International
Smoke blanketing U.S. and Canada could last for days as fires continue unabated
June 8 |
On air quality maps, purple indicates the most serious situation. In reality, it is a dangerously dense haze that disrupts the daily lives of millions of people across the United States and Canada, obscuring the skyline of cities and painting the sky orange.
And with little change in the weather forecast, smoke from the fires in Quebec and Nova Scotia and fine particulate clouds reaching as far as North Carolina should continue through Thursday, and possibly into the weekend.
That’s at least one more day in a dystopian environment that brought players off baseball fields, brought actors off Broadway stages, delayed thousands of flights and prompted the reappearance of facemasks and telecommuting, while raising concerns about the health effects of prolonged exposure to such poor-quality air.
The system causing the big U.S.-Candy smoke – a low-pressure system over Maine and Nova Scotia – “will possibly stick around for at least the next few days,” said Bryan Ramsey, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
“Conditions are likely to remain unhealthy, at least until the wind direction changes or the fires are put out,” he added. “Given that the fires are active, and they’re really large, they’re likely to continue for weeks. So it’s all going to depend on the wind shift.”
In the eastern United States, authorities warned residents to stay indoors and limit outdoor activity Thursday as well, extending “code red” alerts for poor air quality for the third straight day as forecasts show winds will continue to push smoke-laden air southward.
In Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered schools to cancel outdoor recess and field trips on Thursday. In the Philadelphia suburbs, authorities set up a shelter for the homeless to take shelter from the smoke.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state will distribute 1 million N95 masks – those recommended at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic – at state facilities including 400,000 in New York City.
The more than 400 active fires in Canada have displaced 20,000 people. The United States sent more than 600 firefighters and equipment to the country to fight the blaze, and other countries also provided assistance.
In a phone conversation on Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thanked President Joe Biden for his support, the Canadian president’s office said, adding that the two “recognized the need to work together to address the devastating impact of climate change.”
Canadian authorities say the country is suffering the worst fire season in its history. It started earlier than expected because the ground is drier than usual and accelerated rapidly. Smoke from fires had been affecting the United States since last month, but the situation was exacerbated by recent blazes in Quebec, where on Wednesday there were about a hundred burning out of control.
International
20th Festival Salvadoreñísimo brings together thousands of salvadorans in Houston
Parades, baton twirlers, and a mix of Salvadoran and international music set the tone for the 20th edition of the Festival Salvadoreñísimo, held in Houston, Texas, with Tony Villatoro once again leading the organization.
This year, the highly anticipated event moved to a new venue: The Crown Festival Park in Sugar Land, Fort Bend County, within the “space city.” Despite the scorching sun of the open-air setting, spirits remained high, and a brief drizzle later brought relief and renewed energy to the celebration.
More than 5,000 Salvadorans gathered at the park, joining with Guatemalans, Hondurans, and even Mexicans to commemorate 204 years of independence for El Salvador and Central America. The festival was marked by a family-friendly atmosphere, where traditional foods such as pupusas, panes con gallina, pastelitos, and horchata could not be missed.
“Twenty years with this festival, and I am very grateful to the Salvadoran community that always shows up. Thanks to them, the sponsors, and to Diario El Salvador for supporting us since the beginning,” said Tony Villatoro, as more compatriots continued arriving to the celebration.
“I am satisfied. I didn’t expect this level of attendance, especially since we were trying a new outdoor venue with some challenges, but we made it through successfully,” Villatoro added.
The Festival Salvadoreñísimo, now a two-decade-long tradition, once again took place as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time when independence festivities run from mid-September through October.
International
El Salvador unveils 2025-2029 National Reintegration Plan for returned migrants
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched the National Reintegration Plan for Returned Salvadorans 2025-2029, a strategy designed to create greater opportunities, ensure access to quality services, and provide a favorable environment for Salvadorans returning to their home country to rebuild their lives.
The initiative is supported by the United Nations Network on Migration, coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), financed by the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), and backed by the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Migration Unit.
During the presentation, Vice Minister of Diaspora and Human Mobility Cindy Mariella Portal emphasized that migrants often face multiple challenges upon returning to their communities.
“That is why we are implementing actions that generate real and sustainable opportunities for these individuals,” she stated.
International
Authorities capture CJNG financial chief in international airport operation
A man identified as the main financial operator of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) was arrested Thursday at Mexico City’s international airport, authorities reported.
The individual, named by Mexican media as Óscar Antonio Álvarez, was apprehended during an operation involving the army, navy, National Guard, police, and the attorney general’s office, according to a joint statement.
Álvarez is considered the primary financial operator of a criminal group originating in Jalisco, and the capture took place at Benito Juárez Airport as he arrived on a flight from Barcelona, Spain.
Authorities stated that Álvarez faces charges of organized crime and money laundering, specifically for receiving and transferring illicit funds. His work with the CJNG reportedly included purchasing properties and managing businesses in the tequila and livestock sectors.
According to El Universal, Álvarez was directly under the command of Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho”, the cartel’s top leader, for whom the U.S. offers a $15 million reward.
The CJNG, which operates throughout Mexico and in various parts of the world, was designated earlier this year as a “foreign terrorist organization” by the U.S. government.
Álvarez was handed over to the federal public prosecutor to determine his legal situation, the report added.
20th Festival Salvadoreñísimo brings together thousands of salvadorans in Houston
El Salvador unveils 2025-2029 National Reintegration Plan for returned migrants
22-Year-Old Suspect Arrested After 33-Hour Manhunt in Small Western U.S. Town
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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