Muslim and Arab aliens in a dilemma
Muslim and Arab aliens in a dilemma
UNITED STATES: As the deadline loomed for immigrants from five Arab or Muslim nations to register with U.S. authorities, immigration rights advocates complained that many of their clients are caught in a difficult dilemma.
Friday is the deadline set by the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for most citizens of Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Indonesia and Bangladesh living in the United States to register with the federal government.
Similar deadlines have passed for nationals from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan and many other countries, mostly Middle Eastern or Muslim.
Many aliens who registered have overstayed their visas or are otherwise in the country illegally, although many have applications pending to legalize their status. Illegal status brings the risk of detention.
As of April 18, more than 129,000 people had registered under the program, said bureau spokeswoman Lori Haley. Of those, 2,310 have been detained and 9,888 have been given notice to appear for immigration proceedings. --AP
;AFP;KOD; ANPAi..r.. ATW-Russia-France Russia, France pledge to boost defense ties JP/12/ATW
Russia, France to boost defense ties
RUSSIA: Russia and France pledged on Friday to boost military cooperation, developing an alliance born out of their joint opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
"Defense relations between Russia and France are old and excellent -- but considering the global situation and the new risks in the world, they must be further reinforced," visiting French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said at the start of talks with her Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov.
France and Russia spearheaded outspoken opposition to the U.S.-led war and are leading efforts to ensure the United Nations plays a central role in Iraq's reconstruction.
The French defense minister said the Moscow talks would also touch on Russian-French cooperation in joint military missions, including peacekeeping in Afghanistan and Kosovo. --AFP
;AP;KOD; ANPAi..r.. ATW-Canada-explosion Explosion levels strip mall in Toronto, seven people missing JP/12/ATW
Blast levels strip mall in Toronto
CANADA: A natural gas explosion leveled a strip mall in Toronto on Thursday, leaving seven people missing and presumed dead in the rubble. Four others were injured.
The blast started a fire at the shopping complex in western Toronto and tore a hole in the side of nearby home. Windows were blown out at several stores across the street.
A fire department spokesman said construction workers had been working on a gas line when the blast occurred on Thursday afternoon. Four people were sent to a hospital with undisclosed injuries.
After extinguishing the fire, emergency crews used a crane and heavy construction equipment on Thursday night to probe through the smoking rubble. The strip mall contained four shops and five apartments. --AP