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US sets deadline to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants

By in News, World News

Haitian immigrants will no longer be protected under special laws under the US government.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced in a statement on Friday that Haitians would no longer be able to remain in the nation as a result of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation.

TPS allows citizens of nations that are in conflict, a natural disaster, or other extraordinary circumstances to temporarily reside in the US. They are also permitted to travel and work.

The DHS secretary can extend the designation to a period of six, twelve, or 18 months, though it is typically done for a longer period.

Temporary protections like TPS have been withdrawn as part of a larger effort to restrict immigration to the US, however, under President Donald Trump’s administration.

A DHS spokesman said in a statement on Friday that “this decision restores integrity to our immigration system and ensures that Temporary Protective Status is actually temporary.

More than a 10th of the population was killed and 1.5 million people were left homeless in Haiti as a result of a devastating earthquake in 2010, which was the first to grant the TPS designation. Particularly in the wake of recent years of worsening gang violence and political instability, the designation has been regularly extended and expanded.

President Trump has attempted to end TPS for Haitians even as the island nation’s situation has deteriorated since taking office from 2017 to 2021.

More than 5, 600 gang-related fatalities occurred in Haiti last year, and 1.3 million people were internally. This has caused a protracted humanitarian crisis in Haiti. Food, water, and medical supplies are extremely difficult to obtain in the capital, where armed groups currently control 90% of the city.

Haiti is listed as a Level 4 nation, the highest warning level, according to the US Department of State’s travel advisory.

Because the designated area has life-threatening conditions, Level 4 means “do not travel.” Due to “kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited health care,” the State Department advises Americans to avoid Haiti.

However, according to the DHS statement, Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, “decided that overall, country conditions have improved to the point where Haitians can return home safely.”

Further, the statement further explains that she concluded that allowing Haitian nationals to temporarily reside in the United States was against the country’s national interest.

TPS is estimated to affect 260 000 Haitians. The statement advises those impacted to either seek refuge in their home country or return.

However, Haitians are not the only population affected by the temporary immigration ban.

The Supreme Court made it possible for the Trump administration to revoke TPS for 350, 000 Venezuelan residents living in the US in early May.

The high court also upheld Trump’s right to revoke the two-year “humanitarian parole” that made it possible for 530, 000 people to remain and work in the US after the high court’s ruling later in the month. Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans, and Nicaraguans, all of whom are facing political repression in their home countries, were among the affected humanitarian parole recipients.

Liverpool agree deal for Preston keeper Woodman

By in News, Sports News
Images courtesy of Getty
Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Freddie Woodman has joined Liverpool from Preston North End in a free transfer, according to Premier League champions Liverpool.

The 28-year-old is about to end his contract, having made 22 appearances for the Championship side last season.

Woodman will start pre-season training with Arne Slot’s squad next month, according to Liverpool’s announcement on Friday.

Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili need experienced cover as Vitezslav Jaros and Harvey Davies are both on loan from Valencia until the end of the current season.

Caoimhin Kelleher was sold to Brentford earlier this year for a potential £18 million fee.

Woodman has represented Preston, Kilmarnock, Swansea City, and Newcastle United. He won the World Cup with England Under-20s in 2017.

Woodman does not need to play one of Liverpool’s 17 non-homegrown slots on the Uefa squad because he meets the requirements for an “association trained” player.

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  • Liverpool
  • Premier League
  • Preston North End
  • Football

Kneecap slams they have ‘enough s***’ to worry about’ amid flag fallout and Glastonbury

By in Entertainment News, News

Kneecap have opened up on their thoughts about their controversial actions ahead of their upcoming Glastonbury set this weekend

Kneecap will be performing at Glastonbury amid the controversy (Image: PA)

Irish rap trio Kneecap have hit out at the reaction to bandmember Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig last year.

The musician appeared in court earlier this month, after being charged, with the band’s scheduled appearance at Glastonbury put in doubt at the time. There were even calls from the Prime Minister for them to be booted off.

However, with the set ready to still go ahead, the band have furiously hit out at the reaction to their actions. Kneecap, which is also made up of Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, will still perform on the West Holts Stage on Saturday, and said they have “enough s*** to worry about” when it comes to the fallout from their actions.

Kneecap
Kneecap are set to play at Glastonbury(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

In a chat with the Guardian, Ó hAnnaidh was asked if he regretted the moment. However, he insisted it was a joke and he portrays a character. “S*** is thrown on stage all the time,” he said. “If I’m supposed to know every f***ing thing that’s thrown on stage [including the Hezbollah flag] I’d be in Mensa, Jesus Christ.”

He went on: “I don’t know every proscribed organisation – I’ve got enough s*** to worry about up there. I’m thinking about my next lyric, my next joke, the next drop of a beat.”

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And he also asked why he should regret his “dead Tory” comments. “It was a joke,” he defiantly said. “we’re playing characters, it’s satirical, it’s a f***ing joke.”

He went on to say the video “wasn’t an issue” until the band’s “Free Palestine” comment at Coachella. “The point is, and the context is, it all [resurfaced] because of Coachella. That’s what we should be questioning, not whether I regret things,” he said.

In May, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who uses the stage name Mo Chara, was charged over the alleged display of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London last November.

The band have strongly denied the charges brought against the star and released a statement to insist they will “vehemently defend” themselves against what they claimed was “political policing”. The court heard the 27-year-old is “well within his rights” to voice his opinions on Israel and Palestine, but the alleged incident is a “wholly different thing”.

At the hearing, Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove said: “Of course, support for the one is not the same as support for the other.

“So the issue in this case, and the reason it has come to court, it centres on the apparent support by Mr Óg Ó hAnnaidh of a proscribed terrorist organisation.”

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Óg Ó hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20. His release has allowed the band to play their controversial Glastonbury set. However, it’s not thought that the set will be broadcast live on the BBC.

I had first death threat at 18 – Watson on social media abuse

By in News, Sports News
Getty Images
Tom Mallows
BBC Sport journalist

British tennis player Heather Watson says she has received social media abuse “daily” during her career and had her first death threat aged 18.

Watson was speaking after compatriot Katie Boulter told BBC Sport about the scale of unsavoury and hurtful comments she has received online, including death threats.

And Sir Andy Murray has said he is trying to keep his children away from social media and backed calls for more action to prevent abuse of sport stars.

“My first death threat was at 18”, Watson told BBC Sport at a Wimbledon media event on Friday. “I told my friend]American tennis player] Sloane Stephens at the time.

” The thing that shocked me the most, but also kind of made me feel better – because I told her I was scared as this person told me he was watching me and was going to kill me – was that she said ‘ girl, don’t worry, I get these all the time’.

“I’m smiling now after so many years and such a long career. I receive abuse daily, but it is all in perspective.

” It is all just sad people who have nothing better going in their lives than to sit behind their computer or phone and write that.

“I don’t think anyone in their right mind would abuse someone online they have never met. It just goes over my head, it is just madness”.

Watson is preparing for Wimbledon and will face Danish 23rd seed Clara Tauson in the first round of the singles draw, having been handed a wildcard.

‘ Abuse is the norm ‘

Speaking to BBC Sport earlier this month Boulter said that receiving abusive content and death threats has become “the norm” for athletes and that “it becomes more apparent every single time you go on your phone”.

Murray, who retired from professional tennis in August 2024, said the prevalence of social media abuse “hasn’t really changed”, despite athletes speaking out on the subject for many years.

Other tennis players pressed for more action in response to Boulter’s comments, including calls for social media to implement identity verification.

For their upcoming European Championship defense in Switzerland, several members of the England women’s football team intend to abandon social media.

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  • Tennis

I had first death threat at 18 – Watson on social media abuse

By in News, Sports News
Getty Images
Tom Mallows
BBC Sport journalist

British tennis player Heather Watson says she has received social media abuse “daily” during her career and had her first death threat aged 18.

Watson was speaking after compatriot Katie Boulter told BBC Sport about the scale of unsavoury and hurtful comments she has received online, including death threats.

And Sir Andy Murray has said he is trying to keep his children away from social media and backed calls for more action to prevent abuse of sport stars.

“My first death threat was at 18,” Watson told BBC Sport at a Wimbledon media event on Friday. “I told my friend [American tennis player] Sloane Stephens at the time.

“The thing that shocked me the most, but also kind of made me feel better – because I told her I was scared as this person told me he was watching me and was going to kill me – was that she said ‘girl, don’t worry, I get these all the time’.

“I’m smiling now after so many years and such a long career. I receive abuse daily, but it is all in perspective.

“It is all just sad people who have nothing better going in their lives than to sit behind their computer or phone and write that.

“I don’t think anyone in their right mind would abuse someone online they have never met. It just goes over my head, it is just madness.”

Watson is preparing for Wimbledon and will face Danish 23rd seed Clara Tauson in the first round of the singles draw, having been handed a wildcard.

‘Abuse is the norm’

Speaking to BBC Sport earlier this month Boulter said that receiving abusive content and death threats has become “the norm” for athletes and that “it becomes more apparent every single time you go on your phone”.

Murray, who retired from professional tennis in August 2024, said the prevalence of social media abuse “hasn’t really changed”, despite athletes speaking out on the subject for many years.

Following Boulter’s comments, fellow tennis players demanded more action, including calls for the introduction of identity verification on social media.

Several of the England women’s football team also plan to give up social media for their forthcoming European Championship defence in Switzerland.

Related topics

  • Tennis