Blood Meridian

🇵🇪🇨🇳China, Peru completed 'substantial negotiations' to upgrade FTA China and Peru have achieved "substantial conclusion of negotiations" on the upgrading of a free trade agreement between both countries, Chinese state media said on Friday. In a meeting with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte in Beijing, President Xi Jinping said both sides should coordinate and promote cooperation in fields such as minerals, energy, manufacturing, agriculture and others. Peru's press office reported that Boluarte and Xi also signed a series of agreements to strengthen ties, including one on Peruvian grape exports to China, and a memorandum of understanding establishing a Peruvian-Chinese Business Council. continue to advance," Siles added. 🔎 Source #Peru #China ☠️ Blood Meridian

🇺🇸Mayorkas must hand over docs on illegal migrants accused of heinous crimes Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was hit with a House Judiciary Committee subpoena Friday demanding he produce long-awaited records on nine migrants suspected of sickening crimes, including the rape of a disabled teen girl and a mob assault on two NYPD cops. DHS must hand over documents on the accused criminals by 9 a.m. on July 17. 🔎 Source #US #border ☠️ Blood Meridian

🇧🇴Bolivian general who led failed coup gets six months pre-trial detention Detained Bolivian general Juan Jose Zuniga was ordered to six months "preventive detention" for his role leading a failed coup against the government earlier in the week, a top prosecutor said on Friday. The Attorney General's Office requested the six months detention and said other government bodies, including the Defense Ministry and Interior Ministry, supported the request "due to the importance and seriousness of the events that occurred," state prosecutor Cesar Siles said. 🗣"This preventive detention that the judge is ordering will undoubtedly set a precedent and a good signal so that this investigation can continue to advance," Siles added. 🔎 Source #Bolivia ☠️ Blood Meridian

🇵🇦Judge acquits 28 people accused in Panama Papers case, including law firm co-founder A judge has acquitted 28 people accused of money laundering in an international case known as the Panama Papers, including the co-founder of a law firm that authorities say was at the center of a conspiracy to hide money linked to illegal activities. Jürgen Mossack founded Mossack & Fonseca with then associate Ramón Fonseca, who died in May. Mossack was acquitted on Friday along with others after a Panamanian judge found that the evidence against Mossack didn’t comply with the chain of custody after authorities raided the office of the now defunct firm. 🔎 Source #Panama ☠️ Blood Meridian

Later today at 7pm UK time, we will be joined by Student X to review his book Equal Training.

🇺🇸🇭🇹U.S. offers deportation relief to further 309,000 Haitians The Biden administration will expand deportation relief and work permits to an estimated 309,000 Haitians in the country already, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said on Friday. The administration will expand access to the Temporary Protected Status program to Haitians through February 2026 due to violence and security issues in Haiti. About 264,000 Haitians in the U.S. were already covered by the program, according to the U.S. government. 🔎 Source #US #Haiti ☠️ Blood Meridian

🇧🇴Bolivian government says it detained 4 more people linked to a failed coup attempt Bolivian officials announced Friday they had arrested four more military officers in connection with Wednesday’s thwarted coup against the government of President Luis Arce, raising to 21 the number of detainees allegedly linked to a rogue general’s mutiny attempt. In a press conference, senior Cabinet member Eduardo del Castillo said those arrested include the driver of a tank that repeatedly rammed into the doors of the government headquarters and a former infantry captain accused of giving orders to soldiers who took over the capital’s central Plaza Murillo. 🔎 Source #Bolivia ☠️ Blood Meridian

🇦🇷Argentina's lower house passes Milei's economic reform bill Argentina's lower Chamber of Deputies gave final approval to President Javier Milei's key reform bill, delivering the libertarian president his first big legislative win. 🔎 Source #Argentina ☠️ Blood Meridian

🇵🇦Panama Canal boosts ship depth, crossings at Neopanamax locks after rains The Panama Canal authority said on Wednesday that recent rains boosted water levels, allowing heavier ships with larger cargo loads to transit the canal's Neopanamax locks. The maximum ship depth for the key global waterway will be set at 47 feet (14.33 m) effective immediately, and on July 11, will deepen to 48 feet (14.63 m), the canal authority said in an advisory to clients. The authority also opened up another transit slot for Neopanamax ships for booking dates after Aug. 5, bringing the total number of available slots in both Neopanamax and Panamax locks to 35 slots. 🔎 Source #Panama ☠️ Blood Meridian

🇵🇷🇺🇸Puerto Rico sues former officials accused of corruption to recover more than $30M in public funds Puerto Rico’s Justice Department announced Tuesday it is suing at least 30 former government officials accused of corruption to recover more than $30 million in public funds. Among those sued are three former legislators, including María Milagros Charbonier, who was sentenced in May to eight years in federal prison after being found guilty of theft, bribery and a kickback scheme. Also sued are eight former mayors including Félix Delgado of Cataño and Ángel Pérez of Guaynabo. 🔎 Source #PuertoRico #US ☠️ Blood Meridian