PolitEkon

Hungary New PM Rejects EU's Migrant Pact

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 03:52:00 +0000

Hungary’s Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar has vowed to strengthen his country’s borders, suggesting his defeat of EU‑sceptic Viktor Orbán will not lead to a policy shift toward Brussels on migration.

European leaders welcomed Magyar's achievement in ending the 16-year rule of Orbán. While Magyar has pledged to reengage with the EU, he said his government’s plans do not include implementing the EU’s new migration and asylum pact.

The pact, which comes into effect in June, overhauls the EU’s asylum and border rules, introducing faster screening, tougher returns and aims to redistribute responsibility for the cost and efforts of hosting migrants among member states.

Mentioning the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, Magyar said in a speech Wednesday that Hungary had a strict immigration policy and "it will not accept any pact". It would keep its southern border fence and "patch up the holes that are there now," he added.

"We really want to protect our country and Europe from illegal immigration," Magyar said, adding that the conservative Tisza party he leads "will pursue a strict illegal immigration policy."

Magyar’s victory in Hungary was greeted with relief across Europe but experts at the International Crisis Group say he had a low bar to clear regarding better coordination with the EU than his predecessor, given Orbán’s track record of blocking Brussels.

"A more EU-minded Budapest will certainly make things easier, but it is worth remembering that Magyar remains a skeptic of Ukrainian integration into the EU," Olga Oliker, the ICG's European Security director, told Newsweek.

Another Innocent Killed By An Illegal Alien

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:47:00 +0000

Another killing of a 15-year-old Missouri boy who begged for his life during a deadly ambush has fueled a wave of outrage, with Republican leaders pointing to the suspect’s illegal immigration status and demanding government officials support tougher border enforcement.

"Unfortunately, this is just the latest example of a Missourian killed by an illegal alien," Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said, calling for sweeping deportation efforts.

Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., said the killing underscores concerns about public safety, adding that "dangerous individuals who should not be here remain in our communities."

"Miles Young should still be alive. This is tragic," he wrote in a post on X. "Justice must be swift."

The backlash follows the arrest of Yefry Archaga-Elvir, 18, who is accused of luring Miles Young, 15, into a planned ambush before chasing him down and shooting him, according to court documents. The Honduran national is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action and is being held without bond on a federal immigration detainer.

A second suspect, Praize King, 18, is also charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the killing. At least one additional suspect, believed to be a juvenile, has not been publicly identified.

Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek called the killing "another Missouri family destroyed," saying the teen was "executed while begging for his life" and warning the case shows "exactly why we must cut off the incentives that keep illegals here."

He added that Missourians are "outraged" the suspect was in the state, arguing the crime "never would’ve happened" if he had not been in the country.

Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., said, "A Missouri teen begged for his life. He was killed by an ILLEGAL alien," adding, "Our children should NEVER fear murder on our streets."

Schmitt also questioned the broader response, asking, "Where are the protests for Miles Young? Where is the outrage when American sons and daughters are murdered by illegal aliens who have no business in our country?"

NY Law Forcing Nuns To Serve Trans Even If They Don't Want To

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:28:00 +0000

Catholic nuns who have spent more than a century caring for the dying poor women are suing New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, saying a new state law could force them to choose between their faith and their mission or face fines, loss of licensing and even jail time.

"We are consecrated religious Sisters and have one mission," Mother Marie Edward, O.P., told Fox News Digital in a statement. "It is to provide comfort and skilled care to persons dying of cancer who cannot afford nursing care. We do not take insurance or government funds or money from our patients or families. The care is totally free."

"We are supported by the goodness of our benefactors," she continued. "We do this without discriminating on the basis of race, religion, or sex. We do it because Jesus taught us that, when the least among us are sick, we should care for them, as if they were Christ himself."

Signed into law on 30 November 2023, the "Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, and people living with HIV long-term care facility residents' bill of rights" bans long-term care facilities and staff "from discriminating against any resident on the basis of a resident’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or HIV status," according to a press release from Hochul's office.

The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, who run Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne, New York, filed a lawsuit last 7 April against the law they say would require them to assign rooms by gender identity, not biological sex; allow access to opposite-sex bathrooms; allow expression, relationships and identity practices; use preferred pronouns; require staff training in gender ideology; and post a public notice stating compliance with the law.

Edward told Fox News Digital that "New York’s gender ideology mandates not only violate our Catholic values, they threaten our existence with fines, injunctions, license revocation, and even jail time. This is why we were forced to go to court to seek protection of our religious exercise and freedom of speech so that we can continue our ministry to the poor."

A press release from the Catholic Benefits Association said the New York State Department of Health sent the first in a series of "Dear Administrator" letters to the Hawthorne Dominicans' Rosary Hill Home, a 42-bed facility, on 18 March 2024.

The letters listed New York’s demands and included a training curriculum "requiring the sisters to align patient care and the training of their sisters and employees with the State’s gender ideology."

If the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne do not comply, they face fines up to US$ 2,000 per violation — rising to US$ 5,000 — court-ordered forced compliance, loss of licensing and up to one year in prison and fines up to US$ 10,000.

In their lawsuit, the sisters highlighted that during the four-year reporting period from 1 February 2022, through 31 January 2026, the New York State Department of Health had received "zero complaints" from Rosary Hill Home residents, compared with "more than 55,000 complaints against other nursing homes," and an average of 23 citations per facility during the same period.

In the press release, Sister Stella Mary, O.P., administrator of Rosary Hill Home, said, "Our foundress, Mother Alphonsa Hawthorne, charged us to serve those who are ‘to pass from one life to another’ and to ‘make them as comfortable and happy as if their own people had kept them and put them into the very best bedroom.’ We intend to continue honoring this sacred obligation but need relief from the Court to do so."

Fox News Digital reached out to Hochul's office for comment and was referred to a spokesperson at the New York State Department of Health who said, "While the Department does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation, the NYS Department of Health is committed to following state law, which provides nursing home residents certain rights protecting against discrimination including, but not limited to, gender identity or expression."

Another Illegal Alien Charged Of Murder

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:35:00 +0000

An illegal alien from Haiti has been charged with murder after officials say he repeatedly struck a woman with a hammer outside a convenience store in Florida last week, the latest immigration case thrust into the national spotlight by President Donald Trump.

Rolbert Joachin, 40, is in custody and accused by authorities of killing the woman, who has not been publicly identified, during an interaction at a gas station in Fort Myers on 2 April, according to court documents.

The attack was "targeted," and while the victim did not know Joachin, the two "had a previous encounter," a Fort Myers Police Department spokesperson told CNN in an email.

Joachin was taken into custody "after an extensive coordinated manhunt," Fort Myers Police Chief Jason Fields said at a news conference last 10 April.

The victim, whose name is being withheld by police due to Marsy’s Law, was working as a store clerk at the gas station, according to the court documents.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump shared shocking surveillance footage of the killing, calling it the result of immigration policies under former President Joe Biden and reiterated inflammatory rhetoric associating immigrants with crime. President Trump’s amplification of the video is the latest in a yearslong campaign to use certain killings as apparent evidence for stricter border enforcement.

"The video of her brutal slaying is one of the most vicious things you will ever see," Trump said in his post, referring to the suspect as an "animal" and criticizing humanitarian protections previously granted for Haitians.

Kelei Walker, the acting Miami field officer director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, described the attack as "a tragic moment and an awful time and an awful reason to come together" at the news conference.

Gruesome video of the interaction, also shared online by the Department of Homeland Security, shows a man repeatedly hitting the hood and sides of a car parked in the gas station’s parking lot with an object – an apparent hammer – in his hand.

A woman is seen exiting the store and approaching the man, appearing to speak to him, and the man turns and walks toward her, according to the video, which is then lightly blurred due to the graphic nature of the attack.

Joachin has been charged with murder, criminal mischief, and damage to property over US$ 1,000, a third-degree felony, according to the court documents.

CNN has reached out to Joachin’s lawyers. He’s being held without bond after a hearing in Lee County court and is scheduled to be arraigned on 4 May.

Obama Library Requires ID, But Dems Oppose Voter ID Laws

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 09:59:00 +0000

The Obama Presidential Center is facing a wave of backlash ahead of its opening, with critics blasting its admission policies and raising broader concerns about the project’s cost and management.

Conservative commentators on social media are taking aim at the center’s requirement that Illinois residents show valid identification to receive free admission on certain days, arguing it contrasts with Democratic opposition to voter ID laws.

"They’re making you show ID ... to visit the Obama Library ... in Chicago. You can’t make this stuff up!" one social media user wrote.

"The Obama Presidential Library is making people show an ID for proof of Illinois residency to get in for free," another posted. "So residents have to prove who they are for this, but not to vote?"

Others echoed the sentiment more bluntly, with one account writing: "It turns out Democrats support requiring ID ... but only for free admission into Obama’s library."

Obama's website clearly states that Illinois residents "must be able to provide proof of residency. Be prepared to show proof of residency at the Museum with a valid photo ID, Illinois driver’s license, state ID, or city-issued ID."

Critics have also pointed to reported restrictions tied to early ticket giveaways, including claims that some promotions are limited to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

The latest controversy builds on a string of prior criticisms surrounding the US$ 850 million project.

Earlier this year, the Obama Foundation drew backlash after seeking 75 to 100 unpaid volunteers, dubbed "ambassadors," to help operate the center, even as top executives collect substantial salaries. Federal filings show CEO Valerie Jarrett has earned roughly US$ 740,000 annually in recent years, while overall compensation at the foundation has climbed significantly.

The project has also faced mounting scrutiny over its financial impact on taxpayers.

Former President Barack Obama once described the center as a "gift" to Chicago, emphasizing it would be privately funded. While construction of the 19.3-acre campus is being financed through private donations, the surrounding infrastructure needed to support the site, including road redesigns, utility relocations and drainage systems, is being paid for with public funds.

Early estimates put those infrastructure costs at roughly US$ 350 million, split between the city and state. But more recent figures show Illinois alone has committed approximately US$ 229 million, while Chicago has allocated more than US$ 200 million in related improvements — though officials have not provided a clear, consolidated total of taxpayer spending tied to the project.

Severed Leg Solved The 27-Year Old Cold Case

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 07:05:00 +0000

A discovered bone has helped solve one of Sonoma County’s most unusual cold cases, linking remains found decades apart to the same missing man.

Authorities confirmed that a severed leg found on a Sonoma County beach in 2022 belonged to Walter Karl Kinney, a former banker from Santa Rosa who disappeared in 1999. The identification, announced in March 2026, closed a decades-long mystery in which the same man had been classified as unidentified on two separate occasions nearly 25 years apart.

Kinney was born in San Diego in 1940. He worked as a banker and later moved to Santa Rosa, near the Northern California coastline where his remains were eventually found.

Kinney disappeared in August 1999 at age 59. Soon after, a leg washed ashore at Bodega Head in Sonoma County. The foot was still inside a size 12 Rockport ProWalker shoe fitted with a custom orthopedic insert. With few clues, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office could not identify the remains and the case went cold.

A break came in 2003 when a woman in Cleveland, Ohio, contacted authorities, saying her father, Walter Kinney, had lost contact with the family in the 1990s. While periods of silence were not unusual due to his history of alcoholism and related criminal charges, the gap had stretched for years.

Investigators obtained his medical records and noted foot problems. X-rays matched those of the leg found at Bodega Head, leading to a positive identification. Kinney was declared deceased and the case appeared closed.

The case resurfaced on 17 June 2022, nearly two decades later.

A family searching for seashells at Salmon Creek State Beach found a long bone protruding from the sand. Officials later determined it was likely a tibia and noted the presence of surgical hardware. The beach sits about five miles north of Bodega Head, where the first leg was found in 1999.

A search of the area turned up no additional remains or identifying evidence. With no name attached, the remains were classified as "John Doe," officially labeled the "Salmon Creek John Doe."

For nearly four years, the case remained unresolved. In May 2025, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the DNA Doe Project to identify the remains using investigative genetic genealogy.

A DNA profile was developed and uploaded to GEDmatch in January 2026. Soon after, volunteers began working the case and quickly made progress.

Investigative genetic genealogy combines DNA analysis with family-tree research. It has become a key tool in solving cold cases involving unidentified remains.

Organizations like DNA Doe Project use databases such as GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA to find genetic matches. Most matches are distant relatives who share common ancestors.

Founded in 2017, DNA Doe Project has worked on more than 250 cases, driven by the goal of restoring names to unidentified individuals.

In Kinney’s case, volunteers focused on a family that had moved from the East Coast to California, settling in San Diego. While tracing descendants, they identified Walter Karl Kinney, born in 1940, who later lived in Santa Rosa near Salmon Creek.

That lead connected to a critical detail. A team member found an article about human remains discovered at Bodega Head in 1999, including a leg in a size 12 Rockport shoe with a custom orthopedic insert.

Within eight days, investigators identified Kinney as a likely match. The DNA Doe Project submitted its findings and the sheriff’s office confirmed the 2022 remains also belonged to him.

U.S. Approved Iran's Request For A Conditional Ceasefire

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:15:00 +0000

President Donald Trump announced on social media last 7 April that he had accepted a two-week ceasefire with Iran just hours before his threatened deadline for launching crippling attacks on the country’s civilian infrastructure.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East," President Trump wrote. "We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate.".

Iran’s foreign minister confirmed in a statement that the Iranians would "cease their defensive operation" and that "for a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible.".

Earlier in the day, President Trump warned Iran that its "whole civilization will die tonight" if leaders in Tehran don’t strike a deal to cease hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday evening — a rhetorical escalation that reflected the president’s eagerness to end a war that has engulfed the Middle East for more than five weeks..

For much of the day, it was unclear whether President Trump — who has backed down from several ultimatums over the last month — would follow through..

"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will," the president wrote on the morning of 7th April. "We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World.".

President Trump added that he hoped "different, smarter, and less radicalized minds" within the regime would "prevail" and that "maybe something revolutionarily wonderful" would happen instead..

In a statement on social media, the prime minister of Pakistan urged Trump to extend his Tuesday night deadline by another two weeks "to allow diplomacy to run its course." During that time, the Strait of Hormuz would reopen and a ceasefire would be observed. Reports then suggested that Iran might accept the proposal; White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that President Trump had “"een made aware of the proposal, and a response will come.".

The president also told Fox News in a phone interview that the U.S. was "in heated negotiations" and called Pakistan’s prime minister a "highly respected man.".

In announcing the ceasefire, Trump said that it was "subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz" for two weeks — a period that would "allow the [current] Agreement to be finalized and consummated.".

Prior to President Trump’s announcement, both the U.S. and Israel had been trying to force Iran’s hand by ramping up their attacks. Early Tuesday, the U.S. launched more than 90 strikes on Kharg Island, Iran’s main hub for oil exports..

In response, the Iranian military vowed that Iran would "deprive the U.S. and its allies of the region’s oil and gas for years" and expand its own missile and drone barrages across the region if Trump devastates Iran’s infrastructure.

CEO Calls Out Liberals For Delusional Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:22:00 +0000

A fast-rising entrepreneur claims that liberals have been exaggerating their political influence, insisting that conservative voices are a silent majority suppressed by fear of losing jobs.

A self-described media figure and CEO, Sabina Gilman, posted her thoughts on the power of the silent majority in response to a comment on her TikTok video that threatened to send her posts to her employer.

"I am my own employer," Gilman explained. "I am the CEO of my own company."

According to Gilman, there are more conservatives than liberals in the country, but most of them cannot openly voice their opinions in offices dominated by the latter due to threats of dismissal or cancel culture. Gilman cited some of her followers’ messages, calling them "silent conservatives" afraid to risk their employment by sharing Gilman’s posts.

"Liberals think they are a majority in this country. Guys, you are not. We’re not the majority in this country. The problem is that if we speak out and we don’t align with the liberal narrative, the liberal agenda, immediately, you guys try to come for our jobs, our education, try to get us fired, try to cancel us," Gilman stated. "And that’s where the line gets drawn."

As Gilman explained, this doesn’t apply to her as a self-employed business owner. "People can’t afford to lose their jobs. People can’t afford to get fired. Me, on the other hand, I’m gonna say whatever the fuck I want, because you guys can’t get me fired. I’m my own boss. So I’ll be the spokesperson."

Gilman supported her statement with a story of her friend, a nurse from Florida, telling her that she had been encouraged by other nurses in a private conversation to post about a man killed in an ICE operation because silence implied complicity.

In her opinion, that is just like posting a black square in solidarity with George Floyd protestors in June 2020, when failing to do that meant calling oneself a racist.

"It immediately gave me PTSD flashbacks to when the whole situation was going on with George Floyd, and everyone was posting the little black squares," Gilman explained. "And if you didn’t post a black square, you were labeled as a racist. And that is really when I entered my era of just being a rebel and not giving a fuck about what people thought or said. I didn’t post that black square."

According to Gilman, the experience taught her to ignore social pressures. "I genuinely cannot imagine working at a typical corporate company that is left-leaning, where I couldn’t speak out on my beliefs. If I was making these videos, these liberals will be coming after me left and right, trying to get me fired. And it’s insane that they think they could speak out on their opinions and we can’t, even though we’re a majority in this country."

Gilman then went further, mentioning that, while her nurse friend had encouraged posting about the man killed in ICE operations, no such encouragement was offered when Charlie Kirk, a popular conservative commentator, died recently.

"When Charlie Kirk had passed, were those same individuals in your little group chat also stating that we should be posting stories on Instagram and saying our condolences? No. No one said a thing," Gilman emphasized. "The hypocrisy of the left is just absolutely absurd to me."

Senegal Has Strengthened Its Anti-LGBT Laws

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:53:00 +0000

Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has signed a new law seeking to increase to 10 years the maximum prison term for sexual acts by same-sex couples.

The new law also criminalises the "promotion" of homosexuality, which includes any public representation and financial support by individuals or organisations, and provides for three to seven years in prison for those found guilty.

The legislation was part of a campaign promise of President Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and was approved by parliament last month.

UN rights chief Volker Türk has described it as "deeply worrying", saying that the anti-LGBT legislation "flies in the face of sacrosanct human rights".

The UN official and rights groups had urged the president not to sign it into law, but the government dismissed the international criticism, arguing that the measures reflected the views of Senegalese people. This is what the people has voted for and the UN do not have the right to supress the will of the majority.

It was taken to parliament after a wave of arrests over alleged same‑sex relationships, which were already banned under Senegalese law.

In February, 12 men, including two public figures and a journalist, were arrested and charged with "acts against nature".

Campaign group Human Rights Watch has recently noted a rise in "hostility toward LGBT people", adding that MPs had twice – in 2022 and 2024 - unsuccessfully sought to raise jail terms and penalties against same-sex relationships.

The new law was passed by an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly on 11 March, with 135 MPs voting in favour, none against and three abstaining.

Several other African countries have also introduced tough new laws against the LGBTQ+ community in recent years.

In September last year, Burkina Faso's transitional parliament approved a bill banning homosexual acts, following its neighbour Mali in 2024.

In 2023, Uganda voted in some of the world's harshest anti-homosexual legislation, meaning that people engaging in same-sex relationships can be sentenced to death in certain circumstances.

Ghana is also planning to re-introduce an anti-homosexual bill that activists say threatens basic human rights, safety and freedom.

Growth Of AfD Due To Support From Germany's Working Class

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 05:13:00 +0000

The state election in Rhineland-Palatinate was a success for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party: With 19.5 percent of the vote, the AfD more than doubled their result from the previous state election five years ago.

That number was even slightly higher than the percentage the AfD got in the Baden-Württemberg election two weeks ago.

Among working-class and low-income voters, the AfD has become the most popular party: Thirty-nine percent of this group voted for the party, which has seen several of its regional chapters labelled far-right extremist by domestic intelligence agencies.

A trend is taking hold across Germany: In its strongholds in the east of the country, the former communist East Germany, the party now receives nearly half of all blue-collar workers' support. They are becoming a key factor in the rise of this controversial party.

At a time of economic stagnation and the loss of tens of thousands of industrial jobs, political analysts put the AfD's success down to one main reason: fear of job loss and social decline. "The AfD supports and fuels the concerns that exist among the working class," communications researcher Frank Brettschneider from the University of Hohenheim told German public broadcaster Südwestrundfunk, or SWR.

The multiple crises caused by wars, climate change and artificial intelligence are becoming a stress test for democratic society — and not just in Germany.

Germany's center-left Social Democrats (SPD) are one of the world's oldest workers' parties. However with only brief interruptions, the SPD has been in decline at the ballot box for years.

An election analysis by the polling institute Infratest dimap on the recent state election in Rhineland-Palatinate paints a bleak picture for the Social Democrats, finding that 71 percent of respondents agreed with the statement: "The SPD no longer clearly stands on the side of workers."

The AfD is working to fill this void. The party successfully plays on stereotypes, such as the idea that officials from other parties are out of touch with the real world and its problems, Brettschneider said. He notes that AfD campaigners say things like "those in power have no idea what your life is really like. But we do." This narrative resonates with voters, he explains.

Working-class voters do not credit the AfD with any particular expertise in economic policy, social justice or job creation though. But they rank asylum and refugee policy and the fight against crime as more important than economic expertise. These are the dominant themes in the AfD's election campaigns, where it links issues such as prosperity and affordable rent to migration. It portrays immigrants as a threat to German standards of living, appealing to voters' fears of social decline.

Swedish Bill Seeks To Deport "Dishonest" Migrants

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:35:00 +0000

Sweden’s government has just introduced a controversial new bill to parliament, requiring migrants to demonstrate so-called "honest living," with the possibility of losing residence permits if they fail to meet the standard. Rights groups warn the requirements can be "vague and subjective," and would undermine equality before the law and freedom of expression.

The government of Sweden announced last 24 March 24 that it plans to introduce new legislation requiring migrants to demonstrate what it describes as an "honest living" in order to remain in the country, or risk deportation.

The bill would be part of a broader set of immigration reforms being advanced by Sweden's center-right-wing administration, which took office in 2022 with a platform focused on cracking down on immigration.

Although the government is made up of center-right parties, it is a minority coaltion, which relies for its survival on the anti-migrant far-right party Sweden Democrats. When it comes to migration policy, much of that party's demands have been incorporated into government proposals and legislation.

The government is seeking to move forward with these measures ahead of national elections scheduled for September. If approved by parliament, the legislation is expected to come into force on 13 July.

Under the proposed bill, authorities would have expanded powers to revoke residence permits for migrants who they consider not to meet the new standards. Officials argue the changes are intended to reinforce compliance with laws and societal norms.

"Following laws and rules is a given, but it must also be a given that we do our best to live responsibly and not harm our country," Migration Minister Johan Forssell said during a press conference.

Forssell outlined several situations that could lead to the loss of residency status.

"If, for example, you ignore paying your debts, if you don't comply with decisions from Swedish authorities, if you cheat the benefits system, if you cheat your way to a Swedish residence permit... then you do not have the right to be here," he said. Government representatives also noted that working without paying taxes or not settling fines could also compromise residency status.

Ludvig Aspling, a migration policy spokesperson for the Sweden Democrats party, which supports the government, said that verbal expressions alone would not automatically be grounds for action.

"Statements, that is, things a person says or expresses, should not in themselves be regarded as evidence of lack of honest living, but they may be an indication of, for example, links to violent extremism, which can then be a sign of deficient character," he told reporters.

Illegal Alien Who Killed Loyola Student Was Previously Jailed

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:21:00 +0000

The illegal alien accused of murdering a college student in Chicago has a criminal record and entered the U.S. under the Biden administration, according to officials.

Twenty-five-year-old Jose Medina, a Venezuelan national, was arrested on 20 March after he allegedly killed Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago student in a shooting. A police source earlier told Fox News that the shooting was an apparent ambush, adding that the suspect was reportedly wearing some kind of face mask or covering. He was arrested in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, close to where the shooting took place.

Medina was expected in court on 23 March, but the hearing was postponed since he's still hospitalized. Chicago police sources said he was being quarantined for something that's suspected to be contagious, possibly Tuberculosis.

When Gorman, who was a freshman from Westchester County, New York, tried to flee while she was with a group of friends, the gunman shot her, according to officials. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Medina, an illegal alien from Venezuela, was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol on 9 May 2023, and was released into the U.S. under the Biden administration, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Following an arrest for shoplifting in Chicago, Medina was released on 19 June 2023, DHS said.

He was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, three felony counts of aggravated assault with discharge of firearm and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, according to the Chicago Police Department.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an arrest detainer against Medina following the alleged murder.

"We are calling on Governor Pritzker and Chicago’s sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this criminal illegal alien from jail back into American neighborhoods," DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said.

In a new statement to Fox News, Gorman's family said their daughter's death was a result of systemic failure within the immigration system.

India's LGBTQ Bill Is A Step In The Right Direction

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 02:53:00 +0000

The parliament of India has just passed a controversial bill that seeks to change how transgender people are legally recognized and their right to self-identify, amid protests by opposition parties and the LGBTQ community.

The government says the changes will make welfare benefits more accessible and strengthen an existing law against exploitation and trafficking of women, but critics warn it could exclude many transgender, non-binary and gender-fluid people.

India is estimated to have around two million transgender people, though activists say the true number is higher and legal recognition remains uneven.

The legislation was approved by both houses this week and now needs the president's assent to become law.

In 2014, India's Supreme Court recognized transgender people as a "third gender" and affirmed their right to self-identify.

Despite legal protections, many transgender people in India continue to face discrimination and limited access to education, healthcare and formal employment, often relying on traditional or informal forms of work.

In 2019, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act was enacted, aimed at addressing vulnerabilities faced by the community.

Now, the new bill - essentially a proposed amendment to the 2019 law - centers on how a transgender person is defined.

The government says the current definition is too vague and makes it difficult to identify those who are most marginalized.

It argues that a narrower definition will help ensure welfare benefits - such as job reservations and healthcare support - reach those who need them.

It says the changes are intended to protect people facing "extreme and oppressive" discrimination and to prevent exploitation and trafficking of women and children.

The bill removes the right to self-identify and instead limits recognition to those defined by biological or physical traits. This includes people with intersex variations - where a person is born with sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female - as well as traditional identities long used among transgender communities in India.

The bill also makes certification from medical boards and district authorities mandatory for those undergoing gender-affirming surgeries.

DNA Testing Solves Another Cold Case

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 03:41:00 +0000

He was never arrested or interviewed about the 1985 attack, but more than 40 years later the 75-year-old is beginning a 15-year prison sentence after modern DNA testing linked him to the crime scene.

"Cold case" officers from South Yorkshire Police praised the diligence of their predecessors in an era when DNA analysis was in its infancy to enable them to finally make a breakthrough after preserved samples were retested.

"Officers were almost accidentally taking DNA," says Dave Stopford, who heads up the force's major incident review team.

Evidence gathered at the time was for much more basic forensic testing of material such as hair and fibres, but police did not have access to modern techniques.

Forces would not widely adopt DNA testing for several more years, but the samples collected from the rape scene were stored in a laboratory fridge.

"They had the foresight to store everything in an archive and that's where we apply for whatever samples remain from the case," Stopford adds.

Rachel Morton, an investigations officer who works with Stopford, says: "We looked at this case in 2018 and decided it needed a forensic review."

Their team, made up of former detectives, revisit historical cases, to see if new technology or techniques can help to secure long-awaited convictions.

A year later, as part of periodic testing of old samples, a forensic scientist managed to pull a full DNA profile from the clothing the victim was wearing on the night of the attack.

Prof. Jon Slate, from the University of Sheffield, says: "From DNA, you can get a unique genetic profile, or people sometimes call them a barcode of the person who left the stain."

Slate's work is similar to that of police forces and he uses the same techniques and technology.

"Genetic profiling in the 1980s and 1990s wasn't as accurate as it is now," he says.

"It required more DNA then than it needs now, so it's now possible to work with poorer quality, deteriorated samples."

The genetic profile, or barcode, was only half of the puzzle to find the suspect.

In 1995, police forces established the UK National DNA Database to store profiles.

Hill had never been arrested in the years since the rape, but in 2021 a breakthrough came when he was detained for a public order offence and his sample was taken.

Stopford says: "When we first tried to find the DNA barcode that we'd got from the crime scene it came back negative."

"It was only when his DNA was taken that we were able to match the crime scene samples."

Morton adds: "In 2021 we got the email that a match had been made to David Hill in Rotherham," Morton says.

A file was prepared and a charge of rape was authorised against Hill, who had been living as a free man.

Robert Varey was the detective sergeant on duty when the victim attended the now-closed West Bar police station to report the attack, and he says the case stuck with him throughout his 40-year career.

"I can always remember the case, the distinctive turquoise dress she was wearing and how distressed she was," he says.

"Rapes committed by a stranger are thankfully rare so this was investigated as a major incident."

Varey was responsible for recovering the victim's clothes, which contained the attacker's DNA.

He says: "Throughout the investigation or trial the way the original exhibits were handled was never questioned.

"I retired in 2012, but when I was contacted by the investigation team I knew I had a public duty to assist the enquiry and the other witnesses who gave evidence also were crucial."

The victim, who was 27 at the time of the rape, died in 1997, 12 years after the attack, before she could see Hill brought to justice.

Stopford previously said: "We, alongside the Crown Prosecution Service, applied to the court to have her original police statement read as 'hearsay' evidence, which is when evidence is provided in a manner other than as firsthand, direct testimony."

Work from scientists, former police officers and friends of the victim helped to fill in the gaps, with a jury finding Hill guilty of rape.

Poland Continues To Suspend Asylum Processing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:45:00 +0000

Last year, Poland suspended the right of migrants arriving in the country via its border with Belarus to apply for asylum. Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared that the contentious bill would be adopted "without a moment's delay" after it was signed into law by Polish President Andrzej Duda.

"I believe that it is necessary to strengthen the security of our borders and the security of Poles," Duda announced, despite expressing concerns in the past that the legislation would make it harder for dissidents in Belarus to flee the country's repressive regime.

To this date, the legislation is still in effect as it allow Polish authorities to suspend the right to asylum for 60 days at a time.

In February 2025, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warned Poland that the proposed law would not be compatible with either international or European asylum law.

Human Rights Watch said the EU should take legal action against Poland should the bill be implemented, adding that the legislation "flies in the face of Poland’s international and EU obligations" and encouraged the Polish parliament to vote it down.

However, a spokesperson for the European Commission conceded that it would assess the law in the "context" of the security threat facing Poland.

The Commission effectively greenlighted the proposed change in December 2026 by tabling new guidelines allowing the suspension of fundamental rights if it is proportionate, temporary and limited to what is "strictly necessary" to address a security threat — as Poland describes the situation on its border with Belarus.

"There are hybrid threats arising from the weaponisation of migration by Russia, assisted by Belarus, dispose a risk to the sovereignty, national security, and territorial integrity of Poland and the Union as a whole," the spokesperson said.

Tusk himself has framed the bill as necessary to combat the flow of migrants entering Poland via Belarus, where he and others in his government argue that Moscow and Minsk are deliberately encouraging migrants to try cross in an attempt to destabilise Europe.

The legislation allows Poland to suspend a migrant's right to asylum in such situations, which Tusk has argued amount to a "serious and real threat" to national security.

It allows exemptions for certain categories of people, including minors, pregnant women, individuals with special healthcare needs, people deemed at "real risk of harm" if returned over the border, and citizens of countries such as Belarus that stand accused of using migration as a political weapon.

A last minute amendment to the bill also allows families accompanying minors to claim asylum under the new restrictions.

Despite criticism from NGOs, Tusk has maintained that the legislation is strictly aimed at tackling illegal migration orchestrated by Russia and Belarus and does not infringe on migrants' human rights in general.

Poland's 400-kilometre border with Belarus has long been a scene of crisis, with thousands of people periodically attempting to cross into Poland through thick forests in temperatures that fall below zero in the winter.

Warsaw has spent billions fortifying the location in an effort to combat illegal migration, including erecting a 5.5-metre steel wall topped with barbed wire and a 206-kilometre electronic barrier fitted with motion-sensing cameras.

Rights groups estimate that hundreds have died at the Poland-Belarus border since 2021, with thousands said to have been subject to illegal and violent pushbacks by Polish border guards.

USGA Protects Women's Elite Golf Despite Court Challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:39:00 +0000

The United States Golf Association (USGA) has decided to protect women's rights and promote women's sports by banning transgenders from joining its events. However, some transgender players want to challenge it in court claiming that a policy change is unlawful.

Golfer Hailey Davidson, 33, filed the suit against the USGA, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and Hackensack Golf Club, where the event was scheduled to take place, in New Jersey last 19 March, according to ESPN and Fox Sports.

Davidson did not transition to female until after puberty, per ESPN, and she competed in several events prior to the 2024 policy change.

The suit additionally claims that Hackensack Golf Club violated the law by deferring to the USGA’s decision and barring her from competing at their club, per ESPN.

In a statement to PEOPLE, an LPGA spokesperson said that the organization is aware of the recent lawsuit and will "let that process play out on the proper forum."

"The LPGA's gender policy was developed through a thoughtful, expert-informed process and is grounded in protecting the competitive integrity of elite women's golf," the spokesperson said.

The USGA and Hackensack Golf Club did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Is The Illinois Governor Protecting The Migrant Killer?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:48:00 +0000

The current Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker office broke its silence on the murder of Loyola University freshman Sheridan Gorman, who was allegedly killed by Venezuelan national Jose Medina-Medina, telling Fox News Digital they are grieving the young woman’s death and that President Donald Trump is wrongly politicizing tragedies like it.

Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old from Yorktown Heights, New York, was shot and killed while admiring the aurora borealis along Lake Michigan, with her death initially leading to outrage from everywhere but Springfield.

"Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and Loyola University community grieving the senseless murder of Sheridan Gorman," Pritzker’s office told Fox News Digital in a statement recently.

"Violent crime has no place in our streets, and we expect the alleged perpetrator to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," Pritzker’s office added.

"The Trump administration needs to stop politicizing heinous tragedies and instead focus on real solutions, like reinstating federal funds to prevent violence that support our public safety efforts."

Pritzker, however, did not respond to a second question on whether he would instruct Illinois authorities to abide by the Laken Riley Act and hold illegal immigrants, including Medina-Medina, until the feds can pick them up.

Pritzker has received criticism since the murder for his quick response to the federal agent-involved killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis, and for the fact that he presides over a state that has a policy preventing full cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

ICE issued a detainer for Medina-Medina over the weekend, but Chicago is a sanctuary jurisdiction and the state enforces the TRUST Act – a law passed through the Democratic-majority legislature in Springfield and signed by then Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican.

The TRUST Act prevents state and local cooperation with federal immigration authorities, stating that a suspect or convict cannot be held for federal transfer past his scheduled release date unless presented with a federal criminal warrant.

The Laken Riley Act, drafted by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., and signed by Trump, mandates that an illegal immigrant be held for federal transfer even if the individual is only accused and not yet convicted of a crime.

In comments to Fox News Digital, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said Trump "totally secured the border [and] ended Biden's border crisis and deported countless dangerous criminal illegal aliens" in "record time."

California Pardoned A Killer Who Kills Again

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:41:00 +0000

A California man who allegedly killed a Los Angeles mother of six less than a year after being paroled for a double murder under a youthful offender law was sentenced to life in prison, authorities said last 20 March.

Darryl Lamar Collins, 55, was sentenced for the killing of his girlfriend, Fatima Johnson, a 53-year-old mother of six who was found dead by her daughters in her apartment 4 July 2021.

She was found with her wrists and ankles bound with shoelaces and duct tape, she was gagged with underwear and duct tape was placed over her mouth and nose.

Collins stole Johnson's cell phone, jewelry and her Lexus, prosecutors said. Hours after the murder, he pawned two of her necklaces and sold her vehicle for drugs.

The killing happened 364 days after he was released from prison for two previous murders.

"Darryl Collins took three innocent lives. Today’s sentence isn’t just about punishment. It’s also about protection from this sociopath to ensure he will never walk free again," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.

"This case shows exactly what can happen when someone with a history of extreme violence is released from prison early. We can only hope that three families who have experienced unimaginable loss find some measure of peace knowing he will never again be back in our communities."

Collins had previously been convicted of two separate murders in 1995 and was sentenced to two consecutive terms of 25 years to life.

However, he was released after serving 25 years — half of his sentence — under a youthful offender parole provision enacted by state lawmakers in 2017. The law raised the cutoff for youthful offender parole from age 23 to age 25.

At the time of the two earlier murders, Collins was 24.

"Had the state legislature not changed the law in 2017, almost 20 years after Collins’ sentencing, raising the age cutoff from 23 to 25 for youthful offender parole, Collins would have been behind bars rather than on the street and able to senselessly and brutally take another innocent life," said Hochman.

Progressive Democrats Lost To Moderate Candidates

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:07:00 +0000

American voters have rejected a trio of squad-backed trio of progressive Democrats. They suffered blistering rebukes last 17 March as Illinois voters rejected them in favor of more moderate candidates, prompting questions from onlookers about whether the party’s core, and momentum, should be entrusted to the far-left wing of its base.

To James Carville, a longtime Democratic strategist, the answer has been "no" for a long time. Talking to Fox News Digital in response to several progressive candidates losing in the Democratic primary in deep blue Illinois, he questioned the narrative that Squad-aligned progressives are gaining momentum.

"What momentum? About 15 percent of the Democratic Party identifies themselves as progressive. And what's unique, they win about 15 percent in the primaries at most," Carville said. "This was something I've dealt with all my life."

"In New York, [Zohran] Mamdami got 50.5 percent — which is not overwhelming. That's hardly the basis for some national movement," Carville said, referring to the socialist mayor of New York City.

The progressive losses all came despite high-profile support from some of the most progressive figures in Congress.

Kat Abughazaleh, the 26-year-old Palestinian American running on an anti-establishment platform and promises to implement a "wealth tax," attracted support from the likes of Rep. Rashida Talib, D-Mich., and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn, but lost on Tuesday.

Defeated technology entrepreneur Junaid Ahmed told voters he would push for the self-determination of Gaza and implement healthcare for all, earning the support of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

And Robert Peters, a state senator who raised US$ 1.1 million on his track record of helping to end cash bail and raising the minimum wage at the state level, garnered backing from Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt, and Warren, but lost his bid for Congress to Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller.

Between them, they raised US$ 5.7 million.

Anthony Driver Jr., widely regarded as a progressive candidate in Illinois' 7th District Democratic primary, lost to the more moderate, establishment-aligned Democrat, La Shawn Ford.

Driver was endorsed by Jayapal and the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Liam Kerr, co-founder of the Welcome PAC, a group that supports moderate Democrats, believes their losses should give the party a clear takeaway.

"Illinois is just the latest reminder that the noise machine around far-left candidates rarely translates into actual votes," Kerr said.

"There's a real hunger in this party to win, and the candidates who keep losing are the ones more focused on ideological performance than tried and true economic concerns. The blueprint is simple: ditch the clout-chasing ideologues and invest in hard-working candidates who know their communities."

Kerr’s framing was echoed by Jim Kessler, vice president of policy at Third Way, a Democrat think tank focused on moderate platforms.

Migrant From Sudan Sexually Assaulted 5-Yearl Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:37:00 +0000

A Sudanese migrant who sexually assaulted a five-year-old girl after snatching her from the street has been jailed for 11 years.

Mohammed Abdulraziq, 32, held his victim in his bedsit until the girl’s mother, who was desperately searching for her, heard her crying and she was rescued by two men who forced their way into the ground floor room.

He was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court after being found guilty at a trial last September of false imprisonment with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault and assault.

Sentencing Abdulraziq, Judge Kerry Malin said she was satisfied he posed a risk of serious harm to others, particularly young children.

She added that in an impact statement, the victim’s mother spoke of the "trauma" they had both suffered and that the "cries of distress and helplessness of her daughter would haunt her for ever".

The victim had gone from a "happy and confident little girl to one with complex behavioural needs", the judge said.

The court heard on the afternoon of March 30 last year, the girl was playing in the street in Winson Green, Birmingham, while her mother was talking to a friend who lived on the road.

When the child disappeared from view, her mother and a friend began a frantic search for her, going to a park and then a corner shop.

On returning to the street, the mother recognised the sound of her daughter crying and identified the building it was coming from.

The front door to the property was locked, so she picked up a piece of wood and tried to smash the window of the room where her daughter was being held.

The mother’s friend then partially climbed through the window and saw Abdulraziq and the girl, whose cycling shorts were down by her ankles while the defendant was also in a state of undress.

Abdulraziq then swung a punch at the woman and shut the window, causing her to fall back to the street. But two men who heard the commotion managed to force the defendant’s door open.

Abdulraziq had drunk three cans of beer and had smoked two cigarettes of Mamba, a synthetic cannabis drug, on the day of the incident.

Judge Malin told him: "The victim was a five-year-old little girl happily playing in the street.

"While you cannot be seen on the footage, I am sure you encouraged the girl to enter your home and took her to your bedsitting room, and the door was locked.

"It is perhaps fortunate that your room overlooked the street. The mother and her friend, within a few seconds, realised that the girl was no longer visible from the road and they launched a frantic search for her.

"It must have been a horrific experience to bang on the door and window and see her daughter inside.

"She even got a scaffolding board to break the window and get to her daughter. Still, you did not let the girl leave the room."

The judge added that when the neighbour clambered on to the window sill "she could clearly see that you were bent over towards the victim near to the bed and your lower clothes were around your ankles as were hers".

Dem State Election Board Under Investigation For Allegedly Fraudulent Voter Rolls

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:52:00 +0000

Maryland's voter rolls are coming under House Republican scrutiny after it was found out that an illegal immigrant serving as a superintendent of a massive school system in Iowa was fraudulently registered to vote in Maryland, Fox News Digital reported.

House Committee on House Administration Chair Bryan Steil, R-Wisc., and Vice Chair Laurel Lee, R-Fla., sent a letter to Maryland State Board of Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis on 4 December demanding answers regarding Ian Andre Roberts' registration to vote in the state despite not holding U.S. citizenship.

The House Administration Committee oversees House operations and oversight and also is charged with considering proposals to amend federal election law.

Roberts' voter registration documents have faced intense scrutiny from conservatives, including when a Maryland county board of elections released redacted versions of the files in November that blacked out how Roberts answered the citizenship question.

"The Committee is concerned about the integrity and accuracy of Maryland’s citizenship verification processes, and therefore the state’s voter rolls. To assist the Committee’s oversight of this matter, please provide the following information as soon as possible," the letter read, hitting the election chief with 10 questions related to the state's voter role vetting process and the prevalence of illegal immigrants on voter rolls.

The committee is pressing for details, asking: "Is Roberts still a registered voter in Maryland?;" "Has Mr. Roberts ever voted in Maryland? If yes, what election(s) did he participate in?;" "Was Mr. Roberts ever mailed an absentee ballot? If yes, for which election(s)?" and "How does the State Board of Elections fulfill their obligations under 52 U.S.C. §20507 to conduct a general program to remove ineligible voters from the rolls?"

Maryland is a Democratic state, with the party controlling the offices of governor, secretary of state, attorney general and both chambers of the state legislature.

Roberts worked in Baltimore City Schools between August 2001 and June 2010, including serving as a teacher, resident principal and principal at various points across his career in Maryland, local media previously reported.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials arrested Roberts, who originally is from Guyana, in September. Roberts was working as the superintendent of the Des Moines, Iowa, public school system at the time of his arrest, which sparked widespread interest and concern that an illegal immigrant was in such a high-profile position despite his employment authorization card expiring in 2020.

The arrest opened the floodgates to investigations into Roberts' past, including uncovering a lengthy criminal history in the U.S. that stretches back to 1996, when he was charged with criminal possession of narcotics with intent to sell in New York.

Millions Of Illegal Aliens Have Left The United States

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:57:00 +0000

It was estimated that more than 2.5 million illegal immigrants have left the United States over the past year, including more than 605,000 deportations since President Donald Trump took office in January.

The record-breaking figures provided by the Department of Homeland Security to Fox News Digital revealed that 1.9 million illegal immigrants have self-deported since Trump took office on 20 January.

"Illegal aliens are hearing our message to leave now. They know that if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return," said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

The decline in the illegal immigrant population has resulted in a reduction in public services and a resurgence in local job markets, DHS said.

Since January, the Trump administration has embarked on a mass deportation campaign targeting illegal immigrants with criminal records.

In addition, those living in the United States illegally have been encouraged to return to their native countries using the CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) Home Mobile App, through which users can receive a complimentary plane ticket home and a US$ 1,000 exit bonus upon their return.

Any unpaid fines for failing to depart in a timely manner will also be forgiven.

Earlier this week, DHS launched a "Worst of the Worst" webpage, which displays information on criminal illegal immigrants arrested during enforcement operations. The operations have generated criticism from Democratic officials and city leaders, who say that law enforcement officers have violated the civil rights of U.S. citizens and immigrants.

Last 10 December, President Trump announced the launch of the "Trump Gold Card," which will allow individuals and corporations to receive rapid residency in the U.S.

Washington Swimmer Takes Stand On Women's Rights

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 02:37:00 +0000

A Washington state high school student became a viral sensation on social media after giving a speech demanding that her state’s schools protect girls' sports.

"Girls should never have to feel uncomfortable in their own locker room," Sadie Sullivan, a swimmer at Wenatchee High School, said last week at Garden City Academy.

The speech was at a Super Signer Rally event hosted by Let’s Go Washington in support of two ballot initiatives, one that would strengthen communication between parents and schools, including the right for parents to review their student’s learning materials and records, as well as another initiative that would keep "biologically male" participants out of girl’s sports.

Earlier this year, Washington state passed legislation that significantly curtailed parents' rights, including removing the requirement for parents to receive notice when their children receive non-emergency medical services at school.

"Girls should never be told their feelings don’t matter," Sullivan added. "Girls should never be pressured by adults to undress around boys. And girls should never have to sacrifice their safety for somebody else’s comfort."

Another student, Ahnaleigh Wilson, who runs track and field at Eastmont High School, called out both Democratic Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and Washington state superintendent Chris Reykdal.

"You have stood up for transgender athletes, but you have not stood up for us. We matter too," Wilson said of Ferguson. "We have voices. We have stories. And we deserve protection in our locker rooms, in our sports, and in the opportunities that we have worked so hard for."

To Reykdal, Wilson said, "We are not 'thriving' with boys in our locker rooms or with boys in our sports. When you say 'all' students, it seems you have forgotten that 'all' includes biological girls as well."

Darren Littell, campaign manager at Let's Go Washington, told Fox News Digital in a statement that both Sullivan and Wilson "are proving that courage is contagious. The outpouring of support is impressive to watch. People were afraid to stand up to the woke mob, but as soon as someone said ‘enough is enough’ it’s like the fear has been broken. People know girls deserve fair competition. People know girls deserve a safe, private space to get ready for sports. We’re happy to be doing our part to protect girls, and we couldn’t be prouder of them."

Social Media History Will Be Required In U.S. Visa Application

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 01:46:00 +0000

Foreign visitors who are eligible to enter the United States without a visa may soon be required to provide the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with significantly more personal information, including details about their social media activity, email accounts and family background.

According to a notice published last 10 December in the Federal Register, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is proposing to collect up to five years of social media data from travellers from certain visa-waiver countries.

The proposed requirement would apply to travellers using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens of 42 countries – including the United Kingdom, Germany, Qatar, Greece, Malta, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Israel and South Korea – to travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days.

Currently, the ESTA automatically screens applicants and grants travel approval without requiring an in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate, unlike standard visa applications.

At present, ESTA applicants are required to provide a more limited set of information, such as their parents’ names, current email address, and details of any past criminal record.

A question asking travellers to disclose their social media information was first added to the ESTA application in 2016, though it has remained optional.

The new notice also states that the CBP plans to request additional personal information from visitors, including telephone numbers used over the past five years and email addresses used over the last 10 years.

Authorities also said they plan to add what they describe as "high-value data fields" to the ESTA application "when feasible". These would include metadata from electronically submitted photographs, extensive personal details about applicants’ family members, such as their places of birth and telephone numbers used over the past five years, as well as biometric information, including fingerprints, DNA and iris data.

The announcement did not say what the administration was looking for in the social media accounts of visitors or why it was asking for more information.

But the CBP said it was complying with an executive order that US President Donald Trump signed in January that called for more screening of people coming to the US to prevent the entry of possible national security threats.

Matt Van Epps Wins Tennessee Special Election

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 03:22:00 +0000

Majority of voters in Tennessee decided to elect Republican Matt Van Epps to fill a vacant U.S. House of Representatives seat, U.S. media outlets reported, padding the narrow lead by President Donald Trump's party in the chamber heading into next year's midterm elections.

Van Epps, a former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, defeated Democratic state Representative Aftyn Behn, outlets including the Associated Press and NBC News announced. Van Epps will fill the seat vacated by former Representative Mark Green, who resigned in July. The Middle Tennessee district includes parts of Nashville.

With about 96 percent of votes counted, Van Epps had 53.9 percent, while Behn had 45 percent, according to the AP.

"This race was bigger than just one campaign," Van Epps said in a statement. "It represented a defining moment for Tennessee and for the direction of the country."

He also said cost-of-living concerns would be among his top priorities – a reflection of the broader focus on those issues in races this year, including the New York City mayoral race and the governors’ races in Virginia and New Jersey.

Trump won the district by 22 points in 2024, and both Trump and Green endorsed Van Epps. A survey by Emerson College Polling/The Hill released last week suggested it could be a tight race.

An upset by the Democrat in the off-cycle election following a holiday weekend would have whittled away at Republicans' 219-213 House majority.

In a statement, Van Epps thanked Trump "for his unwavering support," adding: "President Trump was all-in with us. That made the difference. In Congress, I’ll be all-in with him."

Behn outraised Van Epps by nearly US$ 240,000 through 12 November, according to federal election filings. Republican and Democratic super PACs had poured millions of dollars into the race.

Republicans painted Behn as a radical leftist, highlighting some of her past comments, including since-deleted tweets from 2020 in which she called for defunding the police.

When pressed on those tweets recently by cable TV channel MS NOW, Behn said she did not recall them and wanted to focus on cost-of-living challenges and other issues she argued were more important to voters.

A handful of retirements and upcoming special elections could further affect the chamber's narrow balance of power in the months ahead.