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Ecuador to enforce 10-hour daily power cuts amid worsening energy crisis

Ecuador declares emergency in the electricity sector

Ecuador, facing a severe electrical crisis since April due to drought, will implement new power cuts of up to ten hours per day to “prevent a collapse” of the national electricity system, Energy Minister Antonio Goncalves announced on Wednesday.

“Our country is experiencing a critical energy situation. The water level at the Mazar Dam (in the southern Andes) is nearing its minimum limit, and projections indicate that immediate and firm decisions must be made to prevent a collapse of the national electricity system,” the official said in a nationwide radio and television broadcast.

Last week, the government had reduced the blackouts to a maximum of six hours per day after rains, amid the worst drought in six decades, slightly improved the reservoir levels that power the main hydroelectric plants. However, the situation has worsened again.

Goncalves stated that “starting today (Wednesday) at noon, power cuts will be rescheduled to last up to ten hours per day, except for certain industrial sectors, which will have a differentiated schedule to allow them to meet their savings quota while minimizing the impact.”

On Monday, business leaders denounced targeted rationing of industries and expressed concerns about potential job losses, possible shortages of basic goods, and other economic consequences.

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The new power rationing, set to last until October 13, will be applied in different time slots and sectors, as has been the practice since the current phase of service cuts began in September.

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International

7 in 10 mexicans born poor stay poor, new report finds

Seven out of ten Mexicans born into poverty remain poor throughout their lives, highlighting an urgent need for public policies focused on promoting social mobility through equal opportunity, according to civil society organizations.

The 2025 Social Mobility Report in Mexico, published by the Espinosa Yglesias Center for Studies (CEEY), reveals that 73% of individuals born into the bottom 20% of income households in Mexico — Latin America’s second-largest economy — continue to live in poverty based on income.

The report signals a worrisome stagnation in social mobility, defined as the ability of individuals to improve their socioeconomic standing compared to that of their parents. This lack of upward movement indicates that one’s economic origins are largely inherited, according to CEEY.

Geographically, disparities are stark:

  • In northern Mexico, 37% of those born in poverty remain there.

  • In the south, that number rises dramatically to 64%.

Gender gaps are also evident. Among those born in wealthier households, women experience less upward mobility, with a rate of 47% compared to 53% for men.

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The report also notes that 48% of economic inequality in Mexico stems from inequality of opportunity — placing Mexico among the top ten countries with the highest opportunity inequality across 50 nations analyzed globally.

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International

Spain hits record 46°C in June amid scorching heatwave

36 deaths reported due to heat wave in Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Spain registered a record-breaking temperature of 46°C (114.8°F) on Saturday, June 28, in El Granado, Huelva — a southern town near the Portuguese border — marking the highest temperature ever recorded in June in the country, according to Spain’s national meteorological agency, Aemet.

The temperature was officially recorded at 4:40 p.m. local time, surpassing the previous June record of 45.2°C (113.4°F)set in Seville back in 1965, also in the Andalusia region.

Like many parts of Southern Europe, Spain is experiencing a severe heatwave, with large areas of the country facing temperatures above 40°C even though summer has just begun.

As one of Europe’s countries most vulnerable to climate change, Spain has endured its three hottest years on recordfrom 2022 to 2024, marked by repeated heatwaves and temperature extremes.

Climate scientists have long warned that global warming is amplifying the intensity, frequency, and duration of extreme weather events such as heatwaves and droughts — trends now evident across the Iberian Peninsula and the broader Mediterranean region.

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International

Trump administration sues Los Angeles over sanctuary city policies

The Republican administration of Donald Trump filed a lawsuit on Monday against Los Angeles officials, challenging the city’s sanctuary policies as illegal amid an intensifying federal immigration crackdown.

The Department of Justice accused the Democratic-led city of interfering with federal immigration enforcement, arguing that its sanctuary policies have contributed to “violence, chaos, and attacks on law enforcement” recently seen in Los Angeles.

“The sanctuary city policies were the cause of violence, chaos, and attacks on law enforcement that Americans recently witnessed in Los Angeles,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in an official statement.

The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, names Mayor Karen Bass, City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, and the entire City Council as defendants.

While Los Angeles had long been considered a sanctuary city for immigrants, the City Council officially adopted the designation through a municipal ordinance in November last year, following Trump’s election to the presidency.

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The legal action seeks to limit local authorities’ cooperation with federal immigration agents under Trump’s policies.

With over one-third of its population being immigrants, Los Angeles has become a flashpoint in the battle against Trump’s anti-immigration agenda, which began with his campaign promise to deport millions.

Tensions in the city escalated earlier this month after an increase in workplace immigration raids, sparking mass protests downtown. The situation further intensified when Trump overrode California Governor Gavin Newsom and ordered the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines to the area.

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