International

Uruguayan government rejects warnings about water crisis

Photo: EFE

July 14 |

A group of experts from the United Nations (UN) on Thursday urged the government of Uruguay to prioritize the use of fresh water for human consumption in the context of the water crisis that the South American country is going through, which was not favorably received by the government of Luis Lacalle Pou.

In a letter, whose signatories include the Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Drinking Water and Sanitation, Pedro Arrojo-Agudo and the president of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Damilola Olawuyi, warns that 60 percent of the population has been affected by the increase in water salinity.

The specialists, with several years of experience, stressed that “although the high salt indices are attributed to the failure of water infrastructure, aggravated by abnormally long periods of water stress, the underlying problem is the overexploitation of water, especially by some industries in the country”.

For these reasons, they said, “it is necessary to deepen measures to ensure that all people have access to the water necessary for life,” because these high levels of salinity, for example, “significantly affect vulnerable groups, such as children and adolescents, pregnant women and people suffering from chronic diseases.

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The experts acknowledged the efforts made by the Uruguayan Executive, such as the exemption of bottled water from taxes; however, the government responded to the exhortation through a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in which it described the experts’ statements as “inaccuracies”.

For its part, the Uruguayan Foreign Ministry notified that the values of chlorine and sodium in the water “are not considered alarming, since the increase authorized in order to ensure the supply has been evaluated by the health and academic authorities, who have considered that the great majority of the population can continue consuming it”.

In the text, the diplomatic entity recalled that the Ministry of Social Development provided for its beneficiaries (supported by family allowances, old age assistance, passive people receiving minimum income) a monetary support to buy 60 liters of water per month, particularly pregnant women and children under 2 years of age.

The text also remarked that, as a way of preventing the water crisis and preserving the health of the population, the administration of Obras Sanitarias del Estado (OSE) and the Executive designed a strategy based on “maintaining the continuity of the public supply without making supply cuts”.

Likewise, “to maintain the sanitation service so that the more than 550,000 homes in the Metropolitan Region can evacuate domestic wastewater, and to keep the distribution networks continuously operational to fight and protect against fires and urban disasters”, it explained.

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The text in question emphasizes that “the Government never recommended reducing human consumption of water, but its reduction in non-essential activities in order to ensure better water quality for a longer period of time”. In this sense, it adds that “water is still drinkable”.

International

Former Trump allies call for removal, cite 25th Amendment amid Iran threats

Former allies of U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday called for his removal from office, arguing he is unfit to continue in the role following recent threats to “wipe out an entire civilization,” made just hours before the deadline of his ultimatum to Iran.

One of the most prominent voices was former Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who invoked the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as a mechanism to remove the president from power.

“25th Amendment! Not a single bomb has fallen on the U.S. We cannot annihilate an entire civilization. This is evil and insanity,” Greene wrote on social media platform X.

Greene, once a leading figure within Trump’s political movement during his first term, broke with the president last November over disagreements on foreign policy and his handling of controversial cases.

Another former supporter, controversial commentator Alex Jones, also raised the possibility of applying the constitutional provision during his show, in a conversation with attorney Robert Barnes.

Barnes explained that invoking the 25th Amendment requires the support of two-thirds of Congress, making it a more complex process than impeachment.

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Section 4 of the amendment, ratified in 1967, establishes that the vice president, together with a majority of the cabinet, can declare the president unable to perform the duties of the office, a decision that must then be confirmed by both chambers of Congress.

The statements come amid rising international tensions and increasing domestic political pressure on the president.

International

Trump pauses strikes on Iran, extends ultimatum by two weeks

The president of the United States, Donald Trump, announced a temporary suspension of attacks against Iran for a period of two weeks, extending the ultimatum he had imposed on Tehran just hours before its deadline.

According to the president, the measure is conditional on Iran allowing the “full, immediate, and secure” reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump stated that the decision would involve a reciprocal ceasefire between both parties.

The announcement was made through a message on his social media platform, where he emphasized that the pause in military actions is intended to create space for de-escalation in the region.

He also noted that the decision followed a conversation with the prime minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, who requested a two-week extension of the ultimatum.

The move comes amid heightened global tensions, marked by escalating threats and concerns over the potential impact of the conflict on key international energy trade routes.

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International

WHO worker killed as Israeli forces fire on Gaza medical convoy

An employee of the World Health Organization (WHO) was killed on Monday in Gaza Strip after Israeli forces opened fire on a medical convoy transporting patients for evacuation, according to witnesses and official accounts.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the vehicle approached troops in a “threatening manner,” alleging that the driver accelerated toward soldiers despite warning shots. “The troops fired warning shots. The vehicle continued advancing, and additional fire was directed at it,” the military said in a statement.

The army also claimed the vehicle lacked clear markings and was therefore treated as a potential threat.

However, survivors disputed that account. Raed Aslan, a passenger in the convoy, told reporters in Khan Younis that the vehicles were clearly marked with WHO insignia. “The vehicle was clearly identified as belonging to the WHO,” he said, adding that an Israeli tank blocked the road and fired at the driver despite the route being empty.

The convoy was transporting patients to the Rafah crossing, the only exit point available for medical evacuations abroad, as Israel does not permit transfers to Jerusalem or the West Bank.

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The incident adds to a series of controversial cases involving Israeli military actions against humanitarian convoys. In April 2024, seven workers from World Central Kitchen were killed in an Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah. The military initially cited a “misidentification,” despite the vehicles being clearly marked.

Similarly, in March 2025, 15 paramedics, rescuers, and a UN worker were killed near Rafah. Israeli authorities first claimed emergency lights were off, but video evidence later contradicted that assertion.

A subsequent investigation by organizations including Forensic Architecture found that Israeli forces fired hundreds of rounds at the convoy, and that the vehicles were later destroyed and buried along with the bodies before being recovered days later.

The latest incident is likely to intensify scrutiny over the conduct of military operations in Gaza, particularly regarding the safety of humanitarian personnel and medical evacuations.