International
Jamaica declares epidemic phase in dengue transmission
September 25 |
Jamaica’s Ministry of Health announced Saturday that the Caribbean island has entered the epidemic phase of dengue fever, following a sharp increase in cases of the mosquito-borne disease.
According to the announcement by health authorities, Jamaica surpassed the dengue epidemic threshold for July and August and is on track to do the same for September.
The Caribbean island, located south of Cuba, registered an increase in the number of cases compared to what is normally observed during these months of the year, the Ministry explained in a statement.
According to health authorities, as of Friday, the country registered 565 suspected and confirmed cases of dengue fever, of which 78 cases were confirmed, most of them in Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine and St. Thomas.
In this context, the authorities specified that no dengue-related deaths were reported so far, although six deaths were under investigation.
Several Caribbean islands have seen significant increases in dengue cases this summer (boreal), associated with an increased presence of the transmitting mosquito, higher temperatures for longer periods of time and favorable local conditions.
Dengue is a potentially fatal viral infection transmitted by female mosquitoes, mainly of the Aedes species.
Some of the most frequent symptoms of the disease are fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain and, in the most severe cases, hemorrhages that can cause death.
International
Mexico Arrests Suspect in Shooting of Sinaloa Lawmakers
Mexican security authorities announced on Tuesday the arrest of one of the alleged perpetrators of last week’s armed attack against two local lawmakers in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, one of the most violent regions in the country.
The suspect was identified as Jesús Emir “N”, who authorities say is a member of a criminal cell and was “one of those responsible for the cowardly attack against lawmakers” from the opposition party Movimiento Ciudadano on January 28, according to Public Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch in a post on X.
García Harfuch said the detainee was in charge of controlling radio communications, installing surveillance cameras to monitor the movements of authorities, and acquiring drones for the criminal organization.
The attack took place in broad daylight as local lawmakers Sergio Torres and Elizabeth Montoya were leaving the state Congress building in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa, when they were shot by armed assailants.
According to Mexican media reports on Monday, Torres, 59, remained hospitalized in critical condition due to his injuries, while Montoya, 55, lost an eye in the attack but was reported to be out of danger.
Following the attack on the lawmakers and the kidnapping on January 23 of 10 workers from a Canadian mining company operating in southern Sinaloa, the federal government reinforced security in the state by deploying 1,600 military personnel.
Located along Mexico’s Pacific coast, Sinaloa is among the country’s five most violent states, particularly since an internal conflict erupted within the Sinaloa cartel in 2024.
That factional war broke out after the capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, one of the cartel’s historic leaders, who was allegedly lured to the United States by a son of his former associate Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
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