International
Lula and Petro meet in Colombia’s presidential palace with the environment in the background
The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, arrived at the Casa de Nariño in Bogotá to meet with his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, with whom he will talk about environmental cooperation, economic issues and also the Venezuelan situation.
Lula, accompanied by the First Lady of Brazil, Rosângela ‘Janja’ Lula da Silva, was received with military honors in the Plaza de Armas of the Colombian presidential palace.
However, he was not received by Petro in the outside courtyard of the palace, as usually happens, but the Colombian president waited for him at the door, next to the first lady, Verónica Alcocer.
The Brazilian and the Colombian, who have established themselves as the main South American leaders who defend the environment, will address “bilateral strategic issues, among others, the protection of the Amazon,” the Colombian Presidency reported.
Thus, on the table are issues of trade and investment, sustainable development and Amazon cooperation, social programs, human rights and family agriculture, among others.
“The delegations of the two governments will hold meetings to discuss specific issues of binational interest, such as the implementation of the Belém do Pará Declaration of 2023, pharmaceutical regulation, biooceanic corridors, tourism, homologation of university degrees and electrical interconnection,” said the Casa de Nariño.
It is expected that they will also combine visions about Venezuela since both countries have expressed their “concern” about the obstacles imposed for the registration of some opposition presidential candidacies in the face of the elections on July 28, but they do not consider that “isolating” that country is the answer.
“The regional situation is a mandatory issue” and the electoral process in Venezuela is “of interest to both countries,” said last week the director of the South American department of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, João Queiroz.
Likewise, a road infrastructure plan proposed by Brazil to the countries of South America will be discussed, which aims at the construction of a wide road network and which has the endorsement of the main regional financial agencies.
The two presidents will also analyze commercial alternatives, both bilaterally and at the regional level, which include a push for the integration of South American production chains.
Brazil is today Colombia’s third largest trading partner, behind the United States and China, so the two governments intend to expand that exchange.
After the meeting and an official statement, both leaders will address a Brazil-Colombia Economic Forum, which will bring together 300 businessmen from both countries.
They will also inaugurate the XXXVI International Book Fair of Bogotá, one of the most relevant cultural events in Colombia and which is dedicated this year to Brazil.
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
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
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