Minneapolis shooting: Barack and Michelle Obama call out Trump and ICE for ‘assault’ on nation’s core values
‘This has to stop’, former president and first lady said in a statement on the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agentsAlex Pretti did not brandish gun, witnesses say in sworn testimonyCalls mount on Trump administration to fully investigate killingMinnesota workers pressure employers to take action against ICE operationsAlex Pretti, a Veterans Affairs Hospital ICU nurse, was said to be deeply upset about the Trump administration’s sometimes brutal immigration crackdown. The 37-year-old has been described as kindhearted by his friends and family (see opening post to read what his parents said about him in a statement issued after he was killed).Dimitri Drekonja, chief of the Infectious Diseases Section at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital and a colleague of Pretti, called him “a good kind person who lived to help.” Pretti was a nurse working “to support critically ill veterans,” he added. Continue reading...
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Israel extends ban on Al Jazeera’s operations by 90 days
Since May 2024, Israeli law has banned the network, citing threat to national security, an allegation Al Jazeera denies.
Iran president’s son urges authorities to restore internet after protests blackout
Yousef Pezeshkian says nothing will be solved by trying to postpone moment images of violent crackdown circulateThe son of Iran’s president has called for the internet restrictions in the country to be lifted, saying nothing will be solved by trying to postpone the moment when pictures and video circulate of the protests that were violently crushed by the regime.With a battle under way at the top of the regime about the political risks of continuing to block Iran from the internet, Yousef Pezeshkian, whose father, Masoud, was elected in the summer of 2024, said keeping the digital shutdown would create dissatisfaction and widen the gap between the people and the government. Continue reading...
Manchester United dent Arsenal’s title bid with dramatic 3-2 win
Matheus Cunha's superb late strike clinches a thrilling 3-2 away win for United against the Premier League leaders.
Fundraiser for Alex Pretti family raises nearly $600,000 day after fatal shooting
GoFundMe campaign quickly surpasses goal of $20,000 a day after federal agents killed US citizen in MinneapolisAn online fundraiser benefiting the family of Alex Pretti had raised nearly $600,000 by Sunday afternoon, a day after federal agents killed the US citizen and nurse in Minneapolis in a shooting that ignited another round of street protests against Donald Trump’s administration and its immigration crackdown in the city.In a substantial indication of public sentiment, the “Alex Pretti is an American Hero” campaign on the GoFundMe platform surpassed its goal of $20,000 quickly after organizer Keith Edwards launched it on Saturday. Continue reading...
Rebuffed Burnham can return to honing his stature and attack lines
Greater Manchester mayor will not be tested in tough byelection or against PM for now, but can continue to pose speculative threatLabour row erupts after Andy Burnham blocked from byelection raceWith his return to Westminster seemingly blocked, on Monday Andy Burnham will get back to the two roles to which he has devoted his time in recent years: being mayor of Greater Manchester and annoying Keir Starmer.The second is very much a part-time and unofficial role, but it is noticeable how Burnham manages to edge back into the media spotlight whenever the leader of his party is having a tough time. Continue reading...
US winter storm leaves seven people dead as more than 700,000 lose power
Snow, sleet and perilously cold temperatures sweep eastern two-thirds of country as thousands of flights groundedSnowstorms strike the US: in picturesAt least seven people are dead as the result of a monster winter storm that has brought heavy snowfall and ice from the Gulf coast to the north-east, leaving more than 700,000 in the US without power and cancelling more than 10,000 flights.The Louisiana department of health confirmed two deaths related to the winter storm in Caddo parish. According to the agency, two men of unknown ages died of hypothermia. Continue reading...
Canada has no intention of pursuing free trade with China, says Carney
PM says recent agreement just cuts tariffs on a few sectors, as Trump threatens 100% tariffs on Canadian importsCanada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, said on Sunday his country had no intention of pursuing a free trade deal with China, responding to Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 100% tariff on goods imported from Canada if the US’s northern neighbour went ahead with a trade deal with Beijing.Carney said his recent agreement with China merely cut tariffs on a few sectors that were recently hit with them. Continue reading...
Venezuela frees dozens of political prisoners, human rights group says
It is the latest batch of detainees freed since the US seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a raid.
Calls mount on Trump administration to fully investigate Alex Pretti’s killing
Republican senator says ‘credibility’ of ICE and DHS are ‘at stake’ as calls come from both sides of political dividePressure mounted on Donald Trump’s administration on Sunday to fully investigate the previous day’s killing by federal immigration officers of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.Calls for an investigation have come from all sides of the political divide after video analysis showed officers had removed from Pretti a handgun he was reportedly permitted to carry – and which he was not handling – before fatally shooting him. Continue reading...