International

Peruvian prosecutor’s office investigates prime minister for corruption

Photo: Presidencia Perú

October 20 |

The Attorney General’s Office of Peru initiated an investigation against the Prime Minister of Peru, Alberto Otárola, for an alleged corruption scheme after the contracting of a company that would provide services to the State.

The investigations are being carried out for the alleged irregular hiring of Rosa Rivera Bermeo in the National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs (Devida), a public agency attached to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM) and which is responsible for conducting the national anti-drug strategy.

“Fiscalía de la Nación initiated preliminary investigation against Luis Otárola, president of the Council of Ministers, as alleged instigator of the crime of collusion, simple and aggravated modalities, to the detriment of the State; for the alleged hiring of Rosa Rivera Bermeo in Devida”, reads the publication made by the Prosecutor’s Office in the social network “X”.

This alleged corruption scheme would have come to public light last September 17 in the program Panorama, where they revealed that Rosa Rivera and Yaziré Pinedo, obtained positions in public institutions after meeting with Otárola in December 2022 and March 2023.

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Last March 2, according to Panorama, the Prime Minister and Rivera had a half-hour meeting at the headquarters of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

After that meeting, the woman said that two contracts were signed with Devida for 27,000 soles, that is, almost 7,000 dollars at the current exchange rate.

Subsequently, Pinedo obtained benefits with contracts in the Ministry of Defense (Mindef); from Panorama they affirmed that the contract was for 53,000 soles, that is, more than 13,500 dollars.

However, the preliminary investigation of the Public Prosecutor’s Office has started for the case in Devida.

These investigations also include Carlos Figueroa, executive president of Devida, as well as the general manager of the entity, Martin Villafuerte, who would have incurred in simple and aggravated collusion, respectively.

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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.