International

WHO confirms first bird flu death

April 12 |

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a Chinese woman died from H3N8 avian influenza in mid-March, after having confirmed three human cases in the last year in China.

According to information from the world public health agency, the victim suffered from underlying diseases and it has been established that he had close contact with farm poultry before he showed symptoms of the disease, as well as the presence of wild birds around his home.

The WHO also states that epidemiological studies carried out so far show that the H3N8 virus does not have the capacity to be easily transmitted from person to person, and therefore considers that “the risk of human-to-human spread at the national, regional or international level is low”.

However, the known fact that this type of virus can change “makes it very important that there be global surveillance to detect any virological, epidemiological or clinical changes”.

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The first two human cases reported by China of this same disease were recorded in April and May 2022, and recovered. In both cases it was determined that the infection occurred through direct or indirect exposure to live edible birds.

The Chinese authorities explained that after the three cases were detected, all contacts of the infected persons were traced and followed up, but no additional cases were found among them.

Ultimately, WHO recommended that to minimize the risk of infection, countries should raise public awareness of the importance of avoiding contact in risk environments such as farms or markets where there are live animals, edible birds or surfaces that may be contaminated with animal feces.

International

Florida judge sets 2027 trial in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against BBC

A federal judge in Florida has scheduled February 2027 for the trial in the lawsuit filed by U.S. President Donald Trump against the BBC, in which he is seeking $10 billion in damages for defamation.

Trump accuses the British broadcaster of airing a misleading edit of a speech he delivered on January 6, 2021, which, he says, made it appear that he explicitly urged his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

The president filed the suit in December in federal court in Florida, alleging defamation and violations of a law governing business practices when the program was broadcast ahead of the 2024 election.

Trump is seeking $5 billion in damages for each of the two claims.

Lawyers for the BBC unsuccessfully asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that Trump had not suffered a “legally recognizable harm,” since the investigative program Panorama, which included the edited footage, aired outside the United States.

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International

Head-of-state diplomacy key to guiding China–U.S. ties, Beijing says

Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China–United States relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday during a regular press briefing, when asked about high-level exchanges between the two sides.

Lin added that in a recent phone call, U.S. President Donald Trump once again expressed his intention to visit China in April, while Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his invitation.

Both sides remain in communication regarding the matter, the spokesperson said.

Lin noted that the essence of China–U.S. economic and trade ties lies in mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

“Both parties should work together to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, injecting greater certainty and stability into China–U.S. economic and trade cooperation, as well as into the global economy,” he said.

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International

Trump administration to end special immigration operation in Minnesota

The administration of Donald Trump is bringing to a close its special operation targeting illegal immigration in the northern state of Minnesota, border czar Tom Homan announced Thursday, following weeks of unrest and the fatal shootings of two activists by federal agents.

Thousands of federal officers had been deployed to Minnesota in December to carry out large-scale raids against undocumented immigrants.

The operations triggered strong reactions from residents and advocacy groups, leading to daily confrontations and the deaths of two people who were shot by federal agents.

“I proposed, and President Trump agreed, that this special operation should end in Minnesota,” Homan said during a press conference in the state capital, Minneapolis.

“A significant drawdown began this week and will continue into next week,” he added.

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Homan indicated that similar enforcement efforts could be launched in other cities.

“Next week we will redeploy the agents currently here back to their home stations or to other parts of the country where they are needed. But we will continue to enforce immigration laws,” he said.