标签： North America

The U.S. Justice Department has launched a formal investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly obstructing federal immigration enforcement operations, according to multiple reports confirmed by sources familiar with the matter.

The probe, initiated by federal prosecutors, centers on accusations that the Democratic officials’ public statements and policies have impeded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities within the state. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche characterized the officials’ rhetoric as approaching potential federal offenses, specifically citing instances where Mayor Frey allegedly encouraged citizens to report ICE sightings to local emergency services.

While the investigation remains in preliminary stages with no formal charges filed, the Justice Department has issued subpoenas to both officials. The inquiry emerges amidst heightened tensions following the January 7th fatal shooting of 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Good during an ICE operation in Minneapolis. The incident triggered nationwide protests and prompted both Walz and Frey to demand cessation of ICE raids in the Twin Cities area, where approximately 2,500 individuals have been apprehended.

Governor Walz condemned the investigation as politically motivated, stating: ‘Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic.’ He notably referenced previous investigations against other Democratic figures while emphasizing that the federal agent involved in Good’s shooting has not faced scrutiny.

The case represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between federal immigration authorities and local officials in sanctuary jurisdictions, testing the boundaries of federal-state cooperation in law enforcement operations.

Recent financial disclosures reveal former President Donald Trump acquired approximately $100 million in municipal and corporate bonds between mid-November and late December 2025, including substantial holdings in Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery securities. This investment activity occurred mere weeks after the entertainment giants announced their proposed merger—a transaction requiring regulatory approval from the very administration Trump led.

The documentation, released Thursday and Friday, indicates the majority of Trump’s purchases consisted of municipal bonds supporting local infrastructure, school districts, utilities, and hospitals. Corporate bond acquisitions extended beyond media companies to include aerospace manufacturer Boeing, energy firm Occidental Petroleum, and automotive leader General Motors.

This portfolio expansion intensifies existing ethical concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest, as Trump maintains investments in sectors directly affected by federal policies and regulatory decisions. The Netflix-Warner Bros merger presents a particularly notable case, given that Trump publicly commented in December about having “a say” in the transaction’s approval process, which currently faces a competing bid from Paramount Skydance.

A White House representative, speaking anonymously, asserted that Trump’s investment portfolio is managed independently by third-party financial institutions without direct influence from the former president or his family. This defense mirrors previous statements addressing Trump’s continuous bond acquisitions, which previously included at least $82 million in purchases between late August and early October 2025.

The situation highlights ongoing tensions between personal financial interests and governmental responsibilities, reviving debates about wealth management protocols for high-ranking officials whose investment decisions may intersect with policy domains.

Mass demonstrations organized under the banner ‘Hands Off Greenland’ swept through Denmark and Greenland on Saturday, representing a powerful grassroots response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial statements regarding potential acquisition of the autonomous Danish territory. The protests, coordinated by Greenlandic associations including Uagut and the Inuit umbrella organization, drew thousands of participants across multiple cities including Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, Odense, and the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk.

The mobilization follows Trump’s January 16th warning that he “may put a tariff” on nations opposing his territorial ambitions toward Greenland. This economic threat has ignited widespread condemnation among Greenlanders, with recent polls indicating 85% of the territory’s population opposes joining the United States, while only 6% support such a move.

In Nuuk, demonstrators gathered at 4:00 PM local time to march toward the U.S. consulate carrying Greenlandic flags, explicitly protesting what organizers termed “the United States’ illegal plans to take control of Greenland.” Simultaneously, in Copenhagen, protesters assembled at noon outside the U.S. embassy, creating a visible symbol of resistance during a visit by a bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers.

Julie Rademacher, chairwoman of Uagut, emphasized the need for unity, stating recent events have placed “Greenlanders in both Greenland and Denmark under pressure.” Organizers Kristian Johansen and Avijaja Rosing-Olsen articulated clear demands for “respect for our country’s right to self-determination” and adherence to “international law and international legal principles,” framing the struggle as having global significance beyond Greenland’s 57,000 inhabitants.

The protests represent a remarkable show of democratic engagement in the Arctic territory, with social media indications suggesting participation numbers that would represent a substantial portion of Greenland’s total population.

A federal judge has delivered a stern rebuke to the Trump administration, mandating corrective action within 21 days for the wrongful deportation of a Honduran college student. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns in Boston characterized the incident as a “tragic and preventable mistake” that violated a standing court order.

The case involves Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old Babson College freshman who was apprehended at Boston’s Logan International Airport on November 20 while preparing to travel home to Texas for Thanksgiving. Despite a judicial order issued on November 21 that explicitly prohibited her deportation or transfer from Massachusetts for 72 hours, immigration authorities had already moved Lopez Belloza to Texas. She was subsequently deported to Honduras on November 22.

Lopez Belloza’s complex immigration history reveals she originally entered the United States at age eight with her mother while seeking asylum. She maintains she was unaware of any existing removal order against her.

In his Friday ruling, Judge Stearns proposed two potential remedies: either the U.S. Department of State issues her a student visa, or the administration facilitates her return to the United States. The judge emphasized that the “simplest solution” would be visa issuance, while acknowledging jurisdiction limitations since Lopez Belloza was outside Massachusetts when legal proceedings began.

Government attorneys previously apologized for what they described as an “amalgam of errors,” specifically noting that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer failed to properly flag the court order, mistakenly believing it no longer applied once she left Massachusetts.

Lopez Belloza’s attorney, Todd Pomerleau, welcomed the judicial intervention as a positive step toward negotiating his client’s return. The Justice Department has declined to comment on the ongoing proceedings. Lopez Belloza currently remains in Honduras with her grandparents.

CARACAS – In a significant administrative reorganization, Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez unveiled a comprehensive cabinet reshuffle on Friday, introducing three key ministerial appointments aimed at strengthening government operations.

The strategic reassignment sees Miguel Pérez Pirela assuming the role of Minister of Communication and Information, taking over from Freddy Ñáñez. The outgoing communications chief has been entrusted with a new portfolio as head of the Ministry of Ecosocialism, signaling the government’s renewed emphasis on environmental governance.

Through an official statement released on Telegram, Rodríguez outlined the rationale behind these changes, particularly highlighting Ñáñez’s critical mission in his new capacity. The acting president emphasized that his expertise would be instrumental in “advancing public policies dedicated to safeguarding our Pachamama (Mother Earth) and all matters pertaining to environmental preservation.”

Completing the triad of appointments, Aníbal Coronado was designated as the new Minister of Transport, filling a vital position in the nation’s infrastructure leadership. This restructuring demonstrates the administration’s commitment to optimizing governmental efficiency across multiple sectors, including communications, ecological sustainability, and transportation infrastructure.

The cabinet changes occur amid Venezuela’s ongoing political and economic challenges, reflecting the government’s adaptive approach to governance under Rodríguez’s interim leadership since assuming presidential duties.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has issued a formal statement addressing the inseparable connection between the Nobel Peace Prize and its designated laureate. This declaration comes in response to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s presentation of her 2025 Peace Prize medal to former U.S. President Donald Trump during a January 15th meeting at the Oval Office.

The Committee emphasized that while laureates maintain full autonomy over the physical components of the award—including the medal, diploma, and monetary prize—the historical recognition remains exclusively with the original recipient. “Regardless of what may happen to the medal, the diploma, or the prize money, it is and remains the original laureate who is recorded in history as the recipient of the prize,” the statement clarified.

The unusual transfer occurred during Machado’s high-profile visit to Washington, where she presented Trump with the gold medal displayed in an elaborate frame. White House officials confirmed the former president intends to retain the medal despite the Committee’s position that such transfers do not alter the official record of achievement.

The Nobel Foundation’s statutes contain no restrictions regarding laureates’ disposition of their award components, permitting recipients to “keep, give away, sell, or donate these items” according to their discretion. Machado’s complete award package included not only the medal but also the official diploma and 11 million Swedish crowns (approximately $1.19 million).

The Committee’s unusual public statement serves both as clarification of protocol and reaffirmation of the award’s institutional integrity amid international attention surrounding the medal’s transfer between two controversial political figures.

President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to the international community, suggesting potential tariff impositions on nations that refuse to endorse his controversial proposal for the United States to acquire Greenland. The declaration came during a White House press briefing on Friday as the President prepared to depart for Florida.

“I may implement tariffs on countries should they fail to support our position regarding Greenland, which we consider vital for national security interests,” Trump stated, though he provided no specific details regarding which nations might be targeted or the proposed tariff rates.

This latest development follows Wednesday’s high-level diplomatic meeting between American, Danish, and Greenlandic officials that concluded with what sources describe as a “fundamental disagreement” regarding the future status of the massive Arctic territory. The discussions involved US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt.

Greenland currently operates as a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen maintaining control over defense and foreign policy matters. The United States already maintains strategic military installations on the island, including Thule Air Base, which has served as a crucial early warning radar site since the Cold War era.

The Trump administration has demonstrated an increasing willingness to employ economic measures, including tariffs, as instruments of foreign policy beyond traditional trade disputes. Since returning to office in 2025, the administration has expanded tariff implementations to address issues ranging from fentanyl trafficking and sanctions enforcement against Iran to water rights negotiations with Mexico.

The President’s persistent interest in acquiring Greenland—which he has reportedly described as a “large real estate deal”—has created diplomatic tensions with Denmark, a longstanding NATO ally. The Danish government has consistently maintained that Greenland is not for sale or transfer.