Latest news with #Virtue
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Afghan refugees deserve better than a one-way ticket back to the cruelty they left behind
Earlier this month, the United Nations published its latest update on human rights in Afghanistan. Here are a few of the findings: On Feb. 23, 18 people were flogged for 'crimes' ranging from homosexuality to extramarital affairs. They then received sentences of between one and five years in prison. On March 3, 'Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' agents made a surprise visit to a hospital and ordered staff not to attend women who weren't accompanied by a male relative. Between Jan. 17 and Feb. 3, 50 men from the Ismaili community were abducted and interrogated on religious subjects. Those who refused to convert to Sunni Islam were beaten and threatened with death. This is Afghanistan under Taliban rule, and it is where the Trump administration plans to send Afghans who are now living safely in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security recently published a news release stating that the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans in the U.S. will expire on May 20 and be terminated on July 12. The order means that over 9,000 Afghans will be vulnerable to deportation. According to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem: 'Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevent[s] them from returning to their home country.' The per-capita gross domestic product in Afghanistan's 'stabilizing' economy is around $415 — nearly 200 times lower than in the United States. The Afghan economy has only 'stabilized' after a period of immense economic pain due to the suspension of foreign aid and sanctions on the financial sector following the Taliban's return to power. Billions of dollars in Afghan central bank assets remain frozen, and the United States doesn't recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government. 'We've reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners,' Noem says, 'and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation.' There's no group more deserving of TPS than the Afghans who are now on the fast track to deportation. The idea that 'conditions in Afghanistan' have improved so dramatically that the United States has to send Afghans back to one of the most impoverished and tyrannical countries on Earth — where they will instantly have targets on their backs for fleeing to America — is worse than absurd. It will put thousands of people who sought refuge in the United States in grave danger and condemn them to lives of fear and oppression. Reprisal killings are a permanent feature of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Former Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and government officials were repeatedly targeted between Jan. 1 and March 31. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan documented 23 instances of arbitrary arrest and detention, as well as torture, abuse and killings of former ANSF members. The CEO of AfghanEvac (which helps the U.S.' Afghan allies and other refugees relocate), Shawn VanDiver, observes that the returning Afghans won't be safe: 'By nature of them having been in the United States of America for the last three and a half years, they're now in danger.' The entirety of the Trump administration's approach to Afghan refugees has been a national disgrace. On the day Trump took office, he signed an executive order that suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, an order that prevented Afghans from moving to America — including those who were in the final stages of the arduous approval process. He also rescinded funding for Special Immigrant Visas, which Afghan employees of the United States received. In February, Military Times reported on 'U.S. service members whose families are stuck in Afghanistan,' and who have 'shared stories of individuals being hunted — and in some cases murdered — prior to evacuating.' One of these soldiers, an Afghan who immigrated to the U.S. and joined the Army, said the Trump administration's order prevented his sister from escaping Afghanistan. Many of the soldier's other family members have relocated to the United States, and two of his brothers also worked with the U.S. military during the war — which puts his sister in even greater peril. There are many similar stories — an Afghan interpreter who worked with the United States is concerned for his family's safety. A former captain in the Afghan National Army who worked with the U.S. military says his mother, five brothers and three sisters all fear for their lives in Afghanistan. The Taliban shot his brother. As the Trump administration eliminates TPS for Afghans, it has enacted a policy to take in white South Africans who say they confront racial persecution. As Afghans who face the possibility of torture and murder confront imminent deportation, the images of refugees from South Africa arriving in the United States make for a striking contrast. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau went to Dulles Airport and told the new arrivals: 'I want you all to know that you are really welcome here.' They were flown in on a plane chartered by the State Department. This is the height of cynicism. It isn't just the conspicuous exception for a group that happens to be white, and whose situation is an obsession of Trump's biggest financial backer — Elon Musk, who is originally from South Africa and has claimed that a 'genocide' is being perpetrated against Afrikaners. It's the vast discrepancy in how the Afrikaners have been treated compared to all other groups of immigrants — while the Trump administration is sending Afghans back to a country where they could be killed, the administration doesn't even ask its preferred immigrants to fly commercial. The administration is daring critics to attack the U.S. flag-waving South African families who by all indications came to America for the same reason as so many others — to seek a better life. Those families should be embraced just like any other group of new Americans. But this doesn't change the fact that the Afrikaners are being used as political props. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posted a video of the new arrivals waving flags and said: 'Take note: They're flying *our* flag.' What's his point? Every U.S. naturalization ceremony — for new citizens from around the world — is a sea of American flags. Meanwhile, Afghans who served in or with the U.S. military are desperately struggling to get their families to safety in the United States. Americans owe a special debt to our Afghan partners, who served honorably in and alongside our armed forces and trusted the United States to stand by them instead of abandoning their country to the Taliban. The Trump administration's decision to betray the Afghans who thought they were safe on American soil is an act of supreme cruelty and callousness. Our Afghan friends don't deserve a one-way ticket back to the theocracy they left behind — they deserve to be Americans. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jennifer Garner's secret to 'thick, strong and vibrant' hair is nearly 40% off
Jennifer Garner has always been the definition of 'hair goals' and we finally know the secret behind her gorgeous, healthy, swingy locks. The A-lister has called the Virtue Labs Healing Oil one of her favorite products because it makes her hair 'thick, strong, and vibrant." Even better? This celeb-loved wonder is available on Amazon — and it's 36% off right now. Her secret's out, and our strands are ready for their glow-up. If you're dealing with weak and brittle hair, you know how much confidence it can take away — and how powerful it feels to get that confidence back. This tiny bottle is packed with a powerhouse of ingredients that aim to strengthen your locks and make them more lustrous. It heels split ends, it protects from pollution and UV rays — all that should cost a pretty penny, so we're swooning over the sale price of $29. Garner breaks it down for us. She once told the Strategist, "My hair had started to thin from aging and having babies.' She credits this product for transforming her hair and bringing it back to life, thanks to its main ingredient, Alpha Keratin 60Ku. It's a protein that, according to the brand, binds to your hair's damaged and weak points and fills them in, to strengthen and repair. The lightweight, serum-like formula is packed with other potent ingredients like Kalahari melon seed oil, vitamin E and Tahitian gardenia flower extract that work together to nourish and hydrate hair and protect it from environmental damage like pollution or UV light. Users say you'll see an increase in thickness, shine and color vibrancy, as well as a decrease in split ends and frizz when you use the oil. Garner loves the healing oil so much, she's become an ambassador for the brand after being introduced to it by her longtime hairstylist Adir Abergel, who also happens to be the Creative Director of the brand. The oil has a light coconut scent, which Jennifer described as smelling 'better than perfume,' and it won't leave your hair feeling greasy or weighted down. And it's not just Jennifer who is a fan. Reese Witherspoon and Anne Hathaway have also used the hair oil to prep their tresses for red carpet events, and hundreds of Amazon shoppers swear by it too! Hundreds of tress-obsessed reviewers say this serum has given new life to their locks. Pros 👍 One five-star reviewer called it "liquid gold for my hair" before adding, "I have highlighted waist-length hair and can put it on my hair three or four times a day and never oily or heavy. My hair is in the best condition it's ever been in thanks to Virtue healing oil!" "Amazing results," said a well-tressed shopper. "This is the best hair oil I've been able to find and I've tried a lot of them, but always end up going back to this one. It really does soften the ends and create a healthier feel. It's easier to brush through my hair and detangle. It is a small bottle, but it lasts a while!" "Brought life back into my brittle hair," another strand stan proclaimed. "My hair has gone back to feeling healthy and looks smooth and shiny. This is now part of my daily routine from here on out!" Cons 👎 While the formula has few detractors, the bottle isn't a favorite of some reviewers. "I took off a star because the cap doesn't come off to let you use the pump. I had to unscrew it and tap it into my hand. I love the formula and the smell though I haven't used it long enough to notice an improvement in the health of my hair," said one reviewer. "This oil smells great, also it adsorbs well, and is not greasy at all. And I do feel like it fills in the hair where it's damaged so bad, said another frustrated fan. "I would have given it five stars if it had a pump. It's annoying to have the dropper top, and I won't take the top off because I would be worried I would spill it." Ready to see what all the hype is about? Snag a bottle for yourself. If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.) The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication
United News of India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Taliban reinforces media ban on broadcasting of living images in Afghanistan's Faryab province
Kabul, May 1 (UNI) The Afghan Taliban, in line with their hardline Islamic fundamentalist teachings, have reinforced their media ban on the broadcasting of images and representations of living beings, extending its ban to the country's Faryab province. According to Amu TV, the decision was announced during a meeting on Tuesday, April 29, led by provincial officials after a review of Article 17 of the Taliban's 'Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' law. Officials reportedly instructed local media outlets to cease publishing or broadcasting images of living creatures. The ban has reportedly been extended to at least 17 provinces, with the Taliban-run National Television limiting its broadcasts to audio reports only. Local sources also reported that private television channels in these provinces have been barred from airing visual images. The prohibition stems from a law signed by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada in September 2024, which explicitly bans the broadcast of images depicting living beings. The law, implemented by Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban's acting Minister for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, has already been enforced in provinces largely under the influence of Taliban leadership. As per Amu's findings, National Television in provinces such as Kandahar, Takhar, Badghis, Helmand, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Farah, Nimroz, Baghlan, Badakhshan, Jawzjan, Zabul, Parwan, Kunduz, Panjshir, Bamyan, and most recently Faryab, has restricted its content to audio broadcasts. According to Taliban-controlled media, the enforcement of the ban has sharply accelerated over the past month, with restrictions newly imposed in eight provinces during that period. Article 17 of the Taliban's 'Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' law details the restrictions on the media, including a ban on publishing or broadcasting images of living people and animals, which the Taliban regards as un-Islamic. Other sections order women to cover their bodies and faces and travel with a male guardian, while men are not allowed to shave their beards. The punishment for breaking the law is up to three days in prison or a penalty 'considered appropriate by the public prosecutor.' According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, since taking power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, the Taliban have employed a gradual strategy to suppress media activity in the country, with the General Directorate of Intelligence forcing compliance with stringent regulations. These include bans on music and soap operas, bans on women's voices in the media, the imposition of mask-wearing for female presenters, a ban on live broadcasts of political shows, the closure of television stations, and the jamming or boycotting of independent international networks broadcasting to Afghanistan. To enforce these policies, the Taliban have detained, assaulted, and threatened journalists and media workers throughout the country. Television and pictures of living things were banned across the country under the previous Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jennifer Garner calls this spray 'the secret to thinning hair' and it's down to $20
Jennifer Garner has always been the definition of 'hair goals,' and we finally know at least one of the reasons behind her thick, voluminous locks. The veteran actress lists the Virtue Flourish Hair Thinning Density Booster Spray as her "secret to thinning hair" and "the biggest hair innovation for thinning hair in years and years." Luckily, you don't need an A-lister's bank account to give it a try for yourself. Right now, you can snag a bottle for yourself for just $20 when you click the on-page coupon for double discounts. Normally priced at $28, you can grab a two-ounce bottle of the celeb-approved density booster spray for just $20 when you click the on-page coupon for an extra 15% off. That's the lowest price we've ever seen it, so we plan on stocking up while it's still so low. The Virtue Flourish Density Booster was created as a botanical, natural solution to hair thinning, using a clinical-grade protein and nutrient blend to nourish the scalp. The protein is identical to keratin, which makes up the hair, skin and nails and which may be lacking in thinning hair. The spray also works to thicken and strengthen strands while boosting roots and adding more volume to limp locks. Even more, it's designed to add more elasticity and flexibility to strands, helping prevent more breakage and fallout and returning hair to its luscious former look. The spray is free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and synthetic colors and dyes. Jennifer Garner is such a fan of spray, she's become an ambassador for the brand after being introduced to it by her longtime hairstylist Adir Abergel, who also happens to be the Creative Director of the brand. In an Instagram Reel together, Jennifer Garner called this "the secret to thinning hair — the biggest hair innovation for thinning hair in years and years." Abergel also emphasized that the spray is "drug-free," with Garner adding that "everything is good in here ... you can use it when you're pregnant, you can use it when you're nursing ... I would have killed for it when I was nursing my babies and so much of my hair fell out." While the Virtue thickening spray is a newer Amazon find, reviewers are already raving about their results after using it and over 300 shoppers have bought a bottle this month alone. "Genetically, I have very fine and thinning hair, and I had noticed that I was losing the little I had," confessed a shopper. "I haven't used it for a long time — about three weeks, give or take a day. I have seen some new growth by my temples and also a reduction in hair loss... So far, my hair is looking better and healthier. Also, I noticed I had very oily hair, and it's less oily now." "Been using this a little over a month and I have new growth happening," marveled another reviewer. "This product is a must-have for us women with thinning hair as we age! It made my hair appear a bit thicker but mostly added softness and smoothness," wrote a third. A few shoppers noted they weren't a fan of the scent. "I don't love the smell," said one new user. "I have fine thinning hair and this product works great! I don't like the smell, but I can get past that for the volume it's created, wrote another. If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.) The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jennifer Garner calls this product 'the secret to thinning hair' and it's down to $20
Jennifer Garner has always been the definition of 'hair goals,' and we finally know at least one of the reasons behind her thick, voluminous locks. The veteran actress lists the Virtue Flourish Hair Thinning Density Booster Spray as her "secret to thinning hair" and "the biggest hair innovation for thinning hair in years and years." Luckily, you don't need an A-lister's bank account to give it a try for yourself. Right now, you can snag a bottle for yourself for just $20 when you click the on-page coupon for double discounts. Normally priced at $28, you can grab a two-ounce bottle of the celeb-approved density booster spray for just $20 when you click the on-page coupon for an extra 15% off. That's the lowest price we've ever seen it, so we plan on stocking up while it's still so low. The Virtue Flourish Density Booster was created as a botanical, natural solution to hair thinning, using a clinical-grade protein and nutrient blend to nourish the scalp. The protein is identical to keratin, which makes up the hair, skin and nails and which may be lacking in thinning hair. The spray also works to thicken and strengthen strands while boosting roots and adding more volume to limp locks. Even more, it's designed to add more elasticity and flexibility to strands, helping prevent more breakage and fallout and returning hair to its luscious former look. The spray is free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and synthetic colors and dyes. Jennifer Garner is such a fan of spray, she's become an ambassador for the brand after being introduced to it by her longtime hairstylist Adir Abergel, who also happens to be the Creative Director of the brand. In an Instagram Reel together, Jennifer Garner called this "the secret to thinning hair — the biggest hair innovation for thinning hair in years and years." Abergel also emphasized that the spray is "drug-free," with Garner adding that "everything is good in here ... you can use it when you're pregnant, you can use it when you're nursing ... I would have killed for it when I was nursing my babies and so much of my hair fell out." While the Virtue thickening spray is a newer Amazon find, reviewers are already raving about their results after using it and over 300 shoppers have bought a bottle this month alone. "Genetically, I have very fine and thinning hair, and I had noticed that I was losing the little I had," confessed a shopper. "I haven't used it for a long time — about three weeks, give or take a day. I have seen some new growth by my temples and also a reduction in hair loss... So far, my hair is looking better and healthier. Also, I noticed I had very oily hair, and it's less oily now." "Been using this a little over a month and I have new growth happening," marveled another reviewer. "This product is a must-have for us women with thinning hair as we age! It made my hair appear a bit thicker but mostly added softness and smoothness," wrote a third. A few shoppers noted they weren't a fan of the scent. "I don't love the smell," said one new user. "I have fine thinning hair and this product works great! I don't like the smell, but I can get past that for the volume it's created, wrote another. If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.) The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
