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FINANCE
State Street risks losing $52 billion Swiss pension mandate
A view of the State Street headquarters in Boston.
David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
State Street Corp. is at risk of losing a $52 billion pile of Swiss pension assets as citizens start to worry that their savings might become a bargaining chip in President Trump's deepening trade war with Europe. Lawmakers in Bern are scheduled to vote on Thursday on a bill that seeks to order the state agency Compenswiss to move custody of the assets back to a hometown bank. It would be the latest sign that the US banking behemoth is at risk of losing key business in Europe after State Street had mandates pulled by pension funds in the UK and Scandinavia. 'The custody of assets entrusted by Compenswiss in Switzerland is the core business of State Street,' a spokesperson for the Boston-based firm said ahead of the vote. 'The bank carries out this mandate with due diligence, drawing on its over 230 years of experience in this field. State Street does not comment on the political decision-making process.' The vote showcases nervousness in Switzerland — a nation famed for its obsession with the preservation of wealth — at the advent of the new Trump administration. While the US president hasn't yet threatened the country with tariffs — as he's done to the neighboring European Union — memories linger of how Switzerland was branded a currency manipulator during his first term in office. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
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White House defends banning AP, says Trump has wide discretion
Television screens in the White House James S. Brady Press Briefing Room display a "Victory" sign after a judge refused to grant the Associated Press immediate access to the press pool on Feb. 24.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty
The White House asked a federal judge to deny the Associated Press's request to restore access for its reporters, arguing that the First Amendment doesn't preclude government officials from favoring particular journalists. In a court filing late Tuesday, White House chief of staff Susan Wiles and other officials urged a judge to rebuff the wire service's request for a court order that would lift the ban while its lawsuit over full access plays out. The filing is the latest development in a suit the AP filed last month after its journalists were banned from parts of the White House for continuing to use 'Gulf of Mexico' in its popular style guide after Trump's executive order renaming the body of water 'Gulf of America.' The wire service said that in addition to blocking its reporters from their traditional participation in the White House press pool — in which a smaller group of reporters is designated to cover the president in the Oval Office or aboard Air Force One — its journalists have been banned from larger events, including press conferences with foreign leaders visiting the White House. The 'core issue' of the case is whether the First or Fifth Amendments to the Constitution 'compel' Trump to grant AP special access to 'the most intimate of his work and personal spaces — the Oval Office, Air Force One, and the Mar-a-Lago Club,' the White House said in the filing. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
ECONOMY
Egg prices are still surging, hitting consumers' wallets
A customer shopped for eggs at a grocery store in Chicago.
Scott Olson/Getty
Egg prices continued their upward climb in February despite some easing in overall inflation, further straining consumers seeking relief from rising prices in the grocery aisles. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Wednesday showed that egg prices rose 10.4 percent from the previous month, to nearly $5.90 for a dozen large Grade A eggs, as an outbreak of bird flu continued to contribute to a nationwide shortage. That is slightly lower than the 15 percent-plus surge in January, the largest monthly increase in egg prices in a decade. But since last year, egg prices are up nearly 60 percent. Food prices more broadly rose 0.2 percent in February, or 2.8 percent compared with the same time last year. Eggs have driven overall increases in grocery prices in recent months. During the presidential campaign in the fall, President Trump blamed the Biden administration for inflation and vowed to bring down prices. But the steep rise in consumer staples, including eggs, has complicated that promise as his tariff policies stoke further concern about inflation. — NEW YORK TIMES
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TECH
Musk's Starlink could help remote parts of India get online under deals with telecoms
Elon Musk during an event with President Trump in the Oval Office at the White House.
Alex Brandon/Associated Press
Elon Musk's Starlink signed an agreement with India's top telecom operator on Wednesday to bring the US satellite internet giant's services to the world's most populous country, a day after announcing a similar agreement with the country's second-largest provider. The deals with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, which together control more than 70 percent of India's telecom market, could help bring internet connections to millions of people who live in remote areas. But they depend on Starlink obtaining government approval to enter India. The partnership announcements come weeks after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Musk in Washington. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
E-COMMERCE
FTC asks judge to delay Amazon trial due to resource constraints
An Amazon delivery truck in Richmond, Calif.
Justin Sullivan/Getty
The Federal Trade Commission asked a federal judge on Wednesday to delay a trial in a case accusing Amazon of using deceptive practices in its Prime subscription program, citing staffing and budgetary challenges at the government agency. Jonathan Cohen, a lawyer for the FTC, made the request before US District Judge John Chun, who is overseeing the legal proceedings from a 2023 lawsuit the commission filed against the e-commerce giant in Washington state. 'Our resource constraints are severe and really unique to this moment,' Cohen said during a status hearing on Wednesday. 'We have lost employees in the agency, in our division and on the case team.' When the judge asked if the agency's challenges were due to recent cuts in the federal government, Cohen said it was, adding that some employees chose to leave the FTC following the 'Fork in the road' email sent by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency in January. Staff members who resigned for other reasons also have not been replaced due to a government hiring freeze, he said. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
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LEGAL
Indonesian fishermen sue Bumble Bee, say the canned tuna giant knew of abuse in its supply chain
A Bumble Bee tuna processing plant in Santa Fe Springs, Calif.
Nick Ut/Associated Press
Lawyers representing four Indonesian fishermen who say they were beaten and trapped on vessels that were part of the global supply chain that provided tuna to Bumble Bee Seafoods filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the canned seafood giant. It is believed to be the first such case of forced labor at sea brought against a US seafood company, the men's lawyer, Agnieszka Fryszman, said. US companies that benefit from forced labor and undercut other businesses need to be held accountable, Fryszman said. 'What you see is really devastating,' she said. The lawsuit accuses the company headquartered in San Diego of violating the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. The law allows foreigners who suffered from human trafficking to sue US businesses that knew or should have known that they were profiting from forced labor. Bumble Bee said in an email to the Associated Press that it does not comment on pending litigation. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Jetstar Asia closure: Some customers confused, frustrated by poor communication; Air India plane crashes at Ahmedabad airport in India: Singapore live news
The Jetstar Asia closure has left some customers confused and frustrated over conflicting information, or a lack thereof. The Singapore-based airlines, operated by Qantas Group, announced on Wednesday (11 June) morning that it would be ceasing operations from 31 July. They added that Jetstar Asia flights would be operating with a "progressively reduced schedule". For a customer identified as Daniel, he told CNA that he didn't realise the schedule would be "progressively reduced" prior to its closure. An Air India plane crashed at India's Ahmedabad airport, said the police and the airline on Thursday (12 June). There were no details on fatalities from the crash but it was reported that there were more than 200 people on board the flight. Air India said that the flight was headed to Gatwick airport in London and that the plane was "involved in an incident". "At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates," they said on X. Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates. An Air India plane crashed at India's Ahmedabad airport, said the police and the airline on Thursday (12 June). There were no details on fatalities from the crash but it was reported that there were more than 200 people on board the flight. Air India said that the flight was headed to Gatwick airport in London and that the plane was "involved in an incident". "At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates," they said on X. Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest on and on our X handle ( India… — Air India (@airindia) June 12, 2025 The crash occurred when the aircraft was taking off, television channels reported. Visuals showed debris on fire, with thick black smoke rising up into the sky near the airport. Police officers shared that the plane crashed in a civilian area near the airport. For more on the Air India plane crash, read here. Pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter has surprised fans with the announcement of her seventh studio album, Man's Best Friend, set for release on 29 August, 2025. Carpenter shared the news on Instagram on Wednesday (11 June) along with a photo of her on hands and knees in a black mini dress and black heels. Meanwhile, a man, which is cut out of the photo, is grabbing a her hair. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sabrina Carpenter (@sabrinacarpenter) Man's Best Friend follows the success of her previous album Short n' Sweet – and the hit song Espresso – which earned her a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album earlier this year. The lead single, Manchild, dropped on 5 June, showcasing Carpenter's signature blend of synth-pop and introspective lyrics. For more on Sabrina Carpenter's new album, read here. A Singaporean woman was sentenced to six months' jail in Taiwan for stalking and harassing Golden Melody Award-winning singer Olivia Tsao Ya-wen. Cassandra Low, a woman in her 30s, was identified in a court judgment by the New Taipei District Court. The court found her guilty of endangering Tsao's personal safety, stalking and harassing her, and also publicly insulting the singer. It was reported that Low was a long-time admirer of Tsao and both parties have exchanged personal e-mails and messages over Facebook and Instagram since November 2023. However, the relationship soured after Tsao blocked Low on social media, with the latter issuing threats. In one Facebook post, Low wrote, "I can be very aggressive. The more stubborn she is... don't blame me for whatever I do to her parents." For more on the Olivia Tsao stalking incident, read here. Les Miserables The Arena Spectacular is coming to the Sands Theatre in Singapore in March 2026. The record-breaking concert tour is an expanded version of the Les Miserables The Staged Concert, and features an extraordinary and exciting new design specifically created for larger venues with a cast and orchestra of over 65. UOB cardmembers will have priority pre-sales with a 20 per cent discount. The first starts on Monday (23 June) at 10am, exclusively on Klook. The second will be on Tuesday (24 June) at 10am, and will be available through Marina Bay Sands Ticketing, SISTIC and Klook. Non-UOB cardmembers can sign up for the waitlist now to gain access to the waitlist pre-sale that will start on Tuesday (24 June) 10am. There will be a 15 per cent discount during this pre-sale. The public sale will start on Thursday (26 June) at 12pm, and will be available through Marina Bay Sands Ticketing, SISTIC and Klook. There will be a 10 per cent early bird discount. The concert tour just wrapped up its Australia dates and have now moved to Asia. It opens in Taiwan on Thursday (12 June), with its next stops being Japan and China. Cast details for the Singapore leg of the concert tour have yet to be confirmed or revealed. An Australian man was arrested after he allegedly shoplifted twice in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 1. On 11 June, the police said in a statement that they were alerted to a case of shop theft at a duty-free Shilla Cosmetics and Perfumes store at about 11.30pm. Investigations revealed that a man allegedly took a display bottle of facial product, valued at $466, and left without paying. Officers from the Airport Police Division identified the man and he was arrested on 1 June. Police also believe that the man is involved in another case of shop theft, also at Shilla Cosmetics and Perfumes, that occurred on 27 May. For more on the man's alleged shop theft spree, read here. An 85-year-old woman died after an accident involving a Comfort taxi near Kallang MRT on 10 June. The police were alerted at 10.35am to the accident on Lorong 1 Geylang towards Upper Boon Keng Road. The woman was unconscious and brought to Tan Tock Seng Hospital by the Singapore Civil Defence Force where she died. The 68-year-old male driver has been arrested for careless driving causing death, said the police on 11 June. For more on the accident near Kallang MRT, read here. More than 55,000 Palestinians have died in the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to Gaza health authorities. Local hospitals said that at least 21 people were killed on their way to provide aid at distribution centres. The cause of death for victims near the site are unclear, but the Israeli army said on Wednesday that it fired warning shots at "suspects" that posed a threat to troops. The numbers by the Gaza Health Ministry doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants, and they said that women and children make up more than half the 55,000 dead. The war, which erupted on 7 Oct 2023 after a surprise Hamas attack, continues unabated despite international calls for a ceasefire. Israel's military maintains that operations are targeting militants, and blamed them for hiding among civilians. For more on the Israel-Hamas war death toll, read here. Trade talks between the US and China aimed at cooling tensions have ended in a deal, said US President Donald Trump. He shared that China will supply US companies with magnets and rare earth metals while the US will walk back its threats to revoke visas of Chinese students. "Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval from President Xi and me," wrote Trump on Truth Social. The talks were held over two days in London, starting from Monday (9 June) to address the conflicts that had emerged since the truce between both parties started in May. Details about the new agreement with China are limited, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying that Trump is reviewing it. "But what the president heard, he liked," she added. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was testifying before Congress on Wednesday, said the talks were more narrowly focused and a comprehensive deal will require more time to flesh out. For more on the US-China trade deal, read here. Taiwan was struck by an earthquake on Wednesday (11 June) evening, with the quake hitting seconds after cell phone alarms went off at 7.01pm. The quake about 71 kilometres south of Hualien City. According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake had a magnitude of 5.9 and was detected at a depth of 31.1 kilometres. Taiwan's Central Weather Administration gave the magnitude as 6.4. However, such differences are common considering the differences in sensitivity and detector locations. Buildings in Taipei shook for about a minute, and there were no immediate reports of damage. A firefighter in Chenggong told AFP that when the quake hit, "the computer screen and fan shook heavily". He added, "It was much stronger than previous quakes. I immediately thought about running outside." For more on the Taiwan earthquake, read here. The Jetstar Asia closure has left some customers confused and frustrated over conflicting information, or a lack thereof. The Singapore-based airlines, operated by Qantas Group, announced on Wednesday (11 June) morning that it would be ceasing operations from 31 July. They added that Jetstar Asia flights would be operating with a "progressively reduced schedule". For a customer identified as Daniel, he told CNA that he didn't realise the schedule would be "progressively reduced" prior to its closure. Hence, he thought his two planned trips in July – one to Bangkok, another to Okinawa - would not be affected. On Wednesday morning, though, he received an email confirming that his trip to Bangkok was cancelled, so he made plans to book another flight. Daniel said the email also included his "specific booking reference". Yet, when his friend called the Jetstar Asia's hotline, they were told the flight was still going ahead as planned. He now feels uncertain about his flight to Okinawa and it's not clear which flights would be cut from Jetstar Asia's schedule before it closes. 'I'm wondering, when would they tell me about it? Or how late would they tell me about it?' For more on how customers are affected by the Jetstar Asia closure, read here. An Air India plane crashed at India's Ahmedabad airport, said the police and the airline on Thursday (12 June). There were no details on fatalities from the crash but it was reported that there were more than 200 people on board the flight. Air India said that the flight was headed to Gatwick airport in London and that the plane was "involved in an incident". "At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates," they said on X. Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest on and on our X handle ( India… — Air India (@airindia) June 12, 2025 The crash occurred when the aircraft was taking off, television channels reported. Visuals showed debris on fire, with thick black smoke rising up into the sky near the airport. Police officers shared that the plane crashed in a civilian area near the airport. For more on the Air India plane crash, read here. Pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter has surprised fans with the announcement of her seventh studio album, Man's Best Friend, set for release on 29 August, 2025. Carpenter shared the news on Instagram on Wednesday (11 June) along with a photo of her on hands and knees in a black mini dress and black heels. Meanwhile, a man, which is cut out of the photo, is grabbing a her hair. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sabrina Carpenter (@sabrinacarpenter) Man's Best Friend follows the success of her previous album Short n' Sweet – and the hit song Espresso – which earned her a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album earlier this year. The lead single, Manchild, dropped on 5 June, showcasing Carpenter's signature blend of synth-pop and introspective lyrics. For more on Sabrina Carpenter's new album, read here. A Singaporean woman was sentenced to six months' jail in Taiwan for stalking and harassing Golden Melody Award-winning singer Olivia Tsao Ya-wen. Cassandra Low, a woman in her 30s, was identified in a court judgment by the New Taipei District Court. The court found her guilty of endangering Tsao's personal safety, stalking and harassing her, and also publicly insulting the singer. It was reported that Low was a long-time admirer of Tsao and both parties have exchanged personal e-mails and messages over Facebook and Instagram since November 2023. However, the relationship soured after Tsao blocked Low on social media, with the latter issuing threats. In one Facebook post, Low wrote, "I can be very aggressive. The more stubborn she is... don't blame me for whatever I do to her parents." For more on the Olivia Tsao stalking incident, read here. Les Miserables The Arena Spectacular is coming to the Sands Theatre in Singapore in March 2026. The record-breaking concert tour is an expanded version of the Les Miserables The Staged Concert, and features an extraordinary and exciting new design specifically created for larger venues with a cast and orchestra of over 65. UOB cardmembers will have priority pre-sales with a 20 per cent discount. The first starts on Monday (23 June) at 10am, exclusively on Klook. The second will be on Tuesday (24 June) at 10am, and will be available through Marina Bay Sands Ticketing, SISTIC and Klook. Non-UOB cardmembers can sign up for the waitlist now to gain access to the waitlist pre-sale that will start on Tuesday (24 June) 10am. There will be a 15 per cent discount during this pre-sale. The public sale will start on Thursday (26 June) at 12pm, and will be available through Marina Bay Sands Ticketing, SISTIC and Klook. There will be a 10 per cent early bird discount. The concert tour just wrapped up its Australia dates and have now moved to Asia. It opens in Taiwan on Thursday (12 June), with its next stops being Japan and China. Cast details for the Singapore leg of the concert tour have yet to be confirmed or revealed. An Australian man was arrested after he allegedly shoplifted twice in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 1. On 11 June, the police said in a statement that they were alerted to a case of shop theft at a duty-free Shilla Cosmetics and Perfumes store at about 11.30pm. Investigations revealed that a man allegedly took a display bottle of facial product, valued at $466, and left without paying. Officers from the Airport Police Division identified the man and he was arrested on 1 June. Police also believe that the man is involved in another case of shop theft, also at Shilla Cosmetics and Perfumes, that occurred on 27 May. For more on the man's alleged shop theft spree, read here. An 85-year-old woman died after an accident involving a Comfort taxi near Kallang MRT on 10 June. The police were alerted at 10.35am to the accident on Lorong 1 Geylang towards Upper Boon Keng Road. The woman was unconscious and brought to Tan Tock Seng Hospital by the Singapore Civil Defence Force where she died. The 68-year-old male driver has been arrested for careless driving causing death, said the police on 11 June. For more on the accident near Kallang MRT, read here. More than 55,000 Palestinians have died in the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to Gaza health authorities. Local hospitals said that at least 21 people were killed on their way to provide aid at distribution centres. The cause of death for victims near the site are unclear, but the Israeli army said on Wednesday that it fired warning shots at "suspects" that posed a threat to troops. The numbers by the Gaza Health Ministry doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants, and they said that women and children make up more than half the 55,000 dead. The war, which erupted on 7 Oct 2023 after a surprise Hamas attack, continues unabated despite international calls for a ceasefire. Israel's military maintains that operations are targeting militants, and blamed them for hiding among civilians. For more on the Israel-Hamas war death toll, read here. Trade talks between the US and China aimed at cooling tensions have ended in a deal, said US President Donald Trump. He shared that China will supply US companies with magnets and rare earth metals while the US will walk back its threats to revoke visas of Chinese students. "Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval from President Xi and me," wrote Trump on Truth Social. The talks were held over two days in London, starting from Monday (9 June) to address the conflicts that had emerged since the truce between both parties started in May. Details about the new agreement with China are limited, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying that Trump is reviewing it. "But what the president heard, he liked," she added. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was testifying before Congress on Wednesday, said the talks were more narrowly focused and a comprehensive deal will require more time to flesh out. For more on the US-China trade deal, read here. Taiwan was struck by an earthquake on Wednesday (11 June) evening, with the quake hitting seconds after cell phone alarms went off at 7.01pm. The quake about 71 kilometres south of Hualien City. According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake had a magnitude of 5.9 and was detected at a depth of 31.1 kilometres. Taiwan's Central Weather Administration gave the magnitude as 6.4. However, such differences are common considering the differences in sensitivity and detector locations. Buildings in Taipei shook for about a minute, and there were no immediate reports of damage. A firefighter in Chenggong told AFP that when the quake hit, "the computer screen and fan shook heavily". He added, "It was much stronger than previous quakes. I immediately thought about running outside." For more on the Taiwan earthquake, read here. The Jetstar Asia closure has left some customers confused and frustrated over conflicting information, or a lack thereof. The Singapore-based airlines, operated by Qantas Group, announced on Wednesday (11 June) morning that it would be ceasing operations from 31 July. They added that Jetstar Asia flights would be operating with a "progressively reduced schedule". For a customer identified as Daniel, he told CNA that he didn't realise the schedule would be "progressively reduced" prior to its closure. Hence, he thought his two planned trips in July – one to Bangkok, another to Okinawa - would not be affected. On Wednesday morning, though, he received an email confirming that his trip to Bangkok was cancelled, so he made plans to book another flight. Daniel said the email also included his "specific booking reference". Yet, when his friend called the Jetstar Asia's hotline, they were told the flight was still going ahead as planned. He now feels uncertain about his flight to Okinawa and it's not clear which flights would be cut from Jetstar Asia's schedule before it closes. 'I'm wondering, when would they tell me about it? Or how late would they tell me about it?' For more on how customers are affected by the Jetstar Asia closure, read here.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump supporters, this is what you're cheering as his deportation scheme unfolds
For the past several days, Los Angeles has been alive with protests over President Donald Trump's immigration agenda. These largely peaceful demonstrations are vital to democracy. They're also infuriating Trump and Republicans. They've upset the president so much, in fact, that he deployed the National Guard and 700 U.S. Marines to the city against the wishes of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. On the campaign trail for reelection, Trump threatened the 'largest deportation operation in American history.' Whether he's actually achieving that doesn't really matter; the terror he's instilling in immigrant communities is unlike anything I've seen in my lifetime. In the wake of these protests, it is important to remember why people are upset in the first place. Protesters are angry that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is indiscriminately targeting people, and these people, who are being arrested and deported, have no access to due process. They are angry, and they are allowed to voice their frustrations. While nearly half the country voted for this terrifying regime, half the country wanted anything but this. It's deeper than what's happening in Los Angeles. It's what this administration is doing all over the country. For those who still support Trump's plan, here is what you are supporting. What's particularly alarming about what's happening in Los Angeles is that it flies in the face of the Republican fight for states' rights. Apparently, it's fine when abortion is left to the states, but protests must be managed by the federal government. In fact, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem once called out former President Joe Biden for even thinking about federalizing the National Guard in Texas in 2024. Now, she's cheering on Trump's actions in California. The cognitive dissonance is astounding. Opinion: Trump is so busy wasting $134 million on LA invasion he forgot to lower prices I am glad people are protesting Trump's horrific immigration policies. I am glad folks are standing up for their neighbors, because whether you like it or not, undocumented people are contributing members of your community. But the truth is that if you're excited about the federal government invading California, then you stopped caring about states' rights. Since Trump was inaugurated for his second term, ICE has arrested more than 100,000 undocumented migrants. The vast majority of the people being detained in ICE facilities have no criminal convictions. People reporting for their immigration hearings – as they have been instructed to do by the U.S. government – have been arrested. So were people at a Los Angeles Home Depot looking for work. To Trump and the people within his administration, every undocumented immigrant is a criminal. It's not just undocumented immigrants who are being taken in. Take Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a legal U.S. resident who was wrongly deported to a maximum security prison in El Salvador and only recently returned to the United States to face federal criminal charges. There are also student protesters, like Mahmoud Khalil, who have been detained by immigration officials because they dared to speak out against what's happening in Gaza. Republicans are now afraid of words. Opinion: After LA, Trump hard launches new First Amendment – only MAGA can protest These arrests have become too much for a select few Trump supporters who still have a conscience. Florida Sen. Ileana Garcia, one of the founders of 'Latinas for Trump,' recently called out the inhumane actions of Trump and White House adviser Stephen Miller. 'This is not what we voted for,' Garcia wrote. 'I have always supported Trump, @realDonaldTrump, through thick and thin. However, this is unacceptable and inhumane. I understand the importance of deporting criminal aliens, but what we are witnessing are arbitrary measures to hunt down people who are complying with their immigration hearings ‒ in many cases, with credible fear of persecution claims ‒ all driven by a Miller-like desire to satisfy a self-fabricated deportation goal.' Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. I hate to break it to Garcia, but this is exactly what she and others voted for. This is what America's 'largest deportation operation' was always going to look like – it was never going to just be the 'worst of the worst.' But her latest reaction is a sign that supporting Trump now means something different. It now means supporting rounding up people following the legal process just to make yourself feel better with a fake sense of "securing the border." Under Trump, immigration officials have essentially done away with due process in the interest of meeting deportation goals. They've made it clear they want no part of following the law or the process for deporting people. That's too much work. They'd rather defy the courts, then play the victim when the courts rule against them. Opinion: Republicans, be so for real. This embarrassing government is what you wanted? That's what happens when you arrest people on their way to immigration hearings. That's what happens when you deport people to jurisdictions outside of the United States. It is what happens when you circumvent the rules to achieve a goal, and it should terrify everyone. Regardless of what Trump and Republicans think, the right to due process for everyone is enshrined in the Constitution. If the president can take away the rights of a vulnerable group of people, who's to stop him from infringing on the rights of U.S. citizens in the future? Again, Republicans, you still want this? You want people to be stripped of their rights? You want a federal government imposing itself on states? You want people deported indiscriminately? Congratulations, then. You're doing it. Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeño on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump lied. ICE nabs law-abiding immigrants, not criminals | Opinion
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
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Zelenskyy says he regrets that Oval Office blowup, but he's still pushing Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he regrets that his Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump in late February spun out of control, but explained that it was his impatience to reach "concrete decisions" during wartime that led to the blowup. 'We simply don't have that much time in our lives. I wanted concrete decisions,' Zelenskyy said on Wednesday in an interview in Odessa with the Axel Springer Global Reporters network, which includes POLITICO. 'We were unable to make certain decisions, extremely important decisions. I don't know whether America was ready to address these issues or not. I have to resolve this issue of war. You see, time is very precious. Not my personal time, but the time of my country.' Zelenskyy also said he liked his one-on-one meeting with Trump, held two months later on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral at The Vatican, much 'better' than his ill-fated visit to the White House. 'We were able to discuss much more than at the other meeting, which felt like it lasted a lifetime,' Zelenskyy said, describing Trump as 'friendly.' Ukraine's embattled president, whose assertiveness and persistent requests for additional aid also privately irked President Joe Biden and his top aides, has worked assiduously to improve his relationship with Trump since that fateful February encounter. And the two countries did eventually sign the economic agreement to jointly develop Ukraine's rare earth minerals once the war is over, a pact that was temporarily tabled when the White House visit went sideways. Yet he also suggested in the interview that even his war-torn country may be able to turn the war into a new phase. 'Relations between our countries are not entirely balanced, but that was in the past,' Zelenskyy said. 'And today we must do everything we can to ensure that the next meeting in the Oval Office is successful for both countries. The lives of many people depend on it. And peace depends on it. Many countries in Europe depend on whether there will be security and peace in Ukraine. The security and stability of many countries in Europe depend on it.' After months of trying to browbeat Ukraine into negotiating a peace deal that would have required them to permanently cede occupied territory to Russia, Trump is showing a new willingness to allow the war to continue. That's seemingly a response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's refusal to seriously engage in peace talks. With Trump possibly rethinking his approach, Zelenskyy pushed the White House to maintain a sense of urgency and increase its pressure on Moscow. 'It's important to impose sanctions. We shouldn't... play by Putin's rules. It is important to impose sanctions and force Putin to agree to a ceasefire so that we can talk about ending the war,' Zelenskyy said. He will have a chance to make another direct appeal to Trump next week when he is scheduled to attend the G-7 leader's summit in the Canadian Rockies. Trump, during a meeting last week with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, expressed hesitation about giving the Senate a green light to advance widely supported legislation to impose additional sanctions on Russia. Describing the proposal in its original form as 'very harsh' on Russia, the president has been privately skeptical about the effectiveness of sanctions and, for months, has believed taking a harder stance toward Putin would backfire. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. But with the Russian leader unwilling to make any substantive concessions toward a ceasefire while stepping up his bombings of Ukrainian cities, Trump appears to be shifting course away from his push for peace and tempering his hopes for a fast rapprochement with Putin. In Wednesday's interview, Zelenskyy said Trump remains the key figure who can bring the war to an end and urged the president to allow the sanctions bill to move forward. 'The strength of the sanctions, how strong the sanctions package will be, depends on him,' Zelenskyy said. 'The speed with which decisions are made depends on him; we don't see any resistance from the senators, for example. On the contrary, the majority is in favor.' Trump, during the meeting with Merz, said the timeline for when he'll have to toughen up with Putin is 'in my head' — a statement that Zelenskyy said gave him hope that the stronger pressure he's asking for from the U.S. will eventually come. 'I very much hope that President Trump will stick to it,' Zelenskyy said. 'It's not even about the fact that he promised during the election campaign that he would end the war. That's not the point. It's more that he is a certain person — and let's also consider his age — and I think it's important for him, I hope it's important for him to end the war. He has spoken about it very often, he has repeated many times that he will end the killing.' Zelenskyy also spoke about Operation Spider Web, the clandestine and ultimately successful endeavor to sneak drones into Russia that earlier this month succeeded in taking out roughly a third of Putin's long-range bomber fleet. Trump, whose aides said he did not get a heads up about the attack, expressed only mild frustration over the attack and stated that Putin, in a call last week, told him that he planned to retaliate soon. The attack, Zelenskyy said, ushered the war into 'a new phase,' suggesting that Kyiv is also capable of escalation if the fledgling peace talks run aground. 'I think that both in the U.S. and everywhere else, we must do everything we can to end this war so that we do not have further phases in this war.'
