Latest news with #Pac
Gulf Today
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Home Office has no idea how many migrants overstayed
Millie Cooke, The Independent The government has failed to gather basic information such as whether people leave the UK after their visas expire or how many might have stayed to work illegally, the chairman of a cross-party committee of MPs said. The Public Accounts Committee (Pac), which examines the value for money of government projects, said the Home Office had failed to analyse exit checks since the skilled worker visa route was introduced by the Tories in 2020. Some 1.18 million people applied to come to the UK on this route — designed to attract skilled workers in the wake of Brexit — between its launch in December of that year and the end of 2024. Around 630,000 of those were dependents of the main visa applicant. But the Pac said there is both a lack of knowledge around what people do when their visas expire and that the expansion of the route in 2022 to attract staff for the struggling social care sector led to the exploitation of some migrant workers. Its report said there was "widespread evidence of workers suffering debt bondage, working excessive hours and exploitative conditions", but added there is "no reliable data on the extent of abuses". It noted that the fact that a person's right to remain in the UK is dependent on their employer under the sponsorship model means migrant workers are "vulnerable to exploitation". While the problems began under the previous Conservative government, the revelations will come as a major headache for Yvette Cooper, who is trying to persuade voters she can get a grip on illegal migration. It comes just days after new figures showed that a record number of people have crossed the Channel in small boats in the first six months of this year, despite Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to "smash" the smuggling gangs. Provisional Home Office data showed that a total of 19,982 people have arrived in the UK since the start of 2025 — the highest total for the halfway point of the year since data was first collected on migrant crossings in 2018. Meanwhile, figures published earlier this year suggested thousands of care workers have come to the UK in recent years under sponsors whose licences were later revoked, in estimates suggesting the scale of exploitation in the system. The Home Office said more than 470 sponsor licences in the care sector had been revoked between July 2022 and December 2024 in a crackdown on abuse and exploitation. More than 39,000 workers were associated with those sponsors since October 2020, the department said. In its report, published on Friday, the Pac said: "The cross-government response to tackling the exploitation of migrant workers has been insufficient and, within this, the Home Office's response has been slow and ineffective." It also noted a lack of information around what happens to people when their visas expire, stating that the Home Office had said the only way it can tell if people are still in the country is to match its own data with airline passenger information. The report said: "The Home Office has not analysed exit checks since the route was introduced and does not know what proportion of people return to their home country after their visa has expired, and how many may be working illegally in the United Kingdom." Committee chairman Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said while the former Tory government had "moved swiftly to open up the visa system to help the social care system cope during the pandemic", the speed and volume of applications "came at a painfully high cost - to the safety of workers from the depredations of labour market abuses, and the integrity of the system from people not following the rules". He added: "There has long been mounting evidence of serious issues with the system, laid bare once again in our inquiry. "And yet basic information, such as how many people on skilled worker visas have been modern slavery victims, and whether people leave the UK after their visas expire, seems to still not have been gathered by the government." Earlier this week legislation to end the recruitment of care workers from abroad was introduced to parliament as part of a raft of immigration reforms. The move has sparked concerns from the adult social care sector, with the GMB union describing the decision as "potentially catastrophic" due to the reliance on migrant workers, with some 130,000 vacancies across England. The Home Office believes there are 40,000 potential members of staff originally brought over by "rogue" providers who could work in the sector while UK staff are trained up. Sir Geoffrey warned that unless there is "effective cross-government working, there is a risk that these changes will exacerbate challenges for the care sector". He said the government must "develop a deeper understanding of the role that immigration plays in sector workforce strategies, as well as how domestic workforce plans will help address skills shortages", warning that it "no longer has the excuse of the global crisis caused by the pandemic if it operates this system on the fly, and without due care". Adis Sehic, policy manager at charity the Work Rights Centre, said the report "unequivocally finds that the sponsorship system is making migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation because it ties workers to employers" and that the Home Office had "simply relied on sponsors' goodwill to comply with immigration rules". He added: "This report is yet more damning evidence that the principle of sponsorship, which ties migrant workers in the UK to their employer, is inherently unsafe for workers and, in our view, breaches their human rights.
Black America Web
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Black Movies to Watch for the Fourth of July
Black Movies to Watch for the Fourth of July This Fourth of July, skip the textbook history and tap into something real—Black joy, resistance, freedom, and the flyest energy our culture brings. Independence Day hits differently when you know the full story, so why not spend the holiday vibing with movies that reflect our power, passion, and legacy? Whether you're pre-gaming for the cookout, chillin' under fireworks, or just catching a break from the chaos, this list brings the fireworks to your screen. From comedy classics and quotable faves to coming-of-age gems and bold statements of Black independence, these movies remind us what it really means to be free—on our terms. RELATED: Top 20 Classic Black Movies Since 2000 Black Movies to Watch for the Fourth of July was originally published on 1. The Wood (1999) – Brotherhood, nostalgia, and summer love in Inglewood. 2. Girls Trip (2017) – Black girl freedom, turned all the way up. 3. Poetic Justice (1993) – Janet & Pac? Road trip vibes and emotional healing. 4. House Party (1990) – A cookout essential. Ain't no party like a Black party. 5. Coming to America (1988) – Royalty, romance, and freedom from tradition. 6. Do the Right Thing (1989) – A hot summer day in Brooklyn turns revolutionary. 7. Set It Off (1996) – Ride or die friendship and economic rebellion. 8. Paid in Full (2002) – Hustle, loyalty, and that gritty 4th of July hustle spirit. 9. ATL (2006) – Skating, summer, and Southern Black coming-of-age. 10. Get Out (2017) – A surreal reminder of what freedom really means.
Black America Web
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Tupac Shakur's Influence In Rap, Movies & Hip Hop Culture
Source: Bob Berg / Getty More than 25 years after his death, Tupac Shakur's fingerprints are still all over today's music. Artists like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and even Drake have openly cited Pac as a major influence, not just musically, but philosophically. Pac's raw, introspective storytelling set a standard for vulnerability, honesty, and social awareness in rap. Kendrick's To Pimp a Butterfly and DAMN. feel like spiritual successors to Pac's Me Against the World and All Eyez on Me , tackling racial injustice, inner conflict, and legacy. J. Cole's emotionally driven lyrics and conscious approach to fame echo Pac's vision of an artist as a voice for the voiceless. Even Drake's blend of emotional introspection and mainstream appeal reflects elements of Pac's multifaceted style. Tupac was one of the first rappers to fully break into Hollywood while maintaining street credibility. Pac's iconic roles in Juice , Poetic Justice , and Above the Rim showed his range as an actor and helped pave the way for artists like Ice Cube ( Friday ), 50 Cent ( Power ), and Donald Glover ( Atlanta ). Today, many rappers pursue acting as a natural extension of their brand, a lane Tupac helped clear. His belief in expressing truth through multiple mediums made him a cultural figure beyond just music—a blueprint for the modern multi-hyphenate entertainer. Source: Mychal Watts / Getty Tupac's impact reaches far beyond the studio and the screen. He became a symbol of resilience, complexity, and rebellion. His 'Thug Life' mantra wasn't about glorifying crime—it was about survival in a system rigged against the poor and oppressed. His fearless approach to speaking truth to power still inspires artists and fans alike. As noted in a New York Times retrospective, Tupac embodied the contradictions of the American dream—hope, anger, ambition, and tragedy. Even on Reddit, fans across generations passionately debate his legacy, proving how deeply he continues to resonate. Whether through lyrics, activism, fashion, or art, Tupac's influence on hip hop is permanent. He helped shape what it means to be an artist with something real to say. How much do you think hip hop would be different without Pac's influence? SEE ALSO Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
New York Post
04-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Rashid Tlaib fund-raises for NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani
Radical Israel-bashing 'Squad' Rep. Rashida Tlaib is doing a text blast to raise funds for a super PAC backing Zohran Mamdani for mayor — but not everyone is pleased with the solicitation. Tlaib's pitch recently showed up on the mobile phones of prospective donors courtesy of the pro-Mamdani group New Yorkers for Lower Costs. Mamdani, as with the Michigan congresswoman, is an ardent foe of Israel and supports the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against the Jewish state. 3 Rep. Rashida Tlaib is helping raise funds for a super PAC supporting mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Photo by3 Tlaib's message of support for Mamdani was sent out as a text to potential donors by New Yorkers for Lower Costs. Robert Miller 'Zohran, who's led hunger strikes for a cease-fire [in Gaza] and workers' rights, isn't raising any more money for his campaign under New York City's public financing system,' Tlaib said in the solicitation. The Mamdani campaign has already hit the maximum fundraising cap under the system after raising thousands of small donations that qualified it for the 8 to 1 in public matching funds. New Yorkers for Lower Costs has raised about $60,000 in its efforts to date, although that's a pittance compared to the more than $4 million secured by the Fix The City super Pac supporting Democratic mayoral front-runner and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. 'Andrew Cuomo, who's on the legal team defending [Israel] Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu for war crimes in Gaza, has millions pouring in from his billionaire-backed super Pac,' Tlaib complained in the ad for Mamdani. 3 Tlaib participated in a Democratic Socialists of America virtual organizing call for Mamdani last month. 'Zohran is getting drowned out on the airwaves. That's why I'm supporting the official Zohran Mamdani support PAC — to run the ads Zohran can't,' said the congresswoman — who has been openly supportive of the Palestinian terror group Hamas and called for the destruction of Israel. A Jewish donor who is a staunch backer of Israel and requested anonymity told The Post they were 'appalled' at receiving a text message from Tlaib on behalf of Mamdani. Brooklyn state Assemblyman Kalman Yeger, a strong ally of Israel, also said he is not surprised that Tlaib is being used as a fundraising tool by the pro-Mamdani camp. 'Unfortunately, in New York City, there are antisemites out there who would be receptive to her message, and Mamdani is the most antisemitic candidate New York has ever seen,' Yeger said. Mamdani, a state assemblyman from western Queens, is running second behind Cuomo in recent Democratic primary polls. Last month, Tlaib participated in a Democratic Socialists of America virtual organizing call for Mamdani, where she urged 'comrades' to back him for mayor. Tlaib, a member of the US House of Representatives' far-left 'Squad' alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx-Queens) and others, is known for her disdain of her own party's support for Israel. As the only Palestinian American in Congress, she has been openly supportive of Hamas during her time in office and has even been censured by colleagues for defending it and for calling for the destruction of the Jewish state. During Netanyahu's address to Congress last spring, Tlaib was widely ripped for brandishing a sign accusing the Israeli leader of being a 'war criminal' and 'guilty of genocide.' She also repeatedly berated then-President Joe Biden as an 'enabler' over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war and even declined to endorse Kamala Harris as her party's 2024 presidential pick. Branded by some Republicans as the 'poster child' for Trump derangement syndrome, Tlaib most recently held up real-time signs during President Trump's joint session of Congress last month declaring him a 'liar.'
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tupac Murder Suspect Duane ‘Keffe D' Davis Insists He's Innocent in First TV Interview Since Arrest
Duane 'Keffe D' Davis is speaking out from behind bars as he faces a murder charge for the 1996 shooting death of Tupac Shakur. Davis, who pleaded not guilty, has remained at Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas since his September 2023 arrest, and he has now given ABC News his first-ever interview since being arrested. More from Billboard Duane 'Keffe D' Davis Murder Charge for 1996 Death of 2Pac Upheld in Court Diplo's Run Club Expanding to Six New Cities Hear Calvin Harris Tease a New Country-Oriented Song Featuring His Own Vocals 'I'm innocent,' he said in the sit-down, which aired Thursday (March 6) on Good Morning America. 'I did everything they asked me to do. Get new friends. Stop selling drugs. I stopped all that. I'm supposed to be out there enjoying my twilight at one of my f—ing grandson's football games and basketball games. Enjoying life with my kids.' 2Pac's murder remained a cold case until Davis' 2023 arrest nearly 27 years after the legendary Death Row rapper was gunned down in Las Vegas. Still, the former Crips gang member, who prosecutors believe was the 'shot caller' to orchestrate the hit on Pac, is confident he'll be found not guilty. 'I did not do it,' he insisted during the interview. 'They don't have nothing. And they know they don't have nothing. They can't even place me out here. They don't have no gun, no car, no Keffe D, no nothing.' Davis claims he was hundreds of miles away when the 2Pac shooting took place, and said he'll have about '20 or 30 people' coming to court to corroborate his alibi. He spoken about his alleged involvement in Pac's murder in the past, as he's given his account in numerous interviews as well as his 2019 Compton Street Legend memoir. However, back in 2008, Davis allegedly agreed to a proffer agreement with authorities connected to an L.A. task force, which would have granted him immunity from being prosecuted in the case. Per ABC News, he once again admitted his alleged role in Pac's murder a year later to detectives in Las Vegas, but they were not required to honor any previous agreements. A Clark County District Court judge ruled in January that Davis had not shown proof of any immunity deals. He's repeatedly been denied bail. Shakur was shot on Sept. 7, 1996, in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. Authorities believe Davis orchestrated the hit with others in the car following a brawl at the MGM Grand casino. Davis was arrested in September 2023 and has been charged with first degree murder. He will head to trial in February 2026. Watch Davis' interview with ABC News above. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
