A man named Alex Pretty was shot dead by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday. The Trump administration claimed Pretty, a nurse, was armed and had threatened to kill federal officers. However, videos recorded by witnesses show a different account. In the footage, Pretty appears to be holding a mobile phone, not a gun, when agents tackled him to the ground. The Department of Homeland Security later released a photo of a gun, which President Donald Trump identified online as belonging to Pretty.

The Guardian reviewed several videos of the incident and found inconsistencies between the footage and official statements. While Pretty had a legal permit to own a firearm, it remains unclear whether he had one during the confrontation. Witnesses said he was filming the agents when they surrounded and assaulted him before one agent shot him at close range. The videos show agents killing a man who was recording their actions.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged President Trump to withdraw federal agents from the state, criticizing their conduct and warning against further violence.

A powerful snowstorm has struck across the United States, leaving at least three people dead and causing widespread disruption. As of Sunday afternoon local time, around 900,000 customers were without electricity, and more than 10,000 flights had been canceled nationwide, according to a BBC report. The National Weather Service said adverse conditions extended from Texas to New England, forcing the closure of schools and roads across multiple states.

Two people in Louisiana reportedly died from hypothermia, while another fatality occurred in Texas. The storm brought heavy snowfall, sleet, and freezing rain that could persist for several days, potentially affecting more than half of the country’s population. Meteorologist Allison Santorelli from the National Weather Service told CBS News that melting would be slow, hindering snow removal efforts.

Authorities warned that the hazardous weather could continue to disrupt transportation and power services in the coming days as cleanup operations face delays due to persistent cold and ice.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump for comments that appeared to downplay the role of NATO troops in Afghanistan. In a television interview on Sunday, Albanese said Trump’s remarks were unacceptable, adding that even though Trump later acknowledged allied contributions, the damage from his earlier statement remained.

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Australian forces joined NATO operations in Afghanistan, where 47 Australian soldiers were killed and more than 260 injured. Last week, Trump claimed that U.S. allies sent some troops but were not on the front lines. Albanese said such comments deeply hurt the families of fallen soldiers and emphasized that the bravery and sacrifice of 40,000 Australians who served in Afghanistan deserved the highest respect.

Trump’s earlier interview with Fox News also drew anger from several NATO allies, including Poland, Norway, Denmark, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Under pressure, Trump later praised British troops on his social media platform. Australia withdrew its troops from Afghanistan in 2021.

Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta has dismissed Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of senior Iranian official Ali Larijani. The student-run newspaper Emory Wheel reported on Saturday that Dean Sandra Wong confirmed the decision in an email to faculty on January 24, stating that the physician, known as the daughter of a high-ranking Iranian government figure, is no longer employed by the university.

The report said the decision followed protests by Iranian-American demonstrators outside Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute opposing her appointment, amid ongoing unrest in Iran. Before her departure, Ardeshir-Larijani served as an assistant professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology. Her faculty and healthcare web pages have since been removed.

Andrea Clement, associate director of public relations at the Winship Cancer Institute, described the matter as personnel-related and emphasized that Emory remains committed to patient care, research, and education in compliance with state and federal laws. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was sanctioned by the United States on January 15 for his alleged role in suppressing peaceful protests in Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday praised British soldiers as “very brave” and “warriors,” marking a reversal from his earlier remarks about NATO forces in Afghanistan. The shift came a day after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Trump’s previous comments “offensive and appalling.” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that British troops have always stood by the United States and described those killed or wounded in Afghanistan as among the greatest warriors.

Trump had earlier sparked outrage across Europe by claiming that European soldiers were not on the front lines in Afghanistan. His comments drew strong criticism from political and military circles in Britain and beyond. Afghanistan was Britain’s deadliest foreign conflict since the 1950s, with 457 British troops killed, many of them leading allied operations in Helmand province.

According to the British Prime Minister’s Office, Trump and Starmer spoke on Saturday about the issue. Starmer emphasized that the sacrifices of British and American soldiers who fought side by side in Afghanistan must never be forgotten.

A powerful snowstorm has disrupted daily life across several regions of the United States, leaving more than 230,000 customers without electricity, mostly in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, and New Mexico. Nearly 13,000 flights have been canceled as the storm continues to affect transportation and utilities. The report, citing Reuters, said the storm began Saturday and is expected to bring heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England through Monday.

Former President Donald Trump approved a federal emergency disaster declaration for multiple states, including South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia. On social media, he stated that authorities are monitoring all states in the storm’s path and maintaining communication with them.

The Department of Homeland Security reported that 17 states and Washington, D.C., have declared weather emergencies. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said thousands remain without power in southern states, and restoration work is underway as quickly as possible.

Widespread protests broke out across the United States after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot an American citizen named Alex Pretty in Minneapolis on Saturday. The incident marked the second death of a US citizen in the city this month involving ICE officers. The shooting occurred a day after about 10,000 people demonstrated in Minneapolis against the Trump administration’s strict anti-immigration operations.

Following the shooting, hundreds of protesters gathered at the scene, prompting ICE officers to fire tear gas and flashbang grenades. Demonstrations soon spread beyond Minneapolis to New York, Washington DC, and San Francisco. Federal officials claimed Pretty had a firearm, but local leaders questioned that assertion.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz described the incident as horrific and said the federal government could not be trusted to investigate it. He and other local officials demanded an immediate halt to anti-immigration operations.

A commentary published on January 25, 2026, in Amader Desh Online criticizes U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed “Gaza Peace Board,” describing it as an empty and unethical initiative that turns peace into a financial transaction. The article states that draft charters were quietly distributed to about 60 countries, seeking up to one billion dollars in membership fees. It argues that the proposal shifts from moral peacebuilding to a long-term management project over a devastated Gaza, without addressing justice or Palestinian self-determination.

According to the analysis, the board’s structure is financially driven, with membership determined by payment and authority concentrated in the chairman’s hands. Palestinians are excluded from decision-making, and the plan omits references to international law, the Geneva Conventions, or UN resolutions. The piece warns that the initiative bypasses the UN system to avoid accountability, creating a parallel governance model that privileges control and profit over transparency.

The article concludes that true peace in Gaza requires an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access, accountability for crimes, and Palestinian-led reconstruction under international law, not externally imposed financial schemes.

The United States Department of Defense has announced a major shift in its strategic priorities under the 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS), released on Friday. According to the document, China will no longer be considered the top defense priority for the U.S. military. The Pentagon plans to focus more on defending U.S. territory and the Indo-Pacific region while reducing the scope of military cooperation with allies in Europe and other regions. Partner nations are expected to take primary responsibility for their own defense, with the U.S. providing limited but strategically important support.

The 34-page report marks a significant departure from the 2018 NDS, which identified China as the primary long-term challenge and Russia as a severe threat. The new strategy describes Russia’s security risk as “steady but manageable” and emphasizes building a “respectful relationship” with Beijing based on strength rather than confrontation. Notably, the report omits any mention of Taiwan. It also highlights border security as a national priority, citing concerns over illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

The revised strategy signals a more inward-looking U.S. defense posture, emphasizing domestic security and selective global engagement.

A massive snowstorm has severely disrupted the United States, affecting nearly 180 million people from New Mexico to New England under winter storm warnings. Around 13,000 flights have been canceled due to widespread snow and ice, and more than 100,000 customers have lost power. The National Weather Service forecast heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from Saturday through Monday across the southern Rocky Mountains to New England.

At least a dozen states have declared emergencies as millions face power outages and travel disruptions. National Weather Service meteorologist Allison Santorelli warned that snow and ice will melt slowly, hindering rescue and recovery operations. President Donald Trump approved federal emergency disaster declarations for twelve states, including South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and others, with more declarations expected.

U.S. Interior Secretary Kristi Noem said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has pre-deployed relief supplies, personnel, and rescue teams across affected states, urging residents to stay indoors and make prudent decisions as the severe cold is expected to persist for several days.

A U.S. citizen was shot dead by an immigration officer in Minneapolis, sparking renewed protests across the city. Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the 37-year-old victim, identified as Alex Pretty, died in hospital after being shot on Saturday. Pretty, a Minneapolis resident, worked as a nurse in an intensive care unit. Demonstrators have called for the withdrawal of heavily armed federal forces from the city.

Federal agents and immigration officers have been deployed in Minneapolis for several weeks as part of an anti-illegal immigration campaign. The latest killing follows the January 7 death of 37-year-old Renee Good, who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer inside a vehicle, triggering daily protests. Last week, a Venezuelan national was also injured in a separate shooting incident.

The repeated shootings have intensified public anger and sustained demonstrations, with protesters demanding accountability and the removal of federal agents from Minneapolis streets.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that all goods entering the United States from Canada will face a 100% tariff if Canada completes a trade agreement with China. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said Canada must not act as a “drop-off port” for Chinese products entering the U.S., warning of severe consequences if it does.

Relations between Washington and Ottawa have become increasingly strained since Trump’s return to the White House in 2024, with disputes emerging over trade and other issues. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently described a “fracture” in the U.S.-led global system. During a visit to Beijing last week, Carney announced a “new strategic partnership” with China and an initial trade understanding aimed at reducing tariffs. Trump responded by calling the move dangerous and labeling Carney “governor,” echoing earlier remarks about Canada as a potential U.S. state.

Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc countered that the China deal only addresses tariff issues and is not a free trade pact. Analysts cited in the report warned that continued tensions could create major uncertainty for both economies.

US President Donald Trump unveiled his new 'Board of Peace' at the Davos Economic Forum this week, declaring it a platform to end decades of global suffering and build lasting peace. The initiative, originally conceived during US-led efforts to end the Gaza war, was approved by a UN Security Council resolution but has since expanded into a broader global project. A leaked draft charter shows Trump will serve as lifelong chairman with sweeping powers, including appointing members, creating or dissolving sub-bodies, and naming his successor. Permanent membership reportedly costs $1 billion.

The launch drew mixed international reactions. Poland’s prime minister warned against manipulation, while Hungary’s Viktor Orbán praised Trump’s leadership. The UK, Sweden, and Norway voiced concerns or withheld participation, and a coalition of Muslim-majority nations joined citing hopes for Gaza’s reconstruction—though the leaked charter made no mention of Gaza. France’s Emmanuel Macron faced tariff threats from Trump for hesitating to join, and Slovenia called the move a dangerous interference in global order.

UN officials described the initiative as reflecting the UN Security Council’s failures but cautioned that inclusivity is vital. Secretary-General António Guterres lamented the rise of power politics over rule of law, while observers questioned whether Trump’s board could replace the UN.

More than 8,000 flights scheduled for the weekend were cancelled as a major winter storm swept across the United States, bringing heavy snow and dangerous ice from east Texas to North Carolina. According to FlightAware, at least 3,400 flights were delayed or cancelled on Saturday and over 5,000 were called off for Sunday. Roughly 140 million people from New Mexico to New England were under winter storm warnings, with forecasters warning that ice damage could rival that of a hurricane.

Snow began falling in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas on Friday as the storm combined with Arctic cold to engulf much of the country. Meteorologist Jacob Asherman described it as the season’s most intense storm, with wind chills dropping below minus 45 degrees Celsius in the Dakotas and Minnesota. The worst conditions were expected in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, where ice could reach an inch thick.

Governors in more than a dozen states declared emergencies or urged residents to stay home. President Donald Trump said federal agencies were coordinating with local officials, while New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani mobilized the city’s sanitation department for large-scale snow removal.

Thousands of people demonstrated in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Friday against the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies. Despite freezing temperatures dropping 29 degrees Celsius below zero, organizers said around 50,000 protesters took to the streets, demanding an end to harsh immigration measures. The demonstrators marched and gathered at the Target Center, calling for policy changes.

According to organizers and participants, several businesses across Minnesota closed for the day as workers joined the protest. The large-scale demonstration reflected growing opposition to the administration’s immigration enforcement actions. The protest took place just one day after U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance visited Minneapolis to express support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, who he said were conducting an important operation to detain immigration law violators.

The timing of the protest, following the vice president’s visit, underscored the deep divisions over immigration enforcement in the United States and the public pushback against federal actions.