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☆ US and Panama sign agreement that aims to close the Darién Gap to ‘illegal migrants’
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Abel Alvarado | Omar Fajardo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The US and Panama have signed an agreement on immigration issues that aims to “close the passage of illegal migrants” through the Darién Gap, the Central American government announced Monday. Panama is home to the Darién Gap, a mountainous rainforest region connecting South and Central America, that has seen an increase in the number of migrants willing to risk their lives and safety to cross it. The 66-mile (106-kilometer) hike through the Darien Gap brings migrants from Colombia to Panama and is a crucial passage for those hoping to reach the United States and Canada. “The Darién must continue to be a great green lung, not only for us but for the entire region. Its biodiversity cannot be put at risk by illicit activities.”Panamanian figures show at least 174,513 migrants crossed the treacherous Darién Gap, from January to June 6 of this year.

Persons: “, Javier Martínez, Alejandro Mayorcas, Jose Raul Mulino, ” Mulino, ”, he’s Organizations: CNN, Central American, Panamanian Foreign, Acha, of Homeland Security, United, Central America, Central, Migration Service Locations: Panama, Darién, ” Panama, South, Central, Darien, Colombia, United States, Canada, Central American, “, “ Panama

☆ Businesses push Biden to grant work permits to longtime undocumented immigrants
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

She knows there’s a bigger pool of experienced workers out there, but she can’t hire them because they are undocumented immigrants. The coalition argues Biden can do more through executive action under current law, including by expanding work permits to spouses of US citizens. All of Indiana dairy farmer Steve Obert's employees are authorized to work, but he is among the business leaders advocating for more work permits for longtime undocumented residents. Courtesy Steve ObertAll of Obert’s 15 non-family employees are foreign born and have work permits. But he knows that undocumented workers contribute a lot to the industry, as well as to the communities where they live.

Persons: Lisa Winton, Winton, Biden, ” Winton, ” Lisa Winton, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Trump, , ”, Karoline Leavitt, “, ” It’s, Steve Obert, Jessica Vaughan, Rebecca Shi, ‘, ’ ”, Shi, Vaughan, Tara Watson, Bush, Obama, Kerri Talbot, Trump’s, Steve, ” Obert Organizations: CNN, Winton Machine Company, American Business Immigration Coalition, Employers, Time, Trump, Pew Research Center, Labor, National Agricultural Workers Survey, Center, American, National Milk Producers Federation, Immigration Services, Center for Immigration Studies, Department of Homeland Security, Migration Policy Institute, Williams College, Immigration, Indiana Dairy Producers Locations: Suwanee , Georgia, Winton, Georgia, America, Indiana

Big tech companies have pulled back on PERM applications, often the first step to a green card. AdvertisementBig tech companies have backed off green card applications in a big way because the process has become tougher and there's less competition for talent. "If some of these people say 'yes, I'm interested,' then you're out of luck with the green card application." So this makes the green card process potentially easier outside of places like the Bay Area and NYC, she explained. Are you a foreign tech worker struggling with a green card application?

Persons: Ava Benach, —, Googlers, Benach, It's, Hugh Langley, Kali Hays, Eugene Kim Organizations: Big, Google, Service, Department of Labor, Washington DC, Amazon, Business, Meta, Companies, Citizenship, Immigration Services, Supply, Bay, Labor, Area, Big Tech, US, Department, Labor Department, Software Engineer, Research Locations: PERM, Silicon Valley, New York City, Washington, khays@businessinsider.com

☆ These are the world's 10 best airports for 2024, according to passengers. None are in the US.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Mikhail Markovskiy/ShutterstockCountry: Germany2023 Ranking: 7AdvertisementSkytrax Awards: Best Airport Staff in Europe, Best Airport in Central Europe, Best Airport Hotel in Europe (Hilton Munich Airport)7. Kazzure Gonzalez/Shutterstock.comCountry: JapanAdvertisement2023 Ranking: 9Skytrax Awards: World's Best Airport Staff, Best Airport Staff in Asia, Best Airport: 30-40 million passengers4. Sean Pavone / iStockCountry: Japan2023 Ranking: 3AdvertisementSkytrax Awards: World's Cleanest Airport, World's Best Domestic Airport, Best PRM and Accessible Facilities, Best Airport: 70+ million passengers, The Cleanest Airport in Asia3. Taylor Rains/Business InsiderCountry: Singapore2023 Ranking: 1Skytrax Awards: Best Airport in Asia, Best Airport Immigration Service, Best Airport: 50-60 million passengers, Best Airport Hotel in the World and Asia (Crowne Plaza Changi Airport)1. Thomas Pallini/Business InsiderCountry: QatarAdvertisement2023 Ranking: 2Skytrax Awards: World's Best Airport, Best Airport in the Middle East, World's Best Airport Shopping, Best Airport: 40-50 million passengers, The Cleanest Airport in the Middle East

Singapore's Changi Airport has lost its pole position as the world's best airport to Doha's Hamad International Airport, according to air transport rating firm Skytrax. Travelers of more than 100 nationalities participated in the Skytrax survey, which also named Hamad International Airport as the best airport in the world for shopping. Changi Airport has been crowned the world's best airport 12 times by Skytrax, including winning first place consecutively from 2013 to 2020, and again in 2023. In this year's survey, the city-state's airport won the titles of "Best Airport in Asia" and the "World's Best Airport Immigration Service." Tokyo's other major international airport, Narita International Airport, ranked No.

Organizations: Doha's Hamad International Airport, Hamad International Airport, Changi, Immigration Service, Korea's, Narita International Airport, Best Airport Staff, Passengers Locations: Doha's, state's, Asia, —, Narita

Congress has until Friday at midnight to pass six major spending bills to avert a partial government shutdown. Six spending bills that cover roughly three-quarters of all federal discretionary spending are at stake:– Defense: Includes funding for nearly all military-related activities. – State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs: Includes funding for U.S. diplomatic activities, cultural exchanges, development and humanitarian assistance. As of Monday morning, appropriators had yet to release any of the six funding bills they’ll need to pass. The stalemate comes in the wake of Republicans killing the bipartisan Senate border deal last month.

Persons: appropriators, they’re Organizations: –, – Financial Services, General Government, Department of, Treasury, of Columbia, – Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Coast Guard, Customs, Immigration Services, Labor, Health, Human Services, Education, Centers for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration, Social Security, National Labor Relations Board, Senate, U.S . Capitol Police, of Congress, Foreign, House Republican, White House, Department of Homeland Security Locations: U.S, – State

☆ South Korea records record number of Russians seeking asylum
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —A record number of Russians are seeking asylum in South Korea, according to South Korean authorities, with applications surging fivefold last year as Russians became the largest group seeking refuge in the East Asian country. A total of 5,750 Russian nationals sought asylum in South Korea in 2023, according to a report released earlier this month by the Korean Immigration Service. That’s five times higher than the 1,038 who sought protection in 2022 – and more than the total number of asylum applications from Russians recorded between 1994 and 2019. And the trend has continued into this year, with Russians making up the biggest group seeking asylum in January. In the past three decades, just 4,052 people have been recognized as refugees in South Korea from more than 103,000 asylum applications, according to the report.

Persons: South Korea CNN — Organizations: South Korea CNN, South, Korean Immigration Service, Immigration Service, Incheon International Airport, South Korean Justice Ministry, CNN, Customs, Protection Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Kazakhstan, China, Malaysia, Korea, Ukraine, Russia, Korean, Soviet, United States, Moscow

☆ Moving to Italy? Here's 3 mistakes American expats should avoid
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Patrizia Di Gregorio founded the international social network group Expats Living in Rome. Just ask Patrizia Di Gregorio, an Italian-American who founded the international social network Expats Living in Rome. "Americans want to come and don't understand that you can't just move to Italy," Gregorio, 52, told Business Insider. The Facebook group Expats Living in Italy, which is connected to Expats Living in Rome, has 92,800 members and counting. "Joining Facebook groups like Expats Living in Italy or others is a good source to learn from others — especially the mistakes they made."

Persons: Patrizia Di Gregorio, Gregorio, she's, —, She's, Patrizia Di Gregorio Expats, expats, it's, splurging Organizations: Service, Embassy, Consulates, Facebook Locations: Rome, Italy, Italian, American, expats —, United States, soggiorno, America

☆ What the border security bill would and wouldn’t do
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The border bill also comes with a big budget – including large amounts of funding for enforcement. New emergency border restrictionsWhat’s proposed: Once illegal border crossings reach a certain threshold, the Department of Homeland Security would be required to exercise a new emergency authority that bars migrants, except unaccompanied minors, from crossing the border between ports of entry. Those who lose their asylum cases in immigration court can appeal to judges on the Board of Immigration Appeals. Video Ad Feedback GOP lawmaker on border bill: This is all gamesmanship 03:56 - Source: CNNGiven the growing chorus of criticism on both sides of the aisle weighing in just a day after its release, this latest border bill may very well be as “dead on arrival” as some lawmakers have claimed. But the bill has picked up some high-profile support from the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents Border Patrol agents and has endorsed Trump in the past.

Persons: they’ve, That’s, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, —, ”, Muzaffar Chishti, Greg Chen, Chishti, “, Guillermo Arias, What’s, ” Amy Fischer, John Moore, it’s, Biden, Obama, Andrea Flores, ” Ben Johnson, CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, Lauren Fox, Morgan Rimmer, Ted Barrett, Clare Foran Organizations: CNN, White, Republican, Institute, American Immigration Lawyers Association, DHS, Department of Homeland Security, Federation for American Immigration Reform, Border Patrol, Getty, Citizenship, Immigration Services, Immigration, Amnesty International, Congress, National Border Patrol Council, Trump, American Locations: Ukraine, Israel, harm’s, Mexico, Jacumba , California, U.S, Rio, El Paso , Texas, Kabul, United States, DACA

☆ Uncle Sam just overhauled the H-1B visa lottery, and that's good news for startups
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Melia Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA new reform to the US H-1B visa program aims to ring out some of the uncertainty for migrant workers and employers. Each year, tens of thousands of foreign nationals wind up at venture-backed companies through the employment-based visa program. However, obtaining an H-1B visa remains challenging due to high demand. Data shows much of the increase was due to a record-breaking number of employers submitting multiple H-1B registrations for the same person. "This led to many individuals being entered into the lottery multiple times, through different companies, and ultimately decreasing the odds of being selected in the lottery," Finkelman said.

Persons: —, Jason Finkelman, Finkelman, USCIS, Sophie Alcorn, Alcorn Organizations: Service, Immigration Services, Business, Tech Locations: Austin, Hyderabad, Beijing, Silicon Valley

WASHINGTON (AP) — To his supporters, Alejandro Mayorkas is a thoughtful, driven secretary — a “Boy Scout” — who brings a prosecutor's tenacity and his personal understanding of the immigrant experience in America to running his sprawling agency. But it is the department’s role in immigration that has made Mayorkas a target of impeachment. Mayorkas said his immigrant and refugee background mean that he brings an intense patriotism to the job. Citizenship and Immigration Service, Mayorkas put in place a program giving protection from deportation to migrants brought to the border as children. Since taking the job as DHS secretary, Mayorkas has been subject to often hostile rhetoric over the administration's handling of the border and immigration.

Persons: —, Alejandro Mayorkas, Ali, he’ll, Tom Warrick, ” Warrick, Joe Biden, Biden, Mayorkas, Donald Trump, “, ”, didn’t, Cecilia Munoz, Obama, Munoz, Barack Obama, “ He’s, Mark Green of, impeaching, William Belknap, Ulysses Grant, Brandon Judd, Trump, Judd, Ahilan Arulanantham, Arulanantham, Angela Kelley Organizations: WASHINGTON, Department of Homeland Security, Republicans, Atlantic Council, “, DHS, Republican, Associated Press, Mayorkas, White, . Citizenship, Immigration Service, Democratic, Trump, House Homeland Security, National Border Patrol Council, Security, Border Patrol, Biden, Center for Immigration Law, UCLA School of Law, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Congress Locations: America, U.S, Mexico, United States, Washington, Ukraine, California, Cuba, Los Angeles, Miami, Mark Green of Tennessee

☆ Uncertainty ‘Is Killing Us’: Sikhs in India Are in Limbo Amid Canada Dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Suhasini Raj | More About Suhasini Raj | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Now Mr. Singh is simply afraid to go, suspecting that flights might be canceled in coming weeks, leaving him helpless in Canada. “It hurts, this cold war, and there is an uncertainty now which is killing us,” Mr. Singh, a farmer who had hoped to explore business opportunities with extended family in Canada, said dejectedly. Each of their sentences, each word of our leaders, is affecting the lives of each one of us. Known as India’s breadbasket, Punjab is a majority-Sikh state where the average income is about $2,080 a year. It has a special relationship with Canada and a special place in the hearts of Sikhs like Mr. Singh.

Persons: Singh, ” Mr, breadbasket Organizations: Boeing Locations: Canada, Punjab

☆ Crypto has minted tens of thousands of new millionaires, but they're still only 0.02% of everyone who's ever bought digital currency, a new wealth report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

At least 88,200 people have $1 million or more in cryptocurrencies, a new wealth report said. That's out of 425 million total crypto users around the world, according to Henley & Partners. A fortunate few — 182 users — have cryptocurrencies worth more than $100 million, the report said. Crypto-millionaires are defined as people who have at least $1 million in cryptocurrency assets, per the firm's Crypto Wealth Report 2023. But the world's wealthy crypto users are starting to outnumber the number of high-net-worth individuals in entire countries, such as Russia, which has 65,000 millionaires, and Saudi Arabia, which has 52,000 millionaires, per Amoils' estimate.

Persons: That's, Andrew Amoils, Dominic Volek, Volek, — Organizations: Henley & Partners, Service Locations: cryptocurrencies, Wall, Silicon, London, Russia, Saudi Arabia, cryptocurrency

☆ Panama blasts Colombia for inaction on Darien Gap migrants
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Elida Moreno | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PANAMA CITY, Aug 4 (Reuters) - The head of Panama's migration agency lashed out at Colombia on Friday, slamming its southern neighbor for failure to help control the flow of mostly U.S.-bound migrants passing through the dangerous Darien Gap amid a surge of people traveling north. "For Panama, this is a crisis, but unfortunately with Colombia we have not been able to reach any kind of understanding," Gozaine said in a statement released on Friday. The dense tropical jungle of the 60-mile (97-km) Darien Gap links Panama and Colombia, covering a missing section on the Pan-American highway, which stretches from Alaska to Argentina. Late last month, Panama's security ministry released data showing that the number of individual crossings of the Darien Gap reached an all-time high of nearly 250,000 in the first seven months of the year. "The only thing that Panama can do is manage the flow and permit (migrants) to keep traveling north and try to minimize the damage to Panama," she said.

Persons: Samira Gozaine, Gozaine, Elida Moreno, David Alire Garcia, Tom Hogue Organizations: PANAMA CITY, Panamanian, Pan, Thomson Locations: PANAMA, Colombia, Panama, Darien, Alaska, Argentina, United States

☆ Opinion: It’s time to bring these US military veterans home
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Opinion Saúl Ramírez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Bartolomé, a US military veteran, has spent the last 15 Fourth of July holidays in Mexico. “It’s a stab in the back.”Between 2013 and 2018, 250 US military veterans were placed in removal proceedings and 92 were deported. Unfortunately, an accurate count of deported veterans is nonexistent, because Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not keep a comprehensive record of removed US veterans. Veterans who did not receive a dishonorable discharge are entitled to a military burial in the United States. As a result, the urgency in addressing noncitizen military members’ precarious situation is particularly palpable now.

Persons: CNN —, he’s, Saúl Ramírez Christopher Smith Bartolomé, ” Bartolomé, ”, “, Joe Biden, Mark Takano, Sen, Alex Padilla, “ I’m, I’m, ‘ I’m, ’, Bartolomé, ‘ Don’t, they’ve Organizations: Harvard University, CNN, US Armed Forces, Pew Research Center, United States, Judiciary, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration, Immigration Services, Department of Defense, Immigration Systems, New, of State, Department of Justice, DHS, of Homeland Security, Committee, Veterans Affairs, Veterans, Los, Twitter, Facebook, Bartolomé Locations: Mexico, United States, Los Angeles

☆ Uncle Sam wants migrants. Facing shortages, military recruiters trade citizenship for service.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The biggest challenges have been identifying geographic pockets of immigrant populations, finding ways to reach them and helping any of those interested navigate the complex military recruiting applications and procedures. The Air Force effort began this year, and the first group of 14 graduated from basic training and were sworn in as new citizens in April. As of mid-May there were about 100 in basic training who had begun the citizenship process and about 40 who had completed it. Thomas said the program required changes to Air Force policy, coordination with U.S. By the time Air Force recruits finish their seven weeks of training, the process is complete and they are sworn in as American citizens.

Persons: —, Bidari, Kalden Lama, Ed Thomas, Thomas, Natalia Laziuk, I've, Christine Wormuth Organizations: US Army, Navy, Service, U.S . Army Reserves, Army, Air Force, Army Staff, Dallas, Marine Corp, Defense, . Citizenship, Immigration Services Locations: Nepal, Dallas, U.S, America, American, United States, Cameroon, Jamaica, Kenya, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Chicago, Mexico, Haiti, Nigeria, Ghana, Colombia, Dominican Republic

WHAT IS TITLE 42? The COVID restrictions, known as Title 42, were first implemented under Republican then-President Donald Trump in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. The Biden administration intends to lift Title 42 next Thursday when the U.S. COVID public health emergency ends. In April, the U.S. Border Patrol apprehended some 183,000 migrants, according to preliminary data provided by Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, a 13 percent increase from March. U.S. border cities are bracing for a possible rise in migrants when Title 42 ends.

Immigration lawyer Ksenia Tchern's office is getting calls from worried clients, she said. The delay caused by the strike comes as Canada's immigration system is playing catch-up from pandemic delays. Immigration department spokespeople, whose work has been affected by the strike, could not provide details on the strike's impacts on immigration services. An immigration system perceived to be dysfunctional could complicate efforts to woo talented immigrants, said immigration lawyer Guidy Mamann. "It just gives our immigration system a black eye.

☆ America's immigration system is a nightmare, and it's forcing tech companies to move jobs outside of the country
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Paayal Zaveri | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Leaders like Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff have begun walking back their initial praise of remote work, worrying that it leads to employee underperformance. The most existential question raised by remote work, however, is whether working from home makes workers more replaceable. But remote work has just been a facilitator, they suggest, and the real culprit may very well be America's broken immigration system. The flawed US immigration system is forcing companies to hire elsewhereIt's no secret that the US immigration system is flawed. Remote work makes it possibleRemote work makes it all possible, says Job Van Der Voort, founder of Remote, a startup that helps companies hire workers internationally.

[1/5] Asylum seekers board a bus after crossing into Canada from the U.S. in Champlain, New York, U.S., February 28, 2023. Many of the arrivals abandoned plans to seek asylum in the United States, deterred by long processing times and restrictive definitions for asylum, according to aid officials and interviews with asylum seekers. "We want to help asylum seekers stabilize their lives whether in New York City or elsewhere." The Quebec government has said the increase in asylum seekers is straining its capacity to house people and provide basic services. Immigration experts said closing off the border to asylum seekers could push migrants to take even riskier routes.

Many of the arrivals abandoned plans to seek asylum in the United States, deterred by long processing times and restrictive definitions for asylum, according to aid officials and interviews with asylum seekers. "We want to help asylum seekers stabilize their lives whether in New York City or elsewhere." REUTERS/Christinne Muschi Acquire Licensing RightsThe Quebec government has said the increase in asylum seekers is straining its capacity to house people and provide basic services. The federal government said it has relocated more than 5,500 asylum seekers to other provinces since June, the first time it has done so. Immigration experts said closing off the border to asylum seekers could push migrants to take even riskier routes.

Persons: Zulema Diaz, Maryangel Diaz, Carlos Osorio, Diaz, Justin Trudeau, Joe Biden, Sean Fraser, Alejandro Mayorkas, Trudeau, Biden, Zulema, Eric Adams, Kate Smart, Fabien Levy, Smart, Ilze Thielmann, Raymond Theriault, Theriault, Christinne, Pierre, Luc Bouchard, You’re, Jamie Chai Yun Liew, Anna Mehler Paperny, Ted Hesson, Denny Thomas, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: REUTERS, New, . Homeland, Washington , D.C, Ottawa, New York City, Department of Homeless Services, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, Reuters Graphics Canada, United, Colombian, Immigration, Refugee Board, Canadian, Reuters, U.S, . Citizenship, Immigration Services, TLC, Border Patrol, University of Ottawa, Thomson Locations: U.S, Quebec, Niagara Falls , Ontario, Canada, CHAMPLAIN , New York, WASHINGTON, Peru, United States, New York City, Plattsburgh, Washington ,, New York State, New York, Haitian, Syracuse, El Paso, West Virginia, Niagara Falls, Guatemala, Champlain , New York, Montreal, Canada's province, Manitoba, Washington

☆ Laid off from a startup and on an H-1B visa? Here are 3 main things immigrant workers should know, according to experts.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Madeline Renbarger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Here are three steps laid off visa holders should take, according to tech industry experts. Though, it appears that laid off immigrant workers are having success finding new roles. Insider spoke with immigration attorneys, venture capitalists, and recruitment experts and compiled the three most important steps laid off H-1B visa holders should take during their 60-day window. Look into other visa categoriesAn attorney can also advise on what other visa categories a worker could be eligible for. "Companies started by immigrant workers employ a lot of immigrant workers too," she said.

Uber Freight has laid off 150 employees, or about 3% of the segment's total headcount. The layoffs impact the division's Digital Brokerage team, Uber Freight CEO Lior Ron said in a Monday message viewed by CNBC. Uber launched its freight unit in 2017 with a belief that trucking companies and laden goods could be matched using the same concept that underpinned the company's ride-hailing technology. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos that he isn't planning companywide layoffs. In Nov. 2022, delivery service DoorDash laid off 1,250 workers, or 6% of its headcount, weeks after ride-sharing platform Lyft cut 13% of its headcount.

☆ Venezuelans describe dangers and desperation amid U.S. asylum changes
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Albinson Linares | Noticias Telemundo | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

MEXICO CITY — Mariantonela Orellana spent nine days in the dangerous Darien Gap jungle in the Colombia-Panama border, and she described her nightmarish ordeal. Now back in Mexico, migrants wrestle with whether to try to stay in Mexico, keep trying to seek asylum in the U.S. or return to Venezuela. According to Department of Homeland Security data, the flow of Venezuelan migrants to the U.S. increased by almost four times compared to the year prior. Mexican authorities approved 61% of asylum applications from January to November, including at least 90% of approvals for Hondurans and Venezuelans. “I left Venezuela because the discrimination against the LGBT community is terrible; we are trampled on and attacked every day.

☆ Former Russian mercenary commander flees to Norway and seeks asylum
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Mithil Aggarwal | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Caroline-Radnofsky-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

A former member of an infamous Russian mercenary group who fought in Ukraine says he staged a dramatic escape to Norway, where he is seeking asylum and offering to cooperate with international war crimes probes. Medvedev said he had crossed into Norway and surrendered to local police before claiming asylum in the country, which shares an Arctic border with Russia. The former mercenary recounted his defection from his former employer, which he joined last year on a four-month contract after serving time in prison. Medvedev said he climbed through barbed-wire fences, evaded border patrol dogs, ran away from guards' bullets and ran through a forest and over an icy lake to make it into Norway. Norwegian soldiers patrol the border with Russia near Korpfjells, Norway.

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