International

Peru increases to 544 the number of districts in emergency due to water deficit

Photo: Agencia Andina

September 19 |

The Peruvian government published on Monday a decree declaring an emergency due to water deficit and imminent danger to 544 districts in the country, belonging to 14 departments, in order to address the situation.

The Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation, Jennifer Contreras, said in a press conference that the measure covered 544 districts, when previously 131 were in emergency due to this situation.

The decert will allow “regional and local governments to execute and act within the framework of their competences, in terms of disaster management”, said the official.

“It is a priority for the government and for the Presidency of the Republic to attend to the water deficit emergency, as well as to protect the lives of our population, our crops and our assets,” she said.

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Contreras pointed out that the measure reaches several departments and localities that suffer the effects of the lack of rainfall, such as Puno with 85 districts, Huanuco with 54, Huancavelica 71, Cusco 77, Arequipa 32, Ancash 51, Apurimac 18.

“The regulation is going to allow regional and local governments to execute and act within the framework of their competencies, in terms of disaster management. For example, they can make direct contracts to be able to attend to the emergency due to water deficit in their respective localities”, she added.

The minister of the sector expressed that the authorities of the departments in emergency may acquire veterinary kits, food for livestock, as well as take actions to ensure the supply and provision of water, control and measurement of irrigation canals, among other measures.

She stated that the Executive Branch is developing a multisectoral intervention to provide assistance to the populations in the emergency due to lack of water, and “tomorrow the National Emergency Operations Center will report on the establishment of a prevention plan for water deficit”, she said.

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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.