The relentless wind in Herat, Afghanistan, blows stinging dust that clings to the skin as the temperature soars to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), turning the area into a scorching furnace.
As children are waited for assistance, families huddle in small, shaded areas, and wear scarves to protect their faces.
Many people’s first glimpse of home after years of exile are portrayed by this harsh environment.
More than four million Afghans have left Iran and Pakistan since September 2023, with almost 1.5 million of them coming from Afghanistan alone in 2025. In addition, nearly 350, 000 Afghans were internally displaced within the first four months of the year, according to International Organization for Migration (IOM) data. This includes cross-border migration and internal displacement.
This widespread movement is primarily caused by the worsening economic environment and the growing climate change effects.
Afghans were essential to Iran’s economy by playing crucial roles in agriculture, manufacturing, and construction. They were not just temporary workers. Iran’s workforce has experienced significant gaps since their departure, and Afghan residents who return are in deep uncertainty.
Maryam, a widow with two children who had been living in Iran for six years, says, “Now I have nothing to turn to. I have no job, no home, and no one to turn to.”
Despite having kidney issues, Sadeq, her 15-year-old son, finds work to be her greatest source of pain rather than school. To prevent his mother from worrying more, he keeps his educational goals a secret. This unspoken dream weighs more than any physical condition, according to Maryam.
According to the World Bank’s 2025 Development Update, Afghanistan’s economy is still in its precarious state.
An estimated 1.7 million more young people are expected to enter an already overcrowded labor market by 2030 due to the massive influx of returnees. Many people may be forced to relocate again without making significant investments in entrepreneurship, job creation, and skill development.
Nearly 3, 000 returnees, internally displaced people, and members of the host community have received skills training since 2024 from IOM. More than 2,600 women-owned businesses have also been supported by the organization, which has created almost 12, 000 jobs, of which over 4,200 are women-owned, out of which 22 percent are women.
Although these initiatives provide significant stability and dignity, they only provide a small amount of what is required. IOM can improve stability, lessen the risk of repeat migration, and assist returningees in regaining dignity with more funding.
Jimmy Kimmel Live was suspended from air by Disney-owned ABC for an indefinite period of time after the host made remarks about Charlie Kirk’s alleged murderer.
A spokesperson for ABC said, “Jimmy Kimmel Live will be preempted indefinitely,” declining to provide additional information.
Tyler Robinson, 22, is facing murder charges in Kirk’s death. Kirk was allegedly shot and killed by Robinson on September 10 while the conservative activist was giving a speech at Utah Valley University. After a two-day manhunt, Robinson finally gave himself.
What Kimmel said that caused conservatives to be outraged, as well as what ABC and other outlets have said since:
What transpired?
Kimmel, a vocal critic of US President Donald Trump, accused “the MAGA gang” of trying to “score political points” from Kirk’s murder in his opening monologue on Monday, claiming they were quick to place the blame on the left before finding out much about the shooter’s motivations. The right-wing political movement that makes up Trump’s base is known as “Make America Great Again.”
Kimmel claimed on his show that the MAGA gang is “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and using every means they can to gain political points from it.” He continued, “There was grieving between the finger-pointing.”
He criticized Trump’s response to the shooting as well.
An adult grieves the death of a friend, he says. A four-year-old mourns a goldfish in this manner, Kimmel continued.
Conservatives were offended by the remarks, which the Trump administration responded with.
Jimmy Kimmel is suspended for allegedly causing the homeless, but Brian Kilmeade is still at work. pic. twitter.com/now6OJqQ8r
Heidi Zhou-Castro, a reporter for Al Jazeera, reported on Monday that Kimmel made the claim that the suspected shooter of Charlie Kirk was a “Trump Republican.” Kimmel also claimed that Kimmel spoke before authorities released texts that showed the suspected killer was actually politically opposed to Kirk.
Robinson was detained the following day and charged with aggravated murder. Although a precise motive is still unknown, prosecutors have cited his relatives’ statements in court documents that they had heard Kirk had veered left politically in recent years and that he had been filled with hate.
After Kirk’s murder, Robinson wrote to his flatmate and romantic partner, saying, “I had enough of his hatred.” Then he continued, “Some hate can’t be negotiated out,” in a separate message.
Kimmel, however, brought up the subject on Tuesday night when he claimed Trump had “fanning the flames” by attacking left-leaning people. Left-wing organizations are accused of ratcheting up hate against conservatives by the Trump administration, and it has stated that it will do so. Trump also stated on Wednesday that he intended to label the left-wing political movement Antifa a “terrorist” organization.
Benny Johnson, a right-wing podcaster, received a message from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr on Wednesday that he had a compelling argument against suing Kimmel, ABC, and Disney. The ABC and its affiliates are the ones who are tasked with granting licenses to broadcasters.
Carr stated, “This is a very, very serious issue for Disney at this time.” They are required to operate in the public interest as a result of a license granted by the FCC.
Kimmel had planned to address the criticism on his show on Wednesday and practice it that morning, according to a Bloomberg report citing sources.
Carr also urged local television station owners to “push back.”
Jimmy Kimmel Live at the El Capitan Entertainment Center, Los Angeles, is displayed on the sign that reads, “Daniel Cole/Reuters]
What caused the fallout?
The owner of several ABC affiliates, Nexstar, made an appearance that followed that announcement, announcing the removal of Jimmy Kimmel Live from its affiliates even before ABC itself confirmed the suspension.
The organization announced on Wednesday that it would stop broadcasting the program “for the foreseeable future, starting with tonight’s show.”
At a crucial moment in our nation’s political discourse, Kimmel’s comments about Kirk were “offensive and insensitive,” Nexstar continued.
Carr thanked Nexstar for “doing the right thing,” and expressed her support for their decision.
For its $6.2 billion acquisition of smaller rival Tegna, Nexstar, which claims to be the nation’s largest local television and media company, needs FCC approval.
I want to thank Nexstar for making the right decision.
Local broadcasters are required to protect the public’s interest. Although this is a unique decision, it is crucial for broadcasters to reject Disney programming that they believe is unwelcoming.
What did Trump say in response?
Soon after ABC revealed Kimmel had been suspended, Trump called it “great news for America.”
The Jimmy Kimmel Show has been cancelled due to its controversy. Congratulations to ABC on finally demonstrating the courage to carry out its mission,” Trump said.
He then criticized Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, both of whom he described as “two total losers” on Fake News NBC, for their behavior. Their reviews are also awful.
American citizens who mocked the assassination were urged by US Vice President JD Vance earlier this week to turn in their own citizens.
Trump remarked in July that he “loves that Colbert got fired. Even his ratings for talent were subpar. Jimmy Kimmel is reportedly coming up next. has a lower talent than Colbert”!
Two senators questioned whether politics were at play when the “Late Show” was pulled due to financial reasons, but the timing, three days after Colbert criticized a settlement between Trump and CBS parent company Paramount, made it happen.
The Jimmy Kimmel Show, which has received mixed reviews, has been cancelled. Congratulations to ABC for finally spouting the courage to carry out their plan. https://twitter.com/Vhj6DQSssu
Jimmy Kimmel, who is he?
Jimmy Kimmel is one of late-night television’s most recognizable faces in the country. One of the longest-serving talk show hosts still on air is Jimmy Kimmel Live, which he has hosted on ABC since 2003.
Before making his television debut, Kimmel began his radio career by hosting shows in Seattle, Tampa, and Tucson before moving to Los Angeles to start a TV career.
Kimmel has gained notoriety for his monologues, celebrity interviews, and popular comedy segments over the years. In recent years, he has also gained a more political bent, frequently voicing his opinions on social issues.
Kimmel has also hosted big-time live events like the Oscars and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, which earned him an Emmy.
Kimmel has reportedly reduced his workload over the past few years, frequently taking off during the summer. His ABC contract is set to expire in less than a year, which raises the question of whether he will continue to work for ABC or decide to quit after 20 years.
After two decades at ABC, he joked, “I’m looking forward to three years of what they call “quiet quitting.”” when his contract extension was announced.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire host Jimmy Kimmel receives the award in front of the audience in the form of a photo.
What was his show’s popularity?
Late-night viewers have been moving away from streaming services and social media, as opposed to the majority of traditional television.
During the broadcast season that ended in May, Jimmy Kimmel Live averaged 1.57 million viewers per episode, according to Nielsen, a media audience measurement company in the United States.
The field was dominated by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert during the same time, with an average of 1.9 million viewers.
According to audience data for the time frame ending August 31, 2025, Jimmy Kimmel Live attracted about 1.1 million viewers per episode, which is a 0.35 percent rating, down 11 percent from the previous month.
Joe Biden, the president of the United States, speaks with host Jimmy Kimmel during the ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, according to Kevin Lamarque.
In an effort to deter Russia, Denmark’s prime minister has announced that it will first purchase long-range, high-precision weapons.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticized Moscow in a staunch rebuke on Wednesday, saying that Russia would “present a threat to Denmark for years to come,” despite the absence of any immediate threat of an attack.
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She said, “The defence forces will be able to hit targets at long range with these weapons, and we will also be able to neutralize enemy missile threats,” adding that the decision represented a “paradigm shift in Danish defence policy.”
Troels Lund Poulsen, the minister of defense, stated that the government would work to develop missiles and drones, but he would not specify which weapons.
Following Denmark’s largest arms purchase to date, which included 58 billion Danish crowns ($9.2 billion) of European-made air defense systems, came the announcement. After decades of cuts, Frederiksen urged the military to “buy, buy, buy,” when moving forward with a 50 billion crown ($7.9 billion) increase in military spending over the next two years.
On Wednesday, it was unclear exactly how much money Denmark intended to spend on long-range weapons.
Frederiksen has spoken out against Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he wants to annex Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, in addition to Russia.
After a public broadcaster reported that three US citizens had allegedly tried to influence Greenlanders’ opinions in secret, Denmark summoned the country’s charge of affairs there last month.
Frederiksen said at the time, “Any interference in Danish and Greenlandic democracy’s internal affairs is unacceptable,” stressing that “the Americans have not clearly rejected” the report.
Billions travel to PURL to enter Ukraine.
Through the new Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a mechanism that allows NATO nations to finance the transfer of US-sourced weapons and technology to Ukraine, the country is currently hoping to see a significant increase in its weapons supply.
By October, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine anticipates receiving about $3.5 billion in PURL weapons, with Western air defense systems being the first US weapons to be delivered.
The expansion comes as a result of ongoing Russian attacks in southern Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhia city, where at least one person was killed and 18 others were injured earlier this week. In the city of Kharkiv in the northeast of the nation, two people were killed, and two more were hurt.
According to Zelenskyy, Russia has so far this month launched nearly 3,500 drones and nearly 190 missiles against Ukraine.
The president, who stated on X Wednesday that Russia “lacked the strength for large-scale offensives,” believes they have lost “so much manpower” in recent fighting, has maintained a sense of confidence.
Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent pro-Palestine activist who led the protests at Columbia University last year against Israel’s occupation of Gaza, must now be deported to Algeria or Syria, according to an immigration judge in the US.
According to court documents released on Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Louisiana immigration judge Jamee Comans cited Khalil as failing to provide crucial information when he applied for and obtained lawful permanent residency in the US.
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Khalil, a Syrian-born Algerian of Palestinian descent, has previously expressed concern that Israel will target him if he is deported to either country because of his activism.
Judge Comans alleged that Khalil’s application for a green card from the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and Columbia University Apartheid Divest, an activist group that supports an Israeli economic boycott, was a “lack of candor” by the applicant.
Comans claimed that Respondent intentionally misrepresented significant facts in order to evade the immigration process and lessen the likelihood of his applications being turned down.
In response, Khalil’s attorneys stated that they intend to appeal the deportation order and referenced a federal district court’s earlier ruling that the government could not deport or detain without delay as his federal court case progressed.
Khalil’s legal team has 30 days to file an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals after the deportation ruling, which is set for September 12. Since noncitizens are “almost never” granted stays of removal, his attorneys said they anticipate a swift appeal process and an unsuccessful attempt.
After showing up at Khalil’s student apartment building on the Columbia University campus in the city on March 8, US immigration agents made the first arrest. Khalil was a former graduate student there for the previous two years.
As a result of the arrest, several foreign students were detained and deported while Trump cut back on federal funding for alleged anti-Semitism at universities across the US.
Following a ruling from US District Judge Michael Farbiarz that his detention was unconstitutional, authorities held Khalil for three months in a Louisiana immigration detention facility before releasing him in June.
Khalil’s peaceful activism was frequently described as anti-Jewish and supportive of Hamas by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other law enforcement officials, but they omitted any supporting supporting evidence.
According to Farbiarz, the Trump administration likely violated Khalil’s right to free speech by holding him and trying to deport him under a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which permits the removal of foreign nationals who have “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”
Khalil has repeatedly been subjected to the White House’s repeated deportations, with the most recent incident involving his alleged violations of his green card.
Following the deportation ruling, Khalil’s attorneys worried that Judge Farbiarz’s “important order prohibiting removal” had become the “only meaningful impediment” to their client’s deportation.
Khalil also accused the Trump administration of using “fascist tactics” to punish him for his “exercise of free speech,” according to a statement released by the ACLU on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi is close to signing a multiyear contract extension with Inter Miami, according to a report released on Wednesday by ESPN, and that the biggest player in Major League Soccer may continue to play.
According to the report, the discussions are still in progress and only minor details are being settled. Financial details were not disclosed.
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Messi, 38, signed for Inter Miami in the 2023 season and has a contract that runs until the end of the 2025 campaign.
He has 20 goals in 21 league games this season, which is second behind him in the MLS. Messi also has 11 assists, placing her sixth. He added 16 assists and 20 goals (tied for second in the league) last season.
Messi totaled 41 goals and 27 assists in 46 Herons league games overall. Messi has 54 goals in 62 games overall.
Messi played for Paris Saint-Germain from 2002-2003 and Barcelona from 2004-2005, earning the Ballon d’Or eight times. In addition to helping Barcelona win the UEFA Champions League four times, he was a member of 10 Spanish and two French league titles.
Messi immediately won the 2023 Leagues Cup for Inter Miami when he joined the MLS. The Herons won the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, which is given to the organization with the best regular-season record, but they suffered a playoff defeat in the first round.
In a Saturday home game against DC United, Inter Miami (146-7, 49 points) is in sixth place in the MLS Eastern Conference.
Argentina won the 2021 and 2024 Copa America titles under Messi’s leadership in 2022.
He currently ranks second in MLS with 20 goals, making him Inter Miami’s top scorer. Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, Messi has scored 62 goals and added 29 assists.
[File: Chandan Khanna/AFP] Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, Messi has been the team’s most successful era.
