Displaying items by tag: North America

Donald Trump announced plans to sign an executive order directing the federal government to prepare the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to detain up to 30,000 migrants. He claimed the base already has the capacity to house ‘the worst criminal illegal aliens‘ and that this move would double detention capacity. This coincided with signing an act which mandates detention for undocumented migrants charged with certain crimes. The bill, Trump’s first major legislative victory in his second term, had passed Congress with bipartisan support. Guantanamo Bay has historically been used for detaining terrorism suspects and temporarily processing migrants. However, an official has denied that 30,000 beds are available, and said that the base lacks infrastructure for such a large influx. Meanwhile, the White House has rescinded a total funding freeze announced on 27 January, which had caused huge confusion. For an analysis of this decision, see

Donald Trump has linked a deadly mid-air collision in Washington DC to diversity hiring practices at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under previous administrations. The crash, involving an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter, claimed 67 lives; there were no survivors. Trump criticised Joe Biden and Barack Obama for allegedly prioritising diversity initiatives over aviation safety, and accused the FAA of lowering hiring standards for air traffic controllers. He also claimed that under Biden, the FAA recruited individuals with ‘intellectual disabilities and psychiatric problems’. The crash has sparked debate over aviation hiring policies, with officials emphasising the need for a thorough, fact-based inquiry.

Donald Trump began his second term as president with a flurry of executive orders, overturning many Biden-era policies and solidifying his ‘America First’ agenda. These included reinstating the construction of the border wall with Mexico, withdrawing from the WHO (again), and reintroducing the death penalty for undocumented immigrants who commit capital crimes. He also abolished government-funded gender diversity programmes, stating that there are only men and women. Environmental policies were rolled back as he exited the Paris climate agreement and expanded fossil fuel drilling. He also pardoned over 1,600 individuals involved in the 2021 Capitol riot. Other actions included pausing foreign aid for ninety days, creating a department of government efficiency under Elon Musk, and extending the deadline for TikTok's compliance with ownership laws. Critics argue these orders fuel division, threaten democracy, and undermine progress on social and environmental issues. His swift actions underline his intent to shape policy decisively, even as legal and Congressional challenges loom.

In her sermon during the inaugural prayer service at Washington’s National Cathedral, Bishop Mariann Budde spoke directly to Donald Trump and J D Vance. She challenged Trump’s recent executive orders, including policies affirming biological distinctions between men and women, trying to end birthright citizenship, and intensifying immigration measures. Speaking of immigrants' contributions and the fears of LGBTQ+ children, Budde called for mercy and compassion, emphasising Christian teachings of kindness to strangers. She concluded by urging Trump to alleviate the fears of children worried about deportations and show mercy to refugees fleeing persecution. Afterwards, Trump said he ‘didn't think it was a good service’, and one Republican congressman sarcastically suggested she be deported. The bishop is known for her past criticism of Trump, such as his controversial 2020 photo holding a Bible outside a church.

Winds in Los Angeles, which have exacerbated wildfires, were expected to intensify again on 15 January, but in fact weakened to much lighter gusts. At least 25 people have been killed and more than 12,000 structures destroyed in some of the worst fires in memory to engulf America's second biggest city. The two largest fires, Eaton and Palisades, are still burning after more than a week - and firefighting help has been sought from Mexico and Canada. Officials said there has been little to no fire growth in the last 24 hours, but stressed that unburned, dry fuel combined with low humidity could pose threats despite the decreased winds. While first responders are making progress putting out flames, evacuated residents will not be able to return to their neighborhoods for at least one more week, even for areas deemed safe. Around 82,400 Californians are under evacuation orders, according to Sheriff Robert Luna. He also said there have been 47 arrests related to looting and violations of evacuation orders.

Wildfires ravaging Los Angeles have reached the Hollywood Hills, forcing over 100,000 people to evacuate. Six different fires, fuelled by dry hurricane-force winds, have killed at least five people, burned thousands of acres, and destroyed hundreds of homes. The Sunset fire in Hollywood Hills, while relatively small at fifty acres, has disrupted the entertainment industry, threatening iconic landmarks like Sunset Boulevard. On the west side, the Palisades fire has consumed over 15,000 acres and devastated neighbourhoods. To the east, the Eaton fire has scorched over 10,000 acres and destroyed 1,000 structures. Economic losses to date are estimated at $50 billion. Firefighters are stretched thin; they have been reinforced by teams from other areas, and even by prison inmates. See

Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation as prime minister after nearly a decade in office, citing internal party disputes and his inability to remain the ‘best option’ for the next election. His decision follows the abrupt resignation in December of his deputy prime minister, who opposed his handling of Donald Trump’s proposed trade tariffs. Trudeau, once celebrated as a poster-boy for liberal politics, saw his popularity erode due to scandals, housing inflation, and divisive immigration policies. Notable achievements during his tenure include legalising recreational cannabis, passing assisted dying laws, and renegotiating the trade agreement with the USA. However, a blackface scandal in 2019 damaged his image, and subsequent elections saw his government reduced to a minority. Most recently, Trudeau admitted missteps in immigration targets and faced criticism for his permissive euthanasia policies. His declining approval proved insurmountable, marking a dramatic end to his political journey.

Canadian singer-songwriter Grimes, known for her experimental music and as the former partner of Elon Musk, has recently shared about her experience of Christianity. In a candid post on X, she revealed that her exploration of faith is motivated by a desire to quit vaping, describing this turn as 'monumentally embarrassing.' Grimes admitted that she had never previously considered religion but now finds aspects of Christianity resonating with her, especially in confronting destructive habits. She shared a passage from CS Lewis' 'Mere Christianity’, highlighting the transformative power of choices in aligning oneself with God. This introspection has led her into a 'philosophical tailspin’, prompting deeper contemplation of spiritual matters. Grimes and Musk share three children: X Æ A-12, Exa Dark Sideræl, and Techno Mechanicus, known as Tau. Their names reflect the couple's affinity for technology and art.

An army veteran, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, carried out a New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, killing fifteen people and injuring thirty more by driving a truck into a crowd. Jabbar, a former soldier with ties to Texas, displayed an IS flag and posted videos expressing admiration for the group shortly before the attack. Police killed him in a shootout and are investigating his associates for potential involvement. Explosive devices were found and neutralized, prompting heightened security measures. Joe Biden condemned the act as terrorism, noting Jabbar’s social media activity and disturbed state following a divorce. New Orleans had implemented temporary security barriers against such attacks, but they proved ineffective against Jabbar’s actions. In another attack, probably unrelated, a truck full of fireworks and gas cylinders exploded outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas, killing the driver and injuring seven others: see

Former US president Jimmy Carter has died peacefully at his Georgia home at age 100, surrounded by family. Carter, who served as the 39th president from 1977 to 1981, will be remembered for his dedication to peace, human rights, and public service. One of his most memorable achievements was bringing about the Camp David accords between Israel and Egypt. However, as president he faced numerous challenges, including the Iran hostage crisis; the hostages were released the day he left office, showing that he had continued negotiations behind the scenes even after his election defeat. Thereafter, he earned admiration for his humanitarian work, including diplomatic missions and building homes for the poor. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his efforts to minimise or avert conflict globally.  He once said, 'My faith demands that I do whatever I can... to make a difference’. He will be given a state funeral on 9 January.