For years, the United States has adopted a wary tolerance of Haiti, batting aside the horror of kidnappings, murders and gang warfare. The more convenient strategy generally seemed to be backing whichever government was in power and supplying endless amounts of foreign aid.

Donald Trump supported President Jovenel Moïse mainly because Mr. Moïse supported a campaign to oust President Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. And in February, the Biden administration accepted Mr. Moïse’s tenuous argument that he still had another year to serve despite opposition calls for his departure and large street protests. Mr. Moïse, though initially elected to a five-year term due to end in 2021, did not take office until 2017, thus his claim to an extra year as president.

There had appeared to be a tacit understanding during Mr. Moïse’s rule: Haiti is turbulent and difficult, a bomb waiting to explode in the hands of anyone who attempts to defuse it. After all, why should Mr. Biden take on the unrewarding task of “fixing” Haiti when there was already an elected president in office who could bear the brunt of criticism about the deteriorating political situation there?

But the assassination of Mr. Moïse on Wednesday will now force a reluctant administration to focus more carefully on the next steps it wants to take concerning Haiti. There are no simple options.

The killing has destroyed the Biden administration’s hopes (however far-fetched) for a peaceful transfer of power with elections presided over by Mr. Moïse. But that’s not to say that Haiti’s future is entirely up to the United States nor should it be. When the United States has stepped in, Haitians have ended up worse off. When President Jean Vilbrun Guillaume Sam was killed by an angry crowd in 1915, U.S. Navy ships lay on the Haitian coast waiting to quell unrest to keep Haiti stable for American business interests there. In the wake of the killing, U.S. Marines occupied Haiti and remained there for 19 years.

U.S. interventions didn’t stop there. In 1986, the dictatorship of Jean-Claude Duvalier (and his father before him) fell to a combination of popular unrest in Haiti and political maneuvering by Washington. The country managed to hold its first free and fair elections in 1990, in which Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a former liberation-theology priest, was elected. Three years after Mr. Aristide was removed in a coup, the Clinton administration reinstated him.

Haiti was never able to shake off the foreign yoke, except, one might argue, during the darkest days of the Duvalier regime. Over the years it has been at the mercy of the United States, of course, and of the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, the Organization of American States and the United Nations, which deployed a peacekeeping force there from 2004 until 2017. Yet Haiti has ended up just as poor and unstable as ever, if not more so. And the country never truly recovered from a devastating earthquake in 2010.

Drug cartels and their Haitian connections have also played a damaging role. Observers say that much of the violence in recent years has stemmed from turf wars between street gangs operating in a largely lawless environment.

The presidential mandate of Mr. Moïse itself was iffy, to say the least. Only 21 percent of the electorate voted in that election. Nevertheless, it was easier for the United States and other parties to tolerate Mr. Moïse and wait for the next elections, no matter how flawed they were likely to be, than to deal with a void created by his assassination.

President Biden has called Mr. Moïse’s killing “very worrisome.” But Haiti was very worrisome even before the killing. Now the United States is confronted by an even murkier situation there: no leader, no legislature, a justice system in disarray, a nonfunctioning and dispirited police and army, and gangs roaming the streets. It’s not clear what will emerge from the vacuum at the top — perhaps a new strongman or, less likely, an interim government.

Despite that precariousness, the United States has still called for elections before the end of the year. But it’s hard to imagine how elections can proceed in an atmosphere of security and freedom, leading to a truly democratically elected president and legislature. As it stands, two men are claiming the role of prime minister, accentuating the sense of instability.

Haiti’s problems cannot be solved by U.S. intervention. The United States no longer has the standing, the stomach or even the desire to impose its vision on Haiti. The best option right now for the United States is to wait and watch and listen not just to the usual suspects but to a broad new generation of Haitian democrats who can responsibly begin to move toward a more workable Haitian polity.

Haiti still needs the cooperation of international friends who pay attention to the character and the goals of those to whom they extend financial and political support, rather than choosing a convenient candidate in a quickie election, with the catastrophic results for the country that we’ve seen in the past.

A majority of Haitians want to build back their institutions and return to a normal life: schools, clinics and businesses opening again, a plan to deal with the Covid-19 crisis, produce markets functioning and safe streets free from the threat of armed gangs. This is the best of all possible outcomes for Haiti — but sadly, it’s improbable, at least in the near future.

For years, the United States has adopted a wary tolerance of Haiti, batting aside the horror of kidnappings, murders and gang warfare. The more convenient strategy generally seemed to be backing whichever government was in power and supplying endless amounts of foreign aid.

For years, the United States has adopted a wary tolerance of Haiti, batting aside the horror of kidnappings, murders and gang warfare. The more convenient strategy generally seemed to be backing whichever government was in power and supplying endless amounts of foreign aid. Donald Trump supported President Jovenel Moïse mainly because Mr. Moïse supported a campaign to oust President Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. And in February, the Biden administration accepted Mr. Moïse’s tenuous argument that he still had another year to serve despite opposition calls for his departure and large street protests. Mr. Moïse, though initially elected to a five-year term due to end in 2021, did not take office until 2017, thus his claim to an extra year as president. There had appeared to be a tacit understanding during Mr. Moïse’s rule: Haiti is turbulent and difficult, a bomb waiting to explode in the hands of anyone who attempts to defuse it. After all, why should Mr. Biden take on the unrewarding task of “fixing” Haiti when there was already an elected president in office who could bear the brunt of criticism about the deteriorating political situation there? But the assassination of Mr. Moïse on Wednesday will now force a reluctant administration to focus more carefully on the next steps it wants to take concerning Haiti. There are no simple options. The killing has destroyed the Biden administration’s hopes (however far-fetched) for a peaceful transfer of power with elections presided over by Mr. Moïse. But that’s not to say that Haiti’s future is entirely up to the United States nor should it be. When the United States has stepped in, Haitians have ended up worse off. When President Jean Vilbrun Guillaume Sam was killed by an angry crowd in 1915, U.S. Navy ships lay on the Haitian coast waiting to quell unrest to keep Haiti stable for American business interests there. In the wake of the killing, U.S. Marines occupied Haiti and remained there for 19 years. U.S. interventions didn’t stop there. In 1986, the dictatorship of Jean-Claude Duvalier (and his father before him) fell to a combination of popular unrest in Haiti and political maneuvering by Washington. The country managed to hold its first free and fair elections in 1990, in which Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a former liberation-theology priest, was elected. Three years after Mr. Aristide was removed in a coup, the Clinton administration reinstated him. Haiti was never able to shake off the foreign yoke, except, one might argue, during the darkest days of the Duvalier regime. Over the years it has been at the mercy of the United States, of course, and of the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, the Organization of American States and the United Nations, which deployed a peacekeeping force there from 2004 until 2017. Yet Haiti has ended up just as poor and unstable as ever, if not more so. And the country never truly recovered from a devastating earthquake in 2010. Drug cartels and their Haitian connections have also played a damaging role. Observers say that much of the violence in recent years has stemmed from turf wars between street gangs operating in a largely lawless environment. The presidential mandate of Mr. Moïse itself was iffy, to say the least. Only 21 percent of the electorate voted in that election. Nevertheless, it was easier for the United States and other parties to tolerate Mr. Moïse and wait for the next elections, no matter how flawed they were likely to be, than to deal with a void created by his assassination. President Biden has called Mr. Moïse’s killing “very worrisome.” But Haiti was very worrisome even before the killing. Now the United States is confronted by an even murkier situation there: no leader, no legislature, a justice system in disarray, a nonfunctioning and dispirited police and army, and gangs roaming the streets. It’s not clear what will emerge from the vacuum at the top — perhaps a new strongman or, less likely, an interim government. Despite that precariousness, the United States has still called for elections before the end of the year. But it’s hard to imagine how elections can proceed in an atmosphere of security and freedom, leading to a truly democratically elected president and legislature. As it stands, two men are claiming the role of prime minister, accentuating the sense of instability. Haiti’s problems cannot be solved by U.S. intervention. The United States no longer has the standing, the stomach or even the desire to impose its vision on Haiti. The best option right now for the United States is to wait and watch and listen not just to the usual suspects but to a broad new generation of Haitian democrats who can responsibly begin to move toward a more workable Haitian polity. Haiti still needs the cooperation of international friends who pay attention to the character and the goals of those to whom they extend financial and political support, rather than choosing a convenient candidate in a quickie election, with the catastrophic results for the country that we’ve seen in the past. A majority of Haitians want to build back their institutions and return to a normal life: schools, clinics and businesses opening again, a plan to deal with the Covid-19 crisis, produce markets functioning and safe streets free from the threat of armed gangs. This is the best of all possible outcomes for Haiti — but sadly, it’s improbable, at least in the near future.

Haiti is in peril, and there are no simple options

Many multinationals' websites have been experiencing online outages around the world, according to the monitoring&nbsp;site Downdetector.

They include the websites of major US Airlines companies like Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/several-global-media-websites-go-down-white-house-uk-govt-sites-go-dark-too-390160">Also read: Several global media websites go down; White House, UK govt sites go dark too</a> 
 
According to Downdetector, over a thousand user complaints showed problems with Southwest Airlines, with over 400 user complaints indicating the same for Delta Air Lines. For the other two airlines, the figure was roughly 300.&nbsp;

Major Australian banks have also reported problems with their websites and mobile apps. The companies stated that they were looking into the situation right now.&nbsp; 
 
The Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, and ANZ and Virgin Australia all tweeted about the disruptions.

A range of banks was scrambling to determine the source of an outage that was impacting internet banking and access to online apps across the country.

"We understand that some of our customers are currently experiencing issues accessing our services," the country's largest financial firm Commonwealth Bank told AFP. "This issue is affecting multiple organizations, including many of the major banks."

The outages in Australia began around 2:10 p.m. local time (0510 GMT), according to Downdetector. 
 
Earlier on June 8, the websites of global media organisations including The Guardian newspaper, Financial Times of London and CNN international went down. All the pages showed 'error 503' for several minutes. The UK government's website gov. The UK had also gone down. Reports said the BBC website had also gone down but returned later.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Many multinationals' websites have been experiencing online outages around the world, according to the monitoring site Downdetector. They include the websites of major US Airlines companies like Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

Many multinationals' websites have been experiencing online outages around the world, according to the monitoring site Downdetector. They include the websites of major US Airlines companies like Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Also read: Several global media websites go down; White House, UK govt sites go dark too According to Downdetector, over a thousand user complaints showed problems with Southwest Airlines, with over 400 user complaints indicating the same for Delta Air Lines. For the other two airlines, the figure was roughly 300. Major Australian banks have also reported problems with their websites and mobile apps. The companies stated that they were looking into the situation right now. The Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, and ANZ and Virgin Australia all tweeted about the disruptions. A range of banks was scrambling to determine the source of an outage that was impacting internet banking and access to online apps across the country. "We understand that some of our customers are currently experiencing issues accessing our services," the country's largest financial firm Commonwealth Bank told AFP. "This issue is affecting multiple organizations, including many of the major banks." The outages in Australia began around 2:10 p.m. local time (0510 GMT), according to Downdetector. Earlier on June 8, the websites of global media organisations including The Guardian newspaper, Financial Times of London and CNN international went down. All the pages showed 'error 503' for several minutes. The UK government's website gov. The UK had also gone down. Reports said the BBC website had also gone down but returned later. (With inputs from agencies)

Many US airlines and Australian banks hit by online outage

Now, the trouble mounted for Facebook-owned instant messaging application WhatsApp in South America now. Colombia's top consumer protection watchdog on Wednesday ordered messaging application WhatsApp to take measures to protect users' personal data, saying it violated more than half of the rules governing such information.

World Business Watch: Colombia orders WhatsApp to comply with data protection

With the coronavirus spreading out of control in Brazil, the South American giant's neighbors are feeling the heat as their new Covid-19 infections are also on the rise.

Brazil surpassed 300,000 deaths from Covid-19 on Wednesday and has seen record daily infections over the last week, with an average of 2,273 fatalities.

It's been blamed on a local variant of the virus that is believed to be more contagious.

But now, according to the Pan American Health Organization, cases are rising also in the Venezuelan states of Bolivar and Amazonas, Pando department in Bolivia and the Loreto region in Peru -- all of which border Brazil.

Several countries such as Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru blame the new Brazilian variant for massive jumps in their cases.

Since it was first detected in the Amazon city of Manaus at the end of 2020, several countries have banned flights from Brazil and closed their land borders with it.

But three months later, the Brazilian variant has been detected in 15 countries or territories in the Americas.

Close to 24 million of the 600 million people living in Latin America and the Caribbean have contracted Covid-19 and more than 750,000 have died, according to an AFP count based on official figures.

- 'Complex situation' -

Peru's Health Minister Oscar Ugarte said on Wednesday that a study based on a sampling throughout Lima showed that the variant was responsible for 40 percent of infections in the city.

Peru has a 2,800-kilometer long border with Brazil and first detected the variant in January in its Amazonian region of Loreto.

Until recently, Uruguay drew praise for its management of the pandemic and ability to limit its spread despite never resorting to a lockdown.

 
It is now confronted by a "complex situation" that has put its health system under pressure, President Luis Lacalle Pou acknowledged.

That small country of 3.4 million people and duty-free shops on the border with Brazil registered a record 2,682 daily cases earlier this week.

Despite calls from the medical profession, Lacalle Pou has refused "in principle" to impose a lockdown, limiting measures to the closure of public services, schools and indoor sports halls.

The situation has become critical in Paraguay, which is running out of beds in intensive care units.

President Mario Abdo, whose management of the pandemic has led to protests demanding his resignation, has ordered a one-week lockdown from Saturday.

In Venezuela, a "radical lockdown" began on Monday and is due to last two weeks after months of relaxing confinement measures.

It comes despite scarcely believable official figures -- 152,000 cases and 1,500 deaths amongst a population of 30 million -- derided by the opposition and NGOs.

- Bitter-sweet -

Vaccination campaigns throughout the region are at different stages but none have yet led to concrete results.

The bitter-sweet experience of Chile is a case in point. A vaccination leader alongside Israel, Chile has nonetheless seen a brutal surge in daily cases, reaching a new record of more than 7,000.

"A real effect" from the vaccination program, in particular on intensive care units, "won't be visible before April," said Darwin Acuna, president of Chile's society for intensive care medicine.

With close to a million people infected and 22,000 dead, Chile put almost 70 percent of its 18 million population under lockdown on Thursday.

A curfew planned for the weekend will extend those measures to 90 percent of the population.

This is happening even though six million people have received at least one vaccine dose, and more than half of those have had two.

The spillover of the pandemic from Brazil to its neighbors seems inevitable given it borders 10 countries totalling almost 17,000 kilometers of frontier.

On Tuesday, the country of 212 million people hit a new record of 3,251 daily deaths and more than 12 million people in total have been infected, including the virus-skeptical far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

Twenty-three of the country's 27 states have reached at least 85 percent occupancy of intensive care units and oxygen shortages are widespread.

With the coronavirus spreading out of control in Brazil, the South American giant's neighbors are feeling the heat as their new Covid-19 infections are also on the rise.

With the coronavirus spreading out of control in Brazil, the South American giant's neighbors are feeling the heat as their new Covid-19 infections are also on the rise. Brazil surpassed 300,000 deaths from Covid-19 on Wednesday and has seen record daily infections over the last week, with an average of 2,273 fatalities. It's been blamed on a local variant of the virus that is believed to be more contagious. But now, according to the Pan American Health Organization, cases are rising also in the Venezuelan states of Bolivar and Amazonas, Pando department in Bolivia and the Loreto region in Peru -- all of which border Brazil. Several countries such as Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru blame the new Brazilian variant for massive jumps in their cases. Since it was first detected in the Amazon city of Manaus at the end of 2020, several countries have banned flights from Brazil and closed their land borders with it. But three months later, the Brazilian variant has been detected in 15 countries or territories in the Americas. Close to 24 million of the 600 million people living in Latin America and the Caribbean have contracted Covid-19 and more than 750,000 have died, according to an AFP count based on official figures. - 'Complex situation' - Peru's Health Minister Oscar Ugarte said on Wednesday that a study based on a sampling throughout Lima showed that the variant was responsible for 40 percent of infections in the city. Peru has a 2,800-kilometer long border with Brazil and first detected the variant in January in its Amazonian region of Loreto. Until recently, Uruguay drew praise for its management of the pandemic and ability to limit its spread despite never resorting to a lockdown. It is now confronted by a "complex situation" that has put its health system under pressure, President Luis Lacalle Pou acknowledged. That small country of 3.4 million people and duty-free shops on the border with Brazil registered a record 2,682 daily cases earlier this week. Despite calls from the medical profession, Lacalle Pou has refused "in principle" to impose a lockdown, limiting measures to the closure of public services, schools and indoor sports halls. The situation has become critical in Paraguay, which is running out of beds in intensive care units. President Mario Abdo, whose management of the pandemic has led to protests demanding his resignation, has ordered a one-week lockdown from Saturday. In Venezuela, a "radical lockdown" began on Monday and is due to last two weeks after months of relaxing confinement measures. It comes despite scarcely believable official figures -- 152,000 cases and 1,500 deaths amongst a population of 30 million -- derided by the opposition and NGOs. - Bitter-sweet - Vaccination campaigns throughout the region are at different stages but none have yet led to concrete results. The bitter-sweet experience of Chile is a case in point. A vaccination leader alongside Israel, Chile has nonetheless seen a brutal surge in daily cases, reaching a new record of more than 7,000. "A real effect" from the vaccination program, in particular on intensive care units, "won't be visible before April," said Darwin Acuna, president of Chile's society for intensive care medicine. With close to a million people infected and 22,000 dead, Chile put almost 70 percent of its 18 million population under lockdown on Thursday. A curfew planned for the weekend will extend those measures to 90 percent of the population. This is happening even though six million people have received at least one vaccine dose, and more than half of those have had two. The spillover of the pandemic from Brazil to its neighbors seems inevitable given it borders 10 countries totalling almost 17,000 kilometers of frontier. On Tuesday, the country of 212 million people hit a new record of 3,251 daily deaths and more than 12 million people in total have been infected, including the virus-skeptical far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. Twenty-three of the country's 27 states have reached at least 85 percent occupancy of intensive care units and oxygen shortages are widespread.

Brazilian pandemic drama spreading to South American neighbours

Protests erupted in a town in southern Chile after a street artist was fatally shot by the police. Hundreds of people took part in the protests that saw a building being burnt down. Police fatally shot a juggler after he refused to co-operate with a police search.

A video claiming to be that of the shooting was circulated widely by local channels and social media.

"We regret the loss of this young juggler. I hope that justice is done," Ricardo Valdivia, Panguipulli's mayor, told Radio Cooperativa.

Witnesses to the incident started to shout at police officers and this further led to violent demonstrations and burning of the building.

Protesters set fire to several other buildings and set up barricades in streets around the town before riot police fired tear gas and water cannons, according to images from local media.

A video posted on Facebook by local official Carlos Duran showed several fires burning across the town and smoke rising above its skyline.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-thousands-of-protesters-take-to-streets-again-361884">Myanmar: Thousands of protesters take to streets again</a>

The local police force backed the officer who shot the artist.

Boris Alegria, lieutenant colonel of the Panguipulli police, said in a video that the officer used his weapon to "safeguard his own life" in "legitimate self-defense."

An investigation into the incident has been launched and Chilean government has ordered the force to hand over all records of the incident to Public Ministry

Panguipulli, which has a population of 32,500, is located 850 kilometres south of the capital Santiago, where residents banged pots and pans in anger over the killing.

Chileans took to social media to call for reforms and condemn the shooting.

"In a police force with a minimum professional level this should not have happened," tweeted writer Pedro Gandolfo.

"A shameful act with a tragic result."

(With AFP inputs)

Protests erupted in a town in southern Chile after a street artist was fatally shot by the police. Hundreds of people took part in the protests that saw a building being burnt down.

Protests erupted in a town in southern Chile after a street artist was fatally shot by the police. Hundreds of people took part in the protests that saw a building being burnt down. Police fatally shot a juggler after he refused to co-operate with a police search. A video claiming to be that of the shooting was circulated widely by local channels and social media. "We regret the loss of this young juggler. I hope that justice is done," Ricardo Valdivia, Panguipulli's mayor, told Radio Cooperativa. Witnesses to the incident started to shout at police officers and this further led to violent demonstrations and burning of the building. Protesters set fire to several other buildings and set up barricades in streets around the town before riot police fired tear gas and water cannons, according to images from local media. A video posted on Facebook by local official Carlos Duran showed several fires burning across the town and smoke rising above its skyline. Also Read | Myanmar: Thousands of protesters take to streets again The local police force backed the officer who shot the artist. Boris Alegria, lieutenant colonel of the Panguipulli police, said in a video that the officer used his weapon to "safeguard his own life" in "legitimate self-defense." An investigation into the incident has been launched and Chilean government has ordered the force to hand over all records of the incident to Public Ministry Panguipulli, which has a population of 32,500, is located 850 kilometres south of the capital Santiago, where residents banged pots and pans in anger over the killing. Chileans took to social media to call for reforms and condemn the shooting. "In a police force with a minimum professional level this should not have happened," tweeted writer Pedro Gandolfo. "A shameful act with a tragic result." (With AFP inputs)

Chile: Protests break out after police shoot dead street artist

Tax on Argentina's richest people came into effect on Friday (local time). The tax has been levied in order to make fund provisions for medical supplies and relief to businesses in a global economy battered by coronavirus pandemic. The law passed by Senate in December last year approves the tax on Argentinians who have assets exceeding 200 million pesos (around 2.3 million USD)

The center-left government of President Alberto Fernandez hopes to raise about $3 billion from taxing the richest 12,000 of Argentina's 44 million inhabitants.&nbsp;

As per the law, taxable individuals will pay up to 3.5 per cent of the assets declared in the country and upto 5.25 per cent assets abroad.

The proceeds will be used to buy medical supplies, aid small and medium enterprises, fund social aid, and to provide natural gas to people off the energy grid.

Argentina's center-right opposition has criticised the taxes and has called them 'confiscatory'.

Argentina has been badly hit by the coronavirus, with more than 1.9 million confirmed cases of infection and more than 47,000 deaths.

The pandemic has exacerbated the already high poverty rate in a country which has been in recession since 2018, and has an unemployment rate of 11.7 percent.

In its annual report on economic inequality, Oxfam said Monday the world's 1,000 richest people had recouped their coronavirus-related losses within nine months, while it could take the world's poorest more than a decade to recover from the impacts of the global health crisis.

(With AFP inputs)

Tax on Argentina's richest people came into effect on Friday (local time). The tax has been levied in order to make fund provisions for medical supplies and relief to businesses in a global economy battered by coronavirus pandemic.

Tax on Argentina's richest people came into effect on Friday (local time). The tax has been levied in order to make fund provisions for medical supplies and relief to businesses in a global economy battered by coronavirus pandemic. The law passed by Senate in December last year approves the tax on Argentinians who have assets exceeding 200 million pesos (around 2.3 million USD) The center-left government of President Alberto Fernandez hopes to raise about $3 billion from taxing the richest 12,000 of Argentina's 44 million inhabitants. As per the law, taxable individuals will pay up to 3.5 per cent of the assets declared in the country and upto 5.25 per cent assets abroad. The proceeds will be used to buy medical supplies, aid small and medium enterprises, fund social aid, and to provide natural gas to people off the energy grid. Argentina's center-right opposition has criticised the taxes and has called them 'confiscatory'. Argentina has been badly hit by the coronavirus, with more than 1.9 million confirmed cases of infection and more than 47,000 deaths. The pandemic has exacerbated the already high poverty rate in a country which has been in recession since 2018, and has an unemployment rate of 11.7 percent. In its annual report on economic inequality, Oxfam said Monday the world's 1,000 richest people had recouped their coronavirus-related losses within nine months, while it could take the world's poorest more than a decade to recover from the impacts of the global health crisis. (With AFP inputs)

Argentina's 'millionaire tax' comes into effect

Abortion in Argentina is currently only permitted when a pregnancy results from rape, or if a pregnancy endangers the life or health of the woman

Argentina's Senate to vote on historic bill to legalise abortion

More than 50 people in Guatemala were killed in landslides unleashed by hurricane Eta, according to President Alejandro Giammattei, who said mudslides around the town of San Cristobal Verapaz had swallowed about 25 homes.

The hurricane also inflicted devastation in parts of neighbouring Central American countries.

"In the morning we had four dead, now the figure is over 50 dead," President Alejandro Giammattei said at an impromptu press conference.

Hurricane Eta unleashed torrential rains and catastrophic flooding on Central America, with fatalities sharply up on Thursday as streets turned into rivers and dozens more were feared to be buried in their homes by mudslides.

In Honduras, families waded through flooded streets of the northern city of San Pedro Sula, while cars sat almost submerged in parts of the central Guatemalan city of San Pedro Carcha, television footage and images posted on social media showed.

Hundreds of people were left stranded on roofs in Honduras as frantic rescue efforts played out, which were credited with taking around 500 people to safety.

Damage and destruction had spread across the "vast majority" of Honduras and speedboats and helicopters would be sent to rescue people in inaccessible areas, Hernandez added.

One of the fiercest storms to hit Central America in years, Eta struck Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane on Tuesday with winds of 150 miles per hour (241 kph) before weakening to a tropical depression as it moved inland and into neighboring Honduras.

By Thursday, authorities confirmed seven deaths in Honduras. Media in Nicaragua also reported two miners had died in a mudslide.

Guatemala's disaster relief agency Conred had earlier said about 15 homes were likely covered by mudslides, possibly affecting around 75 people.

Giammattei had already declared a state of emergency in nearly half of the country's 22 departments.

In both Guatemala and Panama, several people have been reported missing as water levels continue to rise.

In southern Costa Rica, a landslide killed two people in a house, a Costa Rican woman and an American man, officials said. Meanwhile, five people, including three children, died in flooding in Panama`s Chiriqui province, near the Costa Rica border.

There was better news in Honduras, where 60 fishermen who disappeared at sea on Tuesday returned after taking shelter on cays until they were rescued, said community leader Robin Morales.

Across swaths of Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica, high winds and heavy rain have damaged homes, roads and bridges, forcing thousands to take cover in shelters.

Eta was moving northwest through Honduras toward the Caribbean, at eight miles per hour (13 kph) on Thursday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Heavy rains continued and the storm`s top winds edged up to 35 mph (56 kph).

Eta is forecast to return to sea and regain momentum as a tropical storm, possibly reaching the Cayman Islands, Cuba and southern Florida in the coming days, the NHC said.

(with inputs from agencies)

More than 50 people in Guatemala were killed in landslides unleashed by hurricane Eta, according to President Alejandro Giammattei, who said mudslides around the town of San Cristobal Verapaz had swallowed about 25 homes.

More than 50 people in Guatemala were killed in landslides unleashed by hurricane Eta, according to President Alejandro Giammattei, who said mudslides around the town of San Cristobal Verapaz had swallowed about 25 homes. The hurricane also inflicted devastation in parts of neighbouring Central American countries. "In the morning we had four dead, now the figure is over 50 dead," President Alejandro Giammattei said at an impromptu press conference. Hurricane Eta unleashed torrential rains and catastrophic flooding on Central America, with fatalities sharply up on Thursday as streets turned into rivers and dozens more were feared to be buried in their homes by mudslides. In Honduras, families waded through flooded streets of the northern city of San Pedro Sula, while cars sat almost submerged in parts of the central Guatemalan city of San Pedro Carcha, television footage and images posted on social media showed. Hundreds of people were left stranded on roofs in Honduras as frantic rescue efforts played out, which were credited with taking around 500 people to safety. Damage and destruction had spread across the "vast majority" of Honduras and speedboats and helicopters would be sent to rescue people in inaccessible areas, Hernandez added. One of the fiercest storms to hit Central America in years, Eta struck Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane on Tuesday with winds of 150 miles per hour (241 kph) before weakening to a tropical depression as it moved inland and into neighboring Honduras. By Thursday, authorities confirmed seven deaths in Honduras. Media in Nicaragua also reported two miners had died in a mudslide. Guatemala's disaster relief agency Conred had earlier said about 15 homes were likely covered by mudslides, possibly affecting around 75 people. Giammattei had already declared a state of emergency in nearly half of the country's 22 departments. In both Guatemala and Panama, several people have been reported missing as water levels continue to rise. In southern Costa Rica, a landslide killed two people in a house, a Costa Rican woman and an American man, officials said. Meanwhile, five people, including three children, died in flooding in Panama`s Chiriqui province, near the Costa Rica border. There was better news in Honduras, where 60 fishermen who disappeared at sea on Tuesday returned after taking shelter on cays until they were rescued, said community leader Robin Morales. Across swaths of Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica, high winds and heavy rain have damaged homes, roads and bridges, forcing thousands to take cover in shelters. Eta was moving northwest through Honduras toward the Caribbean, at eight miles per hour (13 kph) on Thursday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Heavy rains continued and the storm`s top winds edged up to 35 mph (56 kph). Eta is forecast to return to sea and regain momentum as a tropical storm, possibly reaching the Cayman Islands, Cuba and southern Florida in the coming days, the NHC said. (with inputs from agencies)

Eta wreaks devastation in Central America, kills 50 in Gautemala

An outbreak of the polio virus in North and South Americas might happen due to disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, health experts fear.

According to experts at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), these disruptions can be due to delay in vaccinations and surveillance.

Countries in the region must maintain polio vaccinations and surveillance during the pandemic to prevent an outbreak, the organisation says.

The pandemic has stressed immunisation and surveillance systems designed to catch and respond to vaccine-preventable diseases, according to PAHO.

Statistically speaking, reported coverage for the polio vaccine for the Americas between 2016 and 2019 ranged between 85-87%, according to PAHO.

Coverage in 2020 might be lower "due to disruptions in primary health care activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," according to PAHO.

Polio, in some young children, can affect the nerves and cause muscle weakness or paralysis.&nbsp;

There is no treatment yet to the disease. Getting vaccinated can, however, prevent infection. 
&nbsp;

An outbreak of the polio virus in North and South Americas might happen due to disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, health experts fear. According to experts at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), these disruptions can be due to delay in vaccinations and surveillance.

An outbreak of the polio virus in North and South Americas might happen due to disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, health experts fear. According to experts at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), these disruptions can be due to delay in vaccinations and surveillance. Countries in the region must maintain polio vaccinations and surveillance during the pandemic to prevent an outbreak, the organisation says. The pandemic has stressed immunisation and surveillance systems designed to catch and respond to vaccine-preventable diseases, according to PAHO. Statistically speaking, reported coverage for the polio vaccine for the Americas between 2016 and 2019 ranged between 85-87%, according to PAHO. Coverage in 2020 might be lower "due to disruptions in primary health care activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," according to PAHO. Polio, in some young children, can affect the nerves and cause muscle weakness or paralysis. There is no treatment yet to the disease. Getting vaccinated can, however, prevent infection.

Americas at risk of polio outbreak due to disruptions by pandemic, experts say

Teachers of private schools in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro protested on Sunday demanding face-to-face classes begin amid the coronavirus pandemic that has killed over 131,000 people in the South American nation.

Brazil: Teachers protest over resumption of face-to-face classes

Desperate families in Bolivia are turning to makeshift graves to bury their loved ones, with cemetery space at a premium as the coronavirus pandemic keeps the South American nation in its grip.

Bolivian families turn to makeshift graves as cemeteries fill during pandemic

Some passengers are surprised to see them cleaning. 30-year-old Denisse Leal said the majority congratulate them for doing the work, but other passengers don't want them near.

Chilean couple disinfects subway to survive economically

A study conducted by researchers of the United Kingdom&nbsp;has rvealed that chemicals present in insect spray can kill the novel coronavirus.

The preliminary study has been conducted by scientists&nbsp;at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).

The scientists found that an ingredient commonly found in insect repellent —&nbsp;Citriodiol — may have the power to kill&nbsp;anti-viral properties, if mixed with the virus in the liquid phase.

"Mixing a virus suspension with Mosi-guard spray or selected constituent components resulted in a reduction in SARS-CoV-2," said the study.

At a high concentration, "Mosi-guard gave a significant decrease... resulting in no recoverable virus," it added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-first-coronavirus-reinfection-case-confirmed-in-hong-kong-322896">Also read:&nbsp;World’s 'first' coronavirus reinfection case confirmed in Hong Kong</a>

The ingredient,&nbsp;Citriodiol, is known to kill other forms of coronavirus, and is found in&nbsp;Asia, South America and Africa, and is made&nbsp;made from oil in the leaves and twigs of the eucalyptus citriodora tree.

The study has not been externally peer-reviewed and has been released as a foundation basis for other scientists around the world who are&nbsp;researching for possible solutions for COVID-19.

"DSTL is hopeful that the findings in this research can be used as a springboard for other organizations to expand and develop the research, as well as to confirm the findings in this publication," the Minsitry of Defence&nbsp;said.

This is&nbsp; not the first time the use of this ingredient is being mentioned for killing the virus. In May,&nbsp;Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had revealed that the British armed forces were being given the insect repellent as an&nbsp;"additional layer of protection" against exposure to the virus after the&nbsp;Surgeon General had assured that it would cause no harm to the soldiers.

A study conducted by researchers of the United Kingdom has rvealed that chemicals present in insect spray can kill the novel coronavirus. The preliminary study has been conducted by scientists at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).

A study conducted by researchers of the United Kingdom has rvealed that chemicals present in insect spray can kill the novel coronavirus. The preliminary study has been conducted by scientists at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). The scientists found that an ingredient commonly found in insect repellent — Citriodiol — may have the power to kill anti-viral properties, if mixed with the virus in the liquid phase. "Mixing a virus suspension with Mosi-guard spray or selected constituent components resulted in a reduction in SARS-CoV-2," said the study. At a high concentration, "Mosi-guard gave a significant decrease... resulting in no recoverable virus," it added. Also read: World’s 'first' coronavirus reinfection case confirmed in Hong Kong The ingredient, Citriodiol, is known to kill other forms of coronavirus, and is found in Asia, South America and Africa, and is made made from oil in the leaves and twigs of the eucalyptus citriodora tree. The study has not been externally peer-reviewed and has been released as a foundation basis for other scientists around the world who are researching for possible solutions for COVID-19. "DSTL is hopeful that the findings in this research can be used as a springboard for other organizations to expand and develop the research, as well as to confirm the findings in this publication," the Minsitry of Defence said. This is not the first time the use of this ingredient is being mentioned for killing the virus. In May, Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had revealed that the British armed forces were being given the insect repellent as an "additional layer of protection" against exposure to the virus after the Surgeon General had assured that it would cause no harm to the soldiers.

Chemical present in insect spray can kill coronavirus: Study

Environmental activists say the lure of such riches has encouraged illegal miners like Franchinis, adding to the growing deforestation in the region

Illegal miners dig for gold in Brazil | Amazon tropical rainforests | South America

At least six were injured, including three police officers, as around 120 people tried to escape the Thomas Restobar club

At least 13 killed as Peru police raid nightclub for breaking COVID-19 restrictions

Massive fires have spread throughout the Amazon rainforest and into different countries across Latin America.

August witnesses an unprecedented surge in Amazon fires | Brazil Rainforests | WION

Brazil on Saturday surpassed 100,000 coronavirus deaths and three million cases of infection, according to the latest tally from the Ministry of Health.

Brazil crosses 1 lakh Coronavirus deaths | South America | sao paulo | World News

&nbsp;Latin America surpassed Europe on Tuesday to become the region with the highest coronavirus death toll worldwide, according to a Reuters tally.&nbsp;

The region has now recorded more than 206,000 deaths, approximately 30% of the global total.&nbsp;

Brazil, the Latin American country most affected by the novel coronavirus, has now recorded a total of 95,819 deaths as of Tuesday. Mexico, the second-most affected country in the region, has 48,869 deaths.&nbsp;

The spread of the pandemic has also accelerated in Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Bolivia.

Last week Latin America became the most-affected region by the number of cases. On Monday, its number of infections surpassed 5 million, according to a Reuters tally based on government data.&nbsp;

The number of cases increased after authorities relaxed lockdown measures in order to stimulate economic growth.

The virus has infected more than 18.4 million people worldwide. The global death toll is 698,000.&nbsp;

Latin America surpassed Europe on Tuesday to become the region with the highest coronavirus death toll worldwide, according to a Reuters tally. The region has now recorded more than 206,000 deaths, approximately 30% of the global total.

Latin America surpassed Europe on Tuesday to become the region with the highest coronavirus death toll worldwide, according to a Reuters tally. The region has now recorded more than 206,000 deaths, approximately 30% of the global total. Brazil, the Latin American country most affected by the novel coronavirus, has now recorded a total of 95,819 deaths as of Tuesday. Mexico, the second-most affected country in the region, has 48,869 deaths. The spread of the pandemic has also accelerated in Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Bolivia. Last week Latin America became the most-affected region by the number of cases. On Monday, its number of infections surpassed 5 million, according to a Reuters tally based on government data. The number of cases increased after authorities relaxed lockdown measures in order to stimulate economic growth. The virus has infected more than 18.4 million people worldwide. The global death toll is 698,000.

Latin America now has world's highest coronavirus death toll

The government announced earlier that the quarantine measures in the country would continue until Aug. 31 due to the increase in community contagion and positive cases of the virus

Bolivia facing sustained increase in COVID-19 deaths

Argentina exceeded 100,000 cases of novel coronavirus infections on Sunday as it struggles to contain spiraling case rates despite a strict quarantine imposed on the capital Buenos Aires and its surroundings.&nbsp;

The health ministry said 2,657 new cases confirmed overnight took the total to 100,166.

The South American country imposed a strict quarantine in mid-March to stop the pandemic. It relaxed restrictions slightly in May but then reinstated them in late June for Buenos Aires and its surroundings due to a spike in cases.

The death toll in Argentina from COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, is 1,845, a far cry from the 71,469 in Brazil by Sunday and the 11,682 in Peru.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-bringing-record-1-trillion-of-new-global-corporate-debt-in-2020-report-312840">Covid-19 bringing record $1 trillion of new global corporate debt in 2020</a>

But confirmed case numbers moved into four figures daily in early June and for the past four days have hit at least 3,000 daily.&nbsp;

Carla Vizzotti, deputy health minister, said the lockdowns would be maintained while hospitals continued to fill up.

"What we want to do is...decrease virus transmission and buy more time for the health service to be able to respond," she said.&nbsp;

Mauro Grossman, an intensive care doctor at Ezeiza Hospital in Buenos Aires, told Reuters he believed the peak was approaching. "We believe this peak will plateau and not decrease for a while," he said. "That is the most dangerous thing, being at peak for a long time, that is what is going to make beds fill up much faster and the intensive care beds get quickly occupied.”

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-records-highest-single-daily-spike-with-230370-global-coronavirus-cases-312834">WHO records highest single-daily spike with 230,370 global coronavirus cases</a>

Some 12.81 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide, and 565,231 people have died, according to a Reuters count.

The United States has the highest number of cases in the world, with 3.26 million and 134,654 deaths. Other countries with high rates of infections include Brazil, India and Russia.

The coronavirus has also hit Argentina's economy hard, when it was already heading into its third year of recession at a time when it seeks to restructure $65 billion in debt.

Argentina exceeded 100,000 cases of novel coronavirus infections on Sunday as it struggles to contain spiraling case rates despite a strict quarantine imposed on the capital Buenos Aires and its surroundings.

Argentina exceeded 100,000 cases of novel coronavirus infections on Sunday as it struggles to contain spiraling case rates despite a strict quarantine imposed on the capital Buenos Aires and its surroundings. The health ministry said 2,657 new cases confirmed overnight took the total to 100,166. The South American country imposed a strict quarantine in mid-March to stop the pandemic. It relaxed restrictions slightly in May but then reinstated them in late June for Buenos Aires and its surroundings due to a spike in cases. The death toll in Argentina from COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, is 1,845, a far cry from the 71,469 in Brazil by Sunday and the 11,682 in Peru. Also read: Covid-19 bringing record $1 trillion of new global corporate debt in 2020 But confirmed case numbers moved into four figures daily in early June and for the past four days have hit at least 3,000 daily. Carla Vizzotti, deputy health minister, said the lockdowns would be maintained while hospitals continued to fill up. "What we want to do is...decrease virus transmission and buy more time for the health service to be able to respond," she said. Mauro Grossman, an intensive care doctor at Ezeiza Hospital in Buenos Aires, told Reuters he believed the peak was approaching. "We believe this peak will plateau and not decrease for a while," he said. "That is the most dangerous thing, being at peak for a long time, that is what is going to make beds fill up much faster and the intensive care beds get quickly occupied.” Also read: WHO records highest single-daily spike with 230,370 global coronavirus cases Some 12.81 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide, and 565,231 people have died, according to a Reuters count. The United States has the highest number of cases in the world, with 3.26 million and 134,654 deaths. Other countries with high rates of infections include Brazil, India and Russia. The coronavirus has also hit Argentina's economy hard, when it was already heading into its third year of recession at a time when it seeks to restructure $65 billion in debt.

Argentina exceeds 100,000 cases of novel coronavirus

Across the globe, many governments are easing restrictions as they face political and economic challenges triggered by the pandemic. So far, the disease has killed at least 535,000 people worldwide and infected more than 11.4 million.

How the world is battling Coronavirus? COVID-19 | Global death toll | Columbia

Confirmed cases of covid-19 have surged in South America in recent weeks. As daily infections surpassed those in Europe and the US. South America has now become a new and active hotspot of Coronavirus pandemic.

How Latin America became new hotspot of Coronavirus?

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Ecuador to protest against the government's economic response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Ecuador protests against cuts amid pandemic

Brazil overtook Russia Friday as the country with the second-highest number of coronavirus infections worldwide behind the United States, as the Americas emerged as a new epicenter of the pandemic.

Brazil overtook Russia Friday as the country with the second-highest number of coronavirus infections worldwide behind the United States, as the Americas emerged as a new epicenter of the pandemic. Brazil recorded 1,001 daily coronavirus deaths on Friday, taking total deaths to 21,048, according to the Health Ministry. The surge came as the World Health Organization declared South America "a new epicenter" of the pandemic. "Clearly there is a concern across many of those countries, but clearly the most affected is Brazil at this point," said WHO emergencies director Mike Ryan. Brazil's death toll is currently the sixth-highest in the world, behind the United States, Britain, Italy, Spain and France. But the crisis is not expected to peak in Brazil until June. The country of 210 million people has had a disjointed response to the pandemic. In Sao Paulo, the worst hit city, aerial video showed rows of open plots at the Formosa Cemetery as it rushed to keep up with demand. Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has been widely criticized for his handling of the outbreak and is at the center too of a deepening political crisis. Since the outbreak began, Bolsonaro has lost two health ministers, after pressuring them to promote the early use of anti-malarial drugs like chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. Several high-profile public health experts have also left. Many have been replaced by soldiers. (With inputs from agencies)

Brazil jumps to No. 2 in worldwide coronavirus cases, behind the US

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