All articles tagged with #americas
Mexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum vowed to respond to the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant shot by a U.S. ICE officer during a traffic stop in Houston, with “legal measures” that would go beyond protests or diplomatic statements, though officials did not specify the steps. The move highlights rising U.S.-Mexico tensions over immigration enforcement and mistreatment concerns, as outrage spreads at home and abroad.
Trump’s Great American State Fair on the National Mall was temporarily closed Friday afternoon due to an extreme heat wave in Washington, near 100°F, with safety officials expanding cooling resources and water stations. The disruption followed earlier heat-related issues like a food hall power outage and the cancellation of Vanilla Ice’s performance, amid low attendance, as Trump braces for a late-night rally and Independence Day events.
A swimmer at Jones Beach State Park in New York was bitten on the foot in a suspected shark attack, with lifeguards responding and the victim taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The beach was briefly closed during an hour-long shark search before swimming was allowed again with restrictions to waist-deep water. Officials reported other shark sightings nearby at Rockaway Beach and Point Lookout on Long Island amid record heat; drones are increasingly used to monitor sharks. Shark bites are rare, with about 60–80 unprovoked bites worldwide each year.
Michelle Bolsonaro publicly criticized her stepson Flávio Bolsonaro in a video, accusing him of humiliating her, a family feud within the Bolsonaro dynasty that could complicate Flávio's bid for Brazil's presidency and influence voters as Lula remains a central challenger.
Squirrels in several U.S. states have been seen with oozing, wart-like tumors caused by squirrel fibromatosis, a disease linked to Lepripoxvirus. The infections usually don’t hinder survival and often clear in four to eight weeks, though they can spread in crowded groups. The virus isn’t contagious to humans or pets, but experts urge people not to handle affected animals and suggest removing bird feeders to reduce gatherings.
A Tesla Model 3, reportedly on autopilot, crashed into a Katy, Texas home at high speed, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila. The driver was hospitalized, cooperated with investigators, and no charges have been filed as authorities from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Vehicular Crimes Division investigate the incident and assess damages to the home.
Trump unveiled a former Qatari-owned Boeing 747 converted into a temporary Air Force One, featuring a luxury interior and bold color scheme, to serve until Boeing VC-25Bs arrive in 2028; the jet will be used for upcoming missions including a NATO summit in Ankara, while the older VC-25As remain in service and questions about accepting the foreign gift have been raised.
New footage shows a Starbucks employee in St. Louis and a coworker fighting off two robbers during a December 2023 incident; the gun was revealed to be fake, one robber escaped while the other was restrained until police arrived. The workers were fired, and Michael Harris is suing for wrongful termination as the robbers have since been convicted, while Starbucks emphasizes de-escalation in its safety training.
Internal cost estimates show the East Wing ballroom project could reach $600 million, with about 48% coming from private sources and 51% funded by taxpayers through security and related expenses, marking a sharp increase from earlier figures and fueling public opposition and political debate over funding.
American singer Oliver Tree died in a midair collision between two helicopters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, along with five others including the pilot of the other helicopter; Tree, 32, was aboard the chopper with four other passengers when the crash occurred west of downtown Rio.
An Ipsos quick count shows Roberto Sanchez leading Keiko Fujimori 50.3% to 49.7%, a statistical tie, with Fujimori strongest in Lima and the coast while Sanchez dominates rural areas; the quick count is not official but has historically tracked the final result, keeping the Peru runoff too close to call.
Keiko Fujimori—who was Peru’s first lady at 19 during her father Alberto Fujimori’s presidency—is running for a fourth time in a runoff against leftist Roberto Sánchez, with some polls showing her ahead by a slim margin. The race comes amid Peru’s decade-long political volatility (eight presidents in ten years) and lingering scrutiny of Fujimori’s Fuerza Popular, including past corruption investigations now declared null in 2025. Proponents argue she offers a calmer, pro‑market agenda aimed at restoring investor confidence, while critics link her to her family’s contentious legacy as Peru strives for stability.
Eight days before the World Cup kickoff, Mexico City experiences gridlock as dissident CNTE teachers, retired judges, road closures and last‑minute construction disrupt commutes, with authorities avoiding a crackdown while ongoing renovations ahead of the tournament continue.
A 33-year-old Chinese hiker and cruise passenger, Wang Zyuan, who vanished on Mount Liamuiga on St. Kitts on May 27, was found dead after days of a multi-agency search. Police used cell-tower data to narrow the search of the strenuous trail, with volunteers and officials continuing the effort before locating his body.
Colombia will decide its presidency in a June 21 runoff after Abelardo de la Espriella led the first round with 43.74% and Iván Cepeda trailed with 40.90%, with Paloma Valencia at 6.92%. The race pits a right‑wing, security‑focused platform seeking closer ties with the United States (and Israel) against Cepeda’s leftist, Petro‑era agenda emphasizing social reforms and diplomacy. The outcome could redefine domestic policy and Colombia’s foreign stance, including drug interdiction and regional diplomacy, regardless of which candidate wins the presidency.