International

Death of sea lions confirmed due to avian flu in Uruguay

Photo: EFE

September 19 |

Authorities of the University of the Republic of Uruguay warned Monday of the dangers of the outbreak of avian flu (H5N1) among the population of sea lions in a protected area of Isla de Lobos, located eight kilometers southeast of the seaside resort of Punta del Este.

The island located in the southernmost point of Uruguay is the natural reserve where the largest colony of sea lions in the western hemisphere is found, and so far it is not known whether the infections were caused by the ingestion of carrier birds, or by a contagion between peers, within the same species.

In recent weeks, dozens of dead animals have been found on Uruguayan coasts and it is presumed that all of them were infected by avian flu. Specialists warned that sea lions are especially susceptible to the virus but it is not yet clear whether they can infect each other.

A study detected that the cases are associated with the entry of wild birds that migrated along the Pacific coasts, the variant went down all South America and then jumped species.

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The animals that die in the Uruguayan coasts are located and geo-referenced daily by the authorities and then buried in the sand. This Tuesday, the teams of the Canelones municipality buried two animals contaminated and dead due to avian flu.

The authorities recommend that local residents do not go down to the beach with domestic animals, the objective is to prevent further spread of the virus.

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.