International

Cuba declares cyclone warning for tropical storm Idalia

Photo: EFE

August 29|

Cuba’s Civil Defense General Staff declared on Monday the Cyclonic Alarm Phase for the provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa and the Isle of Youth in view of the approach of tropical storm Idalia, while the provinces of Havana and Mayabeque were placed on alert.

According to the Institute of Meteorology of Cuba (Ismet) at 21H30 on Monday, the tropical storm was passing near Cabo de San Antonio, in Pinar del Rio, moving north at about 13 km / h, with possibilities of reaching the west coast of Florida, United States, as a hurricane on Wednesday.

Hundreds of people were evacuated to the homes of relatives and friends due to the risk of flooding in Pinar del Rio, the same province that was hit by Hurricane Ian last September, which made landfall in Cuba with category 3, leaving at least two dead on the island.

“People have already been evacuated, food processing centers have been set up, the family food basket is guaranteed, health brigades and communities are being visited,” said Roberto Morales Ojeda, Chief of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.

20260212_constancia_pagos_mh_728x90

For her part, Yuniasky Crespo, president of the Provincial Council, assured that “Priority has been given in this case to the elderly, vulnerable cases, bedridden and pregnant women”. The railroad service suspended departures in Pinar del Río and the maritime transportation of passengers was interrupted from the Isle of Youth.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel arrived in the country on Monday afternoon from a tour of Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa. “The first thing is to protect everyone’s life (…) you must move towards the school and wait for the situation to pass,” stated an official dressed in olive green in an area of Isla de la Juventud.

According to reports from the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), the forecast path for Idalia will continue northward and in the evening hours it will pass near or over the westernmost point of Cuba and on Tuesday morning it will reach the southeastern tip of the Gulf of Mexico, already as a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Related Topics:Cuba tropical storm Idalia

Up Next

Landslide in Bolivia leaves five miners dead

Don't Miss

What is known about the new coronavirus variants under surveillance in the Americas?

20260212_constancia_pagos_mh_300x250

International

Florida judge sets 2027 trial in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against BBC

A federal judge in Florida has scheduled February 2027 for the trial in the lawsuit filed by U.S. President Donald Trump against the BBC, in which he is seeking $10 billion in damages for defamation.

Trump accuses the British broadcaster of airing a misleading edit of a speech he delivered on January 6, 2021, which, he says, made it appear that he explicitly urged his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

The president filed the suit in December in federal court in Florida, alleging defamation and violations of a law governing business practices when the program was broadcast ahead of the 2024 election.

Trump is seeking $5 billion in damages for each of the two claims.

Lawyers for the BBC unsuccessfully asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that Trump had not suffered a “legally recognizable harm,” since the investigative program Panorama, which included the edited footage, aired outside the United States.

20260212_constancia_pagos_mh_728x90

International

Head-of-state diplomacy key to guiding China–U.S. ties, Beijing says

Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China–United States relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday during a regular press briefing, when asked about high-level exchanges between the two sides.

Lin added that in a recent phone call, U.S. President Donald Trump once again expressed his intention to visit China in April, while Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his invitation.

Both sides remain in communication regarding the matter, the spokesperson said.

Lin noted that the essence of China–U.S. economic and trade ties lies in mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

“Both parties should work together to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, injecting greater certainty and stability into China–U.S. economic and trade cooperation, as well as into the global economy,” he said.

20260212_constancia_pagos_mh_728x90

International

Trump administration to end special immigration operation in Minnesota

The administration of Donald Trump is bringing to a close its special operation targeting illegal immigration in the northern state of Minnesota, border czar Tom Homan announced Thursday, following weeks of unrest and the fatal shootings of two activists by federal agents.

Thousands of federal officers had been deployed to Minnesota in December to carry out large-scale raids against undocumented immigrants.

The operations triggered strong reactions from residents and advocacy groups, leading to daily confrontations and the deaths of two people who were shot by federal agents.

“I proposed, and President Trump agreed, that this special operation should end in Minnesota,” Homan said during a press conference in the state capital, Minneapolis.

“A significant drawdown began this week and will continue into next week,” he added.

20260212_constancia_pagos_mh_728x90

Homan indicated that similar enforcement efforts could be launched in other cities.

“Next week we will redeploy the agents currently here back to their home stations or to other parts of the country where they are needed. But we will continue to enforce immigration laws,” he said.