The State of Israel is literally climbing great heights as Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the development of space lasers capable of carrying out attacks above Earth, according to a news report by The Jerusalem Post.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface…
Israel is developing space lasers to carry out attacks above the Earth, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday.
“One of the central goals that the prime minister and I set is that we are recruiting the best minds,” he said in a briefing with military reporters. “As of today, no country has the ability to mount attacks in space. We must be the leading country in the world with this capability.”
“If we achieve this, it will ensure the advantage of deterrence, of the ability to attack, destroy, and all of the other matters, versus our enemies with large resources,” he added.
Last Thursday, Katz said Israel was committed to becoming the leading player with capabilities to attack from space. But his latest statement was the first time he had specifically mentioned space lasers.
Israel is already a leading country in this field, having developed Iron Beam as a land-based space laser. During a recent visit to Elbit, The Jerusalem Post both witnessed and was informed about a project to enable fighter jets to fire lasers in the future.
Israel leads in developing laser weaponry – During the briefing, Katz seemed to be referring to Iran. Notably, during the war with Iran this year, Israel struck multiple Iranian facilities related to the space war, including those that were developing capabilities to attack satellites in space.
What remains unclear is whether Katz seeks to deter Russia and China from assisting Iran in the space race and other matters.
His statement that no other country has these capabilities was not entirely accurate, however, because both Russia and China have performed attacks on their own satellites and convincingly destroyed their test targets.
Lasers potentially could destroy enemy satellites and incinerate debris caused by attacks in space, according to foreign reports.
There has been speculation that Israel has the capability to destroy enemy satellites using the Arrow 3 missile system, which currently can strike ballistic missiles in space.
Being that Russia and China already have experience dealing with debris, however, many countries are working on other techniques, such as paralyzing, damaging, jamming, dragging, or using lasers against satellites in space.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Israel will be able to achieve huge breakthroughs with its development of space lasers? Do you think having a highly efficient space laser system will enable Israel to destroy enemy satellites while enhancing national defense? What is your opinion about the current state of the space race?
Recently in Las Piñas City, local police officers arrested an Australian national and three locals for disobedience following their act of illegally occupying a private residential property, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin. One of their companions, however, escaped and remains at large.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
An Australian and three Filipino men were arrested after allegedly occupying a private residential property and threatening its caretaker in Las Piñas City on June 23.
Las Piñas City Police chief Col. Ricky Neron identified the arrested suspects as Israel, 49, an Australian; Alberto, 58; Lowie, 56; and Jeffrey, 38. Another suspect, identified only as Art, escaped arrest and is now the subject of a police manhunt.
According to Neron, the incident occurred at around 8:30 a.m. on Veraville Drive, where the suspects allegedly entered and occupied the residential property owned by a 91-year-old man. Police said the group threatened the property’s stay-in caretaker and ordered him to leave.
The suspects reportedly gave the caretaker P10,000, allegedly as transportation fare, while forcing him to vacate the premises.
The caretaker immediately informed the elderly property owner, whose authorized representative subsequently sought police assistance and filed a complaint.
Responding officers from the Pamplona Substation proceeded to the property to verify the report and found the suspects occupying the residence without authority.
Police said the suspects were ordered to vacate the property but refused to comply, prompting officers to arrest them for direct disobedience.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you thankful to the police for resolving the problem and apprehending the suspects?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Clinical trials of pig kidney transplants to humans could start as early as 2028 in two specific hospitals in Japan, according to a news report by Kyodo News. This one-of-a-kind development, if successful, could help Japan address the shortage of organ donors.
It should be recalled that a recipient of a pig kidney in the United States survived a record-breaking 271 days before the organ had to be removed. Over a hundred thousand people in America are currently waiting for organ transplants and most of them in need of kidneys.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…
A Japanese startup said Monday it will conduct clinical trials of pig kidney transplants to humans at two hospitals as early as 2028, which if successful would likely make them the first of their kind in the country.
It is hoped that organ transplants from pigs to humans will address the shortage of organ donors in Japan. Pig kidney transplants have previously been carried out on a trial basis in the United States and China.
According to the Meiji University venture, PorMedTec, the kidneys, which have been genetically modified to prevent organ rejection, will be transplanted at Hokkaido University Hospital in Sapporo and Shonan Kamakura General Hospital in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture.
“We want to lay the foundation of xenotransplantation in Japan,” Hiroshi Nagashima, a Meiji University professor and representative director of the company, said in a press release, referring to the surgical transfer of non-human animals’ organs to human recipients.
The startup imports genetically modified pig cells developed by U.S. biotechnology company eGenesis Inc. and produces pigs with the same features in Japan. The genes of the animal have been modified in 69 areas to prevent organs from being rejected by recipients’ bodies.
The Japanese firm said it will finalize plans for the clinical trial and hopes to promote the widespread use of the treatment for patients with severe kidney failure once manufacturing and marketing approval is granted.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? What is the first thing you think of when it comes to transplanting animal organs into human bodies? Are you concerned that kidneys from pigs are not 100% compatible with humans? How many members of your local community suffer from kidney-related problems?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
Recently in the City of Parañaque, five foreigners were arrested by elements of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) over a suspected online scam hub located inside a condominium complex, according to a news report by The Daily Tribune.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Daily Tribune. Some parts in boldface…
Operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested five foreigners during an operation targeting a suspected online scam hub in Parañaque City.
The operation was conducted in the early hours of 17 June at a condominium complex in Sapphire Seaview Park, Parañaque City following intelligence reports linking the location to an alleged “love scam” operation that reportedly victimized individuals through online deception and cryptocurrency-related schemes.
Nabbed in the operation were Chinese national Tang Shun, Malaysian man Chia Kong Loon, as well as Burmese nationals Kum Htoi, Myo Oo, and Kyaw Tint Lwin. They were apprehended after immigration verification allegedly revealed violations of Philippine immigration laws.
According to intelligence information received by the BI, the location was allegedly being used for fraudulent online activities.
Authorities also received reports that some workers connected to the operation were being restricted from freely leaving the premises, prompting further investigation.
During the operation, one of the foreign nationals reportedly disclosed information indicating that multiple condominium units were being utilized for unlawful work-related activities. This led to the apprehension of the five foreign nationals.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you suspicious that there could be Chinese nationals living in your local community who could be secretly scamming people online? Do you believe that the concept of the Parañaque Renaissance includes criminal activities in the city committed by illegal aliens? Do you consider the city as a hot spot of illegal aliens today?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details by doing personal research and watching the movie more than once. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, film buffs and fellow geeks. Today, we go back to the year 2000 which saw the release of the original Scary Movie. It was a parody film that poked fun on the slasher film genre with Scream (1996) and I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) as the major references. For teen comedy, it parodied American Pie (1999) which in my opinion is its 3rd main reference.
After getting released in cinemas in July 2000, Scary Movie (with a production budget of less than $20 million) opened way beyond everyone’s expectations grossing a then record $42.3 million (the highest opening weekend for an R-rated movie). It ended with over $157 million in North America and its worldwide total was at $278,019,771. By comparison, Scream (1996) grossed $173 million worldwide while I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) had global ticket sales of $125.6 million.
Months later, Scary Movie opened here in the Philippines and I was fortunate enough to have seen it in one of Festival Mall’s original cinemas (1998-2024). After that, I replayed Scary Movie on DVD and cable TV, and saw most of its sequels.
With the newest Scary Movie (2026) playing in cinemas around the world, it is not surprising that the original Scary Movie of 2000 suddenly got featured in YouTube retrospective videos, retro movie reviews, movie podcasts and the like. Indeed, now is a good time to look back at the one movie that led to a franchise.
The story begins on the night of Halloween. A student named Drew (Carmen Electra) is alone at home and was about to cook herself some popcorn when she suddenly received a telephone call. The talk over the phone start friendly until Drew realizes she’s being watched by the caller. Suddenly a person dressed as Ghostface appears inside her house forcing her to make hasty decisions to survive.
Drew runs outside. As Ghostface grabs her, Drew’s clothes fall off exposing her body and underwear. Ghostface stabs her on the breast only to remove one of her silicone implants. Drew notices their family car approaching fast but she got hit accidentally as her father (the driver) was distracted. Ghostface eventually kills Drew.
A very short time later, the local high school got swarmed by several members of the press. The murder of Drew caused a major disturbance there. At school, Cindy Campbell meets with her boy friend Bobby Prinze, and their friends Brenda Meeks, Ray Wilkins, Greg Phillippe, Buffy Gilmore, and Shorty.
During class, Cindy notices Ghostface watching from a distance. She opens an anonymous letter with a message from the writer that he knows what happened during the previous Halloween. This compels Cindy and her friends to reflect about the hit-and-run accident they were involved in the previous year. They assume the masked killer stalking them is seeking revenge for the cover-up…
Quality
From Left to Right: Shannon Elizabeth as Buffy, Shawn Wayans as Ray, Lochlyn Munro as Greg, Anna Faris as Cindy and Jon Abrahams as Bobby.
This old movie is still very entertaining to watch. Under Keenen Ivory Wayans’ direction and his brothers’ involvement in writing the script, there is a strong emphasis on parodying films with the adult moviegoers in mind, and there definitely is a strong storytelling structure all throughout. There is a fine mix of comedy, horror, action and pop culture references throughout.
The comedic scenes or acts were done organically. Not one funny scene felt fake nor wooden. There definitely is something funny to see most of the time and very few films made me laugh or smile all throughout. When it comes to parodying key scenes from established films like Scream (1996), I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), American Pie (1999), Scream 2 (1997), The Sixth Sense (1999), The Blair Witch Project (1999) and The Matrix (1999), the filmmakers went all-in to entertain viewers and I can say they were really successful here.
Apart from making parodies, Wayans and his team even went as far as doing their own remakes of key scenes from Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and American Pie, complete with camera angles that strongly replicated those from the established films. With such creativity and passion behind the efforts, Scary Movie crafted its own narrative and had something fresh to show at a time when the slasher horror sub-genre of film was revitalized in American pop culture during the 1990s. In other words, there is something for American moviegoers to relate with in this film.
A notable parody of The Matrix in the film.
The filmmakers knew how to make fun of Scream and other films.
Along the way, the filmmakers got fine performances from the cast. To begin with, Anna Faris really stood out as Cindy Campbell and she showed a fine range of acting. Even though she only had a few professional acting credentials at the time of filming, Faris proved she can be the sweet girlfriend towards Bobby (Jon Abrahams), a real friend towards her friends (played by Marlon Wayans, Regina Hill, Shawn Wayans, Shannon Elizabeth, Dave Sheridan and Lochlyn Munro), be broken-hearted in reaction to betrayal, and even be an effective action performer. Faris is also good with executing comedy and her performance parodying the “What are you waiting for?” moment from I Know What You Did Last Summer is a must-see. This movie marks Faris’ breakout role and she became an essential player as the Scary Movie franchise grew in the years that followed.
Dave Sheridan as Doofy is absolutely cartoony and exaggerated, and also one of the more defining characters of the film. Regina Hill as the girlfriend of Shawn Wayans’ character ranges from talkative to annoying. Marlon Wayans is the 2nd most notable performer in the cast and he symbolizes the stoned guy while successfully delivering a lot of funny moments. Lochlyn Munro as Greg is the high-school jock who is arrogant, uptight and even panicky.
Yes, it is all true! Scary Movie (2000) accidentally predicted the rise of transgendered women (males who believe they are female) who displaced, harassed or even harmed real women in America. Even here in my native Philippines, transgendered individuals and LGBTQ members were caught committing criminal acts.
Shannon Elizabeth is a lot more than being a pretty face with an attractive body. She acted a lot in this movie ranging from being emotional to sarcastic and comedic.
The most surprising cast member here is Shannon Elizabeth as the rich and promiscuous Buffy Gilmore. Before watching Scary Movie, I saw Elizabeth in a small yet very notable sexy role as Nadia in American Pie and I was not surprised when she was presented as a walking sex symbol in this movie. Elizabeth surprised me with the huge amount of acting she did (easily overwhelming her limited acts in American Pie) being emotional, funny, and even sarcastic. As such, Shannon Elizabeth here is memorable to watch here.
As mentioned earlier, there is structure in the storytelling here. Even though a lot of films were parodied and some others were mentioned or visually shown, the filmmakers never lost their direction on telling the story in a coherent manner. In fact, Scary Movie’s story is still the best and the most solid among its many films within the franchise. As such, I enjoyed what was told and there definitely is a plot resolution to the crisis and paranoia that started early.
Conclusion
This scene parodies that of American Pie. The filmmakers went as far as replicating camera angles from the established movies and did their own remakes with comedy in mind.
With a nice mix of inspired works by the filmmakers, the fine performances of the cast members, the unrestrained adulterated comedy, sufficient number of parodies done and the solid storytelling executed, I can easily say that Scary Movie (2000) is still very enjoyable to watch from start to finish.
It is a parody film that was never compromised by the disease of political correctness (which Hollywood has too much of nowadays plus the other disease of wokeness) and the filmmakers succeeded in making something fun to watch without fearing of any potential backlash from moviegoers who might get offended. This movie also had perfect timing with its release during the summer of 2000 as many moviegoers were still aware of the many films parodied (or referenced at). By today’s standards, Scary Movie (2000) stood the test of time and many other comedies or parody films released by modern-day Hollywood (or Commiewood since Hollywood itself has too many woke nuts, modern-day Communists and social justice warriors who love to ruin entertainment) ended up failing to entertain.
Scary Movie (2000) is not just the best film of its own franchise. It is still the very best parody movie Hollywood has produced in the 21st century and nothing else comes close to it. As such, its replay value and fun factor remain very strong. That said, I am glad to have seen this movie in the local cinema and replayed it from time to time.
Overall,Scary Movie (2000) is highly recommended.
+++++
Note: All images sourced from IMDB.com.
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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
Following the initial talks in Washington, the United States, Israel and Lebanon signed a trilateral framework agreement that outlines a structured process for disarming the Islamic terrorist group Hezbollah, the terrorist infrastructure and enabling the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to withdraw from Lebanon one the terrorist threat is removed, according to a news report by The Jerusalem Post.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from The Jerusalem Post report. Some parts in boldface…
The United States, Israel, and Lebanon signed a trilateral framework agreement aimed at combating Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah on Friday, after days of US-mediated talks in Washington.
According to a US State Department statement, the agreement outlines a structured process for disarming Hezbollah, dismantling terrorist infrastructure, and enabling the IDF to withdraw from Lebanon once the threat posed by Hezbollah is removed.
The agreement also established a US-facilitated trilateral Military Coordination Group for Lebanon (MCG4L) to ensure the implementation of the framework.
The US, according to the statement, will also take steps to improve the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces and support Lebanese military efforts against Hezbollah.
In addition, the US pledged to contribute $100 million for humanitarian assistance to be coordinated with the United Nations.
A first step towards peace, prosperity, and mutual coexistence – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio commended Israeli and Lebanese leadership and delegations for their participation in the talks and for signing the agreement.
While Rubio noted that there is still much work ahead, he highlighted the importance of the framework and stated that the US is “honored to have played a part in bringing this together.”
“Today is the first step. This first step sometimes is the hardest one, but it’s an important one and the one we’ve taken together,” Rubio stated, adding that he hopes the agreement will bring about “a future of peace, a future of prosperity, a future of mutual coexistence.”
During the signing of the agreements, Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter praised the trilateral cooperation as a “historical” move towards peace between Israel and Lebanon.
“In my opening remarks four days ago, I expressed concern that this train was running off the tracks, that Iran and its proxies wanted a trainwreck,” Leiter recounted.
He continued to describe that through the work of all involved with the negotiations, “we have put the train back on the tracks, and it’s running in the right direction,” towards “real peace, where both countries will live in security; where Israel’s and Lebanon’s sovereignty will be respected, honored, and protected.”
Framework agreement a ‘major achievement for Israel,’ Netanyahu says –Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the announcement in a video message on Friday, describing the framework as “a major achievement for the State of Israel.”
Netanyahu affirmed that as of the signing of the agreement, Israel will “remain [in] the security zone in southern Lebanon” and coordinate the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the area as the Lebanese army works to disarm Hezbollah and establish control over territory.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you convinced that the newly signed trilateral framework agreement will result in breakthroughs that can lead to real peace and coexistence between Israel and Lebanon? Do you feel confident that the Islamic terrorist group Hezbollah will get cornered (militarily and diplomatically) and stand down eventually?
Following the recent announcement of significant increases of foreigner entry visa fees that will take effect on July 1, the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines confirmed that the temporary visitor visas (good up to 90 days maximum) are still free of charge for Filipinos, according to a GMA News report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…
Temporary visitor visas for Filipinos remain “gratis” or free of charge, the Japanese embassy in Manila announced on Thursday.
The embassy’s announcement came in the wake of the Japanese government’s announcement that single-entry visa fees for foreign nationals will increase fivefold, from 3,000 yen (about P1,170) to 15,000 yen (around P5,850), for applications filed starting July 1.
“Please note that a temporary visitor visa (for a stay of a maximum of 90 days) for a Philippine national remains gratis,” the embassy announced on its website and on Facebook.
The Japanese embassy in Manila also announced the “Cabinet Order on Fees Collected by Consular Officers,” which sets forth visa fees, has been amended and comes into effect on July 1, 2026.
“For visa applications accepted at overseas diplomatic missions on or after that date, the fee, converted into Japanese yen, will be approximately 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa and approximately 30,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa,” the embassy said.
“As a general rule, payment shall be made in the local currency of the country (region) where the Embassy or Consulate-General of Japan issuing the visa is located,” it added.
The embassy said fees may not be required or the amount may differ, “depending on the purpose of your visit and your nationality.”
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think this good news will encourage more Filipinos to visit Japan using the temporary visitor visa? Do you know anyone who applied for a Japanese visa lately?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
Recently in the City of Parañaque, a gang leader who evaded local authority for two years was finally arrested by police officers successfully found him, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
A suspected criminal gang leader who had allegedly been evading authorities for two years was finally arrested in Parañaque City on Saturday, June 20.
The suspect, identified only as Ranille, 42, and tagged by police as the No. 6 Most Wanted Person at the station level, was apprehended at around 5:00 p.m. in Barangay San Isidro, Parañaque City.
According to police, Ranille is believed to be the leader of a criminal group and had been in hiding since a warrant was issued against him for illegal possession of a firearm.
Operatives from the Station Intelligence Section conducted surveillance and tracking operations that led to his arrest.
Police said a warrant of arrest had been issued against Ranille for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
The warrant was issued by Judge Regina Paz A. Ramos-Chavez of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 274 in Parañaque City on March 14, 2024, with a recommended bail of ₱120,000.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, does the arrest of the suspected gang leader make you feel safer now?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
As Iran continues to be unpredictable following the deal it signed with the United States, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned the Islamic terrorist state against the fantasy of imposing fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Newsmax report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Newsmax report. Some parts in boldface…
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday warned Iran against “the fantasy” of imposing fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking after meetings with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders in Bahrain, Rubio said the Trump administration will not tolerate any attempt by Tehran to charge commercial vessels for using one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
“Fees and tolls are the same thing to me,” Rubio told reporters. “If you’re paying someone to go there, I don’t care if you call it a fee or a toll or a donation. It’s a toll.”
Rubio argued such a system would be impossible to enforce without threatening international shipping.
“Let’s say a ship says, ‘Well, I’m not going to pay the fee,’” he said. “It’s not like a toll on a road. You don’t get a ticket in the mail. They get shot at. You shoot at one ship, you sink one ship, no other ship is going to move. So that sort of system is not only unwise, it can’t happen. It’s not even workable. So you might as well abandon the fantasy now.“
The secretary said there was “zero support” among Gulf nations for any tolling system and emphasized President Donald Trump has made clear that charging for passage through the strategic waterway “cannot be a part” of any agreement with Iran.
“There isn’t a nation on Earth that supports having to pay money to go through the straits,” Rubio said, adding, “If you are charging money to use the straits, we won’t support it. We won’t tolerate it. We won’t allow it.“
Rubio’s remarks came after reports that some Iranian officials have floated charging ships for security, insurance, and other services following last week’s U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, which temporarily restored free navigation through the strait while broader negotiations continue.
Under the agreement brokered by the Trump administration, Iran agreed to permit toll-free passage for at least 60 days as both sides pursue a broader peace arrangement.
Rubio stressed the administration is focused less on Tehran’s rhetoric than on its actions.
“We’re interested in whether or not ships are moving,” he said. “If ships are moving as they should be moving, then that’s what we’re going to judge. If this rhetoric is backed up by actual ships being threatened and ships are not moving, that’s a violation of the agreement and we’re going to have a problem with it.”
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think it is just a matter of time before the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran threatens to hit ships and force them to pay a fee for passage through the Strait of Hormuz? Who do you think is actually leading the current regime of Iran right now?
Remember years ago when the failed US President Joe Biden welcomed a massive number of Haitians to the United States with the temporary protective status (TPS)? That finally ended when the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) approved US President Donald Trump’s authority to put a definitive stop at the TPS of the Haitians as well as other refugees living in America, according to news reports by Breitbart and CBN News. The vote was 6-3.
This development is justice for the nation and the many Americans whose lives got disrupted severely when the numerous, protected Haitians arrived in their local communities causing spikes in rents, taking job opportunities away, entering schools and the like. It also clarifies that the US President has the authority on TPS.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Breitbart report. Some parts in boldface…
In a 6-3 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court has endorsed President Donald Trump’s authority to end “Temporary Protected Status” for at least 450,000 Haitian migrants welcomed by President Joe Biden.
The judges said Congress’s law bars any judicial review of the White House TPS decisions:
The TPS statute plainly bars consideration of respondents’ non-constitutional claims. It allows “no judicial review of any determination… with respect to the… termination” of a TPS designation. 8 U. S. C. §1254a(b)(5)(A). The term “determination” can be used to describe either an individual decision or the whole process leading to a final decision, and under either understanding of the term, §1254a(b)(5)(A) squarely bars all of respondents’ non-constitutional claims.
The decision is good news for many Americans, including the citizens of Springfield, Ohio. The Ohio town has been radically disrupted because the local elite welcomed at least 10,000 wage-cutting, rent-spiking, diversity-boosting Haitian migrants into the city’s jobs, homes, schools, welfare offices, and roadways.
The decision means that the Haitian migrants will lose their work permits, access to government aid, drivers’ licenses, and legal residency. In turn, employers will face fines if they keep employing the Haitians instead of Americans, and landlords will have to negotiate cheaper rents for Americans as Haitians move out of the local housing market.
Many Haitians were actually provided visas by Biden’s officials to fly from Haiti to American towns — despite the huge economic and civic harm to the millions of left-behind Haitians. The crippling outflow included many doctors, cops, teachers, and politicians.
But the decision is also an economic loss for many investors and a management headache for many employers who hired Haitian migrants instead of competing for Americans in the national labor market.
In April, Breitbart News reported that pro-TPS lobbyists had submitted a legal brief by pro-migration economists which said Biden’s 1.4 million TPS migrants from Haiti, Venezuela, and El Salvador create $20 billion in annual profits for investors.
The report of CBN News mentions Syrians and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s highly unusual way of reading her dissent from the bench. Some parts in boldface…
The Supreme Court issued a key decision on the issue of immigration on Thursday, ruling that the Trump administration has the authority to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for certain refugees living in the U.S.
The immigrants affected by this case were granted Temporary Protected Status under a law passed by Congress in 1990. The program allows the Homeland Security Secretary to let people from certain countries remain and work in the U.S. when conditions back home make it unsafe to return. That same law also gives the secretary the authority to end those protections.
“It gives people protection while the country’s in turmoil or after they suffer a hurricane,” explained Border Czar Tom Homan during a press briefing Thursday.
The Trump administration first announced its plans to end TPS for Haitians in the summer of last year, and for Syrians in the fall. Those decisions were put on hold by lower courts until Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling.
“The decision creates the type of panic, in a sense, that people in our community are wondering what the best action to do now,” said Viles Dorsainvil, who runs a support center for Haitians in Springfield, Ohio.
He and his wife are also now at risk of deportation.
“We are just TPS holders and asylum seekers. So, we’ll be relying on our asylum. We have our permit in the asylum, that we will continue to work. We will continue to do what we gotta do, but we don’t know how long,” Dorsainvil said.
Thursday’s ruling was 6-3, the majority saying Congress gave the Homeland Security Secretary broad discretion over TPS, including the authority to decide when to end it.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor strongly disagreed with the ruling, taking the unusual step of reading her dissent aloud from the bench. “The consequences of today’s decision are predictable,” said Justice Sotomayor. “More people will die.”
“More people will turn back and be subjected to violence because of something they cannot or should not have to change about themselves, such as their race, religion, nationality, or political opinion.”
Following her comments, Justice Samuel Alito, who read the majority decision, remarked that, had he known she planned to read her dissent from the bench, he would have said more in defense of the majority decision.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Has your local community been flooded by foreigners with TPS? Do you think the government should start the process of declaring temporary protective status illegal? Apart from the mentioned investors, who else do you think makes a lot of money out of TPS foreigners in America? What should the Trump administration do about the remaining TPS foreigners from other nations? Do you think US Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor tarnished the Court’s image with her unusual move?
Author Carlo Carrasco 