Bottom Line Up Front
Today’s verdict: Friday opens with the World Cup under way but bruised — Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 as clashes ringed the Azteca; Peru’s recount has actually begun with Fujimori ahead by about a thousand votes; and La Paz is finally starting to breathe.
Mexico — the tournament opened in tear gas. Mexico won the opener 2-0 before about 80,000 fans, but teachers, families of the disappeared and students blocked access to the Azteca, and some breached barriers as police answered with tear gas. The Zócalo fan fest opened chaotically, and the big screen cut out for about ten minutes after the second goal.
Peru — the recount begins, the lead holds. At about 98.25 percent counted, Keiko Fujimori leads Roberto Sánchez by roughly a thousand votes — about 50.003 to 49.997 percent. The decisive bloc is some 1,611 observed tally sheets now with the electoral juries, whose public recount audiences began Thursday; no winner is proclaimed until mid-July.
Bolivia — La Paz starts to breathe. The governor says 12 of the department’s 20 provinces have lifted their blockades and fuel is returning, with normality expected over the weekend after 42 days. But the roads agency still counted about 101 blockade points nationwide, so between cities the advice remains fly, don’t drive.
