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Chapter 1: What recent claims did President Trump make about executions in Iran?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump says he's been told on good authority that executions in Iran have stopped, even as Tehran has signaled fast trials and executions ahead in its crackdown on protesters.
We have been informed by very important sources on the other side, and they've said the killing has stopped and the executions won't take place. There were supposed to be a lot of executions today and that the executions won't take place, and we're going to find out.
He provided few details to support the claim. It comes after he told protesting Iranians in recent days that, quote, help is on the way, but it's unclear what he meant by that. The State Department says it will stop immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries who are deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the U.S. The countries include Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and Somalia.
The suspension begins January 21st and will not apply to applicants seeking tourist or business visas. The department says it's, quote, bringing an end to the abuse of America's immigration system. There has been no court decision yet on Minnesota's request to stop President Trump's immigration crackdown. A federal judge gave the Trump administration until Monday to respond.
Meanwhile, federal agents continue to pull people from cars and confront angry bystanders in the state's largest cities. NPR's Sergio Martinez Beltran has been witnessing arrests.
In the city of Minneapolis, it's impossible to miss federal immigration agents. They are everywhere. The immigration enforcement operations include arresting people in the streets. NPR was able to witness multiple of those arrests today, including one at a bus stop. The arrests tend to happen pretty quick. Agents jump off their unmarked vehicles with their faces covered.
They surround an individual for questioning. If the person cannot prove they are in the U.S. legally, they are arrested. Minneapolis has been on edge since the shooting of Rene Good last week by a nice agent.
On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security shared on social media an old interview where Stephen Miller, the White House's deputy chief of staff for policy, said immigration agents have federal immunity while performing their duty. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News, Minneapolis.
FBI agents searched a Washington Post reporter's home early today. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports the search was part of a government investigation into a possible leak of classified information.
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Chapter 2: What changes is the State Department making to immigrant visas?
Cities like New York are warning that the outage may disrupt 911 calls, urging residents to use landlines or other carriers if possible. Israel says it is not allowing the Palestinian government and the West Bank to install 4G phone service. NPR's Emily Fang reports much of the occupied territory has been using slower systems.
Israel's communications ministry told NPR in a statement it has not allocated frequencies for 4G networks to the Palestinian Authority, which governs much of the West Bank, meaning they will not be able to upgrade their phone service networks.
The West Bank has been trying to get 4G for years, but negotiations to get approval from Israel have foundered ever since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. In Gaza, another Palestinian territory, most people only have access to an even older and slower standard, 2G. And when the winter weather turns windy and rainy, as it has been in Gaza this past week, people can lose signal entirely.
Emily Fang and PR News Tel Aviv.
Luxury retailer Saks Global has filed for bankruptcy after obtaining about $1.75 billion in financing commitments. The company's top executive stepped down earlier this month as it struggled with debt it took on for its acquisition of Neiman Marcus in 2024. It's facing increasing competition as customers have balked against price hikes. This is NPR News from Washington.
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