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An anticorruption crusader won a runoff election for Guatemala’s presidency on Sunday, handing a stunning rebuke to the conservative political establishment in Central America’s most populous nation. Bernardo Arévalo, a polyglot sociologist from an upstart party made up largely of urban professionals, took 58 percent of the vote with 98 percent of votes counted on Sunday, the electoral authority said. His opponent, Sandra Torres, a former first lady, got 37 percent. Alejandro Giammattei, the current president, who is prohibited by law from seeking re-election, congratulated Mr. Arévalo and extended an invitation to organize an “orderly” transition of power. Mr. Arévalo’s win marks a watershed moment in Guatemala, both a leading source of migration to the United States and one of Washington’s longtime allies in the region.

Persons: Bernardo Arévalo, Sandra Torres, Alejandro Giammattei, Mr, Arévalo, Arévalo’s Organizations: Sunday Locations: Central America’s, Guatemala, United States

☆ Guatemalan president vouches for Sunday vote, promises orderly transition
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Sofia Menchu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Guatemala's President Alejandro Giammattei makes a joint statement with his Taiwanese counterpart Tsai Ing-wen (not pictured), at the Palacio Nacional de la Cultura, in Guatemala City, Guatemala March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Luis Echeverria/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsGUATEMALA CITY, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei on Friday evening said he would work to ensure an orderly transition of power to whomever voters elect on Sunday in the final round of a tense presidential election. The comments address fears of election meddling after an effort to disqualify the front-runner's party ahead of the runoff vote. "I reiterate the commitment to promote an orderly, transparent and efficient transition process," Giammattei said in an address to the nation. Arevalo's surprise second-place finish in June's first round vote provoked calls for recounts by opponents.

Persons: Alejandro Giammattei, Tsai Ing, Luis Echeverria, Giammattei, Bernardo Arevalo, Sandra Torres, Arevalo's, Arevalo, Luis Almagro, Sofia Menchu, Brendan O'Boyle, Sonali Paul Organizations: Palacio Nacional, la Cultura, REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Organization of American, Thomson Locations: Guatemala City, Guatemala, GUATEMALA, June's, Faro

Bernardo Arévalo had been enjoying a quiet and predictable life for nearly a decade with his family in Geneva, working on pro-democracy issues for a nonprofit. That placid existence ended after he returned to his homeland, Guatemala, and got drawn into politics. Today, whenever Mr. Arévalo appears in public, he attracts throngs to hear him assail the government’s attacks on Guatemala’s democracy. Flanked by a well-armed security detail after receiving death threats following the assassination last week of a presidential candidate in Ecuador — which sent tremors across Latin America — Mr. Arévalo wears a bullet-resistant vest and travels in an armored S.U.V. Now, in what is building into a watershed moment for Central America’s most populous country, Mr. Arévalo, a Hebrew- and French-speaking polyglot with a doctorate in sociology, is on the cusp of winning the presidency in a runoff on Sunday — an implausible scenario just months ago.

Persons: Bernardo Arévalo, Arévalo, throngs Organizations: America’s Locations: Geneva, Guatemala, Ecuador, America

☆ Presidential hopeful Sandra Torres pitches experience as Guatemala seeks change
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Brendan O'Boyle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Presidential candidate Sandra Torres, of the National Unity of Hope (UNE) political party, greets supporters during a campaign rally ahead of the presidential run-off, in Guatemala City, Guatemala August 5, 2023. REUTERS/Cristina Chiquin/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 17 (Reuters) - Sandra Torres is pitching her two decades as a leading figure in Guatemalan politics as she tries to woo disenchanted voters ahead of a presidential runoff on Sunday and avoid a third straight election loss. Torres, who hails from a poor town in Guatemala's Peten region, has promised to expand the social safety net if elected. But while her party's last government did reduce poverty, Torres' efforts have also drawn criticism for being "clientelistic," said Will Freeman, a fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Torres has sought new allies as she seeks to reverse her election losses, analysts said.

Persons: Sandra Torres, Cristina Chiquin, Torres, Bernardo Arevalo, Alvaro Colom, Will Freeman, June's, Brendan O'Boyle, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: National Unity of, REUTERS, of, Council, Foreign Relations, Gallup, Thomson Locations: Guatemala City, Guatemala, Central America's, United States, Guatemala's Peten, Arevalo

In 2023, Roblero found more clients and started making money from car detailing videos posted on his YouTube channel. But he kept thinking about starting a car detailing business, inspired by the effort he put into maintaining his own vehicle. But by then, he was earning enough to leave his 9-to-5 and focus on the car detailing business full-time. In January 2023, he started a YouTube channel, where he shares weekly behind-the-scenes videos of his car detailing process. But in September 2020, just three months after he started the company, Roblero's father collapsed from cardiac arrest.

Persons: Randy Roblero's, isn't, It's, Roblero, Randy Roblero, Mickey Todiwala, Randy, Donald Trump's, Roblero's, I'm Organizations: CNBC, YouTube, Nissan Altima, Palm Beach State College, Facebook, Google, Transportation, Sam's, Walt Disney World, Ford Locations: Palm Beach, West Palm Beach , Florida, Florida, hustles, Bailey , North Carolina, Guatemala, United States, —, Lago, America

☆ Guatemalan presidential candidate Arevalo seen winning runoff with 61%, poll finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Anti-graft presidential candidate of the Semilla political party Bernardo Arevalo holds a campaign rally ahead of the presidential run-off, in Sumpango, Guatemala, July 16, 2023. REUTERS/Cristina Chiquin/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsGUATEMALA CITY, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Guatemalan presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo is seen winning an August 20 runoff election backed by 61% of valid votes, followed by former first lady Sandra Torres, according to a CID Gallup poll published on Wednesday. Arevalo, an ex-diplomat who is running on an anti-corruption platform, scored a surprise second place in June's first round, finishing close behind Torres. "Our growth trajectory continues, as more of us now want change in Guatemala," the candidate said on social messaging platform X. The poll surveyed 1,819 adults face-to-face between August 4 and 13 with an estimated margin of error of plus or minus 2.3%.

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Cristina Chiquin, Sandra Torres, Arevalo, Torres, Sofia Menchu, Raul Cortes, Valentine Hilaire, Sarah Morland Organizations: REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Gallup, Organization of American, CID, Thomson Locations: Sumpango, Guatemala, GUATEMALA, June's

☆ Guatemala elections: Troubled vote looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Torres won 16% of the first-round vote in June with Arévalo coming in with 11.8% of the votes cast. “Guatemalans wanted an option on the ballot where they can vote to reject the current political system. Moises Castillo/APThis is the third presidential cycle Torres has competed in, losing in 2019 to current President Alejandro Giammattei. Guatemala currently recognizes Taiwan, and Arévalo has said he would like Guatemala to have relations with both Taipei and Beijing. Congress is set to be largely controlled by establishment parties following this year’s elections, including the outgoing president’s Vamos party and Torres’ UNE.

Persons: CNN —, Sandra Torres, Bernardo Arévalo –, Torres, Arévalo, “ Guatemalans, ” Will Freeman, backsliding, Arevalo, Cristina Chiquin, Reuters Arévalo, Rafael Curruchiche, ” Curruchiche, “, ” Freeman, Bukele, Alvaro Colom, Moises Castillo, Alejandro Giammattei, Juan José Arévalo, Freeman, Thelma Aldana, Aldana, Luis Von Ahn, Torres ’ Organizations: CNN, Council, Foreign Relations, United, Public Ministry, Reuters, Movimiento Semilla, US State Department, US, European, Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza, Getty, Duolingo, Torres ’ UNE Locations: backsliding, Guatemala, America, United Nations, Guatemala City, Spain, European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, El Salvador, Taiwan, Taipei, Beijing

☆ Death toll from Maui fires rises to 53, governor says, and more than 1,000 structures have burned
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

More than 1,000 structures were destroyed by fires that were still burning, he said. The hall of historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames along Wainee Street on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. As she assessed the damage Thursday, she came upon a line of burned-out vehicles, some with charred bodies inside them. More than 270 structures have been damaged or destroyed, and dozens of people have been injured, including some critically. A charred boat lies in the scorched waterfront after wildfires fanned by the winds of a distant hurricane devastated Maui's city of Lahaina, Hawaii, U.S. August 9, 2023.

Persons: Josh Green, Matthew Thayer, Green, Tiffany Kidder, couldn't, Winn, Adam Weintraub, they'll, Weintraub, 60mph, Hurricane Dora, Bosco Bae, Bae, Marlon Vasquez, Vasquez, Eduardo, he's, Iiulia Yasso, Patrick T, Fallon, Hale Mahaolu, Louise Abihai, Vierra, Power, Dustin Johnson, Ed Sniffen, Thomas Smith, Mason Organizations: Associated Press, Maui News, Technologies, Getty, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Facebook, Kahului, AFP, Communications, Reuters Tourists, Hawaii Convention, London School of Economics, Political, Reuters Locations: Maui, Lahaina, Hawaii, Waiola, Lahaina Hongwanji, Lahaina , Hawaii, Banyan, California, Paradise, Maui County, Ankara, Turkiye, Hurricane, Guatemala, Kahului, U.S, Honolulu, Kihei, Maui's

☆ This couple are driving around the world in a Land Rover together
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“It all started with a road trip in Belgium,” says 29-year-old Chazee, who was born in Thailand. Shared dreamNicolas Chazee and Mathilde Vougny are driving around the world in a Land Rover Defender named Albatross. Epic adventureVoughny, seen in Finland, says that she and Chazee thought their dream road trip was "unachievable" until they began researching it. “People joke that if you have a Land Rover, you’re also going to end up being a mechanic,” says Chazee. Next Meridian ExpeditionAside from the car problems, the couple say that the extreme weather conditions they’ve experienced have been among their biggest challenges so far.

Persons: Nicolas Chazee, Mathilde Vougny, ”, “, we’ve, ’ ”, they’d, Chazee, Vougny, ” Vougny, who’ve, they’ve, They’ve, you’re, I’ve, I’m, ” Chazee, he’s, they’ll, Next Meridian Expedition They’ve Organizations: CNN, Rover, Meridian Expedition, Rover Defender, Next Meridian, YouTube, Central America, “, Next, Next Meridian Expedition Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Thailand, Europe, France, Finland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Halifax, Canada, Alaska, Wyoming , Colorado , Utah, Arizona, California, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Australia, Chile, “, Central America, USA, Argentina, Antarctica, Asia, Africa

Pope Francis gestures on the day he meets with aid and charity representatives at "Centro Paroquial de Serafina" during his apostolic journey to Portugal on the occasion of the XXXVII World Youth Day, in Lisbon, Portugal, August 4, 2023. REUTERS/Violeta Santos MouraLISBON, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Pope Francis visited a Church-run social centre in a low-income Lisbon neighbourhood Friday, urging young people to shun "distilled," orderly lives where everything seems perfect but to "get your hands dirty" by helping the needy. "Tangible love is that which gets its hands dirty," he said. The 86-year-old pope is in Lisbon for the Catholic Church's World Day of Youth festival, which ends on Sunday. "Through your actions, your commitment, by getting your hands dirty, by touching the reality and misery of others, you are creating inspiration, you are generating life," he said.

Persons: Pope Francis, Violeta Santos Moura, Vincent de Paul, Francis, Amelia Grantham, Grantham, Philip Pullella, Louise Heavens Organizations: Centro, REUTERS, Violeta Santos Moura LISBON, Catholic, Thomson Locations: Portugal, Lisbon, Serafina, Spain, Italy, Guatemala, Birmingham, England

[1/7] Pope Francis attends the "Stations of the Cross" procession with young people at Parque Eduardo VII during his apostolic journey to Portugal on the occasion of the XXXVII World Youth Day, in Lisbon Portugal, August 4, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERSLISBON, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of young people reflected on their anxieties, enslavement to the "tyranny" of social media and yearning to save the planet at a huge outdoor rally with Pope Francis on Friday. SCAFFOLD DANCINGPeople performed modern dance routines that included dangling from scaffolding above the pope as they moved a large cross around a structure that resembled a construction site. When the meditation about climate change was read, they donned gas masks as white smoke simulating air pollution engulfed the scaffolding. Francis started Friday by hearing the confessions of three young Catholics, from Spain, Italy and Guatemala, in one of the parks hosting the festival.

Persons: Pope Francis, Parque Eduardo VII, Edward VII, Jesus, Francis said, Francis, Philip Pullella, Louise Heavens, Leslie Adler Organizations: Parque, Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, Catholic, Thomson Locations: Portugal, Lisbon Portugal, REUTERS LISBON, Via, Catholic Woodstock, Lisbon, Spain, Italy, Guatemala

☆ Guatemala anti-graft candidate Arevalo seen winning presidential runoff -poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Sofia Menchu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Anti-graft presidential candidate of the Semilla political party Bernardo Arevalo holds a campaign rally ahead of the presidential run-off, in Sumpango, Guatemala, July 16, 2023. REUTERS/Cristina Chiquin/File PhotoGUATEMALA CITY, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Guatemalan presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo is seen winning an Aug. 20 runoff election with 63% of valid votes against his rival, Sandra Torres, according to a CID Gallup poll published on Wednesday by a local think tank. Arevalo won a surprise second place in the initial round in June, finishing close behind Torres, a former first lady. CID Gallup's poll found that 54% of respondents considered Torres "corrupt" and a "liar," compared to 15% and 13%, respectively, for Arevalo. Arevalo led the poll in every age group, region, and education level.

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Cristina Chiquin, Sandra Torres, Arevalo, Torres, Luis Von Ahn, Sofia Menchu, Raul Cortes, Sarah Morland, Stephen Eisenhammer, Conor Humphries Organizations: REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Gallup, of American, CID, Liberty and Development Foundation, Thomson Locations: Sumpango, Guatemala, GUATEMALA, Arevalo, Guatemalan

☆ Guatemala president meets with OAS head, says committed to ensure elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei meets with the Organization of American States (OAS) chief Luis Almagro, as concerns escalate over alleged government interference in the upcoming presidential runoff vote, in Guatemala City, Guatemala August 1, 2023. Almagro is set to stay in the Central American country until August 4. Guatemala is scheduled to hold a presidential runoff election on Aug. 20, with anti-graft candidate Bernardo Arevalo facing off against former first lady Sandra Torres. The government guaranteed to OAS authorities it has the appropriate budget and can provide the infrastructure and security needed for electoral authorities to carry out the vote, according to a government statement on the meeting. Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Editing by Brendan O'BoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Alejandro Giammattei, Luis Almagro, Read, Almagro, Bernardo Arevalo, Sandra Torres, Sofia Menchu, Brendan O'Boyle Organizations: Organization of American States, GUATEMALA CITY, Organization of American, Central American, Thomson Locations: Guatemala, Guatemala City, Presidencia, GUATEMALA

☆ Harvard professor Francesca Gino was accused of faking data. Now her million-dollar empire is crumbling — and scholars are eyeing who's next.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Kate Taylor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

"We believe that many more Gino-authored papers contain fake data," the Data Colada professors wrote. Data Colada found that the raw data showed clear anomalies, such as a distribution infinitely more likely to be produced by a random-number generator than actual people. Soon after, Data Colada ran an article alleging that Gino tampered with data in at least one of her honesty-pledge experiments. A post on Data Colada or a tweet from Brown is like a bomb going off in the behavioral-science world. Others who attempted to build on Gino's studies are grappling with having wasted time, money, and energy.

Persons: It's, Francesca Gino, Gino, Michael Sanders, Greg Burd, —, Hugo Boss, Gino coauthoring, Swarthmore College's Bhanot, Maurice Schweitzer, Simine Vazire, Sanders, Goldman Sachs, Schweitzer, they'd, Uri Simonsohn, Joe Simmons, Leif Nelson —, Data Colada, Dan Ariely, Ariely, Chris Goodney, Harvard, Colada, Nick Brown, Brown, Jeff Lees, Lees, There's Ariely, Brian Wansink's, HBS's Amy Cuddy's, Cuddy, Amy Cuddy's, Marie Claire's, Allison Williams, Astrid Stawiarz, Marie Claire Simonsohn, Simmons, Nelson, they're, Gordon Pennycook, Pennycook, it's, Bhanot Organizations: TED, Twitter, LinkedIn, Harvard, Wharton, Swarthmore College, Harvard Business School, Alaska Airlines, King's College London, Tione, University of Trento, Sant'anna, Studies, Carnegie Mellon University, University of North, Wired, Forbes, Google, Swarthmore, University of Melbourne, Disney, Lavin Agency, Data, Duke University, who's, NBC, BuzzFeed News, Bloomberg, Getty, Privately, Higher Education, Hill, Duke, US Department of, Cornell University, New York Times Locations: Trento, Pisa, University of North Carolina, HBS, Guatemala, Boston, New York, British, Guatemalan

☆ The Biden administration just announced plans to crack down on more than 4,400 new cases of child labor in the US since October
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Department of Labor is heightening enforcement of child labor laws through new partnerships and tactics. On Thursday, the Department of Labor announced it would take more measures to crack down on illegal child labor nationally, including heightening enforcement of child labor laws through new tactics and partnering with other agencies and foreign governments. "Like the President, we believe that any child working in a dangerous or hazardous environment is one child too many." This comes after the department's February 2023 announcement of the Interagency Task Force to Combat Child Labor Exploitation, created in response to a 69% increase in illegal child labor findings from 2018 to 2022. Sixteen more McDonald's franchise locations in Louisiana and Texas were found in violation of child labor laws last week, impacting 83 minors.

Persons: Biden, Labor Julie Su Organizations: of Labor, Service, Department of Labor, Labor, Department of Health, Human Services, Refugee Resettlement, The Department of Labor, Housing, Urban Development, Transportation, US Small Business Administration, Commission, The Labor, State, Department of Education, Interagency, Force, Combat, The Locations: Wall, Silicon, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Minnesota, Kentucky , Indiana , Maryland, Ohio, Louisiana, Texas, Missouri , Ohio, South Dakota

☆ Illegal child labor on the rise with nationwide violations found, Labor Department says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

JBS has said that they do not tolerate child labor and that they would stop using PSSI at every location where the child labor violations were alleged to have occurred. In addition, the Wage and Hour Division of the Labor Department is currently pursuing more than 700 open child labor cases. Officials at the Labor Department emphasized in a press call this week that the increase in child labor violation findings is partially due to “significantly enhanced child labor enforcement efforts” in recent months. The fight to weaken child labor lawsThe Department of Labor on Thursday said its interagency task force on child labor has begun cross-training with other governmental agencies like Health and Human Services and the Office of Refugee Resettlement to identify and report possible incidences of child labor exploitation. But at the same time that violations of child labor protections are rising, states across the country are introducing legislation to weaken child labor laws.

Persons: it’s, ”, Labor Julie Su, Jordan Barab, Obama, Barab, JBS, Cargill, ” PSSI, PSSI, “, That’s, DOL, Karen Garnett, Tiffanie Boyd, there’s, David Weil, Weil, Jaehoon, Jay, Chang, ” McDonald’s, they’re, Biden, Sen, Rich Draheim, “ That’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Labor Department, Packers Sanitation Services Inc, Cargill, JBS, Department of Labor, Labor, Occupational Safety, Health Administration, PSSI, Blackstone Group, CNN, McDonald’s, of, “ Employers, Heller School for Social Policy, Management, Brandeis University, Hyundai, Kia, Health, Human Services, Refugee Resettlement, US Department of Agriculture, Economic, Institute, Minnesota, Republican Locations: New York, Nebraska, JBS USA, Minnesota, Louisiana, Texas, Louisville , Kentucky, McDonald’s, United States, DOL, Alabama, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Missouri , Ohio, South Dakota, Arkansas, Iowa, America

☆ Senators aim to protect small businesses from foreign IP theft with new bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

If passed, the IDEA Act will reauthorize a state and local law enforcement intellectual property enforcement program at $25 million per year from 2024-29. They include China, Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia — areas where IP theft against U.S. small businesses is particularly rampant. Bipartisan lawmakers from both houses of Congress have often highlighted the urgent need for targeted solutions toward IP theft. Other IDEA Act initiatives include:An IP Protection Legal Aid program to counsel and protect small business owners. "Intellectual property crimes cost American businesses hundreds of billions of dollars each year, and small businesses often lack the resources to protect themselves against foreign bad actors," said Cornyn, R-Texas.

Persons: –, Mike Gallagher, Tammy Baldwin, John Cornyn Organizations: WASHINGTON, American IP Defense, IDEA, American Intellectual, U.S . Trade Representative, U.S, Republican, Rep, Chinese Communist Party, Justice Department, Government, Office, Joint, IDEA Act's, Texans Locations: Austin , Texas, Jackson , Mississippi, Chicago, China, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Sens, America, Texas

☆ Labor Department Decries Surge in Exploited Migrant Children
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Hannah Dreier | More About Hannah Dreier | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Labor Department on Thursday decried a national surge in child labor, saying that the agency’s inspectors had found thousands of violations and were investigating a slaughterhouse where a 16-year-old boy from Guatemala was killed this month. The update followed a hearing on Wednesday in which lawmakers from both parties accused the Health and Human Services secretary, Xavier Becerra, of failing to protect migrant children from exploitation. “There are some terrible things that are wrong,” Representative Anna G. Eshoo, a Democrat from California, told him. secretary, the buck stops with you.”Some 300,000 minors have come to this country alone since 2021, fueling a dramatic increase in migrant child labor. In an online report, the Labor Department announced an 87 percent increase in fines on employers in recent months.

Persons: Xavier Becerra, Anna G, “ Organizations: Labor Department, Human Services Locations: Guatemala, California

☆ Guatemalan presidential contender Torres visits Washington ahead of August run-off
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

GUATEMALA CITY, July 27 (Reuters) - Guatemalan presidential candidate Sandra Torres will meet with U.S. officials in Washington on Thursday, her party said, ahead of a run-off vote next month that has raised international concerns over alleged interference by authorities. Torres' National Unity of Hope (UNE) party said the former first lady of Guatemala is slated to discuss migration, trade and security with U.S. State Department representatives. Torres' rival, Bernardo Arevalo of the Semilla party, who finished second in the vote, has not said whether he also plans to visit Washington. President Joe Biden's administration has raised various concerns over Guatemala's election process, including criticizing raids by authorities last week of Semilla offices. A senior Biden administration official previously said the United States planned to host Torres and Arevalo for talks in Washington this week to show support for free and fair elections.

Persons: Sandra Torres, Torres, Bernardo Arevalo, Joe Biden's, Arevalo, Sofia Menchu, Daina Beth Solomon, Mark Porter Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, U.S, National Unity of, U.S . State Department, The State Department, Atlantic Council, Biden, Thomson Locations: GUATEMALA, Washington, Guatemala, United States

☆ OAS chief flags 'clear interference' in Guatemala election ahead of visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Sofia Menchu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

GUATEMALA CITY, July 26 (Reuters) - The Organization of American States (OAS) chief Luis Almagro will meet with authorities and politicians in Guatemala next week, he said on Wednesday, as concerns escalate over alleged government interference in the upcoming presidential runoff vote. The OAS, which monitored the first round, had backed the results as legitimate. "We have expressed ourselves emphatically on multiple occasions against the repeated attempts to alter the will of the people and the attacks on the electoral authorities," Almagro said in a special OAS session to discuss the election. "This is an electoral process that has suffered clear interference of internal actors that hindered its normal development," he said. Irma Palencia, the head of Guatemala's electoral court, said she has asked the OAS to continue monitoring the election.

Persons: Luis Almagro, Bernardo Arevalo, Arevalo's, Sandra Torres, Almagro, Alejandro Giammattei's, Arevalo, Torres, Irma Palencia, Sofia Menchu, Sarah Morland, Daina Beth Solomon, Jonathan Oatis, Bill Berkrot Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, of American States, OAS, Thomson Locations: GUATEMALA, Guatemala

☆ Ocomtun: Laser mapping reveals a forgotten Maya city in the jungle
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Maya civilization is best known for its pyramid temples and impressive stone structures that have been found across southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. Pictured here are the remains of a building with a staircase in the city of Ocumtun. He’s mapped more than 20,000 square kilometers (7,722 square miles) of Central American jungle and been involved in 45 archaeological projects, including the discovery of the largest and oldest Maya temple near Tabasco, Mexico, and tens of thousands of Maya structures and settlements in the Guatemalan jungle. Unraveling OcumtunIt could take years to fully excavate Ocomtun and get a deeper understanding of the site and why it was abandoned. A stone block with a relief, reused in a stairway in the city of Ocumtun.

Persons: Juan Carlos Fernandez, Diaz, he’s, they’ve, Juan Fernandez, Jonathan Burke, ”, Fernandez, LiDAR, Ivan Šprajc —, —, Šprajc, Ivan Šprajc, ” Fernandez, Založba Rokus, Ken, Julie Jones, it’s Organizations: CNN, University of Houston, National Center, Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, ZRC, Ocumtun, SAZU, Adria, Kreditna družba, Ars Longa, Julie Jones Charitable Foundation, Milwaukee Audubon Society Locations: Campeche, Yucatan, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, America, Ocumtun, Central American, Tabasco, Guatemalan, Kreditna družba Ljubljana

☆ US urges Guatemala to ensure no interference in election after raid
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

GUATEMALA CITY, July 24 (Reuters) - Senior U.S. Department of State official Brian Nichols said on Monday he had spoken with Guatemalan Foreign Minister Mario Bucaro to stress the need to hold a free and fair run-off in the Central American country's presidential election next month. Nichols said on Twitter he had highlighted the need to "proceed without interference or harassment of candidates and parties," following attempts to suspend the party of anti-graft candidate Bernardo Arevalo. The U.S. had criticized police raids on the offices of Arevalo's center-left Semilla party on Friday. A senior Biden administration official last week described the raid as representing "authoritarian practices" and a violation of democratic norms by Guatemala's public ministry. Reporting by Mexico Newsroom and Matt Spetalnick in Washington Writing by Isabel WoodfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brian Nichols, Mario Bucaro, Nichols, Bernardo Arevalo, Arevalo, Sandra Torres, Matt Spetalnick, Isabel Woodford Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, Senior U.S . Department of State, Guatemalan Foreign, Central American, Twitter, U.S, Biden, Mexico, Thomson Locations: GUATEMALA, U.S, Washington

☆ This man runs YouTube channels that help dogs and cats relax – and he's just sold his 'Petflix' venture to a big music company
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A company that creates music to help relax dogs and cats was acquired by an LA-based group. Music For Pets runs RelaxMyDog and ReleaxMyCat and was bought by Create Music Group in June. Believe it or not, millions even tune in to a couple of YouTube channels to play music aimed at relaxing their dogs and cats. Ahmed's YouTube channels, RelaxMyDog and RelaxMyCat, have become hugely popular, with 1.5 million and 800,000 subscribers respectively. The company is now owned by Create Music Group after what Ahmed described as a few competing bids.

Persons: Amman Ahmed, he's, Amman Ahmed Ahmed, Ricardo Henriquez, Ahmed, Henriquez, haven't, Ricardo, Jonathan Strauss Organizations: Create, Music, Technology, YouTube, Spotify Locations: LA, El Salvador, Guatemala, Amman

☆ A 16-year-old boy died while working in a Mississippi poultry plant. An unscrupulous hiring agency may be to blame, a workplace expert says.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tomas Duvan Perez, 16, died after becoming trapped in equipment while working at a Mississippi poultry plant. Perez is the third minor in the last month to die in a US workplace, the Huffington Post reported. Now, six years later, he is dead because of a workplace accident at a poultry plant that should've never hired him. Perez, 16, died on July 14 at the Mar-Jac poultry plant in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, NBC News reported. A spokesperson for the Mar-Jac Poultry plant in Hattiesburg, Mississippi claims an outside hiring agency misled the company by misrepresenting the boy's age, the Huffington Post reported.

Persons: Tomas Duvan Perez, Perez, Duvan Tomas Perez, should've, Jac, Jordan Barab, Barab, They're, Joe Colee, Michael Schuls, Will Hampton Organizations: Huffington, Service, NBC News, Occupational Safety, Health Administration, OSHA, PBS Locations: Mississippi, Wall, Silicon, Guatemala, United States, Hattiesburg , Mississippi, Wisconsin, Missouri, Wisconsin , Ohio, Iowa

“The INM rescued 148 migrants who were traveling overcrowded in the box of a trailer and were abandoned in life-threatening conditions on the side of the Minatitlán, Cordova highway,” the institute said in a statement. The truck was abandoned by the driver who is still at large, INM added. Of the 148 people rescued there were women and men traveling solo, 23 unaccompanied minors and 44 families – which consisted of 115 people. The faces of rescued migrants were obscured by INM in this picture. That same year, at least 55 people were killed and more than 100 injured when a truck overturned in southern Mexico.

Persons: INM Organizations: CNN, Central, Mexico’s National Institute of Migration, System, Integral, Defense, Minors, National Institute of Migration Immigrants Locations: Veracruz, Cordova, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, United States, Mexico, Central

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