International

Harris surpasses Trump in Latin voting intention, but the Democratic advantage is reduced

Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris surpasses her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, in Latin voting intention, but has the slightest advantage of a Democratic candidate in the last four elections in the United States, according to a poll by Telemundo, NBC News and CNBC published this Sunday.

Harris achieved 54% of the voting intention compared to 40% of Trump in a poll with 1,000 Latino voters registered in the US, conducted in English and Spanish between September 15 and 23 and with a margin of error of more or less 3.1 percentage points.

Harris’ 14 percentage point advantage over Trump improves the one that President Joe Biden had before withdrawing his candidacy for re-election last July, but the figure represents the narrowest margin for a Democratic candidate since 2012, says CNBC.

What do Latinos think of Harris and Trump?

54% of respondents also indicated that they prefer Congress to be controlled by the Democrats, compared to 42% who prefer the Republicans, which also represents the most reduced Democratic advantage since 2012.

The survey shows that the cost of living and inflation, as well as jobs and the economy, are the issues of greatest concern for Latinos, in line with the general trend in the United States, and those are the issues in which Trump has the best score.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

46% of respondents said they preferred Trump over 37% to Harris when it comes to tackling inflation, and in economic matters in general Trump also prevails (45% versus 41%).

Migration and borders

Regarding other issues, Harris surpasses Trump with the greatest advantage (39 percentage points) in human treatment and protection of immigrants’ rights, followed by the issue of abortion (32 points).

However, the survey reflects the diversity of the Latino community in the US and its division in immigration issues: for example, 62% said that immigration helps more than it harms and 35% the opposite, the latter percentage being the highest among Latinos in two decades, according to Telemundo.

Apart from that, 52% considered it more important to give immigrants a way for citizenship and avoid their discrimination, compared to 47% who advocated making the border safer and stopping the illegal crossing of immigrants.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

International

Mexican Navy Ships Deliver Third Shipment of Humanitarian Aid to Cuba

Two logistics support vessels from the Mexican Navy — the ARM Papaloapan and the ARM Huasteco — docked again on Friday in the bay of Havana carrying a third shipment of humanitarian aid for Cuba.

The vessels had previously arrived on the Caribbean island on February 28 with a second cargo that included 1,200 tons of food, sent to help alleviate the country’s ongoing crisis, which has worsened following the U.S. oil restrictions affecting fuel supplies to the island.

Cuba’s deputy foreign minister Josefina Vidal confirmed the new shipment in a social media post.

“Two ships carrying a third shipment of aid from the Government and the people of Mexico for the Cuban people are now arriving at the port of Havana. Thank you Mexico for your solidarity with Cuba,” she wrote.

Previous aid shipments

During the second shipment, the Papaloapan transported 1,078 tons of beans and powdered milk, while the Huastecocarried 92 tons of beans and 23 tons of assorted food products collected by social organizations with support from the government of Mexico City.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

In recent months, Mexico has become the largest provider of humanitarian aid to Cuba, sending around 2,000 tons of supplies, mostly staple foods and hygiene products, in the two shipments prior to Friday’s delivery.

The first shipment alone included 814 tons of food.

Cuba praises Mexico’s support

Hours before the ships arrived, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel highlighted Mexico’s support during a televised appearance, describing the country as “a friendly and brotherly nation that has shown tremendous solidarity,”particularly praising Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Díaz-Canel also addressed reports suggesting that Mexican donations were being resold in state-run stores, dismissing them as a “disinformation campaign” promoted by right-wing groups.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

International

Ecuador Declares 60-Day National Emergency After Deadly Floods and Landslides

Ecuador has declared a 60-day national emergency to address the impact of a severe rainy season that has left 11 people dead and more than 50,000 affected since January, the government’s disaster management authority announced Friday.

Prolonged heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms have caused river overflows and landslides, mainly in the coastal provinces of Guayas, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Los Ríos, Manabí and Santa Elena, as well as in the Andean provinces of Lojaand Chimborazo.

According to the Secretariat for Risk Management of Ecuador, the emergency declaration was issued “due to the level of impact caused nationwide on the population, the road network, infrastructure, and livelihoods.”

“The emergency declaration is aimed at responding to the effects and negative impacts and preventing their further spread,” the agency said in a statement.

International

Trump Pushes for Regime Change in Cuba as Havana Confirms Talks With Washington

U.S. President Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire for political change in Cuba, located just 150 kilometers from the United States. Washington considers the island an “exceptional threat,” citing its close ties with Russia, Chinaand Iran, longtime allies of Havana.

Trump has urged Cuba to “reach a deal” with Washington or face consequences, as the island struggles with a severe energy crisis that has nearly paralyzed its economy after the United States cut oil shipments from Venezuela, its main fuel supplier. The U.S. has also warned other countries against selling fuel to Havana.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that Cuban officials have recently held talks with representatives of the U.S. government. The statement came during a meeting with senior members of the ruling Communist Party of Cuba and the executive committee of the Council of Ministers, according to footage broadcast on Cuban television.

“These conversations have been aimed at seeking solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences that exist between our two nations,” Díaz-Canel said.

Reports of intermediaries and possible negotiations

According to television images, among those attending the meeting was Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, grandson of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro. Although he holds no official government position, U.S. media have identified him as a possible interlocutor with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in what have been described as secret discussions between Washington and Havana.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

For some Cubans, any potential agreement with Washington is viewed pragmatically. “As long as it benefits us, we can reach an agreement — but on our terms,” said Sergio Guerra, a 55-year-old agricultural vendor, speaking to AFP.

Díaz-Canel’s remarks confirm earlier statements by Trump, who indicated in January that his administration had already begun contacts with senior Cuban officials.

Mexico calls for diplomacy

Meanwhile, Mexico welcomed the possibility of dialogue after recently sending more than 2,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba to help mitigate the crisis.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country would always promote peace and diplomatic dialogue, particularly in response to what she described as the long-standing injustice of the U.S. embargo on the Cuban people.