International
The Dominican Republic and Haiti come out almost unscathed from the passage of Hurricane Beryl
The Dominican Republic and Haiti came out almost unscathed from the passage of Hurricane Beryl, whose main effect on the Spanish island, shared by both countries, was the strong waves that hit the Caribbean coast, where this Wednesday normality was restored except for some problems with the supply of electricity and water.
Almost half a million people were left without water supply due to the effects of the cyclone, according to the preliminary report of the damage in the national territory, where on Tuesday its effects were felt although with less intensity than expected.
During Beryl’s advance in the south of the Dominican Caribbean coast, 57 aqueducts were affected, leaving 487,020 users without service, according to the report of the Emergency Operations Center (COE).
The same information indicates that, in Barahona (south), one of the provinces most affected by the rains, 66 people had to leave their homes, while in the municipality of Boca Chica, near the capital, several beach establishments suffered damage due to the strong waves.
In addition, thousands of people are without electricity service as a result of the strong waves and the winds caused by Beryl that “have generated interruptions in the electricity service in various parts of the country,” the electricity distributors Edenorte, Edesur and Edeeste, who hope to leave the problem solved this same Wednesday, reported in a joint statement.
Although the indirect effects of Beryl have been limited and has already moved away from the national territory, the COE maintains 17 provinces on green alert for possible floods of rivers, streams and ravines, as well as sudden floods, and restrictions on navigation on the Caribbean coast are still in force.
As for Haiti, the Civil Protection Directorate reported that the cyclone caused “very little damage” in the country, where several flooded streets were reported in the southeast, where several fishing boats were dragged through the waters, specifically in Cayes Jacmel and Marigot, while the two mobile phone companies were out of service.
Although no river overflows were recorded and damage to housing and educational infrastructure is not important, the Haitian authorities maintain the orange alert level for the departments of the south of the country, as well as the prohibition of sailing, especially in the southern areas, until Friday.
In both cases, the damage has been of little consideration compared to the destruction suffered on the islands of Granada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the most devastated by the phenomenon, and it is feared that it will also cause great devastation in Jamaica.
The center of Beryl, a category 4 cyclone, will pass near or over Jamaica in the next few hours to arrive this evening or early Thursday morning in the Cayman Islands and then enter the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico), according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the United States.
The first hurricane of the Atlantic season remains a fearsome system with maximum sustained winds of 225 kilometers per hour (140 miles per hour), according to the most recent bulletin of the NHC, based in Miami (Florida), which places it 70 kilometers (45 miles) south of Kingston (Jamaica) and 225 kilometers (140 miles) east of Grand Cayman.
International
Heat wave puts more than 70 million Americans under alerts as temperatures near 46°C
More than 70 million people remained under heat alerts Monday as an intense heat wave continued across the southern United States, particularly Florida and states along the Mexican border, where temperatures and heat indexes could reach as high as 46 degrees Celsius, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Several cities recorded or tied temperature records over the weekend and into Monday, including Miami and Fort Lauderdale in Florida; Laredo, Borger and Austin’s airport in Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina; and Memphis, Tennessee.
The NWS warned that the heat wave will continue affecting the southern and southeastern United States, with maximum temperatures expected to remain near 38°C to 40°C for several days. The heat index, which combines temperature and humidity to estimate how hot conditions feel, could reach 46°C.
The extreme heat is also spreading into the Southwest, where temperatures began rising again between Monday and Tuesday. Forecast highs in the region range from about 38°C to 43°C.
Heat alerts remain in effect across Nevada, Arizona and California, including areas in southern Arizona and California near the Mexican border, as authorities warn of the risks posed by prolonged extreme temperatures.
The NWS urged residents to limit outdoor activity, stay hydrated, ensure access to air conditioning or cooling centers, and check on vulnerable friends, neighbors and family members.
The United States is experiencing a summer marked by above-average temperatures and repeated heat waves. One of the most intense episodes occurred during the July 4 weekend, when extreme heat was blamed for roughly 30 deaths.
July was the hottest month ever recorded in the United States since measurements began, with the average temperature across the contiguous country approaching 25°C, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The combination of extreme heat and drought conditions has also fueled wildfires. Nearly 3 million hectares have burned across the country so far in 2026, making it the largest area affected by wildfires in a decade.
International
Trump warns Iran over nuclear ambitions as U.S.-Iran ceasefire deadline passes
U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated Monday that Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, as a 60-day deadline set under a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran expired without an agreement to end the conflict in the Middle East.
“The number one goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way or under any circumstances, a nuclear weapon,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.
The memorandum, signed on June 17, called for an “immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts” as part of a broader negotiation process aimed at ending the conflict. However, the deadline expired Monday without a peace agreement, while both Washington and Tehran continued to maintain their respective positions.
The expiration is largely symbolic, as military clashes resumed during the 60-day period. The Strait of Hormuz also remains blocked, contributing to elevated global oil prices.
Trump escalated his rhetoric toward Tehran last Friday, saying he planned to declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory after defeating Iran.
“After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, very soon I will essentially declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory,” Trump said during a political rally in Long Island, New York. He also claimed that the United States currently controls the passage of vessels through the strategic waterway.
Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington is preparing additional economic measures against Iran that he described as unprecedented.
“Stay tuned for new announcements next week because we are going to implement measures unlike anything ever seen in the history of the economic isolation of a country,” Bessent said.
The Treasury secretary indicated that the measures would form part of a broader “double hit” strategy that could also involve maintaining the blockade of Iranian ports.
International
Brazil’s Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro kick off election campaigns amid focus on crime
Public security took center stage Sunday as Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro formally launched their election campaigns, positioning themselves as the leading rivals ahead of the October presidential vote.
Lula, who leads most opinion polls, kicked off his campaign at the Vila Euclides stadium in São Bernardo do Campo, in São Paulo state, while Bolsonaro held his event in Rio de Janeiro, a political stronghold of his family.
During his speech, Lula announced plans to create a new Ministry of Public Security aimed at strengthening coordination between the federal government and Brazil’s states in the fight against crime.
The president pledged a tougher strategy to reclaim territories controlled or influenced by criminal groups. The proposed ministry would help “share responsibilities with the states” and confront those who seek to control favelas and impoverished neighborhoods, Lula told supporters.
The initiative places public security at the heart of Lula’s campaign as he seeks another term in office amid persistent concerns over crime and organized criminal activity in Brazil.
Lula also used his first campaign speech to reinforce his position as a leading figure of Brazil’s left and to criticize his political opponents on the right.
“I will not allow the right to take power,” Lula said, accusing his opponents of having previously mocked children who died because they lacked access to medicine.
“I don’t know what future these people imagine for the Brazilian people,” he added.
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