Argentina launches immigration crackdown
BUENOS AIRES, May 15: Argentina’s President Javier Milei has issued a decree curbing immigration to the country, coinciding with the Trump administration’s immigration restrictions. The decree tightens citizenship restrictions, requiring immigrants to spend two uninterrupted years in Argentina or make a significant financial investment to secure an Argentine passport. Immigrants seeking permanent residency must show proof of income or “sufficient means” and have clean criminal records in their home countries. The decree makes it easier for the government to deport migrants who enter the country illegally, falsify their immigration documents, or commit minor crimes in Argentina. It also asks the judiciary to fast-track immigration court proceedings. The decree also charges foreigners to access Argentina’s public health care and education while mandating that all travelers to the country hold health insurance. Critics worry that the new rules would challenge Argentina’s tradition of openness written over waves of migration through the decades. (AP)
5,101 HIV cases, 145 deaths in Philippines
MANILA, May 15: The Philippines has reported 5,101 new HIV cases and 145 HIV/AIDS-related deaths from January to March 2025, with 95% of the cases being male and 5% female. The majority of cases occurred among individuals aged 15 to 34, highlighting the increasing prevalence of HIV infections among younger populations. The average monthly case count in Q1 2025 was 1,700, a 50% increase from the previous year. Almost 96% of new infections were transmitted through sexual contact, with male-to-male sexual contact being the primary cause. Between 2020 and March 2025, the Philippines recorded 4,146 HIV-related deaths. HIV targets the body’s white blood cells, weakening the immune system, making it easier to contract diseases like tuberculosis, infections, and some cancers. It is spread through body fluids, including blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal fluids, and can be prevented and treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Untreated HIV can progress to AIDS, often after many years. (IANS)
Baloch student victim of Pak’s ‘kill and dump’ policy
QUETTA, May 15: The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has condemned the murder of Fahad Lehri, a student from Mastung, Balochistan, and the subsequent discovery of his bullet-riddled body in the same region. The BYC argues that Pakistan’s “kill and dump” policy continues to suppress the Baloch identity, targeting young Baloch men without trial. The BYC also revealed that a 7-year-old girl, Rokia Baloch, died after being fatally shot in Khudabadan. The BYC urges international human rights organizations and medical humanitarian groups to address this violence. (IANS)