Internacionales
El Salvador sends medical Aid and relief teams to Jamaica after hurricane Melissa
Salvadoran medical personnel delivered medicines and supplies to Black River Hospital in Saint Elizabeth as part of the humanitarian mission deployed by President Nayib Bukele to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms to hit the Caribbean in recent history.
“The delivered medicines included antibiotics, pain relievers, gauze, IV fluids, antifungal and anti-allergy creams, among other essential supplies,” the Office of the President stated on its official X account.
Authorities reported that a total of two tons of medical supplies were transported to reinforce healthcare in the most heavily affected areas.
Additionally, a medical team from the Solidarity Fund for Health (Fosalud) carried out a mobile clinic in Darliston, providing care to children, the elderly, and individuals suffering from respiratory and skin conditions.
“The goal was to provide direct assistance and ease the burden on local health centers,” the Office of the President reiterated.
As part of the mission, humanitarian aid packages continue to be delivered to hundreds of families, ensuring that support reaches prioritized households.
The relief packages include staple foods such as rice, beans, sugar, cooking oil, tuna, and pasta, along with essential personal hygiene items to help families cope with the emergency, officials said.
“In Gordon Town, the work of the Salvadoran teams stood out for their close engagement with the community and their focus on assisting the most vulnerable first. The humanitarian approach emphasized efficiency in every delivery,” the statement added.
The mission is comprised of more than 300 professionals, including members of the Salvadoran Fire Department, Civil Protection, the Armed Forces (FAES), the National Civil Police (PNC), and healthcare personnel.
In coordination with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), teams have also been deployed to clear debris and remove fallen trees blocking roads and homes, reducing risks and restoring mobility to the affected areas.
Hurricane Melissa, which reached Category 5 status with winds exceeding 290 km/h, struck the island last week, leaving at least 32 people dead and causing devastation comparable to some of the region’s worst natural disasters. Major impacts were reported in road infrastructure, housing, schools, hospitals, and the electrical system, along with severe damage to the tourism sector.
Internacionales
Rubén Gallego says U.S. policy may push for Cuba regime change under Trump administration
Democratic Senator Rubén Gallego said on Friday in Madrid that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has an “obsession” with Cuba and suggested that the administration of President Donald Trump is determined to change the Cuban government by any means necessary.
Speaking in Spanish during a meeting with journalists at the Elcano Royal Institute for International and Strategic Studies, Gallego said he believes there could be an attempt to alter the Cuban government, potentially through military or other non-democratic means.
“I think there will be an attempt to change the government of Cuba, it could be through the military or in another way,” said Gallego, who is of Mexican-Colombian origin.
The Arizona senator argued that Cuba does not represent a threat to the United States, describing it as “a very poor island of nine million people.” However, he acknowledged the significant political influence of Cuban-Americans and of Secretary of State Marco Rubio within the current Trump administration.
Gallego also expressed opposition to U.S. military interventions aimed at overthrowing foreign governments, stating that such actions are unacceptable, particularly when their objective is regime change.
He noted that “almost 99% of Democrats” oppose any military intervention in Cuba.
The senator also referred to the U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, stating that although Maduro is “a horrible and very corrupt man,” this does not justify overthrowing governments through force.
“If we start arguing that a president is a criminal, what prevents China from saying the same about Taiwan or other nations?” he warned.
Gallego further described the political transition process in Venezuela as a “failure,” arguing that little has changed in terms of governance outcomes.
“We went from one dictator to another, so from a geopolitical and strategic point of view it has been a failure, until we see whether Venezuela achieves a real democratic transition,” he said, referring to Maduro’s replacement by Delcy Rodríguez.
Internacionales
Ecuador extends state of emergency amid escalating violence and crime crackdown
Since taking office in November 2023, Ecuador’s president Daniel Noboa has repeatedly declared states of emergency as part of his campaign against organized crime groups, which have turned Ecuador into one of the most violent nations in Latin America, with a homicide rate of 54 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025, according to official data.
In response to rising insecurity, Noboa declared an “internal armed conflict” in 2024, allowing the military to be deployed on the streets. The move has drawn criticism from human rights organizations, which have raised concerns over alleged abuses by security forces.
Through a decree issued on Thursday, the president extended the state of emergency in several coastal provinces — Guayas, Manabí, Esmeraldas, Santa Elena, and El Oro — key transit routes along the Pacific where around 70% of cocaine shipments from Colombia and Peru pass through.
The measure also applies to nine provinces in total, including Pichincha, home to the capital Quito, as well as four additional areas where violence remains concentrated.
Under the decree, the government has suspended certain constitutional rights, including the inviolability of the home and private correspondence.
Earlier this week, a nighttime curfew imposed in Guayas, Los Ríos, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, and El Oro came to an end. The curfew had been part of a broader offensive against organized crime, supported by United States.
Internacionales
Major winter storm threatens “catastrophic” ice and snow across much of the U.S.
A major winter storm is threatening to blanket large portions of the United States with a dangerous mix of freezing rain and heavy snowfall, potentially creating “catastrophic” conditions across areas home to nearly 160 million people.
Several U.S. states have declared a state of emergency as the Arctic blast advances from the California coast across much of the continental United States, affecting central regions, including the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains, according to forecasts.
The National Weather Service warned the storm could cause a “catastrophic accumulation of ice,” leading to prolonged power outages, widespread tree damage, and extremely dangerous or impassable travel conditions.
Meteorologist Ryan Maue cautioned that “the next 10 days of winter will be the worst in 40 years in the United States.”
“Think about where you can go, what you can do, and who may need even more help to survive the coming week. This is not an exaggeration or a joke,” Maue said.
He urged residents to prepare for temperatures dropping below -18°C (0°F).
More than 1,500 weekend flights had already been canceled, according to flight tracker FlightAware, including numerous flights in Texas.
In the southern state, many residents still recall the devastation caused by a similar storm in February 2021, which resulted in more than 200 deaths linked to hypothermia, carbon monoxide poisoning, and traffic accidents.
Texas authorities have assured the public that the power grid, which suffered widespread failures during that storm and left millions without electricity, is better prepared to withstand the extreme weather this time.
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