International
Iran extends the vote in the presidential elections until midnight
Iran extended this Friday until midnight the voting time of the early presidential elections after the death of the previous president, Ebrahim Raisí, in elections without a clear favorite.
“Due to the influx of citizens in the presidential elections, the voting time in all schools in the country is extended until 00:00 hours,” said the Iranian Electoral Commission, according to the IRNA agency.
Previously, the Iranian authorities had extended the initial closing time twice from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., a common practice in the elections of the Persian country.
Around 58,000 polling stations opened their doors at 08:00 in the morning, local time (04:30 GMT) throughout the country, where more than 61 million people are called to the polls.
The favorite candidates are the conservative pragmatic Mohamad Baqer Qalibaf, the ultra-conservative Saeed Jalili and the reformist Masoud Pezeshkian to succeed President Ebrahim Raisí, who died in a helicopter crash in May.
Data from local polls point to a possible second round within a week, given that it seems that no candidate will achieve 50% of the votes.
Data from local polls point to a possible second round within a week, given that it seems that no candidate will achieve 50% of the votes.
The results are expected to be announced tomorrow, Saturday at noon.
The Iranian president has decision-making power in national matters and to a lesser extent in foreign and security policy in Iran, where the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, serves as head of state with vast powers.
As is traditional, Khamenei voted first thing in the morning in front of the television cameras and called again to participate in the elections.
“The continuation, strength, dignity and honor of the Islamic Republic before the world depends on the participation of the people,” said the highest political and religious authority of the country.
Among the voters reigns, however, skepticism and apathy in the midst of an economy weighed down by 40% inflation, a devalued rial and 20% youth unemployment.
To this is added the disenchantment of many Iranians, especially young people, with the Islamic Republic in the face of the lack of social freedoms, especially the imposition of the Islamic veil, a hot issue since the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022 after being arrested for not wearing it well, which provoked strong protests.
This apathy among the 61 million voters worries the Islamic Republic, which attaches great importance to participation in the elections as a sign of its legitimacy and popular support.
In the parliamentary elections of March, the lowest turnout was recorded in the 45 years of the Islamic Republic, when only 41% of the electorate went to the polls, while in the 2021 presidential elections they voted 48%.
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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