LIMA, July 3 (Reuters) – Peru’s government on Friday evening rejected a request by presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori to seek an international audit of its June 6 election, leaving her with few recourses to overturn the apparent lead over her rival candidate Pedro Castillo.
The Minister of Justice, Eduardo Vega, explained in a letter sent to Fujimori, a conservative and the daughter of the imprisoned ex-president Alberto Fujimori, that legally the government cannot intervene while the country’s electoral jury reviews her claims of alleged irregularities.
Fujimori has alleged fraud, though failed to provide public evidence of such, and sought a recount of ballots as well as international intervention.
She reacted to the news saying that outgoing president Francisco Sagasti had “abdicated his great responsibility to guarantee clean elections” by rejecting the request.
“Despite this great disappointment, our struggle is not over,” Fujimori added.
She had sought for the Organization of American States (OAS) to conduct an audit, a process it carried out following the elections in neighbouring Bolivia in 2019 which returned long time president Evo Morales to power. The OAS cited irregularities in that poll, prompting Morales to step down and fresh elections to be held.
The OAS has said it sees no issue with the Peru poll.
According to the official tally Castillo, a teacher and union leader whose rapid ascent has rattled the political system of the world’s second-largest copper producer, won the election with a margin of 44,000 votes.
The National Elections Jury is at present reviewing contested ballots, a task that will be completed by mid-July, according to a source at the body.
Reporting by Marco Aquino, writing by Aislinn Laing, Editing by Franklin Paul
Pope Francis has undergone successful surgery to treat a colon problem at a hospital in Rome, the Vatican says.
The 84-year-old “responded well” to the treatment, which was performed under general anaesthetic, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.
It is the first time Pope Francis has been admitted to hospital since his election in 2013.
Earlier on Sunday, the Argentine pontiff addressed thousands of visitors in St Peter’s Square.
In an earlier statement, the Vatican said Pope Francis was being treated at the Gemelli University Hospital for “symptomatic diverticular stenosis” of the colon.
Diverticular disease is a condition that involves bulges in the wall of the large intestine. This can lead to a narrowing, of the colon.
Symptoms include bloating, recurrent abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits.
The Vatican did not provide further details about the surgery or how long the Pope would remain in hospital.
During his Sunday blessing in St Peter’s Square, the Pope announced that he would go to Slovakia in September after celebrating Mass in Budapest, the capital of neighbouring Hungary.
Born in 1936 in Buenos Aires, Francis lost part of his right lung at the age of 21.
He also suffers from a hip problem and sciatica, which causes pain that radiates from the lower back to the legs.
In 2014, he had to cancel a number of engagements because of a reported stomach ailment.
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – As Tropical Storm Elsa gets ready to move across central and western Cuba, tropical storm warnings and watches have been extended along the state’s west coast.
People in Cuba are bracing for the arrival of Elsa which is forecast to bring heavy rain to central parts of the island.
A hurricane warning has been issued for Cienfuegos and Matanzas provinces and residents have been told to beware of flash floods and mudslides.
More than 100,000 people have been evacuated.
At least three people have been killed as the storm passed over the Dominican Republic and St Lucia in past days.
As of 5 a.m. Monday, Elsa was 110 miles east-southeast of Cayo Largo, Cuba, and 220 miles southeast of Havana, Cuba.
The storm’s sustained winds were 65 mph with higher gusts as it moves toward the northwest near 14 mph.
This general motion is expected to continue through Monday, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest on Tuesday.
On the forecast track, Elsa is expected to move across central and western Cuba on Monday and pass near the Florida Keys early Tuesday. Elsa is then forecast to move near or over portions of the west coast of Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Some strengthening is possible before Elsa moves over Cuba, followed by some weakening while the center moves over
land. Slight restrengthening is forecast after Elsa moves over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center
Three people in the Caribbean have died as Tropical Storm Elsa makes its way north to Cuba.
The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency said in a situation report on Saturday that one death was reported in Soufriere, a town in Saint Lucia.
According to The Associated Press, a 15-year-old boy and 75-year-old woman died Saturday in the Dominican Republic.
Elsa strengthened to a category 1 hurricane on Friday, the first of the Atlantic season, while it moved through Barbados and continued moving through the Caribbean.
As of 8 p.m. EDT, the center of the storm was moving west-northwest at about 23 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds remained near 70 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Elsa is forecasted to move near Jamaica and parts of eastern Cuba on Sunday.
By Monday, the storm is expected to move across central and western Cuba, which would move it toward the Florida Straits. On Tuesday, the storm is forecasted to move near or over portions of the west coast of Florida.
Officials in the state decided to halt rescue efforts for bodies after the collapse of a residential building in Surfside, Fla., as authorities look to demolish the remaining structure ahead of the impending storm.
The remaining section of a partially collapsed apartment block near Miami has been demolished over safety fears as a tropical storm approaches Florida.
On Sunday night, explosive charges were used to bring down the last standing part of Champlain Towers South, which had been evacuated.
On 24 June, part of the block suddenly collapsed. Twenty-four people are known to have died and 121 are still missing.
Crews resumed the search for victims within a few hours of the demolition.
They are now hoping to be able to get into the apartment block’s underground garage, which they could not access safely before, and get a clearer picture of any voids that may exist in the rubble.
The demolition was brought forward after concerns were raised over the approaching Tropical Storm Elsa
No survivors have been pulled from the rubble at the site in Surfside since the first few hours after the structure’s collapse.
The demolition operation was brought forward after concerns were raised over the approaching Tropical Storm Elsa, which could reach Florida on Tuesday.
On Sunday, the town’s Mayor Charles Burkett said there was a danger that strong winds could bring down additional debris and endanger the lives of search crews.
He said demolition experts would be able to control how the structure fell, and that the explosion could “potentially open up a third of the pile [of rubble]” for emergency teams to access.
The existing rubble, meanwhile, was covered with a tarpaulin to protect it from any dust or debris caused by the collapse.
While no other buildings in the area were evacuated, nearby residents were advised to stay indoors and close their windows until at least two hours after the demolition.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the controlled implosion went “exactly as planned”.
“I feel relief because this building was unstable. The building was hampering our search efforts,” she told the Associated Press.
Twenty-four people are known to have died when part of the 12-storey block in Surfside collapsed on 24 June
Ms Levine Cava expressed sympathy for the families of the missing and said those who were forced to evacuate the remaining part of the block had “left their entire lives behind”.
She said teams scoured the structure using drones with thermal imaging cameras to make sure there were no pets still in the building.
Meanwhile, officials are investigating other tower blocks in the area for potential structural faults.
What caused the 40-year-old Champlain Towers South to crumble remains unclear. A 2018 inspection, however, warned of “major” flaws in the original design.
The building association’s board has said it will appoint an “independent receiver… to oversee the legal and claims process”.
‘Dark pit of pain’: families grieve victims lost to unimaginable in condo collapse
The Miami-Dade mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, told reporters two more bodies were found in the ruins of the condo building, which collapsed last month.
The number unaccounted for was 124, after closer inspection of the missing persons list reduced the number from 145 when duplicates were eliminated and some reported missing turned up safe.
Discoveries on Friday included the body of the seven-year-old daughter of a Miami firefighter. The girl and another victim were found overnight. Two more bodies were found on Friday. The discovery of the girl’s remains was especially hard, Levine Cava said.
“It was truly different and more difficult for our first responders,” she said. “These men and women are paying an enormous human toll each and every day, and I ask that all of you please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”
On SaturdayLevine Cava said she had signed an emergency order to demolish the remaining part of the building – which the Surfside mayor, Charles Burkett, said had become “an obvious problem” – as early as
“The fear was that [Tropical Storm Elsa] may take down the building for us and may take it down in the wrong direction on top of the pile where we have victims,” Burkett said at a press conference on Saturday morning, referring to a storm, formerly a category 1 hurricane, headed for Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The demolition “will allow our rescue workers to pore all over the entire site without fear of any danger from falling debris or falling buildings”, Burkett said.
Rescuers will have access to the garage area of the building for the first time once the remnants of the demolition are removed. That will give officials a clearer picture of whether any gaps in the rubble could be holding survivors. No one has been rescued since the first hours after the 24 June collapse.
The Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, underscored the necessity of bringing the structure down in a controlled manner, ahead of the arrival of Elsa.
“We have a building here in Surfside that is tottering, it is structurally unsound,” DeSantis said. “If the building is taken down this will protect our search and rescue teams.”
DeSantis, who said he would not attend a rally staged by Donald Trump in Sarasota on Saturday night, declared a state of emergency before the storm’s expected arrival early next week.
In another challenge to the rescue effort, one firefighter taskforce was demobilized after six members tested positive for Covid-19.
On Thursday, Joe Biden saluted the “resilience” of authorities and searchers and “their absolute commitment and willingness to do whatever it took to find the answer”.
“The families are realistic,” the president said. “They know that the chances are, as each day goes by, diminished slightly, but at a minimum they want to recover the bodies.
“They’re going through hell, those who survived the collapse, as well as those who are missing loved ones. The really hard part is not knowing whether they’re surviving or not, to have no idea.”
A few miles away in North Miami Beach, meanwhile, residents of a high-rise were forced to evacuate on Friday, loading clothes and valuables into suitcases and laundry baskets and wheeling them to waiting cars.
The building, Crestview Towers, was found to be unsafe in a review prompted by the deadly Surfside collapse.
The audit found that the 156-unit condo in North Miami Beach had been deemed structurally and electrically unsafe in January, the city said. Authorities went door-to-door, telling residents they had to leave the 49-year-old structure.
One resident, Harold Dauphin, said he had grabbed what he could and left.
Joe Biden comforts ‘amazing, resilient’ families at site of Miami condo collapse
“It’s unfortunate,” he said, “but I understand. Knowing what happened in Surfside, you know, it’s understandable.”
Officials did not immediately release details about the structural problems that prompted the evacuation in North Miami Beach but Crestview Towers reported millions of dollars in damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017.
It is the first building to be evacuated since officials in south Florida and statewide began scrutinizing older high-rises to ensure structural problems are not ignored.
A letter posted less than two weeks ago on the community website said repairs were under way or expected to begin soon after delays. Plans included a new roof, replacing a generator and changing lighting.
“Last year has been a different year due to the pandemic and many things have been postponed for countless reasons, but this year we have started to work hard,” the letter said.
The condo association could not be reached for comment.
Darwin Reyes said he lived in the building during Hurricane Irma and a chunk of the balcony above his fell on his during the storm. He listed other complaints, including elevators that often didn’t work and pipes that didn’t drain well. He said he had been planning to move.
On Friday, Reyes woke from a nap. He checked his Instagram feed and saw a notice that said his building was being evacuated. He looked into the hallway and saw people with bags and suitcases. He and his wife packed what they could.
RIO DE JANEIRO/BRASÍLIA, July 3 (Reuters) – Protesters took to the streets in Brazil on Saturday demanding the impeachment of President Jair Bolsonaro and more vaccines to fight the coronavirus pandemic, as the country faces the world’s second deadliest outbreak after the United States.
On Friday, Supreme Court Justice Rosa Weber authorized the opening of an investigation into Bolsonaro over alleged irregularities in procurement of vaccine developed in India.
The protests were originally scheduled for July 24, but were brought forward after evidence of irregularities related to that vaccine deal were presented before a Senate committee investigating the federal government’s handling of the pandemic.
Brazil’s COVID crisis has been compounded by a slow vaccine rollout.
“It was not denialism, it was corruption,” said a banner held by 71-year-old Marilda Barroso in Rio de Janeiro.
By 2 p.m. local time, protests had drawn thousands of people in at least 13 state capitals, according to local media reports. Demonstrations were scheduled to take place in 315 Brazilian cities and in 15 countries, local media reported citing the organizers of the acts.
More protests were scheduled to take place in the afternoon, including in Brazil’s biggest city of São Paulo.
Reporting by Maria Carolina Marcello and Rodrigo Viga Gaier; Additional reporting by Sérgio Queiroz Writing by Ana Mano; Editing by David Gregorio
NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (July 3, 2021) — The following is a media release issued by the Ministry of Health in the Nevis Island Administration.
One additional case of COVID-19 was recorded on Nevis on July 2, 2021. This brings the total number of cases on Nevis to 18 with 15 persons recovered and three active cases. This case which is imported, is fully vaccinated and has been in quarantine at one of our COVID-19 certified quarantine sites on island since arrival on June 27, 2021.
Case 18 was identified as a result of pre-departure screening conducted by the Ministry of Health. All persons leaving the Federation, while still within their quarantine period, are required to undergo exit testing. The case is isolated and stable. Contact tracing has commenced.
This case represents a vaccine breakthrough infection, defined as the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen in a respiratory specimen collected from a person 14 days or more after they have completed all recommended doses of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and an important tool that can be used to end this pandemic. However, as with all vaccines, a very small percentage of vaccinated individuals will become infected, but most of these persons will have mild disease or will be asymptomatic. Persons are therefore encouraged to join the over 50 per cent of the target population that is fully vaccinated with Astra Zeneca/Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine to prevent themselves getting severe disease, being hospitalized, or dying as a result of COVID-19 infection.
The Ministry of Health wishes to remind all persons, including those who interact with persons in quarantine, to follow all COVID-19 prevention and control protocols. Always wear a mask covering your nose and mouth when in public spaces and when interacting face-to-face with others, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or sanitize your hands properly and often throughout the day, maintain a distance of six feet or more from others, frequently sanitize high touch surfaces throughout the day and wash/sanitize your hands after doing so, keep your hands out of your face, eyes, nose and mouth. If you work at quarantine site you are reminded to consistently follow all COVID-19 prevention protocols at your place of work.
Persons who need further information about COVID-19 prevention and control measures, including quarantine, isolation, and symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call 311, 661-5051 or 665-5473.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, July 02, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has secured an additional five thousand (5,000) doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine as part of its drive to ensure at least 70 percent of the population is inoculated against the deadly COVID-19 disease, thereby achieving herd immunity in the Federation.
“Given the general global shortage of vaccines, I have been engaged with a number of CARICOM Heads and through bilateral diplomatic arrangements, we have secured an additional 5,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines. These vaccines have an expiration date of August 31, 2021. I am happy to report that these additional doses are already in our possession,” said Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris in a televised address to the nation today, Friday, July 03.
Withthe additional doses of the vaccine, the prime minister said the Government will restart its vaccination programme on Thursday, July 08, 2021.
PrimeMinister Harris, in his address, reminded the nation that vaccines are a scarce and precious commodity, and as such he is encouraging those who have not yet been vaccinated to make use of the opportunity to become vaccinated while supplies last.
Dr. Harris said, “This will enable us to achieve in the shortest possible time on the stronger and safer future that you deserve. The pathway to economic recovery including job growth, high incomes, business openings, a flourishing tourism sector, etc depends on a critically high proportion of the population being vaccinated and adhering to the protocols.”
NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (July 02, 2021) – – The island of Nevis will go into full 24-hour lock down for one week starting Saturday, July 03 until Monday, July 12, 2021.
Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, made the announcement during a national address on July 02, 2021. He said the enhanced restriction became necessary as case #16 on Nevis works in an environment with extremely vulnerable persons and contact tracing has already resulted in an additional positive case of COVID-19 being recorded on July 01.
“Given the risks associated with case 16 and the ongoing contact tracing on Nevis which has already led to case 17, I have been in close contact with the Premier of Nevis [Hon. Mark Brantley]. We have agreed that in an effort to save lives and avoid any further escalation of the situation on Nevis, the island of Nevis should as of Saturday, July 03 at 6:01 p.m. be under the same regime of restrictions as currently in place on St. Kitts…
“The period of the enhanced restrictions on Nevis will run until 5 a.m. on Monday, July 12, 2021 in the first instance,” he said.
During the 24-hour lockdown period all businesses and government offices and agencies shall close and a Shelter in Place Order will be imposed. This means that persons shall remain confined to their place of residence, inclusive of their yard space, with the exception of essential workers who are required to report to work.
There will be limited movement for limited operation of essential businesses including supermarkets and pharmacies from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 08 and Friday, July 09 and return to full 24-hour lockdown on Saturday, July 10 and Sunday July 11.
During this period special arrangements will be made to accommodate persons traveling overseas, students currently sitting overseas examinations, essential workers, and those with medical and other emergencies.
Prime Minister Harris said the necessary Statutory Rules and Orders (SR&O) will be published to reflect the enhanced restrictions as it relates to Nevis.
CNW- Trinidad and Tobago recently passed a new bill recently that could see the Caribbean island earn up to $2bn in revenue.
The Gaming and Betting Control Bill 2021 passed through the House of Representatives in June, giving the government firmer control over the taxation of the industry.
They will now collect taxes from the cost of gaming owners’ license, gaming tables, customs duty on imported gaming devices and corporation tax. According to News Day, it is seen as a huge step forward for Trinidad and Tobago to reduce their budget deficit, thought to be $8bn.
The bill lists the sums payable to the government as $120,000 for every Black Jack table, $120,000 for every roulette table, physical and electronic, and $24,000 for every slot machine. Failure to comply will see establishments hit with stiff penalties, including $1m and a $250,000 administrative fine for anyone using unapproved chips and devices or counterfeit gaming machines.
If an establishment breaches its license terms or fails to obtain a license, there will be a $5m penalty and a further $1.25m administrative fee.
The bill has come into being because the government feel the gaming industry on the island has not been paying its dues in the past. The Minister of Public Administration, Allyson West, believes that the industry is worth $16bn annually, but the taxes have never exceeded $82m.
Whilst many have welcomed the move, Allan Bhaggan, the owner of the Oasis Lounge on Broadway, has voiced his concerns at the rising costs of owning such an establishment, saying: “The rent for some casinos could be about $60,000. A machine costs about $200,000. To rent one costs about 50 per cent of your revenue. It could cost about over $100,000 to rent a machine. If somebody cracks a screen, it costs about $3,000 to $4,000 to fix it. If there is a power outage and machines go down, it costs a lot to repair. These machines are a huge cost to maintain. Very expensive.”
The worldwide casino industry has struggled over the past 18 months or so due to the pandemic. Doors had to be closed on many physical establishments, in Trinidad and across the Caribbean.
This has seen an increase in people playing online, with providers in that sector becoming particularly diverse and appealing. Not only can an online provider offer multiple online slots, certainly at a cost lower than $200,000, but they can also offer live events without the overheads associated with a casino.
Online provider Gala Casino has a range of live games such as Mega Fire Blaze Roulette and Infinite Blackjack, which create the illusion of being in a real casino without actually attending.
That variety and depth make it very tough for physical locations to thrive, even without the added burden of such heavy taxation. Whilst those market forces are a problem for the likes of Bhaggan, he confesses he believes the legislation is needed, but the timing, on the back of a challenging 18 months, could be a problem.
“I have no problem with the legislation,” he added. “I think the State’s timing is not right. Maybe another two years. Maybe by 2023. They have to be careful that the legislation does not force the local owners out. They have to be careful that it does not allow only the foreign owners to survive. That can happen if the small man cannot pay his taxes.”
The worry doesn’t seem to be whether the casinos will survive; Trinidad and Tobago does provide an excellent backdrop for establishments that online gaming cannot, with sun and the Caribbean Sea all around.
The problem is whether the local owners can thrive under the new legislation or struggle and see their businesses gobbled up by larger providers with the resources to meet the new taxation structure.
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Dr Carissa Etienne, says 15 countries will receive approximately six million of the 25 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines that the United States has earmarked for deployment to help ease the global shortage.
She said that these nations include countries in Central and South America, and the Caribbean, inclusive of CARICOM member states.
Speaking during PAHO’s COVID-19 digital briefing on Wednesday, Dr Etienne said 1.5 million of the doses arrived last Sunday (June 27), from which the first allocation was dispatched to Honduras.
She said that “millions more [are expected] to be delivered in the coming days”.
Dr Etienne noted that PAHO, through its Revolving Fund, has been working tirelessly with the US Government and those of the recipient countries, as also the World Health Organization COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility “to ensure that these vaccines are received promptly, safely and are ready to be deployed as soon as they arrive”.
The Director advised that PAHO is also in discussions with Canada, Spain, and other partners to secure more vaccine donations and ensure speedy deployment to member countries.
Noting that global vaccine supplies remain “very limited”, Dr Etienne maintained that donations are “our best option in the short-term to protect the most vulnerable in Latin America and the Caribbean”.
She said that PAHO is grateful to the US for the “generous donation”, which she pointed out, “will make a difference in some countries that are suffering extreme hardships due to COVID-19”.
Dr Etienne indicated that PAHO, in tandem with COVAX, governments, vaccine producers and other partners has, to date, delivered more than 21 million doses to 31 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
She pointed out, however, that “the reality is… we still face a glaring gap in access to vaccines”.
“We are hopeful that these donations [by the US] and the support [provided] will be duplicated by other developed countries so that we can expand access to vaccines as soon as possible,” Dr Etienne said.
The region of the Americas has recorded a staggering 72 million COVID-19 cases and nearly 1.9 million deaths since the pandemic’s onset.
These figures include 1.1 million new cases and 30,000 additional deaths recorded last week.
