Iran opens first phase of largest solar power plant in Isfahan
Iran has opened the first phase of its largest solar power plant as part of a major government programme to expand renewable energy capacity....
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa was declared the official winner of the presidential election on Monday, with his opponent, leftist Luisa Gonzalez, demanding a recount despite a gap of over one million votes.
Noboa received 55.65% of the vote, while Gonzalez trailed with 44.35%. The election result was seen as a decisive victory for Noboa, who had led the race by more than 1 million votes. Despite Gonzalez's call for a recount, early signs indicated that support within her own party for a recount was fracturing, with key figures acknowledging Noboa's victory.
Gonzalez labeled the results as "grotesque" and accused the election of being fraudulent, but she did not immediately call for protests or provide specifics on the recount request. By Monday morning, only 1.25% of ballots remained to be counted, with minimal irregularities reported.
Noboa, who narrowly won the first round of voting in February, received recognition from prominent opposition figures, including Aquiles Alvarez, the mayor of Guayaquil, who said, “If the people elected him, we must respect it. Whether we like it or not, the people voted democratically.”
The outcome was also welcomed by key members of the opposition, such as Leonardo Orlando, the prefect of Manabi province, who congratulated Noboa on social media. This response was seen as a shift from earlier accusations of election fraud.
Noboa's victory saw an immediate positive reaction in financial markets, with Ecuador's international bonds rising by 12 to 15 cents on Monday. The president's platform, which focused on security measures, economic handouts, and support for flood victims, resonated with voters in coastal provinces, which had suffered significantly from violence.
Noboa, who has been in office for over 16 months, has pledged to continue his focus on military security, job creation, drug and gun seizures, and attracting private investment to the oil sector. He has also cited improvements in security, such as a 15% reduction in violent deaths in the previous year, and forecasted 4% economic growth for 2025.
The president’s victory is seen as an opportunity for national reconciliation, with Noboa's government pledging to bridge divides within the National Assembly, where his National Democratic Action Party holds one fewer seat than the opposition Citizens' Revolution party.
Noboa's term officially begins in May, and he will need to deliver on promises of security and economic reform to maintain public support. The government has also imposed a 60-day state of emergency in Quito and other regions to curb unrest following the election.
The Organization of American States (OAS) affirmed that the election process was consistent with international standards, with Secretary General Luis Almagro praising the conduct of the vote.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Dozens of international and domestic flights were cancelled or delayed after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted on Monday, but Bali’s main airport remains operational.
French member of parliament Olivier Marleix was found dead at his home on Monday, with suicide being considered a possible cause.
UK authorities have raised an amber heat health alert for much of southern England, warning that the ongoing heatwave could lead to a rise in deaths.
Floods driven by climate change are raising the danger of long-banned toxic chemicals resurfacing in rivers, soil, and food chains, according to a new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report.
Israel is expected to submit a new withdrawal map today during ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Doha, Qatar, as talks face challenges over the size of the buffer zone around Gaza.
Widespread wildfires have engulfed the Alawenat Oasis in southwestern Libya, with flames spreading into residential areas and causing panic among local communities, according to state media.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reaffirmed his “unconditional support” for all actions taken by Russia to resolve the Ukraine war, during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, according to North Korean state media.
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