International

Ecuadorians abroad to vote in person

Photo: EFE

August 29|

In Ecuador, the National Electoral Council (CNE) decided on Monday night to reinstate that nationals abroad vote in person in the second round of the presidential and legislative elections, to be held on October 15.

The members of the electoral body voted in favor of repealing the provision that the overseas constituencies apply the telematic voting modality, after problems occurred in that system during the elections of last August 20.

In this regard, the president of the CNE, Diana Atamaint, stated: “I vote in favor of reforming the regulations for the early presidential and legislative elections of 2023 and thus implement in-person voting in the three overseas constituencies”.

Atamaint also clarified that the decision “is not due to any proposal of any political party”, but is a determination attached to the Constitution and the Code of Democracy, with the purpose of guaranteeing the right of participation of migrants.

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In relation to the company in charge of the telematic voting support, AntroProyectos, the official also announced that “we will inform the pertinent authorities, first of all the General State Comptroller’s Office and if necessary the Attorney General’s Office”.

Last August 25, the CNE decided to repeat the voting for representatives to the National Assembly in the three constituencies abroad due to problems with the telematic voting system, which made it impossible for many voters to vote.

Less than half, only 51,643 Ecuadorians living abroad were able to vote effectively on August 20, out of the more than 123,854 registered in the computer platform designed for this purpose.

The Citizen Revolution (RC) movement had requested an investigation and the repetition of the voting abroad, due to difficulties which the CNE explained were due to cyber-attacks from countries such as India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, as well as Russia, Ukraine, Indonesia and China.

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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.