By| ANTONIO DEY | HGP Nightly News|
U.S. Extends Ban on Commercial Flights to Haiti Due to Gang Violence
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a formal extension of its ban on all U.S. commercial flights to Port-au-Prince through September 3, 2026.
- The Catalyst: The suspension was originally triggered in November 2024 after three separate U.S. aircraft—including a Spirit Airlines flight—were struck by gang-related gunfire while attempting to land or depart from Toussaint Louverture International Airport.
- Safety First: In its latest notice, the FAA cited “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing instability.” While high-altitude overflights (above 10,000 feet) are permitted, the restriction continues to isolate the capital, severely hampering humanitarian logistics and family travel for the diaspora.+1
- Current Status: Major U.S. carriers remain grounded for the capital, though limited operations continue at airports in Cap-Haïtien and Les Cayes.
Ecuador Expels Cuban Ambassador; Mystery Surrounds “Paper Barbecue”
QUITO, ECUADOR — Diplomatic relations between Quito and Havana reached a boiling point Wednesday as Ecuador declared Cuban Ambassador Basilio Antonio Gutiérrez “persona non grata.”
- The 48-Hour Ultimatum: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided no official explanation for the expulsion, exercising its right under the Vienna Convention. The Ambassador and his staff were given 48 hours to vacate the country.+1
- The “Paper Barbecue”: Shortly after the announcement, social media footage surfaced—later shared by President Daniel Noboa—showing a man on the roof of the Cuban Embassy burning bags of documents in an oven. Noboa bluntly mocked the incident, calling it a “paper barbecue.”+1
- Havana’s Response: The Cuban government has strongly rejected the move, calling it an “unfriendly and unprecedented act” likely influenced by external pressure ahead of this weekend’s regional summit in Miami.
International News: Trump Fires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
WASHINGTON D.C. — In the first major Cabinet shake-up of his second term, President Donald Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday, March 5.
- The Breaking Point: Noem’s ousting followed a disastrous week of congressional hearings. Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike scrutinized a $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign featuring Noem, which was awarded to a firm linked to her political allies without competitive bidding.+1
- Controversial Tenure: Her leadership was further marred by the recent killing of two U.S. citizens by immigration agents in Minneapolis, whom Noem quickly labeled “domestic terrorists” without evidence.
- The Successor: Trump has nominated Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, a staunch ally and former MMA fighter, to lead the DHS. Under federal vacancy laws, Mullin can serve in an “acting” capacity starting March 31 while awaiting Senate confirmation.
- New Role for Noem: In a surprise move, Trump reassigned Noem to serve as Special Envoy for “The Shield of the Americas,” a new security initiative focused on countering Chinese influence and cartel activity in the Western Hemisphere.
