International

Cuba announces new talks between Colombia and ELN in Havana

Photo: EFE

April 25 |

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez announced on Tuesday that the third stage of the peace talks between the Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN) will be held in Havana on May 2.

In his official Twitter account, Rodríguez wrote: “We will welcome from next May 2 the celebration in Havana of the Third Cycle of the Peace Dialogue Table between the Colombian Government and the ELN”.

The head of Cuban diplomacy stressed that the island will act with the traditional disposition and impartiality that characterizes it as guarantor and alternative venue.

The parties will return to the island after a month’s rest to begin the discussion of the six points of the road map finally agreed upon in the second cycle that ended in Mexico.

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The starting point will be an agreement to achieve a bilateral ceasefire.

The national government delegation will travel tomorrow, April 26, to Havana.

In the same way, the ELN delegation confirmed the date in another tweet in which it pointed out that “in the cycle to be held in Havana and which starts next May 2” they will basically work on three topics, which are: The participation of society, the bilateral ceasefire and humanitarian actions and dynamics.

For his part, the President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, ratified on Monday the commitment to peace between the Government of Colombia and the ELN.

Through his Twitter account, the president expressed his desire and “hope that the parties achieve progress in this cycle in the agreed agenda”.

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Negotiations between the Government and the guerrilla were interrupted for four years, but were resumed in November 2022 in Caracas, capital of Venezuela, and subsequently took place in Mexico.

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.