Daily Headlines: January 29, 2015 (Updated)

* Mexico: Rescue operations are taking place at a Mexico City maternity hospital where at least seven people died in a massive explosion this morning.

Update: Mexico City mayor Miguel Angel Mancera lowered the official death toll to two but said that there were sixty-six casualties as a result of the blast. He added that the explosion was caused by a leak when a gas truck attempted to supply the hospital.

* Cuba: A bipartisan group of eight U.S. senators proposed removing decades-long travel and banking restrictions against Cuba.

* Venezuela: The Venezuelan government ordered the accelerated importing of basic goods amidst a growing economic crisis.

* El Salvador: President Salvador Sanchez Ceren rejected calls from leaders of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18 gangs to negotiate with the government.

Video Source – YouTube user Associated Press (“A gas tank truck exploded outside a maternity and children's hospital in Mexico City on Thursday, collapsing much of it. Officials say dozens are injured, including several children.”)

Online Sources including Update – Fox News Latino; Reuters; El Universal; CBC News; USA TODAY