US Rower Completes Solo Atlantic Journey as Immigration Debate Heats Up Domestically and Internationally
Taryn Smith, a 25-year-old American rower, completed her solo journey across the Atlantic Ocean, arriving in Antigua on Thursday morning after 46 days at sea, according to ABC News. Smith embarked from La Gomera, Spain, and paddled approximately 10 to 12 miles per day. She documented her "World's Toughest Row" journey on Instagram and shared her celebratory finish on social media and YouTube. "I really couldn't have done it without all of the support from people back home. So thank you so much for joining me," Smith said, according to ABC News.
Meanwhile, in the United States, the debate over immigration enforcement intensified, particularly in Minnesota. Fox News reported that President Trump sent former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Tom Homan to Minnesota, signaling a "deliberate and strategic approach to public safety." Minnesota has become a focal point in the national immigration debate, especially after fatal shootings involving Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis amid a federal immigration crackdown, according to Fox News.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., voiced her "full support" for a nationwide anti-ICE protest scheduled for Friday, but stated that her office would not participate, Fox News reported. The "National Shutdown" campaign called for "no school, no work and no shopping" on Friday, arguing that "enough is enough" in the wake of the shootings, according to Fox News.
Internationally, tensions remained high between the United States and Iran. BBC World reported that President Trump stated "it would be great if we didn't have to use" military force on Iran. Trump said he told Iran it has to do "two things" to avoid military action: "Number one, no nuclear. And number two, stop killing protesters," according to BBC World. He added, "We have a lot of very big, very powerful ships sailing to Iran right now, and it would be great if we didn't have to use them."
In Panama, the Supreme Court annulled contracts allowing a Hong Kong-based company, CK Hutchison Holding, through subsidiary Panama Ports Company (PPC), to operate container ports on the Panama Canal, BBC World reported. The ruling comes a year after then US President Donald Trump claimed China was "operating the Panama Canal" in his inaugural speech, according to BBC World. The court found that laws allowing the firm to operate the ports were "unconstitutional," but PPC said the ruling would be appealed.
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