News

COVID-era Title 42 set to expire in United States

Published

3 years ago

May 12, 2023

The new regulation, which becomes effective on Thursday, will deny asylum to most migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas outlined new regulation amid a surge of migrants at the southern border with Mexico.

This is due to the COVID-era health restrictions known as Title 42 expiring this week.

The new regulation, which becomes effective on Thursday, will deny asylum to most migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, a key part of President Joe Biden’s immigration enforcement plan.

“The rule presumes that those who do not use lawful pathways to enter the United States are ineligible for asylum. It allows the United States, it allows us, to remove individuals who do not establish a reasonable fear of persecution in the country of removal.”

Mayorkas said the new rule would mean harsher consequences for illegal border crossers, including a five-year ban from the U.S. if they do not qualify for asylum.

“Crossing irregularly is against the law and those who are not eligible for relief will be quickly returned.”

Mayorkas also called on Congress to fix what he called a “broken” immigration system, saying lawmakers failed to provide funds requested by the Biden administration for border agents and facilities.

“I cannot overemphasise that our current situation is the outcome of Congress leaving a broken, outdated immigration system in place for over two decades, despite unanimous agreement that we desperately need legislative reform.”

Migrants have been amassing in Mexico this week and those who have already crossed into the U.S. are straining border cities.

“I’m like in limbo. Let’s see what happens,” Colombian migrant Yovani Arias said while waiting to cross in the Mexican city of Tijuana. “I hope to be able to pass to the United States because I have a son there, he’s 18 years old and I want to be with him.”

“This time, we were trying to cross illegally because we previously turned ourselves in to the Border Patrol, and they didn’t process us,” Venezuelan migrant Luis Rivero said. “They didn’t call our contacts and families in the United States.

“On May 11th, things are about to change. We will no longer be able to enter in the same way. It will be stricter.”

“I understand that they will modify Title 42, which will be replaced by Title 8, but I am not clear what the new restrictions will be. It still has us pretty confused,” Venezuelan migrant Romario Solano said.

“Will it be easier? I doubt it because we know that as migration has increased, tougher measures have been taken.”

News

Russia bans WhatsApp and promotes state-backed messaging app

Kremlin blocks WhatsApp, urging citizens to use state-backed MAX; critics warn of surveillance, prompting protests in Moscow.

Published

18 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Kremlin blocks WhatsApp, urging citizens to use state-backed MAX; critics warn of surveillance, prompting protests in Moscow.

The Kremlin has officially blocked WhatsApp, urging Russians to switch to MAX, a state-backed messaging app. This move comes after Meta refused to comply with local regulations, sparking debates over digital freedom in the country.

Critics warn that MAX could be used for government surveillance, though authorities deny these claims. The ban highlights Russia’s growing control over foreign tech platforms and its push for locally regulated alternatives.

Activists in Moscow have staged protests calling for an open and unregulated internet, while the public reacts with a mix of concern and resignation.

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News

U.S. secretly sent 6,000 Starlink terminals to Iran after protests

US covertly sent 6,000 Starlink terminals to Iran amid protests, aiding internet access despite government shutdowns and crackdown violence.

Published

18 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

US covertly sent 6,000 Starlink terminals to Iran amid protests, aiding internet access despite government shutdowns and crackdown violence.

U.S. officials report that the Trump administration covertly sent around 6,000 Starlink satellite internet terminals into Iran following widespread protests. The move was designed to bypass strict internet blackouts imposed by authorities in Tehran.

The terminals reportedly enabled activists and dissidents to reconnect with the outside world during periods of severe digital restriction, raising fresh questions about foreign involvement and cyber strategy.

As geopolitical tensions simmer, the revelation underscores how connectivity has become a powerful tool in modern conflict.

#Iran #Starlink #DonaldTrump #MiddleEast #GlobalPolitics #TechNews #InternetFreedom #BreakingNews

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News

Anthropic secures 30 billion in fresh funding as valuation surges

Anthropic raises $30B, doubling valuation to $380B, boosting global AI race with support from GIC, Coatue, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

Published

18 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Anthropic raises $30B, doubling valuation to $380B, boosting global AI race with support from GIC, Coatue, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

Anthropic has secured a staggering $30 billion in fresh funding, catapulting its valuation to $380 billion and cementing its place among the most valuable AI companies in the world. The raise marks the second-largest private technology funding round ever, trailing only OpenAI’s $40 billion deal.

Major backers in this latest round include Singapore’s GIC and Coatue Management, alongside existing heavyweight partners Microsoft and Nvidia. The scale of the investment underscores intensifying global competition in artificial intelligence as capital continues to flood into the sector.

Anthropic’s valuation has more than doubled in just five months, fuelled by rapid enterprise growth. The company now works with eight of the Fortune 10 and boasts more than 500 customers spending over $1 million annually, highlighting surging demand for advanced AI tools across corporate America.

#ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Anthropic #TechNews #VentureCapital #BigTech #Innovation #Startups