Warning: This report contains accounts of sexual assault and violence that some readers may find distressing. Ramia was preparing for a family picnic, on a warm summer day in her village in Latakia province in western Syria, when a white car drove up, she said
Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here in the national capital. Pichai is here for the Global AI Impact Summit 2026 and will deliver the keynote address on February 20 at the summit. New Delhi: Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra
The back-and-forth between the WNBA and the WNBA Players Association has taken another turn. On Tuesday afternoon, the WNBPA submitted a new counterproposal, only to have it shot down yet again by the league, as negotiations intensify ahead of the new season
The leadership has made it clear that performance and public perception will be key criteria in deciding nominations The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is preparing for a major organisational overhaul in Assam ahead of the assembly elections
An avalanche in California's Lake Tahoe region has left 10 backcountry skiers missing, authorities say, with six more people stranded and awaiting rescue. The avalanche was reported about 11:30PST (19:30GMT) in the Castle Peak area near the town of Truckee
Political and strategic considerations will overshadow economic ones in the choices that countries make going forward, Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday (February 17, 2026). Speaking at the Global Economic Cooperation 2026 summit organised by the Future Economic Cooperation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met with Spanish President Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón at Hyderabad House in New Delhi amid high-level engagements at the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026. The meeting between the two leaders followed President Sanchez’s arrival in the national
Warner Bros Discovery is in talks with Paramount Skydance Corp. for a potential takeover. The Ellison family's bid has seen a slight increase. Warner boss David Zaslav is negotiating to secure the best possible deal for shareholders. Paramount needs to address remaining concerns to surpass
Trump accuses Minnesota leaders after fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis
Trump accuses Minnesota leaders of ‘inciting insurrection’ after fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis
US President Donald Trump has accused Minnesota's governor and Minneapolis mayor of “inciting insurrection” after federal agents fatally shot a Minneapolis resident during an immigration enforcement operation. The killing has deepened tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic leaders, fuelling nationwide debate over the tactics, oversight, and legality of expanded federal immigration enforcement.
US President Donald Trump has accused Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of “inciting insurrection” following the fatal shooting of a man by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said the Democratic governor and mayor were using “pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric” and claimed they were undermining federal authorities. “The Mayor and the Governor are inciting Insurrection,” Trump wrote. “Instead, these sanctimonious political fools should be looking for the Billions of Dollars that have been stolen from the people of Minnesota, and the United States of America.”
Trump questioned why local police were not deployed to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and suggested they had been deliberately prevented from doing so.
Add Zee News as a Preferred Source
“This is the gunman's gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go. What is that all about? Where are the local Police?” he wrote. “Why weren't they allowed to protect ICE Officers? The Mayor and the Governor called them off?”
Referring to ICE agents as “patriots”, Trump urged Americans to allow them to carry out their work and alleged widespread fraud in Minnesota. He claimed that individuals who had “stolen money from the people of Minnesota and the United States of America” would be jailed, adding that 12,000 “illegal alien criminals” had been arrested and removed from the state.
“Those Fraudsters who stole the money are going to jail, where they belong,” Trump wrote. “This is no different than a really big Bank Robbery.” He accused critics of federal enforcement actions of using public outrage as “a cover-up for this theft and fraud”, concluding: “LET OUR ICE PATRIOTS DO THEIR JOB!”
The comments follow the killing of a Minneapolis resident during a federal immigration enforcement operation involving ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Democratic leaders identified the victim as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a Veterans Affairs nurse and US citizen.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the shooting occurred at about 9:05 am CT, while officers were “conducting a targeted operation in Minneapolis against an illegal alien wanted for violent assault”.
According to DHS, “an individual approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun”. The department said officers attempted to disarm him, but that “the armed suspect violently resisted”.
“Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots,” DHS said. Medics provided immediate medical aid, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
DHS said the individual was carrying two magazines and no identification, adding, “This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.” The department said the incident remained under investigation and that further details would be released.
The department also claimed that about 200 protesters arrived at the scene and attempted to obstruct and assault officers, prompting the deployment of crowd control measures “for the safety of the public and law enforcement”.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz strongly condemned the federal operation and called for it to be halted immediately.
“This is sickening. The President must end this operation,” Walz wrote on X. “Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said the man killed was an American citizen and a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry, and confirmed that multiple federal officers were involved in the shooting.
Democratic leaders across the country rejected the administration's account and demanded accountability.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries described the killing as “a horrific, preventable tragedy”, accusing “lawless and masked thugs masquerading as law enforcement officers” of killing an American citizen “without justification”.
“The American people deserve a thorough, independent investigation without interference or obstruction by DHS,” Jeffries said, adding that “every single federal agent responsible for the unjustified killing of another civilian must be held criminally accountable to the full extent of the law”.
Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar said the shooting appeared to involve immigration enforcement agents. “This appears to be an execution by immigration enforcement,” she said. “I am absolutely heartbroken, horrified, and appalled that federal agents murdered another member of our community.”
Omar said the incident reflected a broader pattern under the Trump administration. “This isn't isolated or accidental,” she said. “The Trump administration is trying to beat us into submission rather than protect us.” She accused ICE and CBP of “violating constitutional rights under the guise of immigration enforcement”.
House Homeland Security Committee ranking member Bennie G. Thompson said the killing “should shock all Americans”, alleging that “yet another US citizen has been killed in cold blood by ICE and CBP in Minneapolis”.
He accused DHS of attempting to shape public perception, saying that “within minutes, DHS and its mass propaganda machine slandered and attacked the deceased individual with no evidence”. Thompson called for ICE and CBP to leave Minneapolis immediately and demanded the release of body-camera footage.
Reaction also came from outside Minnesota. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she had learned of “yet another tragic shooting in Minneapolis at the hands of federal agents” and warned that “this violence has to stop”.
Bass said the president “must remove these armed, federal forces from Minneapolis and other American cities”, adding that she had joined mayors nationwide in a federal court challenge against what she described as the administration's “unconstitutional and unlawful deployment of federal agents in the Twin Cities”.
She described Operation Metro Surge as “unacceptable” and warned against allowing the federal government to “turn cities into war zones”.
The killing follows the January 7 death of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident who was fatally shot when an ICE officer fired into her vehicle during a separate federal operation.
The latest incident has further intensified national debate over the scope, tactics, and oversight of federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, particularly in Democratic-led states and cities. Minnesota has seen repeated protests in recent weeks as the expanded federal presence continues, with sharply conflicting accounts from federal authorities and local officials over public safety and enforcement practices.
(With IANS inputs)
Source: ZeeNews
Related Posts: Trump has big plans for Venezuela's oil but are they feasible Bondi Beach shooting accused faces court for the first time Mumbai to see traffic curbs on these routes during French president’s visit on Feb 17 – check roads to avoid Trump eyes Venezuela visit – but obstacles to his oil plan remain J&K lieutenant governor orders reopening of 14 tourist spots shut after Pahalgam terror attack Trump asks Iran to be ‘reasonable’ in next round of talks over nuclear deal Trump says he will be Trump slams energy deal between California and Britain Grammy award winner Ricky Kej meets French President Emmanuel Macron PM Modi Holds Bilateral Talks With Spanish President Sanchez On Sidelines Of AI Summit 2026
For the fourth time in less than two weeks, a sea of red and blue descended on the Wankhede Stadium. And it turned out to be a case of fourth-time lucky for Nepal as it ended its T20 World Cup sojourn by gifting the 19,000-odd fans a much-anticipated win against Scotland
4 hours ago
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said his net worth is almost entirely due to... New Delhi: Even as Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is another step towards becoming the world’s first trillionaire, the US entrepreneur said that the actual amount of cash he is sitting on is much lesser
4 hours ago
One of the biggest changes is the renumbering of several commonly used tax documents, including salary and tax-credit statements used by millions of taxpayers. New Delhi: The government has proposed major changes to income-tax compliance forms under the Income-tax Act, 2025
4 hours ago
Pakistan's water crisis to worsen with approaching summers as India plans to halt excess Ravi river water flow to Pakistan with the completion of Shahpur Kandi barrage. Pakistan’s water crisis is deepening amid the Indus Waters Treaty suspension and is not going to end soon
4 hours ago
A clip circulating on X (formerly Twitter) has once again brought attention to an old but persistent exam-time practice where students slip currency notes inside answer sheets during board exams. Though authorities have repeatedly warned against it and tightened monitoring
4 hours ago
Vikrant Massey and Sheetal Thakur had been together for several years, officially registered their marriage on February 14, 2022, before hosting a traditional wedding ceremony on February 18, of the same year. New Delhi: Actor Vikrant Massey marked his fourth wedding anniversary with wife Sheetal
4 hours ago
French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron met Bollywood stars in Mumbai, the delegation will travel to Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Mumbai: Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej met French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron in Mumbai on Tuesday
4 hours ago
The United States has significantly increased its military presence in West Asia, deploying dozens of fighter jets to the region amid rising tensions with Iran and ongoing indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva. The developments come alongside strong warnings from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah
4 hours ago
After a relatively chaotic first day on Monday (February 16, 2026), the AI Impact Summit saw smoother operations on Tuesday (February 17, 2026), with more areas opened to attendees and fewer surges of crowding, even as turnout remained strong. Students bused in from local colleges, schools
4 hours ago
A widespread YouTube outage on Tuesday disrupted video access worldwide, including India and the US. YouTube suffered a widespread outage on Tuesday, halting video access for users across multiple countries, including India and the United States
4 hours ago
Tech giant Microsoft on Wednesday announced at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi that the company is on pace to invest $50 billion by the end of the decade to help the Global South access artificial intelligence (AI)."Our five-part program is designed to make AI diffusion real at scale
4 hours ago
A massive wildfire emergency has unfolded across the US Plains. In the northwestern part of Oklahoma, a fast-moving fire on the southwest side of Woodward forced evacuations on Tuesday. Wind gusts near 60 mph pushed flames through the red cedar-filled neighbourhoods
4 hours ago
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday claimed that then Congress president Sonia Gandhi had asked him to decide on the date for his swearing in as CM when 58 party MLAs had supported him back in 2014. Sharing what he called his “days of distress" in the Congress
4 hours ago
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has called the AI Summit a disorganized PR spectacle. He alleged that Chinese products were displayed at the event. This comes amid controversy over a robotic dog at the summit. Critics claim it was a Chinese-made product, not an Indian innovation
4 hours ago
The Delhi Traffic Police has launched a dedicated ‘Digital Lok Adalat’ system to make the traffic challan settlement easier for the citizens, making the process quicker and more convenient. This initiative, introduced in collaboration with the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) and
4 hours ago
India is discussing age-based restrictions with social media companies, IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Tuesday, following moves by Australia and other countries to ban young teens from popular platforms. Vaishnaw, speaking at a global artificial intelligence conference in New Delhi
4 hours ago
Gold Rate Today: Gold retreats from record highs as 24K prices fall and futures dip on MCX. Check today’s city-wise rates and expert insights. Gold Rate Today: Gold prices have taken a breather after scaling record highs, with fresh data showing a noticeable dip in both domestic and global
4 hours ago
A new leak has offered a closer look at the upcoming Infinix GT 50 Pro, pointing to design changes and hardware upgrades over last year’s gaming-focused model. The smartphone, from Infinix, has surfaced in alleged renders alongside a detailed specification sheet shared by tipsters online
4 hours ago
Nissan Gravite vs Maruti Suzuki Ertiga: The Gravite’s smaller engine may feel underpowered, particularly when the car is loaded with seven people and luggage. In contrast, the Ertiga’s larger engine make it more practical for real-world family use and long-distance driving
4 hours ago
Ameesha Patel has been issued a non-bailable warrant by a Moradabad court in connection with a 2017 fraud case, she is accused of accepting money for a wedding performance and issuing a cheque that later bounced. Legal trouble has resurfaced for Ameesha Patel as a Moradabad court issued a
4 hours ago
The Ministry of Education on Tuesday organised a special session titled “Ministry of Education – Pushing the Frontier of AI in India" at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi as part of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attended the session
4 hours ago
The reactor involved was Ward 250, which belongs to a new class of compact microreactors. Washington: The United States has carried out an operation that has drawn global attention in the field of advanced energy technology. A nuclear reactor moved through the sky
4 hours ago
Beyond the mines: Archaeologists uncover a massive 3,000-year-old gold processing city in Egypt’s Eastern Desert. Discover the ancient smelting furnaces, residential districts, and the 628 'Ostraca' library fragments rewriting history.Beyond the mines: Archaeologists uncover a massive 3
4 hours ago
Even as debate around AI intensifies across industries, concerns about the technology are also growing. In an interview with CNN-News18 at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales discusses artificial intelligence, misinformation risks, open-source innovation
4 hours ago
PAK vs NAM live streaming, match time, broadcasters and weather update as Pakistan fight for Super 8 qualification. Pakistan face Namibia in a high-stakes ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash on February 18 at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, with Super 8 qualification hanging in the balance
4 hours ago
Salim Khan Health Updates: On Tuesday night, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was seen leaving the Lilavati Hospital where his 90-year-old father and veteran screenwriter Salim Khan has been admitted following complaints of swelling. The actor stepped out of the hospital premises late at night and
4 hours ago
New Delhi: Massive traffic congestion hit several parts of the national capital as global leaders arrived for the high level AI summit. New Delhi: Heavy traffic congestion was reported across several key routes in the national capital as global leaders arrived to attend the high-profile AI summit
4 hours ago
