International
Helene rises to category 4 and produces floods in Florida and blackouts in the southeast of the United States
The heavy rains and winds of Hurricane Helene, which in the course of the date reached category 4, have already flooded parts of Florida and have left more than 200,000 homes and offices in this state, as well as Georgia and North Carolina, without power.
The hurricane has strengthened in recent hours and, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), is heading towards the west coast of Florida with maximum winds of 215 kilometers per hour (130 miles), that is, as a major hurricane (category 3, 4 or 5).
Helene is expected to make landfall tonight in northwest Florida, in the Big Bend region, however its effects have already begun to be felt on the Gulf of Mexico coast of this state.
Strong winds and high tide for Helene in Florida
The US media begin to spread the first images of strong winds and high tide in coastal areas of this southern US state, while streets in Tampa Bay are already registering floods due to the rains, which can reach up to 50 centimeters in certain areas.
Likewise, more than 173,000 homes and offices on the west coast of Florida are without electricity this afternoon after the impacts of the hurricane’s external bands, according to the specialized website PowerOutages.
Classes are canceled
Helene, the eighth system with a name in the current hurricane season in the Atlantic, threatens with strong winds, storm surges and floods to a wide coastal strip of Florida facing the Gulf of Mexico.
Schools in all counties, except those in southern Miami-Dade, have canceled classes today as a foresight in the face of the imminent arrival of Helene, whose center was located mid-morning today 405 kilometers (255 miles) southwest of Tampa, in West Florida.
The airport of this city was closed today, as was that of the capital of Florida, Tallahassee, and that of St. Pete-Clearwater, and hundreds of flights have been canceled in this state.
Danger of tornadoes
The US National Meteorological Service has warned today about the possibility of tornadoes forming during the day, a warning that covers about 17 million people and large cities such as Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers.
The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, reported today that there are “tens of thousands” of operators ready to restore the power supply, given the forecast that many localities will be left in the dark due to the impact of Helene, which is estimated to touch the ground well into tonight as a category 3 or more on the Saffir-Simpson scale, of a maximum of 5.
“There will be bad weather during the last part of the day here in the state of Florida,” warned DeSantis, who has declared a state of emergency, as have his counterparts from Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia.
DeSantis said that more than 130 electric generators have been sent to gas stations to ensure the supply of fuel once the hurricane passed, and asked residents to act with caution during the passage of the hurricane.
International
Donald Trump pledges strong borders and legal immigration at Univision Forum witv latino Voters
Presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump stated at a forum with Latino voters on Wednesday that he supports legal immigration and strong borders. He also reiterated the false claim that certain countries are sending their prisoners and emptying mental institutions to send them to the United States, a narrative he has used to criticize President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
Trump claimed at the Univision-organized forum that his immigration policies were “an unprecedented success” and that Biden should have maintained his strategy at the southern border, including the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which returns asylum seekers to Mexico while their applications are processed.
The Republican candidate alleged that countries like Venezuela “open their prisons and mental institutions” to send criminals and the mentally ill to the U.S., a generalization that stigmatizes undocumented immigrants and is not backed by data.
“Under me, immigrants came legally, and the system worked well (…) Let them come legally, and don’t release murderers, drug traffickers, and terrorists,” said Trump, who has promised mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
The former president repeated falsehoods and inaccuracies, such as claiming that “the world’s prison population is decreasing because they’re sending them to the U.S.” and that “Venezuela is emptying its prisons so they can come here.” He reiterated, “We want people to come, but not killers.”
Trump sought to win over Latino voters with promises to support small businesses, attract investment and new jobs, and reduce inflation by lowering energy prices and increasing oil and gas production.
“The Democrats don’t know anything about growth (economically). We will attract companies and end abuse and waste,” said Trump, adding that he now has the support of SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk to help control federal government spending.
Trump has narrowed the gap in Latino voter support between Democrats and Republicans since the 2016 elections, an improvement that could be crucial in winning key states like Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania to secure the White House after the November 5 election.
International
Experts highlight role of public sector in advancing technology in Central America at EFE Forum
Representatives from the business sector, multilateral organizations, and the Government of El Salvador highlighted on Wednesday, during a forum organized by EFE for its 85th anniversary, the importance of the public sector in advancing technology in Central America, particularly in areas such as health, education, and the climate crisis.
Under the theme ‘Innovation and Development: Driving the Future in Central America,’ the forum held in San Salvador brought together the Minister of Economy, María Luisa Hayem, the CEO of Asesuisa, Ficohsa Group, Enzo Bizzarro, and the country representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Olga Gómez.
According to Hayem, the Central American region has a “window of opportunity” in integrating its innovation ecosystems to achieve greater multilateral investment.
“The greater the impact of these projects, not just from El Salvador, but from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica, the more we will attract the attention of investment funds,” said the Salvadoran official.
She noted that this conversation has already begun, at least with the Ministry of Economy of Guatemala.
For her part, Gómez pointed out that “disruptive technologies represent a significant opportunity for El Salvador and the region” by creating new opportunities.
She emphasized that these advances have important applications in health, education, businesses, and addressing the climate crisis.
“All these disruptive technologies will allow us better access to education, identify knowledge gaps, (…) and lead to major transformations,” she said.
The IDB representative added that “this is a revolution here to stay” and believes “the public sector’s role is crucial” in creating the necessary conditions.
International
Liam Payne, former One Direction member, dies after tragic fall in Argentina
British musician and singer Liam Payne, former member of the band One Direction, has died after falling from a hotel in Palermo, Argentina, according to international media reports this Wednesday afternoon.
Payne, 31 years old, fell from one of the floors of an Argentine hotel, dying instantly. Argentine news outlets report that authorities are still investigating the cause of the incident.
Born in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, Payne was part of the iconic group One Direction, one of the biggest pop sensations in recent years, alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik.
Donald Trump pledges strong borders and legal immigration at Univision Forum witv latino Voters
Experts highlight role of public sector in advancing technology in Central America at EFE Forum
Liam Payne, former One Direction member, dies after tragic fall in Argentina
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
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