International
Víctor Manuel opens the 37th Black Week of Gijón, with a record of guest authors
The singer-songwriter Víctor Manuel has opened this Friday the program of cultural activities that for ten days, until July 14, will take place in the thirty-seventh edition of the Black Week of Gijón, which has reached the record number of 250 guest authors of different literary genres.
After the cut of the traditional black tape in an enclosure of 33,000 square meters in an old shipyard, Víctor Manuel has starred in the first round table with a conference on the song ‘Asturias’, by the poet Pedro Garfias, to which he put music and became an unofficial anthem for Asturians.
The Tent of the Encounter, the main of the four in which writers’ meetings with their readers take place, has also hosted the screening of the documentary ‘Asturias, the journey of a song, produced by Televisión del Principado de Asturias (TPA), which narrates the genesis of the poem created by Garfias in 1937.
Hours before the opening ceremony, which has been attended by the president of the Principality of Asturias, Adrián Barbón, the enclosure has been opened to the public, which houses the tents for meetings of writers with readers, book and craft markets, an amusement fair and stages for musical performances.
Barbón and the director of the festival, Miguel Barrero, have presided over the cut of the film at the inauguration accompanied by municipal authorities to the sound of the music of the charanga ‘El ventolín’.
Social movements of solidarity with Palestine, the Sahara and peoples of Ibero-America have concentrated in front of the Tent of the Encounter to make their demands heard.
This Black Week, which will be the largest in its 37 years of history by number of authors and cultural activities, will pay tributes to Paco Ignacio Taibo, Julio Cortázar, Juan Carlos Onetti and Antonio Machado.
During the contest, the winners of the Dashiell Hammett awards will be announced, for the best crime novel written in Spanish and published during the past year; Rodolfo Walsh, of non-fiction literature; the Spartacus, of a historical novel; the Celsius, of science fiction or fantasy: and the Silverio Cañada, the first crime novel by an author.
International
Sexual assault attempt on Mexico’s president sparks outrage in historic center
A man harassed and groped Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum without her consent on Tuesday while she walked through Mexico City’s historic center, just meters from the National Palace, greeting members of the public.
The man, who appeared to be intoxicated, attempted to kiss the president from behind before grabbing her. Security personnel immediately intervened and detained him, with video footage showing Sheinbaum visibly tense following the incident.
Sheinbaum was on her way to the first National Meeting of Universities and Higher Education Institutions at the Education Secretariat headquarters, located just a few blocks from the palace. She chose to walk to the event due to the short distance.
During the stroll, in one of the busiest parts of the capital, the man took advantage of the crowd surrounding the president, approaching her from behind, trying to kiss her neck and placing his arms around her.
Hours later, federal authorities confirmed that the suspect — identified as Uriel Rivera Martínez — had been arrested and taken to the Mexico City Prosecutor’s Office for Sexual Crimes, according to the National Detention Registry.
Legal sources stated that Sheinbaum was the victim of a flagrant sexual abuse offense under Mexico City’s Penal Code, noting that no close assistant intervened at the very moment the assault occurred.
According to a 2024 survey by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), 15.5% of women in Mexico have experienced sexual harassment, groping, exhibitionism or attempted rape — five times the percentage of men, at 3.2%.
International
Longest government shutdown in U.S. history deepens airport and aid crisis
The U.S. government shutdown reached a historic milestone on Wednesday, becoming the longest in the nation’s history as Republicans aligned with President Donald Trump continue to clash with Democratic opposition over the federal budget.
The shutdown entered its 36th day, surpassing the previous record set in 2019 during Trump’s first term in office.
Over the past six weeks, the budget impasse has left roughly 1.4 million federal workers without pay. Employees deemed “essential,” including air traffic controllers and law enforcement officers, have been required to continue working despite not receiving their salaries.
Conditions at airports are growing increasingly strained. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the federal government may be forced to partially shut down U.S. airspace due to staffing shortages.
“So if we go another week from now, Democrats, you will see massive chaos… you will see massive flight delays,” Duffy cautioned.
Social assistance programs have also been disrupted. On Tuesday, Trump stated that food aid relied upon by millions of Americans would not be distributed until the government reopens — contradicting earlier administration comments indicating that partial benefits could still be provided.
International
Deadly fire in bosnian nursing home leaves 11 dead and dozens injured
At least 11 people were killed and more than 30 others were injured after a fire broke out overnight at a nursing home in Bosnia, authorities reported on Wednesday.
The cause of the blaze, which started late Tuesday on the seventh floor of a residential building in the city of Tuzla, remains unclear. Local media reported that the upper floors of the facility housed elderly residents with limited mobility or medical conditions.
Tuzla Mayor Zijad Lugavić said that firefighters and rescue workers were among the injured. Municipal authorities convened an emergency meeting on Wednesday to assess the situation and coordinate response efforts.
Ruža Kajic, a resident living on the third floor, said she had just gone to bed when she heard “bursting sounds” and saw flames descending from the upper levels.
Sexual assault attempt on Mexico’s president sparks outrage in historic center
Longest government shutdown in U.S. history deepens airport and aid crisis
Deadly fire in bosnian nursing home leaves 11 dead and dozens injured
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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