14 January 2022 The Guardian WeeklyUK headlines p932 17 PERUArrival of fertility statue
prompts extreme reactions
A newly erected statue of a
grinning man with an enormous
phallus has prompted delight and
rage in an archaeological hotspot
in northern Peru. The 9m-tall
fi breglass structure is a faithful
representation of a ceramic
vessel from Peru’s pre-Columbian
Mochica culture , and selfi e-taking
tourists have fl ocked to it.
However, the fertility symbol
has been attacked by vandals who
smashed a hole in the penis. Local
mayor Arturo Fernández Bazán
said: “In our Mochica culture,
these types of ceramics vessels
were not considered erotic but
represented the Godhead.”
9 HAITITwo journalists killed by
gangs near Port-au-Prince
Two journalists were killed by
gang members while reporting
south of Port-au-Prince, as a surge
in violence continues to shake
the Caribbean nation. One of the
journalist’s employers and some
media reports said the men had
been shot then burned alive, but
police did not confi rm this. A
police statement said only that the
bodies had “large-calibre bullet
wounds”. Radio Ecoute FM said
journalist John Wesley Amady, 32,
was killed by “armed bandits” on
6 January in Laboule while he was
reporting on security issues in the
gang-plagued area. The death of
Wilguens Louissaint, 22, was also
confi rmed by police.(^8) ITALY
All over-50s must have
coronavirus vaccine
As part of a scramble to ease
pressure on hospitals and reduce
deaths amid a surge in infections,
Covid-19 vaccinations have been
made compulsory for anyone 50
and over. The measure, among
the toughest vaccine mandates
in Europe, was unanimously
supported by ministers despite
divisions between the parties that
make up prime minister Mario
Draghi’s broad coalition.
Workplace vaccine rules will
be strengthened from 15 February
and workers aged over 50 in both
the public and private sectors
will have to present a health pass
proving immunisation or recovery
from Covid-19.
10 SPAIN
Hungry badger unearths
‘exceptional’ Roman trove
A trove of 209 Roman coins in
a cave in northern Spain – hailed
as an “exceptional fi nd” – is
believed to have been uncovered
by a badger foraging for food.
The coins, dating from between
the third and fi fth centur ies AD,
were spotted in a cave in the
municipality of Grado , Asturias.
They were found close to the sett
of a badger, months after Storm
Filomena dumped heavy snow
across swathes of the country.
Researchers believe the snow
forced the badger to prod at
a small crack near its sett in hopes
of uncovering berries or worms.
6 VENEZUELA
Maduro candidate defeated
in Chávez’s home state
Nicolás Maduro’s regime has
suff ered a rare and symbolic
defeat after its candidate lost
to the opposition in an election
for the governorship of Hugo
Chávez’s home state of Barinas.
Maduro had hoped his former
foreign minister Jorge Arreaza
would win control of the region,
which has been governed almost
exclusively by relatives of the
late president since 1998, in
Sunday’s election. Authorities
said the little-known victor, Sergio
Garrido, had won 55.4% of votes
compared with 41.3% for Arreaza,
who is Chávez’s former son-in-law
and the father of his grandson.