International
Cholera cases soaring in Haiti: government
| By AFP |
A cholera outbreak in Haiti is spreading fast, with the number of cases doubling to nearly 2,000 in a matter of days and at least 41 deaths, its health ministry said Tuesday.
The new outbreak, which began in early October, comes three years after the impoverished Caribbean nation — which is also grappling with spiralling insecurity — finally stamped out an outbreak that began in 2010 and killed more than 10,000 people.
“Up until a few days ago, the increase of cholera cases had been gradual but now we are seeing a worryingly sharp increase, so the situation has become more challenging,” wrote the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Haiti, Ulrika Richardson, in a blog post published Tuesday.
“Although cholera can be deadly, it is preventable and treatable,” she said, adding that “speed is of the essence” to contain the outbreak.
Richardson lauded the “immediate and decisive” UN-supported work by Haitian authorities and NGOs, who continue to face critical shortages of clean water and fuel due to gang blockades.
Between October 19 and 23, the number of suspected cases in Haiti shot up from 964 to 1,972 while fatalities have risen from 33 to 41, the Haitian health ministry said.
The vast majority of cases are found in Ouest department and the capital Port-au-Prince in particular, and the slum known as Cite Soleil.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that according to UNICEF, children under the age of 14 made up about half of the cases.
He said that fuel shortages caused by gang blockage of Haiti’s main fuel import terminal are complicating the work of NGOs, interrupting deliveries of clean water which is essential for fighting cholera.
Richardson said she had visited several cholera treatment centers in the most affected neighborhoods of Haiti’s capital, where she saw heartbreaking scenes, including “children who were so malnourished, it was difficult to insert a drip into their arms or legs.”
Haiti’s government has called on the international community for help with its worsening health and security crises.
The UN Security Council, at the request of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is considering sending an international force to restore order.
It was a UN stabilization mission which brought cholera to the country in 2010.
International
Javier Milei vows to work ‘side by side’ with the U.S. on trade rules
Determined to work “side by side” with the United States, Argentine President Javier Milei announced in Mar-a-Lagothat his government will modify trade regulations to meet the requirements of Donald Trump’s newly imposed tariffs.
Milei arrived in Florida amid the trade war triggered by the latest round of tariff hikes announced by the Republican leader. While many countries are considering retaliation, Milei’s ultraliberal Argentina has opted to adapt instead.
“Argentina will move forward in adjusting its regulations to comply with the reciprocal tariff proposal drafted by President Trump,” Milei stated at the Gala of American Patriots, organized by the Make America Clean Again (MACA) Foundation and the We Fund the Blue NGO, according to his office.
He further explained that Argentina has already met nine out of the 16 necessary requirements and has instructed his administration to comply with the remaining ones in order to resolve trade asymmetries with the U.S. in a short time frame.
International
Paraguay summons Brazilian ambassador over Itaipú espionage scandal
Paraguay summoned the Brazilian ambassador in Asunción on Tuesday to demand “explanations” and called its own representative in Brasília for consultations following Brazil’s acknowledgment of an espionage operation. The Brazilian government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, attributed the operation to the previous administration.
The surveillance effort aimed to uncover Paraguay’s position in now-suspended negotiations with Brazil regarding the pricing of electricity from the binational Itaipú hydroelectric plant, according to reports in the Brazilian press.
The Brazilian government “categorically denied any involvement in the intelligence operation,” stating in a Foreign Ministry communiqué on Monday that the espionage was carried out under former President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration (2019-2023).
“The operation was authorized by the previous government in June 2022 and was annulled by the interim director of the (state intelligence agency) ABIN on March 27, 2023, as soon as the current administration became aware of it,” Brazil’s government asserted.
Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez announced that Brazilian Ambassador José Antonio Marcondes de Carvalho was summoned “to provide detailed explanations” regarding the operation. Additionally, Paraguay recalled its diplomatic representative in Brasília “to report on aspects related to the intelligence activity conducted by Brazil regarding Paraguay’s government affairs.”
International
Elon Musk to step down as government advisor, per Trump insiders
President Donald Trump has informed his inner circle that Elon Musk will be stepping down from his role as a government advisor, according to a report by Politico today.
Citing three individuals close to Trump, Politico states that the president is pleased with Musk’s leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he has implemented significant budget cuts. However, both have agreed that it is time for Musk to return to his businesses and support Trump from a different position outside the government.
A senior administration official told Politico that Musk will likely maintain an informal advisory role and continue to be an occasional visitor to the White House. Another source warned that anyone thinking Musk will completely disappear from Trump’s circle is “deluding themselves.”
According to the sources, this transition is expected to coincide with the end of Musk’s tenure as a “special government employee,” a temporary status that exempts him from certain ethics and conflict-of-interest regulations. This 130-day period is set to expire in late May or early June.
-
Central America4 days agoU.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border
-
Central America4 days agoPanama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua
-
International2 days agoParaguay summons Brazilian ambassador over Itaipú espionage scandal
-
International4 days agoTrump urges Putin to reach peace deal
-
Sports2 days agoFilipe Luis debuts as coach in Copa Libertadores with Flamengo
-
International2 days agoElon Musk to step down as government advisor, per Trump insiders
-
Central America2 days agoGuatemalan police officer killed in mob riots over baby kidnapping
-
Sports2 days agoVenezuela investigates 18 baseball players seeking asylum in Spain
-
International2 days agoÓscar Arias: Trump’s trade policies are a step backward
-
International2 days agoMilei vows to make Argentina so strong that Falkland Islanders “choose” to join
-
International2 days agoICE agent’s arrest of suspect sparks controversy in Boston
-
Central America6 hours ago
Panama’s former president Martinelli claims political enemies tried to kill him
-
International6 hours agoJavier Milei vows to work ‘side by side’ with the U.S. on trade rules