International

Kremlin says US ‘escalating tensions’ by putting troops on alert

AFP

The Kremlin on Tuesday accused the United States of escalating tensions over Ukraine by putting 8,500 troops on alert.

“The United States is escalating tensions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

“We are watching these US actions with great concern.”

The Pentagon said Monday that a force of up to 8,500 US troops was on “heightened alert” for potential deployment to reinforce any activation of the NATO Response Force in response to the Ukraine crisis.

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Russia has massed 100,000 troops close to the Ukrainian border, raising fears it plans to invade its pro-Western neighbour and prompting warnings from the West.

Peskov also confirmed that President Vladimir Putin would speak to French leader Emmanuel Macron by the end of the week.

The French government announced that Russian and Ukrainian officials would meet, along with French and German counterparts, in Paris on Wednesday to try to find a way out of the impasse.

International

Severe winter storm grips U.S., leaves multiple dead as extreme cold persists

Meteorologists are describing the storm as one of the worst winter weather events to hit the United States in decades, as heavy snowfall and widespread ice accumulation triggered potentially “catastrophic” conditions, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The agency warned that similar conditions are expected to persist through Monday morning, with freezing temperatures and icy conditions likely to last for several days.

In Texas, authorities confirmed three deaths, including a 16-year-old girl who died in a sledding accident.

Meanwhile, two people died from hypothermia in Louisiana, according to the state’s Department of Health.

In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that five people were found dead outdoors over the weekend amid frigid temperatures. Although he did not confirm that the deaths were directly related to the weather, he told reporters: “There is no more powerful reminder of the danger of extreme cold.”

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“The impacts of snow and sleet will persist well into next week, with repeated refreezing keeping surfaces icy and dangerous for both driving and walking,” the NWS said.

International

France debates ban on social media for children under 15

French lawmakers are set to decide this Monday whether to ban social media access for children under the age of 15, a measure aimed at protecting adolescents’ mental health and combating cyberbullying.

The proposed legislation also includes a ban on mobile phone use in high schools, and comes shortly after Australia introduced a similar restriction in December, becoming the first country in the world to prohibit social media for minors under 16.

“The emotions of our children and teenagers are not for sale, nor should they be manipulated by American platforms or Chinese algorithms,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a video published on Saturday.

The centrist president has made the protection of minors from the harmful effects of social media and the regulation of screen time a key priority of his second term, which ends in 2027.

At 4:00 p.m. local time (15:00 GMT), members of the National Assembly are scheduled to debate the bill introduced by Macron’s ruling party, Renaissance. If approved, the proposal will move to the Senate for consideration in mid-February.

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The leader of the ruling party’s lawmakers and former prime minister, Gabriel Attal, expressed confidence that senators would also back the measure, which would take effect on September 1, following the summer holidays.

“France could become a pioneer in Europe within a month. We can change the lives of our young people and their families,” Attal said, adding that the country would gain greater independence from “certain powers” that seek to “colonize minds.”

France’s public health agency Anses has warned that social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram, which are deeply embedded in teenagers’ daily lives, can have a detrimental impact on mental health.

The agency highlighted multiple risks, including cyberbullying, constant social comparison, exposure to violent content, and attention-capture mechanisms that negatively affect sleep patterns.

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International

Federal immigration agents kill man in Minneapolis, sparking protests and outrage

Federal immigration agents shot and killed a 37-year-old Minneapolis man during an operation on Saturday, authorities confirmed, sparking new protests and deepening outrage over federal immigration enforcement in the city.

The victim, identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, was a U.S. citizen and intensive care nurse who worked at a Veterans Affairs hospital and was widely respected in his community, according to colleagues and news reports.

Officials said the shooting occurred during a targeted immigration raid in south Minneapolis. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described the incident as an act of self-defense by agents who believed the man posed a threat.

However, videos reviewed by multiple outlets and eyewitnesses show Pretti holding a phone and not displaying a weapon before being pepper-sprayed, tackled by agents and then shot multiple times, raising serious questions about the official account.

The killing comes amid a broader federal immigration enforcement operation in the city and follows another controversial shooting in early January in which Renée Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by an ICE agent, leading to widespread protests and criticism of federal tactics.