International
Starmer says that the electoral result gives him a “clear mandate” to govern for change
Labour Keir Starmer, the new British Prime Minister, said this Saturday that the resounding victory achieved in the general elections has given his party “a clear mandate” to govern “for change” in the four nations of the United Kingdom.
In a press conference held today at the headquarters of the Government in Downing Street after meeting for the first time with his newly formed cabinet, Starmer said that his Executive will launch “a policy in this country that works” for citizens.
Labour won overwhelmingly, with 412 seats (out of a total of 650), in the advance general elections held in this country last Thursday, where the ‘tories’ suffered their worst defeat in their history, leaving only 121 deputies.
Starmer revealed that in that first meeting with his team of ministers he has conveyed to them “how to implement the plans that we have detailed in our electoral program” in addition to detailing “exactly” what I expect “in terms of standards, execution and the trust that the country has placed in them.”
Starmer brought together for the first time his newly launched cabinet, before which he stressed the “enormous amount of work to be done” that awaits his Government after winning the general elections by a large majority.
Starmer and his new team posed briefly and very smiling for the local media at the beginning of the meeting, held at the headquarters of the British Executive on Downing Street.
“Colleagues, it is absolutely fantastic to welcome you to the Cabinet, our first meeting. And it has been the honor and privilege of my life to have been invited by the king, His Majesty the king, yesterday to form a Government and to form the Labour Government of 2024,” Starmer told his new ministers.
“And now we are holding our first cabinet meeting. With which I welcome you. We have a huge amount of work to do, so now we get to it,” Starmer added to the applause of the team, in which there are heavyweights of labor such as the “number two” and head of Housing, Angela Rayner, or the new head of Economy, Rachel Reeves.
At the end of that meeting, Starmer is scheduled to hold a press conference.
In that cabinet meeting, according to the labor environment, the “first steps” that this government will take in power will be outlined, which include, among others, how economic stability will be achieved, how the huge waiting lists in the public health system will be resolved or how the problem of illegal immigration will be addressed.
Labour put an end to 14 years of conservative governments at the polls, sinking the formation of Rishi Sunak, by achieving a resounding majority of 412 seats (out of a total of 650) compared to the 121 of the ‘tories’.
The now opposition British Conservative Party focuses its efforts on finding a new leader who manages to straighten the course of the formation, in its worst crisis after the electoral defeat of last day 4 and the departure of the until then head of the formation and prime minister, Rishi Sunak.
Faced with this calamitous panorama, the conservatives have returned to the opposition as a weakened and management-less formation after 14 years in power.
The party must begin the process to elect its new leader after Rishi Sunak announced his intention to resign once the formal process to fill that vacancy has been enabled.
International
German Authorities Investigate More Than 100 New Cases Against Convicted Nurse
German authorities announced Monday that they are investigating more than 100 additional cases involving a nurse who was sentenced to life in prison in November for the murder of 10 patients.
The man, who was 44 at the time of his conviction, worked in palliative care at a hospital in Würselen, near Aachen. He was also found guilty of 27 attempted murders.
Aachen prosecutors are now examining 121 new cases, a spokesperson for the office said.
Prosecutors leading the investigation are preparing a new indictment that could be filed next year. Nearly 40 bodies have so far been exhumed as part of the investigation, which covers alleged incidents dating back to September 2022.
Meanwhile, prosecutors in the city of Cologne are investigating 18 additional cases. According to a spokesperson, the oldest case dates back to 2010.
Before working at the Würselen hospital, the nurse is believed to have worked at a clinic in eastern Cologne, according to local media reports.
At the time of his November conviction, the court ruled that the severity of his crimes was particularly serious, a finding that would make it difficult for him to obtain early release after 15 years in prison.
Between December 2023 and May 2024, the nurse administered overdoses of sedatives or painkillers to terminally ill patients, most of them elderly, according to the indictment in the original case.
His alleged motive was to sedate patients who required care so that he could minimize his workload during night shifts, prosecutors said.
According to the indictment, the nurse worked «without enthusiasm» and «without motivation». When faced with patients requiring extensive care, he allegedly became «irritated» and showed a lack of empathy.
The case has revived painful memories in Germany of Niels Högel, a former nurse and serial killer who was sentenced to life imprisonment in June 2019 for the murders of at least 85 patients.
International
Venezuela Raises Earthquake Death Toll to 6,301
The death toll from the earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 6,301, while relatives continue searching for missing people among the rubble of collapsed buildings, parliamentary leader Jorge Rodríguez said Monday.
So far, the Venezuelan government has not released an official figure for the number of people missing after the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, which caused around 190 buildings to collapse, most of them in the coastal state of La Guaira, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Caracas.
The latest figure represents an increase from the 6,125 deaths reported by Venezuelan authorities on August 3.
According to statements made to local media by La Guaira Governor José Alejandro Terán, around 1,400 people were still missing just over a week ago.
Thousands of homes remain at risk
In addition to buildings that completely collapsed, authorities have classified another 9,567 structures as being at «high risk». Meanwhile, 12,411 homes remain under a «restricted» classification.
As a result, many families who lived in these properties have been relocated to temporary shelters or have sought accommodation with relatives and friends.
Nearly 24,000 people left homeless by the disaster are currently living in camps in Caracas and La Guaira, a popular tourist destination whose economy has been severely affected by the earthquakes.
The situation sparked renewed concern among Venezuelans on Monday after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake, with its epicenter in Colombia, was felt across several regions of Venezuela.
The earthquake in Colombia left at least 111 people dead and dozens injured, according to preliminary figures released by authorities in that country.
International
CEAPI Backs Colombia’s New Government and Calls for Greater Public-Private Cooperation
The Ibero-American Business Alliance Council (CEAPI), led by its president, Núria Vilanova, participated in the inauguration ceremony of Abelardo de la Espriella as Colombia’s new president. The events were held on August 7 in Cali and brought together heads of state and institutional representatives from numerous countries.
CEAPI maintains a strong relationship with Colombia as part of its mission to serve as a meeting point between Ibero-American business leaders and the region’s main institutions and governments. The organization has more than 25 members in Colombia, including Jaime Gilinski, Luis Carlos Sarmiento, Omar González and Diego Urrea. In addition, Colombia hosted the seventh CEAPI Ibero-American Congress, held in Cartagena de Indias in 2024.
During his inauguration speech, President De la Espriella identified confidence and economic stability as key pillars of his administration and emphasized the role of private enterprise in Colombia’s future.
He also reaffirmed his intention to govern for all Colombians and strengthen institutional dialogue, while referring to Spain’s democratic transition and the leadership of former Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez.
Vilanova said she has seen this commitment firsthand during meetings with members of the new government, who have expressed their willingness to work closely with business leaders and the private sector to promote economic growth.
According to CEAPI, the government is considering measures aimed at strengthening legal certainty and business confidence, encouraging investment and promoting formal employment.
For Vilanova, Colombia’s new political and economic stage represents an opportunity to demonstrate that «when the public and private sectors are aligned, they can achieve more».
«Colombia has everything it needs to make it happen. And Ibero-American business leaders are ready to support it», she said, adding that CEAPI is already working with the government to organize a future investment delegation to the country.
The organization said the planned visit would seek to strengthen business ties and identify new investment opportunities in Colombia, reinforcing the role of the private sector in the country’s economic development.
German Authorities Investigate More Than 100 New Cases Against Convicted Nurse
Venezuela Raises Earthquake Death Toll to 6,301
CEAPI Backs Colombia’s New Government and Calls for Greater Public-Private Cooperation
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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