International

The IPA calls the White House’s veto of AP agency journalists arbitrary

The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) described on Wednesday as “arbitrary” the restriction imposed by the Government of Donald Trump on journalists from the American news agency The Associated Press (AP) to cover events in the White House.

The measure was adopted in retaliation for AP’s decision to continue using the name ‘Gulf of Mexico’ and not ‘Gulf of America’ as ordered by Trump.

The IAPA, based in Miami, stressed that it is a censorship and intimidation that violates freedom of the press.

The government prevented an AP reporter from attending a presidential event in the Oval Office on Tuesday, while another agency journalist was excluded from an event in the White House Diplomatic Room.

AP executive editor Julie Pace revealed that the White House warned the agency that it would not have access to the Oval Office if it does not align its editorial standards with Trump’s executive order of last January 20, which renamed the Gulf of Mexico as ‘Gulf of America’.

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AP condemned the Trump Administration’s measure as an attack on independent journalism. The agency recalled that it maintains the use of the name ‘Gulf of Mexico’, although it recognizes the new name imposed by the White House within the US sphere.

The US agency emphasized that this order is not valid outside the United States and that other countries and international organizations are not obliged to adopt it.

“It is alarming that the Trump government punishes AP for its independent journalism,” Pace said.

The president of the IAPA, José Roberto Dutriz, expressed his concern about this measure. “The restriction on journalistic coverage and the warning against AP demonstrate a disturbing intention to impose official criteria on information of public interest, with the threat of reprisals for those who do not bend to them,” he said in a statement.

He added that freedom of the press is guaranteed by the United States Constitution and must be respected without conditions.

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Carlos Jornet, president of the IAPA Commission on Freedom of the Press and Information, described the action as an unacceptable attempt to interfere with the style and editorial line of a media outlet.

“This is an arbitrary imposition by the government on journalistic work,” Jornet said.

“Prior censorship, interference or direct or indirect pressure on any informative expression violates the right to freedom of expression,” he added.

The White House Correspondents Association also protested on Tuesday against the decision of the Trump Administration and said that “it should not penalize journalists who work because it is not happy with the decisions of its editors.”

In contrast, AP announced that it will call Mount McKinley the elevation located in Alaska that previous President Barack Obama (2009-2017) had renamed Mount Denali out of respect for native traditions.

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“It is an area located only in the United States, and as president Trump has the authority to change federal geographical names within the country,” AP said.

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.