International

Hurricane Norma degrades to category three in the Mexican Pacific

Photo: @conagua_clima

October 20 |

The National Water Commission (Conagua) of Mexico, confirmed Thursday that Hurricane Norma, slightly lost strength and returned to category three.

“Norma now as a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson scale; it maintains its approaching trajectory towards the south of Baja California Sur and towards the center of the state of Sinaloa,” Conagua noted.

According to the agency, the hurricane has winds of 205 kilometers per hour and is located 630 kilometers south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas. According to recent forecasts, it is expected to make landfall next Saturday around noon.

Previously, the hurricane had intensified to category four in the Mexican Pacific and was advancing with intense to torrential rains towards the tourist state of Baja California Sur.

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Conagua also informed that Norma had reached the category of tropical storm at the beginning of the week, and is located 380 kilometers from Playa Pérula, in the state of Jalisco (southwest), and 630 kilometers from Cabo San Lucas, in the state of Baja California Sur (northwest).

It is forecast that during the weekend there will be sea swells and high waves, heavy rains in Jalisco and Colima, and very heavy rains in Nayarit, Michoacán and Guerrero, which could increase the level of the rivers.

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.