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World View: US Eviction Freeze Ends, Drought Draining Rivers, Taliban Claim Win, More

Sep 06, 2021

Alternate text

AP Morning Wire

  • Two safety nets that helped many in the U.S. through the COVID-19 pandemic are about to end.
  • The remnants of Hurricane Ida have forced many tenants to pack up and make new plans.
  • In Afghanistan, the Taliban have seized control of Panjshir, the last holdout province.
  • In West Africa, Guinea is now being led by a junta following a coup.
  • In tennis, there are upsets galore at the U.S. Open in New York.
  • And at the box office, the Marvel film “Shang-Chi” has set Labor Day records, giving hope to the movie industry still reeling from the pandemic.

ANDREW MELDRUM

Africa News Editor

South Africa

 

The Associated Press

Advancing the Power of Facts

The Rundown

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Mary Taboniar went 15 months without a paycheck, thanks to the COVID pandemic. A housekeeper at the Hilton Hawaiian Village resort in Honolulu, the single mother of two saw her income completely vanish as the virus devastated the…Read More

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HOUMA, La. (AP) — Allison Smith wasn’t thinking about where she’d go next. She’d kept the boxes from when she moved into her 2-bedroom apartment at the Chateau Creole complex a year ago and was planning to fill them with her clothes and other belo…Read More

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CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Guinea’s new military leaders sought to tighten their grip on power after overthrowing President Alpha Conde , warning local officials that refusing to appear at a meeting convened Monday would be considered an act of rebell…Read More

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SARATOGA, Wyo. (AP) — The North Platte River in southern Wyoming has been so low in places lately that a toddler could easily wade across and thick mats of olive-green algae grow in the lazy current. …Read More

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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) — Tens of thousands of people who fled South Lake Tahoe in the teeth of a wildfire were returning home as crews finally managed to stall the advance of flames scant miles from the resort. …Read More

OTHER TOP STORIES

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban said on Monday they have taken control of Panjshir province north of Kabul, the Afghan capital. The province was the last holdout of a…Read More

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli police on Monday said they were searching for six Palestinian prisoners who escaped from a high-security facility in northern Israel. Police…Read More

NEW YORK (AP) — The fact that Botic van de Zandschulp was playing in Louis Armstrong Stadium for the first time for his 4-hour, 20-minute, will-he-or-won’t-he-blow-it victo…Read More

NEW YORK (AP) — On what’s traditionally one of the sleepiest weekends at the movies, the Marvel film “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” smashed the record for Labo…Read More

The post World View: US Eviction Freeze Ends, Drought Draining Rivers, Taliban Claim Win, More appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

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United Airlines Adds 3 New Routes to Latin America, Caribbean

By Winston Shek

Amid an expected surge in travel demand to Latin America and the Caribbean this upcoming winter, United Airlines intends to add three new routes to the two regions from Chicago, Cleveland and Denver, per Live and LetsFly.

From December 18, United Airlines will launch a Saturday-only flight from Cleveland to Nassau, Bahamas, on its Embraer E175 aircraft. Until 2012, the Chicago-based carrier operated a flight between Cleveland and Nassau, using an Embraer E145, when Cleveland was still a hub for United Airlines. Cleveland will be the sixth United Airlines destination for Nassau, as United Airlines serves Chicago, Denver, Houston, Newark and Washington Dulles from Nassau.

In addition, United Airlines plans to launch a Saturday-only flight from Chicago to Guatemala City, Guatemala, utilizing a Boeing 737-800, adding to Chicago’s extensive network to the Caribbean and Latin America. Previously, Avianca operated a service between Chicago and Guatemala City, marking its exit from the Chicago market. The Chicago-based carrier is the largest U.S.-based carrier in the Guatemala City market, intending to serve five destinations this winter, including Houston, Los Angeles, Newark and Washington Dulles.

Finally, United Airlines intends to add flights between Denver and Roatan, Honduras, from December 18 using its Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Currently, Roatan sees its only other United Airlines service via Houston.

Origin Destination Departure Time Arrival Time
Cleveland Nassau 9:05 A.M. 12:10 P.M.
Nassau Cleveland 1:05 P.M. 4:15 P.M.
Chicago Guatemala City 9:00 A.M. 1:30 P.M.
Guatemala City Chicago 1:40 P.M. 6:12 P.M.
Denver Roatan 10:00 A.M. 3:20 P.M.
Roatan Denver 1:45 P.M. 5:25 P.M.

United Airlines’ Boeing 737-800 aircraft seats 150 passengers, with 16 business class seats and different variations of premium economy and economy seating. Meanwhile, United Airlines’ Embraer E175 features 76 seats, with varying seating configurations.

A Leisurely Winter

For the winter of 2021/2022, United Airlines has added two routes to the Caribbean, creating new flights from Barbados to Newark and Washington Dulles in December, and increased the frequency of its Latin American, Caribbean and Mexican portfolio. In total, the Chicago-based carrier plans to operate 167 daily flights during the wintertime to Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, representing a 26 percent capacity increase compared to winter 2019.

“Throughout the pandemic, Latin America has remained one of the strongest regions for United with leisure demand meeting or exceeding 2019 levels. We have been adding new flights to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America since last summer and with today’s announcement, United will fly 20 new routes across Latin America that we did not operate in 2019 so our customers can enjoy more beaches and warmer weather,” Patrick Quayle, United’s Vice President of International Network and Alliances stated.

During the winter of 2020/2021, United Airlines boosted its route offering from the United States to Latin America and the Caribbean, adding eight routes to its network centered around growth in the Western United States. Primarily, it added flights between Denver and Belize City, Belize, and San Jose, Costa Rica; Los Angeles and San Pedro Sula, Honduras; San Jose, Costa Rica; and Liberia, Costa Rica; San Francisco and Liberia, Costa Rica; Washington Dulles and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Cleveland and Cancun.

Furthermore, United Airlines bolstered its offering to “warm-weather” destinations for the winter of 2021/2022, adding over 137 weekly flights domestically to destinations like Florida, Arizona, Nevada and more. For example, the Chicago-based carrier is flying 25 additional daily flights through its Newark hub to destinations like Fort Myers and Jacksonville.

Other carriers in the United States are gearing up for winter travel to Latin America, Mexico and the Caribbean. American Airlines revised its widebody schedules for the winter, placing its Boeing 787 Dreamliner on flights from Dallas, Miami and Philadelphia to Montego Bay, Jamaica, during the winter. Also, the Fort Worth Tex.-based carrier is utilizing its Boeing 777-200, from Charlotte and Miami to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and from Dallas and Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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US Works to Secure Border After Dominican African Swine Fever Outbreak

 
by

The recent outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Dominican Republic — the first detected case in the Western Hemisphere, and just over 200 miles away from U.S. soil — has prompted an immediate response from multiple governmental agencies.

One of these is the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP). John Segel, a Deputy Executive Director with CBP, spoke about the steps they’re taking to curtail an ASF outbreak in the U.S. in response to the positive cases in the Dominican Republic.

CBP is focusing specifically on the threat emerging within the Dominican Republic, employing a peripheral approach to identify the next logical sequence of locations that could be the next to have a potential threat of risk. This will enable them to more easily identify cargo and people coming into the U.S., using advanced information to target and select and clear both legitimate and stop illegitimate movement of goods.

Since ASF isn’t a new disease, there are already ASF detection measures in place in the Western hemisphere and the U.S.

A couple of the key points of focus are general aviation which are flying in from a lot of different destinations, and they have a larger footprint of where they arrive into the U.S. CBP already has safeguards in place, including fixed-based operators, the small airport operators that receive these aircraft, and there are customs officials at those locations to clear people and things into the country.

There are also operators who ensure all stores are purged, all waste, garbage, and anything prohibited on board is properly safeguarded and disposed of, either through incineration or other approved methods that mitigate and eliminate the risk.

CBP is also adding extra focus onto that level, ensuring that all agreements are up to date, and that there is a physical presence inspecting and ensuring that the risk factors are addressed. This is especially important given that there is a lot of small vessel movement throughout the Caribbean into Florida and into Puerto Rico.

Securing ports of entry into the U.S.

Back in 2003 when the Department of Homeland Security was set up, several existing authorities and administrations merged into CBP, including animal and plant health protection groups. Right now, there are around 700 CBP agriculture specialists, and they’re working in lockstep with USDA and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to address the risks inherent in this new outbreak.

These agriculture specialists are working with border patrol agents within customers to cover all the ports of entry into the country and address any risk of infection from those ports. These include land borders, airports, seaporst, postal mail, and more.

To guide their efforts, CBP leverages manifest information on items coming into the country (i.e. sender, recipient, and item type), then uses that information to adjudicate and clear legitimate cargo. They ensure that the cargo has market access in the U.S. and meets all animal health requirements. This includes checking non-infectious statements, and all the attributions that are needed for the safe importation of legitimate goods.

This information can also be used to address the more illicit network of cargo that circumvents due process to bring high-risk and impermissible items into the U.S. CBP can use this information to intercept high risk items at those ports of entry.

Additionally, CBP receives passenger manifests from aircraft, and uses that data to track who’s on the plane, where they’re coming from, and where they’re going, and if their point of origin carries any particular risks. This allows CBP to focus resources on higher risk venues, layering that information with bulk surveillance to test assumptions and, if needed, cast a wider net.

Bulk surveillance includes canine programs, which are most effective at illicit swine detection, X-ray technology, and other non-intrusive inspections.

Outreach & public awareness

To leverage public support to help in their efforts, CBP engages in outreach and education efforts. As Segel said, “an informed trade and travel community is a good community.” They’re more compliant and proactive in terms of disease prevention.

CBP works with public-private partnerships to ensure that everyone is aware of the risk and threats, and everyone does their part.

There are a number of screens deployed in travel centers within the Dominican Republic where CBP is able to deliver custom messaging based on the most recent updates. This provides people coming into the U.S. with the most up to date information.

It’s also important to stress that CBP is on the phone hourly with USDA and APHIS to address this issue. They put together the risk mitigation plans, which CBP then operationalizes. Thus, it’s important for all of these agencies to maintain their alignment.

The post US Works to Secure Border After Dominican African Swine Fever Outbreak appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

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Brazil Halts China Beef Exports After Confirming 2 Mad Cow Disease Cases

By

SAO PAULO, Sept 4 (Reuters) – Brazil, the world’s largest beef exporter, has suspended beef exports to its No. 1 customer China after confirming two cases of “atypical” mad cow disease in two separate domestic meat plants, the agriculture ministry said on Saturday.

The suspension, which is part of an animal health pact agreed between China and Brazil and is designed to allow Beijing time to take stock of the problem, begins immediately, the ministry said in a statement. China will decide when to begin importing again, it added.

The suspension is a major blow for Brazilian farmers: China and Hong Kong buy more than half of Brazil’s beef exports.

The cases were identified in meat plants in the states of Mato Grosso and Minas Gerais, the ministry said. It said they were the fourth and fifth cases of “atypical” mad cow disease that have been detected in Brazil in 23 years.

It said “atypical” mad cow disease develops spontaneously and is not related to eating contaminated foods. Brazil has never had a case of “classic” mad cow disease, it said.

The two cases were confirmed on Friday after samples were sent to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) lab in Alberta, Canada, the ministry said. The OIE had subsequently been informed of the two cases, in compliance with international norms, the ministry said.

The ministry said there was no risk to animal or human health.

Brazil’s government will hope the suspension is lifted quickly. The country’s powerful agribusiness sector is one of the main drivers of its long-lagging economy. China is Brazil’s top trade partner, and buys vast quantities of its commodities.

Reporting by Nayara Figueiredo in Sao Paulo Writing by Gabriel Stargardter Editing by Matthew Lewis

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Brazil Suspends Use of 12M ‘Illegal’ Sinovac Vaccine Shots, World Stats, More

SAO PAULO, Sept 4 (Reuters) – Brazil’s federal health regulator Anvisa on Saturday suspended the use of over 12 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd (SVA.O) that were produced in an unauthorized plant, it said in a statement.

Anvisa said it was alerted on Friday by Sao Paulo’s Butantan institute, a biomedical center that has partnered with Sinovac to locally fill and finish the vaccines, that 25 batches, or 12.1 million doses, sent to Brazil had been made in the plant.

“The manufacturing unit … was not inspected and was not approved by Anvisa in the authorization of emergency use of the mentioned vaccine,” the regulator said. The ban was “a precautionary measure to avoid exposing the population to possible imminent risk,” it added.

Butantan also told Anvisa that another 17 batches, totaling 9 million doses, had been produced in the same plant, and were on their way to Brazil, the regulator said.

During the 90-day ban, Anvisa will seek to inspect the plant, and find out more about the security of the manufacturing process, it said.

During Brazil’s vaccine rollout earlier this year, the vast majority of administered vaccines were from Sinovac. More shots from other manufacturers have since come online.

Brazil on Saturday reported 21,804 new coronavirus cases, and 692 COVID-19 deaths.

Reporting by Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Richard Chang
===========================================

Latest Pandemic Summary

Sept 6 (Reuters) – Here’s what you need to know about the coronavirus right now:

Pfizer on track for U.S. vaccine boosters, Moderna lags, says Fauci

Top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday that officials were likely to soon get the regulatory go-ahead to administer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots made by Pfizer, although a Moderna booster could take a little longer as it has not yet submitted the necessary data on booster shots to the Food and Drug Administration.

Last month the Biden administration announced it would start offering boosters to Americans by Sept. 20. Scientists are still debating how much additional immunity boosters provide and whether all Americans should get another shot, rather than just those at high risk of severe illness. read more

Sydney cases may peak next week; Australia steps up vaccine rollout

Authorities in Australia’s New South Wales, the epicentre of the country’s biggest coronavirus outbreak, said on Monday daily infections were expected to peak next week, as they look to speed up immunisations ahead of easing restrictions. Victoria state, which includes Melbourne, reported 246 new cases on Monday, its biggest daily rise of the year.

Last week, Australia entered into vaccine swap deals with Britain and Singapore for a total of around 4.5 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, double this month’s supply. Nearly half a million doses, the first batch of shipments, arrived overnight. read more

Each COVID-19 surge poses a PTSD risk for healthcare workers

Half a dozen U.S. ICU staffers have told Reuters of symptoms such as waking from nightmares bathed in sweat; flashbacks to dying patients during the pandemic’s fear-filled early days; flaring anger; and panic at the sound of medical alarms. Those whose symptoms last longer than one month and are severe enough to interfere with daily life can be diagnosed with PTSD.

Unions want to mitigate trauma by setting national rules for the number of patients under each nurse’s care. Workers say they should not have to pay for therapy, medication, and other interventions. The AMA and other groups want more confidentiality for doctors who seek mental health services. Most ICU staff who discussed PTSD with Reuters requested anonymity for fear of repercussions at work. read more

Israel to present COVID-19 booster shot data to FDA experts

Israel this month will present data from an extensive rollout of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is weighing White House plans to begin a booster drive in the United States.

A week ago Israel began offering a Pfizer COVID-19 booster to people as young as 12 in a campaign that began in July among seniors. Israeli health officials said the drive has slowed a rise in severe illness caused by the Delta variant. So far 2.6 million people out of a population of 9.3 million have received three doses of the Pfizer vaccine in Israel. read more

Vietnam sets deadline to vaccinate biggest cities’ adults

Vietnam’s coronavirus epicentre, Ho Chi Minh City, and capital Hanoi must vaccinate all of their adult residents with at least one shot by Sept. 15, the ministry of health said on Sunday. Vietnam has one of the lowest coronavirus vaccination rates in the region, with only 3.3% of the country’s 98 million people fully vaccinated with two shots, and 15.4% with one shot.

The country is battling a worsening COVID-19 outbreak. So far the virus has infected more than 520,000 people and killed 13,000, the vast majority in the past few months. Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s business hub, accounts for half of the infections and 80% of the fatalities. read more

Compiled by Karishma Singh
======================================

World Stats

Coronavirus Cases:

221,617,328

Deaths:

4,583,025

Recovered:

198,129,173
Highlighted in green
= all cases have recovered from the infection
Highlighted in grey
= all cases have had an outcome (there are no active cases)

[back to top ↑]

Latest News

September 6 (GMT)

Updates

  • 12,908 new cases and 41 new deaths in Japan [source]
  • 17,856 new cases and 790 new deaths in Russia [source]
  • 3,766 new cases and 6 

The post Brazil Suspends Use of 12M ‘Illegal’ Sinovac Vaccine Shots, World Stats, More appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

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Mexican Officials Block New US Bound Migrant Caravan

HUIXTLA, Mexico, Sept 5 (Reuters) – Mexican security and migration officials early on Sunday blocked the passage of a new migrant caravan, detaining several people, as the government moved to break up the group just a day after it set off from southern Mexico for the United States.

At around 5 a.m. local time, members of Mexico’s National Guard and the National Institute of Migration (INM) began surrounding the migrants on the edge of the southern town of Huixtla, prompting some of them to flee, a Reuters witness said.

In the ensuing commotion, some parents in the caravan made up largely of Central Americans, Haitians and some Venezuelans were separated from their children as the officials sought to intercept migrants who ran for the banks of the River Huixtla.

The operation to stop the caravan of around 400 people comes a few days after officials dispersed another large group and followed comments by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador that he wanted undocumented migrants to stay in southern Mexico. read more

Lopez Obrador also urged the U.S. government to help the migrants find work, speaking ahead of a high-level meeting of U.S. and Mexican officials on Thursday that is due to address economic matters and also expected to encompass migration.

As had occurred with the previous caravan, some migrants accused Mexican security forces of using excessive force during their intervention, and Maria Martha Ramos, a Honduran woman, said some of the officials threw stones to detain people.

Ramos said she would see if the main body of migrants regrouped so she could continue her journey north.

The Mexican government recently condemned officials committing acts of violence that were captured on video against the previous group of migrants. Local migrant advocates expressed dismay at the tactics used against the new caravan.

Heyman Vazquez, a priest in Huixtla and advocate for migrants, described the early morning swoop on the caravan, which included many children, as an “inhumane” and “cruel” abuse of power that had spread fear and alarm among the travelers.

Reporting by Jose Torres; Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Lisa Shumaker

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El Salvador: Top Court Rules President Can Serve 2 Terms

El Salvador’s top court has ruled that presidents can serve two consecutive terms, paving the way for leader Nayib Bukele to seek re-election in 2024.

The judges behind the decision were appointed in May after the National Assembly, dominated by the president’s party, sacked the previous justices.

The electoral tribunal said it would follow the Supreme Court’s order.

The ruling has been criticised by the opposition and activists, who accuse Mr Bukele of authoritarian tendencies.

The 40-year-old president was elected in February 2019 on a promise to tackle rampant gang violence and political corruption, and remains hugely popular in the impoverished Central American nation.

The ruling, handed down late on Friday, ordered the country’s electoral body to allow a president who had not been in office “in the immediately preceding period to participate in the electoral contest for a second occasion”.

Anabel Belloso, a National Assembly member for the opposition Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, said: “The state ceased to be at the service of the people and passed to be at the service of one person”.

José Miguel Vivanco, executive director of the Americas division of Human Rights Watch, condemned the ruling, saying El Salvador was heading down a path taken by Nicaragua and Honduras in allowing presidents to be re-elected.

“Democracy in El Salvador is on the edge of the abyss,” said Mr Vivanco, a critic of President Bukele.

The president has drawn rebukes from Washington for his constitutional changes and curbs on his critics in the media. Opponents accuse him of undermining El Salvador’s separation of power and its system of checks and balances.

His New Ideas party won a congressional majority in February and, months later, replaced five Supreme Court judges and the independent attorney general.

Last year, the president sent the military into the country’s parliament during a vote on the security budget, which opponents said was a deliberate attempt at intimidation.

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Football: Brazil v Argentina Abandoned 5 Mins After Kick-Off for COVID-19 Violation

BBC- Brazil and Argentina’s World Cup qualifier was abandoned just minutes after kick-off on Sunday after Brazilian health officials objected to the participation of three Argentine players they believe broke quarantine rules.

The visitors walked off the pitch at the Corinthians Arena after the officials came out to stop the game.

The dramatic intervention came hours after Brazil’s health authorities had said four England-based players for Argentina had to quarantine.

Although it did not name the four, the players with English Premier League clubs are Emiliano Buendia and Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa, and Giovani lo Celso and Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotspur.

Martinez, Lo Celso and Romero all started the game in Sao Paulo.

No date for the rearranged fixture has been set with Argentina players leaving to prepare for their next World Cup qualifier – at home to Bolivia on Friday, 10 September.

Fifa will now gather evidence from all sides to fully understand the events that led to the match suspension before it decides on the most appropriate course of action.

Lionel Messi
Argentina’s Lionel Messi, centre, sought to try and get a resolution after play was initially halted

Around one hour after the game was stopped and while Brazilian players organised an impromptu training session on the pitch, South American football’s governing body Conmebol said in a statement:

“By decision of the match referee, the match organized by Fifa between Brazil and Argentina for the World Cup Qualifiers is suspended.

“The referee and the match commissioner will submit a report to the Fifa Disciplinary Committee, which will determine the steps to be followed. These procedures strictly adhere to current regulations.”

Under Brazilian rules, visitors who have been in the UK in the 14 days before entering the country must quarantine for 14 days on arrival.

“We got to this point because everything that ANVISA directed, from the first moment, was not fulfilled,” Antonio Barra Torres, director at Brazil’s health regulator Anvisa, said on Brazilian television, according to AFP.

“[The four players] were directed to remain isolated while awaiting deportation, but they did not comply. They went to the stadium and they entered the field, in a series of breaches,” the official added.

‘At no time were we notified we could not play’

Brazil-Argentina was halted after covid health regulation issues
Brazil’s players started an impromptu training session after the game was suspended

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni said it was disappointing a resolution could not be found before the game got under way.

“It makes me very sad,” he said. “I am not looking for any culprit. If something happened or did not happen, it was not the time to make that intervention.

“It should have been a party for everyone, to enjoy the best players in the world. I would like the people of Argentina to understand that as a coach I have to defend my players.

“At no time were we notified that they couldn’t play the match. We wanted to play the match, the Brazilian footballers too.”

The Argentine Football Association said

the team had been in Brazil since 3 September and had complied with all the health protocols.

“Football should not experience these kinds of episodes that undermine the sportsmanship of such an important competition,” it said.

Brazilian Football Confederation president Ednaldo Rodrigues criticised the health officials for the timing of their intervention.

“I feel sorry for all the sports fans who wanted to watch the game on television,” he told Brazil’s Sportv.

“With all due respect to Anvisa, they could have resolved this earlier and not waited for the game to start.”

‘Farcical’ – analysis

BBC Sport South American football expert Tim Vickery on BBC Radio 5 live

“What a farcical way to mark one of the great games in world football.

“The game kicked off and we were five minutes in, and on wander onto the field a number of health officials and at that point it became obvious we were not going to have a game today.

“Argentina, who have another game on Thursday against Bolivia, have high-tailed it to the airport without playing the game.”

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The moment AJ is reunited with mum

A toddler who has been missing in the New South Wales Hunter Region for four days has been found alive, with family celebrating in emotional scenes on their rural property.

Police said three-year-old Anthony "AJ" Elfalak was located shortly before 12pm, several kilometres from his home in Putty.

PolAir spotted AJ in a creek bed, drinking water from it.

READ MORE: State's hard border could stay until 2022

'AJ' was found in a creek on his family's property drinking water from it.Missing NSW toddler Anthony "AJ" Elfalak .

READ MORE: Police issue $21,000 in fines after Nadia Bartel video leaked

"They were able to clearly identify a small boy in a puddle in a creek bed," Commander of the Hunter Valley Police District, Tracy Chapman, said.

The little boy smiled when he was found by SES, Hunter Region SES Commander Chief Inspector Simon Merrick added.

"Our first member that reached him found him kneeling in the riverbed," Mr Merrick said.

"They put a hand on his shoulder and comforted him, he went on our rescuer's knee and a big smile towards him as well and they embraced at that moment."

Ms Chapman said the fact he was drinking from the creek helped him survive.

"I think so close to water is potentially what gave him that opportunity to survive," she said.

The moment little AJ was reunited with his mum, after SES members found the child sitting in a creek bed.

"Certainly, experts that we've consulted, if he had access to water, it was always going to be able to survive the longest period of time with dehydration being the issue so he obviously found some water and was able to access that, was clearly drinking it.

"It is obviously something which assisted in him surviving."

Special Operations Team Paramedic Gerry Pyke from NSW Ambulance said it was "remarkable" AJ was in such good health.

"It was evident that he is a little survivor. By the time I got to him, the SES had done a wonderful job in winning over his spirits," Mr Pyke said.

"He had some lacerations on his lower legs. He was very, very thankful. His temperature was great.

"He did have a bit of a nappy rash."

Police will continue to investigate the circumstances of the past few days.

The family released a statement thanking police, emergency services, and the public for their help.

"Our family is together again. For that we are grateful to everyone who has assisted in any way over the last three days," the statement reads.

"Thank you to the NSW Police, Rescue Services, volunteers, community members, friends and family who have worked tirelessly to find AJ.

"AJ is fine. Hold your kids close.

"Please give our family the privacy to appreciate what we have."

The creek was about 500 metres from the home and had been searched numerous times over the weekend.

'A miracle': Toddler's dad

AJ's father and namesake Anthony said the boy's survival was "a miracle".

He said AJ had suffered nappy rash, scrapes from falls, and had been bitten by ants. He is now being taken to hospital with his mother Kelly.

"I was stoked," Mr Elfalak said of the moment he found out his son was alive.

"It saved my wife from going insane, pretty much, I think.

"He's alive. It's amazing."

Mr Elfalak spent four days searching in the bush "without sleep" in an effort to find his son.

He said the three-year-old lit up when he heard his mother's voice. He clung to her and fell asleep in her arms.

AJ was spotted by a helicopter near a creek bank and rescued then by SES volunteers.

Mr Elfalak said AJ had been drinking water in the creek.

Family friend and godfather Alan Hashem told 9News the family was overjoyed.

AJ Elfalak

LIVE UPDATES: NSW, Victoria and ACT records new COVID-19 cases

"I haven't slept for three days. I haven't slept," Mr Hashem said.

"I would jump all over you guys and hug and kiss you but I will keep my distance."

AJ has since been reunited with his parents and brothers, while he is being assessed by paramedics at the search command post.

Images from the home showed the boy's loved ones celebrating and crying as they received the news.

AJ's brother Patrick told 9News he hadn't given up hope.

https://twitter.com/nswpolice/status/1434694320011894785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"At first I thought we wouldn't find him but I knew the helicopters would find him because the helicopters are very high up, they can see anything," he said.

A relative told 9News AJ appeared to be "good" and "looked fine".

AJ, who is on the autism spectrum and is non-verbal, went missing last week from his family's rural property at Putty.

Temperatures in the area had dropped to as low as 3C early this morning, while there has also been rain in recent days.

Police had earlier seized a white ute and checked an abandoned property nearby, with the family fearing he might have been kidnapped.

Missing toddler's father overjoyed son has been found

READ MORE: White ute among items seized in search for missing NSW toddler

Mr Hashem earlier told Today that AJ's older brothers were looking after him, and that the three-year-old vanished when one had to go to the bathroom.

"We thought, if AJ's gone somewhere, it's not going to be far," he said.

He said the family took four ATVs and covered thousands of square metres in a frantic search.

Mr Hashem also claimed CCTV cameras he had installed on the property had footage missing of the time that AJ disappeared.

"We installed it so high you can't tamper with it and we had two mechanisms of storage, cloud storage and physical storage, and there's no data in that time slot," he said. 

"We provided the user name and password to the police, we provided them the actual original memory card."

Mr Hashem said the family were the "loveliest people" and had suffered greatly during the ordeal, as the search entered its fourth day this morning.

"You don't understand how much pain and anguish this family's feeling," he said.

"The reason why I am the spokesperson is because the mother is not coping and the father, he's holding it together by a thread."

Mr Hashem thanked the police searchers and SES volunteers for their "absolutely phenomenal" response to the emergency.