International

Community leader murdered in Medellin, Colombia

Photo: Blue radio

September 4 |

Juan Valencia Hinestrasa, a recognized leader who served as president of the Community Action Board of the Villatina – La Esperanza neighborhood, in Colombia, was killed with a knife, in the middle of an altercation with another subject, reported the Institute of Studies for Development and Peace ( Indepaz).

According to local media reports, the events took place at around 10:00 am (local time) last Saturday, in a house located on Carrera 13 and Calle 55.

Hinestrasa, 65 years old, went to the place accompanied by his son. In this space, they had an argument with Juan David Silgado Baena, 19 years old, to whom they were renting the apartment. He pulled out a knife and wounded both father and son.

Minutes after the attack, several people attacked Silgado with firearms and knives. In total, he had 6 bullet wounds and 3 stab wounds. The identity of those responsible for the murder is still unknown.

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According to Indepaz, the Ombudsman’s Office has issued circulars AT 032/20 and AT 019/23, documents in which it denounces that there has been evidence of the permanence of risk in the area against social fighters, with a tendency to exacerbate it.

The entity indicates that it arises “as a consequence of the persistence of the actions of armed groups, allegedly responsible for threats and other serious violations against black communities, human rights defenders and social leaders”.

With the murder of Hinestrasa, there are 17 homicides of adults over 60 years old in the city of Medellín so far in 2023. In this same locality, previously, the lives of Diego Augusto Gutiérrez Hernández, 73 years old, and Rogelio Antonio Pareja Marulanda, 72 years old, were killed.

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.