International

Florida building collapse: memorial discussed for site

AFP

A memorial honoring the victims of an apartment building collapse nearly three weeks ago in the Florida beachfront community of Surfside may be built on the site of the disaster, officials said Tuesday.

The sudden condo collapse in a north Miami suburb killed at least 95 people, 85 of whom have been identified, said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. Over a dozen are still missing.

“We started to talk about the fact that we definitely need a memorial,” Levine Cava told reporters.

Officials are discussing where exactly to place the tribute and whether it would take up the all or just part of the site, she added.

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A petition on Change.org collected more than 1,200 signatures supporting the idea of a memorial where Champlain Towers South stood.

“This was a mass casualty and each and (every one) of those missing and deceased should be remembered,” the petition reads.

But some former residents want to replace the wreckage with another apartment building, said Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett, whose town counts a population of about 6,000.

“Some of the families want to go back and live there again,” he said. “They want the building rebuilt on a portion of the site. They acknowledge that a percentage of that site is a holy site.”

Authorites are still determining why the 12-story, beachfront apartment building partially collapsed on June 24. Multiple ongoing investigations have uncovered degraded infrastructure and overall structural issues.

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Following the accident, residents in the remaining structure were evacuated for its demolition, with authorities citing safety concerns.

International

US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy

The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.

According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.

The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.

“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.

However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.

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“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.

When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

International

Fed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict

Christopher Waller, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said Friday that he is increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel against Iran, particularly due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Waller, who had supported interest rate cuts over the past year amid concerns about the labor market, said he has shifted his stance in recent weeks due to rising inflation risks.

“Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed, it suggests this conflict could be much more prolonged and that oil prices will remain elevated for longer,” Waller said in an interview with CNBC.

“Therefore, this indicates that inflation is a greater concern than I had previously assessed,” he added.

Waller also backed the Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this week to keep interest rates unchanged, signaling a more cautious approach as global geopolitical tensions continue to affect economic outlooks.

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International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.