International
Nepal counts 148 deaths and massive damage after the worst rains in decades
The intense monsoon rains have caused floods and landslides in Nepal, causing the death of at least 148 people and the disappearance of dozens. The Kathmandu Valley, the epicenter of the catastrophe, has been the most affected, with 73 fatalities reported.
Floods have caused massive damage to infrastructure such as homes and bridges, leaving thousands of people homeless. Rescue teams work hard to locate the missing and provide assistance to those affected, but they face great challenges due to adverse weather conditions and blocked roads.
The deputy inspector general of the Armed Police, Kumar Neupane, explained to EFE that security forces have been mobilized to remove debris and open key roads throughout the country. So far, 3,626 people have been rescued and transferred to a safe area.
Nepalese authorities have reported that the death toll may continue to rise as search and rescue operations progress.
In addition to the deaths, dozens of injuries and thousands of displaced people have been reported.
The Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, has been one of the areas most affected by floods. Saturday recorded the highest level of rain in decades, which caused rivers to overflow and flood entire neighborhoods.
According to Neupane, the rescuers have recovered 35 bodies buried by landslides in the Jhyaple Khola area of Dhading, on the Prithvi road, which connects the Kathmandu valley.
“A bus and two minibuses were found buried in the landslide. The police have been recovering the bodies since Sunday morning,” he said.
A low pressure system over the Bay of Bengal caused prolonged rains this year. The monsoon, which normally begins in mid-June and ends at the end of September, will extend this year until the first week of October.
The Government of Nepal today ordered the closure of schools in the Himalayan country for at least three days, in an effort to mitigate the impact of widespread floods.
This decision, taken at an emergency cabinet meeting, seeks to protect the safety of students and educational staff, the spokesman for the Ministry of Education, Laxmi Prasad Bhattarai, said in a statement.
The interruption of transport, the damage to school buildings and the serious impact on the communities have forced the Government to take this measure. In addition, it has been decided to postpone all ongoing exams due to extreme weather conditions.
The Kathmandu valley, the epicenter of the floods, recorded yesterday the highest level of rain since 1970. Thousands of homes have been submerged and authorities fear that the number of fatalities will continue to increase.
Sharmila Sharma, who lives in a rented room in the Nepalese capital, told EFE how the water flooded her home up to a meter high. “This has been one of the worst floods I have seen in Kathmandu in the last 30 years,” he said.
Videos and photos on social media platforms and local media showed people trying to move with water up to their waists. In many places, residents used buckets to empty their water-filled houses.
International
Donald Trump pledges strong borders and legal immigration at Univision Forum witv latino Voters
Presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump stated at a forum with Latino voters on Wednesday that he supports legal immigration and strong borders. He also reiterated the false claim that certain countries are sending their prisoners and emptying mental institutions to send them to the United States, a narrative he has used to criticize President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
Trump claimed at the Univision-organized forum that his immigration policies were “an unprecedented success” and that Biden should have maintained his strategy at the southern border, including the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which returns asylum seekers to Mexico while their applications are processed.
The Republican candidate alleged that countries like Venezuela “open their prisons and mental institutions” to send criminals and the mentally ill to the U.S., a generalization that stigmatizes undocumented immigrants and is not backed by data.
“Under me, immigrants came legally, and the system worked well (…) Let them come legally, and don’t release murderers, drug traffickers, and terrorists,” said Trump, who has promised mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
The former president repeated falsehoods and inaccuracies, such as claiming that “the world’s prison population is decreasing because they’re sending them to the U.S.” and that “Venezuela is emptying its prisons so they can come here.” He reiterated, “We want people to come, but not killers.”
Trump sought to win over Latino voters with promises to support small businesses, attract investment and new jobs, and reduce inflation by lowering energy prices and increasing oil and gas production.
“The Democrats don’t know anything about growth (economically). We will attract companies and end abuse and waste,” said Trump, adding that he now has the support of SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk to help control federal government spending.
Trump has narrowed the gap in Latino voter support between Democrats and Republicans since the 2016 elections, an improvement that could be crucial in winning key states like Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania to secure the White House after the November 5 election.
International
Experts highlight role of public sector in advancing technology in Central America at EFE Forum
Representatives from the business sector, multilateral organizations, and the Government of El Salvador highlighted on Wednesday, during a forum organized by EFE for its 85th anniversary, the importance of the public sector in advancing technology in Central America, particularly in areas such as health, education, and the climate crisis.
Under the theme ‘Innovation and Development: Driving the Future in Central America,’ the forum held in San Salvador brought together the Minister of Economy, María Luisa Hayem, the CEO of Asesuisa, Ficohsa Group, Enzo Bizzarro, and the country representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Olga Gómez.
According to Hayem, the Central American region has a “window of opportunity” in integrating its innovation ecosystems to achieve greater multilateral investment.
“The greater the impact of these projects, not just from El Salvador, but from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica, the more we will attract the attention of investment funds,” said the Salvadoran official.
She noted that this conversation has already begun, at least with the Ministry of Economy of Guatemala.
For her part, Gómez pointed out that “disruptive technologies represent a significant opportunity for El Salvador and the region” by creating new opportunities.
She emphasized that these advances have important applications in health, education, businesses, and addressing the climate crisis.
“All these disruptive technologies will allow us better access to education, identify knowledge gaps, (…) and lead to major transformations,” she said.
The IDB representative added that “this is a revolution here to stay” and believes “the public sector’s role is crucial” in creating the necessary conditions.
International
Liam Payne, former One Direction member, dies after tragic fall in Argentina
British musician and singer Liam Payne, former member of the band One Direction, has died after falling from a hotel in Palermo, Argentina, according to international media reports this Wednesday afternoon.
Payne, 31 years old, fell from one of the floors of an Argentine hotel, dying instantly. Argentine news outlets report that authorities are still investigating the cause of the incident.
Born in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, Payne was part of the iconic group One Direction, one of the biggest pop sensations in recent years, alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik.
Donald Trump pledges strong borders and legal immigration at Univision Forum witv latino Voters
Experts highlight role of public sector in advancing technology in Central America at EFE Forum
Liam Payne, former One Direction member, dies after tragic fall in Argentina
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
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