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US delays closure of Qatar camp housing more than 1,000 Afghans who helped the US war effort

US delays closure of Qatar camp housing more than 1,000 Afghans who helped the US war effort

President Donald Trump's administration has finalized a last-minute reprieve for a camp in Qatar that houses more than 1,000 Afghans who worked with U.S. forces
AP NewsAP News
Trump is set to extend the Qatar camp housing more than 1,000 Afghans who helped the US war effort

Trump is set to extend the Qatar camp housing more than 1,000 Afghans who helped the US war effort

President Donald Trump's administration is poised to issue a last-minute reprieve for a camp in Qatar that houses more than 1,000 Afghans who worked with U.S. forces
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China's Growing Security Focus in Afghanistan Amidst U.S. Role Reduction

China's Growing Security Focus in Afghanistan Amidst U.S. Role Reduction

China's engagement in Afghanistan has significantly increased over the past decade, with its original emphasis on economic relations now overshadowed by a security agenda. Beijing's primary concern is to prevent anti-Chinese militancy from spilling out of Afghanistan and to ensure that Uighur militants do not receive support from the Taliban. China seeks a stable Afghanistan and would prefer a government not dominated by the Taliban. However, it has reconciled with the Taliban, operating under the assumption that the United States and the Afghan government will not be able to decisively defeat the group, and that the Taliban will either control substantial territory or eventually come to power. Despite this, China has not pressured Pakistan to sever its long-standing support for the Taliban, much to the disappointment of the Afghan government. China's economic investments in Afghanistan remain below their potential due to persistent insecurity and corruption, which has also diminished China's economic focu...
ReutersReuters
UN agency warns funding crisis could leave 8.3 million people without aid

UN agency warns funding crisis could leave 8.3 million people without aid

By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Sept 29 (Reuters) - A deepening funding crisis could leave nearly 8.3 million refugees and forcibly displaced people without access to assistance this year, and push protection systems in some countries towards collapse, the United Nations refugee agency warned on
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UN Refugee Agency Warns of Deepening Funding Crisis, Threatening Aid for 8.3 Million Displaced Individuals

UN Refugee Agency Warns of Deepening Funding Crisis, Threatening Aid for 8.3 Million Displaced Individuals

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has issued a stark warning regarding a severe funding crisis that could leave approximately 8.3 million refugees and forcibly displaced people without essential assistance this year. The agency is facing a significant funding gap of $5.789 billion, with available funds decreasing by 24% between 2024 and 2025. As of July, UNHCR had only received 32% of the $8.505 billion required for 2026. This comes as the global population under its mandate is projected to reach 131.2 million by year-end, an increase from 129.4 million at the end of last year. The agency's 26-page report details the impact of budget cuts on critical services such as refugee registration, child protection programs, and support for survivors of gender-based violence. UNHCR has already implemented cost-saving measures, including a 33% workforce reduction in 2025, closing offices in 140 locations, and discontinuing operations in 15 countries compared to 2024.
USA TodayUSA Today
Trump's US, Greenland deal changes less than it seems | Opinion

Trump's US, Greenland deal changes less than it seems | Opinion

President Trump's new U.S., Denmark, Greenland agreement adds bases and blocks Russia and China. But Copenhagen was offering much of it already.
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CSIS International Security Program Features Experts with National Security Council Backgrounds

CSIS International Security Program Features Experts with National Security Council Backgrounds

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) International Security Program (ISP) features a roster of experts and affiliates with significant experience from various U.S. government and defense sectors. These experts include individuals who have served in the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, the Department of State, the U.S. intelligence community, the defense industry, and academia. The ISP's resident experts regularly publish their research on the CSIS website and are frequently cited in global media outlets. In addition to these resident scholars, the program also includes military fellows and non-resident affiliates, further broadening its expertise. The program aims to provide in-depth analysis and research on international security issues, drawing on the diverse backgrounds of its contributors.
TrendlineTrendline
San Diego Delegation Strengthens Ties with Japan in Key Economic Sectors

San Diego Delegation Strengthens Ties with Japan in Key Economic Sectors

San Diego Delegation Strengthens Ties with Japan in Key Economic Sectors
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U.S. State Department Proposes Using Passport Records for Voter Citizenship Verification

U.S. State Department Proposes Using Passport Records for Voter Citizenship Verification

The U.S. Department of State is planning to expand the use of its passport records to include voter-citizenship verification. This proposal, detailed in a Justice Department court filing from September 22, involves modifying the Passport Records System of Records Notice (SORN) to add a new 'routine use.' This change would permit sharing information from passport applicants with 'various entities utilizing federal government verification platforms' for purposes such as verifying identity or citizenship for government website access, voter eligibility, and other government services. Currently, voter eligibility verification is not explicitly listed among the routine uses for passport information. The proposed modification could be published in the Federal Register as early as October 22, followed by a 30-day public comment period. This move follows President Trump's March 2025 executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide state and local authorities with access to systems for...
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Representative Jared Golden Co-Sponsors Bill to Limit Lawsuit Challenges on Energy Projects

Representative Jared Golden Co-Sponsors Bill to Limit Lawsuit Challenges on Energy Projects

Representative Jared Golden, a Democrat from Maine, is a co-sponsor of a bill that seeks to reduce the timeframe for legal challenges against energy projects. This legislation, known as the SPEED Act, was passed by the House in December 2025 and proposes a 150-day limit for lawsuits filed under federal environmental and historic review laws. Currently, opponents of energy projects have up to six years to file legal challenges under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The proposed deal, which Senate negotiators are working on, would significantly shorten this period. The Congressional Progressive Caucus previously opposed the House version of the bill, arguing that a 150-day window is 'unreasonably short.' The bill would require passage in both the Senate and the House, and presidential approval, to become law. President Trump has reportedly offered to ease administrative delays on wind and solar projects to gain Democratic support for such a deal.
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Reps. Westerman and Gluesenkamp Perez Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand VA Home Loans for Rural Veterans

Reps. Westerman and Gluesenkamp Perez Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand VA Home Loans for Rural Veterans

Reps. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) have introduced the Veterans Owner-Builders’ Rights Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at expanding VA home loan access for rural veterans. The proposed legislation seeks to establish a five-year pilot program under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that would provide direct housing loans to veterans in rural areas for the construction of new homes. This initiative is designed to allow veterans with relevant skills to utilize their VA home loan benefits to build their own residences, addressing a current limitation where only about 30% of veterans use these loans. The bill also includes provisions for providing blueprints with American wood sourcing requirements, streamlining the permitting process by requiring permits within 45 days and covering associated fees, and offering technical assistance for construction and permit applications. Additionally, it includes a safeguard against home-flipping by requiring veterans to reside in the home for...
Asheville Citizen-TimesAsheville Citizen-Times
Guest Opinion: Are promised Trump handouts pre-election bribes?

Guest Opinion: Are promised Trump handouts pre-election bribes?

President Donald Trump is promising trillions in handouts that look and smell a lot like election bribes.