Uncertain Scenario in Italy’s Election
According to the latest information, Pier Luigi Bersani’s centre left was slightly ahead in exit polls for the Lower House of parliament after voting stations closed in Italy’s general election on Monday, but in a surprising twist ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi’s centre right alliance was projected to take the Senate.
The centre left was set to capture 34.5% of the vote for the House in a Tecne’ poll for Sky Italia, compared to 29% for Silvio Berlusconi’s centre right and 19% for Beppe Grillo’s anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S). Outgoing Premier Mario Monti’s reform ticket, which is backed by centrist parties, had 9.5% in the same poll in what appears to be a disappointing performance by the outgoing Premier.
More than Three Million Dollars for War Victims in Guatemala
The National Commission of Compensation of Guatemala distributed 30 million quetzals (3.8 million dollars) to victims of the 1960-1996 armed conflict, said Jorge Herrera, president of the Guatemalan entity Monday.
In statements to the network Emisoras Unidas, Herrera said that during the last decade the organization has disbursed 622 million quetzals (78.734 million dollars) for that reason.
Meanwhile, humanitarian and family groups of the assassinated hundreds of thousands in the armed conflict will ask the government to fulfil the sentences issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (CIDH).
The Executive plans the creation of the Secretariat of Human Rights and Peace with the purpose of including the program permanently.
The previous week, humanitarian and family organizations of victims demanded, via letter, from President Otto Perez Molina a determined defense of human rights and justice.
Copies of that letter also arrived at the Congress of the Republic, the Supreme Court of Justice, the Court of Constitutionality, the General Prosecutor, the Human Rights Attorney and the Ministers for National Defense, Foreign Affairs and Interior.
“In the cases of forced disappearance the location and return of the remains of our beloved beings to bury them with dignity, a forced moral repair from the state, and the creation of the genetic data bank, since it has been ordered by the CIDH”, said the text.
The document was signed by the Association of Disappeared Relatives of Guatemala, the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Maria, the Foundation Memoria Viva Héctor Interiano and the Foundation Myrna Mack, among others.
About 250,000 Guatemalans were killed by the security forces, 45,000 of them victims of forced disappearances, during 36 years of bloody conflict, according to humanitarian sources.
Russia: President Putin Signs Smoking Ban Bill
Russian President Vladimir Putin today signed the smoking ban bill that prohibits smoking in public spaces and provides a phased restrictions on the sale of cigarettes, from the perspective of promoting a healthy lifestyle .
The legislation registered as law “On protecting the health of citizens from the danger of passive smoking and the consequences of the use of tobacco” was sanctioned by the State Duma (lower house) on February 12, and a week later by the Board of Federation (Senate).
According to Parliament, the initiative responds to the interest of the Government to adapt national legislation to the International Convention of the World Health Organization, in the fight against smoking, ratified by Russia in 2008, and to protect the non smoker population.
In Russia die annually about 400 000 people for diseases associated with smoking, according to the Health Ministry.
The law, which comes into force in June this year, with some provisions from 2014, generalize the ban on smoking in public places, in state institutions as well as in stadiums, airports, bus, train and metro stations, and all public transportation means, in addition to the sites frequented by children.
The text includes also a series of tax measures to reduce the supply and marketing of cigarettes and cigars, a ban on advertising and sponsorship to sales and production.
Via PL