International

Sunday of apparent tranquility in Haiti allows you to go to the market or to the church

Port-au-Prince seems to live a truce of the struggle between the armed gangs and the National Police that has allowed the population to carry out some daily activities, in the context of the state of emergency decreed for the West department, which houses the capital of Haiti.

EFE was able to verify the movement in certain streets of the capital, even more than other Sundays, with people taking advantage of this relative tranquility to shop and stock up on basic products. There are also those who go to the church and others simply seek to leave the city.

Since last Thursday, the recurring armed clashes and the siege of public institutions recorded in recent weeks have not been recorded, a calm that has been maintained after the announcement, on Friday night, that the Presidential Transitional Council of Haiti finally reached a political agreement that outlines the road map to follow to return the country to the path of stability.

That does not mean that the police forces do not continue their fight against the gangs, which in recent days has found their stage at sea, allowing the recovery of the freight transport ship Magalie, the National Police of Haiti (PHN) reported on Sunday.

The Magalie cargo aircraft carrier, which was kidnapped by armed bandits of the Izo and Jeff gangs shortly after leaving the port of Varreux last Thursday with a shipment of rice, was recovered on Saturday with the logistical support of the National Port Authority.

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After more than five hours of maneuvers and intense fighting by the intervention units of the Haitian National Guard, the operation resulted in the neutralization of several bandits, although two policemen were injured in the operation.

Another success of the security forces was the seizure of weapons and ammunition carried out on Friday in the Port of Cape Haitiano, a shipment that, as reported this Sunday by the PHN, came from the United States specifically from the company Alliance Int’l Shipping, from Miami.

The arsenal was intended for Jean Wilmane, Customs Commissioner, against whom the PNH has issued a search warrant, as well as against an individual identified as Barthol, who was listed as the recipient of the shipment, both known for their alleged participation in the trafficking of weapons and ammunition, the institution of order said.

During the operation, 26 firearms were seized, including 12 rifles and 14 pistols; 999 cartridges and 34 magazines discovered in two cardboard boxes.

However, despite the apparent calm, no one is safe from looting by the bandits, not even religious temples, such as the First Baptist Church of Port-au-Prince, which this Sunday expressed its sadness and shock for the acts of looting it has been suffering.

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“La Pastoral informs you that the direct attacks of armed gangs against the Church since Sunday, March 24, continued and resulted this week in the looting of the temple. The sanctuary is stripped of all the equipment related to sound, projection, computers, ventilation, music, electronics, etc.,” the congregation said in a statement.

In the face of these acts, which they described as “sad, disgusting and shocking,” from the church called “a union of prayers, inviting the faithful to attend, if possible, the Evangelical Church closest to their place of refuge and to follow the services broadcast on radio and online.”

Praying is what is left for Haitians in the current situation that the failed nation is experiencing, where not even health care is guaranteed, since almost half of the health professionals left the country and those who stay have great difficulties to go to work.

The Ministry of Health highlighted the health crisis in Haiti coinciding with World Health Day on April 7.

In a statement, the institution highlighted that the stress resulting from violence and uncertainty “makes those who were not sick sick or at risk” of doing so and aggravates the state of those who already suffer from a pathology, prevents the progress of those who are in the process of recovery and leads to the death of seriously ill people.

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International

Artemis II crew prepares for Earth return and splashdown recovery

Astronauts from the Artemis II mission are expected to be extracted from the Orion spacecraft approximately two hours after splashdown, scheduled for 20:07 UTC this Friday (6:07 p.m. in San Salvador), according to NASA.

Following recovery, a rescue team will transport the crew by aircraft to the USS John P. Murtha. Once onboard, they will undergo medical evaluations before boarding another flight to the Johnson Space Center.

On Thursday, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, continued preparations for their return to Earth.

Their activities include stowing equipment used during the mission, securing cargo and storage compartments, and installing and adjusting crew seats to ensure all items are properly fastened. The crew will also review the latest weather updates, recovery operations status, and reentry timeline, while preparing for post-landing procedures.

At 21:53 UTC (9:53 p.m. in San Salvador), Orion’s thrusters are scheduled to perform a second trajectory correction maneuver, refining the spacecraft’s path back to Earth. During this operation, Hansen will monitor guidance, navigation, and propulsion systems.

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NASA explained that during Friday’s reentry, the service module will separate about 20 minutes before Orion reaches the upper atmosphere southeast of Hawaii. If necessary, a final trajectory adjustment will fine-tune the flight path before the capsule begins a series of roll maneuvers to safely distance itself from jettisoned components.

Just before atmospheric interface, Orion will reach a peak speed of approximately 3,800 km/h. As it descends to about 400,000 feet (around 121.9 km), communications will be interrupted for approximately six minutes due to plasma formation around the capsule during peak heating.

NASA expects the crew to experience up to 3.9 G during a nominal reentry profile. After exiting the blackout phase, the capsule will jettison its forward bay cover. Drogue parachutes will deploy at around 22,000 feet (6.7 km), followed by the three main parachutes at approximately 6,000 feet (1.8 km).

Artemis II marks NASA’s first crewed flight test of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft around the Moon. The mission aims to validate capabilities for deep space human exploration and lay the groundwork for future long-term scientific missions on the lunar surface.

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International

Flooding in Dominican Republic leaves child dead and thousands affected

A two-year-old girl died after a wall of her home collapsed amid severe flooding that struck Dominican Republic on Wednesday. The heavy rains also caused power outages, school closures, and reduced working hours across affected areas.

Authorities issued preventive alerts in 15 of the country’s 31 provinces due to intense rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms that began Tuesday night.

Juan Méndez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations (COE), confirmed the child’s death to the press. The incident occurred in Santo Domingo Oeste, part of the capital region.

According to Red Cross officials, the girl died when a wall in her home collapsed following a landslide triggered by hours of heavy rain.

President Luis Abinader provided an update from the COE, stating that government agencies had been mobilized since early morning, particularly in Greater Santo Domingo, to protect lives and minimize material damage.

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Floodwaters left several vehicles submerged, while others were swept away by strong currents. Authorities estimate that around 250,000 families have been affected by the flooding.

Earlier, Public Administration Minister Sigmund Freund announced reduced working hours, encouraging remote work for those facing transportation difficulties, while maintaining in-person operations for essential services.

International

Bill Gates to testify before Congress over Epstein connections

Bill Gates is set to testify on June 10 before a congressional committee in United States investigating links connected to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a source familiar with the matter told AFP on Tuesday.

The Microsoft co-founder is among several high-profile figures named in documents released by the Department of Justice, which detail alleged close associations, questionable financial dealings, and private photographs involving Epstein.

According to a spokesperson cited by Politico, Gates “welcomes” the opportunity to appear before the committee. The representative emphasized that Gates “never attended or participated in any illegal activities with Epstein” and is prepared to answer questions to support the investigation.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.

In late February, Gates told members of his foundation’s board that his association with Epstein was a “huge mistake.” He has consistently denied any involvement in the financier’s criminal activities. Epstein died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors.

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“I did nothing illegal. I saw nothing illegal,” Gates said, according to a recording obtained by The Wall Street Journal.

Gates acknowledged that his relationship with Epstein began in 2011, three years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor.

A draft email written by Epstein and released by the Department of Justice referenced alleged extramarital relationships involving Gates. The message, which was apparently never sent, claimed that Epstein had helped “Bill” obtain medication related to encounters with Russian women.

Gates admitted to having had two extramarital affairs but denied any involvement with Epstein’s victims.