World News Random, Random

[dave g]

Ukraine Deliberately Blindsided Trump Before Massive Drone Attack on Russia; Trump was deliberately left in the dark about Ukraine’s unprecedented drone strike in Russia on Sunday, which destroyed nearly a third of the Kremlin’s strategic bomber fleet in a surprise attack

https://www.thedailybeast.com/ukraine-d ... on-russia/

But did President Zelenskyy wear a suit?

If you were Zelenskyy, would you tell Trump that you were planning such an attack?

[patrick]

No especially with Mr Delay relationship with Putin

[mmmm8]

This was a pretty brilliant operation for Ukraine. Took our so much of the air fleet, no human loss, I hear it's also halted passenger flights in a lot of Russia in fear of military drone traffic.

[ponchi101]

...

If you were Zelenskyy, would you tell Trump that you were planning such an attack?

It is so easy to imagine Tiny talking about the attack in any news conference, and trying to take the credit for it.
"We are going to have a beautiful attack soon, very soon, some people are saying it will be the greatest attack in history, the most spectacular attack ever, we love the attacks, Obama never had an attack like the one we are planning...".

[ti-amie]

Trump signs proclamation to ban travel from several countries
Kristen Holmes Alayna Treene Kaitlan Collins Samantha Waldenberg
By Kristen Holmes, Alayna Treene, Kaitlan Collins and Samantha Waldenberg, CNN

Updated 8:17 PM EDT, Wed June 4, 2025


Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday evening to ban travel from several countries, citing security risks.

The ban will fully restrict entry of nationals from 12 countries: Afghanistan; Myanmar, also known as Burma; Chad; Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Haiti; Iran; Libya; Somalia; Sudan; and Yemen.

People from seven countries will have partial restriction: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

The proclamation includes exceptions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories and individuals whose entry serves US national interests.

The president made the final call on signing this proclamation after the antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, according to a White House official. He was considering it beforehand, but Sunday’s assault put it into motion faster.

The White House is touting the new president’s travel ban as “fulfilling” a campaign promise to “protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors that want to come to our country and cause us harm.”

“President Trump is fulfilling his promise to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors that want to come to our country and cause us harm. These commonsense restrictions are country-specific and include places that lack proper vetting, exhibit high visa overstay rates, or fail to share identity and threat information,” White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson wrote on X.

Wednesday’s proclamation comes less than five months after the president was inaugurated into office for his second term. On his first day in office, he issued an executive order directing cabinet members, including the secretary of state, to compile a list of countries “for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries.”

In his first term, Trump barred travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations from coming to the US, a policy that saw court challenges before President Joe Biden repealed it when he took office in 2021.

The barring of nationals from Afghanistan could impact Afghans who worked alongside the US during its two decades of war there. Tens of thousands of Afghans have already been caught in limbo due to other Trump administration executive orders suspending the US refugee admissions program and the suspension of foreign aid funding for flights of Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders.

This story and headline been updated with additional information.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/04/politics ... id=ios_app

[ti-amie]

Putting this here

[mmmm8]

Minnesota votes blue, so it was probably more about threatening local Dems/Waltz to pay attention to them.

Still...

[ponchi101]

People from seven countries will have partial restriction: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

I don't know about the other countries, but for Venezuela the ban is for holders of visa types B1, B2, B1/B2, F, M and J. Basically we are all banned from entering the USA.
Because of those pesky Vennie terrorists, bringing arepas and rum to the USA.

[mmmm8]

People from seven countries will have partial restriction: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

I don't know about the other countries, but for Venezuela the ban is for holders of visa types B1, B2, B1/B2, F, M and J. Basically we are all banned from entering the USA.
Because of those pesky Vennie terrorists, bringing arepas and rum to the USA.

Since this is a tennis forum... B1 includes athletes.

[ponchi101]

I wonder what happens to the 50 odd Venezuelan players in MLB.

[Suliso]

Are they perhaps green cars holders?

[Suliso]

People from seven countries will have partial restriction: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

I don't know about the other countries, but for Venezuela the ban is for holders of visa types B1, B2, B1/B2, F, M and J. Basically we are all banned from entering the USA.
Because of those pesky Vennie terrorists, bringing arepas and rum to the USA.

What other non immigrant visa categories are even there?

[mmmm8]

People from seven countries will have partial restriction: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

I don't know about the other countries, but for Venezuela the ban is for holders of visa types B1, B2, B1/B2, F, M and J. Basically we are all banned from entering the USA.
Because of those pesky Vennie terrorists, bringing arepas and rum to the USA.

What other non immigrant visa categories are even there?

Most employment ones, including the famous H1-B.

[Suliso]

Wouldn't H1-B count as an immigrant visa?

[dryrunguy]

(My apologies for interrupting the current conversation. Please carry on.)

Here's the latest from the Johns Hopkins Health Security Newsletter:

Global COVID Activity Increases; U.S. Vaccine Policy Shift Fuels Concern, Confusion

Global COVID-19 activity continues to rise, primarily in parts of Asia and the Middle East, with the new NB.1.8.1 subvariant increasingly being detected in the UK and the U.S. NB.1.8.1 accounts for nearly 11% of globally sequenced cases as of mid-May, according to WHO. While the Omicron derivative appears more infectious than the currently predominant LP.8.1, symptoms are similar to previous SARS-CoV-2 strains, and vaccines and antivirals are still expected to offer protection. Despite an uptick in hospitalizations in some countries, NB.1.8.1 is still considered a low overall risk to public health.

Typical process upended

In the U.S., questions and confusion remain over HHS’s unprecedented decision to rescind federal recommendations for routine COVID-19 vaccination in healthy children and pregnant women. Neither the CDC, which typically sets policy for who should receive vaccines, nor the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the agency on those decisions, was consulted on or alerted to the decision.

CDC urges shared decision making

Last week, CDC issued updated advice that appears to counter the new HHS policy, stating that children “may receive” COVID-19 shots through shared decision-making between parents and doctors. COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy—a well-documented risk factor for more severe COVID-19 complications—are now listed as "No Guidance/Not Applicable," where they were previously recommended for all pregnant adults. These changes, which bypassed the usual advisory process and provided no new data underlying the rationale, have led to widespread confusion among healthcare providers and families and may make access to COVID vaccines more difficult due to uncertain insurance coverage or fewer providers who stock doses.

Experts disagree with new guidance

Many public health and infectious disease experts dispute the new recommendations, emphasizing that pregnancy remains a significant risk factor for severe COVID-19 complications. Additionally, the lack of clear federal guidance could further undermine public trust, they argue. A top COVID vaccine adviser to CDC stepped down this week, citing concerns she could no longer support the most vulnerable populations under the new recommendations. At least one state health department has issued a statement continuing to recommend COVID vaccination for children and during pregnancy.

Opinion pieces address COVID vaccine decisions

CIDRAP: Viewpoint: Eroding trust by making COVID vaccine decisions with no transparency (opinion)

STAT: HHS Secretary Kennedy told us not to listen to him. We agree (opinion)

STAT: RFK Jr.’s stance on Covid vaccines for pregnant women is profoundly unethical (opinion)


U.S. Measles Cases Continue Rise, Driven by Falling Vaccinations, Travel-Associated Infections

This year is on track to be the worst U.S. measles year in more than 30 years, fueled by declining vaccination and ongoing outbreaks worldwide, including in neighboring Canada and Mexico. Around 1,160 measles cases in 33 states have been reported in the U.S. this year, with the largest outbreak centered in West Texas. Most infections are among individuals who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

Vaccination rates decline

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, childhood vaccination rates against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) have declined in nearly 80% of the more than 2,000 U.S. counties in 33 states with available data, according to Johns Hopkins University research. The county-level mean MMR vaccination rate in these counties now sits at 91.26%, well below the 95% threshold needed for measles herd immunity.

Travel-associated cases

CDC this week updated its warning about the risk of contracting measles while traveling, recommending all travelers be fully vaccinated against measles before international trips. So far this year, the agency has recorded at least 62 reports of travelers who were contagious with measles while flying into or within the U.S. Recent cases in Colorado, New Mexico, and Minnesota were linked to domestic airports and flights, prompting public health alerts for exposed passengers.

Wastewater surveillance program

For the first time, measles is being tracked in U.S. wastewater. The WastewaterSCAN network developed the first national wastewater monitoring program for measles, with the new tool available for use in nearly 150 wastewater treatment facilities across 40 states. So far, the virus has been detected in three sites in Maryland, California, and Connecticut.