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☆ Ex-Honduras president Juan Orlando Hernández, former US ally, to stand trial in NY for alleged cocaine smuggling empire
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Noah Hurowitz | Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Ex-Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández will stand trial in New York on drug trafficking charges. Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández in 2020. Juan Orlando Hernández, center in chains, is shown to the press at the Police Headquarters in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. In this courtroom sketch, Juan Orlando Hernández, center, speaks into a microphone while pleading not guilty to drug trafficking and weapons charges in 2022. Juan Antonio "Tony" Hernández, the brother of Juan Orlando Hernández.

Persons: Juan Orlando Hernández, Hernández, —, Joaquín, Moises Castillo, Hernández's, James D, it's, Elmer Martinez, Hernández —, Juan Carlos Bonilla, Mauricio Hernandez Pineda, " Pineda, Bonilla, Pineda, Juan Antonio, Tony, Tony Hernández, Tony Hernández's, El Chapo, ledgers, Elizabeth Williams Hernández's, Pamela Ruíz, Rúiz, Cachiros, Hondurans, Devis Leonel Rivera Maradiaga, Alex Ardon, Fernando Antonio, Juan Orlando Organizations: Prosecutors, Service, AP, Embassy, of, Police, Honduran National Police, Central, International, Business, National Party, Sinaloa Cartel, Honduran Locations: Honduran, New York, Honduras, United States, America, Mexican, Manhattan, Tegucigalpa, Hernández, Southern, of New York, Washington, Brooklyn, Tigre, Miami, Colombia, El, Central America, El Paraiso, Guatemala, Sinaloa

☆ We've visited 50 states and 91 countries and almost always choose hotels over Airbnbs. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Initially, we were going to live in a golf community in Palm City, Florida, and also do some traveling. Courtesy of John and Beverly MartinJohn: When COVID hit, we realized we couldn't travel internationally. So we sold our house, bought the Airstream for $50,000, and visited all 50 states and 51 national parks in two years. John: After about a year, we started noticing we could stay at hotels for a similar price to the Airbnbs. Beverly: We've had some amazing stays, like a luxury hotel in Delhi.

Persons: —, John Martin, Beverly, Beverly Martin John, Bev, Beverly Martin Beverly, John, We've, Airbnb, we're, We're, would've Organizations: Service, Beverly, Central America, The, YouTube, Kruger National Park Locations: United States, Palm City , Florida, Beverly, New Zealand, California, Florida, Greece, Panama, Sri Lanka, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Europe, Central, Asia, Norway, Albania, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Santorini, Hyatts, Laos, Delhi, South Africa, Victoria Falls, West Africa

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A man who managed two forestry projects in Guatemala for a New Hampshire-based investment company has pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing $10 million from the business. Roberto Montano, of Guatemala, pleaded guilty Monday in Concord to wire fraud under an agreement with prosecutors that calls for a five-year prison sentence and restitution. Montano, 58, managed the teak forestry projects for the businessfrom 2007 until 2014. Prosecutors say he began embezzling money from the project in 2009 and that he concealed his crimes by altering financial statements and moving funds between accounts. Montano became aware of an investigation in 2014 and left the U.S. to go back to Guatemala, and then Nicaragua, prosecutors said.

Persons: Roberto Montano, Montano, Behzad Mirhashem Organizations: CONCORD, Prosecutors, Miami International Airport Locations: N.H, Guatemala, New Hampshire, Concord, U.S, Nicaragua

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are critical of diversity and inclusion programs within the federal government and elsewhere, but they see recruiting women and minority candidates, along with veterans, as key to expanding their slim majority in November. “These are not run-of-the-mill generic Republicans," Hudson said. And so we’re using that same formula.”When asked what she makes of the House Republican focus on recruiting females and minorities, the chair of the campaign arm for House Democrats was skeptical. It's not just House Republicans seeking to end such programs. Hudson sidestepped on whether the focus on attracting female and minority candidates as House Republican candidates clashes with efforts to clamp down on diversity and inclusion programs within the federal government and elsewhere.

Persons: Richard Hudson, Prasanth Reddy, Alison Esposito, Hudson, George Logan, there's Kevin Lincoln, Mayra Flores, prognosticators, ” Hudson, “ That’s, “, ”, Suzan DelBene, It's, Hudson sidestepped, George Santos, Tom Suozzi, Mazi, She's, Elise Stefanik's, Alexandria Ocasio, ” Stefanik, ” Steven Horsford, ” Horsford Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republicans, National Republican Congressional Committee, GOP, House Democrats, Democrats, Republican, “, Associated, Democratic, Ethiopian, Pew Research Center, PAC, Republican Party, Congressional Black Caucus, Women, Puerto Rico Locations: India, Kansas, New York, Guatemala, Connecticut, Stockton , Calif, Mexican, ”, Alexandria, Cortez, Puerto

☆ The Bucket List Family: How to travel the world with three kids
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“I never had the thought in my brain that ‘I want to travel around the world,’” Gee, from Denver, Colorado, tells CNN Travel. They soon began planning an extended trip to Southeast Asia and decided to launch an Instagram page, The Bucket List Family, to collate their adventures. “The little bit of traveling turned into three years full-time,” adds Gee, who has just released a travel guidebook, The Bucket List Family Travel, in partnership with National Geographic. The family went on to visit dozens of countries across the world, including Germany, Morocco, Japan, Brazil, Guatemala and Dominica. Family favoritesThe family of five have traveled to more than 90 countries.

Persons: Jessica Gee, Walt, ”, Garrett, Dorothy, Manilla, “, ” Gee, Gee, Jessica, Garrett Gee, who’ve, Callihan, Calihan, Geographic Gee, you’re, Gee’s, – that’s, it’s, They’ve, don’t Organizations: CNN, Walt Disney, CNN Travel, National Geographic, Gee, Central, East, Rwanda, Geographic, Disney Locations: Europe, Florida, Denver , Colorado, Vladivostok, Russia, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Singapore , New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Tonga, Germany, Morocco, Japan, Brazil, Guatemala, Dominica, Belize, Central American, Alaska, East African, Rwanda, Hawaii, Africa, Antarctica, China, Borneo

☆ C.D.C. Investigating Gastrointestinal Illness on Luxury Cruise Ship
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Johnny Diaz | More About Johnny Diaz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating an outbreak on a luxury cruise ship after more than 150 people reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness, including diarrhea and vomiting. The ship, the Queen Victoria, operated by Cunard Line, departed Southampton, England, on Jan. 11 on a 107-night cruise that included recent stops in Florida and San Francisco, according to the company’s website. said that, as of Thursday, 129 passengers and 25 crew members had reported being ill on the ship. The agency said 1,824 passengers and 967 crew members were aboard at the time of the outbreak. In a statement, Cunard Line, which is based in Southampton, said that “a number of guests had reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness” on the ship, which arrived in San Francisco on Tuesday after stops in Mexico, Guatemala, Panama and Aruba.

Persons: Queen Victoria Organizations: Disease Control, Cunard Line, Cunard Locations: Southampton, England, Florida, San Francisco, Honolulu, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Aruba

☆ Guatemala to Maintain Taiwan Ties Despite Seeking Greater China Trade
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Sofia MenchuGUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemala has no intention of breaking diplomatic relations with Taiwan despite seeking closer economic links with China, President Bernardo Arevalo said on Thursday, pledging to boost ties with both players in parallel. Guatemala is one of only a handful of nations that still maintains formal ties with Taiwan. Next-door Honduras last year switched allegiances to China, which claims Taiwan as its own, after seeking almost $2.5 billion in aid from Beijing. Publicly reaffirming the country's Taiwan ties for the first time since taking office, Arevalo said his administration will not change course. "Diplomatic relations are with Taiwan and with the People's Republic of China there are trade relations that will continue to develop."

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Arevalo, Carlos Ramiro Martinez, Drazen Jorgic, Josie Kao Organizations: Sofia Menchu, Sofia Menchu GUATEMALA CITY, Taiwan, Reuters, Publicly Locations: Sofia, Sofia Menchu GUATEMALA, Guatemala, Taiwan, China, Honduras, Beijing, Reuters Guatemala, People's Republic of China, U.S, United States

☆ Guatemala's Foreign Ministry Reaffirms Ties With Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

The Case to Disqualify Donald TrumpA case that appeared at first to be a pipe dream of Trump critics has become very real, with the Supreme Court hearing arguments that have the potential to disqualify the former president from reelection.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump

“Mar-Jac and its affiliates have a long and sordid history of willful disregard for worker safety,” the lawsuit reads. In July, Duvan became the third worker to die in less than three years at the Hattiesburg, Mississippi, plant owned by Mar-Jac, a Georgia-based poultry production company. After Duvan's death, Onin filed a notice with the state to avoid paying worker's compensation,the lawsuit claims. OSHA had issued at least eight citations for safety violations at the plant before Duvan's death, the lawsuit says. After the accident, Labor Department officials said Duvan’s death offered a reminder that children remain vulnerable to exploitation in the U.S. workplace.

Persons: JACKSON, Edilma Perez Ramirez, Mar, Jac, Duvan Perez, “, Duvan, Joel Velasco Toto, Bobby Butler, Perez Ramirez, Onin, Toto, Butler, Seth Hunter, Perez Ramirez's, Chick, ” Hunter, ___ Michael Goldberg Organizations: U.S . Department, Safety, Health Administration, Mar, OSHA, Onin Staffing, Labor, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Miss, Mississippi, Forest, Guatemala, Hattiesburg , Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, U.S, @mikergoldberg

☆ Nearly 140 people on cruise ship Queen Victoria sickened with gastrointestinal illness
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Christina Zdanowicz | Jamiel Lynch | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —More than 100 passengers and crew have fallen ill while on a three-week leg of a 107-night cruise with Cunard Cruise Line on the Queen Victoria, according to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the report, 139 people on board – 123 passengers and 16 crew members – have reported gastrointestinal symptoms that include diarrhea and vomiting. The cruise line has increased cleaning and disinfection procedures and isolated ill passengers and crew, according to the report. The Queen Victoria is on a 107-night sailing that started in Southhampton, England, on January 11. In a statement to CNN, Cunard Cruise Line said, “Cunard confirms that a small number of guests had reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness on board Queen Victoria.

Persons: Queen Victoria, –, “ Cunard Organizations: CNN, Cunard Cruise, US Centers for Disease Control, Queen Locations: Queen, Southhampton, England, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, Aruba, Guatemala, Cabo San Lucas, San Francisco, Hawaii

☆ 120 passengers on Cunard Cruise got sick with diarrhea and vomiting from an unknown cause
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewMore than 100 passengers and some staff members sailing on Cunard Cruise Line's Queen Victoria ship fell ill from an unknown cause this month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cruise ship was in Guatemala as of Tuesday, according to the itinerary, and is set to arrive in Honolulu around February 12. Cunard did not immediately respond to Business a request for comment from Business Insider. The agency said 100 people, including passengers and crew, got sick, with the main symptoms being vomiting and diarrhea. In January 2023, Cunard's Queen Victoria received a high sanitation score, 95 out of 100.

Persons: —, Cunard Cruise, Victoria, CruiseMapper, Queen Victoria, Cunard Organizations: Service, Cunard, Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Business, Cunard Cruise, Fox Business, Celebrity Cruises Locations: Fort Lauderdale , Florida, Aruba, Panama, Guatemala, Honolulu

☆ A man opened a plane's emergency exit and walked onto its wing after his flight was delayed on the tarmac for 4 hours. His fellow passengers are now defending him: 'He saved our lives'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An Aeromexico passenger opened a plane's emergency exit and walked onto the wing on Thursday. AdvertisementAn Aeromexico passenger opened a plane's emergency exit and walked onto the wing, but his fellow travelers are defending — not criticizing — his actions. They added that the man who opened the emergency exit acted "to protect everyone, with the support of everyone." It's not the first time a passenger has ventured onto a plane's wing or opened an emergency exit in recent months. In July, a passenger tried to open an AirFrance emergency exit midair to ensure it worked properly.

Persons: —, Justin Sullivan, AM762, Aeromexico, It's Organizations: Service, Mexico International, Associated Press, AP, Passengers, Flightradar24, Business, Southwest Airlines Locations: Mexico, Mexico City, Guatemala, Louisiana

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s government has acknowledged that at least two well-known Mayan ruin sites are unreachable by visitors because of a toxic mix of cartel violence and land disputes. The explosion of drug cartel violence in Chiapas since last year has left the Yaxchilán ruin site completely cut off, the government conceded Friday. They say that to get to yet another archaeological site, Lagartero, travelers are forced to hand over identification and cellphones at cartel checkpoints. Though no tourist has been harmed so far, and the government claims the sites are safe, many guides no longer take tour groups there. The guide said the ruin sites have the added disadvantage of being in jungle areas where the cartels have carved out at least four clandestine landing strips to fly drugs in from South America.

Persons: —, “ It’s, ”, Andrés Manuel López, “, López Obrador, Mexico — Organizations: MEXICO CITY, “, National Institute of Anthropology, Central Americans, National Guard Locations: MEXICO, Chiapas, Guatemala, Tonina, Gaza, Lagartero, Mexico, Palenque, Frontera Comalapa, Darien, South America, Central America, U.S, Cuba, Asia, Africa, Sinaloa, Jalisco

☆ Mexico, US and Guatemala Officials to Meet for Migration Talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican, U.S. and Guatemalan officials will meet as soon as possible for talks on migration, Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena said on Monday after her government held discussions with U.S. officials last week.

Persons: Alicia Barcena Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Mexican Locations: MEXICO

Twenty-four players made international debuts, including 13 Slovenians. All Americans were from Major League Soccer for a match not on a FIFA international date. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesŠturm, Gradišar, Kamungo, Zawadzki and Schulte all were making their debuts. Schulte, Zawadzki and Kamungo were joined by midfielders Josh Atencio and Timmy Tillman, winger Diego Luna and forward Brian White. Eight starters debuted for 54th-ranked Slovenia, which plays Denmark, Serbia and England in the group stage of the European Championship in June.

Persons: Nejc Gradišar, Gregg Berhalter, Danijel Šturm, Bernard Kamungo, Sean Zawadzki, Gradišar, Patrick Schulte, Zawadzki, Schulte, Igor Vekič, John Tolkin, Kamungo, Josh Atencio, Timmy Tillman, Diego Luna, Brian White, Jack McGlynn, Duncan McGuire, Esmir Bajraktarevic, Aziel Jackson, Bruce Arena, Tillman, Malik Tillman, Shaq Moore, Miles Robinson, ___ Organizations: ANTONIO, Major League Soccer, FIFA, CONCACAF Nations League, Mexico, Europe, Slovenia, U.S, Bruce, Iran, European Locations: Slovenia, United States, Europe, U.S, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Serbia, Poland, Guatemala, Denmark, England

Try going for a stroll in much of Guatemala City: It is a pedestrian’s nightmare. Rifle-grasping guards squint at each passerby, sizing up potential assailants. But tucked within the chaotic capital’s crazy-quilt sprawl, there is a dreamlike haven where none of that exists. Evoking the feel of a serene Mediterranean town, Cayalá features milky white buildings with red-tile roofs, a colossal civic hall with Tuscan columns, cafes and high-priced restaurants, colonnade-lined plazas and walkable, stone-paved boulevards. All of this is open to the public — except for the gated sections where about 2,000 families live.

Locations: Guatemala City, Cayalá, States

☆ Guatemalan Ex-President Alejandro Giammattei Barred From Entry Into US
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Former Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei is barred from entering the U.S. over allegations of "his involvement in significant corruption," the State Department said on Wednesday. Giammattei was defeated in August by anti-corruption crusader Bernardo Arevalo as he sought re-election as leader of Central American's most populous nation. "The State Department has credible information indicating that Giammattei accepted bribes in exchange for the performance of his public functions during his tenure as president of Guatemala, actions that undermined the rule of law and government transparency," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. Reuters was not able to immediately reach Giammattei for comment. (Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Dan Whitcomb and Lisa Shumaker)

Persons: Alejandro Giammattei, Giammattei, Bernardo Arevalo, Matthew Miller, Arevalo, Eric Beech, Dan Whitcomb, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: WASHINGTON, State Department, Central, Department, Reuters Locations: Guatemalan, Central American's, Guatemala

WHO IS GUATEMALA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL? She first became attorney general in 2018 with the support of then-President Jimmy Morales, replacing Thelma Aldana. With a doctorate in law, Porras' reputation was hit by a plagiarism scandal during her first term as attorney general. During Giammattei’s time as president, Porras left many accusations against him uninvestigated, including a corruption scandal involving COVID-19 vaccines. Now, the attorney general can be removed only for a conviction for a malicious offense.

Persons: Bernardo Arévalo, Consuelo Porras, Arévalo, Porras, Luis Almagro, Jimmy Morales, Thelma Aldana, Alejandro Giammattei, Arévalo’s, —, Claudia Paz y, ” Paz y Paz, “, Paz y Paz, Juan Francisco Sandoval, Paz y, ”, Sandoval Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, WHO, United, Organization of American, U.S, Party, Claudia Paz y Paz, Porras, Paz y Paz Locations: GUATEMALA, American, United States, Organization of American States, America, United Nations

☆ A 16-year-old employee at a poultry processor was killed after being pulled into a chicken deboning machine. The proposed fine for the Mississippi plant: $212,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Mississippi poultry plant is facing more than $200,000 in fines after a teen worker was killed. AdvertisementA Mississippi poultry processing plant is facing more than $200,000 in fines from the US Department of Labor after a 16-year-old contract employee was killed after being pulled into a chicken deboning machine. Related storiesOn July 14, 2023, Pérez was sanitizing a chicken deboning machine when he became caught in a rotating shaft and pulled into the machine, according to the OSHA report. AdvertisementThe teenager was the second worker killed at the Hattiesburg facility in a little over two years. "Only about two years later nothing has changed and the company continues to treat employee safety as an afterthought, putting its workers at risk," he added.

Persons: —, Mar, Jac, Duvan Tomas Pérez, Pérez, Kurt Petermeyer, Jac Poultry Organizations: Service, US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety, Health Administration, OSHA, Business, Immigrant Alliance for Justice, Equity, The New York Times, Department, Labor, Labor Department, The Times, Department of Labor Locations: Mississippi, Georgia, Guatemala, Hattiesburg

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Bernardo Arévalo was sworn in early Monday as Guatemala’s new president. He’s considered a political moderate with a background in conflict resolution, skills that should serve him well in Guatemala’s current polarization. WHO IS GUATEMALA’S NEW PRESIDENT? Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesArévalo is the 65-year-old son of former Guatemalan President Juan José Arévalo. The poorest are also the most vulnerable to the intensifying drought and flood cycles made worse by climate change.

Persons: — Bernardo Arévalo, He’s, Juan José Arévalo, Arévalo, Bernardo Arévalo, Jacobo Árbenz, hadn't, ”, General Consuelo Porras, —, Porras Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, WHO, CIA, Seed Movement Locations: GUATEMALA, Congress, Uruguay, U.S, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands, Spain, Geneva, Central America, United States

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemala's new president, Bernardo Arévalo, was left with huge challenges Monday after he was finally sworn into office, including his party's lack of recognition in a Congress where he would not have a majority anyway. “There cannot be democracy without social justice, and social justice cannot prevail without democracy,” Arévalo said in his first speech as president, referring to the young and Indigenous Guatemalans. It was an important gesture by Arévalo, who was criticized last week for including only one Indigenous person in his Cabinet. A progressive academic-turned-politician and son of a Guatemalan president credited with implementing key social reforms in the mid-20th century, Arévalo made confronting Guatemala’s entrenched corruption his main campaign pledge. Outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei, who was widely criticized for eroding the country’s democratic institutions, did not attend the inauguration.

Persons: —, Bernardo Arévalo, Arévalo, General Consuelo Porras, ” Arévalo, Porras, Guatemala’s, “, ”, Alejandro Giammattei, Arévalo's, Manuel Perez, ” Prosecutors, Washington, Antony Blinken Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, Attorney, Lawmakers, Central, la Constitucion, Guatemalan, ”, Arévalo’s, Prosecutors, Seed, European Union, Organization of American, U.S Locations: GUATEMALA, Guatemala, Central American, U.S, America

☆ Center-Left Sociologist to Take Office as Guatemala’s New President
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Juan Montes | José De Córdoba | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Bernardo Arévalo’s election victory has been upheld by Guatemala’s electoral court, and the U.S. government and Congress have backed the results. Photo: Johan Ordonez/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesBernardo Arévalo is set to take office Sunday as president of Guatemala with pledges to tackle the corruption and poverty that have fueled a wave of migration to the U.S., but an open confrontation with the country’s judiciary risks putting his plans in jeopardy. The 65-year-old center-left sociologist has been locked in a monthslong tussle for power with the country’s establishment since emerging as a surprise front-runner in last year’s election campaign. His win in August has been marked by allegations of fraud against him and his party leveled by Guatemalan Attorney General Consuelo Porras and several prosecutors.

Persons: Bernardo Arévalo’s, Johan Ordonez, Bernardo Arévalo, Consuelo Porras Organizations: U.S, Congress, Agence France, Getty, Guatemalan Locations: Guatemala, U.S

☆ New Leader Set to Take Over in Guatemala, Raising Hopes for a Fragile Democracy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Simon Romero | Jody García | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Since Bernardo Arévalo burst onto Guatemala’s political scene last year as an anticorruption crusader, he has faced an assassination plot, his party’s suspension and a barrage of legal attacks aimed at preventing him from taking office as president. Mr. Arévalo’s inauguration on Sunday — six months after his presidential victory delivered a stunning rebuke to Guatemala’s conservative political establishment — will mark a sea change in Central America’s most populous country. His landslide election reflected broad support for his proposals to curb graft and revive a teetering democracy. “Arévalo has the most thankless job in Guatemala today because he arrives with exceptionally high expectations,” said Edgar Ortíz Romero, a constitutional law expert. “He’s been given a budget for a Toyota when people want a Ferrari.”

Persons: Bernardo Arévalo, Arévalo’s, Arévalo, “ Arévalo, ”, Edgar Ortíz Romero, “ He’s Organizations: Toyota Locations: Central America’s, Guatemala

☆ Tempers Flare as Guatemala’s Presidential Inauguration Is Delayed
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Simon Romero | Jody García | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Opponents of the anticorruption crusader Bernardo Arévalo delayed his inauguration as president of Guatemala on Sunday, ratcheting political tensions higher in Central America’s most populous country. Confusion around the transition of power emerged shortly after Guatemala’s highest court on Sunday allowed conservative members of Congress opposed to Mr. Arévalo to maintain their leadership of the chamber. After that ruling, arguments among lawmakers flared in the chamber around midday when Congress was expected to officially name Mr. Arévalo as president. Some congressional members went behind closed doors; as they remained deliberating, other lawmakers contended they were trying to derail the transfer of power, fueling bewilderment and frustration around the country. “These are the latest strategies that corrupt elites are using to prevent a democratically elected government from coming to power,” said José Ochoa, 64, a small-business owner who was among the hundreds who streamed into the streets of Guatemala City’s old center to show support for Mr. Arévalo on Sunday.

Persons: Bernardo Arévalo, Arévalo, ”, José Ochoa Locations: Guatemala, Central America’s

☆ Guatemala's Arevalo Due to Assume Presidency With Difficult Path Ahead
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

The attorney general has tried to strip Arevalo and his Vice President-elect Karin Herrera of legal immunity, suspend his Semilla party and annul the election. "Problems are not over for Arevalo," said Roberto Alejos, former Guatemalan Congressional and political analyst. Giammattei's conservative Vamos party and UNE, the party of former first lady Sandra Torres who Arevalo defeated in the election hold a combined greater power. The government of Arevalo and Herrera will have to carefully balance demands by the United States to stem migration amid record-high remittances that keep the local economy afloat. After winning the presidency, Arevalo said he will expand relations with China, which could imply a change in policy for Guatemala's diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a move that could anger the United States.

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Alejandro Giammattei, Arevalo's, Arevalo, Karin Herrera, Roberto Alejos, Sandra Torres, Ana Maria Mendez, Consuelo, Porras's, TAIWAN Arevalo, Juan Jose Arevalo, Herrera, Sofia Menchu, Diego Ore, Cassandra Garrison, Diane Craft Organizations: Sofia Menchu, Sofia Menchu GUATEMALA CITY, Arevalo, Guatemalan Congressional, Washington Office, American Affairs, TAIWAN, Central, Reuters Locations: Sofia, Sofia Menchu GUATEMALA, Guatemalan, Guatemala, Central America, Arevalo, United States, CHINA, China, Taiwan, Guatemala City

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