Clara, Bridge the Divide Co-Founder
Culture: Apple Inc. hired its first Vice President of Diversity. National Basketball Association (NBA) playoff are currently in full swing.
Economics: There is bipartisan pushback on President Trump’s proposed budget, wherein he seeks $1.6B to build a US-Mexico border wall.
Politics: At the University of Notre Dame’s graduation, students walked out of the commencement ceremony in protest of Vice President Mike Pence and his policies. Americans are divided on this issue—was it justified or disrespectful for the students to walk out?
Culture: Overshadowed by the political turmoil of the week.
Economics: All this happened amid the first economic signs that the country was beginning to overcome its years-long recession, its worst ever.
Politics: Former President Lula was called to testify over his alleged corruption charges. A major political crisis occurred after a businessman testified to the ongoing anti-corruption investigation, providing evidence incriminating several top politicians, including President Temer, who now faces impeachment charges. Senators and Congressmen were arrested, and the country now swarms with protests calling for Temer's renunciation.
UNITED STATES
MEXICO
Sofia, Bridge the Divide Ambassador
BRAZIL
Joao, Bridge the Divide Ambassador
Culture: The Revolutionary Sex and Gender Diversity Alliance has drafted a proposal that includes demands for LGBTQ and reproductive rights to present to the constituent assembly, called for by Maduro this May.
Economics: The inflation rate is projected to hit 720% this year, according to the IMF.
Politics: Protests calling for the release of political prisoners and the resumption of elections continue into their sixth week. Protesters organized a sit-in against President Maduro. The Associated Press reported that at least 2,000 have been detained and around 750 have been injured.
VENEZUELA
Lucia, Bridge the Divide Ambassador
NORTH AMERICA
SOUTH AMERICA
Culture: The murder of journalists is on the rise, with another respected reporter, Javier Valdez, recently killed, ramping up the conversation about the freedom of the press.
Economics: The Mexican peso strengthened to its highest level since the 2016 American presidential election.
Politics: The political climate is rife with the spillover of American political turbulence. Landowners along the Texas-Mexico border are preparing for the Trump administration to try to take their land to build a wall, a move Mexico's Foreign Relations Secretary says is an "unfriendly, hostile act."