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Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Mystery as authorities find mass grave with dozens of bodies in bags
Investigators in Mexico made a grisly discovery this year, finding dozens of bodies at a construction site in Mexico. Yesterday, prosecutors said they have identified at least 17 of the 34 bodies found in Zapopan, in Jalisco, Mexico, after remains were found buried in a mass grave. 169 bags were filled with human remains and found by builders in February, prompting a forensic investigation. It's the second time this year Jalisco has been in the spotlight. In March, a group looking for missing people found human remains and clothing items in a ranch used by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Known as the 'Rancho Izaguirre' case, 15 people have been arrested, including the mayor of a nearby town. Hundreds of thousands of Mexicans have been listed as 'disappeared' by the government in the past 20 years, as families desperately search for answers. Between 2020 and 2022, the number of missing people on the Interior Ministry's national registry, which dates back to 1964, rose from about 73,000 people to more than 100,000, with most of them being men. The majority were between 15 and 30 years old, from lower-income families, the National Search Commission (CNB) reported last year. Police, the military, and cartel groups are believed to be behind many of the incidents. Earlier this year, nine students who went on holiday in southern Mexico in February were found with their hands severed, left in a deserted car. The bodies were found in San Jose Miahuatlan, roughly 175 miles from Mexico City, and were feared to be yet another cartel killing. More Trending The nine students had reportedly travelled from Tlaxcala to Oaxaca for holidays when they were targeted – but other local news outlets have claimed they were members of 'Los Zacapoaxtlas', another gang. As of May 2024, cartels controlled about one-third of Mexico's territory, with the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels responsible for the vast majority of drug trafficking in the United States, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. There are worries that violence could increase further. According to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, lethal clashes between gangs have increased 18% since 2023. In 2014, 43 students from a Rural Teacher's College were kidnapped in a famous case – there is no indication that the students are alive. Only three of the students' remains have been found. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Sister makes desperate plea for twin who went missing at food bank MORE: Ten killed and several injured after shooting at religious festival in Mexico MORE: Two arrested after 'hardworking peacemaker' stabbed to death outside prayer centre
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Gaza to Iran: Israel's illegal wars grow with U.S. support
The United States' involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict has sparked concerns of an escalating regional conflict in West Asia. However, the U.S.'s stance isn't new. Data shows that it has supported Israel's offensive acts steadfastly amid calls for ceasefires and even when the latter was accused of war crimes. Only last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, citing allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including starvation as a method of warfare. The then U.S. President Joe Biden had defended Israel and 'rejected the ICC's application for arrest warrants'. News reports show that the people of Gaza continue to starve as Israel still restricts food trucks and aid from entering the region. The chart shows number of food trucks and food aid (in tonnes) allowed into Gaza in the last one year. *Data was not available for March-April 2025 Fewer than a thousand food trucks entered Gaza in the past two months — the lowest in at least a year. The food aid provided also drastically decreased from 2 lakh tonnes in February this year to less than 20 thousand tonnes in June this year. But the war is not just confined to Gaza now. Israel has intensified its attacks on other countries in the region as well. What began as a response to the October 7 Hamas attack in 2023 is quickly spiralling into an all-out regional conflict in West Asia. Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) data shows that Israel alone has launched over 42,000 attacks in the region, with almost 25,000 on Palestine alone. The chart shows the number of attacks carried out by Israel in West Asia from October 7, 2023 to June 13, 2025 Close to 60,000 people have been killed in the attacks carried out by Israel in the 615 days between October 7, 2023 and June 13, 2025. More than 56,000 people were from Palestine, with more than 17,000 victims being children. Apart from Gaza, people have been killed in attacks launched by Israel in Yemen, Lebanon, Iran and Syria in the period. The chart shows the number of persons killed due to Israeli attacks in West Asia since October 7, 2023. While many countries have repeatedly expressed concerns about the grave humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, the UN has been urging through resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire. Data shows that the U.S., despite international concerns, has diplomatically shielded Israel in the international arena. The table shows how the U.S., Israel and India voted on key resolutions concerning Palestine since October 7, 2023 It has been against all resolutions concerning Palestine and ceasefire, except for Security Council resolution 2735 (2024). Israel has refused all resolutions brought to the table. India, which had voted 'yes' in several resolutions demanding a ceasefire or humanitarian aid in the region, has abstained in the latest resolution passed on June 12 which had demanded a ceasefire again. This is the fourth time India has abstained from voting in a resolution asking for a ceasefire in Gaza in the past three years. The U.S. continues to back Israel militarily and with foreign aid. According to a press release from March this year, the Trump administration has approved nearly $12 billion in major foreign military sales to Israel. The United States on Sunday struck three prominent nuclear sites in Iran: Natanz, Fordo and Isfahan. While President Donald Trump congratulated the American warriors on their successful mission in Iran, data from YouGov, an international online research data and analytics technology group, shows most Americans are wary of the U.S.'s entanglement in a conflict. Most Americans thought the U.S. military should not get involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran. The chart shows what U.S. citizens think about their country getting involved in Israel's conflict with Iran. The figure was higher across Democrats and Republicans alike. Only 16% of all U.S. citizens felt that their country should even get involved in Israel's latest conflict. Source: ACLED, WHO, COGAT, UN Voting library and YouGov sambavi.p@
New York Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Anti-ICE protests to cost Los Angeles taxpayers over $30M: official
Anti-ICE protests that rattled Los Angeles will cost taxpayers in the City of Angels a whopping $32 million, according to newly released data. The eye-watering sum includes the cost of police response, emergency services, cleanup and public property damage resulting from federal immigration protests that have rattled the city, LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia revealed in a post on X. Some $29.5 million of the costs come from the LAPD's response to protests, 'including citywide tactical alert costs,' Mejia said, sharing a graph breakdown of the taxpayer funds. Anti-ICE protests will cost Los Angeles taxpayers a whopping $32,042,107, according to newly released data. LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia Another $1.4 million will be used for clean-up and public property damage, according to the post. The remainder of the money includes funds set aside for the Los Angeles Fire Department, street services, general services and the Public Works Board. Downtown LA has become the epicenter of anti-ICE riots in response to Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. Since June 8, the LAPD has made roughly 561 arrests related to protests, cops said, according to KTLA. Downtown Los Angeles has become the epicenter of anti-ICE riots in response to Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. Toby Canham for NY Post More than 200 people were arrested on June 10 alone after Mayor Karen Bass instituted a curfew in Los Angeles. 'The most explosive escalation of tensions between demonstrators and police since the height of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 is currently unfolding in Los Angeles over Trump's 'mass deportation agenda,'' said Kieran Doyle, with Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, a group that tracks civil unrest and wars. The large total does not include potential lawsuits, Mejia noted.
New York Post
12-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
This is all the riot gear LA cops are using to break up anti-ICE protests amid ‘explosive escalation'
Los Angeles cops have fired hundreds of rounds of less-lethal ammunition, deployed tear gas and flash bangs to break up the anti-ICE protests that have raged for nearly a week across Southern California. More than 200 people were arrested on Tuesday night alone after Mayor Karen Bass instituted a curfew on Los Angeles. 'The most explosive escalation of tensions between demonstrators and police since the height of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 is currently unfolding in Los Angeles over Trump's 'mass deportation agenda,'' said Kieran Doyle, with Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, a group that tracks civil unrest and wars. Advertisement 16 Police in riot gear in downtown Los Angeles during anti-ICE protests. Toby Canham for NY Post 16 A protester getting arrested by the California Highway Patrol in downtown LA on June 10, 2025. AP Here are some of the riot tools that cops are deploying across Los Angeles to stop rioters and control protests. Tear gas Advertisement Also called CS gas, for the active ingredient it uses, the has been deployed by both the LAPD and California Highway Patrol — in the form of hand-held canisters — to disperse hostile crowds. Tear gas is banned for use in warfare under the Geneva Protocol, but is commonly used for riot control by police. 16 Protesters running as police officers use tear gas and flash bangs at the Federal Building in Santa Ana on June 9, 2025. AP 16 A protester washing his eyes out with milk after getting hit with tear gas. eff Gritchen/The Orange County Register via AP Advertisement 16 A protester wiping her eyes after tear gas was deployed in LA on June 6, 2025. AP Impact rounds or baton rounds This 'less-lethal ammo' is fired from either a specialized launcher or a modified shotgun. These can cause blunt force injuries and lacerations. The LAPD fired off some 600 baton rounds over the weekend, using lighter rubberized foam projectiles in place of traditional rubber bullets, the WSJ reported. Advertisement 16 A police officer firing less lethal munitions at a protester in downtown LA on June 9, 2025. Photo by RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images 16 Bruises on a protester's torso after getting hit with 'less-lethal ammo' Photo by16 An officer holding a less lethal munition launcher outside the Edward Roybal Federal Building. Getty Images Many police departments started using these as a less dangerous alternative to rubber bullets, which caused serious injures, including in the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. Officers are often trained to aim these low so that they bounce off the ground, so as to avoid head injuries. However, New York Post photographer Toby Canham appears to have been shot with one of these rounds directly in the head while snapping images of a riot this week. 16 Cops under a bridge fire a baton round, which New York Post photographer Toby Canham. Toby Canham for NY Post Advertisement 16 Canham was hit by a less-lethal round during the latest unrest in LA. Louise Barnsley He captured an incredible image of the projectile coming straight at him before he was hit. The round left him with a massive wound on his forehead. Similarly, an Australian TV reporter appears to have been shot with one of these rounds live on the air. Pepper balls Authorities in LA have used pepper balls — a less-lethal projectile designed to burst on impact and release pepper spray for crowd control. Advertisement 16 An LA County Sheriff's deputy preparing to use a pepper ball gun during protests in Paramount on June 7, 2025. 16 Police officers firing pepper spray balls at protesters at the Los Angeles Federal Building entrance on June 6, 2025. REUTERS These chemicals can cause a burning sensation to exposed skin, coughing and gagging, and watering and closing off the eyes. These are fired from weapons that look like paintballs guns. Batons Advertisement 16 Police are using different tactics and weapons to try and manage the latest protests. Toby Canham for NY Post 16 A Los Angeles Metro Police officer preparing to swing a baton on June 8, 2025. REUTERS 16 A press photographer wounded during a protest in Compton, LA over the weekend. AP The LAPD and California Highway Patrol have used batons made of either wood, metal or polycarbonate to strike demonstrators. Advertisement Night sticks are among the oldest tools in law enforcement when it comes to crowd control and making arrests of hostile people. 16 A flash bang canister seen on the ground in downtown LA on June 9, 2025. REUTERS Flash bangs (stun grenades) Used by both the military and the police, flash bangs explode with both a blinding flash and a deafening boom. The aim is to disorient targets.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Data fail to support Trump's justifications for latest travel ban
The Trump administration on Wednesday announced travel restrictions targeting 19 countries in Africa and Asia, including many of the world's poorest nations. All travel is banned from 12 of these countries, with partial restrictions on travel from the rest. The presidential proclamation, entitled "Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats," is aimed at "countries throughout the world for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a full or partial suspension on the entry or admission of nationals from those countries." In a video that accompanied the proclamation, President Donald Trump said, "The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colo., has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted." The latest travel ban reimposes restrictions on many of the countries that were included on travel bans in Trump's first term, along with several new countries. But this travel ban, like the earlier ones, will not significantly improve national security and public safety in the United States. That's because migrants account for a minuscule portion of violence in the United States. And migrants from the latest travel ban countries account for an even smaller portion, according to data that I have collected. The suspect in Colorado, for example, is from Egypt, which is not on the travel ban list. As a scholar of political sociology, I don't believe Trump's latest travel ban is about national security. Rather, I'd argue, it's primarily about using national security as an excuse to deny visas to non-White applicants. Terrorism and public safety In the past five years, the United States has witnessed more than 100,000 homicides. Political violence by militias and other ideological movements accounted for 354 fatalities, according to an initiative known as the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, which tracks armed conflict around the world. That's less than 1% of the country's homicide victims. And foreign terrorism accounted for less than 1% of this 1%, according to my data. The Trump administration says the United States cannot appropriately vet visa applicants in countries with uncooperative governments or underdeveloped security systems. That claim is false. The State Department and other government agencies do a thorough job of vetting visa applicants, even in countries where there is no U.S. embassy, according to an analysis by the CATO Institute. The U.S. government has sophisticated methods for identifying potential threats. They include detailed documentation requirements, interviews with consular officers and clearance by national security agencies. And it rejects more than 1 in 6 visa applications, with ever-increasing procedures for detecting fraud. The thoroughness of the visa review process is evident in the numbers. Authorized foreign-born residents of the United States are far less likely than U.S.-born residents to engage in criminal activity. And unauthorized migrants are even less likely to commit crimes. Communities with more migrants -- authorized and unauthorized -- have similar or slightly lower crime rates than communities with fewer migrants. If vetting were as deficient as Trump's executive order claims, we would expect to see a significant number of terrorist plots from countries on the travel ban list. But we don't. Of the 4 million U.S. residents from the 2017 travel ban countries, I have documented only four who were involved in violent extremism in the past five years. Two of them were arrested after plotting with undercover law enforcement agents. One was found to have lied on his asylum application. One was an Afghan man who killed three Pakistani Shiite Muslim immigrants in New Mexico in 2022. Such a handful of zealots with rifles or homemade explosives can be life-altering for victims and their families, but they do not represent a threat to U.S. national security. Degrading the concept of national security Trump has been trying for years to turn immigration into a national security issue. In his first major speech on national security in 2016, Trump focused on the "dysfunctional immigration system which does not permit us to know who we let into our country." His primary example was an act of terrorism by a man who was born in the United States. The first Trump administration's national security strategy, issued in December 2017, prioritized jihadist terrorist organizations that "radicalize isolated individuals" as "the most dangerous threat to the Nation" -- not armies, not another 9/11, but isolated individuals. If the travel ban is not really going to improve national security or public safety, then what is it about? Linking immigration to national security seems to serve two long-standing Trump priorities. First is his effort to make American more White, in keeping with widespread bias among his supporters against non-White immigrants. Remember Trump's insults to Mexicans and Muslims in his escalator speech announcing his presidential campaign in 2015. He has also expressed a preference for White immigrants from Norway in 2018 and South Africa in 2025. Trump has repeatedly associated himself with nationalists who view immigration by non-Whites as a danger to White supremacy. Second, invoking national security allows Trump to pursue this goal without the need for accountability, since Congress and the courts have traditionally deferred to the executive branch on national security issues. Trump also claims national security justifications for tariffs and other policies that he has declared national emergencies, in a bid to avoid criticism by the public and oversight by the other branches of government. But this oversight is necessary in a democratic system to ensure that immigration policy is based on facts. Charles Kurzman is a pProfessor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The views and opinions in this commentary are solely those of the author.
