International
The Government of Brazil suspends its advertising campaigns in X after Musk’s criticism
The Government of Brazil decided not to hire advertising campaigns in X again after the controversial criticism of the tycoon Elon Musk, owner of the social network, to the Supreme Court of the country and the president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Sources from the Secretariat of Communication confirmed this Saturday that Lula’s administration will no longer invest more resources in promoting the actions of the Executive on the platform, in the middle of the dispute with the businessman, also owner of Tesla and Space X.
According to the Transparency portal, the Government of the progressive leader spent about 650,000 reais (127,000 dollars or 120,000 euros) on institutional communication in X between 2023, the year in which he took power, and the first months of 2024.
The measure, which applies to new advertising contracts, is based on a guideline promulgated last February to avoid advertising actions in “portals, applications and content producers” that may “damage the image of the institutions of the Executive Branch.”
In addition, the Brazilian press publishes this Saturday that X’s representative in Brazil, lawyer Diego de Lima Gualda, left office this week, according to a document in the São Paulo Commercial Board.
The controversy has its origin in a series of messages from Musk in which he accused the Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre De Moraes of imposing censorship by, in his opinion, determining the blocking of X profiles without an apparent reason.
The businessman also anticipated that, in defense of freedom of expression, he would disobey decisions in that regard, even if this would result in economic fines or the closure of the platform in the South American country.
De Moraes responded by including it in the investigations that are advancing in the high court on the dissemination of fake news and attacks on democratic institutions.
Obleious to the ruling, Musk continued with his criticism this week, described the magistrate as a “dictator” and questioned the appointment of Cristiano Zanin, Lula’s former personal lawyer, to occupy a seat in the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Lula condemned on Wednesday that “a businessman who never produced anything,” in allusion to Musk, criticizes the rulings of Justice and even said he is willing to violate them, and insinuated that he should use his fortune to “help preserve” the environment.
Musk’s criticism of Brazil’s justice has been interpreted in sectors of national politics as a kind of support for the far right led by former President Jair Bolsonaro, especially in the face of next October’s municipal elections.
International
Police investigate deaths of Rob Reiner and wife as apparent homicide
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is investigating the deaths of Hollywood actor and filmmaker Rob Reinerand his wife as an “apparent homicide,” amid a wave of tributes to the director of classics such as When Harry Met Sally.
According to U.S. media reports on Sunday, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead at their Los Angeles mansion with what appeared to be stab wounds.
Several political figures shared messages of condolence following the reported deaths of the director of A Few Good Menand his wife.
While the LAPD did not officially confirm the identities of the victims, it stated that homicide detectives were dispatched to the Reiner residence.
“At this time, no additional details are available and the investigation into an apparent homicide is ongoing,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement posted on social media.
LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told reporters that no arrests have been made and that no individuals are currently being questioned as suspects.
“I’m not going to confirm whether anyone is being questioned at this moment or not. We are going to try to speak with as many family members as we can,” Hamilton said.
CNN reported that a family spokesperson confirmed the deaths of Reiner and his wife.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, former U.S. President Barack Obama, and former Vice President Kamala Harrisissued statements expressing their condolences.
International
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement to comply with current water obligations affecting U.S. farmers and ranchers and for Mexico to cover its water deficit to Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The department уточified that the agreement applies to both the current cycle and the water deficit from the previous cycle.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Mexico of failing to comply with the water-sharing treaty between the two countries, which requires the United States to deliver 1.85 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River, while Mexico must supply 432 million cubic meters from the Rio Grande.
Mexico is behind on its commitments. According to Washington, the country has accumulated a deficit of more than one billion cubic meters of water over the past five years.
“This violation is severely harming our beautiful crops and our livestock in Texas,” Trump wrote on Monday.
The Department of Agriculture said on Friday that Mexico had agreed to supply 250 million cubic meters of water starting next week and to work toward closing the shortfall.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, quoted in the statement, said Mexico delivered more water in a single year than it had over the previous four years combined.
Trump has said that if Mexico continues to fall short of its obligations, the United States reserves the right to impose 5% tariffs on imported Mexican products.
Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister for North America, Roberto Velasco, said that a severe drought in 2022 and 2023prevented the country from meeting its commitments.
International
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Several people were shot on Saturday in an attack on the campus of Brown University, in the northeastern United States, local police reported.
“Shelter in place and avoid the area until further notice,” the Providence Police Department urged in a post on X. Brown University is located in Providence, the capital of the state of Rhode Island.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that he had been briefed on the situation and that the FBI was on the scene.
At 5:52 p.m. local time (11:52 p.m. GMT), Brown University said the situation was still “ongoing” and instructed students to remain sheltered until further notice.
After initially stating that the suspect had been taken into custody, Trump later posted a second message clarifying that local police had walked back that information. “The suspect has NOT been apprehended,” the U.S. president said.
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Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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