Tag: llv

Two Cambodian journalists, Vuthy Tha and Hour Hum, fled to Thailand for seven years to escape danger in their home country. Last year, they arrived in the United States on work visas, hoping to share truthful news back in Cambodia through Radio Free Asia (RFA). However, their jobs and ability to stay in the U.S. are now in jeopardy. This is due to President Donald Trump signing an executive order that cuts funding to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the organization that supports RFA.

Vuthy, a single dad, feels scared that their ability to report accurate news will be taken away. Hour shares these worries, fearing they might have to return to Cambodia, where they could face serious punishment for being journalists. Both men are anxious about how they will care for their families and remain in the U.S. Cambodia has become hostile toward independent media, making it unsafe for them to go back.

Many journalists funded by the U.S. are in danger, with some even in prison. Reports show that at least 84 journalists in the U.S. could be sent back to countries where they might be arrested, tortured, or killed. Advocacy groups are urging the U.S. Congress to step in and help protect these reporters.

While some journalists are already fighting back with lawsuits, the situation remains troubling. The recent cuts to funding for U.S. media outlets have many worried that support for journalists abroad will decrease. One Vietnamese journalist, Khoa Lai, expresses fear about returning to Vietnam due to the risk that he could face imprisonment for his work.

Vuthy and Hour, who have been writing about important issues in Cambodia, are hopeful that RFA will continue to exist and provide important news.

Starting September 30, President Donald Trump has ordered the Social Security office to stop sending paper checks. The government believes using paper checks is expensive and can lead to problems like lost or stolen payments. Since COVID-19, reports of mail theft have increased, and checks are 16 times more likely to be lost or taken than electronic payments.

If you’re getting benefits and can’t set up direct deposit online, don’t worry. You still have options! Here’s what you can do:

1. Contact your bank: Call or visit your bank to get help.
2. Visit a local Social Security office: You can talk to someone in person.
3. Call Social Security: Dial 800-772-1213 for assistance.

You can also get a Direct Express debit card, which allows you to access your benefits without needing a bank account.

In his order, President Trump said keeping paper checks costs taxpayers millions of dollars. The goal of this order is to make payments faster, safer, and cheaper by using electronic methods. He also mentioned that this policy is meant to help fight fraud and improve the government’s payment system.

KP George, a well-known Indian-American leader, was arrested on Friday. He is facing serious charges of money laundering related to wire fraud and lying about campaign finances. George, who has been the county judge since 2018 and won again in 2022, was taken to jail around 3:30 PM but was released after paying $20,000 bail. The law says he could go to prison for up to 10 years if found guilty.

George insists he did nothing wrong and says these charges are politically motivated. Court documents reveal that he is accused of laundering between $30,000 and $150,000. These charges are different from another case earlier this year, where George and his former chief of staff, Taral Patel, were accused of making fake racist stories to help George’s campaign by creating fake social media profiles.

The District Attorney’s Office said these new money laundering charges have nothing to do with the earlier case. They stated they are committed to maintaining trust and ethics in public service. George has publicly denied any guilt and claims the District Attorney’s Office treated him unfairly, but the DA insists they followed all legal rules in their investigation.

His arrest has caused rising pressure for him to step down. Fort Bend County Treasurer Bill Rickert called for his resignation, citing worries over “fake racism scandals” and the new money laundering claims. Former Constable Trever Nehls, who ran against him in 2022, agreed, saying he expected this indictment due to the dishonesty he witnessed during the campaign.

Many people, especially in Fort Bend County—which is among the fastest-growing and most diverse areas in Texas—are paying close attention to this situation. Dr. Elena Martinez, a political expert at the University of Houston, said that accusations of financial wrongdoing can really damage public trust even before a trial starts.

George’s office announced just one day before his arrest that his annual State of the County speech, planned for May 8, is now postponed with no explanation given. The District Attorney’s investigation is still ongoing.

On Saturday, Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, announced that the U.S. will take back all visas from people holding South Sudanese passports. He accused the South Sudan government of not helping the U.S. properly send back its citizens when needed. Rubio said, “Every country must help when someone needs to return home.” He also added that the U.S. will stop giving new visas to South Sudanese citizens to prevent them from coming to the U.S.

Things are not calm in South Sudan right now. The country’s situation is shaky, and fighting between government soldiers and opposition groups has been getting worse. Recently, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, warned that South Sudan is on the edge of falling into another civil war. He said the country is facing a major security problem because of increased fighting and political chaos, especially after the government arrested First Vice President Riek Machar last week.