More than 5.2 million Latino voters have already cast their ballots early ahead of next Tuesday’s midterm elections in the United States. So far, this represents an 80% increase compared to 2022, according to data released by the organization Voto Latino.

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An analysis by the platform TargetSmart shows that the more than 5.2 million early votes from Latinos stand in contrast to the 2.9 million recorded during the same period in the 2022 legislative elections. This figure makes the Hispanic electorate the most mobilized minority group, surpassing—for the first time—Black voters, who had traditionally held that position.

“We aren’t seeing a trickle. It’s the tsunami that Voto Latino has been predicting. Latino voters are turning out to vote early because they know exactly what is at stake: it’s not an abstract debate; it’s deeply personal,” stated María Teresa Kumar, president of Voto Latino, during a virtual conference.

Furthermore, the organization highlighted the growth in the Latino youth vote: 400,000 young people between the ages of 18 and 29 have already cast their ballots, compared to 259,000 who did so in the previous midterm elections.

This increase is particularly significant in states that are key to the battle for the Senate, such as Alaska, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, and Texas. In these states, Latinos account for 15% of early votes, up from the 10% recorded in 2018 and 2022.

Ready? Set. Vote!

Early Voting ENDS TODAY, October 30 for:
– Arizona
– Georgia
– Nevada
– Texas

Early Voting ENDS on SATURDAY, October 31 for:
– California
– North Carolina
– New Mexico
– Virginia

Make your voting plan: https://t.co/O80kLEUjwv
🎨 Design by NeedPastel pic.twitter.com/sU8s6IK6Xo

— Voto Latino (@votolatino) October 30, 2026

Overall voter turnout has also increased. Four days before Election Day, more than 41.3 million early votes had been cast nationwide—up from nearly 33 million at the same point in 2022—representing an increase of over 25%.

According to a Voto Latino survey of 7,000 people, the rising cost of living is the primary concern for Hispanic voters. U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration policy also ranks among the most critical issues.

Among those surveyed, 39% called for an investigation into abuses by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), 37% demanded a legal pathway to citizenship, and 36.1% requested an end to family detention.

“This president made a serious miscalculation in thinking that Latinos wouldn’t care about mass deportations. We warned that it would affect us all—regardless of legal status or criminal history—and now the community has taken matters into its own hands and is voting accordingly,” stated Kumar.

The tight race for control of the House of Representatives and the Senate has boosted voter turnout across various segments of society, while the Latino vote is solidifying as a decisive factor in the 2026 midterm elections.

#FromTheSouth News Bits | More than 26 million United States citizens have voted in the early midterm elections. pic.twitter.com/gSQHRimiBr

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) October 28, 2026

The United Nations General Assembly approved for the thirty-fourth time a resolution that demands the end of the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States against Cuba, with 130 votes in favor, 17 against and 25 abstentions. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel thanked the nations that supported the initiative and denounced pressure from Washington to modify the result.

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“On behalf of the people of Cuba, we appreciate the solidarity of the 130 nations that voted against the genocidal blockade and the collective punishment to which the U.S. government subjects us,” Díaz-Canel expressed through the X social network.

The president described the vote as an act of courage and sovereignty, despite U.S. diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing support for the resolution presented by Havana.

The previous day became a diplomatic battle between Cuba, which defends multilateralism and international law, and a MAGA version of the United States that repeatedly violates the United Nations Charter and views the world as its backyard.

El mundo ha vuelto a pronunciarse mayoritariamente contra el #bloqueo, incluso por encima de las más groseras presiones y chantajes de EE.UU para cambiar el rumbo de esta votación.

1/3 pic.twitter.com/lOyUZqVS8s

— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) October 28, 2026

The text reads, “The world has once again spoken out overwhelmingly against the blockade, even above the most brazen pressures and blackmail from the U.S. to change the course of this vote.”

The Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, warned about an unusual deployment by the United States to reduce support for the document. During the debate, the U.S. representative to the UN, Mike Waltz, maintained that the blockade does not exist and attempted to blame the Cuban leadership for the economic crisis suffered by the country, claims that the Cuban delegation strongly rejected.

Diplomats from various nations defended the cessation of unilateral coercive measures and pointed out their effects on the development of the Cuban nation. The day took place in the midst of bilateral tensions and a debate on compliance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

The vote took place in a context of tightening U.S. restrictions. Between March 2025 and February 2026, damages attributed to the blockade amounted to $8,083.3 million, 7% more than in the previous period. The accumulated damages over six decades reach more than 178.7 billion dollars in current prices.

La política absurda del gobierno EEUU contra Cuba bloquea todo aquello que sostiene la vida. Hasta sus propios ciudadanos sufren las consecuencias.

¿Por qué el bloqueo contra Cuba impide que 7 millones de estadounidenses reciban los beneficios del medicamento cubano NeuralCIM… pic.twitter.com/OrGyTzMEVK

— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) October 29, 2026

The text reads, “The absurd U.S. government policy against Cuba blocks everything that sustains life. Even its own citizens suffer the consequences. Why does the blockade against Cuba prevent 7 million Americans from receiving the benefits of the unique Cuban drug NeuralCIM, which can combat Alzheimer’s, senile dementia, neurodegenerative diseases, with a treatment of proven effectiveness, incomparably superior to its counterpart”

The resolution seeks the lifting of unilateral restrictions that, according to Havana, affect sectors such as electricity generation, transportation, food production, health and education. The text also mentions that the fuel shortage has affected blackouts and the operation of essential services.

Cuba has presented this initiative before the General Assembly every year since 1992. On the 34 occasions in which it has been put to a vote, the resolution has received a large majority of support, although the level of support has varied depending on the international political context.

The approval reiterates the international demand for the end of the U.S. blockade against Cuba, while the government in Havana has demonstrated with verifiable data that the US measures constitute collective punishment with economic and social consequences for the Cuban population.

On Thursday, 16 civilians were killed and 22 injured following a drone attack on the Hyiq Jari 2 camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Amhara region of northern Ethiopia, according to residents and accounts gathered by the Ethiopian newspaper Addis Standard. The incident comes amid ongoing clashes between the federal army and rebel groups in the north of the country.

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The camp, located in the South Wollo administrative zone, was struck by as many as five drone attacks, occurring at intervals of approximately fifteen minutes. Witnesses reported that the explosions hit the site while the displaced people were inside their shelters.

“The drone attacked the camp at least five times, at fifteen-minute intervals, while the internally displaced people were inside their shelters. We never expected a drone to attack the camp,” one witness told Addis Standard.

The victims include children, women, and the elderly. The attack also resulted in the burning of around twenty dwellings, though these details have not been independently verified.

NEW COMMENTARY | Containing the New War in Northern Ethiopia

War has returned to northern Ethiopia, raising fears of a wider conflict involving Eritrea. In our EU Watch List, we explain how the EU can facilitate talks and prevent escalation.https://t.co/Q6hzxtsqGD pic.twitter.com/mGhDJVkh0A

— Crisis Group (@CrisisGroup) October 16, 2026

Humanitarian crisis

The camp houses more than 1,800 internally displaced people, who are facing a severe humanitarian crisis. Humanitarian organizations have significantly scaled back their assistance, limiting access to food, shelter, and medical care.

“We have neither shelter nor food. Perhaps the best thing to do is to go to the city and sleep on the streets, hoping that someone might take pity on us and help. We have no other choice right now,” said one of the displaced individuals.

Those affected also noted that regional authorities have failed to respond to their pleas for support. Neither the Ethiopian government nor the insurgent groups have commented on who was responsible for the attack. The violence is taking place as the Ethiopian Army battles rebel groups in the north of the country. On September 23, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) announced a defensive war from that region, following months of escalation and recurring drone strikes.

AMHARA FANO NATIONAL MOVEMENT
Foreign Affairs Department Urgent Call for International Action regarding Indiscriminate Aerial Attacks in Ethiopia pic.twitter.com/q2uBGl9EUj

— Amhara Fano National Movement – Foreign Affairs (@AFNM_FA) October 23, 2026

Since then, federal forces have made gains, particularly in Tigray, though fighting persists in other areas. An alliance of seven rebel and opposition groups—including the TPLF, the Amhara nationalist movement Fano, and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA)—was recently formed with the stated goal of toppling the Ethiopian government.

Ethiopia has also accused Eritrea of ​​supporting the rebels and conducting incursions into its territory—an accusation that Asmara denies. This escalation has reignited fears of a new, large-scale war, similar to the 2020–2022 conflict between the TPLF and the federal government, which, according to the African Union, resulted in at least 600,000 deaths.

The 49th edition of the Dakar Rally will take place from January 9 to 23, 2027, spanning from the Portuguese Algarve to Marrakech. This exceptional change of venue follows the decision not to hold the event in Saudi Arabia due to conflicts involving the Houthis; however, the organizers have confirmed that the Arab nation will return as a host in 2028.

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The total route will cover 7,824 kilometers, 4,341 of which will consist of special stages. The competition will begin in Loulé-Faro, in Portugal’s Algarve region, where the prologue will be held on January 9, followed by the first timed stage the next day.

This will mark the third time that Portugal has served as the starting point for the event. From there, the rally caravan will travel through southern Spain toward Morocco—without any competitive stages taking place on Spanish soil—before crossing into Africa via a sea transit to Nador.

Morocco will host eleven stages, with a rest day scheduled in Agadir. The itinerary will traverse the country from north to the far south, passing through Bouarfa, the Atlas Mountains, Smara, and areas near Dakhla, before heading back north. Participants will venture into the deserts of the country’s deep south, ultimately concluding the event in Marrakech on January 23, following twelve stages and six bivouacs.

This change of venue marks the return of the Dakar Rally to the African continent for the first time in 20 years. Morocco served as a transit point for the race for fourteen editions, up until 2007.

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Una publicación compartida por Czech fan mission – Dakar rally 2027 (@rallyedakar)

The event, created by Thierry Sabine, held its first edition between Paris and Dakar, starting in 1978 and concluding in January 1979. Currently organized by the Amaury Sport Organisation, it is one of the toughest and most demanding rally-raid competitions in the world, combining speed, endurance, navigation, and the ability to overcome mechanical breakdowns over the course of several days.

The 49th edition will kick off the 2027 season of the World Rally-Raid Championships, sanctioned by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM).

The Dakar features six major speed categories: Motorcycles—with a maximum engine displacement of 450cc, divided into the RallyGP, Rally2, and Original by Motul classes; Ultimate, which includes prototypes built specifically for rally-raid; Stock, consisting of off-road vehicles derived from production models; Challenger, for lightweight prototypes; SSV, for lightweight side-by-side vehicles; and Trucks, which have their own classification and set of regulations.

Additionally, the competition is accompanied by the Dakar Classic—a regularity rally for historic vehicles—and the “Dakar Future Mission 1000,” a program designed to develop and evaluate alternative propulsion technologies. The name “Paris-Dakar” originates from the original route between the French capital and the capital of Senegal, although the starting city has changed over the years.

On Thursday, Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Pérez Mackenna inaugurated the 63rd Antarctic Scientific Expedition (ECA) in Punta Arenas. The expedition is set to carry out nearly 50 research projects, involving more than 150 scientists, between November and the end of March.

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During the ceremony, the Foreign Minister highlighted Chile’s position as a gateway to Antarctica for international scientific programs. “The trust Chile enjoys in the realm of international relations, combined with the prestige of its public institutions and its logistical and infrastructural capabilities, represents an asset of immense value for attracting more countries to choose Chile as their gateway to Antarctica,” stated Pérez Mackenna.

Foreign Ministry reports indicated that the number of countries using Punta Arenas as a departure point for the “White Continent” has grown from 12 to 21 since 2004. Furthermore, eight other nations have occasionally passed through the capital of the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region. “They use our ports and airports for their own vessels and aircraft, or they contract services in the Magallanes region to facilitate their scientific expeditions,” the minister noted.

The 63rd Antarctic Scientific Expedition includes operations at bases and field camps across the Antarctic Peninsula and the continent’s interior—including Union Glacier, located approximately 1,000 kilometers from the South Pole. The teams will conduct research across various fields of Antarctic science—an area the Foreign Minister described as strategic and inseparable from Chilean foreign policy.

En PuntaArenas se realizó el lanzamiento oficial de la 63ª Expedición Científica Antártica "ECA63" del @inach_gob

En la instancia, el Comandante en Jefe de la Tercera Zona Naval, Contraalmirante Juan Soto Herrera, presentó los detalles del despliegue naval para este periodo pic.twitter.com/qXflnac41l

— Armada de Chile (@Armada_Chile) October 30, 2026

The text reads, “The official launch of the 63rd Antarctic Scientific Expedition (“ECA63″) by @inach_gob took place in Punta Arenas. During the event, the Commander-in-Chief of the Third Naval Zone, Rear Admiral Juan Soto Herrera, presented details regarding the naval deployment for this period.”

“Antarctic science has a very distinct character; it is a strategic field—inseparable from Chile’s foreign policy—that helps us explore and gain knowledge about a vast territory that is crucial to the future of both our country and the planet,” Pérez Mackenna affirmed.

Antarctica is governed by the Antarctic Treaty—originally signed by 12 countries in 1959—which designates the territory for science and international cooperation. Although the continent is not governed by any single state, countries such as Chile, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand maintain historical territorial claims.

Chile operates at least ten Antarctic bases: five are managed by the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), while the others are run by the Armed Forces. The country’s first facility in the territory was inaugurated in 1940, following a decree by President Pedro Aguirre Cerda that established the boundaries of the Chilean Antarctic territory.

#Chile | Severe storms and a tornado have damaged at least 25 homes in Requínoa and left over 10,000 customers without power in Santiago. Authorities have issued emergency alerts as they assess the damage.#ChileStorms #Tornado #SevereWeather #teleSUREnglish pic.twitter.com/p1XM7r0xMz

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) October 27, 2026