International

One million signatures to take Cuba off terrorist list

August 11|

Social organizations in the Latin American and Caribbean region are launching this day an international campaign called “Cuba lives and resists!” to demand the president of the United States to remove Cuba from the infamous list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

The Trade Union Confederation of Workers of the Americas, the São Paulo Forum, the International Assembly of Peoples, the Continental Day for Democracy and Against Neoliberalism, the World March of Women, ALBA Movimientos, La Via Campesina and the Latin American and Caribbean Continental Network lead the call.

The appeal recalls that for more than 60 years, “the U.S. government has promoted a hostile policy against Cuba with a clear political intention to isolate the Cuban people through a cruel and inhumane blockade”.

They denounce that “in the midst of the pandemic, the Trump administration attempted to further damage the Cuban economy not only by reinforcing the blockade with 243 new sanctions, but also by including Cuba on the List of State Sponsors of Terrorism.”

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They focus their attention on the fact that “this designation has prevented Cuba from conducting transactions using international banking systems and ultimately acquiring needed goods on the international market, such as fuel, food, construction supplies, hygiene products and medicine.”

The campaign focuses on asking the current U.S. president “why does he continue to support this nefarious Trump policy? Does he really believe that Cuba is a state sponsor of terrorism?”

The organizers believe that “international pressure and knowledge of the truth of the consequences can put an end to these measures.”

The campaign “Cuba lives and resists!” wants to “reach more than one million signatures to demand the current US government, the exclusion of Cuba from the list of State sponsors of terrorism and the unconditional elimination of the blockade that is repudiated by the international community in its entirety”.

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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.