Category Archives: Travel

2026.03.02

More than 250 Minnesota National Guard members are currently serving in the Middle East amid the the U.S. and Israel’s attacks on Iran. In response to a KARE 11 inquiry, a guard spokesperson did not release their locations but said the troops are “grateful for the strong support of those back home.” The Minnesota National Guard units hail from Duluth, Marshall and Stillwater.
https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/mn-national-guard-in-iran-attacks-continue/89-d22e34f2-8983-4d17-badb-22b0160c8597

The Pioneer Press reported the beaver expert in the new Pixar movie “Hoppers” is a nod to a University of Minnesota beaver expert who helped the film producers learn about beavers.
https://www.twincities.com/2026/03/01/emily-fairfax-umn-beaver-expert-hoppers-pixar/

Thousands flee Beirut and southern Lebanon amid Israeli strikes: what we know so far on day three of the Iran war
Middle East conflict spreads as Hezbollah attacks Israel, prompting strikes on Beirut; oil prices soar; drone hits UK base in Cyprus
Guardian staff
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/02/thousands-flee-beirut-and-southern-lebanon-amid-israeli-strikes-what-we-know-so-far-on-day-three-of-the-iran-war

Private jet prices soar as wealthy scramble to leave Dubai
People drive to Oman and Saudi in hope of a flight, while most tourists stay stuck in hotels and on cruise ships
Pjotr Sauer, Lorenzo Tondo in Palermo and Kate Connolly in Berlin
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/02/dubai-private-jet-prices-soar-tourists-stuck-wealthy-leave

Middle East crisis pushes up oil prices – and could drive inflation rises too
Heather Stewart Economics editor
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/02/middle-east-crisis-oil-prices-inflation-us-iran-interest-rates-growth

As measles spreads in South Carolina, RFK Jr’s allies work to gut vaccine laws
Activists who dispute safety of vaccines are pushing to limit immunization requirements in schools
Michelle R Smith
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/02/measles-south-carolina-rfk-jr-vaccine-laws

The Democrat who schools Republicans – ‘I would say do more of that’
Isaiah Martin’s videos have gone viral – he thinks his party should follow his lead and stand up to Republican excess
Adam Gabbatt
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/01/isaiah-martin-democrats-republicans

The UK has arrested high-profile figures connected to Jeffrey Epstein. Will the US?
In contrast with the takedowns of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson, US consequences have been limited to resignations and apologies
Victoria Bekiempis
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/02/jeffrey-epstein-uk-us-arrests

Rijksmuseum reveals painting to be early work by Rembrandt
17th-century Dutch master’s Vision of Zacharias in the Temple to go on display this week
Senay Boztas in Amsterdam
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/mar/02/rijksmuseum-painting-early-work-rembrandt-van-rijn-amsterdam

‘I’m dying for the day heterosexuals have to come out’: Catherine Opie and her astonishing shots of queer America
Famed for having a child’s drawing of a family carved into her back, the photographer has devoted her life to queer America, from endurance swimmers to drag artists to her son in a tutu. Now she’s finally getting a major UK show
Emma Brockes
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/mar/02/catherine-opie-photographer-queer-america-drag-pink-tutu

Stardew Valley at 10: the anticapitalist game that cures burnout and inspires queer art
Since 2016, the cosy, inclusive, non-heteronormative escapism of the beloved farming sim has inspired a community of devoted fans, and helped it shift 50m units
Jordan Erica Webber
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/mar/02/stardew-valley-at-10-the-anticapitalist-game-that-cures-burnout-and-inspires-queer-art

My search for the perfect brown bar in Amsterdam
I swerved the tourist traps and went on a bar crawl of the city’s bruine kroegen, the cosy, dimly lit pubs that are the Netherlands’ ‘surrogate living rooms’
Ben West
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/mar/02/my-search-for-the-perfect-brown-bar-in-amsterdam

Rare ‘blood moon’ total lunar eclipse to loom over North America, Australia and New Zealand
Eclipse will feature a deep, coppery-red full moon on 3 March, with scientists predicting the best times to see it
Ima Caldwell
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/mar/02/blood-moon-total-lunar-eclipse-2026-march-3-full-worm-what-date-time-australia-america

2026.02.22

ICE

Worst of the worst? Most US immigrants targeted for deportation in 2025 had no criminal charges, documents reveal
A Guardian analysis finds the vast majority of people who entered deportation proceedings for the first time from January to August last year had no criminal convictions
Will Craft
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/22/us-immigration-trump-administration

How daily routines in Minneapolis and St Paul have changed amid 3,000 federal immigration agents – in pictures
Many people have been sheltering at home. Protests have become part of the daily rhythm. Community networks continue to patrol and document agents’ interactions
Bridget Bennett in Minneapolis and St Paul
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/feb/22/minneapolis-st-paul-daily-routines-immigration

More News

Homeland security to suspend TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs
Democrats accuse DHS of ‘kneecapping’ programs that help speed registered travelers through security lines
Guardian staff and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/22/homeland-security-suspends-tsa-precheck-global-entry-airport-security-programs

Trump warns Netflix of ‘consequences’ unless it pulls top Democrat from board
US president calls for removal of Susan Rice as streaming platform pursues takeover of Warner Bros Discovery
Joanna Partridge
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/feb/22/trump-warns-netflix-of-consequences-unless-it-pulls-top-democrat-susan-rice-from-board

The world order we’re leaving behind may be replaced by no order at all
Eduardo Porter
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/feb/22/world-order-trump

Greenland says ‘no, thanks’ to Trump’s US hospital boat
Leaders of both Denmark and Arctic territory rebuff US president’s claim that islanders are ‘not being taken care of’
Deborah Cole and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/22/greenland-does-not-need-us-hospital-boat-sent-by-trump-says-denmark

Nasa may roll back Artemis II rocket launch after helium flow discovery
Agency statement comes one day after announcement of 6 March target for astronauts’ mission to circle the moon
Guardian staff and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/21/nasa-artemis-ii-rocket-launch

Baftas 2026: the red carpet, the ceremony, the winners – follow live!
Eyes and teeth darlings, it’s the biggest night of the year in British cinema – here’s a minute-by-minute update of all the gowns, gossip and glitz of the night
Stuart Heritage, Chloe Mac Donnell, Andrew Pulver, Nadia Khomami and Catherine Shoard
https://www.theguardian.com/film/live/2026/feb/22/baftas-2026-the-red-carpet-the-ceremony-the-winners-follow-live

‘That’s a losing battle’: baboon incursions cause tense human-wildlife standoff in Cape Town
Animal rights activists disagree with authorities on how best to handle boom in primate population near Table Mountain
By Rachel Savage in Cape Town. Photography by Tommy Trenchard
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/22/baboon-population-cape-town-south-africa-animal-rights-activists

Let a thousand stinky blossoms bloom: how Australia became the world’s corpse flower destination
Australian collections of the endangered and notoriously unpredictable flowers have popped off in recent years, as ‘personas’ like Putricia, Stinkerella and Smellanie prove a hit with nosy spectators
Petra Stock and Josh Nicholas
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/22/corpse-flowers-australia-putricia-stinkerella-smellanie

What’s the best way to learn a new language? (Paywalled?)
Krupa Padhy
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260220-whats-the-best-way-to-learn-a-new-language

2026.02.17

ICE

“The Trump administration has formally denied Minnesota law enforcement access to information and evidence from the FBI investigation into the shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal agents on Jan. 24 in Minneapolis,” according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. “The [Bureau of Criminal Apprehension] and other law enforcement offices in Minnesota have longstanding ties to the FBI and a history of working together on criminal investigations of all sorts. The rupture in the relationship first became apparent after the killing of [Renee] Good, when Trump administration officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance, quickly branded Good a domestic terrorist, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the federal government was not investigating” the agent who allegedly shot Good. Via MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/trump-administration-formally-denies-minnesota-investigators-access-to-evidence-in-alex-pretti-shooting/601583232?utm_source=gift

FBI won’t share Alex Pretti shooting evidence, Minnesota authorities say
State’s governor had demanded impartial inquiry into the shooting of the VA nurse by federal immigration agents
José Olivares
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/16/fbi-alex-pretti-minnesota-authorities-information-sharing

“Dozens of Minnesotans are sharing their experiences of violent interactions with ICE agents during the surge,” MPR News reports. “A class-action lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota added sworn declarations from more than 80 observers or protesters who allege First Amendment violations.” Via MinnPost
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/02/16/more-than-80-minnesotans-detail-useofforce-intimidation-by-ice-agents-in-lawsuit

More News

Minnesota lawmakers are tapping campaign funds to bolster their security
Although Congress has boosted the amount of money provided for members’ security, some Minnesota lawmakers are spending more for their personal safety.
by Ana Radelat and Shadi Bushra
https://www.minnpost.com/national/washington/2026/02/minnesota-lawmakers-are-tapping-campaign-funds-to-bolster-their-security/

With the Minnesota Legislature set to return, DFLers are on the offensive. Republicans have a leaner agenda.
GOP leaders seek a bonding bill. Democrats want that too, plus an assault weapons ban and immigration enforcement reform.
by Matthew Blake
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/02/with-the-minnesota-legislature-set-to-return-dflers-are-on-the-offensive-republicans-have-a-leaner-agenda/

‘I feel like I’m in a financial prison’: Trump Wall Street plan puts ‘mom and pop’ investors at risk, advocates say
Trump says everyday Americans deserve a chance to buy higher-risk ‘alternative’ investments. Critics say this could lead to big losses for small investors
Susan Antilla
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/feb/17/trump-wall-street-plan-mom-and-pop-investors-risks

Colbert accuses Trump administration of censorship after CBS pulls interview
Host says lawyers barred him from discussing decision to drop Texas Democrat segment amid FCC rules scrutiny
Richard Luscombe
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/feb/17/colbert-trump-administration-censorship-cbs
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiTJ7Pz_59A&pp=ygUaY29sYmVydCB0YWxhcmljbyBpbnRlcnZpZXc%3D

More than 600 people were fired or punished for posting about Charlie Kirk’s death. They want justice
Acolytes of the far-right activist urged employers to fire his critics. Now those who were terminated are suing and claiming their right to free speech
John Semley
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/feb/17/people-fired-punished-posting-charlie-kirk-death

France issues red flood alerts after ‘exceptional’ rainfall
Aftermath of Storm Nils causes chaos across country with flooding under way or expected on Garonne, Maine and Loire rivers
Ajit Niranjan Europe environment correspondent.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/17/red-flood-alerts-storm-nils-exceptional-rainfall

The Blood Countess review – Isabelle Huppert reigns supreme in a surreal vampire fantasia
Vienna turns into a playground of camp, cruelty and aristocratic disdain in a blackly comic take on the Báthory legend – with Huppert gloriously suited to the title role
Peter Bradshaw
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/feb/16/blood-countess-film-review-isabelle-huppert

Tent painting, sand wrestling and year of the horse: photos of the day – Tuesday
The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world
Eithne Staunton
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/gallery/2026/feb/17/tent-painting-year-of-the-horse-photos-of-the-day-tuesday

Me

TurboTax & Me
I owe! I owe! I owe! Less than my first rough through, but more than I wish. My hope that the solar panel installation credit would cover my last estimated tax payment fell foul to a large unexpected capital gains tax hit. The host of medical bills I’d expected never materialized.

Theophylline & Me
Ive taken theophylline, an ancient and now little-prescribed drug from a tree in India, since before the dinosaurs vanished. Over the years, cost and sense never went together. Various weight pills of the drug varied wildly and were not related to the dose. A 200 MG pill might cost 30 times as much as a 600 MG pill. Right now, it has just vanished. CVS just fails to fill it. Walgreens and Amazon think they can provide it. Amazon claimed they can get 200 MG pills with a 3-month supply for only $1,028 and change. My BC & BS insurance formulary doesn’t cover the 200 MG dose, and they denied my first request for a waiver. I reapplied, and they approved it. The Amazon price dropped to only $450! A Canadian pharmacy can provide it for $177.40 ($23.03 to Herr Trump’s tariffs). Cost Plus, which ustta not have much, has 300 MG for $15.12 for 90 pills. Of course, this is three prescriptions I’ve not filled, and I don’t have a paper prescription for that dose. (A downside to theophylline is you need blood tests for aminophylline levels to determine if you’re taking enough to be effective and too little to be toxic. A couple of years ago, I went too high in the range, which I can’t recommend.)

Happy Lunar New Year!
It’s the year of the horse, and given I am not chemically compatible with horses, who knows what the year holds? Sure hard to beat the last one though.

Ramadan
Starting today or tomorrow as determined by a moon-sighting committee.

Shrove Tuesday

Git yer pancakes ready!

2026.02.16

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupts – video
The Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupted on Sunday, sending lava fountains, ash and smoke into the air. The US Geological Survey said it was the 42nd episode of lava fountains since the current series of intermittent eruptions began in December 2024. The plume from the latest eruption reached more than 10,000 metres (35,000 feet), according to the National Weather Service
Source: US Geological Survey
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2026/feb/16/hawaiis-kilauea-volcano-erupts-video

Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights is big movie with a very small mind
Adrian Horton
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/feb/16/emerald-fennell-wuthering-heights-review

Train derails in Switzerland amid fatal avalanches across the Alps
Swiss police say derailment near Goppenstein injured five as large areas of western Alps remain under category 5 avalanche risk
Peter Beaumont
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/16/train-derails-switzerland-fatal-avalanches-alps

Cyprus appeals to residents to cut water use by two minutes a day amid drought
Island’s reservoirs hit record lows even before tourist season starts as Cypriots are warned ‘every drop counts’
Helena Smith in Athens
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/16/cyprus-appeals-reduce-water-use-reservoirs-record-lows-drought

Intermittent fasting no better than typical weight loss diets, study finds
Researchers say limited eating approaches such as 5:2 diet not a ‘miracle solution’ amid surge in their popularity
Ian Sample Science editor
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/feb/16/intermittent-fasting-no-better-than-typical-weight-loss-diet-study-finds

A new diagnosis of ‘profound autism’ is under consideration. Here’s what parents need to know
Category describes people who have little or no language, an IQ of less than 50 and require 24-hour supervision
Kelsie Boulton, Marie Antoinette Hodge and Rebecca Sutherland for the Conversation
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/feb/15/profound-autism-meaning-what-is-parents-need-to-know

Italy’s famous Lovers’ Arch collapses into the sea on Valentine’s Day
Rock structure which served as backdrop to countless proposals disappears into the Adriatic after storm
Lorenzo Tondo in Palermo
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/16/italy-lovers-arch-puglia-collapse-adriatic-sea-valentines-day

Shamelessly Stolen from Tom Scott’s Newsletter:
This video of the mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, officiating weddings at at the NYC Marriage Bureau fascinated me for a couple of reasons. To be clear, it’s a very well-produced PR piece by the Mayor’s Office: something like this a great way to make a political figure seem down-to-earth and friendly. And at the surface level, it’s a lovely Valentine’s video, too! But there’s a couple of subtle details that reveal how that down-to-earth effect is produced in 2026, and I reckon they would have been unthinkable five years ago:
And second: blink and you’ll miss it, but on the shot of the dog, it’s obvious that the seating is cracked and faded. The building doesn’t look perfect — but it’s never shown to be run-down in a way that affects any couple’s Big Day. The imperfections here, I think, are curated just as much as the video cuts, the words, and the music
First: most of the couples interviewed are holding a big, clunky, square wireless mic-box! That would never have appeared in a professionally produced video just a couple of years ago: subtle lapel mics would have been clipped on, or maybe there would even have been a sound op with a boom pole. But now, the desire to appear authentic and down-to-earth on social media means that, even in an otherwise glossy video, the producer just asks the interviewee to hold a bit of consumer electronics. Never mind the expensive camera, lens, editing, and everything else: hand them a mic, and suddenly everything Feels Genuine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUp01MXUkpo
 

Carnival, lunar new year and anti-US fervour: photos of the day – Monday
Eithne Staunton
https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2026/feb/16/carnival-lunar-new-year-and-anti-us-fervour-photos-of-the-day-monday

2026.02.13

ICE

The surge is over? What’s next for state officials after a federal immigration agent drawdown
Walz and lawmakers sounded relieved. But reckoning over the collateral fallout has barely begun.
by Matthew Blake
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/02/the-surge-is-over-whats-next-for-state-officials-after-a-federal-immigration-agent-drawdown/

How Minnesota became less of a sanctuary state to Tom Homan
Greater communication with county jails, a repositioning of ICE agents, fewer ‘agitators’ and more cooperation from local law enforcement was cited for the end of Operation Metro Surge.
by Ana Radelat and Brian Arola
https://www.minnpost.com/national/washington/2026/02/how-minnesota-became-less-of-a-sanctuary-state-to-tom-homan/

Relief is on the way for some small businesses in Minnesota. “Gov. Tim Walz said Thursday he’ll back an aid package to support state businesses, especially immigrant-owned business, hurt by the surge of federal immigration agents in Minnesota over the past two months,” according to MPR News. “Walz told reporters he’ll propose a $10 million emergency fund, similar to an effort during the COVID-19 pandemic, that would offer forgivable loans targeted at small businesses.” Via MinnPost
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/02/12/walz-readies-aid-package-for-minnesota-businesses-hurt-by-ice-surge

What are Minnesota officials saying about the border czar Tom Homan’s announcement that Operation Metro Surge will soon draw to a close? WCCO has statements from a number of our state’s leaders. Via MinnPost
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/live-updates/minnesota-ice-surge-ending-feds-say/

US paid $32m to five countries to accept about 300 deportees, report shows
Some of the world’s most corrupt countries have received huge payments in controversial third-country deportation scheme
Joseph Gedeon and Andrew Roth
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/13/us-paid-32m-to-five-countries-to-accept-about-300-deportees-report-shows

More News

As if we didn’t have enough to worry about, cases of sexually transmitted ringworm are on the rise in the Twin Cities, according to Bring Me The News. “The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) says there are currently 13 confirmed cases of TMVII, and 27 suspected cases, all within the Twin Cities metro area. The disease was first detected in the state in July 2025.” Via MinnPost
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/twin-cities-experiencing-surge-of-sexually-transmitted-ringworm-cases

Gender studies courses are shutting down across the US. The Epstein files reveal why
Joan Wallach Scott
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/13/gender-studies-trump-epstein

Pride flag reinstated at Stonewall after it was removed by Trump administration
New York City officials raise flag at site of rebellion once again after ‘act of erasure’ by administration
Dani Anguiano
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/12/pride-flag-reinstated-stonewall

French police arrest nine people over suspected €10m Louvre ticket fraud
Prosecutors’ office says two museum workers, several tour guides and suspected mastermind among those detained
Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/13/french-police-arrest-people-suspected-louvre-ticket-fraud

‘A great wee place’: the small Scottish factory crafting Olympic curling stones
All stones in Cortina are made from granite found on tiny island in Firth of Clyde and crafted in East Ayrshire
Libby Brooks Scotland correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/13/a-great-wee-place-the-small-scottish-factory-crafting-olympic-curling-stones

The best recent science fiction, fantasy and horror – review roundup
Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward; Pagans by James Alistair Henry; Pedro the Vast by Simón López Trujillo; Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman; A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang
Lisa Tuttle
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/feb/13/the-best-recent-science-fiction-fantasy-and-horror-review-roundup

Week in wildlife: a thirsty raccoon, a superhero squid and a delinquent swan
This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world
Elena Goodinson
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2026/feb/13/week-in-wildlife-a-thirsty-raccoon-a-superhero-squid-and-a-delinquent-swan

2026.02.11

ICE

US restaurants targeted for opposing ICE: ‘I refuse to cook for fascists’
Restaurants face one-star reviews and less business in an already precarious industry. Some restaurateurs fear speaking out as immigrants themselves
Adam Reiner
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/us-restaurant-owners-ice-immigration

Ohio city stands up to Trump’s ‘attitude of hate’ toward Haitian community
Churches in Springfield provide networks of support as Haitians face uncertainty over the future of TPS legal protections
Fabiola Cineas
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/springfield-churches-trump-attacks-haitan-community

ICE to Congress: Mass deportations are lawful and will continue
In testimony before a House panel, agency head Todd Lyons defended ICE operations in Minnesota and declined to comment on the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
by Ana Radelat
https://www.minnpost.com/national/washington/2026/02/ice-to-congress-mass-deportations-are-lawful-and-will-continue/

An independent investigative journalist at The Northern Watch combed through DHS’ “Worst of the Worst” registry meant to showcase high-profile arrests made during Operation Metro Surge to create a statewide map of where these arrests took place, and the type of crimes the arrested had committed. The arrests in DHS’ database account for only 11% of the 3,000 arrests the government has said they’ve made, and Northern Watch found that in rural Minnesota, “ICE appears to be taking credit for administrative transfers of inmates who were already in custody.” Via MinnPost
https://www.northernnewsnow.com/2026/02/09/i-mapped-every-confirmed-ice-arrest-minnesota-heres-what-i-found/

ICE increasingly targeting Minnesota immigrants with active work permits
ICE agents knocked on Wilmer Andrade’s door claiming a warrant for his arrest. He has a work permit, a pending visa application and no final order of removal. In Operation Metro Surge, people like him are targets.
by Andrew Hazzard
https://sahanjournal.com/immigration/ice-targets-immigrants-with-work-permits/

More News

FDA declines to review Moderna application for new flu vaccine
Moderna requests meeting to discuss refusal as decision could have implications for all new and updated vaccines
Melody Schreiber
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/fda-moderna-flu-vaccine

Mark Carney reminds Trump that Canada paid for key border bridge US president says he won’t open
Trump earlier had ranted against bridge and also warned that China would ‘terminate’ hockey in Canada
Leyland Cecco in Toronto and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/trump-canada-windsor-detroit-bridge

Actor Noel Clarke arrested over allegation of attempted rape in 2007
Former Doctor Who star is also facing allegations of exposure and sexual assault by touching
Rachel Hall
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/feb/10/actor-noel-clarke-arrested-over-allegation-of-attempted-in-2007

Trump administration removes LGBTQ+ Pride flag from Stonewall national monument
‘They cannot erase our history. Our Pride flag will be raised again,’ says Manhattan borough president
Cecilia Nowell
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/lgbtq-pride-flag-stonewall-trump-removal

Debunked claims from election deniers influenced FBI raid in Georgia, affidavit reveals
The 28 January raid of the Fulton county election office also came after a referral from a White House lawyer
Sam Levine in New York and George Chidi in Atlanta
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/fbi-raid-fulton-county-voting-office-search-affidavit

Minnesota state flags are a becoming hot commodities at flag shops throughout the state, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. “Lee Herold, who owns Herold Flags in Rochester, said sales of the Minnesota flag have gone up about 75% since the start of the federal government’s Operation Metro Surge, while sales of the old flag have also increased.” In Minneapolis, the Nicollet Ace Hardware store only recently started carrying Minnesota flags. They sold out in a matter of hours. Via MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-flag-sales-soar-during-ice-surge/601579509

Heineken to cut 6,000 jobs as people drink less beer
Dutch brewer lowers forecasts for 2026 profit growth as cost of living and consumer health concerns reduce sales
Joanna Partridge
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/11/heineken-cut-jobs-people-drink-less-beer

Wallace, Gromit and a new use for lentils: blockbuster Aardman exhibition opens at Young V&A
Children are encouraged to get hands-on as the world’s leading stop-motion studio showcases its work in east London
Catherine Shoard
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/feb/10/aardman-exhibition-wallace-gromit-london

2026.02.06

ICE

‘You’re not going to investigate a federal officer’
It doesn’t happen often, but local law enforcement can arrest and charge federal agents. Legal experts say there’s a moral obligation to at least try to hold federal immigration officers accountable when they violate the Constitution and the law.
By Andy Mannix, Melissa Sanchez and Nicole Foy / ProPublica
https://www.minnpost.com/national/2026/02/youre-not-going-to-investigate-a-federal-officer/

Sahan Journal has the story of Minnesotans who have been transferred to ICE detention centers in Texas and released with no way to return home. “In recent weeks, lawyers have filed a flurry of successful court challenges compelling the government to release their clients, but that has left an increasing number of Minnesotans stranded outside detention facilities far from home,” they report. “In some cases, ICE has refused to return identification cards or work permits to those released from detention, attorneys say.”
https://sahanjournal.com/immigration/ice-detainees-stranded-after-release/

Man arrested in early-morning Minneapolis federal raid is charged with cyberstalking
The 6 a.m. raid, which involved at least 11 officers, took place at Eat Street Flats in the Whittier neighborhood. The man arrested doxxed a “pro-ICE individual,” according to a criminal complaint.
by Joey Peters
https://sahanjournal.com/public-safety/federal-raid-kyle-wagner-detained-whittier-minneapolis/

More News

Trump shares video with racist imagery of Barack and Michelle Obama in late-night posting spree
In clip amplifying false claim that Trump won 2020 election, the Obamas’ faces are superimposed on bodies of apes
Richard Luscombe
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/06/trump-racist-video-barack-michelle-obama

On Thursday the City of Anoka opened the state’s first municipal cannabis dispensary, MPR News reports. In August, MinnPost reported on 13 cities, including Anoka, that were applying to run municipal cannabis stores, and how successful municipal liquor stores provide a model. Via MinnPost
https://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2025/08/blazing-new-trails-these-13-minnesota-cities-are-considering-municipal-cannabis-stores/


Amazon shares tumble as $200bn AI rollout plan worries markets – as it happened
Graeme Wearden
https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/feb/06/uk-house-prices-jump-halifax-stock-markets-inflation-latest-news-updates

Wot? No sternly worded letters?
‘Grind the country to a halt’: Democrat urges national strike if Trump meddles in midterms
In wake of Donald Trump’s call for Republicans to ‘take over’ voting, senator Ruben Gallego urges citizens to take a stand and give the ‘ultimate response’
David Smith in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/06/donald-trump-voting-midterms-democrat-national-strike

Penisgate’ at the Olympics: why inject acid into your penis, and what are the health risks?
The World Anti-Doping Agency is investigating whether ski jumpers were injecting their penises with hyaluronic acid in order to fly further
Natasha May
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/06/penisgate-winter-olympics-ski-jumpers-acid-penis-health-risks-explainer

Trump’s family is embroiled in a $500m UAE scandal. We’ve hardly noticed
Mohamad Bazzi
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/06/trump-family-uae-crypto-deal

So the Epstein scandal is about politics? Silly me for thinking it’s about the mass abuse of women and girls
Marina Hyde
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/06/jeffrey-epstein-scandal-politics-mass-abuse-women-girls

Elton John accuses Daily Mail publisher of ‘abhorrent’ invasion of privacy
Singer says articles about his health and birth of son ‘outside even the most basic standards of human decency’
Michael Savage Media editor
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/feb/06/elton-john-david-furnish-daily-mail-publisher-high-court

Horror in Wellington as millions of litres of untreated sewage flow into the sea
Residents of New Zealand capital advised not to enter the water, collect seafood or walk their dogs on local beaches after wastewater plant failure
Maya Yang
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/06/wellington-sewage-leak-sea-new-zealand

Japan cherry blossom festival cancelled because of unruly tourist ‘crisis’
Authorities scrap Arakurayama Sengen park cherry blossom festival near Mount Fuji because of tourists trespassing, littering and ‘defecating in private yards’
Maya Yang
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/06/japan-cherry-blossom-festival-cancelled-tourists

Botox to nose vibrations: The new treatments offering hope to migraine patients (Paywalled?)
Sofia Quaglia
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260205-botox-to-nose-vibrations—the-new-treatments-offering-hope-to-migraine-patients

2026.02.01

ICE

Building power
ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Backing down isn’t an option’: Minnesota ICE shootings mobilize Americans to join ICE observer groups
The killings of Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti have inspired people across the US to document federal agents’ activities in their communities
Lex McMenamin
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jan/31/ice-observer-document-immigration-agents

‘We’re fighting for the soul of the country’: how Minnesota residents came together to face ICE
Networks created after police killed George Floyd were reactivated to challenge Trump’s mass deportation policy
Rachel Leingang in Minneapolis
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/01/minnesota-twin-cities-ice-protests

Chicago mayor orders police to investigate alleged illegal ICE activity in city
Brandon Johnson gives police ‘clear procedure’ to follow if they witness or get reports of agents involved in illegal activity
Edward Helmore
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/31/chicago-ice-brandon-johnson

More News

Shooting at Mardi Gras parade in Louisiana leaves six people injured
One person taken into custody after a mass shooting in Clinton leaves six injured, including a child
Coral Murphy Marcos
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/31/mardi-gras-parade-shooting-louisiana

Resistance to Trump 2.0 is getting more confrontational
Dana R Fisher
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/01/trump-resistance-protests

The FBI’s seizure of 2020 ballots in Georgia is a signal of what’s to come
Austin Sarat
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/01/fbi-raid-georgia-2020-election-ballots

Jeffrey Epstein files: don’t be fooled. Millions of files are still unreleased
Moira Donegan
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/31/jeffrey-epstein-unreleased-files

Handling of Epstein files is ‘outrageous’, say attorneys of his sex trafficking survivors
Tranche of government-held files filled with ‘ham-fisted redactions’ and expose survivors’ identities, say attorneys
Edward Helmore
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/01/jeffrey-epstein-files-sex-trafficking-survivors

Democrats accuse DoJ of not releasing millions of Epstein files despite legal requirement
Justice department on Friday released 3m pages and lawmakers accuse it of not releasing roughly 50% of records
Lauren Gambino
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/31/democrats-justice-department-epstein-files

US committee is reconsidering all vaccine recommendations
Move is dramatic departure for advisory group under Kirk Milhoan, who says he doesn’t like the term ‘established science’
Melody Schreiber
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/01/vaccine-recommendations-acip

America’s contract to protect white women has always been tenuous
Saida Grundy
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/feb/01/white-supremacy-women-renee-good-ice-killing

Why TikTok’s first week of American ownership was a disaster
Blake Montgomery
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/01/tiktok-first-week

‘I never imagined this!’ How KPop Demon Hunters could make history at the Grammys and the Oscars
As the film’s megahit song Golden looks likely to sweep everything in awards season, its singer Ejae explains why she’s ready to step out from behind her animated alter ego
Katie Hawthorne
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jan/31/kpop-demon-hunters-grammys-oscars-real-life-singers-ejae-golden

Animators React to KPop Demon Hunters – ft. THE DIRECTORS!
Corridor Crew
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7L-ka-MsEE

Interview
Milli Vanilli’s Fab Morvan on his lip-syncing downfall and Grammys comeback: ‘The truth will set you free’
Garth Cartwright
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/feb/01/milli-vanilli-fab-morvan-interview-grammy-book-you-know-its-true

How to make mulligatawny – recipe
Have you forgotten how good this spicy soup tastes? Here are nine easy steps to rediscovering the Indian-inspired winter warmer
Felicity Cloake
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/feb/01/how-to-make-mulligatawny-recipe-felicity-cloake

Inside Myanmar’s five-year armed resistance – a photo essay
Five years after the junta’s coup, the civil war devastating Myanmar has reached a turning point. The military is carrying out large-scale counter-offensives across the country to reclaim territory seized by pro-democracy rebels of various ethnic and religious backgrounds
By Robin Tutenges
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/01/inside-myanmar-armed-resistance-junta-coup-photo-essay

2026.01.26

ICE

The Glean
Video evidence contradicts federal officials’ claims after fatal shooting of Alex Pretti
Plus: DOC launches website to fight misinformation; judge bars federal officials from destroying evidence related to Saturday’s shooting; and AG Bondi makes demands for ICE withdrawal.
by Peter Majerle
https://www.minnpost.com/glean/2026/01/video-evidence-contradicts-federal-officials-claims-after-fatal-shooting-of-alex-pretti/

Quick! Somebody get a shopping bag and $50.000 cash!
Donald Trump says his administration is reviewing Alex Pretti shooting
President announces he is sending his border czar, Tom Homan, to Minneapolis as outrage mounts over killing
George Chidi and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/26/donald-trump-administration-reviewing-alex-pretti-shooting

Trump moved to cut funding for ICE body cameras and reduced oversight
Administration opposed efforts last year to expand use of cameras by immigration agents and cut oversight staffing
Reuters
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/26/ice-body-cameras-immigration-trump

Trump officials continue to push lies after fatal shooting of Alex Pretti
George Chidi
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/26/trump-administration-alex-pretti-shooting-statements

Federal agents use teargas on protesters outside ICE agents’ alleged Minneapolis hotel
Protesters reportedly had gathered at the hotel after the killing of Alex Pretti, with some vandalizing the building
Sam Levine in New York
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/26/minnesota-minneapolis-ice-hotel-protests

How to avoid ICE entanglements when seeking health care: Doctors offer tips
Online appointments and streamlining prescription pickups can ease risk and stress, health care providers say.
by Sheila Mulrooney Eldred
https://sahanjournal.com/health/avoiding-ice-when-seeking-health-care/

More News

Gold price tops $5,000 an ounce for first time as investors seek safe haven from Trump turmoil
Rising fears that another US shutdown looms pushes gold price to new height amid nearly 90% rise since Trump’s inauguration
Patrick Commins
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/26/gold-prices-record-5000-ounce-trump-turmoil

Fraud focus: why is Trump granting clemency to convicted fraudsters?
Adam Gabbatt
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/26/why-trump-pardons-fraud-clemency

Severe heatwave envelops South Australia as Victoria braces for record-breaking weather and fire threats
Residents near Otways fire in Victoria urged to prepare to evacuate, while Ouyen and Mildura forecast to record 49C on Tuesday
Petra Stock and Stephanie Convery
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/26/severe-heatwave-envelops-south-australia-as-victoria-braces-for-record-breaking-weather

Meatballs, Persian rice and Korean stew: John Gregory-Smith’s globetrotting chicken traybake recipes
Mediterranean chicken meatballs with feta and black olives, Persian-style saffron chicken and rice, and a garlicky, Korean-inspired chicken and potato traybake
John Gregory-Smith
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/jan/26/chicken-traybake-recipes-meatballs-persian-rice-korean-garlic-john-gregory-smith

2026.01.16

ICE

Formerly bustling businesses and markets are struggling to stay afloat amid ICE raids that have generated fear among workers and customers, Sahan Journal reports. “With the influx of federal agents flooding the Twin Cities’ streets, immigrant-owned and operated businesses across the metro are facing dire circumstances. … In many places across the Twin Cities, including in Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, businesses aren’t covering operating costs, even if they take the risk and stay open. The once-bustling sidewalks of the Somali and East African cultural hub now sit unnervingly calm.”  Via MinnPost
https://sahanjournal.com/business-work/ice-surge-impacts-minnesota-businesses-restaurants/

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office has launched a webpage that asks residents “to share the impact that escalating federal immigration enforcement across the state has had on their lives,” according to Bring Me The News. On the page, “Minnesotans can report impacts to themselves or someone close to them, as well as incidents that they have personally witnessed, with the option of adding photos and videos. … Residents are asked not to report rumors, secondhand information that’s unverifiable, or social media posts of events they did not witness or experience.”  Via MinnPost
https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Federal-Action/
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/minnesota-encourages-residents-to-report-impacts-of-ice-surge

It took years to rebuild trust in Minneapolis after George Floyd. Then ICE came.
Community organizers fear that ICE’s shooting of Renee Good could erode fragile gains made between residents and law enforcement.
by Josiah Bates, for The Trace
https://www.minnpost.com/metro/2026/01/it-took-years-to-rebuild-trust-in-minneapolis-after-george-floyd-then-ice-came/

ACLU sues Trump administration over ‘racial profiling and unlawful arrests’ in Minnesota ICE surge
Civil rights organization says federal immigration agents are violating US citizens’ constitutional rights
Maya Yang
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/15/aclu-lawsuit-ice-minnesota-trump

Giving Trump the Nobel peace prize medal is ‘absurd’, say Norwegian politicians
US president criticised for accepting medal awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado
Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/16/maria-corina-machado-giving-trump-nobel-peace-prize-medal-absurd-say-norwegian-politicians

At the root of all our problems stands one travesty: politicians’ surrender to the super-rich
George Monbiot
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/16/super-rich-inequality-politicians-extreme-wealth

Fatberg the size of four buses likely birthed poo balls that closed Sydney beaches – and it can’t be cleared
Exclusive: Secret report suggests fats, oils and grease accumulate in ‘inaccessible dead zone’ at Malabar plant, then dislodge when pumping pressure ‘rapidly increases’
Anne Davies NSW state correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/17/fatberg-poo-balls-sydney-beaches-malabar-outfall-secret-report

‘Garden of Eden’: the Spanish farm growing citrus you’ve never heard of
Todolí foundation produces varieties from Buddha’s hands to sudachi and hopes to help citrus survive climate change
Helena Horton Environment reporter
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/16/garden-of-eden-the-spanish-farm-growing-citrus-youve-never-heard-of

Extreme rainfall inundates South Africa and Mozambique
Ishani Mistry and Ollie Lewis
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/16/weather-tracer-extreme-rainfall-inundates-south-africa-mozambique-flood-warning

What’s the easiest way to get healthy? I tried biohacking my life to live longer
Small changes to sleep, diet, and exercise can have significant benefits – and I’m all for barely perceptible adjustments
Tim Dowling
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jan/16/whats-the-easiest-way-to-get-healthy-i-tried-biohacking-my-life-to-live-longer

Heated socks and puffy booties: what people in the coldest cities on Earth are wearing
Whether dog-sledding in Mongolia or braving grocery store trips in Alaska’s 40mph winds, these writers recommend the gear they swear by
Lauren Gould
https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us/2026/jan/15/cold-weather-clothing-around-the-world

Vevcani carnival – in pictures
The North Macedonian town celebrated the 1,400-year-old festival over two days. The part-pagan, part-satire carnival is believed to scare away evil spirits, and marks the beginning of the Julian calendar’s New Year.
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/gallery/2026/jan/16/vevcani-carnival-in-pictures