International

Work begins to remove the rubble of the Baltimore Bridge (USA)

The governor of Maryland, Wes Moore, reported on Saturday that the bridge that collapsed last Tuesday in the city of Baltimore, an accident that left six deaths and billions of millions losses, began to be cut with a view to being safely removed by the cranes.

Moore explained at a press conference, at the police headquarters of the Maryland Transport Authority, that the upper part of the north side of the Francis Scotte Key Bridge, which collapsed when a freighter crashed into the infrastructure, began to be cut by specialized demolition equipment.

“The northern sections of the Key Bridge will be cut and removed, this will eventually allow us to open a temporary restricted channel that will help us carry more boats around the site of the collapse,” he said, and then emphasized that this work will take time.

The divers continue today to carry out underwater evaluations in support of future operations.

On Friday, the largest crane on the east coast of the United States arrived in Baltimore to remove the debris in which the bridge was reduced.

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The crane, which can lift up to 1,000 tons in weight, will be one of the seven floating cranes that will participate in the collection of metal and concrete debris from the infrastructure.

These cranes are added to 10 tugboats, nine barges, eight rescue ships and five Coast Guard ships.

Prior to the removal, an evaluation of the debris was carried out, which is considered “fundamental” before removing it from the water to determine the size in which the pieces of the bridge must be cut so that the cranes can load them.

“Once we complete this phase of the work, we can move more towers, barges and small boats to the area to speed up our recovery,” the governor said.

With the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, access to the port of Baltimore, one of the main U.S. in the Atlantic, was blocked, with a transit in 2023 of 80 billion dollars of goods coming from abroad.

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It is also the fastest route for the Midwest of the country and the most important for the transport of cars.

Due to the devastating effects on the local economy, this Saturday the government Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the launch of a low-interest loan program for small businesses in Maryland, Washington DC, and Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia counties.

Moore stressed that 377 people are working on the response operations after the accident, – a figure that will increase – that left six Latino immigrant workers dead.

The “Unified Command”, in charge of the work in the area, is working in partnership with Baltimore’s gas and electricity companies to reduce the pressure of an underwater pipe that extends across the width of the channel and passes below the site of the incident, according to the ABC network.

“We will clean up the debris, move the Dali (the boat that caused the accident) and rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” the governor promised.

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“The Maryland economy and Maryland workers depend on us acting quickly. But not only Maryland is affected. The economy and the workers of the nation depend on us moving forward quickly,” he added.

He also indicated that a “zone prohibited to drones” has been established in the airspace surrounding the collapse. “All drones must be kept away from the place of collapse,” he warned.

International

US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy

The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.

According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.

The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.

“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.

However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.

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“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.

When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

International

Fed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict

Christopher Waller, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said Friday that he is increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel against Iran, particularly due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Waller, who had supported interest rate cuts over the past year amid concerns about the labor market, said he has shifted his stance in recent weeks due to rising inflation risks.

“Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed, it suggests this conflict could be much more prolonged and that oil prices will remain elevated for longer,” Waller said in an interview with CNBC.

“Therefore, this indicates that inflation is a greater concern than I had previously assessed,” he added.

Waller also backed the Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this week to keep interest rates unchanged, signaling a more cautious approach as global geopolitical tensions continue to affect economic outlooks.

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International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.