Ecuador shuns socialism with Lasso s surprise election
Ecuadorean banker Guillermo Lasso and his wife Maria de Lourdes Alcivar react after Lasso wins the presidential runoff vote, in Guayaquil, Ecuador April 11, 2021. REUTERS/Maria Fernanda Landin reuters tickers
This content was published on April 12, 2021 - 07:32
April 12, 2021 - 07:32
By Brian Ellsworth and Alexandra Valencia
(Reuters) - Ecuadorean banker Guillermo Lasso unexpectedly won the nation s presidency on promises to revive an economy battered by coronavirus as his rival s vows of a return to socialist largesse failed to win over a skeptical electorate.
Lasso took 52% of the vote in the runoff following a campaign that pitted free market economics against the social welfare plans of economist Andres Arauz, a win likely helped by a ballot spoiling campaign that left one in six ballots void.
Divided U.S. Senate confirms Vanita Gupta to No. 3 job at Justice Department
Reuters | Apr 22, 2021 12:14 AM EDT
Vanita Gupta, U.S. President-elect Joe Biden s nominee to be associate attorney general, speaks as Biden announces his Justice Department nominees at his transition headquarters (Photo : REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo)
A divided U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted to confirm Vanita Gupta as the first woman of color to serve in the No. 3 job at the Justice Department, a role at the forefront of the department s renewed efforts to combat systemic racism in policing.
Gupta won confirmation as President Joe Biden s associate attorney general in a final vote of 51-49. Only one Republican - Lisa Murkowski of Alaska - voted to confirm her, saying she felt Gupta was personally committed to combating injustice.
Christchurch Citizens War Memorial to be deconstructed and moved
22 Apr, 2021 02:00 AM
2 minutes to read
Work to carefully deconstruct the earthquake-damaged Citizens War Memorial outside the Christ Church Cathedral is under way. Photo / George Heard
Work to carefully deconstruct the earthquake-damaged Citizens War Memorial outside the Christ Church Cathedral is under way. Photo / George Heard
Digital producer, Christchurch, NZ Heralddevon.bolger@nzme.co.nz
Work to deconstruct the earthquake-damaged Citizens War Memorial so it can be repaired and reinstated elsewhere has begun.
Starting at 2pm, a crane is being used to lift the first piece of bronzing away from the supporting stonework.