Workers urge Target and US companies to speak up over ICE raids

Target and mega Minnesota businesses are facing rising discontent from staff as workers fear Trump admin immigration crackdown put them at risk on job.

Employees are pushing firms to provide clearer guidance about how to reply if Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrive at their worksites and asking them to do more limit agents access to stores and parking lots.

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The pressure have been acute at Target a national name and one of state flagship employers after detention of two workers inside one of its suburban Minneapolis stores last month.

 

In aftermath more than 300 staff signed internal letter seen by BBC urging executive to speak up and take steps to keep ICE officers of Trarget properties.

At one restaurant run by Minneapolis restaurant group frustration about how executives were handling the issue prompted staff to go on strike for three days in late january.

Target

Donald Trump

She said The call from employers need to be stronger because they are impacted too economically.

The Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha A Twin cities worker center is campaigning for DR Horton America mega Home builder and other large housing developers to speak up.

The muted reply from Target which is headquartered in Minneapolis and has long been corporate leader in states had drawn particular scrutiny.

It has said challenges at firm which has struggled to navigate political controversies related to its diversity equity and inclusion DEI practices and LGBTQ merchandise.

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Target is Minnesota leading corporate citizen said Ulla nilsen.

As a corporate citizen are you going to stay silent and allow our democracy to be completely destroyed?

Five people who worked at Target past month most of whom spoke to BBC on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation described growing frustration among staff spared by ICE reply.

 

US must be prudent when supplying arms to Taiwan Xi tells Trump

China leader Xi Jinping has call Taiwan the most important issue in China US relations during cell call with US President Donald Trump.

Xi told Trump to be prudent when supplying weapons to the island state media said adding that he attach great importance to ties with Washington and hope that both side would find ways to resolve differences.

Taiwan

USA President Donald Trump and Iran Presiden Ayatollah Khameni

Trump cast Wednesday call as excellent and long and thorough.

The call followed a flurry of visit by Western leaders consisting of UK PM Sir Keir Starmer to China in latest months hoping to reset relation with world second largest economy.

Trump and Xi last spoke in November when the China president invited his counterpart to visit.

Relation between two countries improved steadily in last few months following last year tariff war and fight over chips and rare earths.

 

These remain key points tension appear to have ebbed since the two leaders met in person in South Korea in October and stuck deal which saw both sides de escalating on few tariffs and rare earth export controls.

Negotiators from countries agreed on framework for deal on soybeans where china would lift ban on import from US and deal on TikTok which was finalised past month.

Russian media said Putin accepted Xi invitation to visit China in first half of the year.

Xi calls with two leaders have been characterized by China state media as clear sign to rest of world that China will remain a response and rational world power.

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A Chinese daily editorial said the calls showed that China would continue to act as stabilising force at time when confrontation and unilateralism are on rise.

Beijing is shouldering its reply working together with mega stakeholders to contribute to world peace and growth through responsible major country diplomacy.

In doing so China is showing other mega players on world stage the importance of refocusing on dialogue and coordination the China daily editorial said.

Trump and Xi spoke in last November when China president invited his US counterpart to visit.

Relation between two countries improved in past few months following last year tariff war and battle over chips.

Trump himself is due to visit China in April a trip he said he very much looked forward to.

He said that Beijing was considering purchasing over 20 million tonnes of US soybeans up from current 12 million tonnes.

 

The relation between China and my personal relationship with President Xi is extremely good one and we both realize how important it is to keep that way he wrote in Truth Social post.

Taiwan and Soybeans Trump and Xi discuss Russia war in Ukraine with current situation in Iran and China purchase of oil and gas from US the US president wrote.

In December the Trump admin announced a huge arm sale worth around $11 bn to Taiwan which consist of advance rocket launchers self propelled howitzers and multiple missiles.

Beijing said the time that this attempt to support Taiwan independence would only accelerate the push toward a dangerous and violent situation across the Taiwan strait.

Just as the US has its concerns China for its part has concerns. Xi Told trump on Wednesday.

If two sides work in same direction in spirit of respect equality and mutual advantage we can find ways to address each other worries.

On Thursday Taiwan leader Lai Ching te told media relation with US remained rock solid and that all ongoing cooperation projects are continuing.

On Taiwan Xi said the self governed island was China territory and that Beijing must safeguard  sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Us must handle issue of arms sales to Taiwan with prudence.

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