Border

• Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have launched joint military exercises involving 8,000 NATO troops in response to Russian force mobilization along the eastern border, marking the largest Baltic-focused NATO drill this year. • Russian military intelligence reports indicate approximately 35,000 Russian troops have gathered near the Belarus-Poland border; NATO commanders assess this as a potential preparation for military action. • Pentagon officials have authorized increased US military presence in the region, with 2,500 additional American troops authorized for rapid deployment if tensions escalate further.

• A military confrontation along the Kashmir border escalated Friday when Pakistani forces fired on Indian positions near Uri, killing 12 Indian soldiers and wounding 18 others in the deadliest incident in two years, Pakistani military sources confirmed. • India's military responded with retaliatory strikes, with New Delhi claiming to have neutralized three Pakistani military positions; Pakistan denied casualties on its side but acknowledged defensive operations. • Regional analysts expressed alarm that the incident could spiral into broader conflict, warning both nations possess nuclear arsenals and recent diplomatic tensions have left few de-escalation channels open.

Republicans deploy measure known as budget reconciliation to push through plan without backing from Democrats during lengthy late-night voteHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.The Senate voted to adopt a $70bn budget plan to fund ICE and Border Patrol as part of a new effort to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).We have a multistep process ahead of us, but at the end Republicans will have helped ensure that America’s borders are secure and prevented Democrats from defunding these important agencies.Instead of pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into ICE and Border Patrol, Republicans should be working with Democrats to lower out-of-pocket costs.The Pentagon announced, without explanation, that “Secretary of the Navy John C Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately”. The head of the US navy, which is now enforcing a wartime blockade of Iranian ports, was replaced by a former Maga political candidate, Hung Cao, now acting secretary of the navy.The surprise announcement brought renewed attention to Cao’s 2023 comments that that “witchcraft” had “taken over” Monterey, California.Virginia’s attorney general, Jay Jones, promised to appeal an injunction issued by a circuit court judge that temporarily blocks the state from certifying the results of the Tuesday’s redistricting referendum.As jet fuel prices spike amid the ongoing energy crisis sparked by Donald Trump’s war on Iran, two Republican senators, Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton, denounced a proposed US government bailout of budget carrier Spirit Airlines.Representative David Scott, a Democrat from Georgia, has died at the age of 80. He is the fifth member of Congress to die in office within the last year. Continue reading...

• Military delegations from Pakistan and India held their first formal border security talks in 18 months in Islamabad, marking a significant thaw in bilateral tensions following last year's cross-border skirmishes. • Both nations agreed to reinstate a communication hotline between military commanders and establish a joint investigation committee for monitoring ceasefire violations along the Line of Control. • The US quietly supported the initiative through backdoor diplomacy, viewing improved India-Pakistan relations as essential for regional stability and counterterrorism cooperation in Afghanistan.

Budget airline says change will take effect from November and will give passengers more time to clear securityRyanair will close airport check-in desks 20 minutes earlier to avoid passengers missing flights, it has announced, amid concern over border queues in Europe.The budget airline, which carries 200 million passengers annually, will require all passengers dropping bags or checking in at the airport to do so one hour before take-off rather than the current 40-minute deadline. Continue reading...

The rural Texas region, long spared, is being fast-tracked for the border wall amid bipartisan oppositionTractors suddenly appeared at the entrance to Chispa Road near the US-Mexico border in rural Big Bend, Texas, in late March. Contractors informed Yolanda Alvarado, a cattle rancher, that they were starting work to upgrade the rough county dirt road there into a “highway” – the first step needed for semi trucks to haul the 30-foot steel pillars used to build Donald Trump’s border barrier.“That fence line, that’s where the wall is going to be,” said Alvarado, hopping out of the front seat of her flatbed truck at the gate to the family property located directly along the path of the proposed wall. Continue reading...

• Artillery and small arms fire erupted along the Line of Control in Kashmir on April 17-18, marking the first significant border clash in eight months and resulting in at least 12 reported casualties on both sides. • Pakistan accused Indian forces of violating a 2003 ceasefire agreement with unprovoked shelling near the Siachen Glacier region; India's military claimed Pakistan-based militants initiated the exchange. • Both nations mobilized additional military units to their shared border; analysts warn the escalation could undermine fragile diplomatic channels reopened in late 2025.

• The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against cartel-linked casinos and key associates operating on the U.S.-Mexico border on April 14, 2026. • The action represents a continued enforcement effort targeting financial networks connected to organized crime along the southwestern border. • The sanctions highlight the Treasury's commitment to disrupting illicit financial flows and money laundering operations tied to criminal organizations.

Natasha Cochrane de la Rosa was refused boarding on flight to London because she was not aware of the rule changeA British woman has told how she fears being stranded in Spain for months after being refused boarding a on flight back home to London because she was not aware of new Home Office border rules.Natasha Cochrane de la Rosa, 26, was born in the UK to a British father and a Spanish mother, but because of archaic laws she was not entitled automatically to British citizenship because her parents were not married. Other women born to unmarried parents have called the rules an “illegitimacy tax”. Continue reading...

• NATO defense ministers convened an emergency session on April 11 to address Russian military concentrations near the Polish and Baltic borders, with satellite imagery showing increased deployment of artillery and armored units. • Polish officials reported detecting over 15,000 Russian troops and 200 military vehicles positioned within 50 kilometers of the border, prompting NATO to authorize enhanced air patrols and increased troop rotations. • US Secretary of Defense characterized the Russian movement as "destabilizing" and called for European allies to increase defense spending, warning that NATO must prepare for potential regional conflict escalation.

• President Donald Trump declared a national emergency from the White House on April 9, 2026, citing a crisis at the southern border as a national security threat. • The executive action bypasses Congress to redirect Department of Defense funds for immediate border wall construction and enhanced security measures. • The announcement triggered immediate constitutional debates and fierce opposition from political rivals, potentially unlocking significant federal resources.

• US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin authorized 5,000 National Guard deployment to Texas border on April 8, 2026, amid 15,000 monthly migrant encounters. • Troops will support Customs and Border Protection with logistics, not enforcement, following Supreme Court approval. • Move addresses cartel violence spike, including 22 murders in Juarez last week; Biden admin cites 'hemispheric crisis' impact on US fentanyl deaths (110,000/year).

• Pakistani and Indian troops exchanged heavy artillery fire across the Line of Control in Kashmir on April 8, 2026, killing 7 Pakistani and 5 Indian soldiers. • Pakistan accused India of initiating the clash near Uri sector; India claimed retaliation to 'unprovoked shelling' that hit civilian areas. • The incident risks broader conflict between nuclear powers, prompting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to call for 'immediate ceasefire' in talks with both nations.

• Pakistani military conducted airstrikes on alleged militant camps in Kashmir-administered territory on April 6, claiming to target terrorist training facilities; India responded with counter-strikes, marking the most significant escalation in months. • Both nations reported military casualties and damaged infrastructure; Pakistan claimed two Indian jets were damaged, while India denied losses and accused Pakistan of unprovoked aggression. • International observers including the US and UN called for de-escalation and urged both countries to exercise restraint; diplomatic channels remain active but tensions are at their highest since late 2025.

• Trump's border chief issued threats Tuesday to close customs operations at top U.S. airports as pressure intensifies on immigration enforcement and border security policies. • The threat represents an escalation in the administration's hardline stance on immigration and signals potential disruption to airport operations and international travel. • The move would significantly impact commerce and travel if implemented, prompting expected pushback from airline and business groups.

Rally met with bipartisan support after US border patrol revealed plans for steel wall across parts of beloved parksThousands of people gathered at the steps of the Texas capitol on Saturday to protest against the construction of a border wall through Big Bend, in a show of bipartisan opposition to the White House’s plans.More than 2,000 people attended the rally, according to Texas Public Radio, holding signs with slogans such as “No Big Bend NP Wall,” “Big Love for Big Bend” and “No al Muro” – Spanish for “No to the Wall.” Organizers gathered postcards from protesters to deliver to Greg Abbott, the Texas governor who has yet to weigh in publicly on the border wall expansion plans at Big Bend. Continue reading...

• US and Israeli forces launched expanded 'Juniper Oak' drills on April 4, 2026, involving 12,000 troops simulating multi-front attacks near the Lebanon border. • Drills feature F-35 joint operations and Iron Dome intercepts, responding to 150 Hezbollah rocket launches since March 15. • Exercise underscores US commitment with $3.8 billion annual aid, amid warnings from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin of 'deterring wider escalation.'

Nurul Shah Alam, a nearly blind Rohingya refugee, was left alone in a Buffalo parking lot. His death has been ruled a homicide – what now?On 19 February, the second day of Ramadan, Mohamad Faisal Nurul Amin and his family gathered to pray before sunrise in their apartment on the outskirts of Buffalo, New York. After nearly a year of waiting, they believed their family would be together again. Amin’s father, Nurul Shah Alam, 56, was coming home.“For the first time since we arrived in America, I felt happy,” said Fatima Abdul Roshid, Shah Alam’s wife, speaking through an interpreter. “I thought my husband would be with our two sons and me for Ramadan.” Continue reading...

People leaving Iran for Turkey tell of impact of bombs and internet blackouts, while others are travelling the other way to be closer to relatives in perilHe could not help but splutter out a laugh at the question. Amir, whose name has been changed for his safety, had just crossed the Kapıköy border point in eastern Turkey, a mountain pass between snow-topped peaks that is one of the few gateways to the west from Iran.Until a few weeks ago, this was a busy place, popular among Iranian daytrippers coming across to Turkey to do some shopping in the lively city of Van, a further two hours drive west, or to spend a couple of nights out in its discreet Iranian-only nightclubs and bars serving alcohol. Continue reading...

• Russian forces launched a coordinated offensive across multiple sectors of the Ukraine-Russia border on Wednesday, deploying additional mechanized units and intensifying artillery bombardment in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. • Ukrainian military sources report significant casualties on both sides, with Russia concentrating forces near Pokrovsk and attempting to break through defensive lines established by Ukrainian forces. • The escalation comes amid ongoing Western military aid debates and signals Moscow's commitment to maintaining momentum despite previous setbacks and NATO reinforcements in Eastern Europe.

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced 5,000 additional US troops to Poland on April 2, responding to Russian incursions 20 km into Ukraine near Lviv. • Deployment includes Abrams tanks and HIMARS systems, totaling 15,000 US forces in Eastern Europe. • Move signals NATO resolve as Ukraine reports 300 civilian deaths last week from shelling.

Nurul Amin Shah, 56, who was visually impaired, was left outside Buffalo Tim Hortons on cold night and later diedAuthorities have ruled that the death of Nurul Amin Shah, a 56-year-old Rohingya refugee from Myanmar who was left by immigration agents at a restaurant in Buffalo, was a homicide.Shah, who was visually impaired, died on 24 February, five days after US Border Patrol agents dropped him off in the parking lot of a Tim Hortons on a cold winter night without notifying his family or attorney. Continue reading...

A rescue mission involving volunteer helicopter crew and public donations ended in joy after Molly was located and brought home A spot of furry black and white appears among the jagged rocks of New Zealand’s alpine backcountry. It is Molly the border collie, sitting near the foot of a waterfall where she had been separated from her owner one week earlier.Molly was rescued on Tuesday after an avalanche of donations from the public funded a volunteer team made up of former helicopter pilots and crew to mount a search in the wilderness. Continue reading...

• The latest patch for Borderlands 4 significantly boosts PC performance with native frame rates increasing by 43 percent. • The optimization patch addresses performance issues that players had reported since the game's launch. • VideoCardz reports the improvements represent one of the most substantial performance gains from a monthly update this year.

Greg Bovino says Trump’s immigration crackdown hasn’t gone far enough in exit interview with the New York TimesAs his retirement looms, Gregory Bovino, the US border patrol’s former commander-at-large, has contended that efforts to curb illegal immigration by Donald Trump’s administration have not gone far enough – showing no remorse over federal agents’ killings of two US citizens in Minneapolis in January.“I wish I’d caught even more illegal aliens,” he told the New York Times on Tuesday in an exit interview, during which he also referred to the Republican president as “the Trumpster” and acknowledged his retirement at the end of March was not entirely voluntary. Continue reading...

• The Department of Homeland Security shutdown risks becoming the longest-ever funding lapse for any federal agency as Congress remains deadlocked, with Democrats pushing to fund all DHS agencies except Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the secretary's office. • Republicans argue the entire department must be funded together and note that ICE and CBP already received approximately $140 billion from tax and spending legislation enacted last summer. • Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for immediate TSA funding while negotiations continue on outstanding immigration enforcement issues, but Republicans continue blocking Democratic proposals, holding federal workers hostage according to Democratic critics.

• Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard reported to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that January 2026 monthly border encounters declined 83.8% compared to January 2025, and 79% compared to 2024. • Gabbard credited President Trump's strict enforcement of U.S. border policies and aggressive efforts targeting transnational criminal organizations for the reduction in illegal immigration. • The data reflects the administration's prioritization of border security and fentanyl precursor interdiction as part of the National Security Strategy.

Exclusive: Hanne, 16, from Sussex, was denied board on flight to London after weekend in CopenhagenA 16-year-old British schoolgirl has been left stranded in Denmark after she was refused board on a flight to London because of new UK border rules introduced on British dual nationals.Hanne*, from Sussex, was denied board on a flight home on 8 March after a weekend seeing her British father, who is an academic on a short work stint at a university in Copenhagen.Has your child been refused board on a flight because of the new rules? If you want to share your story, email: [email protected]* Names have been changed. Continue reading...