Controversy Surrounds ICE as French Tech Giant Sells US Subsidiary, Public Outrage Grows
Public scrutiny of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intensified following the deaths of two U.S. citizens, leading a French technology giant to sell its U.S. subsidiary that worked with the agency. Capgemini announced the sale of Capgemini Government Solutions after facing pressure from French lawmakers regarding its contract with ICE, according to BBC Business.
The decision came amid growing international scrutiny of ICE's methods, particularly in Minnesota, where the fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24 by Border Patrol agents sparked widespread protests across the U.S., BBC Business reported.
Pretti's death became a "national tipping point," galvanizing public sentiment against the federal government's tactics, according to the New York Times. While both deaths provoked outrage, Pretti's case resonated further, even reaching conservative circles that had previously defended the crackdown. The New York Times noted that one poll found support for abolishing ICE nearly doubled among independent voters.
The Trump administration initially labeled both Good and Pretti as terrorists, but these claims quickly unraveled as more information emerged and videos of the shootings surfaced, according to the New York Times. The backlash from Pretti's death was significant, with gun-rights groups turning against the White House and Republican senators calling for investigations, the New York Times reported.
In other news, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. would close for a two-year renovation beginning on July 4, in honor of the 250th Anniversary of the country, according to BBC World. This announcement followed several artists canceling performances at the institution after it was recently renamed the Trump Kennedy Center. Shortly after taking office, Trump replaced several board members with allies, who then voted to make him chairman of the board, BBC World reported.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, twelve miners were killed by a Russian drone strike in the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to BBC World. DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy firm, said the bus carrying the workers after their shift was targeted in the attack. At least 15 people were injured, State Emergency Services said. Separately, at least two others were killed and nine injured in other Russian attacks, including six people hurt when a drone hit a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia, BBC World reported.
Asda, a British supermarket chain, is struggling to maintain its market position, according to BBC Business. "Asda has lost its mojo and has a big fight to get it back," the report stated. Despite a steady stream of shoppers, the supermarket faces challenges in regaining its appeal. Carol Stimpson, a local resident, described the Asda in Crawley as her "corner shop," while Joanne Dench praised its variety of products, including international foods, BBC Business reported.
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