Rafael loses steam in Gulf of Mexico
MEXICO CITY -- Rafael weakened Saturday to a tropical storm and was expected to dissolve over the Gulf of Mexico in the coming days after barreling across Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane.
Rafael was 290 miles north-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, on Saturday. It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving west-northwest at 6 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
It was forecast to continue moving south toward southern Mexico in the coming days as it weakens. Forecasters warned that swells from the storm were likely to cause "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions" in that region.
The hurricane tore through Jamaica and the Cayman Islands earlier in the week, knocking out power and fueling mudslides. On Wednesday evening, it barreled into Cuba.
Rafael's fierce winds knocked out Cuba's electric grid, forced the evacuation of 283,000 people and collapsed 461 homes. It also left trees, power lines and rubble strewn across flooded streets. Many were still without power over the weekend, though Cuba's government said it was working to restore power to homes.
Guatemala avocado imports get OK
MEXICO CITY -- The U.S. government extended avocado import permissions to Guatemala on Friday, but don't expect that to result in cheaper guacamole any time soon.
For nearly 30 years, Mexico has been practically the only source of imported avocados -- along with small amounts from South America -- because of concerns that plant diseases and pests could affect U.S. growers.
The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala said initial exports from Guatemala could be about 1,700 tons annually. But that's still a drop in the bucket compared with Mexico's annual exports of 1.4 million tons.
The U.S. Agriculture Department issued a finding that will allow Guatemala fruit in.
"The risks of introducing or spreading plant pests or noxious weeds from imported fresh Hass avocado fruit can be successfully mitigated using systems approach, allowing commercial fruit only, packinghouse and place-of-production registrations and additional safeguarding measures," the department wrote.
The embassy stressed that, while the new rules have been published, "There are additional steps needed before avocado exports can begin," an apparent reference to having orchards and packing houses registered and inspected.
The embassy said "the announcement is a big step forward for Guatemalan Hass avocados in reaching U.S. households, something that will mean economic prosperity for local growers."
Gunman at Brazilian airport kills witness
SAO PAULO -- Brazilian police said unidentified gunmen in a black car opened fire at Sao Paulo's International Airport in Guarulhos on Friday afternoon, killing one person and injuring three others.
Police identified the dead man as Antônio Vinícius Lopes Gritzbach, who had previously received death threats from the First Command of the Capital, a powerful international criminal group.
Gritzbach, who had cryptocurrency businesses, had recently entered into a plea bargain with local prosecutors to speak about his ties to the criminal organization, police said.
Police have not yet determined the number of gunmen involved in the attack.
Social media footage shows two individuals who appear to have been shot at the airport. One victim is seen lying on the ground at Terminal 2, primarily used for domestic flights, while the other is seen lying on an access road outside the terminal.
Ecuador's vice president suspended
QUITO, Ecuador -- Ecuador's Vice President Veronica Abad was suspended without pay Saturday for 150 days, accused of "unjustified abandonment" of her duties.
Abad's lawyer Dominique Dávila called the move "extremely serious" and claimed it may not have any legal backing.
Abad was accused by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of not following an order in September to temporarily transfer her from Israel -- where she also serves as ambassador -- to Turkey due to the conflict, arriving eight days after the order.
Abad had argued that she was not "properly prepared" for the trip to Turkey and that Ecuador's government suggested "that I leave my children in Israel to go to Turkey alone."
The move comes at a time of deep tensions between Abad and President Daniel Noboa who, despite running the government together, have clashed for years, establishing a sort of feud.
Dávila, Abad's lawyer, said the suspension was the latest attempt to push Abad out, calling it a "trick to prevent the presidential succession" and something they planned to appeal.
Abad's fate has special importance for Noboa, who hopes to run for reelection in February 2025 and will have to request a leave of absence to carry out the campaign, according to experts.
In that case, Abad would take over the presidency, but with the recent sanctions, the pathway to her taking the reins would be blocked, according to constitutional lawyer André Benavides.