17 dead in Caracas stampede:
Pro-choice activists react outside the Argentine Congress in Buenos Aires, on June 14, shortly after lawmakers approved a bill to legalize abortion. Lawmakers in Pope Francis’ native Argentina on Thursday narrowly approved a bill to legalize abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. The lower house Chamber of Deputies passed the bill by 129 votes to 125. The bill now goes before the Senate. (AFP)
telecommunications empire, Reuters interviews with a dozen close friends, partners and other people familiar with their dealings show.
Lopez Obrador’s pick for telecoms minister, Javier Jimenez, told Reuters he favors reexamining some regulations stemming from Mexico’s landmark 2014 telecommunications reform, a law that has clipped America Movil’s profits and inhibited its expansion.
That is because Slim’s company, which possesses the largest network in Mexico, could play a key role in delivering cell coverage to rural areas but complains current regulations hold it back.
Lopez Obrador has championed better connectivity for the nation’s impoverished farmers and indigenous people, who are some of his strongest supporters.
“We have to define a policy so that within six years there is the possibility of 5G across the whole country,” said Jimenez, who went to college with Slim and has known him for some 60 years.
He emphasized that all players would be invited to take part.
Jimenez said such a shift could include reviewing criteria for evaluating “preponderance.” That concept in the telecoms law triggers
Duque
Slim
tougher regulation for players with more than 50 percent market share. America Movil still accounts for more than 60 percent of Mexico’s fixed lines and mobile users. (RTRS)
Seventeen people, including eight minors, were killed at a crowded Caracas club early Saturday when a tear gas canister was detonated, setting off a stampede, Venezuelan officials said.
The deaths occurred after a brawl broke out during a middle school graduation party and someone detonated the tear gas, sending more than 500 people rushing for the exits, said Interior and Justice Minister Nestor Reverol.
In comments aired on state VTV television, Reverol put the death toll at 17.
Witnesses said a minor, one of seven people detained in the incident, is suspected of setting off the tear gas.
Official reports said the victims died of suffocation or multiple trauma. At least five people were hurt in the incident and taken to hospital for treatment. (AFP)