Trump has alighted on a strip of land as emotionally charged and politically intractable as it is tiny and ruined. LONDON — President Donald Trump’s unprecedented announcement that he was planning to seize control of the Gaza Strip and oust 2.2 million Palestinians, temporarily at least, has provoked shock and disbelief around the world, with some officials and analysts saying it would be tantamount to ethnic cleansing. Many wonder whether it’s even practically possible, instead suggesting it might be more a diplomatic gambit or a distraction technique rather than an actual policy plan. Regardless of its intention or viability, the alleged plan to transform the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave on Israel’s western flank into the “Riviera of the Middle East” has been condemned outside of far-right circles in Israel and the United States. “This is the most foolish idea any American president has put forth in the modern history of the United States,” said Fawaz Gerges, a veteran Middle East expert and professor at the London School of Economics. “It is beyond any kind of rational thinking, any kind of policy feasibility.” The announcement prompted dismay among senior officials and diplomats at a private event in Washington on Tuesday evening. Multiple sources noticed two prominent Arab ambassadors leaving immediately when Trump made his comments, which people were listening to on their phones in real time. Other diplomats reached later by NBC News from Europe and Asian capitals said there was widespread shock over the suggestion of removing the 2.2 million Palestinians in order to rebuild Gaza. Even Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a Trump ally and U.S. foreign policy maven, questioned the proposal. “We’ll see what the Arab world says but you know that’d be problematic at many many levels,” he said. Within hours, vital U.S. allies such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan unequivocally, if diplomatically, rejected the idea of removing Palestinians from their lands. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterates its firm rejection of any infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday night. “This includes opposition to Israeli settlement policies, the annexation of Palestinian lands, and efforts to displace the Palestinian people from their homeland.” The immediate and sometimes angry reaction to the proposal is an indication of how in Gaza, Trump has alighted on a strip of land as emotionally charged and politically intractable as it is tiny and ruined. Most governments in the world recognize it as part of a future Palestinian state. And though the United States does not, it has been involved in six decades of peacemaking efforts in support of a two-state solution to the conflict. Trump’s surprise announcement, at a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, upended that, as well as Trump’s own peace plan unveiled in 2019. That outlined Gaza as part of a Palestinian state and stressed that Palestinians would not be uprooted. On Inauguration Day, Trump briefly entered real estate developer mode and called Gaza “a phenomenal location on the sea” that needed a rebuild. Tuesday’s news conference indicated he was serious, as he vowed the United States would take “long-term ownership” of the enclave. He advocated ousting Palestinians in Gaza from their homes, first suggesting it would be permanent and then indicating they would be allowed back. “I don’t think people should be going back to Gaza,” he said, adding later that “Palestinians will live there. Many people will live there” — without explaining the apparent contradiction. Wednesday afternoon, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that while Trump believes the United States should be involved in rebuilding Gaza, its residents would be relocated temporarily. Forcing people to relocate from their homes can constitute a violation of international law. Israel has been accused of such by senior United Nations officials and global watchdogs such as Human Rights Watch for its military campaign in the Gaza Strip following Hamas’ terrorist attack Oct. 7, 2023, in which Israeli officials say 1,200 people were killed and another 250 kidnapped. Israel’s military campaign has killed 47,500 Palestinians, according to local officials, though researchers have estimated that the death toll is most likely much higher. Trump’s comments come at a doubly precarious moment, with the United States helping negotiate the next stage of a ceasefire whose supporters hope will free the 79 remaining Israeli hostages, including 44 who are believed to be alive in exchange for Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons or detention. A takeover and removal of Gaza’s population would be a grave contravention to international law, critics agreed. “Trump’s proposal to push 2 million Palestinians out of Gaza and take ‘ownership’ by force if necessary is simply ethnic cleansing by another name,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said in a statement. The idea of jettisoning Palestinians has previously been such a fringe, taboo idea that it has drawn widespread condemnation when mooted by far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition. Last month, under then-President Joe Biden, the State Department called this idea “inflammatory and irresponsible” when it was proposed by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The mere suggestion has painful historical echoes for Palestinians, 700,000 of whom were forcibly displaced from what became Israel during the 1948 “Nakba,” or catastrophe. One saving grace for those opposed to Trump’s idea is that it is difficult to see how it might be implemented in the real world. The United States' seizing control of the war-torn Gaza Strip, where Hamas fighters still operate, could require untold numbers of American troops to be deployed there, seemingly anathema to Trump’s opposition to foreign intervention. Leavitt, the White House press secretary, also told reporters Wednesday that U.S. involvement in rebuilding Gaza “does not mean boots on the ground.” Whatever happens next, “it seems extremely improbable that the United States could take over Gaza within the confines of international law,” said Martti Koskenniemi, a professor of international law at University of Helsinki and former member of the United Nations’ International Law Commission. To an international law expert with decades of experience, Trump “seems like a crazy man,” Koskenniemi said. “He’s not the first crazy man; there have been crazy men. But some of them are more powerful than others.” The possibility that this may never happen has led some observers to wonder whether Trump might have different aims. Trump’s comments could be “part of his extreme deal-making strategy that will lay the ground for broader Israeli-Saudi normalization talks,” Sanam Vakil, a director at the London think tank Chatham House said in an email. “He could be using this to pave the way to promote Saudi normalization in exchange for no annexation.” Trump’s first-term brokered agreement between the Jewish state, the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco has given rise to the possibility of a similar agreement with Saudi Arabia. That idea has been given short shrift by Saudi Arabia itself. The Foreign Ministry in Riyadh reiterated the kingdom’s “firm and unwavering” position that any Israel normalization would only come with the establishment of a Palestinian state. Whether serious or not, most outside observers agree that Trump was making a full-throated statement of support for Netanyahu, relations with whom had become more distant under Biden. The president “wants to show continued commitment to Israel to placate supporters and high-level donors in the United States,” Vakil said, as well as to “shore up Netanyahu’s fragile political balance of power” and help him in the next phase of ceasefire negotiations. While Netanyahu visited the White House, he vowed to resume the war against Hamas in Gaza after the current ceasefire. Gerges believes Trump’s comments will help him do so. “Benjamin Netanyahu is the happiest man in Israel today because he got exactly what he wanted,” he said. “Now he can go back to Israel and say: look, not only are we going to destroy Hamas, but Donald Trump wants the Palestinians out. We want to help him to bring about his visionary idea.”

It comes after President Donald Trump suggested that the U.S. may "take over" the enclave and "develop" it, sparking outrage among Palestinians and across the Middle East. Israel's defense minister said Thursday that he had instructed his military to prepare a plan to allow Palestinians to voluntarily leave the Gaza Strip, after his country's leadership embraced President Donald Trump's widely condemned remarks in which he said the United States may seek ownership of the territory. Welcoming what he called Trump's "bold initiative," Israel Katz said in a statement Thursday that Palestinians in Gaza "should be granted the freedom to leave and emigrate, as is customary everywhere in the world." He said the plan would include "exit options" for Palestinians to leave Gaza via land crossings, with the possibility of "special arrangements" for departures by sea and air. Katz's comments came after Trump on Tuesday suggested to the press and visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. should take a "long-term ownership position" of Gaza and "develop" the enclave, which he had earlier in the day referred to as a "demolition site." Trump made contradictory comments on whether he foresaw Palestinians being able to live in the enclave, with White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday seeking to clarify his statements. The president is "committed to rebuilding Gaza and to temporarily relocating" Palestinians during those reconstruction efforts, she said, adding that Trump has not committed to sending U.S. troops to Gaza as part of the effort. Trump's remarks were widely rejected for their apparent dismissal of Palestinians' long pursuit of internationally recognized statehood. The Human rights organization Human Rights Watch said in a statement that the plan amounted to an "intent to escalate ethnic cleansing in Gaza." Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, Netanyahu praised Trump's remarks, adding that “the actual idea of allowing first Gazans who want to leave, to leave, what’s wrong with that?” Katz's plan would represent a major policy shift for Israel, which — along with Egypt — has maintained a land, air and sea blockade on the enclave since 2007, when Hamas took power two years after Israel withdrew from the territory following 38 years of occupation. Barred from leaving the territory without Israeli-issued exit permits, Palestinians have effectively been trapped in a war zone. More than 47,500 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to local health officials, since Israel launched its military offensive following the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks that killed 1,200 people and saw around 250 others taken hostage, according to Israeli officials. Those who have been able to leave Gaza during the war have feared not being allowed by Israel to return, a concern underpinning fears over Trump's plan. When discussing his instructions to the Israel Defense Forces, Katz said countries such as Spain, Ireland and Norway, which moved to formally recognize Palestinian statehood last year as they condemned Israel's offensive in Gaza, should be "legally obligated to allow Gaza residents to enter their territory." The Israeli defense minister's plan was welcomed by figures on Israel's far right, such as Itamar Ben-Gvir, who resigned from his role as national security minister last month over Israel's ceasefire truce with Hamas. "The real solution for Gaza is no longer dreams of 'reconstruction' and a return to the previous situation, but a fundamental change in reality," Ben-Gvir, who has expressed support for the Israeli resettlement of Gaza, said in a post on X on Thursday. In Gaza, Palestinians have expressed outrage over the threat Trump's plan poses to the future recognition of Palestinian statehood. "We spent a year and four months in the war and did not leave our country, so is it expected that we will leave it now?" Abu Saad Al-Daada told NBC News' crew on the ground Wednesday in Khan Younis. "He is crazy," Daada, 56, said of Trump. "He has to find another solution."

“No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed,” the president added. President Donald Trump doubled down on controversial plans for the Gaza Strip on Thursday, saying the Palestinian enclave would be "turned over to the United States by Israel" once the war there ends. The comments in a string of posts on Truth Social followed his proposal for the U.S. to "take over" and "develop" Gaza, which were derided by rivals and even questioned by close allies earlier this week. Israeli officials did not immediately comment on Trump's latest comments, though in an interview on Fox News on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump's initial proposal. Asked to comment on Trump’s statements on Thursday, a spokesperson referred NBC News to the Fox News interview. Later, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel does not have details about Trump’s Gaza plan, according to Reuters. In his post on Truth Social, Trump suggested that Palestinians could be "resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region," adding fresh confusion to discrepancies in his stance on the future of Palestinians in Gaza. Trump also said that "no soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!" Trump's Truth Social post comes after contradictory comments Tuesday on whether he foresaw Palestinians being able to live in a future Gaza that he described as the "riviera of the Middle East." He initially suggested that Palestinians could be permanently removed, before adding they would be able to live there, alongside others, after Gaza was rebuilt. Trump’s proposal to seize control of Gaza and potentially oust the roughly 2.2 million Palestinians who live there has sparked anger, fear and disbelief across the Middle East and around the world, with some officials, analysts and human rights groups saying the plan is tantamount to ethnic cleansing. The proposal has been widely condemned as dismissing the Palestinian cause — the bid for internationally recognized statehood. And it has also been a painful reminder for Palestinians of the 1948 “Nakba,” when some 700,000 Palestinians fled or were forced from their homes during the creation of Israel. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas rejected Trump's bid to take over Gaza, saying Palestinian leaders would "not allow any infringement on the rights of our people" and calling the effort a "serious violation of international law." White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday evening said the president was "committed to rebuilding Gaza and to temporarily relocating" Palestinians during those reconstruction efforts. Leavitt also said Trump had not committed to sending any troops to Gaza as part of his plans. Israel, along with Egypt, has maintained a land, air and sea blockade on Gaza since since 2007 when Hamas took power two years after Israel withdrew from the territory after a 38-year occupation. The majority of United Nations member countries recognize Gaza as part of an independent state, though both Israel and the United States do not recognize Palestinian statehood. In his Truth Social post Thursday, Trump, who gained fame as a real estate mogul and television personality, said the U.S. would work with "great development teams from all over the World" and would "slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth." The president also mentioned Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in his post, though it was not clear exactly what he meant by his reference to the Democrat. Chantal Da Silva

After US President Donald Trump threatened Canada with steep tariffs, Monika Morelli from Montreal cancelled her subscriptions to Netflix and Amazon, two giant American companies. She also called off a trip that she had planned for later in the year to New Orleans. "There is something that has been irrevocably broken now, after centuries of the US and Canada being allies," Ms Morelli, 39, told the BBC. The threaten of import taxes, she said, plus Trump's remarks that Canada could become the 51st US state, "have made something snap in us all". Trump had vowed to slap a 25% tariff on both Canada and Mexico this week, citing issues with border security. He then struck a surprise deal with Mexico on Monday that resulted in the duties being delayed for 30 days in exchange for more Mexican troops at the border. A similar deal was agreed with Canada later in the day. For Canadians, who had been deeply anxious about the economic consequences of the tariffs, the delay elicited a sigh of relief. But some feel the threat has caused a rift in the US-Canada relationship. Data released on Wednesday by national pollster Angus Reid found that 91% of Canadians want their country to rely less on the US in the future, preferring that option over repairing the US-Canada relationship, though more than half still wanted to try. The opinion survey also noted a big jump in national pride, and found that 90% of Canadians were following this issue closely, mimicking engagement levels not seen since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Shachi Kurl, president of Angus Reid, told the BBC the numbers capture "a moment of unity" in the country. They also showed that Canadians have responded to the US tariffs with a shared sense of anger, she said. With the US being the largest customer for Canadian goods, the tariffs threaten to push the Canadian economy into a recession and put thousands of jobs at risk. In addition to the tariffs, Trump has stated repeatedly (possibly as a joke) that Canada should instead become a US state to avoid paying the levy - a remark that has been met with fury from Canadians, and has been seen by some as a threat to their sovereignty. The issue has made way for a surge of patriotism in Canada - notably uniting people from all political stripes at a time when the country had been deeply divided over the leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his policies. A "Buy Canadian" sentiment has been pushed by politicians and the general public, with shoppers wanting to support local businesses and avoid purchasing US-made products in protest over the potential tariffs. Carole Chandler, a 67-year-old retired public school teacher from Halifax, said that she, like Ms Morelli, had cancelled an upcoming holiday to Florida. "I love America and Americans," she tells the BBC. "But I don't want to be one." Even with the temporary pause on tariffs, some Canadian provinces are still pushing ahead with "Buy Local" campaigns to encourage people to spend their dollars closer to home. On Wednesday, Manitoba's premier Wab Kinew said his province will be spending C$140,000 ($97,800; £78,200) on advertising - including on billboards and radio - to push Manitobans to contribute to their local economy. Provinces are also removing barriers to trade internally within Canada, and many are calling for the country to diversify its trade relationship and build ties elsewhere. Kinew described the back and forth on the potential tariff war between the US and Canada as akin to "whiplash". "But through it all, to see people come together and to rally around the flag, to put the Manitoba pride first and foremost, has been very encouraging," Kinew said. Ms Kurl noted that the Canada-US relationship has endured for centuries, and the two countries have long been close allies and partners on the world stage. "It's quite an enmeshed relationship," she said. Canadians share not only deep economic ties with the US, but also familial bonds and the world's longest land border. The US has also long been the top travel destination for Canadians. She said it would not be easy to untangle those ties, and it remains to be seen whether the recent sentiments over Trump's tariffs signal a fundamental shift between the two countries. A lot of it, she added, could depend on how the relationship with the current US president progresses, and whether the tariff threat materialises. As Canadians wait and see what happens, they said they were looking to support their own however they can. "We don't put on big displays like Americans do," said Ms Chandler from Halifax. But Canadian patriotism runs deep, she said.

The five men were freed last month after 15 months in captivity as part of the hostage-prisoners exchange deal Israel struck with the Palestinian militant group. THALI, Thailand — There were cheers and applause as Watchara Sriaoun stepped out of the white van, his hands clasped together to greet the crowd as he finally returned to his village in Thailand after being swept up in a war on the other side of the world. "I don't know how to describe it," said Watchara, 33. "It's like being reborn." Watchara and four other former Thai hostages arrived in Bangkok earlier Sunday, days after being released by Hamas after 15 months of captivity. The group, which also included Sarusak Rumnao, 32, Sathian Suwannakham, 35, Pongsak Thaenna, 36, and Bannawat Saethao, 27, was released as part of the hostage-prisoners exchange deal Israel struck with Hamas last month. They were met at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok by family members as well as Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and the Israeli ambassador to Thailand, Orna Sagiv, before continuing on to their hometowns. "We were waiting so long for this day," Watchara's mother, Wiwwaeo Sriaoun, told NBC News in an interview Sunday in his home village of Thali in the northeastern province of Udon Thani. "I thank God for leading him home safely," said Wiwwaeo, 53, who met Watchara at Udon Thani airport along with his father, Tom Sriaoun, 57, and his 9-year-old daughter, Irada. Though Watchara's official welcome party is on Tuesday, his home was filled with food for all the people coming to visit in the meantime. Wiwwaeo said Watchara had told her his captivity was difficult but she didn't press him for details. "I told him that he didn't need to talk about it and when he was ready, he can do so," she said. "Just come back first." According to his mother, Watchara had been an agricultural worker in Israel for more than three years when Hamas carried out its Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel. Watchara, who was working at Kibbutz Nir Oz near Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip, was among 31 Thai nationals taken hostage, the largest group of foreigners to be held captive. Twenty-three of them were released in November 2023 during an early ceasefire, while two others were confirmed to have been killed in the attack before their bodies were taken to Gaza. A total of 46 Thai nationals have died in the Israel-Hamas war. Five of the six remaining hostages were released Jan. 31 as part of the second round of releases by the Palestinian militant group in what Thailand’s ambassador to Israel, Pannabha Chandraramya, said was “one of the happiest days of my life.” After their release, they spent a few days in a hospital outside Tel Aviv where they underwent medical tests and recuperated. Family members of four of the hostages met them in Israel on Wednesday, the Thai foreign ministry said in a statement. They were also visited by a Thai delegation that included the foreign minister. The status of the remaining Thai hostage, Nattapong Pingsa, is unclear, and Hamas is also still holding the bodies of the two Thai hostages who were confirmed dead. In addition, Hamas is holding another non-Israeli, Nepalese agriculture student Bipin Joshi, as well as the body of a Tanzanian student, Joshua Mollel, who was confirmed dead. With a population of 9 million, Israel is heavily dependent on foreign labor in sectors such as agriculture, construction and caregiving. While the country has been historically reliant on Palestinian labor, Israel began recruiting foreign workers after the Palestinian revolt that ended in 1993. Thais arrived in large numbers, drawn by higher wages than they could earn back home, and remain the largest group of foreign agricultural laborers in the country. Nearly 25,000 Thai workers worked in Israel before the Oct. 7 attack, Chandraramya said. “They worked tirelessly in the farm, in the kibbutz,” she told reporters last week. After the attack, many workers fled their jobs in Israel, which began offering higher salaries and launched a recruitment drive in countries including India to secure the critical supply of foreign labor. Thais have since gone to Israel in bigger numbers than before, and Chandraramya said there were now 38,000 workers in the country. Watchara said he would not be going back. "I want to be with my family first," he said.

The leader of Ontario - Canada's most populous province - has said that American companies will be banned from provincial government contracts until the US ends the tariffs President Donald Trump imposed on Canada. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also emphasised that his government would be "ripping up" its C$100m ($68m; £55.1) contract with Elon Musk's satellite internet company Starlink. "Ontario won't do business with people hell-bent on destroying our economy," said Ford, who is running in the province snap election he called last week. Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke on Monday about the 25% import tax on Canadian goods that the US president announced at the weekend. Trump said in the Oval Office on Monday they had a "good talk" but that he raised a number of issues he saw as trade irritants. "I'm sure you're shocked to hear that, but Canada is very tough," he said. "They're very, very tough to do business with, and we can't let them take advantage of the US." The president has given a number of reasons in recent months for threatening tariffs on Canada, from border security to trade deficits and the country's failure to meet Nato defence spending targets. The pair are scheduled to speak again this afternoon. The president announced on Saturday that a 25% import tax on goods from Canada and Mexico would begin on Tuesday, along with 10% tariffs on goods from China. Canadian energy faces a lower 10% tariff. Trudeau immediately announced counter-tariff plans in response. He said that his government would place C$30bn in tariffs on American goods this week - with an additional C$125bn in 21 days, for a total of C$155bn ($107bn; £86bn) - if the US moves ahead with the levies. Canada has "no choice but to hit back, and hit back hard", Ford said at a news conference on Monday. "Canada didn't start this fight with the US, but you better believe we're ready to win it," the Ontario premier added. Ford has targeted Starlink in that effort after his Ontario government partnered with the internet firm. The province launched a programme with Starlink last November that would offer high-speed satellite internet access to 15,000 eligible unserved and underserved homes and businesses. Musk, the CEO of SpaceX - Starlink's parent company - is one of Trump's closest allies. In a post on X, he responded with: "Oh well." Ford said he believes the province has "a very good case" should Starlink attempt to challenge the move in court, but he is willing for the province to pay a penalty. "It's the principle," he said. Other Canadian provinces are taking a similar path. Officials in Quebec, British Columbia and New Brunswick announced plans to target American booze, removing it from shelves in provincial liquor stores, and said they will revisit provincial contracts for US firms. On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Trump announced that they had agreed on a one-month delay on tariffs on imports from her country after she promised to send additional Mexican National Guard troops to the border. A Canadian official told the New York Times that Ottawa is not optimistic it will get a similar reprieve. The president said tariffs are needed to "protect" Americans from the "major threat of illegal aliens and deadly drugs", including fentanyl. His administration alleges that Mexican gangs have fentanyl labs in Canada. Trudeau has said less than 1% of fentanyl entering the US comes from his country. In December, Canada said it would devote C$1.3bn ($900m; £700m) to a new border plan that included strengthened surveillance. Follow updates live Six things that could get more expensive for Americans after Trump tariffs What are tariffs and will prices rise? This month, Canadian premiers will travel to Washington DC to lobby against the tariffs and will attend a meeting of US state governors. All three major stock exchanges in the US tumbled after they opened on Monday. It was the first official trading since Trump issued his orders raising tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China.

President Donald Trump has suspended for 30 days the hefty tariffs on Mexico and Canada that he threatened after last-minute negotiations with the two US neighbours. He can point to concessions on border and crime enforcement as a victory. But Canada's Justin Trudeau and Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum also can claim political wins. A trade war that would send economic shockwaves through North America and beyond is on hold - for now. So who blinked first and what happens next? Trump brinkmanship appears to pay off By Courtney Subramanian, BBC News, Washington DC President Trump's high-stakes confrontation with the United States' closest trading partners appears to have paid off, with both Mexico and Canada agreeing to stricter border security and taking bigger steps to address fentanyl trafficking. The strategy to leverage the US economy to force concessions from other countries notches a win for Trump's "America first" agenda, allowing him to follow through on core domestic issues without American consumers feeling the sting of the economic consequences of a continental trade war. His tariff playbook is hardly new. Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminium during his first term prompted backlash from Mexico, Canada and the European Union, but economists say those measures were more limited in scope. This time, Trump has promised sweeping tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, and China, which is still set to see a 10% tariff increase on goods starting at midnight on Tuesday. But it remains unclear whether Trump will follow through on his threats to Canada and Mexico once the 30-day deadline is up. That uncertainty stirs fears that could see businesses reducing their reliance on American markets, holding off on investing in building new factories or hiring workers until the trade stand-off becomes more clear. Lame-duck Trudeau pulls off a trade truce By Jessica Murphy, BBC News, Toronto That was not a January Arctic blast from the north - it was a widespread sigh of relief from Canadian politicians and business leaders at the 30-day pause on US tariffs. While the threat of tariffs remains, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can claim a political win: a temporary truce in what was shaping up to be a devastating trade war. Canadian politicians have been scrambling to figure out what exactly would satisfy Trump - a situation not helped by Canada's domestic politics, with Trudeau wrapping up his last weeks in power as a lame-duck prime minister. The border security measures announced on Monday aren't all new. In December, Canada announced C$1.3bn ($900m; £700m) in measures that included efforts to disrupt the fentanyl trade, new tools for law enforcement and enhanced co-ordination with US law enforcement. Canadian surveillance drones and two Black Hawk helicopters recently began patrolling the boundary between the two countries. Officials have cited those efforts for weeks to show they are taking Trump's border concerns seriously. A new element appears to be the appointment of a "fentanyl tsar" and a C$200m intelligence directive to fight organised crime and fentanyl. One question that remains is what this means for the future of the Canada-US relationship. The partnership between the allies has been deeply shaken by Trump's economic threats. Mexico's Sheinbaum buys herself time By Will Grant, BBC Central America and Cuba Correspondent, Mexico City Throughout this trade crisis, President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for "cool heads" and "calm". Even on Friday, she said she was confident of a last-minute reprieve from the 25% tariffs on Mexican goods. And so it proved, following an early morning telephone call with President Trump. Announcing the agreement soon after, she could barely wipe the smile from her face and her supporters have heralded what they see as a masterclass in how to negotiate with Donald Trump. Yes, she agreed to send National Guard troops to the border to focus on fentanyl-smuggling, but crucially she secured what she wanted from Trump, too. As well as the obvious – a pause on tariffs – she also got Trump to "promise" the US would do more to tackle the traffic of high-powered weapons from the US into Mexico, to prevent them from ending up in the arms of cartel gunmen. But she also bought herself another vital commodity: time. She now has several weeks to build on the points agreed in that phone call and turn the temporary hold on tariffs into a permanent one. The expectation is that now Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Mexico soon to discuss these matters and a joint group on fentanyl will be established with Mexican and US health and security officials. If in fact Sheinbaum does manage to prevent further trade hostilities, it will go down as the first significant victory of her new government, having only been in office since October. And it may set the tone for future interactions with President Trump and his administration.

President Donald Trump has agreed to hold off imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico for 30 days, pulling the North American neighbours back from the brink of a potentially damaging trade war. After last-minute calls with Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to reinforce his country's border with the US to clamp down on migration and the flow of the deadly drug fentanyl. Earlier, Trump made a deal with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. She agreed to reinforce the northern border with troops. In return the US would limit the flow of guns into Mexico. But a US tariff of 10% on Chinese imports has come into effect, after a deadline of 00:01 EST (05:00 GMT) on Tuesday passed. Shortly after, Beijing announced it was imposing retaliatory tariffs on a raft of American products, including 15% on coal and liquefied natural gas and 10% on crude oil and agricultural machinery. Trump earlier said he planned to speak on the phone to his Chinese counterpart soon. He described the 10% import taxes as the "opening salvo" and said they could become "very, very substantial" if no agreement is made. Monday's breakthrough with Canada and Mexico came as they prepared retaliatory tariffs on American goods. After two phone calls on Monday, Trump and Trudeau posted on social media that they had reached a temporary agreement on securing the border that would avoid tariffs for at least 30 days. Both leaders portrayed the plan as a win. "As president, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of ALL Americans, and I am doing just that. I am very pleased with this initial outcome," Trump wrote on his social media site Truth Social. Trudeau said Canada was implementing a $1.3bn (£1bn) border plan that included nearly 10,000 frontline workers and more resources to halt the flow of fentanyl, a synthetic drug 50 times stronger than heroin, which Trump has cited as a major concern. The prime minister also said Canada would appoint a "fentanyl czar" and launch a joint strike force with the US to combat crime, fentanyl and money laundering. Much of the border security plan had already been announced by Canada in December. It includes enhanced co-ordination with US law enforcement, increased information sharing, limiting traffic at the border, and the deployment of drones and Black Hawk helicopters for surveillance. The news came just hours after Trump paused a separate tariff on Mexican goods in exchange for that country sending 10,000 National Guard troops to its border with the US. President Sheinbaum broke the news on X, writing she had had a "good conversation with great respect for our relationship and sovereignty" with her US counterpart. Trump described his phone conversation with the Mexican leader as "very friendly". In 2019, Mexico's government agreed to send 15,000 soldiers to its northern frontier to avoid tariffs from the first Trump administration.

A RAF veteran who suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm has overcome her fear of leaving her hometown to represent Team UK at the upcoming Invictus Games. Sara Howarth, 51, had been serving in the RAF for 17 years but in 2014 her brain injury left her with uncontrollable epilepsy, speech difficulties and a fear of exercise. However, Miss Howarth, of Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, has been training with the Royal British Legion (RBL) since July and is set to compete at the games, which start in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada, on Sunday. Despite her condition and anxiety about the effects of exercise on her recovery, she is set to compete in wheelchair curling, alpine skiing, and indoor rowing. The Invictus Games, a multi-sport competition for wounded or sick military personnel and veterans, was founded by Prince Harry. Miss Howarth, who will set off for Canada on Thursday, said: "I was scared of trains, traveling; I was scared of leaving Burnham, and that was my life. "It's been 10 years since my brain exploded and I have had various challenges through that, including speech, which is still a bit dodgy. The second one was epilepsy, which is still uncontrollable." The former flight-lieutenant said her career was inspired by her father, who also served. Miss Howarth said she convinced herself she would not be selected for the week-long games, so being chosen to compete was a "bit of a wow moment." Miss Howarth told BBC Essex: "I feel excited; it is also very scary. "The RBL's approach has not been about medals, it's about the journey getting there. "It has been a huge journey for me. I was scared to get on a rowing machine, I couldn't remember skiing and wheelchair curling is absolutely superb; it's like chess on ice. "I feel like a new person, if that makes sense. I've got a brilliant coach. "It's not about your speed and whether you get down the mountain first; it's about why you're there." The RBL is a charity providing financial, social and emotional support to members and veterans of the British Armed Forces, their families and dependents. It has also provided funding and facilitates Team UK at the Games. Lou Assioun, Team UK manager at the RBL, said Miss Howarth was someone who "doesn't mind stretching their comfort zone and trusting the process".

A few hours after President Donald Trump announced that he would impose steep tariffs on Canada, hockey fans in the capital Ottawa booed the Star-Spangled Banner during a National Hockey League game against a visiting US team. On Sunday, during a National Basketball Association game between the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers, it happened again, continuing throughout the song and almost drowning out the 15-year-old singer's arena performance. The vocal displeasure from usually respectful fans is a clear sign of Canadians' deep dismay at Trump's move to hit its nearest ally with punitive taxes, which threaten to spark an unprecedented trade war on the North American continent. The 25% tariffs imposed by Trump on all Canadian imports into the US - with a lower 10% levy on energy - are set to take effect on Tuesday. And they come as President Trump doubles down on his push - no longer dismissed as a joke - for Canada to join America and become the 51st state. Are you in Canada? Have you witnessed anything similar? Please share your experiences. While many economists project the tariffs will also drive up costs for Americans on everyday essentials, from gas to groceries, Canada is the more exposed trade partner. If they last for months, the country could tip into a painful economic recession. Anger is building - and with it, a desire to mount a fightback that has been echoed by political leaders in the country of 40 million. "Many among us will be affected by this, and we will have some hard times. I ask you to be there for each other," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a Saturday evening address. "Now is the time to choose Canada." Some Canadians have already heeded the calls for solidarity. On social media, guides have circulated on how to avoid American-made products. One local grocery store in Toronto even began labelling its Canadian yogurt for shoppers, according to an image posted by Toronto doctor Iris Gorfinkel on X. Others have stated they will be cancelling travel plans to the US, or forgoing visiting there altogether. "Yesterday, in response to Trump tariffs, we cancelled our family March break to the US," wrote Seth Klein, a Canadian author, on Bluesky on Sunday. "Took a small hit on cancelled train tickets, but it needed to be done." In some Canadian provinces - namely Ontario, the largest by population - American booze will be pulled off the shelves indefinitely starting on Tuesday. This is in addition to a total of C$155bn ($105bn; £86bn) of American goods that Canada has said it will tariff in retaliation, including vegetables, clothing, sports equipment, perfume and other items. Goods originating from Republican-led states, like Florida orange juice, are specifically being targeted. The US imports more of its oil from Canada than any other country, and Trudeau's government has signalled "all options remain on the table" for further retaliation. A 'destabilising' moment for Canada Trump's follow-through on his threat of steep tariffs - which were long speculated to be a negotiation tactic to get concessions on border security - have bewildered Canadians, who have enjoyed close economic, social and security ties to the US for decades. "It's a shock," Michael Ignatieff, the former leader of Canada's Liberal Party, told the BBC. "We're into a new world, in which the question on whether you can trust America becomes the fundamental question in foreign policy for every country." Pierre Poilievre, leader of Canada's opposition Conservative Party, called the tariffs on Sunday "massive, unjust and unjustified." "Canada is the United States' closest neighbour, greatest ally and best friend," he said, noting that Canada fought alongside the US in two world wars, as well as in Korea and Afghanistan. "There is no justification whatsoever for this treatment." Prime Minister Trudeau questioned in his Saturday address why the US would target Canada instead of looking to "more challenging parts" of the world. A portion of his speech was directly addressed to Americans, and he too, pointed to a history of shared bloodshed. "We have fought, and died, alongside you," Trudeau said. Thomas Juneau, a professor at the University of Ottawa with a focus on national security, told the BBC that Trump's tariffs "undoubtedly represent an earthquake in Canada-US relations." "This is extremely destabilising for Canada," Prof Juneau said. "As a country, we have massively benefited from our extremely close trade and security partnership with the US for decades." While the trade battle would likely force Canada to look for partners elsewhere, it ultimately can't escape geography, he said. It will remain reliant on the economic superpower next door. "That is why Canada must absolutely now focus on salvaging the relationship as much as possible," Prof Juneau said. An unclear, costly fight ahead The big unknown remains how long the US will keep the tariffs in place, and what steps Canada could take to appease the Trump administration, which has said it expects action on cross-border fentanyl trafficking and illegal migration. TD Economics projects that the longer the tariffs remain in place, the worse the impact will be. Canada could enter a recession in five to six months, and its unemployment rate could hit more than 7%. Theo Argitis, managing director of the Ottawa-based public affairs firm Compass Rose Group, said the unknowns had left Canada no choice "but to hit (Trump) back hard." "At the end of the day, we don't even really know why he's doing this," Mr Argitis told the BBC. Trump says the flow of fentanyl, a highly potent and deadly drug, into the US from Canada and Mexico, is one key reason. US officials say the levies will remain in place "until the crisis is alleviated." In response, the Canadian government has noted that less than 1% of fentanyl and illegal border crossings into the US come from Canada. It has offered to spend an additional C$1.3bn to secure the US-Canada border But Trump has also spoken publicly about his frustration with the trade deficit between Canada and the US, and more broadly his view that tariffs could be a source of revenue for Washington's coffers. On Sunday, he wrote on Truth Social that the US does not need Canadian products, and said the US pays "hundreds of billions of dollars to subsidize Canada." "Without this massive subsidy, Canada ceases to exist as a viable country," Trump wrote, before repeating his view that Canada should instead become a US state. He has warned that the White House will enact harsher penalties on Canada should it choose to retaliate. For now, Canada has chosen to try and inflict some targeted pain on its more powerful neighbour, even if the economic scales are tipped against it. "We prefer to solve our disputes with diplomacy," Trudeau told his country on Saturday. "But we are ready to fight when necessary."