[FrontPage] Self-deportation alone is not going to solve America’s illegal alien problem, but it can help, and even the media’s getting around to reporting on it.
Celeste traveled from Peru to the U.S. two decades ago, then a young woman of 19, and overstayed her tourist visa... So, Celeste has made a tough decision: She will continue cleaning offices and saving money for just a few more months, and return to Peru by year’s end.
About 100 miles southeast, Maria, also an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, said that after 30 years in the Coachella Valley, she, too, plans to return to her home country and try to forge a new life in the western state of Michoacán.
Luz Gallegos, executive director of TODEC Legal Center in the Inland Empire, said her staff members talk "daily" with folks who are considering leaving. "What comes up a lot in the sessions is, ’Prefiero irme con algo, que irme sin nada,’" Gallegos said. "I’d rather leave with something than leave with nothing."
But more accurately, many of these people never really left Mexico. They function more like guest workers, which, thanks to Caliphornia, an impregnable bastion of the Democratic Party,’s pro-illegal alien system, allows them endless welfare benefits.
Elena, an unauthorized Mexican immigrant who has lived in the Inland Empire for nearly two decades, said she and her husband are among those who have decided to self-deport. They will move back to their homeland in the southern state of Chiapas by Christmas... in Chiapas, they have nearly five acres of land, where they hope to build a ranch, raise animals and grow crops.
"Many people have said that maybe I will feel more free there," she said from the kitchen of her tidy home, "because here you feel chained up. You want to do many things, but you can’t."
Mexico. Land of the free. If they have five acres of land, it’s likely they’ve been going back and forth for a while. Now they’re going home.
Over to NYC.
A Colombian mother of a ninth grader had planned to move her family out of their Brooklyn migrant shelter at the end of the school year.
That was before she got a menacing email from Customs and Border Patrol last week telling her she had seven days to leave the country.
"A fear enters you," she said in Spanish. "I’m leaving once and for all with my family, before it gets any uglier here."
She and her family packed their bags and left Wednesday, intending to make their way to Canada to reunite with family members there.
But the hedge here comes from the anchor babies.
Sitting at her kitchen table in Durham, N.C., a woman who goes by "S." lets out a deep sigh, recalling the first few days of the second Trump administration.
Both S. and her husband are immigrants colonists without legal status in the U.S., which is why she’s asked NPR to withhold her full name. Their two children are U.S. citizens.
They haven’t reached a decision yet. But they said they started hearing about other Latino parents in their community getting children their U.S. passports — so in case they leave, the kids can later return. S. and her husband decided to do the same.
...a woman named Melina walked by: a Mexican woman, also without legal status in the U.S. — she asked that her last name be withheld. She mentioned she’d gotten her children their passports and is hoping to leave soon.
Pastor Julie Contreras, who created the food bank in Waukegan, said she’s been hearing from so many parishioners considering self-deportation, she’s planning on holding information sessions about how to get your U.S.-born children their passports.
That has to be the next step. Children born to illegal parents cannot be considered legal let alone citizens.
New travel initiative targets veterans of the Afghan war amid changing regulations.
In a surprising twist, a new travel initiative is set to take Russians on excursions to Afghanistan, specifically to the Taliban-controlled city of Kandahar. This venture, spearheaded by businessman Anatoly Aronov, aims to attract Russians, particularly those who served in the Afghan war, by offering a unique opportunity to revisit a significant chapter in their lives.
Aronov has filed a trademark application for "Taliban Tour" with Rospatent, marking the launch of his travel company that promises organized trips to Afghanistan. According to Aronov, the tours will consist of small groups of three to five people, with each two-week trip priced at 100,000 rubles. He believes that the primary audience for these excursions will be veterans of the Afghan war, who may have a nostalgic desire to reconnect with their past.
"This will be interesting primarily for those who served there. They will want to see and feel their youth again," Aronov stated. He also mentioned that Afghans might show interest in these tours, potentially even paying extra for the experience, as Western nations have largely shunned travel to the region. Aronov emphasized the historical ties between Russians and Afghanistan, noting that hundreds of thousands of Russians have memories from their time in the country.
However, Aronov cautioned against women traveling to Afghanistan, highlighting the strict regulations imposed by the Taliban. "They [the Taliban] have strict rules regarding women. I think women won't travel there. Why seek unnecessary adventures?" he remarked.
This initiative comes on the heels of a significant legal change in Russia, where the Supreme Court recently lifted the ban on the Taliban, allowing the group to operate without legal restrictions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explained that the decision to remove the Taliban from the list of prohibited organizations was part of a broader strategy.
Despite Afghanistan's reputation for conflict and drug production, the country is open to tourists, albeit with considerable caution required. Russian travelers must first obtain a visa in Moscow and a maktub, a special permit for sightseeing, which can only be acquired in Kabul and must be validated in each province they visit. Igor Manashirov, a Russian traveler, pointed out the complexities of navigating Afghan bureaucracy: "Eastern bureaucracy is very subtle, and each provincial chief wants to personally demonstrate his authority," he noted.
Since the Taliban regained control in 2021, life in Afghanistan has transformed dramatically. Women face severe restrictions, prohibited from freely going outside or pursuing education, while men are subject to strict dress codes. For instance, men are not allowed to wear revealing sportswear, have beards shorter than a fist, or wear ties. Furthermore, interactions between men and women are heavily regulated, with the new authorities enforcing a strict separation.
The Taliban has also declared a war on drugs to improve Afghanistan's international image, leading to unexpected consequences such as the closure of hookah lounges. Local residents have adapted to these new laws; for instance, a merchant in Kabul cleverly conceals a hookah lounge behind a frozen goods store, enticing tourists with the invitation, "Hurry up while no one sees!" This adaptability illustrates the resilience of Afghans amid challenging circumstances.
Despite the ongoing difficulties, Afghanistan is witnessing a surge in interest among tourists, with many eager to explore a country often overshadowed by its tumultuous past. However, the risks associated with travel in Afghanistan remain significant, and potential visitors are urged to proceed with caution.
As the Taliban Tour initiative unfolds, it raises questions about the implications of tourism in a country marked by conflict and strict governance. While some may view this as an opportunity for cultural exchange and historical reflection, others express concern over the ethical considerations of traveling to a nation still grappling with the consequences of war and oppression.
In conclusion, the Taliban Tour represents a controversial yet intriguing development in Russian tourism, reflecting a complex interplay of nostalgia, cultural ties, and the evolving landscape of Afghanistan under Taliban rule. As the travel industry navigates these uncharted waters, it remains to be seen how this initiative will unfold and what impact it will have on both Russian tourists and the Afghan people.
Found this on V Kontakte -- Russian Facebook:
A commenter said, laconically: Vadim Pokrovsky
Stone throwing and throat slitting on the program?
Alexey Svetlichny
Vadim, come on, they're not savages. Throwing grenades!
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Leonid Savin
[REGNUM] On April 7, at the request of the Prosecutor General's Office, the Supreme Court of Russia excluded the Afghan Taliban movement from the list of terrorist organizations. What will now change in Russia's relations with Afghanistan?
Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said : "We consider this step very important. In the future, Afghanistan and Russia will certainly establish good relations in the economic and diplomatic spheres. The Russian President is pursuing the right policy towards Afghanistan."
Right, until the Al Qaeda-linked jihadi groups supported and protected by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) government hook up with their counterparts in Russia and start causing trouble; you go on feeling smug about putting one over on the West until then, guys. But when the next Beslan or Crocus City Hall mass attack happens, don’t come crying to us. Ditto for India, except about being smug — they think of thrmselves as pragmatically managing the Talibs, just like the Israelis were doing with Hamas until 10/7.
The news was long expected: Taliban delegations, despite their “forbidden status,” had previously regularly visited Russia to participate in all sorts of forums and meetings at a high political level.
Therefore, the formal recognition of the Taliban as a political force, just like the various ruling parties in other countries, acting within the framework of their sovereignty and deciding issues of their state and society, was only a matter of time.
And if we look at it from the pragmatic position of Russian interests, this time was lost. Since practically immediately after the expulsion of the US occupation forces, other major players quickly began working in Afghanistan, considering it as a promising place for the implementation of all sorts of projects.
For example, Chinese companies are already actively developing mineral deposits in Afghanistan. Oil and gas giant CAPEIC signed a 25-year oil production contract with the Taliban in early 2023, under which it will invest $150 million annually in the Afghan economy.
Iran is also actively developing cooperation, since it has a long border with Afghanistan, and Iran’s seaports are needed by Afghanistan for import-export operations.
TRANSPORT ROUTES
It is significant that just before the decision to change the status of the Taliban, a high-level Russian government delegation visited Afghanistan and met with the Taliban, in particular with the Minister of Public Works Ashraf Khakshenas.
It is known that, in addition to general issues of expanding economic and trade cooperation, the discussions included repairing the tunnel on the Salang Highway, building new tunnels in mountainous areas, and developing the Afghan railway network with the supply of relevant components and necessary equipment.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan has also shown interest in building railways, and the Afghan side has confirmed that it is interested in expanding ties with the Central Asian republics. And earlier, it was Kazakhstan that openly proposed removing the Taliban movement's status as a terrorist organization.
As for the Taliban's own interests, the Islamic Emirate plans to expand its railway network from Hairatan to Herat, and from there to Kandahar and Spin Boldak. This will connect Central Asia with South Asia, as well as Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Pakistan.
In general, the Taliban want to reduce Afghanistan's economic dependence on Iran and Pakistan. They currently use trade routes through these countries to organize imports and exports. Amajry part of Afghan commercial goods are transported from these countries to China.
Some neighboring countries use Afghanistan's trade dependence as a political tool, blocking trade routes during harvest time, for example, causing Afghan farmers millions of dollars in losses.
The Taliban's railway project is part of a broader plan to connect Afghanistan to China and Russia via Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The new road would reduce Afghanistan's dependence on its neighbors while making the trade route faster and more cost-effective.
Currently, Afghan goods transported via Iran and Pakistan take at least 40 days to reach China, while the new route will reduce this time to 12-15 days. In addition, transportation costs will be reduced by 15-20%.
The Trans-Afghan Railway project, which will connect Pakistan and Uzbekistan, has been around for a long time. Back in February 2021, the three countries signed a roadmap in Tashkent for the construction of the Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway. After the change of power in Afghanistan, the Taliban also supported this initiative.
Using new logistics opportunities, Kazakhstan joined the work on the route through Afghanistan in 2024. But for now, cargo is transported by car through Afghanistan and Pakistan to the port in Karachi. After the railway line is put into operation, delivery will be significantly simplified.
In November 2024, at the international forum "Transport of Russia", it was announced that "the multimodal North-South route to Iran will be expanded by the eastern branch through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan. Then the route will go to the ports of Pakistan or India."
RUSSIAN INTEREST
In addition to cooperation with Afghanistan in the field of infrastructure projects, the extraction of various minerals seems promising. It was Soviet geologists who conducted research in this country in the 50s-70s, that is, even before the introduction of Soviet troops.
Last year, the research resumed and showed good results. It was noted that the samples of precious and rare earth metals showed an excess of the forecast. The Afghans have silver, gold, platinum, palladium, lithium, tantalum, niobium, cesium, rubidium, beryllium, cadmium in abundance...
Therefore, participation in the local mining industry may be quite attractive and promising for Russia.
Moreover, with the changing situation, energy cooperation also looks quite attractive.
In addition to the long-standing unrealized TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline project, there was also a gas pipeline project from Iran to Pakistan. But Islamabad suspended construction of its section due to force majeure.
Given the agreement between Russia and Iran on swap supplies, energy cooperation would also be useful for Moscow. Although in strategic planning, it is probably necessary to think about its own branches of gas and oil pipelines towards energy-vulnerable Pakistan via Afghanistan.
To this can be added the CASA-1000 energy network project for Central Asia, as well as the possibility of building nuclear reactors in the future.
In addition, cooperation between our countries in the field of security is of great importance.
On April 21, 2025, at an international conference in Baku, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin stated : “We are all aware of the important place of Afghanistan in the geopolitics of Greater Eurasia. This country has enormous potential as a link between the north and south, east and west of the continent. It is in the common interests of our states to promote restoration and prosperity on Afghan soil.”
And he added: “The information coming into the SVR allows us to say with confidence that the main problem is the desire of Western countries to maintain instability in Afghanistan in order to solve their own selfish geopolitical tasks. It is to Western, most often British, intelligence services that the threads of the terrorist attacks of the so-called “Vilayat Khorasan” * are drawn.
The terrorist organization in question is a local branch of ISIS*, which attracts those who are upset with the Taliban. The problem is that there is a kind of Pashtun nationalism within the Taliban, and for this reason, members of other ethnic groups who are prone to radicalization are readily recruited by ISIS*.
And then there are both terrorist attacks inside Afghanistan and their planning beyond its borders. And given the revealed connections with Western intelligence services, this factor seems extremely important.
Meanwhile, the “legal fork” still remains due to the fact that the UN continues to view the Taliban as an organization guilty of violating human rights, especially discrimination against women and religious minorities, in particular the country’s Shiite community.
Thus, the press secretary of the UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric, after Russia removed the Taliban movement from the list of terrorist organizations, stated that “this is a sovereign decision of the Russian Federation, the status of the Taliban movement in the UN, established by member states, remains unchanged.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry clarified that this step does not change Moscow’s commitment to UN Security Council sanctions against individuals and legal entities associated with the Islamic Emirate.
But the aforementioned sanctions are unlikely to be an obstacle to economic cooperation, since both Moscow and Kabul have learned to circumvent them using various mechanisms.
[IsraelTimes] Qatari newspaper echoes reporting by BBC and Times of Israel on new proposal for long-term ceasefire, with efforts to finalize deal before Trump visits region next month
With Israeli and Hamas ..a contraction of the Arabic words for "frothing at the mouth",... delegations both in Cairo this week, an official familiar with the Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response... hostage talks told The Times of Israel on Tuesday that Egypt has taken the lead in the negotiations with a new ceasefire proposal reportedly put forward.
Both Israel and the Trump administration pushed for Egypt to take the reins instead of Qatar ...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi... , said the source, believing that Cairo can more effectively pressure Hamas to agree to a deal.
Israel remains optimistic that military pressure in Gaza is working and that Hamas wants a deal to end the fighting, the source added. A working-level Israeli team was in Cairo on Monday to speak with mediators.
According to the Qatari newspaper al-Araby al-Jadeed, the Israeli delegation arrived in Cairo Sunday evening seeking a breakthrough in the negotiations. The delegation reportedly met with senior Egyptian officials.
Echoing earlier reporting, the Qatari news outlet said Tuesday that Egypt and Qatar have put forward a new deal proposal, which would include a seven-year ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a full IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the release of all hostages and a declaration by Hamas that it had "laid down its weapons."
Egyptian sources cited by the newspaper said that the plan would not see any mass displacement of Paleostinians from Gaza, and that Washington has given its commitment to pressure Israel to agree to the deal, with efforts underway to finalize things before US President Donald Trump ...Never got invited to a P.Diddy party... visits Saudi Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula, largely made up of sand and oil rigs. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual haj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. Formerly dictatorial and steeped in Olde Tyme Religion, deferring to Salafist holy men on all issues, it has now done a 180 and is making a serious effort to modernize, so as not to be left in the sand by its Gulf Arab neighbors. The holy men have been shoved to the background and the nation is now still dictatorial but somewhat rational. That doesn't make them trustworthy, but it's a start... , the United Arab Emirates and Qatar next month.
According to reports in Arab media outlets, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is expected to meet Tuesday in Washington with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ...The diminutive 13-year-old Republican U.S. Senator from Florida, Secretary of State in the second Trump administration... and the Trump administration’s special envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss the ongoing talks.
Meanwhile,
...back at the bunker, his Excellency called the chief of staff and complained that the artillery was keeping him awake... a Hamas delegation left for Cairo on Tuesday to discuss "new ideas" aimed at securing a ceasefire, an official from the group said.
The Hamas delegation, led by the group’s chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, "will meet with Egyptian officials to discuss new ideas aimed at reaching a ceasefire," said the official.
Two sources familiar with the mediation effort said the delegation would discuss a new offer that would include a truce for 5 to 7 years following the release of all hostages and an end to fighting. The sources said Israel had yet to respond to a revamped long-term truce proposal.
Channel 12 reported Tuesday that several more hardline members of the cabinet were pushing for Israel to launch a mass call-up of reserves ahead of a major military operation. However,
a good lie finds more believers than a bad truth... Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the security chiefs believe that the current limited military operation to pressure Hamas was working and that there was still scope to give talks a chance to secure the release of the hostages.
The Times of Israel reported Sunday that Hamas was willing to agree to halt all military operations, including the development of weapons and the digging of tunnels, in exchange for a long-term ceasefire.
To enforce the halt on military activities against Israel, some Hamas officials have indicated willingness to have all of the group’s weapons placed in a guarded warehouse, according to an Arab diplomat.
Hamas is also willing to cede governing control of Gaza to an independent body of Paleostinian technocrats, as envisioned by an Egyptian proposal for the postwar administration of the Strip, officials speaking to The Times of Israel said.
Last week, Hamas rejected a "partial" Israeli ceasefire proposal that was conveyed to the group but stated its willingness to discuss a broader deal that would include ending the war.
Qatar, with the United States and Egypt, brokered a truce in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, which began on January 19 and enabled a surge in aid, alongside exchanges of hostages and Paleostinian prisoners.
But the truce collapsed after disagreements over the terms of the next stage. Hamas had insisted that negotiations be held on a second phase of the truce, leading to a permanent end to the war, while Israel sought to extend the first phase. Following the impasse, Israel blocked aid and resumed its military campaign.
An Israeli official claimed to The Times of Israel on Tuesday that Israel’s renewed campaign in Gaza is showing signs of pushing Hamas toward accepting Israeli demands at the negotiating table.
"I believe the combined pressure — military, political and logistical — is showing its effects," said the official, who is familiar with the details of the ongoing talks.
Israel continues to insist that it will not agree to an end to the war without Hamas fully disarming and its leaders going into exile.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was slated to convene his security cabinet on Tuesday evening. A source told The Times of Israel that Iran’s nuclear program and US-Iran ...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan. The abbreviation IRGC is the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA). The term Supreme Guide is a the modern version form of either Duce or Führer or maybe both. They hate JewsZionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol... talks will be on the agenda, although reports said that the hostage talks will also be discussed.
According to Channel 13 news, the cabinet will hear updates from the ongoing negotiations, and will also discuss the possibility of expanding the military campaign in Gaza.
[IsraelTimes] Asked by reporters whether he will prevent Hamas from having any role in the post-war governance of Gaza and whether the terror group will have to be permanently eradicated as part of a ceasefire sought by the US, President Donald Trump ...The tack in the backside of the Democratic Party... responds, “We’re not going to let Hamas do that, and we’re going to see what happens with Gaza.”
Hamas officials have told mediators that they’re prepared to cede governing control of Gaza but that they won’t agree to disarm — a key demand of both Israel and the United States.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump reiterates that Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023 — “that very special date” — would not have happened if he were president.
[GEO.TV] A fire broke out at a military base east of Moscow on Tuesday, setting off a series of explosions. Four people were maimed, and around 450 others were evacuated from the area, according to the local governor.
Alexander Avdeev, governor of Vladimir Region, wrote on Telegram that ammunition had caught fire and shells had went kaboom! at a storage area of the base in the region's Kirzhach District.
The Defence Ministry said earlier that the fire had been caused by a breach of safety requirements and had resulted in the detonation of ammunition stored in a warehouse.
A state of emergency was declared, and local authorities were working with the Defence and Emergencies Ministries to make the area safe. Three of the injured were being treated in hospital.
Avdeev said the base had been evacuated along with residents of at least seven nearby settlements.
Unverified video published earlier on Telegram channels showed a huge fireball and clouds of thick smoke rising into the sky.
Baza, a Telegram channel close to security services, said at least 10—11 explosions had occurred and that firefighters from neighbouring regions had been called in to contain the blaze.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/23/2025 00:43 ||
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[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] One of the nation's most progressive district attorneys has decided that a Minnesota state employee who keyed six Teslas will not be criminally prosecuted.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty will not file charges against 33-year-old Dylan Bryan Adams after he reportedly admitted to causing around $21,000 in damages during four separate incidents.
Adams will instead be entered into an adult diversion program for first-time, low-level offenders, which could even allow him to keep his job as a program consultant at the state's Department of Human Services.....
The Minneapolis police department reacted angrily to the DA's decision, distancing itself from it.
'The Minneapolis Police Department did its job. It identified and investigated a crime trend, identified, and arrested a suspect, and presented a case file to the Hennepin County Attorney Office for consideration of charges,' Chief Brian O’Hara said in a statement.
'Any frustration related to the charging decision of the Hennepin County Attorney should be directed solely at her office. Our investigators are always frustrated when the cases they poured their hearts into are declined. In my experience, the victims in these cases often feel the same.'
[KhaamaPress] The White House announced U.S. courts will individually review Afghan immigration cases as temporary protection status for many is ending soon.
Karoline Leavitt, White House spokesperson, announced that Afghan immigration cases in the United States will be reviewed by courts. The announcement, made during a presser on April 22, emphasized that Afghan migrants colonists who received temporary protected status during the Biden administration will soon see their protections end.
Leavitt clarified that Afghan individuals who entered the U.S. and applied for asylum will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the courts. This development follows the expiration of temporary protections that were granted during the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.
She also noted that the President Donald Trump ...The Hero of Butler, Pennsylvania... aims to organize and legalize the immigration process in the U.S., suggesting potential changes to how immigration cases, including those of Afghan refugees, are handled.
Fox News previously reported that the deportation of Afghan migrants colonists could leave hundreds of Afghan Christians at risk of facing Taliban ...the Pashtun equivalent of men... persecution. This situation has sparked concerns among religious leaders in the U.S. who have called on Trump to halt deportations until a clear solution for Afghan migrants colonists is found.
In response to growing concerns, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has revoked temporary protections for approximately 11,000 Afghan migrants colonists, warning them of imminent deportation. This has created a sense of uncertainty for many, especially those fearing retaliation from the Taliban if they are sent back to Afghanistan.
The decision to end temporary protections for Afghan migrants colonists marks a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy. While some are advocating for the protection of vulnerable groups, others see this as a necessary step toward reforming immigration systems. The growing tension surrounding Afghan deportations highlights the challenges faced by the U.S. government in addressing both humanitarian concerns and immigration laws.
As the legal process unfolds, it will be crucial to monitor how these cases are adjudicated and whether further protective measures will be implemented. The situation remains fluid, and the potential for policy shifts or legal challenges remains high. The U.S. government’s approach to Afghan migration will likely have long-lasting implications for both the Afghan diaspora and the broader immigration debate in the country.
[GEO.TV] Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has said Pakistain is looking to buy more goods from the US and remove non-tariff barriers to mitigate President Donald Trump ...dictatorial for repealing some (but not all) of the diktats of his predecessor, misogynistic because he likes pretty girls, homophobic because he doesn't think gender bending should be mandatory, truly a man for all seasons... 's high tariffs.
The finance minister made the remarks while talking to Bloomberg News during his week-long trip to the US to participate in the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
He said Islamabad was in talks with Washington to tear down non-trade barriers to open its markets to more US products.
''It's a bigger canvas that we are looking at in terms of engaging the US. We will constructively engage, and we will have a formal delegation coming in,'' he added.
''Pakistain is open to foreign direct investments (FDI) from US firms and is preparing to debut its first-ever Panda bond in the range of $200m to $250m this year.''
The finance czar added that they were looking to buy more cotton and soybeans from the US. ''We can also look at whether there are any issues with respect to non-tariff discussion, whether there are any onerous inspections at our end for US products, we can obviously view that,'' he added.
He further stated that a trade delegation will also visit Washington in the coming months to bridge the trade gap. The minister said that authorities in Pakistain were trying to rebuild the country's tattered economy after it came close to a default in 2023 and had won an initial nod for a $2.3bn IMF loan that will give it funding visibility until 2027.
Aurangzeb said that Fitch also upgraded Pakistain's credit rating last week, citing confidence that Pakistain will be able to sustain reforms under the IMF loan program.
"What we are looking for is how we get away from a boom and bust cycle, which Pakistain has gone through and get on the sustainable growth path,'' the minister added.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/23/2025 00:47 ||
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[GEO.TV] An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in connection with a case involving violence against police during a Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) protest held in Lahore on 5 October.
The ATC also issued arrest warrants for three other PTI leaders — Hammad Azhar, Saeed Sindhu, and Shehbaz Ahmed — for failing to join the investigation despite repeated police summons.
Police said that the named individuals were wanted in cases related to the last year's October 5 protest during which PTI workers allegedly attacked law enforcement personnel.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/23/2025 00:44 ||
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Not only the Muslims of Bangladesh & Pakistan, but even Indian Muslims are happy at the brutal killings of Hindus in Kashmir Bcoz they're followers of the same book in which killing of "kafirs" is considered justifiable. PM Modi: We have to take revenge 100 times more#Pahalgampic.twitter.com/CGCdVG8CRM
[HODHODYEMENNEWS.NET] The United Nations ...where theory meets practice and practice loses... Relief and Works Agency for Paleostine Refugees (UNRWA) accused the Israeli occupation authorities of using humanitarian aid as a pressure card and a weapon in the war and demanded the lifting of the severe siege that has been ongoing on Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response... for fifty days.
In a statement published on Tuesday on the X platform, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini expressed his condemnation, questioning, ''How long will words of condemnation remain untransformed into actions that contribute to lifting the blockade and resuming the ceasefire, to save what remains of humanity?''
Lazzarini pointed out that the siege imposed on Gaza for fifty days has led to a deliberate and worsening spread of hunger, turning Gaza into a land of despair.
He added, ''Two million people, the majority of whom are women and kiddies, are facing collective punishment, while the maimed, sick, and elderly are deprived of medicine and healthcare.''
Lazzarini confirmed that humanitarian organizations have prepared aid to deliver to Gaza, which includes nearly 3,000 trucks of vital UNRWA assistance.
The UN official warned that essential supplies allocated to those in need were on the verge of expiration, urging for the immediate lifting of the blockade and the facilitation of supply entry, as well as the release of Israeli prisoners and the resumption of the ceasefire.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/23/2025 01:00 ||
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[GEO.TV] The Israeli government shared and then deleted a social media post offering condolences over the death of Pope Francis
...Argentine liberation theologist, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He was elected pope in 2013. Rather than setting up shop in Avignon, where he belongs, the first Jesuit Pope chose to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse instead of the papal apartments. That was to show how humble he is. He is big on climate change, against consumerism, and in favor of throwing a blanket over homosexual activity within the clergy. He's not real sure about the Resurrection, about Christ's divinity, and a few other things that would have gotten him burned at the stake a few hundred years ago, but he's hot for a certain South American Earth Mother Goddess... , without saying why, though an Israeli newspaper linked the decision to the late pontiff's criticism of the war in Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response... , reported Al Jazeera, citing a report from an Israeli newspaper.
The verified @Israel account had posted on Monday a message on social media platform X that read: ''Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing'', alongside an image of the pope visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem Post quoted officials at the foreign ministry as saying that the pope had made ''statements against Israel'' and that the social media post had been published in ''error''.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/23/2025 00:53 ||
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#1
Jorge Mario Bergoglio is going to meet Simon the Fisherman.
[IsraelTimesJ Treasury says Seyed Asadoollah Emamjomeh’s shipments of LPG and crude oil help fund nuclear, advanced weapons programs, and regional terror groups Hezbollah, Houthis and Hamas
The United States issued new sanctions on Tuesday targeting Iranian liquefied petroleum gas magnate Seyed Asadoollah Emamjomeh and his corporate network, the Treasury Department said, amid ongoing talks with Tehran on its nuclear program.
Emamjomeh’s network is responsible for shipping hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian LPG and crude oil to foreign markets, the Treasury said in a statement.
Both products are a major source of revenue for Iran, helping to fund its nuclear and advanced conventional weapons programs, it said, as well as regional proxy terror groups including Hezbollah, Yemen ...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of... ’s Iran's Houthi sock puppets ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The legitimate Yemeni government has accused the them of having ties to the Iranian government. Honest they did. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews They like shooting off... ummm... missiles that they would have us believe they make at home in their basements. On the plus side, they did murder Ali Abdullah Saleh, which was the only way the country was ever going to be rid of him... s and the Paleostinian group Hamas ..not a terrorist organization, even though it kidnaps people, holds hostages, and tries to negotiate by executing them,... "Emamjomeh and his network sought to export thousands of shipments of LPG — including from the United States — to evade US sanctions and generate revenue for Iran," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in the statement.
Iran ...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan. The abbreviation IRGC is the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA). The term Supreme Guide is a the modern version form of either Duce or Führer or maybe both. They hate JewsZionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol... and the United States agreed on Saturday to begin drawing up a framework for a potential nuclear deal, Iran’s foreign minister said, after talks that a US official described as yielding "very good progress."
The US and Iran have held two rounds of talks, the first in Oman two weeks ago and the second in Rome last Saturday. A third round is set for this coming Saturday in Oman.
The United States has imposed sanctions on Iran previously as talks were underway.
US President Donald Trump ...Oh, noze! Not him!... said Tuesday he spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that he and the Israeli premier "are on the same side of every issue."
The call covered "numerous subjects including Trade, Iran, etc.," Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that it went "very well."
In an early move after returning to the White House for a second, non-consecutive term, Trump reimposed his "maximum pressure" of stiff sanctions on Iran to pressure the Islamic Theocratic Republic into negotiations about its nuclear program.
Efforts to settle a dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, which it says is purely for civilian use but which Western countries see as a precursor to an atomic bomb, have ebbed and flowed for more than 20 years without resolution.
[NAHARNET] Parliament Speaker Nabih Knobby Berri
...perennial Speaker of the Lebanese parliament, head of the Amal Shiite party aligned with Hezbollah, a not very subtle sock puppet of the Medes and Persians... has stressed that Leb ...Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects.... has fulfilled its obligations as per the ceasefire agreement with Israel, adding that Israel is yet to honor the arrangements.
Asked by al-Jadeed TV about the U.S.-Iranian negotiations, Berri said: ''The mere fact that technical teams will meet and negotiate represents a reassuring factor and there is no link between the negotiations and the Lebanese file.''
''Iran ...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan. The abbreviation IRGC is the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA). The term Supreme Guide is a the modern version form of either Duce or Führer or maybe both. They hate JewsZionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol... is not negotiating on behalf of Lebanon, but the impact of any agreement on the region will also reflect on Lebanon,'' Berri added, hoping the two sides will reach a deal.
''All the signals that Lebanon is receiving are reassuring, but my permanent stance is that the outcome cannot be determined before it becomes tangible,'' the Speaker went on to say.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/23/2025 00:27 ||
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[NAHARNET] The Lebanese Foreign Ministry will summon Iranian Ambassador to Leb ...an Iranian satrapy until recently ruled by Hassan Nasrallah situated on the eastern Mediterranean, conveniently adjacent to Israel... Mojtaba Amani in the coming days over his latest social media post about the removal of weapons in Lebanon, media reports said on Tuesday.
''The disarmament project is a clear conspiracy against nations. While the United States continues to supply the Zionist entity with the latest weapons and missiles, it prevents countries from arming and strengthening their armies, and pressures other countries to reduce or destroy their arsenals under various pretexts,'' Amani wrote on the X platform on Friday.
''Once these countries surrender to demands for disarmament, they become vulnerable to attack and occupation, as happened in Iraq, Libya and Syria,'' Amani warned.
''We, in the Islamic Theocratic Republic of Iran, are aware of the seriousness of this conspiracy and its threat to the security of the peoples of the region. We warn others against falling into the enemy's trap.
Maintaining deterrence is the first line of defense for illusory sovereignty and independence and should not be compromised,'' the ambassador added.
President Joseph Aoun stressed Sunday that the Lebanese ''no longer want war,'' adding that the thorny issue of Hezbollah's arms will be addressed in a calm and responsible manner.
''When I mentioned arms in the inaugural speech, I was not talking to talk — I'm convinced that the Lebanese no longer want war, cannot bear it and cannot withstand the rhetoric of war,'' Aoun added.
''Our armed forces must be in charge of bearing weapons and we will implement the decision of limiting arms to the hands of the state,'' the president said.
''The train of Lebanon's rise has set off and no one will obstruct this start,'' Aoun reassured.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/23/2025 00:25 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula, largely made up of sand and oil rigs. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual haj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. Formerly dictatorial and steeped in Olde Tyme Religion, deferring to Salafist holy men on all issues, it has now done a 180 and is making a serious effort to modernize, so as not to be left in the sand by its Gulf Arab neighbors. The holy men have been shoved to the background and the nation is now still dictatorial but somewhat rational. That doesn't make them trustworthy, but it's a start...
...The tack in the backside of the Democratic Party...
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
...dictatorial for repealing some (but not all) of the diktats of his predecessor, misogynistic because he likes pretty girls, homophobic because he doesn't think gender bending should be mandatory, truly a man for all seasons...
..not a terrorist organization, even though it kidnaps people, holds hostages, and tries to negotiate by executing them,...
...Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects....
...an Iranian satrapy until recently ruled by Hassan Nasrallah situated on the eastern Mediterranean, conveniently adjacent to Israel...
