Police say Vancouver attack was not terrorism
Police in Vancouver say they are confident that the Saturday night car attack on a crowd celebrating during a Filipino street festival was not a terrorist attack. At least eleven people were killed and 20 injured when the black SUV rammed into a crowd as the daylong street festival that had drawn 100,000 people was winding down. A 30-year old man was taken into custody as the driver of the vehicle. The scene in Vancouver was described as looking like a war zone with bodies all over the ground.
ICE conducts mass arrests in Florida
The acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, has confirmed that ICE agents working with local law enforcement in Florida conducted mass arrests of almost 800 immigrants over a four-day period. He said that state, local and municipal law enforcement officers in Florida were used along with federal agents. An estimated 230 law enforcement agencies in Florida have agreed to work with ICE. Lyons says that the Trump Administration plans to expand this type of operation nationwide.
Trump Administration arrests, deports U.S. citizens
The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups have blasted the Trump Administration for arresting, holding incommunicado and deporting U.S. citizens. The ACLU said that the ICE Field Office in New Orleans deported at least two families, including two mothers and their minor children – three of whom are U.S. citizens. The families had lived in the United States for years and had deep ties to their communities. The ACLU said that ICE held the families incommunicado, refusing or failing to respond to multiple attempts by attorneys and family members to contact them. The ACLU and other groups say what the Trump Administration has done is a shocking violation of human rights, illegal and an abuse of power.
Thousands go to Pope’s burial place
 Thousands of people filed past the tomb of Pope Francis at the Basilica of St. Mary Major when it was opened to the public yesterday. Among the visitors were the cardinals who are gathered in Rome for the conclave that will select a new pope. An estimated 250,000 people attended the funeral ceremony on Saturday. The popemobile was used to carry Pope Francis’ coffin from the Vatican to the Basilica. On Easter Sunday, the day before he died, Pope Francis rode in the popemobile to greet the crowd gathered at St. Peter’s Square.
Rubio says this week will be critical in Russia-Ukraine negotiations
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the NBC News program “Meet the Press” yesterday said that this will be a critical week regarding the possibility for ending the war that Russia started when it invaded Ukraine. Rubio said that there is no military solution and that both sides will have to make concessions to bring about peace. Rubio said that this coming week will be critical as the U.S. decides whether enough progress has been made for it to continue to act as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia.
Greenland and Denmark officials unite against Trump takeover threat
Denmark’s King Frederik begins a four-day visit to Greenland today after Greenland’s new Prime Minister Jens-Frederick Nielsen visited Denmark over the weekend. Nielsen said that Greenland and Denmark must stand together as never before in the wake of Donald Trump’s announced intention to try to buy or use military force to take over Greenland. Greenland and Denmark’s leaders have said that the country is not for sale. Denmark has controlled Greenland for the past three centuries.
