A Quarter of Global COVID-19 Deaths Have Been in Latin America | COVID-19 Special

Jul 8, 2021 • A quarter of the world's coronavirus deaths have been in Latin America. A third of new infections are happening in the region - a region where just three percent of the population is fully vaccinated.

In some countries people blame their governments - for making the wrong moves, or making them too late. Poverty, too, is playing its part, making social distancing impossible. Healthcare systems are overwhelmed and economies are shrinking.

So what hope is there for Latin America?

Democracy Now! Top US & World Headlines — July 8, 2021

Brokeback Mountain (2005) – Trailer HD | Jake Gyllenhaal & Heath Ledger

Dutch Police Arrest Suspects in Shooting of Investigative Journalist De Vries | DW News

Jul 8, 2021 • Police in the Netherlands have arrested two suspects over the shooting of prominent investigative journalist Peter De Vries. The men are due in court on Friday. Authorities are investigating links to De Vries' reporting on a major criminal gang. European leaders say his shooting was also an attack on freedom of the press.

Hungary’s Anti-LGBT Law: How Should the EU Respond? - BBC Newsnight

Jul 7, 2021 • As new anti-LGBT legislation comes into force in Hungary, despite EU warnings, how can the block deal with Orbán’s increasingly oppressive nature?

Hungary has long sailed close to the wind with its interpretation of European values. But right now, it’s on territory the EU is finding hard to ignore.

The country has introduced new laws banning any material that they say could 'promote' homosexuality in schools. The European commission has called this disgraceful - and an excuse to severely discriminate against people.

But will they go further than words? Ursula von der Leyen warned Viktor Orbán's government to repeal the legislation - or face the full force of EU law. But if Orbán resists - then what? Is this fight - that goes to the heart of what the bloc believes it stands for - one it is willing to have?

Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis is joined by campaigner Tamás Dombos from the Háttér Society.

Hungary's Anti-LGBTQ Law Comes into Effect | DW News

Jul 8, 2021 • A new Hungarian law that prohibits "promoting" LGBTQ content to young people comes into effect on Thursday. The controversial legislation has sparked a chorus of criticism, with European Union institutions threatening to take action against Hungary.

The restriction on young people's access to information about LGBTQ is part of a broader "Anti-Pedophilia Act," which originally focused on tougher penalties against child abuse. But the Hungarian parliament last month passed the bill with further amendments, including a ban on sex education and media content.

The law prohibits the "display or promotion" of homosexuality or gender reassignment in educational material or TV shows for people under 18. Balazs Hidveghi, a Hungarian MEP from the ruling Fidesz party, told DW that the law was "solely" to protect children. "It does not concern adults. It does not concern how they want to live their lives. It does not concern what information they get. It does not concern even the operation of LGBT groups. They are free to operate, but they have nothing to do in kindergartens and in schools." It is unclear what punishments would be given if the law is broken or what constitutes LGBTQ content due to the law's vague wording. But some fear that even the display of rainbow flags in public could be punishable.

The law has triggered a backlash in Hungary and across Europe. Critics say it equates homosexuality with pedophilia.


Viktor Orbán is a disgrace! Hungarians should kick the little tyrant out of office! – Mark

WHO Urges Countries ‘Not to Lose Gains’ by Prematurely Lifting Covid Restrictions

The World Health Organization has urged countries to use extreme caution when easing Covid-19 restrictions to reopen their economies. Dr Michael Ryan, director of the WHO health emergencies programme, said: ‘The idea that everyone is protected and it’s Kumbaya and everything goes back to normal, I think right now is a very dangerous assumption.’ Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus added that the pandemic was not over and that the milestone of 4 million reported deaths had just been passed.

Their comments came as Boris Johnson set out plans to end social and economic coronavirus restrictions in England on 19 July

Mexico City’s Congress Passes LGBT Rights Law

THE RIO TIMES: The law contains a comprehensive perspective on the welfare of LGBT people of all ages, with priority to trans and intersex identities, which experience increased discrimination.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Law for the Recognition and Attention of LGBTTTI Persons of Mexico City, which aims to guarantee and prevent discrimination against people of this group, was passed on Wednesday by the Mexican capital Congress.

The law contains a comprehensive perspective on the welfare of LGBT people of all ages, with priority to trans and intersex identities, which experience increased discrimination.

In addition, it recognizes sexual and gender diversity, the right to dignified treatment without discrimination in public and private health services, education, work, health, culture, legal security and political participation, among others. » [R$] | Latin America News | Thursday, July 8, 2021

Harry Nilsson : Everybody's Talking

He Went from Banana Exporter to President: ‘I Am Not a Dictator’

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The president clung to power in a protracted political battle that earned him many enemies.

MIAMI — It was a battle from the start for Haiti’s president, Jovenel Moïse.

Even before he took office, Mr. Moïse had to fight off accusations that, as a virtually unknown banana exporter, he was nothing but a handpicked puppet of the previous president, Michel J. Martelly.

“Jovenel is his own man,” Mr. Moïse told The New York Times in 2016, shortly after having won the election, trying to rebut the accusations. He promised to show results within six months in office.

After more than four years in office, he was killed in his home early Wednesday at the age of 53. He left a wife and three children. In his last year in office, as protests against him grew and he declined to step down, he had to defend himself in other ways: “I am not a dictator,” he told The Times earlier this year.

Mr. Moïse was the former president of the chamber of commerce in Port-de-Paix, the country’s northwest region, when he ran for president. When he emerged as a leading candidate in 2015, few people had ever heard of him. They called him “the Banana Man.” » | Frances Robles | Published: Wednesday, July 7, 2021; Updated: Thursday, July 6, 2021

Hitzewelle in Amerika wäre ohne den Klimawandel »nahezu unmöglich« gewesen

SPIEGEL: Der Ausstoß von Treibhausgasen hat laut Forschern die Hitzewelle in Nordamerika mindestens 150 Mal wahrscheinlicher gemacht. Bei weiterer Erwärmung dürften solche Phänomene häufiger werden.

46,6, 47,9, 49,5 Grad: Das kanadische Örtchen Lytton riss in der vergangenen Woche gleich drei Temperaturrekorde hintereinander – an drei aufeinanderfolgenden Tagen. Der bisher höchste je gemessene Wert in Kanada betrug 45 Grad, das war 1937. Nur einen Tag nach den jüngsten Meldungen wurde der Ort durch einen Brand nahezu vollständig zerstört.

Ist das Schicksal von Lytton ein Menetekel für die eskalierende Klimakrise? Laut den Befunden einer Schnellstudie führender Klimawissenschaftler, die dem SPIEGEL vorliegt, kann man das durchaus so lesen. » | Von Kurt Stukenberg | Donnerstag, 8. Juli 2021

EuroMillions : quel est le secret du gagnant de 30 millions d’euros ?

LE POINT : Selon « Le Parisien », ce père de famille s’est appuyé sur une méthode personnelle pour arriver à la combinaison de nombres gagnante.

9 -17-21-33-39, ainsi que les étoiles 7 et 11. C’est en cochant cette combinaison qu’un père de famille a remporté 30 millions d’euros à l’EuroMillions, le 11 juin dernier, à Châtellerault dans la Vienne. Seul Français vainqueur d’une super cagnotte en 2021 pour l’instant, le nouveau millionnaire n’avait pas choisi ces nombres au hasard, assure la Française des jeux au Parisien. Le vainqueur, qui a désiré conserver son anonymat, s’est appuyé au fil des années sur des statistiques et des formules mathématiques bien à lui avant de valider ses bulletins à l’EuroMillions. » | Par LePoint.fr | mercredi 7. juillet 2021

Indonesien: „Ich habe noch nie so eine Krankheit erlebt“

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINER ZEITUNG: Die Delta-Variante führt in Indonesien zu immer mehr Corona-Infektionen. Die Menschen sterben auf Parkplätzen, in Autos und in ihren Wohnungen. Kein Krankenhaus nimmt sie auf.

Die Grundschullehrerin Susi Johannes erinnert sich selbst nicht mehr daran, wie sie eingeliefert wurde. Sie hatte schon das Bewusstsein verloren, als ihr Ehemann sie zusammen mit einem Bekannten auf dem Motorrad in das Krankenhaus im Westen Jakartas brachte. „Es fiel mir schwer zu atmen. Mein Brustkorb fühlte sich so schwer an, als ob jemand einen Stein darauf gelegt hätte“, berichtet die 52 Jahre alte Covid-19-Patientin der F.A.Z. aus dem Krankenhaus.

Zuvor hatte ihre Familie vergeblich versucht, in mehreren Krankenhäusern Jakartas ein Bett für sie zu ergattern. Sie war kurz nach ihrem positiven Testergebnis Mitte Juni schon einmal eingewiesen, dann aber wieder entlassen worden. Einige Tage später verschlechterte sich ihr Zustand, die Sauerstoffsättigung in ihrem Blut fiel auf einen gefährlich niedrigen Wert. „Ich habe noch nie so eine Krankheit erlebt“, sagt die Indonesierin, die neben den Lungenschmerzen vor allem an Fieber und Kopfschmerzen leidet. » | Von Till Fähnders, Singapur | Donnerstag, 8. Juli 2021

Le président haïtien Jovenel Moïse assassiné

LE FIGARO : Cet assassinat ne fait que confirmer la situation dramatique de la nation la plus pauvre d'Amérique.

Haïti poursuit sa descente aux enfers. Cette fois, c'est le président Jovenel Moïse qui a été assassiné dans sa résidence privée dans la nuit de mardi à mercredi. Une bande armée aurait pénétré chez lui, le tuant et blessant de deux balles son épouse, qui a été transférée à l'hôpital. Elle était dans un état très critique mercredi après-midi et devait être évacuée à Miami, selon l'ambassadeur haïtien aux États-Unis, Bocchit Edmond. Alors que la garde présidentielle est composée d'une trentaine de personnes, le commando semble être entré puis être sorti de la résidence du président sans incident. C'est le premier ministre Claude Joseph qui a annoncé les meurtres. » | Par Patrick Bèle | mercredi 7 juillet 2021

Haitis Präsident Jovenel Moïse ermordet »

Après l’assassinat du président Jovenel Moïse en Haïti, quatre « mercenaires » tués »

Vatican : dix responsables bientôt jugés pour un scandale financier

LE POINT : Ils seront jugés par le tribunal du Saint-Siège pour leur rôle supposé dans une affaire d’investissements douteux, explique « Catholic News Agency ».

Le Vatican est secoué par un scandale financier de grande ampleur. Le 3 juillet dernier, le Saint-Siège a annoncé le renvoi de dix personnes devant son tribunal pénal. Elles devront répondre notamment des chefs de détournement de fonds, abus de pouvoir, extorsion, corruption, subornation de témoin, blanchiment et fraude. En cause : l’achat ruineux d’un immeuble de standing à Londres, explique Catholic News Agency.

L’investissement au cœur du scandale est un immeuble dans le chic quartier londonien de Chelsea, sur Sloane Avenue, 17 000 mètres transformés en une cinquantaine d’appartements de luxe. Entre juin 2013 et février 2014, Secrétairerie d'État (le gouvernement du Vatican) emprunte 200 millions de dollars (170 millions d’euros) au Crédit Suisse pour investir dans le fonds de l’homme d’affaires italien Raffaele Mincione, Athena Capital Global Opportunities. Au 30 septembre 2018, les actions ont déjà perdu plus de 18 millions d’euros de leur valeur et « la perte globale est estimée à un montant beaucoup plus important », écrit Vatican News. » | LePoint.fr (avec AFP) | jeudi 8 juillet 2021

When Will Monaco Reach Herd Immunity?

MONACO LIFE: Just over 40% of the eligible population in Monaco are still unvaccinated as health authorities in nearby France warn of a possible “fourth wave” by the end of July.

The latest data by the Prince’s government shows that, as of 1st July, 20,178 people in Monaco had received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine, equivalent to 58.6% of the eligible population aged 12 and older. Of those, 88% had also received their second shot.

While the figure places Monaco high in the chart of vaccination rates per country – the United Arab Emirates has a vaccination figure of 64%, followed by Chile with 57% and the UK at 50% – it does mean that close to 40% of the eligible population in Monaco is still unvaccinated, despite ample supplies.

Health authorities are continuing their push for everyone over the age of 12 to take advantage of Monaco’s vaccination programme, which uses Pfizer exclusively. As of 28th June, even cross-border workers employed in the public sector are now able to access the free shot. » | Cassandra Tanti | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Outrage over Crackdown on LGBTQ WeChat Accounts in China

THE GUARDIAN: Dozens of WeChat accounts have been blocked and then deleted without warning

An online clampdown of social media accounts associated with China’s campus LGBTQ movement has sparked outrage, solidarity and backlash against the authorities’ treatment of the country’s sexual and gender minorities.

Dozens of WeChat accounts run by LGBTQ university students were blocked and then deleted on Tuesday, without warning. Some of the accounts – a mix of registered student clubs and unofficial grassroots groups – had operated for years as safe spaces for China’s LGBTQ youth, with tens of thousands of followers.

Attempts to access the WeChat accounts were met with an error message which said the content had been blocked and account deactivated “after receiving relevant complaints”. Other messages said the accounts “had violated regulations on the management of accounts offering public information service on the Chinese internet”, Reuters reported. » | Vincent Ni, China affairs correspondent, and Helen Davidson in Taipei | Thursday, July 8, 2021

China's LGBTQ+ community seize census chance to stand up and be counted »

Australia Covid Update: NSW Records 38 Cases, Highest Daily Number Since Sydney Outbreak Began

THE GUARDIAN: Gladys Berejiklian urged people to restrict movement and not visit family members unnecessarily during Sydney lockdown, as Queensland recorded two coronavirus cases

New South Wales has recorded 38 new local Covid-19 cases, including 20 people who were in the community for part or all of their infectious period, as the premier urged people to further restrict their movement.

Gladys Berejiklian said on Thursday those numbers, the highest in NSW since the current outbreak began, were “too high” but that it was still “achievable” for the lockdown to end next Friday, “assuming everybody does the right thing”

. But she backed away from a suggestion NSW would just lift lockdown regardless of case numbers, saying “you can’t live with the Delta variant unless you have a certain proportion of the population vaccinated”.

“We need to get those numbers down,” she said. » | Australian Associated Press and Calla Wahlquist | Thursday, July 8, 2021

Cambridge University Accused of Faustian Pact in Planned £400m Deal with UAE

THE GUARDIAN: Rights advocate says proposed partnership with emirates raises ‘profound concern’ and Cambridge documents note ‘values gap’

The University of Cambridge has been accused of entering “a Faustian pact” over plans for a £400m collaboration with the United Arab Emirates in what would be the biggest deal of its kind in the university’s history.

According to internal documents seen by the Guardian, the 10-year collaboration would help Cambridge, one of the wealthiest higher education institutions in the UK, “weather the challenges faced by universities as a result of Covid, Brexit and a constrained funding environment”.

The documents state that the UAE has pledged to commit £312m – the biggest single donation by far that the university has received – and £90m will be paid in kind through Cambridge staff time. » | Sally Weale | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Netherlands Crime Journalist Peter R. de Vries Shot in Amsterdam | DW News

Jul 7, 2021 • Dutch crime journalist Peter R. de Vries was fighting for his life after being shot and wounded in a gun attack in the center of Amsterdam on Tuesday evening.

De Vries, 64, was taken to hospital in a seriously wounded state. He had been taking part in a live television show where he was a regular guest and was shot close to the RTL studios.

In 2019, de Vries wrote on Twitter that he had been informed by police and justice officials that he was on the hit list of a fugitive criminal.

According to NOS, de Vries had recently acted as an adviser and confidant to a state witness testifying against an alleged drug kingpin, who was extradited to the Netherlands from Dubai in 2019.