International
Iceland achieved one of the lowest COVID-19 mortality rates in the world
Iceland, despite being one of the countries with the highest rates of Coronavirus infections, managed to keep down the number of deaths from the virus. And to achieve this, Nordic authorities did not need to issue mandatory closures or confinements.
Part of the strategy used by the authorities, following the discovery of a positive case of COVID-19, was to set up a rigorous system to track the spread of the virus. As soon as links were identified, authorities contacted the people to tell them to isolate themselves.
Another particular element in Iceland was that politicians stood aside and let scientists lead the fight against the pandemic. “It was important not to politicize this crisis,” said Iceland’s prime minister. Now the government is working on reopening the country.
International
Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 3,535 as Search for Victims Continues
The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 rose to 3,535 on Monday, while the number of injured remained at 16,740, according to a statement released by the Venezuelan government.
Authorities have not disclosed an official number of missing persons. However, the United Nations estimates that as many as 50,000 people could still be unaccounted for, although other projections suggest the figure may be closer to 10,000.
Search and recovery operations continue in the state of La Guaira, neighboring Caracas and the region hardest hit by the earthquakes, as emergency crews and volunteers work to recover victims and provide them with dignified burials.
On Sunday, authorities began burying unidentified victims.
More than 150 unidentified bodies were laid to rest at La Esperanza Cemetery in the municipality of Catia La Mar, according to journalists from AFP.
Rows of individual graves now stretch across a dry section of the cemetery, each marked by white stones outlining the burial plots.
Every grave bears a small bouquet of flowers at the base of a white cross, along with a plaque reading “Special Identification” and the date of death: June 24, 2026.
International
WHO warns of increased disease outbreak risk in Venezuela amid low vaccination coverage
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of an increased risk of disease outbreaks in Venezuela, including vaccine-preventable illnesses, due to low immunization coverage across the country.
“The vaccination coverage in Venezuela, particularly against measles and other diseases, was already low, so the risk of measles cases and other illnesses is currently high,” said Ciro Ugarte, director for emergencies at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the WHO’s regional office.
Speaking during a video conference with journalists, Ugarte said the risk is especially high in shelters, where overcrowding could significantly accelerate the transmission of infectious diseases.
He also highlighted water quality as an additional concern in the aftermath of the disaster, noting that safe drinking water is not guaranteed in the most affected areas.
“Unfortunately, supply is scarce, making it very difficult to assess conditions in all shelters. That is why evaluating the quality of water provided to the population, especially in large shelters, is a priority,” he said during a briefing in Geneva.
Ugarte suggested that targeted vaccination campaigns could be deployed against mosquito-borne and other vector-transmitted diseases, particularly in overcrowded shelters and in areas where people remain displaced.
According to PAHO, eight health facilities have been assessed so far, all of which require assistance, with three reporting structural damage.
He also stressed that the José María Vargas Hospital, one of Caracas’s major public reference hospitals, requires urgent support due to critical conditions. The facility is currently treating 96 patients in an eight-bed unit, while its blood bank is operating at extremely low levels.
In La Guaira, the Rafael Medina Jiménez Hospital has reduced its capacity from 108 to 35 beds. Additionally, 22 other health centers have reported severe shortages, underscoring the strain on Venezuela’s healthcare system.
International
María Corina Machado’s attempted return to Venezuela reportedly halted amid US political concerns
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly pressured Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado and disrupted her planned return to Venezuela following recent earthquakes, amid concerns over a potential political crisis, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Sources familiar with the matter told the newspaper that a private jet carrying Machado from the United States to Curaçao was ordered to turn back last week after U.S. officials concluded she intended to continue onward to Venezuelan territory, effectively reversing her earlier departure route from December.
The opposition figure had reportedly spent months preparing to re-enter Venezuela in an effort to renew pressure for new elections, following the detention of then-president Nicolás Maduro under an order issued by Trump. The U.S. president has since stated that Washington’s relationship with Venezuela’s acting leadership, headed by Delcy Rodríguez, is “excellent.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, intermediaries close to the White House warned Machado that proceeding with her return plan could jeopardize her support from Trump and undermine broader U.S. strategy toward Venezuela, potentially delaying electoral plans.
Despite these warnings, Machado reportedly attempted a second route back through Panama. However, Copa Airlines declined to transport her to Venezuela, citing concerns over possible retaliation from Caracas against the airline, according to unnamed sources.
From Panama City, Machado stated on Monday that the Venezuelan government had closed commercial airspace to prevent her return, calling it “urgent” to go back to the country to “face this catastrophe together,” without addressing reports of U.S. pressure.
Axios reported that Trump administration officials viewed Machado’s attempted return as “grotesque political opportunism” in the aftermath of recent earthquakes that have left at least 2,595 people dead and thousands injured, while also delaying reconstruction efforts and potential electoral processes.
Since Maduro’s detention on January 3, President Trump has reportedly expressed support for Rodríguez, the former vice president, who has agreed to trade, mining, and oil agreements demanded by Washington. Trump has described Venezuela as effectively operating under U.S. oversight and has claimed the country is improving economically through increased oil production and exports.
Venezuelan opposition groups based in the United States have urged the Trump administration to reconsider its relationship with Rodríguez and criticized Washington’s stated satisfaction with reconstruction efforts following the June 24 earthquakes.
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