International

Trump says he sees Gaza as a “real estate transaction” and rules out deploying troops

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, said on Friday that he sees the Gaza Strip as a “real estate transaction” and reiterated that his country will not need to deploy troops in the enclave, in a twist with respect to his initial plan, in which he did not rule out sending the military for Washington to take control of the territory.

“Basically, the United States would see it as a real estate transaction, where we will be an investor in that part of the world,” he said in statements to the press at the Oval Office, where he met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Trump, who in recent days has urged Egypt and Jordan to receive the two million Gazans so that the United States can keep the Strip for a real estate project, said this Friday that “there is no hurry to do anything.”

“We’re not in a hurry. There really is no hurry,” insisted the American leader, who forged his fortune in the real estate sector.
Trump now assured that he does not plan to “have troops on the ground or anything like that” and said that the mere fact that the United States leads the real estate development of the Strip “would help a lot to create peace.”

“We wouldn’t need soldiers at all, that would be handled by others, and the investments would also be managed by others. So, without practically any investment, it would bring stability to the area and others could invest later,” he added.

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Trump’s idea of resettling the people of Gaza in Jordan and Egypt generated rejection by these two countries, as well as by the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League.

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.