International

Latvia will introduce mandatory national defense classes in all institutes

All Latvian high schools will teach mandatory national defense classes from the start of next year on September 1, Prime Minister Evikta Silina announced on Thursday in statements to the press.

With the decision, a 2018 law is made effective by which defense classes were first introduced on a voluntary basis in certain centers, in the tenth and eleventh years, with the subsequent goal of making them mandatory from 2024.

Silina spoke at a press conference after an ordinary Council of Ministers in Riga in which the Minister of Education, Anda Caksa, also participated, who indicated that the subject would include 112 hours of theory and practical exercises over two years.

Educational centers will have some flexibility to adjust their program and create space for the new mandatory classes, but not at the expense of science subjects or language and literature, Caksa said.

They will teach the instructor classes of the Voluntary Corps of Young Cadets, which has already participated in the pilot program and has its own programs of extracurricular and summer activities.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

Caksa said that the requirements of the subject mean that educational centers must set up shooting ranges or have access to areas where they can practice shooting.

For his part, the Minister of Defense, Andris Spruds, explained that the subject will include topics ranging from the historical and theoretical basis of national defense, the role of the armed forces and civil defense to practical issues such as leadership, survival in the field, first aid and handling of weapons.

Although the idea of implementing the subject dates back to 2018, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, at the moment the classes are seen as a preparation for the National Defense Service (VAD), the new military service that combines voluntary and mandatory elements implemented in 2023.

The first two rounds were covered with volunteers, but in the third there have been mandatory recruitments after some volunteers did not meet the specified requirements.

Silina also said at the press conference that the first shipment of drones to Ukraine will soon be on its way, within the framework of the coalition of 14 countries to supply these devices to Kiev.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

Spruds refused to provide details about its characteristics but said that it is mainly first-person vision (FPV) drones, which allow the operator to operate the device depending on what he sees through the cameras.

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.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

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.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

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.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

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.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

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.