Storm Leonardo battered Portugal on February 5, resulting in one fatality, the displacement of hundreds, and widespread flooding, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed rising regional tensions during a visit to Qatar. Meanwhile, health experts in Italy are advocating for the return of three children to their Anglo-Australian parents amid a child custody dispute, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported substantial revenue growth. Additionally, geologists have discovered evidence of two massive structures deep within the Earth that have influenced the planet's magnetic field for millions of years.
In Portugal, the storm caused significant damage, with one man in his 60s losing his life near Serpa after his car was swept away by floodwater, according to Euronews. Hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate their homes, and the town of Alcácer do Sal was left underwater. Emergency teams responded to over 3,300 incidents since Sunday, ranging from floods to fallen trees and landslides. Forecasters warned of an approaching new storm.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Qatar on Thursday as part of a broader diplomatic effort amid shifting global alliances and rising regional tensions, as reported by Euronews. Merz stated that concerns over Iran had been a prominent topic of discussion with Gulf leaders, urging Tehran to halt aggressive behavior and engage in talks to ease tensions.
In Italy, health experts have recommended the swift return of three children to their Anglo-Australian parents, with monitoring in place, according to Euronews. The ongoing dispute between social services and the family has garnered international attention. Psychiatrists from the Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti Local Health Authority emphasized the importance of restoring stable family ties for the children.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) concluded 2025 with its strongest quarterly growth rate in over three years, as reported by TechCrunch. The cloud service generated $35.6 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2025, a 24% year-on-year increase. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy noted the significance of this growth on a large revenue base, stating, "Its very different having 24 year-over-year growth on 142 billion annualized run rate than to have a higher percentage growth on a meaningfully smaller base, which is the case with our competitors." The annual revenue run rate for the business segment is $142 billion.
Finally, a team of geologists discovered evidence of two continent-sized structures, known as large low-shear-velocity provinces (LLSVPs), hidden deep within the Earth, according to Wired. These structures have shaped the planet's magnetic field for the past 265 million years. Each LLSVP is comparable in size to the African continent and is buried at a depth of 2,900 kilometers.
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