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Former President Barack Hussein Obama issued a rare and forceful public rebuke of President Donald Trump on Sunday, directly blaming the current administration for the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and warning that the situation surrounding federal immigration enforcement is spiraling dangerously.

“The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy,” Obama said in a statement posted on X. “It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.”

In his statement, Obama sharply criticized the conduct of federal immigration agents operating in U.S. cities, saying their tactics have sparked justified outrage nationwide. “People across the country have been rightly outraged by the spectacle of masked ICE recruits and other federal agents acting with impunity and engaging in tactics that seem designed to intimidate, harass, and provoke and endanger the residents of a major American city,” he wrote.

Obama’s comments came one day after Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents during a confrontation on a Minneapolis street.

According to authorities, Pretti was carrying a loaded firearm when he stepped between federal agents and a woman they were pepper-spraying. Agents attempted to arrest him, removed the gun from his belt, and then fired roughly 10 shots, killing him at the scene.

While acknowledging that immigration enforcement is inherently challenging, Obama said the Trump administration bears responsibility for fostering an environment in which deadly force is used recklessly.

“The President and current administration officials seem eager to escalate the situation, while offering public explanation for the shootings of Mr. Pretti and Renee Good that aren’t informed by any serious investigation – and that appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence,” Obama wrote.

The statement marked Obama’s first public comments on the unrest in Minneapolis, which erupted earlier this month after ICE agents fatally shot Renee Good. Authorities said Good had attempted to block immigration officers with her vehicle and nearly struck an agent, who then opened fire, killing her.

{Matzav.com}

BREAKING: A small passenger plane has reportedly crashed at Bangor International Airport in Maine.

The IDF said Sunday night that troops have launched an ongoing operation in northern Gaza to locate the remains of Ran Gvili hy”d, the last remaining Israeli hostage in Gaza. According to the military, a series of clandestine operations carried out over the weekend significantly narrowed the possible burial location, prompting commanders to authorize a […]

The storm has already given us one of our biggest snow event’s in years. Just before 8:30PM, Central Park recorded 10.6 inches, surpassing the 8.5 inches recorded five years ago. This storm is in league with the five biggest storms of the past several years La Guardia Airport: 10 inches JFK Airport: 9 inches Newark […]

The winter storm has triggered the highest number of US flight cancellations since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. As of 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday, airlines had canceled 8,906 of 23,735 scheduled US departures, making it the worst single day for cancellations since the early days of the pandemic in 2020, Cirium […]

A sweeping mobilization of U.S. naval and air forces is moving into position across the Middle East, raising the prospects of a direct military confrontation with Iran as officials and analysts note that multiple escalation “tripwires” are now in play. While the White House is publicly calling the buildup a “deterrent,” the scale, speed, and […]

Dozens of demonstrators identified with extremist factions blocked Route 10 at the entrance to Beit Shemesh on Sunday evening, protesting the draft law and the arrest of yeshiva students accused of draft evasion.

The protest reached a dramatic peak when demonstrators placed a chilling display in the middle of the roadway, featuring mock coffins meant to symbolize their opposition to the policy.

The coffins bore the names of Yosef Eisenthal z”l and Naftali Tzvi Kramer z”l, two bochurim who were tragically killed during protest-related incidents in recent weeks.

Police forces arrived at the scene and worked to clear the road, which was blocked for a short period of time.

The closure caused heavy traffic congestion at both the entrance to and exit from the city before traffic was eventually restored.

{Matzav.com}

MI K’AMCHA YISROEL: When Delta Flight 235 from Tel Aviv to JFK was unexpectedly diverted to Minneapolis with more than 300 Jewish passengers on board, Chabad leapt into action, transforming an unplanned stop into a powerful display of chesed—preparing fresh, hot meals and welcoming the stranded travelers with warmth, smiles, and a taste of home […]

A new mural unveiled in a central Tehran square on Sunday contains a direct warning by Iran to the United States to not attempt a military strike on the country

In recent days, a new, dramatic, highly sensitive security affair has been under investigation within Israel’s defense system, one that is expected to cast a heavy shadow on top security officials and shake the system, Israeli media outlets reported on Motzei Shabbos. Most details remain under a strict gag order. However, based on the limited […]

Come together for a meaningful conversation and emotional support, as we discuss the conflict in Iran and our concerns for loved ones living there.Event DetailsMonday, January 26, 20268:30pmPanelistsRabbi Eliyahu HakakianRabbi Eliyahu Hakakian is a leading figure in the Baltimore Jewish community, serving as the Rav of Congregation Ahavat Shalom, a center for Sephardic and Iranian […]

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei personally ordered the country’s top security body to crush nationwide protests using “any means necessary,” including lethal force, according to a report published Sunday by The New York Times citing two officials familiar with the matter. The order, delivered to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Jan. 9, was […]

President Donald Trump on Sunday pressed Democratic governors and mayors across the country to work with federal immigration officials, arguing that resistance to cooperation has produced “dangerous circumstances” and resulted in the deaths of two American citizens.

In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump laid out four steps he said Democratic officials must take to support his administration’s immigration enforcement agenda.

First, Trump said state and local authorities should hand over all criminal illegal migrants currently in state prisons or local jails — as well as those with outstanding warrants or known criminal records — to federal officials for immediate deportation.

Second, he called on local police departments to transfer custody of all illegal migrants they arrest directly to federal immigration authorities.

Third, Trump said local law enforcement agencies should be required to assist federal officials in locating, apprehending, and detaining illegal migrants wanted for crimes.

Fourth, he urged Democratic jurisdictions to actively partner with the federal government to quickly remove criminal illegal migrants, pointing to cities such as Memphis and Washington, D.C., which he said have cooperated with federal authorities and experienced improvements in public safety.

Trump singled out Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing them of refusing to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and of encouraging resistance to federal enforcement actions.

The president argued that Republican-led states have shown that close coordination between local and federal authorities can lead to effective enforcement without public disorder. He said that Texas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Louisiana saw more than 150,000 criminal illegal migrants arrested by ICE over the past year without protests or riots, crediting cooperation between law enforcement agencies for the outcome.

Trump contrasted that with what he described as obstruction by Democrat-run “sanctuary cities and states,” accusing them of placing the interests of illegal immigrants ahead of law-abiding citizens and creating unsafe, volatile conditions for both officers and the public.

He also called on Congress to pass legislation banning sanctuary city policies nationwide, describing those policies as “the root cause” of the current problems. Trump said American cities should be “safe sanctuaries for law-abiding American citizens only.”

The remarks come as immigration enforcement continues to dominate national political debate, with Republicans and Democrats sharply divided over public safety, local cooperation with federal authorities, and the role of state and municipal governments in enforcing immigration law.

{Matzav.com}

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sharply criticized Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney over a new agreement with China on electric vehicles, cautioning that Canada could face steep penalties if it enables Beijing to flood the U.S. market with low-priced goods.

President Donald Trump initially played down the agreement, telling reporters, “If you can get a deal with China, he should do that.” A day later, however, Trump escalated the response, warning that Canada could be hit with 100% tariffs.

“There’s a possibility of a hundred percent tariffs if they do a free trade deal, if they go further — if we see that the Canadians are allowing the Chinese to dump goods.,” Bessent said Sunday on ABC News’ “This Week.”

Bessent noted that Canada had previously aligned with Washington on trade enforcement against Beijing. “The Canadians, a few months ago, joined the U.S. in putting high steel tariffs on China because the Chinese are dumping,” he said. “The Europeans also have done the same thing. And it looks like Prime Minister Carney may have done some kind of about-face.”

Canada imposed 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in 2024, mirroring U.S. policy. Under the new arrangement, however, China will be permitted to sell up to 49,000 EVs in Canada at a 6.1% most-favored-nation tariff rate, as part of a broader agreement between Ottawa and Beijing aimed at expanding cooperation on green energy.

Carney’s shift toward China has been widely interpreted as a signal of resistance to Trump, who last year slapped broad tariffs on Canada over alleged drug trafficking and border security issues.

“I don’t think he’s doing the best job for the Canadian people,” Bessent said of Carney.

Trump has previously joked about annexing Canada, and his aggressive trade posture reportedly led then–Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to break down in tears in public.

Last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Carney told global leaders that the international system had fundamentally shifted amid Trump’s threats to assert control over Greenland.

“We know the old order is not coming back,” Carney said. “We shouldn’t mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy, but we believe that from the fracture, we can build something bigger, better, stronger, more just.”

“This is the task of the middle powers, the countries that have the most to lose from a world of fortresses and most to gain from genuine cooperation.”

On Sunday, Trump renewed his attacks on Canada, accusing the country of “systematically destroying itself” and striking “one of the worst deals, of any kind, in history.”

“China is successfully and completely taking over the once Great Country of Canada,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “So sad to see it happen. I only hope they leave Ice Hockey alone!”

{Matzav.com}

You missed the first dance.    Not the one with the lights flashing and the band playing. The one that happens earlier – with dignity and modesty – when a Kallah’s home is set up without the crushing bills.  That unseen first dance is where Tiferes Devorah L’Kallah steps in. Qualifying Lakewood Kallahs are invited to […]

TRUMP: That is why I am hereby calling on Governor Walz, Mayor Frey, and EVERY Democrat Governor and Mayor in the United States of America to formally cooperate with the Trump Administration to enforce our Nation’s Laws, rather than resist and stoke the flames of Division, Chaos, and Violence.

The New York State Nurses Association says Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital have agreed to maintain nurses’ current health plans, a key sticking point in the strike. The agreement applies to two hospitals, as the nurses’ strike in New York City enters its 14th day, though final tentative contract agreements have not yet been reached.

A massive winter storm sweeping across the US triggered what is shaping up to be one of the worst air travel meltdowns since the Covid-19 pandemic, forcing some major airlines to cancel more than half of their scheduled flights.

More than 16,000 US flights have been canceled through Monday, according to data from flight-tracking website FlightAware, as the storm pushed into major population centers and snarled airline networks nationwide. Airlines scrapped more than 10,300 US flights on Sunday alone, according to FlightAware.

Sunday marks the highest number of cancellations since the pandemic, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. There were 22,751 flights scheduled for March 30, 2020, with 12,143 cancellations.

Carriers with large hubs in the storm’s path were hit especially hard. American Airlines canceled more than 55% of its Sunday schedule, while JetBlue Airways scrapped more than 70% of flights. Delta Air Lines cut more than 40%, and United Airlines canceled nearly 38%, according to Cirium.

Major airports across the eastern half of the country were effectively shut down. By 10 a.m. New York time, more than 80% of departures were canceled at Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International Airport, while Washington Reagan National topped 90% cancellations, Cirium data show. Boston Logan, Charlotte Douglas and Chicago O’Hare were also among the hardest hit.

Weather impacts stretched well beyond the Northeast. Texas and parts of the South were among the first regions hit, with freezing rain and ice snarling operations at major hubs including Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Austin. Data from the Federal Aviation Administration show multiple airport closures across the South and Midwest as of Sunday as ice and snow made runways unsafe, contributing to cascading disruptions throughout airline networks.

The storm is expected to continue battering the East through Monday. New England could see as much as 18 inches of snow, according to the US Weather Prediction Center, with up to a foot possible in New York City. Some of that precipitation may fall as sleet, increasing the risk of heavy icing on roads and runways.

Airlines had begun rolling out contingency plans ahead of the storm. Delta is allowing passengers to rebook flights without fare differences across 41 airports in the South and Southeast, including Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Charleston and Memphis, through Jan. 28. United Airlines is waiving change fees and fare differences for travelers affected at 61 airports, including Boston, Newark and New York’s LaGuardia.

(c) Bloomberg

{Matzav.com}

UPDATE: According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, a suspicious item was discovered in the South Terminal Area, prompting the closure of TSA checkpoints for concourses G, H, and J, as well as the curbside roadway.

Miami International Airport was temporarily evacuated a short while ago after a reported bomb threat.