International

Strong explosion recorded at Ubinas volcano in Peru

Photo: Andina

July 4 |

Peru’s Ubinas volcano recorded this Tuesday an explosion of a height of 5,500 meters above the base of the crater, which is the first since 2019, while authorities announced that they will soon declare an emergency in the region of Moquegua.

The Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute (Ingemmet) reported that the explosion occurred at 03H17 (local time), meanwhile, noted that the volcano presents internal activity associated with the movement of fluids and fracturing.

The entity pointed out that the ash expelled is advancing towards the south and southwest, which will affect the localities of Querapi, Ubinas, Sacohaya, Anascapa, San Miguel, Tonohaya, Huatahua, Huarina, Escacha and Matalaque, belonging to the Ubinas valley.

For his part, the Prime Minister, Alberto Otárola, confirmed to the national media that “an emergency will be declared in these days in order to take the necessary measures for prevention”.

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In this sense, the premier pointed out that around the volcano there are about 2,000 people living in the vicinity of the volcano while he emphasized that they are receiving masks to minimize the effects on their health.

“I believe that we can take care of the health of these people through these preventive measures (…) We are taking care of these phenomena and we are always coordinating in an assertive way with all the institutions to face them”, he emphasized.

The Ubinas valley, located in the southern region of Peru, integrates seven volcanoes located in a volcanic strip that reaches the north of Chile.

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.