US senators on Sunday finalized a historic, trillion-dollar infrastructure proposal that is expected to be approved within days, Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said. If passed by Congress and signed into law, the bill would pump historic levels of federal funding into fixing US roads, bridges and waterways, ensuring broadband internet for all Americans and […]
politics
Mexico referendum on prosecuting ex-presidents draws few voters
A national referendum pushed by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on whether to prosecute his predecessors for alleged corruption drew only a small fraction of voters to the polls on Sunday. Turnout was little more than seven percent — far from the 40 percent necessary for it to have any legal bearing, the National […]
US authorities scramble, trade blame as millions face eviction
Eviction protections expired Sunday for millions of Americans who could face homelessness within days, triggering a scramble to unlock billions in stalled rental aid and recriminations in Washington. Renters had been shielded from eviction for nearly a year as part of a government moratorium intended to keep people in their houses during the Covid-19 pandemic. […]
Zambia president deploys army to quell violence ahead of vote
Zambian President Edgar Lungu said Sunday he has ordered the deployment of the military to quell electoral violence ahead of elections on August 12. “Maintaining law and order is a daily chore of the police, but sometimes they need help from other security wings,” Lungu said. In several parts of the country, supporters of the […]
Thousands take part in pro-Bolsonaro rallies in Brazil
Thousands of Brazilians took to the streets in several cities Sunday to support far-right President Jair Bolsonaro in protest against the country’s electronic voting system. In Rio, some 3,000 people marched on Copacabana beach, many without face masks and dressed in Brazil’s yellow-and-green flag colors. “What we want is that the votes can be recounted […]
Two more Tunisia MPs critical of president arrested: party
Tunisian security forces have arrested two MPs from an Islamist party opposed to a power grab by President Kais Saied, their party said Sunday. Maher Zid and Mohamed Affes of Al-Karama have been placed in provisional detention in connection with a military investigation, party head Seifeddine Makhlouf wrote on Facebook. Al-Karama is allied to the […]
New arrests in plot to kill Madagascar president
Madagascar on Sunday announced the arrest of five generals as well as high-ranking police officers in connection with a failed attempt to assassinate President Andry Rajoelina, the attorney general said. “To date, 21 people have been arrested and investigated,” Berthine Razafiarivony told a news briefing. Six people, including two French citizens, were initially arrested […]
Iran rejects Israel’s ‘baseless accusations’ over ship attack
Iran’s foreign ministry on Sunday rejected “baseless accusations” after Israel blamed its arch-foe for a deadly attack on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman. “The Zionist regime … must stop such baseless accusations — and it is not their first time to direct such accusations at Iran,” ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters […]
Mexico holds referendum on prosecuting ex-presidents
Mexicans vote Sunday in a national referendum promoted by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on whether to investigate and prosecute his predecessors for alleged corruption. Lopez Obrador, a self-styled anti-graft crusader, says the public consultation will strengthen participatory democracy, but critics see it as little more than a political stunt. To be binding, 37.4 million […]
Iran’s Raisi set to focus on economy and nuclear deal
Iran’s ultraconservative Ebrahim Raisi will be inaugurated on Tuesday as the new president of the Islamic republic, a country mired in deep economic crisis and hit by crippling US sanctions. He replaces moderate president Hassan Rouhani, whose landmark achievement was the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers. Raisi, 60, will have to […]