International
Cuba recognizes “very strong” damage to houses and infrastructure due to the passage of Rafael
The Cuban Government recognized in its first damage assessment after the passage through the west of Hurricane Rafael Island with category 3 (of five) on the Saffir-Simpson scale that the effects on housing, infrastructure and agriculture have been “very strong.”
The cyclone made landfall at 16:20 local time (21:20 GMT) off the south coast of the province of Artemisa and left Cuban territory more than two hours later on the north coast of Pinar del Río.
The Meteorological Institute (Insmet) of Cuba measured winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour and recorded intense rains, up to 200 millimeters (or liters per square meter).
“Great effects” by Rafael in Cuba: Díaz-Canel
The country’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, wrote on social networks at the end of a meeting of the National Defense Council that “great effects have been recorded in Artemisa, Mayabeque and Havana,” three western provinces.
He also advanced that he plans to visit from this Thursday “the territories most impacted by the hurricane.” “A new recovery process is already beginning,” he said.
For his part, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero added in a special intervention on state television that the damage has been “very strong in housing, infrastructure and agriculture.”
He also explained that the total blackout caused in the country by this cyclone, the second event of “zero national energy coverage” in just two weeks, is still to be evaluated due to inclement weather.
Urgent repairs
To the technical complexity of the restoration of the National Electric Service (SEN) must be added the physical repair of cables and poles damaged by strong winds, explained in this regard on social networks the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Mined), which demanded “time” for recovery.
“Work is underway to create electrical subsystems in central and eastern Cuba. In the West this process will be slower, the necessary lines and electrical installations must be reviewed,” said the Mined.
Marrero concluded his speech by saying: “Rest assured that we will recover and get ahead. Until victory always!”
Rafael has affected more than four million Cubans and its ravages will begin to be visible from this Thursday.
This is the second hurricane to touch Cuba so far this year. The previous one, Oscar, passed through the northeastern end of the island a little over two weeks ago and left 8 dead, damaged 12,000 homes and 13,000 hectares of damaged crops.
International
Biden administration approves $8 billion arms sale to Israel ahead of Trump’s Presidency
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden approved a weapons sale to Israel worth approximately $8 billion, which includes air defense ammunition, the State Department announced on Saturday.
The sale—which must be approved by Congress—was agreed upon just days before Republican Donald Trump assumes the presidency, also a strong ally of Israel in the Gaza conflict. Before leaving office, Joe Biden once again ignored pressure from human rights organizations and Democratic lawmakers who oppose the arms sale to Israel.
“The president made it clear that Israel has the right to defend its citizens in accordance with international law and humanitarian law, and to deter aggression from Iran and its allied organizations,” it was stated.
International
Scottie Pippen’s dream predictions about Bitcoin gain attention as market faces volatility
Financial analyst Jim Bianco commented on Monday about Scottie Pippen’s dream encounters with Satoshi Nakamoto, noting that the NBA legend’s predictions about Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) have been surprisingly accurate.
What Happened Bianco, president and founder of Bianco Research, stated in a post on X that Pippen’s predictions have gained followers due to their accuracy, despite the strange methods he claims to use, such as receiving messages from Bitcoin’s anonymous creator in his dreams.
Bianco also analyzed Pippen’s latest forecast, in which the basketball star said, “I just took a nap, and Satoshi whispered to me: ‘Bitcoin will get closer to the Black Mamba numbers before it returns to Chamberlain.’”
According to Bianco, the post referenced NBA legends Kobe Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 81 and 100 points in a single game, respectively. Simply put, Pippen expected Bitcoin to drop to $81,000 before recovering to $100,000.
Why It Matters The world’s leading cryptocurrency has fallen below the key support level of $93,000 and is at risk of falling further. Since the Christmas rally, Bitcoin has dropped by up to 6.5%.
Earlier, Pippen grabbed attention by predicting Bitcoin would hit $84,000 on U.S. presidential election day. While the digital asset didn’t meet these predictions, it reached $84,000 a week later.
International
Ecuador Imposes 60-Day State of Emergency in Most Violent Provinces as Drug Gangs Clash
Ecuador, engaged in a war against drug trafficking gangs, has declared a new state of emergency in Quito and seven of its 24 provinces, which are considered the most violent, according to a presidential decree released on Friday.
The 60-day measure suspends the rights to the inviolability of the home and correspondence in the coastal provinces of Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Santa Elena, and El Oro, as well as the Amazonian provinces of Orellana and Sucumbíos. This state of emergency has been in effect since Thursday and was implemented due to the severe internal turmoil and internal armed conflict declared last year because of drug-related violence.
The decree includes Quito (in the province of Pichincha) and the towns of La Troncal (Cañar) and the mining town of Camilo Ponce Enríquez (Azuay), as well as the prison system, now under military control.
The government of Daniel Noboa, which began in November 2023, has consistently used this measure in response to an escalating wave of drug gangs fighting for control of the streets and prisons.
“This declaration is based on… the increase in violence rates, the commission of crimes, and the prolonged intensity of the presence of organized armed groups,” states the decree released on the presidential website.
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