English-language Prague and Czech political, civic and cultural news.
Chronological file / page 09
Ahead of January 26 marches, organizers connected to Blak Caucus said “Invasion Day” is for Indigenous mourning and sovereignty, warning against outside groups turning it into a platform for unrelated international politics. Police confirmed Sydney’s rally route through Hyde Park despite restrictions elsewhere.
↗British police said 86 people were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass after demonstrators entered prison grounds at HMP Wormwood Scrubs in west London. The protest was held in support of a Palestine Action-linked activist on hunger strike, authorities said.
↗U.S. stock futures were nearly flat Monday as investors looked ahead to a packed week of Big Tech earnings and a Federal Reserve rate decision. Safe-haven demand pushed gold futures past $5,000 an ounce, while a sweeping winter storm triggered widespread flight cancellations and renewed concerns about consumer disruption.
↗Protests intensified in Minneapolis after federal immigration agents shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse, during demonstrations tied to the administration’s immigration crackdown. The incident has fueled demands for investigations and accountability, with national political fallout building around the operation.
↗The U.S. government’s proposed investment in USA Rare Earth underscores how critical minerals have become a central technology and national-security issue. Rare earth elements feed everything from smartphones and robotics to electric vehicles and advanced defense systems, and policymakers are increasingly using finance tools to expand domestic capacity.
↗The American Academy of Pediatrics released its 2026 immunization schedule, continuing to recommend routine vaccination against 18 diseases for children and adolescents. The guidance diverges from a revised CDC schedule that recommends fewer universally recommended vaccines, a split that is fueling debate among clinicians, parents, and policymakers.
↗The United States announced a 232-athlete roster for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, featuring a blend of returning medalists and first-time Olympians. Several athletes are set for fifth Olympic appearances, while the geographically spread Games will begin competition before the February opening ceremony.
↗The Trump administration, via the Commerce Department, said it will take a minority stake in USA Rare Earth as part of a proposed $1.6 billion package to support a rare earth project in Texas and magnet manufacturing in Oklahoma. The move is aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on China for critical minerals and components used in high-tech and defense supply chains.
↗Israel confirmed it recovered and identified the remains of Rani Gvili, described as the last hostage held in Gaza from the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. The development closes a long-running chapter in the hostage crisis and comes as mediators press Israel and Hamas to proceed with the second stage of a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The return of the final hostage remains is expected to remove a key obstacle to steps such as limited reopening arrangements at the Rafah crossing and broader implementation measures.
↗The Commerce Department’s CHIPS Program Office announced a non-binding letter of intent to support USA Rare Earth with up to $277 million in direct funding and up to $1.3 billion in a senior secured loan. The plan targets a vertically integrated domestic supply chain for critical minerals and neodymium iron boron magnets used across advanced manufacturing, including parts of the semiconductor ecosystem. The proposed funding would support projects in Texas and Oklahoma, with commercial mining targeted for 2028 and expanded magnet output planned in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
↗The U.S. Commerce Department is investing in USA Rare Earth through a proposed $1.6 billion package that includes $277 million in direct funding and a $1.3 billion senior secured loan, in exchange for an equity stake and warrants. The move is part of a broader effort to reduce dependence on China for rare-earth processing and strengthen domestic supply chains for manufacturing and national security. USA Rare Earth plans projects in Texas and Oklahoma to support a vertically integrated path from mining to magnet production.
↗U.S. stock futures were little changed heading into a packed week that includes major tech earnings and a Federal Reserve rate decision. Investors pushed gold to fresh highs above $5,000 an ounce as geopolitical and policy uncertainty lingered, while a sweeping winter storm triggered thousands of flight cancellations across major East Coast hubs. Meanwhile, renewed tariff rhetoric toward Canada added another layer of risk for markets already on edge.
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