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Tag: The United States

  • US could demand five-year social media history from tourists before allowing entry

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    Tourists from Europe and other regions could be asked to provide a five-year social media history before given entry to the United States, according to a new proposal from the US Customs and Border Protection service (CBP). The new rule would affect visitors from countries who normally enjoy relatively easy entry to the US via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

    The new proposal cites an executive order issued by President Trump from January titled “Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.” In his first year in office, Trump has been hyper-focused on strengthening US borders and reducing what he calls illegal immigration.

    The US state department will conduct “online presence” reviews for applicants and their dependents and require privacy settings on social media profiles to be made “public.” Applicants must list all the social media handles they’ve used over the last five years and if any information is omitted, it could lead to the denial of current and future visas. The CBP didn’t say what information they were looking for or what could be disqualifying.

    On top of the social media information, CBP may require applicant’s telephone numbers and email addresses used over the last five and 10 years respectively, along with information about family members.

    The new conditions are liable to increase ESTA wait times and drastically boost the cost of enforcing it. The CPB’s document suggests that an additional 5,598,115 man-hours would be required per year, or around 3,000 full-time jobs plus all the costs that entails. Right now, the ESTA application costs $40, allows people to visit the US for 90 days at a time and is valid for a two-year period.

    The mandatory social media reporting and other requirements could discourage travelers. Some Australian tourists who were coming to the US for the upcoming World Cup have now said that they’ve abandoned those plans, according to The Guardian, with one person calling the new rules “horrifying.”

    However, when asked if the proposal could lead to a tourism decline in the US, Trump said he wasn’t concerned. “No. We’re doing so well,” he told a reporter. “We want to make sure we’re not letting the wrong people come enter our country.”

    The CPB emphasized that the new conditions were only a proposal for now. “Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the United States [currently],” a spokesperson told the BBC. “This is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the American people safe.”

    If implemented, the rule would affect people from 40 countries, including the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Australia and Japan. The largest number of tourists to the US come from Canada and Mexico, accounting for nearly half of the total — however, visitors with passports from those two countries don’t require a visa or ESTA approval. Travel to the US was down three percent this year compared to 2024 as of August 2025, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office.

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    Steve Dent

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  • NCAI: “Wounded Knee Was Not a Battle, It Was the Deliberate Mass Killing of 350 Lakota

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    The aftermath of the Wounded Knee Massacre (Photo/Wikimedia Commons)

    On Friday, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) pushed back on the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) decision to retain the Medals of Honor awarded to soldiers involved in the Wounded Knee Massacre on December 29, 1890. This decision announced on Thursday  disregards the well-documented truth of a brutal, unprovoked massacre carried out by the 7th Cavalry against the Lakota people—and ignores the moral obligation to confront past injustices with integrity.

    Wounded Knee was not a “battle.” It was the deliberate mass killing of more than 350 unarmed Lakota men, women, and children who had sought refuge at Wounded Knee Creek. Contrary to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s claim that these medals are “no longer up for debate,” the event is widely recognized as a historical atrocity. This includes acknowledgment by historians, Tribal Nations, and even the U.S. Senate, which expressed its regret through Concurrent Resolution 153 in 1990. By preserving these medals, the DoD perpetuates the injustice and deepens the pain felt by the victims’ descendants and Native communities across the country.

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    “Honoring those involved in the Wounded Knee Massacre with the United States’ highest military award is incompatible with the values the Medal of Honor is meant to represent,” said Larry Wright Jr., NCAI Executive Director. “Celebrating war crimes is not patriotic. This decision undermines truth-telling, reconciliation, and the healing that Indian Country and the United States still need.”

    These medals should never have been awarded. In 2024, the DoD initiated a formal review of the medals, but despite decades of advocacy by tribal nations, historians, and members of Congress, this week’s announcement confirms the medals will remain. NCAI stands in solidarity with the Lakota Nations, Tribal communities, Native veterans, and active-duty service members—who serve the United States at higher rates than any other demographic—calling for the correction of the historical record and the alignment of our highest honors with our highest principles.

    NCAI echoes the powerful voices of tribal leaders whose communities continue to bear the intergenerational trauma of this horrific event.

    “Secretary Hegseth’s decision is another act of violence against our Lakota people,” said Chairwoman Janet Alkire, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. “The Wounded Knee Massacre was an unprovoked attack on men, women, children and elders who had been rounded up by the military. As Indian people, we know what bravery and sacrifice means. We serve in the military at greater rates than any other group in the United States. I served in the Air Force with men and women who were brave and served with honor. The actions at Wounded Knee were not acts of bravery and valor deserving of the Medal of Honor. There is nothing Hegseth can do to rewrite the truth of that day.”

    “The Wounded Knee Massacre was one of the darkest days in U.S. history,” added Chairman Ryman LeBeau, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. “The U.S. Cavalry stopped our people out on the high plains, surrounded them with guns and cannons, disarmed them, opened fire, and murdered them. Women and children were chased down and shot in the back. This is one of America’s darkest days and the medals must be revoked. They tarnish America’s Medals of Honor. There is no honor in murder. Secretary Pete Hegseth made this decision on his own concurrence with no contact or request for consultation to the Tribes.”

    NCAI calls on the Department of Defense to immediately release the findings of the review that led to this deeply flawed and ahistorical decision. The DoD must reverse course and engage directly with NCAI and the leaders of the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association. In addition, we urge Congress to pass the “Remove the Stain Act” to ensure the Medal of Honor reflects true courage—not cowardice and cruelty—and that our nation’s history is preserved with honesty and respect.

    About the Author: “Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. “

    Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net

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  • U.S. strikes deportation deals with Honduras and Uganda, CBS News reports

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    By Christian Martinez

    (Reuters) -The United States has struck deportation deals with Honduras and Uganda amid a search for additional agreements that would allow the U.S. to deport people living in the country illegally to third-party countries, CBS News reported on Tuesday.

    Citing internal documents, CBS reported that the Trump administration has broadened its search for countries which would accept migrants that are not their citizens.

    (Reporting by Christian Martinez)

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  • Harris for President campaign to hit the road next week starting in Philly, returns to Georgia

    Harris for President campaign to hit the road next week starting in Philly, returns to Georgia

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    The Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, speaks onstage at the 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ inside the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on June 30, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice

    CHICAGO – Though United States Vice President Kamala Harris was not in Chicago for the National Association of Black Journalist convention, she will be criss-crossing the country beginning in Philadelphia next week.

    Harris was in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 30,

    On Tuesday Harris will be campaigning in a crucial battleground state, Pennsylvania, when she arrives in Philadelphia. The Harris for President campaign will also visit Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona, and Nevada. Harris was recently endorsed by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union in Detroit. Along with Pennsylvania, Michigan is another of the crucial battleground states.

    In between those trips, the vice president will also return to Georgia on Friday, August 9. Harris was in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 30, where she held her first presidential campaign in the state. It was Harris’ 15th visit to Georgia as the vice president and her sixth to metro Atlanta this year.


    Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Donnell began his career covering sports and news in Atlanta nearly two decades ago. Since then he has written for Atlanta Business Chronicle, The Southern Cross…
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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Yellen says US will not accept its industries being decimated by cheap Chinese imports

    Yellen says US will not accept its industries being decimated by cheap Chinese imports

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    BEIJING (Reuters) – U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned on Monday that the United States would not accept new industries being decimated by subsidized Chinese imports in the same way that the U.S. steel sector was crushed a decade ago.

    After wrapping up four days of talks with Chinese officials, Yellen told a news conference the exchanges had advanced American interests.

    She said she had raised concerns about China’s weak domestic demand and overinvestment in industries such as electric vehicles, batteries and solar products, fueled by “large-scale government support.”

    U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in Beijing

    Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in Beijing. (Reuters)

    She added, “We’ve seen this story before. Over a decade ago, massive PRC government support led to below-cost Chinese steel that flooded the global market and decimated industries across the world and in the United States,” employing the formal name, the People’s Republic of China.

    “I’ve made it clear that President Biden and I will not accept that reality again.”

    Yellen said that when the global market is flooded with artificially cheap Chinese products, “the viability of American and other foreign firms is put into question.”

    (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

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  • 'The Richest Country In The World Is Now Bankrupt' — Robert Kiyosaki Says The U.S. Can't Pay The Interest On Its Debt. Here's How He's Protecting Himself

    'The Richest Country In The World Is Now Bankrupt' — Robert Kiyosaki Says The U.S. Can't Pay The Interest On Its Debt. Here's How He's Protecting Himself

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    In a recent episode of “The Rich Dad Radio Show,” financial educator and author Robert Kiyosaki expressed grave concerns about the United States’ financial health.

    “America is now bankrupt,” he said. “And the question I want to answer today is how [come] America, at one time reportedly the richest country in the world, is now bankrupt?”

    While the U.S. hasn’t legally declared bankruptcy, Kiyosaki’s point underscores the nation’s worsening debt crisis.

    As of Nov. 24, the U.S. national debt had reached $33.8 trillion. Guest speaker Jim Clark, CEO of Republic Monetary Exchange, highlighted that actual liabilities, including entitlements, could be as high as $200 trillion.

    Fiscal 2023 saw interest payments on this debt rise to $659 billion, marking a 39% increase from the previous year and nearly double the amount in fiscal 2020.

    So, how is the famed author protecting his wealth? He’s a strong believer in physical assets. Here are two of his favorites.

    Don’t Miss:

    Gold and Silver

    Kiyosaki, who believes America’s financial troubles began with the abandonment of the gold standard in 1971, advocates investing in gold and silver. He views the precious metals as safeguards against inflation and currency devaluation. The rising industrial demand for silver and the current low prices of gold and silver compared to historical highs make them particularly attractive. He also values the fact that physical gold and silver do not carry counterparty risks, unlike many other investments.

    Real Estate

    Beyond precious metals, Kiyosaki is a proponent of investing in real estate. He recently claimed to own 15,000 houses, which he leverages as an effective hedge against inflation. Historical data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis shows that while the consumer price index has risen by 896% since 1963, the median sales price of homes has increased by 2,353.93% and rent by 892%. This indicates that real estate not only keeps pace with inflation but can also exceed it.

    Kiyosaki’s strategy aligns with the opportunities available to average investors through fractional real estate investing. This approach allows individuals to invest in shares of income-producing properties for as little as $100, enabling them to benefit from rental income and long-term appreciation without the traditional barriers of high costs and credit requirements.

    For investors seeking to protect their wealth in uncertain economic times, Kiyosaki’s approach offers valuable insights into diversification and risk management. It’s important to understand that his investment strategies may not be the right approach for everyone. You should always do your own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser.

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    This article ‘The Richest Country In The World Is Now Bankrupt’ — Robert Kiyosaki Says The U.S. Can’t Pay The Interest On Its Debt. Here’s How He’s Protecting Himself originally appeared on Benzinga.com

    © 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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  • US warns North Korea against nuclear attacks

    US warns North Korea against nuclear attacks

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    WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States has warned North Korea that any nuclear attack against the nation or its allies “is unacceptable and will result in the end of the (Kim Jong) Un regime,” a joint US-South Korean statement said on Saturday.

    “The U.S. side reiterated that any nuclear attack by the DPRK against the ROK will be met with a swift, overwhelming, and decisive response,” the statement said.

    The second U.S.-Republic of Korea Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) convened in Washington on Friday for talks on nuclear deterrence as part of a commitment by the two countries to share more insight into planning in the event of conflict with North Korea. Pyongyang has developed and tested a range of ballistic missiles that can reach targets in South Korea, Japan and the U.S. mainland.

    Kim Tae-hyo, South Korea’s deputy national security adviser said on Friday that North Korea may test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile this month, which was considered a nuclear threat regardless of its range because it can carry a nuclear warhead.

    The third NCG will be convened in Korea next summer.

    (Reporting By Lucia Mutikani and Steve Holland; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Diane Craft)

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  • A new COVID variant, HV.1, is now dominant. These are its most common symptoms

    A new COVID variant, HV.1, is now dominant. These are its most common symptoms

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    As the United States enters respiratory virus season and health officials roll out updated COVID-19 vaccines, a new COVID variant HV.1 has emerged and is currently sweeping the country.

    The new omicron subvariant has rapidly overtaken other strains, including EG.5 aka Eris, to become the dominant variant in the U.S. As of late October, HV.1 is responsible for more than a quarter of all COVID-19 cases, and health officials are monitoring the new variant amid concerns of a winter COVID-19 surge.

    HV.1 accounted for an estimated 25.2% of new COVID-19 cases during the two-week period ending Oct. 28, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    After HV.1, the next most common variant in the U.S. was EG.5, which made up 22% of cases, followed by FL.1.5.1 or “Fornax,” and XBB.1.16 or “Arcturus.” (Globally, EG.5 is still the dominant strain, according to the World Health Organization.)

    All of the most prevalent COVID-19 strains in the U.S. are offshoots of omicron, which first emerged in November 2021.

    Although COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have been trending downward after a late summer surge, HV.1 is continuing to pick up speed around the country.

    Cases are expected to increase again this winter as was the case the past three years, Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, tells TODAY.com.

    As HV.1 spreads, many are curious if the new subvariant is more contagious or severe, whether it could cause different symptoms, and if the new COVID-19 vaccines will provide protection. Here’s what we know about HV.1 so far.

    What is HV.1, the new COVID variant?

    HV.1 is part of the omicron family. “You can almost think of HV.1 as a grandchild of omicron,” says Schaffner. HV.1 is a sublineage of omicron XBB.1.9.2 and a direct descendent of EG.5, according to the CDC’s SARS-CoV-2 lineage tree.

    “The COVID family of viruses likes to mutate. We’ve all learned that by now,” says Schaffner. While HV.1 is mutated, it’s still very close to the existing omicron subvariants, Schaffner explains.

    For the most part, scientists are not concerned about new variants like HV.1, which look very similar to strains we’ve already seen before, NBC News reported.

    However, there are a few highly mutated strains which have set off alarm bells. These include BA.2.86 or Pirola, which has an extra 36 mutations that differentiate it from XBB.1.5., and a newer variant called JN.1, which has one more mutation than Pirola.

    Fortunately, neither BA.2.86 nor JN.1 are common in the U.S. right now, according to the CDC — JN.1 is so rare that it makes up fewer than 0.1% of SARS-CoV-2 cases.

    As for HV.1, it rapidly gained steam after it was first detected this past summer. In late July, HV.1 accounted for just 0.5% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., CDC data show. By Sept. 30, HV.1 made up 12.5% of cases, and by November, it was the dominant strain.

    Is HV.1 more transmissible?

    “One of the characteristics of this entire omicron family is that they are highly transmissible,” says Schaffner. Sometimes, mutations can enable a new variant to spread more effectively or quickly, per the CDC.

    Right now, it appears that HV.1 could be slightly better at spreading from person to person than previous strains, NBC News reported. The increased transmissibility of HV.1 likely explains how it became dominant so quickly in the U.S., Schaffner notes.

    It appears that HV.1 could also be slightly better at escaping prior immunity to COVID-19, but not enough to cause alarm, Dr. Dan Barouch, director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, told NBC News.

    Although it is more transmissible, HV.1 does not appear to produce more severe disease or lead to more hospitalizations, Schaffer says.

    What are HV.1 symptoms?

    The symptoms caused by infection with HV.1 are similar to those caused by recent variants, says Schaffner, which include:

    • Sore throat

    • Congestion or stuffiness

    • Runny nose

    • Cough

    • Fatigue

    • Headache

    • Muscle aches

    • Fever or chills

    “Congestion, sore throat and dry cough seem to be the three most prominent symptoms right now,” says Schaffner.

    Increasingly, doctors report that COVID-19 symptoms appear to follow a pattern of being concentrated in the upper respiratory tract, starting with a sore throat and followed by congestion or a runny nose, NBC news reported.

    Coughing isn’t typically a primary symptom, but it can persist. “The virus seems to produce a kind of a chronic bronchitis, so that you can have a cough syndrome that lasts beyond the period where you’ve recovered from other symptoms,” says Schaffner.

    Another trend is that COVID-19 seems to be causing milder infections, likely because people have some prior immunity. “By milder, we mean it doesn’t require hospitalization even though you can feel quite miserable for several days,” says Schaffner.

    Do COVID-19 tests detect HV.1?

    All COVID-19 tests — including PCR tests performed by a health care provider and rapid at-home antigen tests — will detect HV.1, says Schaffner.

    Testing is a crucial tool to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. The symptoms of HV.1 and other COVID-19 variants can look very similar to other viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and rhinovirus, which usually causes the common cold.

    “The only way to distinguish (COVID-19) from RSV and flu, both of which are now gaining steam, is by testing,” says Schaffner.

    Experts encourage anyone who has symptoms to get tested, especially those in high-risk groups — people over the age of 65, who are immunocompromised or who have underlying health conditions.

    “We have treatments that can prevent more serious disease,” says Schaffner, but early detection is key. COVID-19 antivirals such as Paxlovid are effective against HV.1 and other variants, but they work best when within five days of symptom onset, TODAY.com previously reported.

    Testing has significantly diminished in the U.S. in the last year, which is concerning, says Schaffner.

    When the U.S. federal public health emergency for COVID-19 ended in May, so did the guarantee of free testing for many people.

    However, every American can still get COVID-19 tests for free or low-cost right now. One way is to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests from the government, which will be delivered by mail via the U.S. Postal Service. To order your free tests, go to COVIDTests.gov.

    In addition, all health insurance plans are required to reimburse eight at-home COVID-19 tests per month, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. State Medicaid programs are also required to cover at-home tests, and Medicare beneficiaries and uninsured individuals can access free tests provided by Health & Human Services at thousands of community health centers, clinics and pharmacies.

    If you still have a stockpile of tests sitting around, remember to check the expiration date and whether it’s been extended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    Does the new COVID-19 vaccine protect against HV.1?

    The updated COVID-19 vaccine is recommended by the CDC for everyone ages 6 months and older. It is now widely available at pharmacies, doctor’s offices and other locations around the U.S., says Schaffner.

    The new boosters have been reformulated to target omicron XBB.1.5, which was the dominant COVID variant for most of 2023. While XBB.1.5 has since been overtaken by HV.1, Eris, Fornax and Arcturus, it is still closely related to these newer strains.

    The updated vaccines seem to be well-matched to the variants currently circulating and making people sick, Andrew Pekosz, Ph.D., virologist at Johns Hopkins University, previously told TODAY.com.

    “Laboratory studies indicate that the updated booster will protect against serious disease caused by HV.1,” says Schaffner. Vaccination also significantly lowers the risk of becoming hospitalized or dying, per the CDC.

    However, only 23 million Americans or 4.5% of the population had received the updated shots by Oct. 27, Reuters reported.

    The first phase of the new booster rollout hit several speed bumps, including supply delays, high demand, cancelled appointments and insurance obstacles. Some parents have been unable to get their kids vaccinated as some pharmacies and pediatrician’s offices have struggled to secure enough child-size doses.

    Although many of these initial issues have been resolved, says Schaffner, uptake is still slow. “We’ve underutilized this updated vaccine, and we anticipate that COVID will once again increase even more during the winter season,” says Schaffner.

    It’s not too late to take advantage of the new booster, Schaffner adds, and people should get the shot as soon as they can.

    The FDA has authorized three vaccine options for 2023-2024: one mRNA shot each from Moderna and Pfizer, and a protein-based non-mRNA shot from Novavax.

    Insurance plans should cover the updated booster, says Schaffner, and those without insurance should still be able to get the shot for free, according to the CDC.

    “We’re in a good place because for a considerable time now, we have not had a new variant that causes more severe disease or evades the protection of currently available vaccines,” says Schaffner.

    How to protect yourself from HV.1

    As the winter and holiday season approaches, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself from COVID-19 and prevent transmission to others, especially the most vulnerable. These include:

    • Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines

    • Getting tested if you have symptoms

    • Isolating if you are testing positive for COVID-19

    • Avoiding contact with sick people

    • Improving ventilation or gathering outdoors

    • Washing your hands with soap and water frequently

    • Wearing a mask in crowded, indoor spaces

    This article was originally published on TODAY.com

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  • Federal Court Rules Sacklers Can Still Go To Heaven

    Federal Court Rules Sacklers Can Still Go To Heaven

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    NEW YORK—In a decision that shields the former owners of Purdue Pharma from personal liability for America’s opioid crisis, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that members of the Sackler family could still go to heaven. “It is our determination that the Sacklers should receive immunity from damnation for their crimes so that they may enter into the eternal kingdom and be granted everlasting life,” said Judge Eunice C. Lee, who explained that by paying a $6 billion settlement for their involvement in an addiction crisis that took the lives of 500,000 Americans over two decades, the Sacklers would cleanse the blood from their hands and fully atone for their sins. “Richard, Theresa, David, Jonathan, Ilene, Beverly, Kathe, and Mortimer D.A. Sackler, as well as the souls of their late forbears Raymond and Mortimer, will be guaranteed permanent residence in God’s shining paradise in the clouds. And as far as the justice system is concerned, everyone who died from an OxyContin addiction can go straight to hell.” The court also ruled that the Sacklers would be allowed to sell opioids once more when they entered the gates of heaven.

    Supreme Court: ‘We Wear Gold Crowns Now’

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