By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
Cuba Confirms 33 Deaths as Mosquito-Borne Epidemic Sweeps the Island
Cuban health authorities have confirmed 33 deaths linked to mosquito-borne illnesses in recent months, in what officials describe as an epidemic affecting at least one-third of the country’s population.
Deputy Health Minister Carilda Peña reported that 12 people died from dengue fever and 21 from chikungunya, the two viruses now circulating widely across the island. At least 21 of the deceased were under the age of 18, although no specific timeframe for the fatalities was provided.
The worsening epidemic adds new strain to Cuba’s already distressed health-care system, which has been struggling under a deep economic crisis marked by severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicines.
Dengue has long affected Cuba, but inadequate fumigation, poor waste management, and leaky water infrastructure—worsened by resource shortages—have contributed to a rapid increase in transmission.
Chikungunya, previously rare on the island, has spread quickly in recent months. Although not usually fatal, it causes debilitating joint pain, rashes, and headaches that can last for months.
US-Origin Guns Fueling Organized Crime Across the Caribbean, Study Finds
A new report by the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey has found that the Caribbean’s escalating organized-crime problem is being driven largely by firearms trafficked from the United States—specifically the states of Florida and Georgia.
The study revealed that between 2015 and 2024, 70% of traceable guns recovered in six Caribbean nations—the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago—originated from these two US states.
Nearly 30% of all weapons traced to the US came from dealers in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
The research also examined US Customs seizures, showing that 78% of Caribbean-bound illegal firearms shipments were intercepted at ports in Tampa, Miami, and Atlanta.
The findings come as the Trump administration intensifies its operations against transnational criminal networks, including classifying certain gangs as terrorist organizations and carrying out airstrikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela.
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Crime, and Sanctions in Bilateral Call
US President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva held a wide-ranging phone call on Tuesday, discussing trade, economic cooperation, sanctions policy, and efforts to combat organized crime.
Speaking at the White House, Trump described the conversation as “a great talk,” noting that sanctions were among the topics addressed—an apparent reference to US scrutiny of Brazil’s judiciary over legal proceedings involving former President Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally.
Brazil’s presidential palace confirmed that Lula thanked Trump for removing additional tariffs on key Brazilian exports, including coffee, beef, cocoa, and fruits. The tariffs—some as high as 40%—were imposed earlier this year but lifted last month following diplomatic engagement.
The statement described the 40-minute call as “very productive,” adding that Lula emphasized the need for stronger cooperation with the United States to combat international organized crime. Both leaders agreed to continue the dialogue in the near future.
