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South Dakota Senator files bill to abolish Department of EducationHarnessing smart gadgets to control odours in poultry farmsA senior Taliban leader in Afghanistan has indicated that they will continue to provide refuge to anti-Pakistan militants, describing them as "guests" under the country's traditions. Taliban Information Minister Khairullah Khairkhwa made the rare remarks just days after the Pakistani military reportedly conducted airstrikes against suspected terrorist locations in an eastern Afghan border province. The Taliban claimed that Tuesday's attack in Paktika resulted in the deaths of nearly 50 civilians, predominantly refugees from Pakistan. While the claims could not be verified from independent sources, the United Nations said that it had "received credible reports" from the remote Afghan province that dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed in the Pakistani airstrikes. Islamabad has refrained from publicly acknowledging the cross-border strikes, but Pakistani security officials anonymously confirmed and told reporters that the military action had targeted and destroyed several "terrorist hideouts" of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an outlawed group engaged in lethal attacks against Pakistan. Several key TTP commanders were also said to be among more than a dozen militants killed. "We must honor the Afghan nation's commitment to safeguarding these guests, friends," an angry Khairkhwa said while denouncing the Pakistani attack. He was apparently referring to the TTP in his speech aired by Taliban-controlled state television and shared via X social media platform Friday. The Taliban minister emphasized the need for Pakistan "to draw lessons from the consequences of military interventions" in Afghanistan by Britain, the former Soviet Union and the United States, respectively, since the 19th century. "Anyone who attacks Afghanistan or harbors such intentions must learn from the defeat of three superpowers," Khairkhwa asserted. This is the first public admission by a senior Taliban leader regarding the presence of TTP operatives in the country. Previously, Taliban officials have vehemently denied their existence, claiming that no foreign militants are permitted to operate and pose a threat to other nations from Afghan soil. TTP, designated as a global terrorist organization by the United Nations, has escalated attacks in Pakistan since the Taliban's August 2021 resurgence to power in Kabul, killing hundreds of Pakistani civilians and security personnel. On Friday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his government's intention to enhance economic and trade relations with Afghanistan. However, he stated that the threat of TTP-led cross-border terrorism impedes that progress. "Unfortunately, the TTP continues to operate from there and killing innocent people inside Pakistan. This cannot go on," Sharif said in his televised remarks to a Cabinet meeting in Islamabad. "They must rein in TTP. ... This constitutes a red line for us. The TTP operating from Afghan soil is unacceptable under any circumstances," he stressed. Sharif said his country was ready to talk with the Afghan government to address the issue. "But there can be no progress if, on the one hand, they seek to foster relations with Pakistan while simultaneously permitting TTP to operate with impunity," he emphasized. Separately, the Pakistani military reported Friday that its counterterrorism operations and clashes with TTP militants resulted in the killings of over 900 "terrorists" this year, including 27 Afghan suicide bombers and fighters. The violence also left nearly 400 Pakistani security forces and officers dead, said Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the military spokesperson. Who is Khairkhwa? Khairkhwa, a U.N.-sanctioned Taliban leader, was captured by U.S. forces in collaboration with Pakistani counterparts in early 2002 and subsequently transferred to the U.S. Guantanamo Bay prison center. He was freed along with four other senior Taliban leaders in 2014 as part of a Qatar-mediated exchange for the release of U.S. soldier Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, American and Western-allied forces invaded Afghanistan, overthrowing the then-Taliban government due to its refusal to surrender Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida, who was accused of orchestrating the deadly attacks from his Afghan bases. The Taliban leadership at the time justified its refusal to surrender bin Laden, asserting that he was a "guest" in the country and that surrendering him would violate local traditions. Subsequently, the Taliban regrouped and launched an insurgency against U.S.-led foreign forces, using sanctuaries on Pakistani soil. Bin Laden evaded capture and fled to Pakistan, where he was eventually tracked down and killed by American troops in 2011. Taliban leaders pledged to combat transnational militant networks to prevent them from using Afghanistan as a haven for global attacks after they seized power three years ago. However, an annual U.S. terrorism report released earlier this month cast doubts on Taliban counterterrorism commitments, citing TTP's growing attacks against Pakistan from Afghan sanctuaries and the threat transnational groups pose to regional stability from Afghanistan.
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The US Citizenship and Immigration Services ( USCIS ) will release a revised edition of Form I-129 , Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, on January 17, 2025. The updated form reflects changes outlined in the recently announced H-1B and H-2 modernization final rules, replacing the earlier edition dated April 1, 2024. ET Year-end Special Reads Take That: The gamechanger weapon's India acquired in 2024 10 big-bang policy moves Modi government made in 2024 How governments tried to rein in the social media beast USCIS has emphasized that there will be no grace period for the transition to the new form. Effective January 17, 2025, USCIS will reject any Form I-129 petitions submitted using the 04/01/24 edition. Petitioners must ensure they use the new 01/17/25 edition for submissions on or after this date. A preview of the revised Form I-129 and its updated instructions has been made available, but petitioners are cautioned against filing the new form before the effective date. For those filing Form I-129 on paper by mail, the following rules apply: The 04/01/24 edition of Form I-129 will be accepted if received before January 17, 2025. The 04/01/24 edition will not be accepted if received on or after January 17, 2025. The 01/17/25 edition of Form I-129 will be accepted only if received on or after January 17, 2025. Form I-129 explained Form I-129, also known as the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, is a critical document used in employment-based immigration to the United States. Employers or prospective employers file this form with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to sponsor a nonimmigrant worker for specific employment-based visa categories. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) The form is commonly used for various nonimmigrant visa types, including: Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. 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L-1: For intra-company transferees who work in managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge roles. O-1: For individuals with extraordinary ability in fields like science, arts, education, or athletics. Employers use Form I-129 to establish the necessity of hiring a foreign worker, outlining the job role, qualifications of the worker, and compliance with visa requirements. Proper documentation and adherence to regulations are crucial to ensure a smooth application process. The form also allows for amendments, extensions, or changes to the worker’s employment status, making it a versatile tool in managing employment-based visa statuses. Key updates in H-1B visa rules The H-1B modernization rule introduces several enhancements: Prior Deference for Extensions : USCIS reinstates the “prior deference” policy, simplifying renewals for previously approved H-1B visas and reducing processing delays. Specialty Occupation Definition : Eligibility criteria now require degree fields to directly align with job responsibilities. Flexibility for Nonprofits and Government Research : Cap-exempt H-1B qualifications have been broadened to recognize research as a core activity. F-1 Student Visa Extensions : Automatic extensions will prevent status lapses for international students transitioning to H-1B visas. Entrepreneur Eligibility : Startup founders meeting specific conditions can now qualify for H-1B visas. Lottery changes The updated regulations refine the annual H-1B lottery system , addressing duplicate registrations to promote fairness. USCIS has also strengthened worksite inspection protocols, with penalties for noncompliant employers.Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas highlighted the significance of these changes, stating, “These improvements provide employers with greater flexibility to hire global talent, boost our economic competitiveness, and allow highly skilled workers to continue to advance American innovation.” You Might Also Like: US says your H-1B visa application will be rejected if you don't follow these new rulesThe U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide whether charities run by religious groups have to pay unemployment taxes that cover their employees. Most, but not all, states generally exempt religious groups from having to pay into the state's unemployment tax system. Federal law does exempt religious schools from having to participate in the federal-state program. But the court has never ruled on the question of participation by charitable organizations run by religious groups. Now the court has agreed to tackle the question in a case brought by Catholic Charities against the state of Wisconsin. The Catholic Charities Bureau of the Diocese Superior, Wisconsin, a non-profit corporation, is the social ministry arm of the Catholic Church. Its mission is to "carry on the redeeming work of our Lord by reflecting gospel values and the moral teaching of the church," and it carries out that mission by "providing services to the poor and disadvantaged" without making distinctions "by race, sex, or religion." The organization hires staff without regard to religion, instructs that the charity should be exercised "in an impartial manner towards members of other religions," and operates "dozens of programs in service to the elderly, the disabled, the poor, and those in need of disaster relief." In addition, the charity avowedly does not proselytize. In light of all that, Catholic Charities applied to the state for an exemption from paying unemployment taxes for its employees. But the state labor commission refused the application, on grounds that the charitable group was engaging in activities that "are not religious, per se," and thus are not entitled to be exempt from paying unemployment taxes. In March, a closely divided state Supreme Court agreed, citing what it called objective criteria. The state court said that the charity's activities were mostly secular, noting that the organization does not "attempt to imbue program participants with the Catholic faith, nor supply any religious materials." The state court also observed that the charity "did not proselytize, did not conduct worship services, religious outreach, or religious education." Therefore, the state court concluded, the charity is not qualified to be exempt from state unemployment taxes as a religious institution. Catholic Charities promptly appealed to the Supreme Court, asserting that the Wisconsin decision violates the First Amendment guarantee to the free exercise of religion, as well as the separation between church and state. The court will hear arguments in the case after the first of the year, with a decision expected by late June.
TORONTO — Losses in the tech sector led Canada's main stock index lower Friday, while U.S. stock markets also fell. The S&P/TSX composite index ended down 50.42 points at 24,796.40. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 333.59 points at 42,992.21. The S&P 500 index was down 66.75 points at 5,970.84, while the Nasdaq composite was down 298.33 points at 19,722.03. The Canadian dollar traded for 69.37 cents US, compared with 69.51 cents US on Tuesday. The February crude oil contract was up 98 cents at US$70.60 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was up six cents at US$3.38 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$22 at US$2,631.90 an ounce and the March copper contract was down less than a penny at US$4.12 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 27, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian PressMoments ago, the Edmonton Oilers announced that the team has recalled defenceman Josh Brown from the AHL after the injury to Evan Bouchard. In last night's game against the Minnesota Wild , Evan Bouchard took a questionable hit from Ryan Hartman and is labelled as a game time decision for tomorrow night's game. The Oilers signed Josh Brown this offseason to a 3 year contract for $3M , a deal that frankly never made sense, but now he has been recalled for his second stint with the team. Josh Brown is a 30 year old right shot defender that's played 3 games with the Oilers this season. He's a tough physical defender, shown by his 50 penalty minutes in 16 AHL games this year. Edmonton Oilers Recall Defenceman Josh Brown With Evan Bouchard Potentially Injured This season has been a nightmare for Josh Brown and his contract with the Oilers. Brown was cut from the NHL roster in training camp because his preseason play was so bad , despite the 3 year contract commitment. Evan Bouchard was absent from practice today, and Ty Emberson moved up to play the first pair with Mattias Ekholm in his absence. There was a gap on the bottom pair, so if Bouchard is unable to play tomorrow, Josh Brown would potentially be able to slot into that position. The Oilers just claimed defenceman Alec Regula off waivers from the Boston Bruins with the intention of making him the new 7th defenceman, but at the moment, Regula is still not on the active roster due to a knee injury. It seems this roster recall is purely out of precaution if Bouchard is unable to play tomorrow. Hopefully, the Oilers star is healthy enough to play. This article first appeared on Oilers Daily and was syndicated with permission.