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Cartel boss 'El Chapo's' hideout to be given away in lotto

The house former drug kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán fled in 2014 when Mexican marines had him surrounded underwent some changes recently as the Mexican government prepared to give it away in a national lottery.

The surveillance cameras that covered every angle of the modest home’s exterior were removed. And the hole under a bathtub that Guzmán had slipped through to reach a network of tunnels was covered with a concrete slab.

The Associated Press was given access to the property in a quiet Culiacan neighborhood ahead of the lottery.

LIVE UPDATES: City's decimated businesses want 'clear plan' out of lockdown

READ MORE: Drug kingpin El Chapo's wife admits to helping run illicit empire

In recent weeks, Mexico’s Institute to Return Stolen Goods to the People, known by its initials as INDEP, gave it a fresh coat of white paint inside and out and tiled over the spot in the bathroom where the tub and tunnel entry point had been.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been talking up the lottery of seized properties, but gave no mention to the history of this particular house. An expansive home in one of Mexico City’s swankiest neighborhoods and a private box at the famed Azteca Stadium have garnered more attention.

INDEP’s website lists it only as “Casa en Culiacán.” It’s about 2800 square feet (260.1 square metres) and located, perhaps appropriately, in a neighborhood called Libertad, or “Freedom.” The government values the two-bedroom home at US$183,000 ($250,000).

The house had been abandoned for years and the marines did some damage when they searched it, so repairs were necessary.

Guzmán escaped that time through the tunnels, but his freedom lasted only days. On February 22, 2014, the marines descended again, this time in a condo on the coast in Mazatlan.

By that time, Guzmán already had a reputation for daring escapes. He had slipped out of one of Mexico’s maximum-security prisons in 2001, allegedly in a laundry cart.

In July 2015, less than a year and half after his capture in Mazatlan, Guzmán slipped through a tunnel dug up to the drain in his cell’s shower and rode a motorcycle on tracks laid through a tunnel to escape another maximum-security Mexican prison.

READ MORE: Mining donga to mansion: Man's life turned upside down with prize home win

The marines captured him again six months later in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, where he had been holed up in another unremarkable home.

Guzmán was extradited to the US, tried, convicted and sentenced to life in prison in July 2019.

INDEP officials, who declined to be identified because they were not authorised to speak, said they were surprised the house was getting attention. It is not luxurious. There is no swimming pool, none of the ostentation that characterizes other narco properties in Sinaloa.

People nearby said they didn't know who their neighbor was.

READ MORE: Which state wins the lottery most often

“We never knew anything, we never knew who lived there, we never saw anyone,” said one neighbor, who quickly cut off the conversation. Many locals aren't interested in speaking of Guzmán or even saying his name in a place where the Sinaloa cartel remains powerful.

The house was well located for its previous purposes. There is a neighbour only on one side. On the other is a subterranean storm sewer — Culiacan authorities built hundreds of kilometres of them to deal with torrential rains — which is where the bathroom tunnel connected to make Guzmán’s escape possible. A school is across the street.

On the morning of February 17, 2014, the neighborhood was suddenly filled with the marines’ grey trucks. They blocked traffic. There was no doubt they were interested in the seemingly unremarkable house.

But they didn’t find Guzmán there. In fact, during his US trial, a witness testified that Guzmán was not in any of the five houses marines searched, despite reports to the contrary at the time.

Five days later, the marines caught up to Guzmán 200km to the south in Mazatlan, where he was staying with his wife Emma Coronel and their twin daughters.

INDEP tried to auction off the home last year. It started the bidding at about US$130,000 ($177,595). There were no takers.

Now, Mr López Obrador is giving it away as part of the lottery, with the drawing scheduled for Wednesday, the day before Mexico celebrates its Independence Day. It’s the first time Mexico’s national lottery is giving away property. The proceeds are to go to Mexico’s Olympic athletes.

“This raffle is very important and I call on all the people, those who can help buying a ticket, or two or three,” Mr López Obrador said at his daily news conference last week.

In downtown Mexico City, lottery ticket vendors said sales have been good.

Jorge López said he’s been selling 100 to 120 of the US$12 tickets ($16.39) daily since last week. He said the value of the 22 prizes, many well above that of the Culiacan house, is drawing attention. Some people ask about who the properties’ previous owners were, but not many, he said.

Back in Culiacan, across town near the centre, Ignacio Mariscal said he supports the lottery.

“Those houses didn’t serve anyone; those people had them,” Mr Mariscal said.

“I see it as perfectly fine. It’s to help people in need.”

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Apple launches new Watch with bigger screen

After launching six years ago, the Apple Watch is getting its biggest update yet with Apple announcing at a virtual event this morning the latest generation — the Apple Watch Series 7.

This new generation features an all-new screen design which pushes the actual digital screen further toward the edges, allowing for larger touch buttons on screens as well as a full keyboard option when composing text.

There's no radical change to the overall design style of the Apple Watch face though, despite rumours it would change.

READ MORE: iPhone 13 – Improved camera and smaller notch in 'best we've ever created'

The watch face is larger, with a border of just 1.7mm stretching the watch face to be bigger than ever, up from 40 and 44mm on the more recent model Apple Watches and far larger than the original 38 and 42mm sizes. The screen is also 70 per cent brighter.

Health and fitness are still at the core of Apple's approach to the smartwatch market, with the heart rate, blood oxygen and ECG features which have been industry leading in many ways.

New features for Apple Watch include support for cycling, including fall detection for cyclist — given the popularity of cycling, both on-road and off, this will be a huge hit.

READ MORE: Tim Cook gets $750 million bonus on 10th anniversary as Apple CEO

Durability appears a key feature, with Apple calling this the "most durable Apple Watch ever", featuring IP6X dust resistance and WR50 water resistance.

There's also new fast-charging available via a new USB-C connection, delivering a solid charge in a rapid 40 minutes.

READ MORE: Apple spruiks new look iPad as 'huge leap forward'

Standard Apple Watch comes in four colours, Midnight (Dark Grey), Starlight (An off-Grey), Green, Blue and Product Red as well as other titanium and steel colours.

Apple Watch Series 7 launches in the next two months.

READ MORE: New features coming to all iPhones in 2021

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SKN among countries on CDC high risk alert

(CNN) — Island destinations from the Caribbean Sea to the Indian Ocean joined a handful of Eastern European countries among the latest places deemed “very high” risk for travel by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Mauritius, Albania and Serbia on Monday moved to the “Level 4: Covid-19 Very High” category on the CDC’s evolving list of travel notices.
Afghanistan, which has been in turmoil since the Taliban takeover and US withdrawal last month, also moved to Level 4, along with several more destinations.
People should avoid traveling to locations designated with the “Level 4: Covid-19 Very High” notice, the CDC recommends. Anyone who must travel should be fully vaccinated first, the agency advises.
These destinations moved to the Level 4 list on September 13:
• Afghanistan
• Albania
• Belize
• Grenada
• Lithuania
• Mauritius
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Serbia
• Slovenia
The CDC’s travel notices range from Level 1 (“low”) to Level 4 (“very high”).
Destinations that fall into the “Covid-19 Very High” Level 4 category have had more than 500 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days, according to CDC criteria.
All of the destinations listed above moved up from “Level 3: Covid-19 High.”
The Level 3 category applies to destinations that have had between 100 and 500 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days.
Israel was also listed as a Level 4 update on Monday afternoon. However, Israel was already listed in the Level 4 category before the weekly update. The CDC has not immediately responded to CNN’s request for clarification.

New ‘Level 3’ destinations

Four other destinations moved to the Level 3 category on Monday: Australia, Brazil, Ethiopia and Romania.
Brazil moved down from Level 4, while Australia, Ethiopia and Romania were previously listed in the Level 2 “moderate” category.
Australia has recently struggled to contain an outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant, which has spread to the major population centers of Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, leading to lengthy lockdowns.
The country has announced plans to trial vaccine passports as it prepares to reopen its international borders.
In its broader travel guidance, the CDC has recommended avoiding all international travel until you are fully vaccinated.
“Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread Covid-19. However, international travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some Covid-19 variants,” the agency said.
You can view the CDC’s risk level of any destination on its travel recommendations page.

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Caribbean Tourism Rebounding Despite Continuing Pandemic

(Caribbean News)_ Despite daunting challenges presented over the past 18 months by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Caribbean tourism and hospitality industry recorded many significant successes, and data points to an encouraging outlook ahead.

Speaking during the opening plenary session at the Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) held last week, Acting CEO & Director General of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) Vanessa Ledesma presented insights on the performance and outlook of the Caribbean tourism industry.

The pandemic’s impact on the travel and tourism industry globally has been severe, resulting in the loss of millions of jobs worldwide.

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s annual Economic Impact Report indicates that the pandemic delivered a blow of $33.9 billion in lost revenue to the Caribbean’s travel and tourism sector, lowering the sector’s contribution to GDP by 58 percent, higher than the global average. Some 680,000 tourism-related jobs were lost, representing nearly one-fourth of all jobs in the sector.

According to CHTA’s Data Partner ForwardKeys, the Caribbean outperformed its global counterparts in terms of international arrivals in July 2021 relative to July 2019, experiencing an overall decline of 13.2 percent compared to other regions, which suffered losses ranging from 21 percent (Central America) to 85.5 percent (Asia Pacific). The U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were the top performing Caribbean destinations, with arrivals up by 106.3 percent and 39.7 percent, respectively.

Recognizing the impact which the COVID-19 delta variant (first detected in India) is now having on global travel and the fact that global competition has increased as more destinations have opened up to travel since March, weekly ticket sales for future travel to the Caribbean from the United States have slowed in recent weeks.

Although confirmed tickets for travel to the Caribbean during the coming months are down slightly, some destinations, including Puerto Rico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Aruba and The Bahamas, are experiencing levels ahead of those recorded prior to the pandemic. Ledesma confirmed that these findings are not surprising given expanded airline routes from major U.S. markets and strong load factors from North America.

In response to the public health crisis, Caribbean tourism leaders are seizing the opportunity to stimulate policy discussions on how best to support the return of airlift to the region. With an initial focus on intra-regional travel, stakeholders are examining the feasibility of reducing aviation taxes and airport charges, fostering better market access and increasing regulatory harmonization across the region.

“We are particularly pleased to see the initiatives being taken by Prime Minister Gaston Browne from Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Mia Mottley from Barbados, and Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves from St. Vincent and the Grenadines who are looking to stimulate travel within the region with policy initiatives which can reduce the cost of travel,” noted Ledesma.

Ledesma also shared several industry-specific key performance indicators that confirm strong demand for travel to the Caribbean but also suggest the road to full recovery will be a long one. For example, although year-to-date Average Daily Rates for hotel stays in North America recorded in July 2021 are highest in the Caribbean, Occupancy Rates were higher in the United States and Mexico.

Among Caribbean destinations with the highest Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) for July 2021 year-to-date, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are the only two destinations showing an increase for 2021 compared to the same period in 2019; not surprisingly, RevPAR for the Caribbean overall fell significantly from 2019 to 2021.

Barring any potentially negative travel trends resulting from new coronavirus spikes or outbreaks, the CHTA leader pointed to several encouraging indicators that suggest the region’s bread-and-butter industry is well poised for a strong rebound. Comparing June 2020 to June 2021, Occupancy Rates in the Caribbean increased from 13.5 percent to 48.2 percent, reflecting the pent-up demand for travel to the region; comparing July 2020 to July 2021, rates rose from 19.5 percent to 53.6 percent.

According to CHTA’s Strategic Partner STR, as of July 2021, destinations with the highest Occupancy Rates in the region were: Aruba (82.6 percent), Puerto Rico (81.2 percent), Turks & Caicos (79.6 percent), Cancun (74.4 percent) and Curaçao (71.7 percent).

Drawing on research from CHTA Strategic Partner Mastercard, Ledesma shared findings which revealed that consumers are increasing their spend in destination, as well as their length of stay.

She credited the trade association’s unique health-and-tourism partnership with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) with being instrumental in promoting effective health safety prevention and mitigation efforts.

Moving forward, the Caribbean’s recovery strategies and actions will continue to include: advancing health safety initiatives, building trade and traveler confidence, advancing better tour operator policies, advancing regional collaboration to support tourism’s recovery, making the case for travel with key international markets, and advocating for jurisdictional and regional policies supporting recovery.

For the region’s tourism and hospitality industry to experience a robust recovery, the CHTA executive believes that increased governmental support to address rising operational expenses is needed, together with effective communications and public relations, a strong focus on health and safety, a commitment to investing in the region’s human resources, partnership and collaboration, and improved efficiencies.

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Hurricane Nicholas Slams Texas Gulf Coast with High Winds, Torrential Rain

Hurricane Nicholas, now a tropical storm, made landfall along the Texas coast Tuesday, bringing the threat of up to 20 inches of rainfall to parts of the Gulf Coast, including the same area hit by Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and storm-battered Louisiana. The storm could also cause life-threatening flash floods across the deep south.

Nicholas touched down on the eastern part of the Matagorda Peninsula and is now about 30 miles (50 kilometres) south-southwest of Houston, Texas, with maximum winds of 70 mph (110 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Nicholas was the 14th named storm of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season.

The storm was moving north northeast at 9 mph (15 kph) and the centre of Nicholas was expected to move slowly over southeastern Texas on Tuesday and over southwestern Louisiana on Wednesday. The

The biggest unknown about Nicholas was how much rainfall it would produce in Texas, especially in flood-prone Houston.

Nearly all of the state’s coastline was under a tropical storm warning that included potential flash floods and urban flooding. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said authorities placed rescue teams and resources in the Houston area and along the coast.

In Houston, officials worried that heavy rain expected to arrive by Tuesday could inundate streets and flood homes. Authorities deployed high-water rescue vehicles throughout the city and erected barricades at more than 40 locations that tend to flood, Mayor Sylvester Turner said.

“This city is very resilient. We know what we need to do. We know about preparing,” said Turner, referencing four major flood events that have hit the Houston area in recent years, including devastating damage from Harvey.

Meteorologist Kent Prochazka of the National Weather Service told The Associated Press early Tuesday that multiple trees were down along coastal counties and the winds have caused some gas stations to lose awnings and have caused extensive power outages.

CenterPoint Energy reports that over 300,000 customers have lost power as the storm roll through Houston and that it expects those numbers will continue to rise.

Numerous school districts along the Texas Gulf Coast cancelled classes Monday because of the incoming storm. The Houston school district, the state’s largest, as well as others, announced that classes would be cancelled on Tuesday. The weather threat also closed multiple COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites in the Houston and Corpus Christi areas and forced the cancellation of a Harry Styles concert scheduled for Monday evening in Houston.

Six to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimetres) of rain were expected along the middle and upper Texas coast, with isolated maximum amounts of 18 inches (46 centimetres) possible. Other parts of southeast Texas and south-central Louisiana and southern Mississippi could see 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimetres) over the coming days.

A tornado or two may be possible Tuesday along with the upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coast, according to the weather service.

“Listen to local weather alerts and heed local advisories about the right and safe thing to do, and you’ll make it through this storm just like you’ve had many other storms,” Abbott said during a news conference in Houston.

Nicholas brought rain to the same area of Texas that was hit hard by Harvey. That storm made landfall in the middle Texas coast then stalled for four days, dropping more than 60 inches (152 cm) of rain in parts of southeast Texas. Harvey was blamed for at least 68 deaths, including 36 in the Houston area.

After Harvey, voters approved the issuance of $2.5 billion in bonds to fund flood-control projects, including the widening of bayous. The 181 projects designed to mitigate damage from future storms are at different stages of completion.

But University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said he expects that Nicholas “will be magnitudes less than Harvey in every regard.”

The worry with Nicholas will be how slowly it moves. Storms are moving slower in recent decades, and Nicholas could get stuck between two other weather systems, said hurricane researcher Jim Kossin of The Climate Service.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency Sunday night, ahead of the storm’s arrival in a state still recovering from Hurricane Ida and last year’s Hurricane Laura and historic flooding.

“The most severe threat to Louisiana is in the southwest portion of the state, where recovery from Hurricane Laura and the May flooding is ongoing,” Edwards said.

The storm was expected to bring the heaviest rainfall west of where Ida slammed into Louisiana two weeks ago.

Across Louisiana, almost 120,000 customers remained without power Monday morning, according to the utility tracking site poweroutage.us.

While Lake Charles received a minimal impact from Ida, the city saw multiple wallops from Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta in 2020, a winter storm in February as well as historic flooding this spring.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter said the city is taking the threat of the storm seriously, as it does all tropical systems.

“Hope and prayer is not a good game plan,” Hunter said.

In Cameron Parish in coastal Louisiana, Scott Trahan was still finishing repairs on his home from Hurricane Laura, which put about 2 feet of water in his house. He hopes to be finished by Christmas. He said many in his area have moved instead of rebuilding.

“If you get your butt whipped about four times, you are not going to get back up again. You are going to go somewhere else,” Trahan said.

Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach said via Twitter that only four other years since 1966 have had 14 or more named storms by Sept. 12: 2005, 2011, 2012 and 2020.

Byline: By JUAN A. LOZANO

Download the Loop News Caribbean app to keep up to date with all the latest news right in the palm of your hand.

Source

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World View: Calif. Governor Greets Biden, Nicholas Slams Texas, Prisoner Now Runs Kabul Prison, More

Sep 14, 2021

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The Associated Pres

The Rundown

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LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom ended his campaign to retain his job in a recall election with a final push from President Joe Biden, who warned that the outcome of the contest could shape the country’s direction on…Read More

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HOUSTON (AP) — Hurricane Nicholas made landfall along the Texas coast on Tuesday, bringing the threat of up to 20 inches of rainfall to parts of the Gulf Coast, including the same area hit by Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and storm-battered Louisiana . …Read More

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KABUL (AP) — Once, Kabul’s main prison was crowded with thousands of Taliban captured and arrested by the government. On Monday, a Taliban commander strolled through its empty halls and cell blocks, showing his friends where he had once been impriso…Read More

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Four former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights are scheduled to be arraigned in federal court Tuesday at a hearing that could also address some pretrial motions. …Read More

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U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe had just gotten her beverage at the bar at the edge of the room. She looked back at the throbbing crowd of celebrities packed into the center of the airy Petrie Court, where the Met Gala was holding its cocktai…Read More

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COVID-19 Vaccination Proof Now Required For All Green Card Applicants

CNW Legal Analyst, Attorney Caroly Pedersen

CNW- On August 24, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  added the COVID-19 Vaccine to the list of required immunizations for U.S. residency and Immigrant Visa applicants.

As a result, beginning October 1, 2021, green card applicants (applying for residency, form I-485) and Immigrant Visa applicants processing through U.S. Consulates abroad, will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

For background, as part of the immigration residency process, applicants are required to undergo a medical examination, testing and to receive age-appropriate vaccinations for a variety of preventable diseases before obtaining U.S. residency.

Who is required to have the COVID-19 vaccine under the new policy?All immigrants applying for adjustment of status inside the U.S. (a green card) AND all immigrants abroad applying for an immigrant visa through the U.S. Consulate.

What is the procedure to have the COVID-19 vaccine administered?

Unlike current vaccines which are administered during the required immigration medical exam, under the new COVID-19 requirement, immigrants age 12 yrs or older must complete the COVID-19 vaccine series (1 or 2 doses depending on formulation) and provide documentary proof to the USCIS/State Department authorized doctor before completion of the medical examination.

To qualify, COVID-19 vaccines must be recognized for use by either the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which are currently: Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), or the World Health Organization (WHO) in the country where the medical examination is conducted. COVID-19 vaccines administered overseas must be documented on the DS-3025 and for countries with the eMedical system, on form 951.

What about immigrants who do not want to take the COVID-19 vaccine?

Immigrants who do not want to take the COVID-19 based upon religious or moral convictions may apply for a waiver from the vaccine requirement with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Waiver requests must include documentation that the applicant is requesting an individual waiver based on religious or moral convictions and are not guaranteed to be approved. If a waiver is denied, and the immigrant refuses to complete the COVID-19 vaccine series, his or her case will be denied and he or she will no longer be eligible to obtain a green card or immigrant visa to the U.S.

Are other waivers available?

Blanket Waivers are available for COVID-19 vaccinations in cases where:

-the vaccine is not age-appropriate

-the immigrant has a preexisting medical condition that serves as a reason not to take a certain medical treatment due to the harm that it would cause the patient, as documented by a physician.

-the immigrant had a severe reaction to the first dose that is considered a contraindication, as documented by a physician.

-the immigrant is in a country where the vaccine is not routinely available

You can find out more about the new COVID-19 vaccination requirement for immigrants  by visiting our website at www.Immigratetoday.com and clicking on the Immigration Newsletter link in the upper left hand corner or by visiting our enewsletter site at: www.americanimmigrationcentral.com

** Contributions to this Column are made by Attorney Caroly Pedersen, Esq. of the American Immigration Law Center

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Guyana Wants CARICOM Support Against Venezuela in Oil Area Border Dispute

  • (Photo:iStock.com)
(Photo:iStock.com)

Guyana will use an emergency meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders later on Monday to seek continued support from the 15-member regional grouping in its border dispute with Venezuela.

The regional leaders are due to meet virtually at 10.00 am (local time) to discuss the vaccination issue as they continue to implement measures aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed thousands of their nationals and infected several others since the first case was detected in the region in March last year.

Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali on Sunday said he would seek CARICOM support in light of the recent decision by the Nicolas Maduro government and opposition parties to reach an agreement unifying their claim to the ownership of a significant portion of Guyana.

Ali told reporters that countries should seek to get Venezuela to participate in the border case now before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) instead of backing a move by Caracas for bilateral negotiations with Georgetown to settle their decades-long claim.

“As far as we are concerned, if they have an engagement, whichever country believes that they have an engagement with Venezuela in resolving their internal issues, they should stick to the internal issues..

“The issue of the controversy that exists in the border has nothing to do with their internal issues and it has already been determined where that issue will be settled and it’s at the ICJ,” Ali added.

Last week, the government said it “firmly rejects” an agreement signed between the Venezuelan government and an opposition party in the South American country formally agreeing to unite on the question of the longstanding claim to the ownership of a large swath of Guyana.

Georgetown said that the agreement between the Nicolas Maduro government and the Unity Platform of Venezuela was signed in Mexico City on Monday.

“That agreement is an overt threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement.

“Guyana cannot be used as an altar of sacrifice for settlement of Venezuela’s internal political differences. While the Government of Guyana welcomes domestic accord within Venezuela, an agreement defying international law and process is not a basis for mediating harmony,” the statement added.

The Norway-brokered deal was reached alongside representatives from The Netherlands, Bolivia, Russia and Turkey.

But President Ali told reporters that he wants those countries to convince Venezuela to participate in the case at the ICJ.

“What we can ask those countries to do is to encourage Venezuela to participate and be active in the ICJ,” he said.

Ali said he would also making Guyana’s position known at upcoming meetings in Mexico City and a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres on the margins of the UN General Assembly later this month.

“This is a controversy. The route in determining it has already been made public. We have embraced that route which is the ICJ and we are committed to that route. That route is the rule of law and that is where the matter resides, not in any sideshow or any other engagement,” he said.

The ICJ ruled last December that it has jurisdiction to decide Guyana’s claim against Venezuela that the boundary between the two States was fixed in an 1899 Arbitral Award. Venezuela is opposed to the ICJ and its ruling.

Venezuela is maintaining its claim to an estimated 70 per cent of the Essequibo region including Guyana’s offshore oil reserves, with Caracas arguing that the 1899 agreement, which determined the boundaries between the two countries is null and void.

But Guyana has approached the ICJ to seek a final, binding judgement on the 1899 Arbitral Award that determines that boundary between the two countries. In December 2020, the ICJ ruled that it has the authority to rule on this case.

With the court ruling that it has the jurisdiction to hear the case filed by Guyana, the country has been given until March 8, 2022, to file written pleadings in its case against Venezuela. Meanwhile, Venezuela has until March 8, 2022, to file counterarguments.

Guyana is however seeking to obtain a final and binding judgement that will clearly state that the Essequibo region is indisputably part of this country.

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COVID Concerns: Barbados Pulls Out of 2021 Miss Universe Pageant

Barbados has withdrawn from Miss Universe 2021 “in light of the worsened state of affairs in respect of the Covid-19 pandemic in Barbados.”

“…the Directors of Crown Events Inc. have taken the difficult decision that there will be no Miss Universe Barbados this year,” said the official statement. 

Barbados now joins Malaysia and Laos, who will not be participating in the 2021 competition.

Reigning Miss Universe Andrea Meza will crown her successor at the 70th edition of Miss Universe, to be hosted in Israel in December. Miss Universe Barbados 2020 Hillary-Ann Williams did not place in the top 21. 

South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi has become the longest-reigning titleholder in Miss Universe history after the annual pageant was postponed in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

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Battle for Rain Forest: Killings of Colombia Green Activists Hit 65

PUTUMAYO PROVINCE, Colombia, Sept 13 (Reuters) – An environmental activist in southern Colombia’s steamy jungle province of Putumayo was preparing to run some errands earlier this year when she received a warning from a contact, she said.

“He wrote me a message saying it’s better I don’t go outside…They’ve sent someone to kill you three times already,” she recalled, referring to crime gangs operating in her village. Reuters could not verify the content of the message.

The woman, who has protection from government bodyguards, is one of scores of activists under threat in Colombia, the world’s most dangerous country for environmentalists.

She fled her village last October after her activism and opposition to drug crops that damage the Amazon rainforest made her a target for crime gangs.

For her protection, Reuters has not named the activist nor the criminal group, though her story was corroborated by a U.N. Development Program team.

A record 65 environmental defenders were killed in Colombia in 2020, according to a report published on Monday by advocacy group Global Witness, nearly one-third of the worldwide total.

Colombia’s government is working across departments, including efforts from the environment ministry and attorney general’s office, to mitigate conflict and tackle violence, the environment ministry said in a statement.

“The environment ministry will work to provide the country with solid management mechanisms for prevention, protection and guarantees for non-repetition (of violence),” the statement said.

Colombia’s government has blamed crime gangs and leftist rebels involved in drug trafficking for the rise in activist killings. Reuters was unable to contact the armed groups.

Globally, the number of murdered environmentalists and land defenders hit 227 last year, surpassing the previous 2019 record of 212.

Global Witness says its annual tally is likely an underestimate because many killings in rural places, as well as some entire countries, go unreported.

It marks the second year in a row Colombia registered the most killings, despite government promises to increase security in rural areas and offer activists protection.

President Ivan Duque could leave office next year with environmental activist killings having more than doubled during his term, according to Global Witness’ annual tally.

The deaths of Colombian human rights and community activists of all stripes have sparked exhortations from the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights for Duque’s government to step up protective measures.

Killings of environmental activists dipped briefly in the two years after a 2016 peace deal between the government and the leftist guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), according to Global Witness figures.

The peace deal led to a general decline in violence, but the FARC’s demobilization opened a power vacuum in some areas. read more

Former FARC fighters who reject the deal, members of remaining rebel group the ELN, and crime gangs are now battling for control in many areas.

Laura Furones, Global Witness’ senior adviser for its land and environmental defenders campaign, said the increase in activist killings was due to “the lack of state action in terms of implementing the peace accord,” which had led to the growth in competing armed groups. Activist murders soared to 64 in 2019, well above pre-accord figures of 37.

“There’s been many areas of the country (which) have been overtaken by guerrillas, paramilitaries and other criminal groups,” said Furones, calling on Duque’s administration to do more to protect activists. “We see really worrying trends upwards and that tells us that whatever the government’s doing is by no means enough.”

EX-COMBATANTS IN DANGER

The activist in Putumayo fled after threats from the armed group that wants locals to tear down forest to plant coca, the chief ingredient in cocaine. She was given state-funded bodyguards and an armored car after she fled, but longs to be able to return safely to her village.

The national protection unit, which provides bodyguards to officials and threatened public figures, said it does not confirm the identities of those it protects.

“Since October last year I haven’t been able to go near the area,” she said, adding that she misses her neighbors and drinking her morning coffee gazing from her window.

“For all the protection you get from the state…I wouldn’t for a moment trade that for the tranquility of my home,” she said.

Seventeen of the Colombian environmentalists murdered in 2020 were involved in coca crop substitution programs, Global Witness found. Reuters could not independently verify the figures.

Some environmental activists are also ex-FARC guerrillas, making them potential targets for their former brothers-in-arms who reject the peace deal and reap hefty profits from coca and illegal mining, activists, the government and advocacy groups say.

More than 280 ex-FARC members have been killed since the peace deal was signed, according to advocacy group Indepaz. The government tallies close to 260 killings, according to the government department charged with implementing the peace deal.

At least one environmental activist – Hernando Jose Molina – included in Global Witness’ list of those killed last year was an ex-fighter who had signed the 2016 peace deal, according to a report by local advocacy group Somos Defensores. Reuters could not independently confirm this.

Former guerrilla Jorge Santofimio leads a network of tree nurseries in Putumayo and two other provinces, growing saplings meant to restore damaged parts of the Amazon, with help from the U.N. Development Program.

He and other ex-guerrillas hope the work will reconcile them with communities who suffered during the conflict, but Santofimio said that their activism was making them a target for armed groups.

“They won’t kill you for having signed the peace deal. They’ll kill you for trying to build peace,” he said.

Reporting by Oliver Griffin Editing by Julia Symmes Cobb and Alistair Bell

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