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ICE Raids in Aurora Target Alleged Venezuelan Gang Members

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ICE Raids in Aurora Target Alleged Venezuelan Gang Members

U.S. immigration authorities launched a large-scale operation Wednesday in Aurora, Colorado, targeting alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The raids, led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), involved multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and U.S. Marshals Service. 

The ICE Denver field office said on social media that the agencies aimed to locate and detain more than 100 suspected gang members. However, officials had not confirmed the number of arrests by midday. 

The operation comes weeks after President Donald Trump held a rally in Aurora, where he outlined his immigration policies and announced plans for a nationwide crackdown on gangs, dubbed “Operation Aurora.” 

Since taking office last month, Trump has issued a series of executive orders tightening immigration enforcement. Federal officials have since highlighted targeted operations across the country as part of what Trump has vowed will be mass deportations. 

ICE Acting Director Caleb Vitello, speaking from one of the raid sites, said in a video posted on social media that the agency would continue its efforts against suspected criminals. 

“As long as there are bad guys in the streets, we’re going to be out here arresting them,” Vitello said. 

Aurora, a Denver suburb with a significant migrant population, has been at the center of discussions about gang activity. Some residents claim that Tren de Aragua has infiltrated the city, while local officials have dismissed those assertions as misleading and inflammatory. 

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said in a statement that city officials were not involved in the raids and had not been given prior notice. 

“Denver Police and city authorities were not involved in these actions,” Johnston said. 

The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, an advocacy group, criticized the operation, alleging that officers conducted raids at apartment complexes and did not show warrants to residents. 

“Families are being prevented from leaving their homes—even to take their children to school,” the group said on social media. “This action, taking place in Aurora, a focal point of Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, is a direct attempt to criminalize immigrant communities.” 

Federal authorities have not responded to the allegations, and ICE has not confirmed how long the operation will continue.

reuters

Zelenskyy Warns Against Excluding U.S. From Ukraine Peacekeeping Force

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Zelenskyy Warns Against Excluding U.S. From Ukraine Peacekeeping Force

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said excluding the United States from a potential international peacekeeping force in Ukraine would be a “major mistake” and could provide Russia with a strategic advantage. 

Speaking in Kyiv after a meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Zelenskyy said discussions are ongoing among European allies about deploying an international security force. However, he stressed that U.S. involvement is essential to effectively deter future Russian aggression. 

“When we talk about security guarantees, we need the United States as the primary guarantor of security, alongside European countries,” Zelenskyy said. “Europe alone is not enough. It’s not just about numbers—it’s about shared responsibility.” 

The idea of an international force to secure Ukraine after a potential ceasefire with Russia is gaining traction among European allies, including the UK and France. The proposal aims to prevent further Russian incursions but remains in early discussion stages. 

At a news conference following his meeting with Lammy, Zelenskyy was asked whether European militaries alone could deter Russia. He dismissed the notion, saying excluding the U.S. would align with Moscow’s interests. 

“This cannot be pursued without the involvement of the United States. Doing so would be a major mistake,” he said. “It could very well be Russia’s desire to see Europe defending and supporting Ukraine without the U.S. That would give Russia an advantage and could amount to a geopolitical and strategic win for them.” 

Zelenskyy added that while the European Union and the UK are crucial to Ukraine’s security, the U.S. must play a leading role in any security guarantees. 

The Ukrainian leader also called on NATO allies to increase military spending, warning that failure to do so could leave them in Ukraine’s position—forced to allocate the majority of their budgets to defense in the event of war. 

“I don’t know how much you need to contribute—two percent, three percent. But listen, we are spending our entire budget right now,” he said. “If you don’t want to be spending your entire budget on defense in the future, invest the necessary percentage today.” 

His comments come as former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has vowed to end the war but has not provided details on how, has suggested NATO members should spend 5% of their GDP on defense—more than double the UK’s current level. 

Even if the U.S. agrees to participate in a security force, analysts question whether Britain and other European partners could fulfill their roles without a significant increase in defense spending and military expansion.

news.sky.com

Taliban Authorities Raid Women’s Radio Station, Arrest Two Employees

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Taliban Authorities Raid Women’s Radio Station, Arrest Two Employees

Taliban authorities raided Radio Begum, a well-known women’s radio station in Afghanistan, on Tuesday, arresting two employees and suspending the broadcaster for alleged violations, according to both the station and the Taliban’s information ministry. 

“Officers from the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), assisted by the Ministry of Information and Culture, raided Begum’s compound in Kabul,” the station said in a statement. 

During the raid, Taliban officials searched the office, confiscated computers, hard drives, and phones, and detained two male employees who, the station noted, do not hold senior management positions. 

Radio Begum declined to provide further details, citing concerns for the safety of its detained staff, but urged authorities to “take care of our colleagues and release them as soon as possible.” 

The Taliban’s information ministry, in a statement on social media platform X, confirmed the station’s suspension, alleging “multiple violations” and accusing it of supplying content to a foreign-based television network. 

“Due to the violation of broadcasting policy and improper use of its license, the radio station has been suspended while its documents are evaluated,” the ministry said, adding that a final decision would be made following the review. 

Radio Begum denied any political activity, stating it remains “committed to serving the Afghan people and, more specifically, Afghan women.” 

Press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the closure and demanded the ban be lifted immediately. The group reports that Taliban authorities have shut down at least 12 media outlets in 2024. 

Founded on March 8, 2021—International Women’s Day—Radio Begum was launched just months before the Taliban seized power, ousting Afghanistan’s U.S.-backed government and enforcing strict interpretations of Islamic law. 

Since then, Taliban rulers have imposed sweeping restrictions on women, barring them from secondary schools, universities, and many workplaces. The UN has classified these measures as “gender apartheid.” 

Women appearing on Afghan television must be fully covered except for their eyes and hands, and many radio stations have stopped broadcasting women’s voices entirely. 

Despite the mounting restrictions, Radio Begum has continued producing educational programming for women, including book readings and call-in counseling. In 2024, the station’s Swiss-Afghan founder, Hamida Aman, expanded operations by launching Begum TV, a satellite channel broadcasting educational content from Paris. Thousands of curriculum-based videos have also been uploaded to a sister website for free access. 

The suspension of Radio Begum follows a similar crackdown in December when Taliban authorities shut down Arezo TV and detained seven employees. At the time, the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice accused the channel of betraying Islamic values and collaborating with foreign-backed media, which have faced increasing restrictions under Taliban rule.

Trump to Sign Order Banning Transgender Women from Female Sports

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Trump to Sign Order Banning Transgender Women from Female Sports

President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order barring transgender women from competing in female sports categories, White House officials confirmed Wednesday. 

The order will establish legal guidance and regulations while directing the Department of Education to investigate high schools suspected of non-compliance. 

Republicans argue the measure ensures fairness in sports, while LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and human rights organizations condemn it as discriminatory. 

The directive, expected to be signed Wednesday, will primarily apply to high school, university, and grassroots sports. Several major sports governing bodies, including those overseeing swimming, athletics, and golf, have already implemented restrictions on transgender women competing in female categories if they have undergone male puberty. 

According to White House officials, the order will empower the Department of Education to oversee how schools enforce Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education programs receiving government funding. 

An administration official stated that the order will overturn the Biden administration’s stance, which in April of last year affirmed protections for LGBTQ+ students under federal law but did not provide specific guidance on transgender athletes. 

Additionally, the White House plans to invite sports organizations, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), to discuss concerns with female athletes and their parents. 

Officials also signaled the U.S. will take steps to prevent transgender athletes from competing against women in International Olympic Committee events held on American soil. 

White House representatives described the policy as widely supported by Americans, framing it as essential for ensuring “fairness” and addressing safety concerns in women’s sports. 

Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson criticized the order, arguing it subjects young athletes to harassment and discrimination. 

“This policy emboldens people to question the gender of kids who don’t fit a narrow view of how they should dress or look,” Robinson said in a statement. “For so many students, sports are about finding somewhere to belong—not partisan policies that make life harder for them.” 

A study by the UCLA Williams Institute found that less than 1% of Americans over the age of 13 identify as transgender, with an even smaller percentage participating in sports. 

On his first day in office, January 20, Trump signed a separate order directing the federal government to define sex strictly as male or female.

Judge Extends Block on Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order

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Judge Extends Block on Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order

A federal judge on Wednesday reinforced a block on President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship for children of migrants without legal status. 

U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, speaking at the conclusion of a hearing in Greenbelt, Maryland, ruled that Trump’s order contradicts “our nation’s 250-year history of citizenship by birth” and likely violates an 1898 Supreme Court precedent. 

“The United States Supreme Court has resoundingly rejected the president’s interpretation of the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment,” Boardman said. “In fact, no court in the country has ever endorsed the president’s interpretation. This court will not be the first.” 

A separate federal judge in Seattle had previously put Trump’s order on hold, but that ruling is set to expire Thursday, when another hearing will be held. Boardman’s decision, unless overturned on appeal, will remain in place until she issues a final ruling on the plaintiffs’ constitutional claims, a process that could take months. 

Trump signed the executive order on his first day in office, limiting birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents without permanent legal status, beginning with babies born after Feb. 19. The move is part of a broader series of immigration actions taken by the administration in its early weeks. 

During the hearing, Eric Hamilton, deputy assistant attorney general for the civil division, argued that the Trump administration’s position aligns with the 1898 Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, a key precedent in the case. 

“We have not taken a position that Wong Kim Ark is bad law. We think it is consistent with the rule that we have laid out for the Citizenship Clause,” Hamilton said. 

theHill.com

Rep. Al Green to File New Impeachment Articles Against Trump Over Gaza Remarks

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Rep. Al Green to File New Impeachment Articles Against Trump Over Gaza Remarks

Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) announced Wednesday he is introducing articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump following the president’s remarks suggesting the U.S. should “take over” Gaza. 

“The movement to impeach the president has begun,” Green said in a speech on the House floor. “I rise to announce that I will bring articles of impeachment against the president for dastardly deeds proposed and dastardly deeds done.” 

Green’s announcement comes after Trump, during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, suggested that Americans should be responsible for cleaning up and rebuilding Gaza, though he did not specify who would be allowed to live there. 

The comments, made in the wake of last month’s Israel-Hamas ceasefire, drew sharp criticism from Democrats, including Green, who condemned the remarks as “ethnic cleansing” and warned they could escalate tensions in the region. 

“Ethnic cleansing is not a joke, especially when it emanates from the president of the United States,” Green said. “Injustice in Gaza is a threat to justice in the United States of America.” 

Green, who previously initiated Trump’s first impeachment in 2017, said he is committed to laying the groundwork for impeachment once again. 

“On some issues, it is better to stand alone than not stand at all,” he said. “On this issue, I stand alone, but I stand for justice.” 

The congressman called on the American public to demand impeachment, emphasizing that such efforts must be driven by grassroots activism. 

“The people have to demand it, and when the people demand it, it will be done,” he said. 

The White House has not yet responded to the announcement. 

Argentina to Withdraw from WHO, Citing ‘Deep Differences’ After Trump’s Exit

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Argentina to Withdraw from WHO, Citing ‘Deep Differences’ After Trump’s Exit

Argentina will withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), a presidential spokesperson announced Wednesday, following the United States’ recent decision to exit the global health body under President Donald Trump. 

Trump, whom Argentina’s libertarian President Javier Milei considers a key ally, formally initiated the U.S. withdrawal on January 20, his first day back in office. 

Milei’s administration cited “deep differences” with the WHO’s handling of global health issues, particularly its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni referenced Argentina’s extended lockdown under the previous leftist government as a key factor in the decision. 

Adorni also pointed to concerns over the WHO’s “lack of independence from the political influence of other states.” 

Trump similarly criticized the WHO’s handling of the pandemic and other health crises, arguing that the organization was influenced by foreign governments and imposed “unfairly onerous” financial burdens on the United States, its largest contributor. 

U.S. Postal Service to Resume Accepting Shipments from China

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U.S. Postal Service to Resume Accepting Shipments from China

The U.S. Postal Service announced Wednesday that it will resume accepting shipments from China and Hong Kong, less than 12 hours after initially halting them in response to new U.S. trade policies. 

“Effective February 5, 2025, the Postal Service will continue accepting all international inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong Posts,” the USPS said in an updated statement. The agency added that it is working closely with Customs and Border Protection to implement a collection system for the new 10% tariffs imposed on Chinese goods while minimizing disruptions to deliveries. 

The suspension was initially prompted by the Trump administration’s decision to end a “de minimis” exemption, which previously allowed Chinese goods valued under $800 to enter the U.S. without tariffs. The new policy applies the 10% tariff to all imports from China, including small packages. Letters and flats were unaffected by the initial halt. 

China’s Foreign Ministry had criticized the move, with a spokesperson saying Beijing would take “necessary measures” to protect its companies and calling on the U.S. to stop “politicizing economic and trade issues.” 

Correction (Feb. 5, 2025, 10:35 a.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the timing of the Postal Service’s decision. The agency resumed accepting shipments 12 hours after halting them, not 24. 

Russia, Ukraine Exchange 150 Prisoners of War in Latest Swap

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Russia, Ukraine Exchange 150 Prisoners of War in Latest Swap

Russia and Ukraine each announced Wednesday the exchange of 150 prisoners of war, marking a rare instance of cooperation between the two nations amid nearly three years of conflict. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the return of 150 Ukrainian soldiers, stating that some had been held in captivity for over two years. In a social media post, Zelensky shared images of freed troops, many wrapped in Ukrainian flags, as they traveled home. He did not comment on the release of Russian prisoners. 

Russia’s Defense Ministry also confirmed the exchange, reporting that 150 Russian soldiers had been repatriated from Ukrainian captivity. The ministry stated that the soldiers were undergoing medical evaluations in Belarus before returning to Russia. 

Both Kyiv and Moscow credited the United Arab Emirates for mediating the exchange, as it has done in previous prisoner swaps. 

58 Ethiopian Nationals Arrested in Kenyan Human Trafficking Operation

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58 Ethiopian Nationals Arrested in Kenyan Human Trafficking Operation

Kenyan authorities have arrested 58 Ethiopian nationals in a human trafficking operation, with local police uncovering the group at a four-bedroom maisonette in the New Valley estate.

Kitengela Police Commander Joel Munyalo led a multi-agency operation involving the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) that resulted in the arrests. Police sources indicated the foreigners had been brought to the location three days earlier, apparently preparing to transit to South Africa.

Of the 58 individuals, 28 were detained at Kitengela Police Station, while the remaining 30 were transferred to Isinya Police Station. Authorities reported the migrants appeared weak and malnourished.

Two Kenyan nationals suspected of involvement in the human trafficking operation were also arrested and transferred to Muthaiga Police Station. They are expected to face charges related to human trafficking.

Isinya Police boss Patrick Manyasi confirmed the arrests came after a tip-off from local residents. “My officers found male adults of Ethiopian origin with no identification documents,” Manyasi told local media.

Police sources revealed that Ethiopian migrants frequently use the Moyale border route, attempting to reach South Africa or Middle Eastern countries in search of economic opportunities. Many are unaware of the significant risks associated with such journeys.

Local security expert Joseph Shitani expressed concern about the migrants’ ability to bypass numerous police roadblocks, questioning the effectiveness of current border control measures.

Manyasi appealed to the public to continue reporting suspicious activities, emphasizing the role of community policing in enhancing local security.

A motorcycle found on the property was seized as evidence, further supporting the ongoing investigation into the human trafficking operation.

The incident highlights ongoing challenges with cross-border migration and human trafficking in the region, with authorities continuing to monitor and intercept such movements.

standardmedia.co.ke

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