Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has praised the USMCA trade deal, which went into effect on Wednesday. He has said he expects the deal with Canada and the U.S. to bring more foreign investment to Mexico.
The Congressional Black Caucus has been pushing for more racial equality reforms. On Wednesday, the caucus announced their next steps towards racial justice in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered bars and indoor dining to close in certain counties of the state as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. On Wednesday, he announced the order will apply to 19 counties, closing all indoor restaurants, movie theaters, zoos, museums and entertainment centers.
House lawmakers have taken the first steps towards providing a refugee status to certain groups of Hong Kong citizens. During a recent Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, congressmen from both major parties condemned China’s new national security law and claimed it will erode the city’s autonomy.
A union representing immigration judges has sued the Justice Department over a policy that prohibits judges from speaking publicly about immigration. On Wednesday, the Knight First Amendments Institute filed the suit on behalf of the National Association of Immigration Judges.
Seattle police arrested 31 people as they began clearing out the city’s former “autonomous zone” this week. Authorities moved into the “CHOP” zone after the mayor’s emergency order took effect early on Wednesday morning, which directed all residents to vacate the area.
A group of women have reached a nearly $19 million settlement with disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein over his rape conviction. On Tuesday, attorneys announced they will have a preliminary hearing this month to approve a victims fund, which will allow women who were abused by Weinstein to file for damages confidentially.
Protesters across the nation have torn down Confederate statues and vandalized federal monuments in recent weeks. President Trump recently fired back and has promised there will be retribution.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused the mainstream media of spreading misinformation regarding a New York Times report that claimed Russia offered bounties for killing American service members.