NO REFUGEES FROM SYRIA, IRAN, IRAQ
US to resort to extreme vetting for Pakistan, Saudi
Washington, Jan. 28: President Donald Trump on Friday put a fourmonth hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily barred travelers from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries, saying the moves would help protect Americans from terrorist attacks.
In the most sweeping use of his presidential powers since taking office a week ago, Mr Trump paused the entry of travelers from Syria and the six other nations for at least 90 days, saying his administration needed time to develop more stringent screening processes for refugees, immigrants and visitors. The bans took effect immediately, causing havoc and confusion for would-be travelers with passports from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
“I’m establishing new vetting measures to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America. Don’t want them here,” Mr Trump said adding, “We only want to admit those into our country who will support our country and love deeply our people,” he said. Also, with respect to countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the US would resort to extreme vetting.
— Reuters
I AM HEARTBROKEN that today President Trump is closing the door on children, mothers and fathers fleeing violence and war. — MALALA YOUSAFZAI, Pakistani Nobel Laureate LIKE MANY OF you, I am concerned about the impact of the recent executive orders signed by President Trump. We should also keep our doors open to refugees and those who need help. — MARK ZUCKERBERG, Facebook CEO
Mosul, Iraq, Jan. 28: Iraqi forces discovered a mustard chemical warfare agent in eastern Mosul alongside a cache of Russian surface-to-surface missiles, an Iraqi officer said on Saturday.
Iraqi and US officials have repeatedly warned of Islamic State group efforts to develop chemical weapons. When Iraqi forces retook Mosul University earlier this month, they found chemistry labs they believed had been converted into makeshift chemical weapons labs.
Iraqi special forces Brig. Gen. Haider Fadhil said French officials tested the Mosul chemical this week and confirmed it was a mustard agent. Fadhil did not specify the quantity or potency of the chemical, but Iraqi soldiers were able to visit the site for about ten minutes without exhibiting any symptoms of exposure.
“We know they were using this place to experiment with chemical weapons,” he said, referring to ISIS. He believes the facility was set up in the Nineveh ruins but removed from the city’s dense neighborhoods to keep it a secret from Mosul residents.