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☆ Underarm serve backfires on Davidovich Fokina as Rune prevails in five-set epic
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Rune celebrated and Davidovich Fokina gestured towards his box. Rune, who saved two match points in the final set, won the next point when his opponent found the net on match point. Actually it was nice, because he was serving unbelievable," sixth seed Rune said of the underarm serve. Davidovich Fokina had looked solid on serve throughout so his decision was all the more baffling. Both players revelled in the atmosphere with Davidovich Fokina joining the fans in a Mexican wave from his seat when rain briefly stopped play.

Persons: Holger Rune, Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Dylan Martinez, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Fokina, Davidovich Fokina, Rune, Dane, I've, Jiri Vesely, Rune's, Rohith Nair, Clare Fallon Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Dylan Martinez LONDON, Wimbledon, whacking, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Bengaluru

Now, in their next step to consolidate power, they are trying to manipulate the national elections that are underway. In anticipation of the 2023 elections, President Alejandro Giammattei packed the courts and the electoral tribunal with loyalists. The ruling regime and its allies then enlisted these entities to distort the Constitution and tamper with election procedures to tilt the political playing field in their favor. Many fear the ruling could pave the way for additional spurious challenges that could eventually overturn the results, delay the second round or exclude Mr. Arévalo from competing altogether. The cries of fraud echo those in the United States after President Biden’s 2020 victory, although, with the entire judicial system on their side, Guatemala’s election deniers stand a better chance of pulling it off.

Persons: ”, Alejandro Giammattei, Bernardo Arévalo, Sandra Torres, Arévalo, Biden’s Organizations: National Unity of Hope, Constitutional Locations: United States

WASHINGTON, July 4 (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday restricted some agencies and officials of the administration of President Joe Biden from meeting and communicating with social media companies to moderate their content, according to a court filing. A White House official said the Justice Department was reviewing the order and will evaluations its options. The order also mentioned by name officials including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Jen Easterly, who heads the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in its restrictions. U.S. officials have said they were aiming to tamp down misinformation about COVID vaccines to curb preventable deaths. Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms (META.O), Twitter, and Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) YouTube did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Joe Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, Terry Doughty, Kanishka Singh, Jeff Mason, Alistair Bell, Heather Timmons, Bill Berkrot Organizations: U.S, Department of Health, Human Services, FBI, United, White, Justice Department, Department of Homeland, Infrastructure Security Agency, Western, Western District of, Washington Post, Republicans, Biden, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Thomson Locations: Louisiana, Missouri, Western District, Western District of Louisiana, Washington

☆ U.S. judge restricts Biden officials from contact with social media firms
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.K.'s Online Safety Bill, which aims to regulate the internet, has been revised to remove a controversial but critical measure. A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday restricted some agencies and officials of the administration of President Joe Biden from meeting and communicating with social media companies to moderate their content, according to a court filing. A White House official said the Justice Department was reviewing the order and will evaluations its options. The order also mentioned by name officials including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Jen Easterly, who heads the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in its restrictions. U.S. officials have said they were aiming to tamp down misinformation about COVID vaccines to curb preventable deaths.

Persons: Joe Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, Terry Doughty Organizations: U.S, Department of Health, Human Services, FBI, United, White, Justice Department, Department of Homeland, Infrastructure Security Agency, Western, Western District of, Washington Post, Republicans, Biden, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube Locations: Louisiana, Missouri, Western District, Western District of Louisiana

☆ Republicans Are Divided on Impeaching Biden as Panel Begins New Inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Karoun Demirjian | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Republicans are deeply divided over impeaching President Biden, with newly energized lawmakers on the far right applying pressure to do so and leaders and rank-and-file members concerned they have undertaken a politically risky battle that they cannot win. over moving forward and complicating a separate monthslong drive by the panel to prepare an impeachment case against Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, for the same offenses. Neither pursuit appears to have the votes to proceed, and many Republicans are worried that without a stronger case against the president, even trying the move could be disastrous for their party. Several rank-and-file Republicans from politically competitive districts had balked at the idea of impeaching Mr. Mayorkas, even after Mr. McCarthy endorsed that push. Few believe that the new investigation of Mr. Biden — a hastily arranged effort designed to halt a right-wing attempt to impeach the president outright with no investigation — will yield anything that could persuade them to oust him.

Persons: Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Alejandro N, Mr, Mayorkas, McCarthy, Biden — Organizations: impeaching, Mr, Homeland

☆ Guatemala court orders presidential ballot review, opposition cries foul
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Sofia Menchu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Torres took 15.8% of the vote in the June 25 round, with Arevalo close behind with 11.8%. Some analysts expect Arevalo to win the runoff due to Torres' unpopularity in the voter-dense capital, Guatemala City. The court said it would then determine whether to take the rare step of mandating a recount. Arevalo said he would ask Guatemala's electoral court to annul the top court's decision, which he described as lacking legal merit and dangerous to the electoral process. In the days after the vote, Torres said she was concerned that votes had been manipulated with a faulty software system to favor Arevalo's party, Semilla.

Persons: Sandra Torres, Read, Bernardo Arevalo, Torres, Arevalo, Alejandro Giammattei's Vamos, Sofia Menchu, Daina Beth Solomon, William Mallard Organizations: National Unity of, GUATEMALA CITY, Central American, National Unity of Hope, Guatemalan, of American, Thomson Locations: Guatemala City, Guatemala, GUATEMALA

☆ In parched Uruguay, tensions rise as water levels fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Water used to cover everything you can see." The South American country of 3.5 million people is reeling from its worst drought in 74 years, pushing frustrated residents to depend on bottled water. Low rainfall has forced water authorities to use water from a saltier part of the Santa Lucia river, which supplies most of Uruguay's drinking water, leaving tap water undrinkable for many. Earlier this month, Uruguay's government declared a water emergency, exempting taxes on bottled water and ordering the construction of a new reservoir. "The issue is real," said musician Frank Lampariello, after stocking up on bottled water at a supermarket in Solymar, on Montevideo's outskirts.

Persons: Alejandro Obaldia CANELONES, Mario del Pino, Adrian Dias, OSE, Federico Kreimerman, Kreimerman, Gerardo Amarilla, Frank Lampariello, Alejandro Obaldia, Brendan O'Boyle, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Canelones, Uruguay, Montevideo, Santa Lucia, Solymar, Montevideo's

☆ Madrid joins race for high-spending tourists with bet on five-star hotels
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Corina Pons | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] A swimming pool is seen at the top of Hyatt's Thompson Madrid Hotel, overlooking central Madrid, Spain, June 13, 2023. RISING ROOM RATESThe arrival of luxury hotels has marked a new peak in room rates. "We're seeking to capture the highest-spending international tourists," said Madrid's tourism director, Luis Martin. Employment in Madrid's tourism sector has grown by 15% since 2019, compared with 5.4% nationally. "The Spanish tourism sector has always tried to compete with other destinations on low prices," he said.

Persons: Hyatt's, Violeta Santos Moura, Santo Mauro, Richard Brekelmans, ”, Carlos Erburu, Thompson, Antonio Catalan, Alejandro Pitashny, Luis Martin, Jose Maria Martinez, Corina Pons, Belen Carreño, Charlie Devereux, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Madrid Hotel, REUTERS, Violeta Santos Moura MADRID, Hotels, Puerta del Sol, Dior, Marriott, Santo, Santo Mauro Palace, Westin, Ritz, Universal Music, Southern, Madrid, Colliers, Hyatt Hotels Corp, Reuters, Robuchon, Michelin, Airlines, Air, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Europe, Paris, London, Milan, Puerta del, Southern Europe, Barcelona, United States, Rome, Argentine, Iberia, America, Air China, China, Spanish

☆ Top US Republican threatens impeachment probe of attorney general over Hunter Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Trump, who faces multiple investigations and a federal indictment, is running for re-election in 2024. McCarthy, who backs the effort to expunge Trump's record, has also leveled an impeachment threat against another Biden Cabinet member, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, over the administration's immigration policies. Hardline Republican conservative Representative Lauren Boebert tried to force the House to vote to impeach Biden over immigration and border security last week. Fellow hardline Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is also pressing for the impeachments of Biden, Garland, Mayorkas, FBI Director Christopher Wray and a U.S. attorney prosecuting participants in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Reporting by David Morgan; editing by Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Hillary Clinton, Biden, Narendra Modi, Read, General Merrick Garland, Joe Biden's, Hunter, David Weiss, Donald Trump, Biden's, Merrick Garland's weaponization, McCarthy, Hunter Biden, Garland, Weiss, Trump, Ukraine's, expunge, Alejandro Mayorkas, Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mayorkas, Christopher Wray, David Morgan, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: U.S, India's, Republican, U.S . House, Justice, Justice Department, DOJ, Revenue, Republicans, Trump, Capitol, Biden, Homeland, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, U.S

☆ Analysis: Emergence of Guatemalan anti-graft champion shakes up election
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Sofia Menchu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] Presidential candidate for the Semilla party Bernardo Arevalo holds a rally at the Parque Central a day after the first round of Guatemala's presidential election, in Guatemala City, Guatemala June 26, 2023. Underlining voter frustration with the status-quo, nearly a quarter of ballots counted were either spoiled or left blank. Arevalo, who has called corruption a "cancer eating away" at Guatemala, will face former first lady Sandra Torres in the run-off. Torres, running in her third presidential contest, won 15.8% of the first-round vote to Arevalo's 11.8%. Aldana later sought asylum in the U.S., while current President Alejandro Giammattei himself became embroiled in corruption allegations, which he denies.

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Juan Jose Arevalo, Arevalo, Thelma Aldana, Otto Perez, Semilla, Bernardo, Nicol Estrada, Carlos Pineda, Will Freeman, Hugo Novales, Sandra Torres, Torres, Freeman, Semilla's, Aldana, Alejandro Giammattei, Juan Jose, Giammattei, Ivan Velasquez, Julia Esquivel, Jimmy Morales, Sofia Menchu, Dave Graham, Stephen Eisenhammer, Rosalba O'Brien, Leslie Adler Organizations: Parque, REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Council, Foreign Relations, of, Guatemala's, U.S, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Parque Central, Guatemala City, Guatemala, Josue, GUATEMALA, Arevalo, U.S, Guatemalan

[1/10] People attend to cast their vote at a polling station during the first round of Guatemala's presidential election in Chinautla, Guatemala, June 25, 2023. She is up against more than 20 other candidates, including Edmond Mulet, a career diplomat, and Zury Rios, daughter of the late dictator Efrain Rios Montt. "All the young people right now will have a role in politics in Guatemala in 20 years time ... "(The next) four years won't allow time to undo how poorly managed the government has been for so many years," said Andres Nolasco, a 25-year-old accountant from Guatemala City. Reporting by Sofía Menchú in Guatemala City and Diego Oré in Mexico City; Writing by Isabel Woodford; Editing by Daniel Wallis, Chizu Nomiyama and Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sandra Torres, Edmond Mulet, Zury Rios, Efrain Rios Montt, Maximo Santacruz, Julio Valenzuela, Alejandro Giammattei, Carlos Pineda, Pineda, Carolina Jimenez, San Jose del Golfo, Irma Palencia, Andres Nolasco, Torres, Alvaro Colom, Sofía Menchú, Diego Oré, Isabel Woodford, Daniel Wallis, Chizu Nomiyama, Chris Reese Organizations: REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Young, European Union, Washington, Central American, Thomson Locations: Chinautla, Guatemala, Josue, GUATEMALA, United States, America, WOLA, San Jose, Guatemala City, Mexico City

☆ Guatemala will vote for new president but critics say many anti-corruption candidates were weeded out
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

One of the expelled candidates, the rightwing Roberto Arzú, was a vocal critic of President Alejandro Giammattei. Employees of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) arrange ahead of the general elections in Guatemala City on June 20, 2023. Johan Ordonez/AFP/Getty ImagesIt’s not the first time that Guatemala’s electoral tribunal eliminates presidential hopefuls, but this year’s cycle is happening in rapidly shrinking civic space. Failing battle against corruptionRights groups say graft and impunity accelerated in the country after former President Jimmy Morales dissolved a United Nations-backed anti-corruption commission in 2019. The candidatesThe US and Western allies have raised concerns about the exclusion of presidential candidates in Guatemala.

Persons: CNN —, Sandra Torres, Thelma Cabrera, Carlos Pineda –, ” Will Freeman, Roberto Arzú, Alejandro Giammattei, Cabrera, Pineda, Tik Tok, ”, Johan Ordonez, we’ve, Caren, Jimmy Morales, Consuelo Porras Argueta, Antony Blinken, José Rubén Zamora, Moises Castillo, Porras, –, Kevin López, Giammattei, Freeman, Biden, “, ” Freeman, Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols, Guatemalans, Maria Consuelo Porras, Mulet, Carin, Edmont, Ríos, Torres, Rios, El, Nayib Bukele, Álvaro Colom, Colom, Efraín Ríos Montt, CICIG Organizations: CNN, Council, Foreign Relations, Twitter, “ Corruption, Constitutional, ” CNN, Getty, Americas Society, United, International Commission, Washington Office, Guatemala Human Rights, USA, Prosecutors, US, State, José Rubén Zamora –, . Press, Patrol, Western Hemisphere Affairs, Public Ministry, United Nations, Agence, France Presse, Analysts Locations: Central America’s, Guatemala, America, Guatemala City, Americas, United Nations, Guatemalan, Central America, American, Washington, United States, Haiti, Nicaragua, France

☆ Argentina political drama heats as election battle lines drawn
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Anna-Catherine Brigida | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BUENOS AIRES, June 24 (Reuters) - Argentina's presidential election battle lines have hardened after economy minister Sergio Massa entered the race in a dramatic late twist to take on front runners including a conservative city mayor, ex-security czar and libertarian economist. The most notable late confirmation has been Economy Minister Sergio Massa, whose candidacy was announced somewhat unexpectedly Friday night. "This completely changes the political scene," said Alejandro Corbacho, director of political science program at Argentine University UCEMA. Larreta, Bullrich, and Massa are roughly even in the polls, with Milei polling slightly ahead. With no candidate or party polling over 50%, the likelihood is the October election will lead to a run-off, with all still to play for.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Alejandro Corbacho, Massa, Agustin Rossi, Eduardo, Wado, de Pedro, Brazil Daniel Scioli, Horacio Larreta, Patricia Bullrich, Facundo Manes, Bullrich, Javier Milei, Carlos Fara, Anna, Catherine Brigida, Adam Jourdan, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Argentine University UCEMA, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, American, Brazil, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Argentine

The Republican attorneys general of Texas and Louisiana filed suit to challenge Biden's policy but the justices determined that the two states lacked the legal standing to bring the case. The guidelines reflected Biden's recalibration of U.S. immigration policy after the hardline approach taken by his Republican predecessor Donald Trump, who sought to broaden the range of immigrants subject to arrest and removal. Biden's policy prioritized apprehending and deporting non-U.S. citizens who pose a threat to national security, public safety or border security, giving agents more discretion to consider individual circumstances. Republicans have criticized Biden as weak on immigration policy, saying his actions - including fewer detentions and deportations - have encouraged more illegal border crossings. The Supreme Court the following month voted 5-4 not to block Tipton's ruling halting the guidelines.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Brett Kavanaugh, Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, Biden, Drew Tipton, Tipton, Alejandro Mayorkas, Biden's, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Department of Homeland Security, Republican, Conservative, Trump, District, Homeland, Thomson Locations: Texas, Louisiana, United States, New York

☆ U.S. House sidelines far-right Republican impeachment vote on Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File PhotoWASHINGTON, June 22 (Reuters) - U.S. House Republicans turned aside an attempt by hardline conservatives to force an impeachment vote against President Joe Biden on Thursday, in the first of what could prove to be a series of impeachment efforts by members of the far right. The House of Representatives voted 219-208 along party lines to refer a privileged resolution offered by firebrand Representative Lauren Boebert to two congressional committees. Under House rules, privileged resolutions pursued by Boebert and Greene must come up for a vote within two legislative days. McCarthy opposes such initiatives on impeachment, saying he expects ongoing House committee investigations to produce evidence against Biden and members of his administration that can be used to build impeachment cases. But Greene, who had previously introduced formal articles of impeachment against Biden and others, told reporters that privileged resolutions could be necessary because internal Republican divisions have prevented the House Judiciary Committee from acting on impeachment.

Persons: Lauren Boebert, Hunter Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Joe Biden, Boebert, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Christopher Wray, Republican Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Greene, Wray, General Merrick Garland, Alejandro Mayorkas, Matthew Graves, McCarthy, David Morgan, Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: House, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, . House Republicans, firebrand, U.S, Biden, U.S . Capitol, Republican, Democratic, Republicans, Boebert, House Homeland Security, Homeland, Thomson Locations: New York, Washington , U.S, Mexico, U.S, Ukraine

☆ Guatemalan ex-first lady Torres polls first in crowded field ahead of Sunday vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

GUATEMALA CITY, June 22 (Reuters) - Former Guatemalan first lady Sandra Torres leads her competitors in the Central American country's presidential race, according to a poll published Thursday by newspaper Prensa Libre, the last before Sunday's election. Diplomat Edmond Mulet trailed Torres with 13.4% support, followed by Zury Rios, the daughter of former dictator Efrain Rios Montt, at 9.1%. Torres, a well-known but polarizing figure, finished first in the first round of Guatemala's 2019 election, but lost to current President Alejandro Giammattei in a runoff. If no candidate earns 50% of the vote on Sunday, the top two will compete in a runoff on Aug. 20. Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sandra Torres, Torres, Alvaro Colom, Edmond Mulet, Zury Rios, Efrain Rios Montt, Alejandro Giammattei, Giammattei, Carlos Pineda, Sofia Menchu, Brendan O'Boyle, Hugh Lawson Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, Central American, Prensa Libre, Torres, Electoral, Washington Office, Thomson Locations: GUATEMALA, Guatemalan, America

☆ U.S. Republican hardliners try to force Biden impeachment vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A privileged resolution to censure Democratic Representative Adam Schiff over his leading role in Trump's Ukraine impeachment came before the House for a second time on Wednesday. McCarthy said he opposed a one-off vote to impeach Biden while committee investigations into the president's family business dealings and his administration are still under way. Greene, who has already introduced formal articles of impeachment against Biden and the other officials, told reporters that internal division is preventing Republicans from approving impeachment bills in the House Judiciary Committee. Boebert introduced her proposal as a so-called privileged resolution, subject to a vote within two legislative days, and Greene said she would consider a similar move. Greene was one of the few Republicans who voiced open support for Boebert's impeachment resolution.

Persons: Joe Biden, JIM WATSON, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, Lauren Boebert, Republican Donald Trump, Trump, Adam Schiff, Schiff, Anna Paulina Luna, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Christopher Wray, McCarthy, Ian Sams, Greene, Boebert, Wray, General Merrick Garland, Alejandro Mayorkas, Matthew Graves, David Morgan, Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: White, WASHINGTON, Republicans, U.S . House, Democratic, Republican, U.S, U.S . Capitol, Senate Republicans, Twitter, Biden, Homeland, Thomson Locations: Washington , DC, Mexico, Ukraine, U.S, House

☆ Chile's Codelco must kick-start lithium industry while reviving copper output
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Fabian Cambero | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

At the same time, Codelco wants to boost its output of copper which has slumped to its lowest in a quarter-century. Some analysts have questioned whether the copper company with no experience as a lithium miner can tackle both challenges at once. But industry insiders told Reuters Codelco will probably focus its own resources on copper while negotiating contracts for lithium operations and letting other miners do the work. The sources said the lithium strategy was being led by executives including Jaime San Martin, manager of new business development, known by some within Codelco as "lithium man". "But I think lithium is an excellent opportunity for Codelco to help them navigate their very difficult copper situation."

Persons: Ivan Alvarado, SANTIAGO, Gabriel Boric, Codelco, Reuters Codelco, Albemarle, Jaime San Martin, Alejandro Rivera, Maximo Pacheco, Minera, SQM, Pacheco, Juan Carlos Guajardo, Plusmining, Guajardo, Andre Sougarret, Fabian Andrés Cambero, Alexander Villegas, Adam Jourdan, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Tesla, BMW, Finance, Salares, Thomson Locations: Chile, Australia, Albemarle, Indonesia, Freeport, McMoRan, Chile's, Berlin, Beijing, Codelco, Santiago

☆ Mexico interior minister steps down to vie for presidential bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, June 16 (Reuters) - Mexican Interior Minister Adan Augusto Lopez has resigned from his post to compete for the ruling party's candidacy in next year's presidential elections, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday. Lopez Obrador said during a regular press conference that the interior minister had resigned the day before. The president did not immediately name a replacement, but said that Alejandro Encinas, who has led human rights issues for the ministry, would act as interior minister in the interim. Lopez's resignation follows that of former Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who stepped down earlier this week, and Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, whose last day in office is Friday. Opinion polls so far have tended to give Sheinbaum, who would be Mexico's first female president if she won, a slight edge.

Persons: Adan Augusto Lopez, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Lopez Obrador, Lopez, Alejandro Encinas, Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, Raul Cortes, Kylie Madry, Sarah Morland, Cassandra Garrison, Bill Berkrot Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Mexico City Mayor, Regeneration, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, MORENA

☆ US House Speaker McCarthy threatens to block funding for Chile waiver program
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, June 16 (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Friday threatened to use congressional appropriations to block funding for a U.S. visa waiver program for Chile, blaming rising criminal activity in the United States on the program. McCarthy, a California Republican said the appropriations will not allow Mayorkas "to use money when it comes to Chile for the visa waiver program until this issue is solved." McCarthy said people entering the United States through the program have joined organized crime organizations that he said have carried out raids on homes and businesses in California and elsewhere. "I am concerned that some citizens of Chile are abusing the visa waiver program to commit burglaries throughout the United States, including in my district in Orange County," Correa said in a statement on Thursday. Reporting by David Morgan; additional reporting by Ted Hesson; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Alejandro Mayorkas, Mayorkas, Lou Correa, Antony Blinken, Correa, David Morgan, Ted Hesson, Leslie Adler Organizations: . House, U.S . Homeland, California Republican, Republicans, Democrats, Democrat, House Homeland Security, Thomson Locations: Chile, United States, Santa Ana , California, U.S, California, Orange County

☆ Magnitude 6.3 earthquake strikes northern Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA, June 15 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck the Philippines' main island on Thursday, authorities said, halting some railway operations in the capital Manila. No casualties or major damage were reported after the quake, which struck out at sea at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.21 miles) and was felt in nearby provinces, the Philippine seismology agency said. Operations of the three elevated railway lines in Manila were stopped due to the earthquake, the transport ministry said. The seismology agency initially recorded a magnitude 6.2 earthquake, but later revised it to 6.3. Reporting by Jahnavi Nidumolu in Bengaluru, Enrico Dela Cruz and Neil Jerome Morales in Manila; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Peter Oliver Palacio, Jahnavi, Enrico Dela Cruz, Neil Jerome Morales, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Railways, GMA, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Manila, Philippine, Calatagan, Bengaluru

☆ He Exposed Corruption in Guatemala. Now He’s Been Sentenced to Prison.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Emiliano Rodríguez Mega | Jody García | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

One of Guatemala’s most high-profile journalists was convicted on Wednesday of money laundering and sentenced to up to six years in prison, in a trial denounced by human rights and free speech advocates as another sign of the deteriorating rule of law. The journalist, José Rubén Zamora, was tried on charges of financial wrongdoing that prosecutors say focused on his business dealing, not his journalism. He was acquitted of blackmail and influence peddling, and fined about $40,000. Mr. Zamora was the founder and publisher of elPeriódico, a leading newspaper in Guatemala that regularly investigated government corruption, including accusations involving the current president, Alejandro Giammattei, and the attorney general, María Consuelo Porras. For activists defending press freedom and civil rights in Guatemala, Wednesday’s verdict and sentencing, delivered by a panel of judges, was another blow to the country’s wobbly democratic health, as the government and its allies have taken repeated aim at key institutions and independent news outlets.

Persons: José Rubén Zamora, Zamora, Alejandro Giammattei, María Consuelo Porras Locations: Guatemala

☆ Guatemala court sentences journalist to 6 years in prison for money laundering
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GUATEMALA CITY, June 14 (Reuters) - A Guatemalan court on Wednesday sentenced Jose Zamora, a well-known journalist whose work has criticized successive governments, to six years in prison for money laundering in a case rights groups have branded an attack on free speech. Zamora was also issued a 300,000 quetzal ($38,339) fine, the court said. He was arrested in July last year during a crackdown on prosecutors, judges, human rights activists, journalists and opposition officials. According to the attorney general's office, Zamora allegedly received $38,461 to finance his media outlet, which was not regularly deposited into the banking system. The rights group is "very concerned" that Guatemala's prosecutors' office is investigating journalists and columnists from elPeriodico who covered Zamora's case, Goebertus added.

Persons: Jose Zamora, Zamora, Alejandro Giammattei, Juanita Goebertus, Goebertus, Sofia Menchu, Sarah Morland, Brendan O'Boyle, Bill Berkrot Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, elPeriodico, Rights, Thomson Locations: GUATEMALA, Zamora's, Guatemala, Americas

WASHINGTON, June 13 (Reuters) - The United States will extend deportation relief and work permits through 2025 for more than 300,000 immigrants from El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Nepal but will not expand the program to cover additional people, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Tuesday. Biden's Democratic administration is rescinding Trump's earlier decisions as part of the process of extending the relief for immigrants from El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Nepal. The latest decision by the Biden administration will allow TPS renewals for 239,000 Salvadorans who have resided in the U.S. since 2001. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants from El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua living in the U.S. illegally will not be covered by the TPS extension since they arrived after the cutoff dates. Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Mica Rosenberg, Aurora Ellis, Alexandra HudsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, rescinding, Alejandro Mayorkas, Biden, Eric Adams, Ted Hesson, Mica Rosenberg, Aurora Ellis, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: U.S . Department of Homeland Security, TPS, Democratic, New York City, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: United States, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Nepal, U.S, Mexico, Washington

☆ A viral photo of a double-decker airplane seat design has ignited a fierce debate about farting
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Reena Koh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A photo of a double-decker airplane seat has gone viral. A photo of a double-decker airplane seat has gone viral on the internet, with people divided on whether they would want to take a seat. Pictures of the Chaise Longue Airplane Seat prototype, designed by Alejandro Núñez Vicente, first made an appearance last year. Núñez Vicente graduated from Brunel University London in 2021 with a degree in Industrial Design and Technology, according to LinkedIn. In response to the backlash, the award-winning airplane seat designer thinks "there's no such thing as bad publicity," per CNN.

Persons: Alejandro Núñez Vicente, Núñez Vicente Organizations: Morning, CNN, Brunel University London, Design, Technology, LinkedIn Locations: Hamburg, Germany

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