisianans they would get all the help they need. 
 
&quot;What I want the people of Louisiana to know is, you&rsquo;re not alone on this, even after the TV cameras leave,&quot; Obama said after touring brick homes whose lawns were cluttered with slabs of drywall and soaked sofas and mattresses. 
 
At least 13 people have died and more than 100,000 people have registered for US government emergency assistance as a result of the flooding. 
 
The National Guard has been deployed and the federal government has approved more than $120 million in assistance for things like temporary rent, home repairs and flood insurance payments. 
 
&quot;I am asking every American to do what you can to help get families and local businesses back on their feet,&quot; Obama said, directing people to the website volunteerlouisiana.gov and aid groups like the Red Cross. 
 
&quot;These are some good people down here,&quot; he said. &quot;They shouldn&#39;t have to do it alone.&quot; 
 
Obama has been lampooned for not cutting short a two-week vacation in Martha&#39;s Vineyard to visit the Gulf Coast state.
Naketa Woods, who owns a home in Castle Place, stood in her driveway in the sweltering heat with her husband waiting to meet with Obama. She said their home was filled with 3 feet of water and they lost all their furniture and two vehicles.

&quot;To have the president come, it means a lot to show that he cares and the federal government cares about what we are going through,&quot; Woods said.
Heavy rains began on August 11 and quickly submerged thousands of homes. In just a few days, 79 centimeters of rain fell on some parts of the low-laying state - where the highest point is just 165 meters above sea level. 
 
The disaster brought back painful memories of Hurricane Katrina, which 11 years ago inundated nearby New Orleans and brought searing criticism of the federal government&#39;s response. 
 
Images of president George W Bush looking out the window of Air Force One as he flew over New Orleans became emblematic of perceived government detachment from the crisis. As a presidential candidate, Obama was quick to criticise the &quot;unconscionable ineptitude&quot; of the Bush administration. 
 
Political football 
 
A few months out from November&#39;s election, Obama&#39;s visits have inevitably become another talking point on the campaign trail. 
 
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump visited Louisiana last week, and goaded the golf-loving president about his absence. 
 
&quot;Honestly, Obama ought to get off the golf course and get down there,&quot; Trump said. 
 
Obama dismissed such criticism, saying: &quot;This is not a photo-op issue. This is (about) how do you make sure that a month from now, three months from now, six months from now, people still are getting the help that they need. One of the benefits of being five months short of leaving here is I don&#39;t worry too much about politics.&quot; 
 
However, Louisiana&#39;s Democratic governor John Bel Edwards had asked Obama to delay his visit because presidential visits require a huge retinue of Secret Service agents and tie up local and state law enforcement resources needed elsewhere in disasters. 
 
Edwards - who had warned Trump not to turn his visit into a photo-op and called for him to make a donation - also asked Obama for more help. In a letter to Obama, he called for several funding mechanisms to be activated and for a recovery task force to be established. 
 
Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has said she will visit the state later, in an implicit criticism of Trump. 
 
&quot;I am committed to visiting communities affected by these floods, at a time when the presence of a political campaign will not disrupt the response,&quot; she said, while calling for donations to the Red Cross. 
 
Republicans usually win the state of Louisiana handily in presidential elections. 
 
The last Democratic presidential nominee to win there was Clinton&#39;s husband, former president Bill Clinton, in his 1996 rout of Bob Dole. 
 
(Agencies)

Obama promised Louisianans they would get all the help they need, 'You?re not alone on this, even after the TV cameras leave'

After a much-criticised delay, President Barack Obama visited flood-stricken Louisiana Tuesday, defending his administration's response and urging citizens to pitch in and help ravaged communities. Obama - decked out in hiking boots and with shirt sleeves rolled up - touched down in Baton Rouge and toured a hard-hit and debris-strewn parish, promising Louisianans they would get all the help they need. "What I want the people of Louisiana to know is, you’re not alone on this, even after the TV cameras leave," Obama said after touring brick homes whose lawns were cluttered with slabs of drywall and soaked sofas and mattresses. At least 13 people have died and more than 100,000 people have registered for US government emergency assistance as a result of the flooding. The National Guard has been deployed and the federal government has approved more than $120 million in assistance for things like temporary rent, home repairs and flood insurance payments. "I am asking every American to do what you can to help get families and local businesses back on their feet," Obama said, directing people to the website volunteerlouisiana.gov and aid groups like the Red Cross. "These are some good people down here," he said. "They shouldn't have to do it alone." Obama has been lampooned for not cutting short a two-week vacation in Martha's Vineyard to visit the Gulf Coast state. Naketa Woods, who owns a home in Castle Place, stood in her driveway in the sweltering heat with her husband waiting to meet with Obama. She said their home was filled with 3 feet of water and they lost all their furniture and two vehicles. "To have the president come, it means a lot to show that he cares and the federal government cares about what we are going through," Woods said. Heavy rains began on August 11 and quickly submerged thousands of homes. In just a few days, 79 centimeters of rain fell on some parts of the low-laying state - where the highest point is just 165 meters above sea level. The disaster brought back painful memories of Hurricane Katrina, which 11 years ago inundated nearby New Orleans and brought searing criticism of the federal government's response. Images of president George W Bush looking out the window of Air Force One as he flew over New Orleans became emblematic of perceived government detachment from the crisis. As a presidential candidate, Obama was quick to criticise the "unconscionable ineptitude" of the Bush administration. Political football A few months out from November's election, Obama's visits have inevitably become another talking point on the campaign trail. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump visited Louisiana last week, and goaded the golf-loving president about his absence. "Honestly, Obama ought to get off the golf course and get down there," Trump said. Obama dismissed such criticism, saying: "This is not a photo-op issue. This is (about) how do you make sure that a month from now, three months from now, six months from now, people still are getting the help that they need. One of the benefits of being five months short of leaving here is I don't worry too much about politics." However, Louisiana's Democratic governor John Bel Edwards had asked Obama to delay his visit because presidential visits require a huge retinue of Secret Service agents and tie up local and state law enforcement resources needed elsewhere in disasters. Edwards - who had warned Trump not to turn his visit into a photo-op and called for him to make a donation - also asked Obama for more help. In a letter to Obama, he called for several funding mechanisms to be activated and for a recovery task force to be established. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has said she will visit the state later, in an implicit criticism of Trump. "I am committed to visiting communities affected by these floods, at a time when the presence of a political campaign will not disrupt the response," she said, while calling for donations to the Red Cross. Republicans usually win the state of Louisiana handily in presidential elections. The last Democratic presidential nominee to win there was Clinton's husband, former president Bill Clinton, in his 1996 rout of Bob Dole. (Agencies)

Obama defends Louisiana flood response, dismisses Trump's criticism

Tension flared again yesterday night, with one person shot and a police officer injured, in the Milwaukee area where the fatal shooting of a suspect by an officer had sparked rioting, prompting Wisconsin&#39;s governor to activate the National Guard. 
 
Police violence against African-Americans has set off intermittent, sometimes violent protests in the past two years, igniting a national debate over race and policing and giving rise to the Black Lives Matter movement. 
 
After peaceful vigils by small groups of demonstrators earlier, Milwaukee police said late on Sunday night they had rescued one shooting victim, who was taken to hospital. It was not known whether the injured person was a protester.&nbsp;One police officer was hospitalised after a rock smashed a patrol car windshield, the MPD said. 
 
Police said they began attempting to disperse crowds after shots were fired and objects, including rocks and bottles, were thrown by some protesters. Several arrests were reported. 
 
About 20 police in riot gear faced a group of more than 100 protesters in a tense standoff that continued into the early morning hours, punctuated by sporadic reports of gunfire. 
 
Despite the violence, police said the National Guard had not been called in, as authorities worked to restore order.&nbsp;Wisconsin governor Scott Walker took the precaution of activating the National Guard in case more violence broke out over the death of Sylville K Smith, 23, who was shot while trying to flee from an officer who had stopped his car. 
 
Aiming to reassure the community that the police acted properly, chief Edward Flynn said yesterday he had viewed video from the officer&#39;s body camera and it showed Smith had turned toward him with a gun in his hand after a traffic stop. 
 
The Sherman Park neighborhood, where a heated confrontation between residents and officers clad in riot gear turned violent overnight, had been peaceful at dusk. 
 
About 200 people lit candles and gathered near the spot where Smith was shot. A few officers looked on as faith and community leaders implored protesters to restrain their anger. 
 
The previous night, shots were fired, six businesses were burned and police cars damaged before calm was restored in the area, which has a reputation for poverty and crime. Seventeen people were arrested, and four officers were injured. 
 
At a news conference with Mayor Tom Barrett, Flynn said the officer who fired the fatal shot was black and media reports also identified Smith as black. 
 
He said a silent video of the incident appeared to show the officer acting within lawful bounds. He said the officer stopped Smith&#39;s vehicle because he was behaving suspiciously and then had to chase him several dozen feet on foot into an enclosed space between two houses. 
 
He said the moment when the officer fired his weapon could not be determined because the audio was delayed. 
 
The mayor said Smith did not drop the gun as ordered before he was shot.&nbsp;Smith had a lengthy arrest record, Barrett said, and officials said earlier he was carrying a stolen handgun loaded with 23 rounds of ammunition when stopped. 
 
(Reuters)

It is unknown whether the shooting victim was a protester. The police officer was hospitalised after a rock smashed a patrol car windshield

Tension flared again yesterday night, with one person shot and a police officer injured, in the Milwaukee area where the fatal shooting of a suspect by an officer had sparked rioting, prompting Wisconsin's governor to activate the National Guard. Police violence against African-Americans has set off intermittent, sometimes violent protests in the past two years, igniting a national debate over race and policing and giving rise to the Black Lives Matter movement. After peaceful vigils by small groups of demonstrators earlier, Milwaukee police said late on Sunday night they had rescued one shooting victim, who was taken to hospital. It was not known whether the injured person was a protester. One police officer was hospitalised after a rock smashed a patrol car windshield, the MPD said. Police said they began attempting to disperse crowds after shots were fired and objects, including rocks and bottles, were thrown by some protesters. Several arrests were reported. About 20 police in riot gear faced a group of more than 100 protesters in a tense standoff that continued into the early morning hours, punctuated by sporadic reports of gunfire. Despite the violence, police said the National Guard had not been called in, as authorities worked to restore order. Wisconsin governor Scott Walker took the precaution of activating the National Guard in case more violence broke out over the death of Sylville K Smith, 23, who was shot while trying to flee from an officer who had stopped his car. Aiming to reassure the community that the police acted properly, chief Edward Flynn said yesterday he had viewed video from the officer's body camera and it showed Smith had turned toward him with a gun in his hand after a traffic stop. The Sherman Park neighborhood, where a heated confrontation between residents and officers clad in riot gear turned violent overnight, had been peaceful at dusk. About 200 people lit candles and gathered near the spot where Smith was shot. A few officers looked on as faith and community leaders implored protesters to restrain their anger. The previous night, shots were fired, six businesses were burned and police cars damaged before calm was restored in the area, which has a reputation for poverty and crime. Seventeen people were arrested, and four officers were injured. At a news conference with Mayor Tom Barrett, Flynn said the officer who fired the fatal shot was black and media reports also identified Smith as black. He said a silent video of the incident appeared to show the officer acting within lawful bounds. He said the officer stopped Smith's vehicle because he was behaving suspiciously and then had to chase him several dozen feet on foot into an enclosed space between two houses. He said the moment when the officer fired his weapon could not be determined because the audio was delayed. The mayor said Smith did not drop the gun as ordered before he was shot. Smith had a lengthy arrest record, Barrett said, and officials said earlier he was carrying a stolen handgun loaded with 23 rounds of ammunition when stopped. (Reuters)

Milwaukee protest: Governor activates National Guard as one person shot, officer injured

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