Protesters took to the streets in Minneapolis on Friday, 30 January, joined by student walkouts across the United States, demanding the withdrawal of federal immigration agents after two U.S. citizens were fatally shot in the city.
The demonstrations came amid controversy over President Donald Trump’s Operation Metro Surge, which deployed 3,000 federal officers—five times the size of the Minneapolis Police Department—to patrol the streets in tactical gear.
Protesters braved sub‑freezing temperatures in downtown Minneapolis, with families, elderly residents and young activists calling for an end to the aggressive tactics of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Teachers and school staff also joined demonstrations near the sites of the shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, while rock star Bruce Springsteen performed at a fundraiser for the victims, debuting his song Streets of Minneapolis.
Organisers reported around 250 nationwide protests in 46 states, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, under the slogan: “No work. No school. No shopping. Stop funding ICE.”
The federal response has drawn criticism. Acting FBI chief of the Minneapolis field office, Jarrad Smith, was reassigned to headquarters, while former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested for protesting inside a St. Paul church.
An internal ICE memo reportedly expanded agents’ authority to arrest without a warrant, prompting further backlash.
Viral videos of heavily armed ICE agents have driven approval of Trump’s immigration policy to the lowest level of his second term, according to a Reuters poll.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called for a full drawdown of federal forces, while Trump signalled only a limited de‑escalation, insisting his officers would continue operations.
Nationwide, schools from Aurora, Colorado, to Brooklyn, New York, saw walkouts and cancelled classes, as students carried signs denouncing ICE and the federal operation.
At DePaul University in Chicago, protesters declared their campus a “sanctuary” and condemned federal tactics as “fascist.”
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Melania, the new documentary about the U.S. First Lady Melania Trump that premiered Thursday, is drawing sharply contrasting reactions. Professional critics have slammed the film, giving it a 8% on Rotten Tomatoes, while ordinary viewers have embraced it, with audience ratings currently at 99%.
U.S., Israeli and European leaders exploited Iran’s economic problems and encouraged unrest during recent nationwide protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday (31 January).
The United Nations faces the risk of “imminent financial collapse” because of unpaid contributions, including substantial arrears from the United States, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned.
The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday made public more than three million pages of documents on Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender, including investigative records referencing U.S. President Donald Trump, tech mogul Elon Musk and Britain’s former Duke of York.
Catherine O’Hara, the celebrated Canadian actress and comedy legend, has died at the age of 71, her publicist confirmed on Friday. She passed away at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.
The Kremlin said on Friday (30 January) that Russian President had received a personal request from his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump. The request was to halt strikes on Kyiv until 1 February to create a favourable environment for peace negotiations.
Bangladesh and Pakistan on Thursday (29 January) resumed direct flight services after 14 years, marking a milestone in the revival of relations between the two Muslim-majority nations.
Iran’s armed forces are prepared to “immediately and powerfully” respond to any U.S. attack, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said, as American military assets arrived in the Middle East amid renewed tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.
“The decision is made that the Qamishli air base is not needed anymore,” political analyst Dmitry Bridzhe said, as Russia begins withdrawing forces from its facility in northeastern Syria amid shifts in the country’s political and security landscape.
The United Nations faces the risk of “imminent financial collapse” because of unpaid contributions, including substantial arrears from the United States, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned.
The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday made public more than three million pages of documents on Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender, including investigative records referencing U.S. President Donald Trump, tech mogul Elon Musk and Britain’s former Duke of York.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 30th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The U.S. State Department has approved potential foreign military sales to Israel worth about $6.52 billion, the Pentagon said on Friday.
Vladimir Putin said Russia earned more than $15 billion from defence exports in 2025 and fulfilled all military-technical contracts despite what he described as growing pressure from Western countries.
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