Minneapolis Shooting Sparks Outcry, Iranian Protesters Seek Secret Treatment, and Internet Access Returns Selectively in Iran
Minneapolis, MN – The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Minneapolis sparked protests and calls for accountability. According to BBC World, the two agents involved in the Saturday shooting were placed on administrative leave. The incident drew public outcry across the U.S. and calls from lawmakers to remove the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A preliminary DHS report sent to Congress indicated that the agents fired their weapons at Pretti during a scuffle. Initial official accounts alleged that Pretti brandished a gun. It remained unclear when the agents were placed on leave or how the investigation was proceeding.
Meanwhile, in Iran, citizens injured during protests were reportedly seeking treatment in secret to avoid arrest. BBC World reported that one protester, identified as Tara, was shot along with a friend by security forces in Isfahan. "My friend told an armed member of the security forces, 'Just don't shoot us,' and he immediately fired several shots at us. We fell to the ground. All our clothes were covered in blood," she said. Tara and her friend were then taken to a safe location by strangers, fearing arrest if they sought treatment at a hospital.
In a related development, internet access in Iran was partially restored after a nearly three-week shutdown. BBC Technology reported that the shutdown, which began on January 8, was widely seen as an attempt to suppress information about a government crackdown on protesters. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the internet was blocked in response to "terrorist operations." While some citizens regained access, independent analysis suggested that much of the country remained effectively cut off from the outside world.
In Texas, Congressman Joaquin Castro met with five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father at the Dilley detention center. The Guardian reported that Liam became a symbol of the reach of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations after he was detained on his way home from preschool. Castro shared a photograph of Liam resting in his father's arms on social media, stating that he told Liam how much his family, his school, and our country loves him and is praying for him.
In other news, the US Federal Reserve voted to hold interest rates steady, maintaining its key lending rate between 3.5 to 3.75. According to BBC Business, the Fed cited that economic activity in the US "has been expanding at a solid pace". Fed Chair Jerome Powell also defended the importance of central bank independence, amid frequent criticism from US President Donald Trump for not cutting rates quickly enough.
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