International
The U.S. Senate lays the rules that sought to protect access to contraceptives
The U.S. Senate overthrew on Wednesday a bill that sought to protect access to contraceptives and that will not continue its parliamentary procedure due to opposition from the Republican bench.
The regulation in question, called the ‘Right to Contraception Act’, had no chance of moving forward since it required a majority of 60 votes and the Democrats have 47 seats, although they usually have the support of four independent legislators.
The procedure was slowed down by 51 votes in favor and 39 against.
The leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, had decided to put it to a vote as a way to challenge Republicans to publicly position themselves against access to those medicines that almost all American women will ever use in their lives.
Among those who voted in favor were two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, who usually have more moderate positions than their co-religionists.
Shortly after the vote, U.S. President Joe Biden reaffirmed in a statement that both he and Vice President Kamala Harris believe that “women in each state should have the freedom to make profoundly personal decisions about their health, including the right to decide whether they want to form or expand their family, and when to do so.”
Therefore, he promised that his Government will continue to work with the Democrats of Congress to protect the reproductive rights of women and try to restore at the federal level the protections against abortion that the Supreme Court annulled almost two years ago, which left the policies in the hands of each state in this regard.
Almost 90% of voters say that Americans should have the right to make decisions about contraception and choose their contraceptives without government interference, according to a recent poll by the progressive firm Impact Research.
Former US President and Republican pre-candidate Donald Trump (2017-2021) said in May in an interview with a Pittsburgh television that he was open to supporting regulations on contraception and that his campaign would publish a policy on the issue “very soon,” but then he retracted those statements.
In addition, the head of Biden’s campaign, Julie Chávez Rodríguez, warned on Tuesday at a press conference about the danger posed by Trump’s “extremism” to women’s reproductive rights and said that this will be one of the topics that Biden will bring to the debate he will lead with Trump on June 27, organized by CNN.
In May, Trump said during an interview with a Pittsburgh television that he was open to supporting regulations on contraception and that his campaign would publish a policy on the issue “very soon,” comments that he later said had been misinterpreted.
Specifically, on his Truth Social platform, Trump assured that he “has never advocated or will advocate” for restricting the contraceptive pill and other contraceptives.
Almost 90% of voters say that Americans should have the right to make decisions about contraception and choose their contraceptives without government interference, according to a recent poll by the progressive firm Impact Research.
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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