US expands military presence on southern border

The US military has established a second National Defense Area along the Mexican border, this time in Texas, which stretches 100 kilometers east from El Paso. This comes after the establishment of a comparable zone in New Mexico last month, Al Jazeera reported.

These zones allow military forces to briefly hold migrants or trespassers before turning them over to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or other law enforcement organizations. The measure broadens the military's role in border policing without invoking the 1807 Insurrection Act, which restricts domestic military deployments.

In New Mexico, 82 migrants have been charged for entering the authorized zone, but none have been arrested by troops. Approximately 11,900 US troops are now stationed along the border, as stated by Al Jazeera.

The expansion comes amid President Donald Trump's broader immigration crackdown, with deportations rising and illegal border crossings falling to a historic low in March, according to government data.

 

Meta threatens to cut off Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria over huge fines

Meta has warned that it may shut down Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria in response to ongoing legislative scrutiny and unpaid fines issued by local authorities.

Last year, three Nigerian oversight agencies fined the US-based social media giant totalling more than $290m (£218m) for violating a number of laws and regulations. In court filings, the company stated that ongoing operations in the country could result in enforcement risks, according to BBC.

A federal high court in Abuja recently dismissed Meta's challenge to the sanctions, giving the company till the end of June to comply.

WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, was not mentioned. A shutdown might disrupt communication for millions of people and harm small businesses that rely on these sites, BBC reported.

Meta has not disclosed its further plans.

Six dead, dozens injured in temple stampede during Goa festival

At least six people were killed and around 80 others injured in a crowd crush at the Sree Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village, Goa, during the annual Shri Lairai Zatra festival on Friday night, Al Jazeera reported.

The tragedy occurred as tens of thousands of devotees gathered for the widely recognized event, which is famed for its firewalking ceremonies. Chaos broke out in a tiny, steep path near the temple, leading some to tumble and triggering a stampede, according to Director General of Police Alok Kumar.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed great grief and pledged his full support to the victims and their families. According to State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, five of the injured are still critically ill and on ventilator support, while others are receiving treatment in an emergency unit, according to Al Jazeera.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences and said the local administration is assisting those affected.

Yarsagumba collection season begins

The season for collecting Yarsagumba, the prized Himalayan herb, has officially begun, with locals from Chhekampar heading towards the highlands. Former ward chairperson Pasang Funjo Lama informed that villagers have started moving toward the Chheke and Baju pastures since the beginning of the Nepali month of Baisakh. “This year’s Yarsagumba collection season has started, and about half of the village has already left for the highlands,” Lama said. “In the first phase, mostly young people go to clear the snow. Afterward, children and elderly villagers also join. In the third phase, the focus shifts mainly to searching for remaining Yarsagumba.”

He added that during the second phase, villagers take their domesticated animals along with them to the highlands.

Local resident Chhiring Funjo Lama shared that preparations are underway to leave the village entirely by next week. “We are planning to lock our homes and move to the highlands with our yak and cattle. For the next month, the village will remain almost empty,” he said. Only households with elderly or disabled members will leave someone behind to look after them and monitor the vacant homes.

During the Yarsagumba collection period, villagers set up temporary shelters using stone walls and tarpaulin roofs or tents in the highlands.

This year’s harvest looks promising. “Last year’s yield was good, and early reports suggest that those who have already gone this season have found a good amount,” Lama said. “The second phase usually offers the best yield, while the third phase tends to produce less.”

Yarsagumba is collected mainly from the pastures of Chhekampar and Samagaun in Gorkha district. In Samagaun, however, collection typically starts later, around the month of Jestha. Yarsagumba remains a major source of income for locals in the region. According to the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP), after Dolpa and Manang, Chhekampar and Samagaun produce some of the highest quality Yarsagumba.

Local committees collect fees for access during the collection season, while MCAP collects revenues during the sale of Yarsagumba.