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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston says Trump’s mass migrant deportations will create ‘Tiananmen Square moment’

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston says Trump’s mass migrant deportations will create ‘Tiananmen Square moment’

Democratic Denver Mayor Mike Johnston pledged to resist President-elect Trump’s proposed immigration policies, invoking China’s infamous Tiananmen Square incident by saying residents would rise up against federal agents. Johnston emphasized Denver’s commitment to protecting illegal migrants and maintaining its sanctuary city status, saying it would not be “bullied” by the incoming Trump administration. “We’re not going to sell out those values to anyone,” Johnston told the Denverite in an interview. “We’re not going to be bullied into changing them.” ‘SANCTUARY’ CITY MAYOR VOWS SHE WILL DEFY TRUMP’S MASS DEPORTATION PUSH: ‘CAUSING WIDESPREAD FEAR’  Johnston predicted a “Tiananmen Square moment” if federal immigration officials attempted to do their job. “More than us having DPD stationed at the county line to keep them out, you would have 50,000 Denverites there,” Johnston told the local outlet. “It’s like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right? You’d have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants. “And you do not want to mess with them.” WATCH: The Democratic mayor’s remarks came after Trump campaigned, in part, on enforcing stringent immigration laws and deporting migrants and reflect a trend by state and local officials saying they’ll reject the president-elect’s policies. In Illinois, Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker promised to uphold sanctuary status, boldly declaring, “If you come for my people, you come through me.” TRUMP CONFIRMS SUPPORT FOR MAJOR STEP IN MASS DEPORTATION PUSH TO ‘REVERSE THE BIDEN INVASION’ In Los Angeles, Democratic Mayor Karen Bass was instrumental in passing a local ordinance limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.  “Especially in the face of growing threats to the immigrant communities here in Los Angeles, I stand with the people of this city,” Bass said. “This moment demands urgency. Immigrant protections make our communities stronger and our city better.” CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS Trump has vowed to initiate deportation efforts on his first day back in office, recently saying he would be open to declaring a national emergency and using the military to make it happen. Trump’s commitment to closing the border was cemented by his pick of “border czar,” Tom Homan.  “If you don’t want to work with us, then get the hell out all the way. We’re going to do it,’ Homan recently said.

Can Colombia’s talks with the Comuneros del Sur help achieve ‘total peace’?

Can Colombia’s talks with the Comuneros del Sur help achieve ‘total peace’?

For Gómez-Suárez, if Colombia’s conflict is regional, then the solution should be too. He draws a contrast between his approach to the Comuneros and the way the Colombian government previously negotiated peace with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), once the largest rebel group in the country. In 2016, under then-President Juan Manuel Santos, Colombia signed a historic peace deal with the FARC that promised rural reforms and development in exchange for the nationwide demobilisation of the group’s fighters. The negotiations that led up to the deal, however, were fraught — and some parts of the FARC splintered off into dissident groups rather than agree to the terms. Gómez-Suárez argued his region-specific approach could be more efficient. “With previous agreements, namely that with the FARC guerrillas, there was this idea that nothing is set until everything is agreed, which implied that the parties would only begin implementation after a final document was signed,” Gómez-Suárez said. “Our case is impressive because sometimes we have even implemented before agreements are formally reached.” Mama Dina, an Indigenous spiritual leader, leads a ceremony as negotiators from the government and the Comuneros del Sur meet [Carlos Saavedra/Al Jazeera] He pointed out that the Comuneros proposed a unilateral ceasefire even before their first meeting with the government’s delegates, as a sign of good faith. Since then, the parties have signed two agreements and plan to begin the Comuneros’ transition to civilian life before the next presidential elections in 2026. The first agreement comprises four points, including a definitive bilateral ceasefire, the gradual destruction of the group’s weapons and a collaborative programme to remove land mines throughout Nariño. The second establishes safety guarantees for the Red Cross, a humanitarian nonprofit, to operate in the Comuneros’ territory. In addition, the deal calls for the creation of a team composed of Comuneros members who will be trained and tasked with searching for people who have gone missing during the conflict. In return, the government has pledged funding for constructing roads, aqueducts, schools and universities in the territory, to help address poverty and infrastructure shortcomings in Nariño. Adblock test (Why?)

All to know about Man Utd’s manager Ruben Amorim before first EPL match

All to know about Man Utd’s manager Ruben Amorim before first EPL match

Manchester United’s new manager Ruben Amorim takes charge of his first game on Sunday when he leads his side to Ipswich Town in the Premier League. The 39-year-old Portuguese coach and former player was announced as Erik ten Hag’s replacement at the helm of the fallen giants this month. Al Jazeera takes a look at five things you need to know about Amorim before his debut: 1. The new ‘Special One’? The latest Portuguese managing sensation to be dubbed “the new Mourinho” – after former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho – Amorim arrives with quite the reputation as a coach even in his fledgling career.  Amorim established himself as one of the most sought-after young coaches in world football at Sporting Lisbon, but his challenge in Manchester is of a different magnitude. The coach, who won two league titles at Sporting, follows the path from Portugal to the Premier League taken a generation ago by Mourinho, then the shining young managerial star, who swapped Porto for Chelsea while naming himself the “Special One”. Amorim will, however, be expected to do something that even Mourinho did not manage during his subsequent stint at United – win the club’s first Premier League title since the trophy-filled days of Alex Ferguson ended in 2013. Amorim has described Mourinho as a role model. He spent a short internship with his compatriot when Mourinho was managing United from 2016 to 2018. He arrives at Old Trafford two years younger than Mourinho was when he took over a Chelsea side that won two Premier League titles in his first two seasons at the helm. Other coaches have come from Portugal with big reputations, but not all have succeeded. Andre Villas-Boas failed to live up to expectations after swapping Porto for Chelsea in 2011. He too was burdened with the same nickname as Mourinho gave himself. But everything about Amorim, who was also linked to the manager’s job at Liverpool this year, suggests he could be something special. Ruben Amorim, left, led Sporting Lisbon against Jose Mourinho’s Roma in a preseason friendly in 2022 [Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images] 2. The Amorim effect as a manager Amorim started his managerial career in 2018 with a short stint at the Lisbon club Casa Pia, then in the Portuguese third tier. He was appointed reserve team manager at Braga the following year and just three months later was promoted to first team boss. Eye-catching success at the top-flight club, including a shock League Cup final win over Porto, was enough to convince Sporting to pay his release clause in 2020, and he delivered immediately, leading the Lisbon club to their first Primeira Liga title in 19 years in his first full season with the loss of just one game. He also won the League Cup, defeating his former club Braga in the final. The club reached the Champions League last 16 the following season and the Europa League quarterfinals in the 2022-2023 campaign. He won a second Portuguese title last season to further burnish his reputation. He leaves Sporting sitting top of the league and second in the Champions League after thumping Manchester City 4-1 in Amorim’s last home game as coach. A dramatic fightback from two goals down, reminiscent of the United of old, was staged in his final Primeira Liga match as a 4-2 win was secured at Braga – maintaining Sporting’s 100 percent record for the season. Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola, right, congratulates Ruben Amorim of Sporting after the Champions League match on November 5, 2024 [Eric Verhoeven/Getty Images] 3. Amorim’s journey as a player Born in Lisbon, Amorim was a hard-working midfielder who spent the bulk of his playing career at Benfica, where he won a domestic treble in 2013-2014. He won 14 caps for Portugal, appearing at two World Cups, but ended his playing days at the age of 32 after a loan spell in Qatar with Al-Wakrah. He also enjoyed a loan spell with Braga during his formative years at Benfica, who he joined in 2009 and would go on to win three league titles with. The pinnacle of his playing career, having been a Portuguese youth international at all age levels from under-18s in 2003, was undoubtedly his appearances at the World Cups in South Africa in 2010 and 2014. Although mostly a squad player for his international career, which spanned more than five years, Amorim gained crucial experience as part of the set-up – and lined up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo throughout his own Portugal days. But more on that in a moment. Ruben Amorim, sixth from left, lines up with Cristiano Ronaldo, right, at the 2014 World Cup [Marius Becker/picture alliance via Getty Images] 4. Amorim will do it his way – starting with three at the back The Portuguese coach must hit the ground running with United struggling in the English top flight after just three wins in their opening nine games this season and sitting 14th in the table. United spent about 757 million pounds ($955m) on new players for ten Hag, who led them to one FA Cup and one League Cup. These are luxuries that Amorim will not enjoy in the short term as January’s transfer window will come too soon for the new manager to seal any sizeable signings. Few happen midseason anyway. Instead, it will be Amorim’s approach on the field that will be of most interest. There is little secret that he prefers a three-man defence with two wingbacks, two central midfielders and then two forwards supporting the striker. United’s current squad makeup does not lean towards these positions, particularly in attack, where wingers have been the order of the day for United since the days of George Best through to Ronaldo. One player that may enjoy a revival under Amorim, though, is his former teammate at Benfica, Victor Lindelof. (The pair also played alongside former United midfielder Nemanja Matic in that time.) The Swedish defender has failed to nail