North America

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — A Florida man has been charged with human smuggling after the bodies of four people, including a baby and a teen, were found in Canada near the U.S. border in what authorities believe was a failed crossing attempt during a freezing blizzard.

Steve Shand, 47, was charged Thursday with human smuggling after seven Indian nationals were found in the U.S. and the discovery of the bodies, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Legislators are introducing competing proposals to do away with New Mexico’s tax on income from Social Security benefits as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham throws her political weight behind the idea in an election year.

About a dozen states tax Social Security benefits in some fashion. In New Mexico, personal income taxes apply to Social Security benefits while following federal rules for exempting lower-income residents. A full exemption applies to individuals earning up to $25,000 and joint tax filers earning up to $32,000.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A jury of 18 people who appeared mostly white was picked Thursday for the federal trial of three Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd’s killing, a case that the judge told potential jurors has “absolutely nothing” to do with race.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Short of an all-out invasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin could take less dramatic action in Ukraine that would vastly complicate a U.S. and allied response. He might carry out what President Joe Biden called a “minor incursion” — perhaps a cyberattack — leaving the U.S. and Europe divided on the type and severity of economic sanctions to impose on Moscow and ways to increase support for Kyiv.

20 Jan 2022; MEMO: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR, have called on the Israeli authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Amal Nakhleh, a seriously-ill Palestinian teenager who has been in Israeli detention without charge or trial for over a year.

Washington, Jan 21 (PTI) Top American lawmakers have urged the Joe Biden administration to initiate a litigation process at the World Trade Organization against India subsidising its farmers over half of the value of production for wheat.

US Wheat Associates, which has been aggressively pushing for such a move by the administration, has welcomed the letters by members of the Congress and Senate.

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 20 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Majid Takht Ravanchi, referred here yesterday, to the criminal acts of the Zionist regime in occupied Palestine, saying, UNSC must oblige Israel, to put an end to its systematic violations of human rights, in occupied Palestinian territories. 

The situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory continues to deteriorate, posing a threat to international peace and security. 

WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden said his administration is considering redesignating Yemen’s Houthi movement as an international terrorist organisation following drone and missile attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) claimed by the group.

His comment at a news conference came shortly after the Emirati Embassy tweeted that UAE Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba urged the Biden administration to restore the designation in response to Monday’s strikes on Abu Dhabi airport and a fuel depot.

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 20 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Majid Takht Ravanchi, referred here yesterday, to the criminal acts of the Zionist regime in occupied Palestine, saying, UNSC must oblige Israel, to put an end to its systematic violations of human rights, in occupied Palestinian territories. 

The situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory continues to deteriorate, posing a threat to international peace and security. 

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 20 (Reuters) - China delayed a U.S. bid to impose U.N. sanctions on five North Koreans on Thursday, diplomats said, a day after Pyongyang suggested it may resume tests of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.

The move by China came ahead of a closed-door U.N. Security Council meeting on North Korea later on Thursday -- the second in two weeks -- after Pyongyang fired tactical guided missiles on Monday.