Eight killed, 37 injured as heavy rains lash Punja…

BOSTON: A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a policy that would have revoked work permits for thousands of immigrants and asylum seekers across the United States. The ruling allows affected individuals to continue working legally while the legal challenge against the policy proceeds in federal court. The decision was issued by US District Judge Nathaniel Gorton in Boston after immigrant rights organizations and labor unions filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s immigration measures. The judge ruled that the policy should not take effect until the court fully reviews its legality. The disputed policy was introduced as part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration agenda following legislation passed by Congress in 2025. The law imposed new fees on asylum applications and introduced stricter rules governing employment authorization for people protected under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). If implemented, the new policy would have affected tens of thousands of immigrants who are legally living in the United States under humanitarian protections. Many of them were at risk of losing their legal right to work, making it difficult to support themselves and their families. Among those expected to be affected are TPS holders from El Salvador, Sudan, and Ukraine, many of whom have lived and worked in the United States for years. The policy was scheduled to come into effect this week before the federal court stepped in to halt its enforcement. The lawsuit argued that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) acted unlawfully by implementing the new restrictions without following the proper legal process. The plaintiffs said the policy would cause severe financial hardship for thousands of families and disrupt businesses that rely on legally authorized immigrant workers. Judge Gorton’s order temporarily prevents federal authorities from cancelling work permits while the case remains under judicial review. The ruling does not permanently strike down the policy but ensures that existing work authorizations remain valid until the court reaches a final decision. The Trump administration has consistently pursued tougher immigration policies, including efforts to end Temporary Protected Status for people from several countries. Officials argue that TPS was intended as a temporary humanitarian measure and should not become a permanent immigration pathway. Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court allowed the administration to move forward with ending TPS protections for certain groups of Haitian and Syrian immigrants. However, the latest ruling prevents another major immigration measure from taking immediate effect. Immigrant advocacy groups welcomed the court’s decision, saying it protects vulnerable workers from losing their jobs and income while the legal dispute continues. They argued that the ruling provides temporary relief to thousands of families facing uncertainty over their future.

A long-standing bipartisan consensus in Washington regarding unyielding support for Israel is facing unprecedented strain, primarily driven by deepening fractures within the Democratic Party. Escalating military action in Gaza, broader regional conflict, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close alignment with US Republicans have steadily eroded traditional Democratic backing, threatening to transform America’s foreign policy landscape into a sharp partisan divide. This internal tension is increasingly evident across Capitol Hill and key electoral contests. Congressional votes attempting to restrict or eliminate annual military assistance, which amounts to billions of dollars alongside recent emergency packages, have gained significant momentum, drawing support from senior figures like former Speaker Nancy Pelosi despite pushback from House leadership. High-profile primary races in battlegrounds such as Michigan, Florida, and Colorado highlight this rift, pitting progressive candidates advocating a complete halt to military funding against establishment figures emphasising the strategic necessity of security ties. Recent public opinion polls reinforce this realignment, with a solid majority of Democratic voters maintaining that Washington is overly supportive of Israel, reflecting a generational shift that could permanently alter future US diplomatic relations.

A ten-member international climbing expedition led by world-renowned Nepali-born mountaineer Nirmal “Nims” Purja has gone missing after a massive avalanche struck Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram range. Communication with the group was completely cut off following the impact near the 8,047-metre summit. The missing team comprises five Nepalese guides, Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, Omani climber Nadhira Al Harthy, American climber Mallory Geis, Chinese national Wang Zhong, and another foreign national. Search and rescue operations were launched as weather conditions permitted, with the Pakistan Army dispatching helicopters to assist ground crews and rescue teams ascending from nearby mountains. Initial tracking data from Purja’s device registered downhill movement following the slide, offering a faint glimmer of hope as emergency teams race against time in high-altitude conditions. The expedition was part of Purja’s attempt to become the first person in history to summit all fourteen of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks twice without supplemental oxygen.