American Orange

 

Today (September 30th) is National Day of Remembrance for US Indian Residential Schools.

There were 417 American Indian Forced Boarding Schools inside the US (run by the US Federal Government, 37 US States and US Territories, different Protestant Churches and the Catholic Church) from 1819 to 1998 to “beat the Indian out of them.”

There were an unknown number of Indian Forced Assimilation Day Schools across the Country as well.

An estimated 250,000 Students were forced into these Indian Residential Schools inside the US.

There were 50,000 mysterious Children’s deaths at these Residential Schools with the Children simply being buried in Mass Graves or in Unmarked Graves on the School Property with no explanation or justice for their Parents.

There were unknown numbers of Verbal, Physical and Sexual Abuse at both the Residential and Day Schools well into the 1990s.

The US Government only started looking at these Abuse and Mysterious Deaths Claims in 2021 – called the “2021 Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative” - after several Unmarked and Mass Graves were found on Former Indian Boarding Sites in Canada and the United States.

The Federal Government, the State Governments, the Protestant Churches or the Catholic Church – which ran these Residential and Day Schools where these abuses were committed, have ever apologized for their role. 

Canadian Orange

 

Today (September 30th) is Orange Shirt Day in Canada.

Also known as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada.

It remembers the Indian-Forced Boarding Schools, those Children Abused (Verbally, Physically and Sexually) and those Children who died under Mysterious Circumstances and were buried in either Mass Graves or Unmarked Graves on the School Grounds.

There were 140 Federally and Religiously-Run (Protestant Churches and the Catholic Church) Indian Residential Schools in Canada between 1831 and 1998.

Schools operated in every Province and Territory with the exception of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

150,000 Indigenous Children were separated from their Families and forced to attend these Boarding Schools to “beat the Indian out of them.”

An estimated 30,000 Indigenous Children died under Mysterious Circumstances and were buried in Mass Graves or Unmarked Graves on the School Grounds.

From 2008-2015 the Canadian Government funded the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate the crimes. The findings were that it was Cultural Genocide.

In 1994, the Presbyterian Church of Canada apologized for their Church’s role in the Residential Schools and the abuses committed there.

In 2004, the Canadian Royal Mounted Police apologized for their role in the Residential Schools and the abuses committed there.

In 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized for the Canadian Government’s role in the Residential Schools and the abuses committed there.

In May 2022, Justin Wellby, the Bishop of Canterbury for the Anglican Church, apologized for their Church’s role in the Residential Schools and the abuses committed there.

In July 2022, while visiting Canada, Pope Francis apologized for the Catholic Church’s role in the Residential Schools and the abuses committed at them.

The British Monarch, the British Government and the Canadian Monarch have not apologized for their roles in the Residential Schools or the abuses committed there.

Since 2021, 59 Unmarked and Mass Graves have been discovered at these Residential Schools across Canada with more being discovered as more work is done at the sites.

Former Residential School Students can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports from the Government of Canada. Indigenous peoples across Canada can also go to The Hope for Wellness Help Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for counselling and crisis intervention. Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat.

 

Holiday Movies

From Countdown Until Christmas:

“Christmas Movies Premiering in 2025 – What to Watch This Holiday Season”

The holiday season just got merrier! If you’re like us and start counting down the days to Christmas as soon as the fireworks fizzle on July 4th, then you’ll love what’s coming to your screen this year. From heartwarming rom-coms to hilarious holiday chaos and even a few twists on classic tales, 2025 is stacked with exciting new Christmas movie premieres. Whether you’re cuddled up with cocoa or wrapping gifts on the couch, here’s your official guide to the must-watch Christmas movies debuting in 2025.

1. The Christmas Affair Rachael Leigh Cook and Freddie Prinze Jr. are reuniting just in time for the holidays! This heart-tugging romantic comedy follows two sports anchors who unexpectedly find love after discovering their partners have been unfaithful. Cozy, nostalgic, and charming—just what your Christmas movie playlist needs.

2. A Very Jonas Christmas (Disney+) The Jonas Brothers bring the jingle in a musical comedy set to light up Disney+. Expect laughs, music, and a splash of holiday romance. Bonus: Chloe Bennet co-stars!

3. Jingle All the Slay Think Die Hard meets Home Alone. A luxury Christmas vacation turns chaotic when a hitman finds himself the target of holiday-themed mayhem. Action lovers, this one’s for you.

4. Oh. What. Fun. (Amazon Prime Video – Dec 3) A star-studded ensemble cast including Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Longoria, Jason Schwartzman, and more dive into the chaos of a dysfunctional Christmas gathering. Think “Love Actually” with a little more edge.

5. Silent Night, Deadly Night (2025) This remake of the cult classic holiday slasher delivers scares and snow in equal measure. A thrilling option for those who like their cocoa with a side of creepy.

6. The Man with the Bag (Amazon Prime) Arnold Schwarzenegger and Alan Ritchson team up in a comedy-action flick centered around recovering Santa’s stolen bag. Yes, really. And yes, it sounds awesome.

7. A Merry Little Ex-Mas (Netflix) Melissa Joan Hart, Alicia Silverstone, and Oliver Hudson headline this heartfelt rom-com about a divorced couple spending “one last Christmas” together—for the kids, of course. Spoiler: Sparks fly.

8. Tinsel Town (Sky Cinema – UK) This British rom-com boasts Rebel Wilson, Kiefer Sutherland, Danny Dyer, and more in a festive tale full of laughs, love, and a whole lot of Christmas charm.

https://countdownuntilchristmas.com/christmas-movies-premiering-in-2025-what-to-watch-this-holiday-season/

Countdown To Christmas

From Variety:

“Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas 2025 Schedule: 24 Holiday Movies, Two New Series and Multiple Returning Favorites”

Hallmark Channel‘s “Countdown to Christmas” is back with its “sweet 16” this year. On Wednesday, the network announced the lineup of new holiday movies, kicking off Friday, October 17, with 24/7 programming. This year’s movies include the continuation of Hallmark’s partnership with the NFL, “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story,” and a new partnership with the Grand Ole Opry for “A Grand Ole Opry Christmas.” Overall, Hallmark will deliver nearly 80 hours of new programming across 10 weeks, with new movies premiering every Saturday and Sunday night. In addition to 24 new movies, there will also be new holiday TV shows. On Oct. 27, Season 2 of “Finding Mr. Christmas” will premiere at 8 p.m., followed by “Baked With Love: Holiday” debuting at 9 p.m. Season 2 of “Mistletoe Murders” will premiere on Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. (The first season, which streamed on Hallmark+, will kick off “Countdown to Christmas” on Oct. 17.) On Dec. 5 at 8 p.m., “Twelve Dates ’Til Christmas” debuts, based on Jenni Bayliss’ book, starring Mae Whitman, Lucy Eaton, Mary McDonnell and Jane Seymour.

A Royal Montana Christmas Saturday, October 18   Cast: Fiona Gubelmann, Warren Christie   Synopsis: A princess looking to decompress before the holidays heads to a Montana ranch and meets a charming guide.

A Christmas Angel Match   Sunday, October 19  Cast: Meghan Ory, Benjamin Ayres   Christmas angels used to working alone to bring “destined soulmates together” over the holidays, are unexpectedly paired; soon, their “clashing styles – and the undeniable spark growing between them – complicate their mission.”

Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper! Saturday, October 25 Cast: Robert Buckley, Kimberley Sustad A Christmas-loving weatherman has had a tough year; upon returning to his hometown, he bumps into a former teacher who always cheered him on, and his former crush — and things start to look up.

Christmas on Duty Saturday, November 1 Cast: Janel Parrish, Parker Young  Longtime rivals, who trained together at the Basic School in Quantico, are forced to work together once again after years of not speaking; and “when a snowstorm prevents all the Christmas presents from being delivered to base, they are forced to team up for a special mission…to save Christmas.”

A Newport Christmas Sunday, November 2   Stars: Ginna Claire Mason, Wes Brown A charitable and spirited Newport socialite in 1905 finds out her father intends for her to become engaged to a man she’s never met at the upcoming Christmas Eve ball; when she wishes for a different life, a man appears — and she somehow time-travels to 2025.

Christmas Above the Clouds Saturday, November 8 Stars: Erin Krakow, Tyler Hynes  A workaholic CEO (Krakow) tries to skip Christmas but is haunted by her past, present and future, and forced to confront the choices — and her ex.

A Keller Christmas Vacation Sunday, November 9 Stars: Jonathan Bennett, Brandon Routh, Eden Sher The Keller family, including the parents and their three adult children, decide to take a European river cruise touring the Christmas Markets over the holidays, and each sibling is going through their own life challenge.

Three Wisest Men Saturday, November 15 Stars: Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker, Margaret Colin In the third “Wise Men” movie, Luke (Walker) is expecting twins, Taylor (Hynes) is debating a life-changing job, and Stephan (Campbell) is planning for a wedding — all while their mom is planning to put the family home up for sale.

Tidings For the Season Sunday, November 16 Stars: Tamera Mowry-Housley, B.J. Britt, Elijah-Justus Lewis A local newscaster’s life changes when he meets a 10-year-old fan — and his single mother — during the holidays.

Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story Saturday, November 22 Stars: Holland Roden, Matthew Daddario, Joe Pantoliano, Tracy Pollan, Caroline Aron, Steve Schirripa, Patti Murin Cameos: Coach Sean McDermott, Ray Davis, Damar Hamlin, Dion Dawkins, Dawson Knox, Reid Ferguson, DeWayne Carter, Joshua Palmer, Jim Kelly, Steve Tasker, Thurman Thomas, Scott Norwood, Andre Reed, Chris Brown, Luke Russert  Although pediatric doctor Morgan Quinn and the Bills’ VP of Stadium Development Gabe DeLuca have been lifelong friends — as have their families — he’s always wanted to be more. This holiday and football season, the pair work together to find out the mystery person who helped her family get by after her uncle was drafted decades before.

Melt My Heart This Christmas Sunday, November 23 Stars: Laura Vandervoort, Stephen Huszar Holly, a passionate glassblower, has big dreams of showcasing her art at the local fair, but keeps getting rejected. So, she jumps at the opportunity to help a legendary glassblower while also helping Jack, the man who oversees the entries. Things get complicated when Holly starts secretly displaying her own art under a pseudonym — and it becomes a hit — but she also starts getting closer to Jack.

We Met in December Thursday, November 27 Stars: Autumn Reeser, Niall Matter Two strangers meet on a layover and fall for one another — but forget to exchange numbers. The next day, they fly to Chicago separately, just miss each other, and “embark on separate quests to find one another.”

The Snow Must Go On Friday, November 28 (6 pm ET/PT) Stars: Heather Hemmens, Corey Cott Nearly a decade after appearing on Broadway, Isaiah visits his family in upstate New York for the holidays and is unexpectedly put back on stage — this time to save his niece’s Christmas show. To make things more complicated, he learns that “an influential Broadway producer’s daughter is in the school production.”

The More the Merrier Friday, November 28 Stars: Rachel Boston, Brendan Penny A small town ER doctor gets snowed in while volunteering on Christmas Eve with the newly hired top-rated cardiologist; there, they “find themselves in the middle of a bona fide baby boom when three women – including the only OBGYN for miles around – go into labor on the rarest birthday of the year.”

An Alpine Holiday Saturday, November 29 (6 p.m.) Stars: Ashley Williams, Laci Mailey, Julien Samani Two estranged sisters reunite as their grandmother’s last wish to travel to the French Alps for Christmas to recreate her first trip there with their grandfather. While bonding as sisters, they also make room for romance with between one sister and their French mountaineer guide.

A Grand Ole Opry Christmas Saturday, November 29 Stars: Nikki Deloach, Kristoffer Polaha, Rob Mayes, Eliza Maher, Luke Benward, Sharon Lawrence, James Denton Cameos: Bill Anderson, Brad Paisley, Dailey & Vincent, Drew Baldridge, Jamey Johnson, Maggie Baugh, Megan Moroney, Mickey Guyton, Pam Tillis, Rhett Akins, Riders in the Sky, Suzy Bogguss, Tigirlily Gold, T Graham Brown The daughter of a late country music icon abandoned her songwriting dream after her father’s accident. Everything changes when the Grand Ole Opry invites her to represent her father — and she’s suddenly transported to 1995 along with her longtime friend.

The Christmas Cup Sunday, November 30 (6 p.m.) Stars: Rhiannon Fish, Ben Rosenbaum After an injury, Staff Sergeant Kelly Brandt returns home for the holidays and her family pushes her to get involved in the annual Christmas Cup against the rival town; with that, she teams up with Fire Captain Quinn Stokley.

Christmas at the Catnip Café Sunday, November 30 Stars: Erin Cahill, Paul Campbell When a marketing executive learns she’s short on the down payment for her dream condo, she’s informed that her great aunt left her half of a cat café in upstate New York. Hoping to sell it before the holidays, she then meets Dr. Ben Kane, the veterinarian who owns the other half, and has no intention of closing.

She’s Making A List Saturday, December 6 Stars: Lacey Chabert, Andrew Walker Santa and his elves have hired a consulting firm to help name the Naughty or Nice List. When the top inspector, Isabel, has to evaluate a mischievous 11-year-old, she doesn’t expect to fall for his widowed father.

Single on the 25^th Sunday, December 7 Stars: Lyndsy Fonseca, Daniel Lissing After Nell’s family cancels holiday plans at the last minute, she decides to spend the week of Christmas having fun on her own — and crosses paths with her neighbor, who is “happily unattached.”

A Suite Holiday Romance Saturday, December 13 Stars: Jessy Schram, Dominic Sherwood During Christmas week, Sabrina Post jumps at the opportunity to ghostwrite a memoir for a famous art dealer at the iconic Grand Fairbanks Hotel in New York City. The week gets complicated when she meets a handsome British visitor at the hotel bar; she thinks he’s a member of the British aristocracy, and he thinks she’s a wealthy hotel guest.

Oy to the World Sunday, December 14 Stars: Brooke D’Orsay, Jake Epstein After a water line break at Temple Beth Am, the members search for a place to celebrate Hannukkah, and are welcomed into St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church. With the last night of Hanukkah and Christmas Eve falling on the same day this year, the St. Joseph’s youth choir director must team up with the temple’s substitute youth choir director — and they’re old high school rivals.

A Make Or Break Holiday Saturday, December 20 Stars: Hunter King, Evan Roderick Despite recently going on a break, couple Liv and Daniel had planned to host their families together for Christmas. So, they decide to keep their original plans and pretend to still be together for the holidays.

The Christmas Baby Sunday, December 21 Stars: Ali Liebert, Katherine Barrell, Barbara Niven “When a baby boy shows up on their doorstep days before Christmas with a note written specially for them, Erin and Kelly must learn how to navigate their new relationship and career dynamics while unexpectedly caring for a newborn.”

https://variety.com/lists/hallmark-countdown-to-christmas-2025-movies-schedule/a-make-or-break-holiday/

84: Babyn Yar

84  years ago today (September 29, 1941) the German Nazis and their Collaborators murdered 33,771 Men, Women and Children at Babyn Yar (Бабин Яр in Ukrainian) in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The name Babyn Yar refers to an old woman (Baba) selling the ravine (Yar) to a Monastery in 1401.

A notice (in German, Ukrainian and Russian) was posted telling all Jews in Kyiv to meet at a certain time and place – with all their Documents and luggage -  so they could be resettled following a series of explosions throughout the city (caused by undercover Soviet NKVD Secret Police.) The notice also said that any Jews left in Kyiv afterwards would be shot on sight.

 The Germans expected around 6,000 people to show up, but instead over 33,700 came to the meeting point.

The Men, Women and Children were walked several miles to the Babyn Yar Ravine (then outside the city), made to undress and run naked through a column of Ukrainian Para-Military Collaborators to an open pit where the Germans shot them – children under 3 and babies were simply thrown in alive to be buried by the other bodies.

Only 29 people are known to have survived the Massacre (by being shot and wounded then falling into the pit and hiding under the thousands of dead bodies until they could climb out in the darkness.)

Babyn Yar is the single largest Massacre of the Holocaust. 33,771 Men, Women and Children were murdered on September 29-30, 1941.

A total of 150,000 People (Jews, Gypsies, Communists, Soviet Prisoners of War, Catholic Priests, Orthodox Priests and Partisans, etc.) murdered at the same spot until Kyiv was liberated in November 1943.

Paul Blobel (the German who organized and executed the Babyn Yar Massacre as well as other Massacres resulting in the deaths of 1 Million Men, Women and Children) was found guilty by a US Military Court in West Germany and hanged in 1951.

84: Babi Yar

 

Sunday

 

My Week

My Week:

Monday: Staying Home to let the Broadband Company in to set-up our Back-up/Second Internet.

Tuesday: Volunteering at the Nursing Home.

Wednesday: Volunteering at the Nursing Home.

Thursday: Volunteering at the Nursing Home (my last day!)

Note: I don't want to stop Volunteering at the Nursing Home, but am being made to by their Headquarters.

I have Volunteered for over 300 hours since May 2025.

Russia's Attack

Today (September 28, 2025) Russia attacked Ukraine with 593 Shahed Drones (given to Russia by Iran),  8 Kalibr Cruise Missiles, 38 Kh-101 Cruise Missiles, 2 Aeroballistic Kh-47M2 Kinzhal Missiles and 2 Banderol Reactive Drones.

(The Institute of Cardiology in Kyiv, Ukraine being attacked by Russia.)

One of the killed was a 12 year old Girl.

At least 100 Civilian Sites were targeted by Russia today.

One of the places damaged was Kyiv's Institute of Cardiology where a Nurse and a Patient were also killed.

Russia continues to commit its War Crimes (targeting Civilians and Hospitals.)

Paralympics Support Russia

From the DW:

“Paralympic body drops sanctions on Russia and Belarus”

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has lifted all sanctions against Russia and Belarus. Both countries had been under sanctions since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which involved using Belarusian territory to march on Kyiv. At their general assembly in Seoul, the IPC first voted against a full suspension of Russia on Saturday (111-55, 11 abstentions). It was then followed by a vote against the partial suspension that had been in place (91-77, 8). The same votes were then conducted regarding Belarus, with the partial suspension also lifted.

What did the IPC state? "This decision means NPC Belarus and NPC Russia now regain their full rights and privileges of IPC membership, in accordance with the IPC Constitution," an IPC statement said.  "The IPC will work with the two members involved to put practical arrangements in place for this as soon as reasonably possible," it added.  It means Russian and Belarusian athletes could now compete under their own flags at the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics next year despite the ongoing war and occupation.

However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will uphold its strict entry regulations for athletes from both countries. They will be allowed to compete as neutrals but cannot participate in team sports or display national symbols.

How did Ukraine react? Ukraine's Sports Minister, Matviy Bidnyi, denounced the decision, claiming that those who voted for it had betrayed "their conscience and the Olympic values." "We call on our European partners, who will host the upcoming Winter Paralympic Games, not to allow the flag of the aggressor state to be raised over the free and democratic space while the war of aggression continues," said Bidnyi. He added that Ukraine's "decision on whether to participate will be made collectively at a later stage".

The Russian and Belarusian National Paralympic Committees were partially suspended after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Their athletes could only compete as neutrals after undergoing a strict vetting process at last year's Paralympic Games in Paris. It is unclear if athletes from either country will compete in Milan-Cortina, as the final decision rests with the sports federations, which continue to impose sanctions.

^ This is just plain wrong. As Russia continues to commit War Crimes in Ukraine (targeting over 100 Civilian Sites with 593 Shahed Drones, 8 Kalibr Cruise Missiles, 38 Kh-101 Cruise Missiles, 2 Aeroballistic Kh-47M2 Kinzhal Missiles and 2 Banderol Reactive Drones today alone and damaging the Institute of Cardiology in Kyiv) the International Paralympic Committee is rewarding Russia and its Athletes for their Crimes by allowing them to compete under the Russian Flag.

I fully supported the Paralympic Games throughout the years (including the last one in 2024 in Paris, France.)

But if Russia is allowed back in while they are continue to fight and commit War Crimes in Ukraine then I won’t support or watch the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, California, USA. ^

https://www.dw.com/en/paralympic-body-drops-sanctions-on-russia-and-belarus/a-74157423

US Preclearance

United States Border Preclearance

United States Border Preclearance is the United States Department of Homeland Security's practice of operating Prescreening Border Control Facilities at Airports and other Ports of Departure located outside of the United States pursuant to agreements between the United States and Host Countries.

Travelers are subject to Immigration and Customs Inspections by Customs and Border Protection Officers before boarding their transportation onward to the United States.

Preclearance applies to all Passengers (Americans and Foreigners) regardless of their Nationality or purpose of travel.

Upon Arrival, Precleared Passengers arrive in the United States as Domestic Travelers, but may still be subject to re-inspection at the discretion of American Customs.

The Preclearance Agreement is fully reciprocal, meaning Canada is allowed to operate Preclearance Facilities in the United States on the same basis as U.S. Facilities in Canada, including CBSA Agents’ expanded powers under the 2019 Agreement.

As of 2025, Preclearance has not been exercised by the Canadian Government.

 History of Preclearance:

American Prescreening Border Control in other Countries began in 1894 when American Immigration Inspections were deployed to Sea Ports in Canada (Montreal, Quebec; Quebec City, Quebec;  Halifax, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick.)

Once admitted, Americans and Foreigners would be given Documentation to physically cross the Land Border by train within 30 days without additional Inspection.

In 1903, the Pre-Inspection by the U.S. Bureau of Immigration, was extended to Victoria, British Columbia for U.S.-Bound Travelers before boarding their ship to destinations in Washington State.

Modern US Preclearance was introduced, at the request of American Airlines, in 1952 at Malton Airport (today Toronto Pearson International Airport) and Calgary International Airport both in Canada.

Over 250,000 Passengers were processed in the first year of Preclearance.

In 1957, Dorval Airport (now Montreal-Trudeau International Airport) was added to US Preclearance.

By 1970 the 3 US Preclearance Airports in Canada (Toronto, Calgary and Montreal) were processing 3 Million Travelers every year.

In 1970 US Preclearance was opened in its first Non-Canadian Airport on the British Colony of Bermuda.

In 1974, US Preclearance operations became formalized under Domestic Canadian Law with the passage of the Air Transport Preclearance Act.

In 1974 the Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, the Bahamas was added.

In 1979 the Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport, the Bahamas was added.

In 1979,  the Vancouver and Winnipeg Airports in Canada were added.

In 1982, the Edmonton Airport was added.

US Pre-Inspection for Immigration (but not for US Customs) opened in Shannon Airport in Ireland in 1988 and at the Dublin Airport in Ireland in 1994

In 1994, the Queen Beatrix International Airport in Aruba was added.

In 1997, Ottawa Airport in Canada was added.

In 1999, The Preclearance Act modernized the Process.

In 2001, Preclearance was updated by the Canada–U.S. Agreement on Air Transport Preclearance.

In 2006, Halifax Airport in Canada was added.

In 2011, the Shannon Airport and the Dublin Airport in Ireland were added as full US Preclearance.

In 2014 the Abu Dhabi International Airport in the United Arab Emirates was added.

In 2019, The Agreement on Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada was signed.

Implementation of US Preclearance:

In Airports with Preclearance, Passengers must first pass Airport Security Inspection before they can proceed to the Preclearance Area.

Security Checks are conducted by Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) in the standards of both CATSA and U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Regulations.

Travelers who have passed through Preclearance Facilities, but whose flight or ship has not departed, remain in the legal jurisdiction of the Host Country.

 U.S. Officials may question and search Travelers with such Passengers' permission. Their power to arrest or detain Travelers (such as for Customs or Immigration Violations or Outstanding Warrants) is limited.

Passengers can choose to abandon their flight and refuse search, and unlike in the United States, US Officers cannot search them without permission absent an immediate threat.

Preclearance Issues:

In 2013,  when a departing Airplane full of already-Precleared Passengers in Toronto, Canada couldn’t obtain Takeoff Clearance due to worsening weather conditions and was forced to return to the Gate rather than fly to New York the American and Canadian Officials argued over what to do, the final compromise was that anyone who wished to stay in Toronto had to pass through Canadian Customs and anyone who wished to continue to New York on a later flight had to pass through US Preclearance again.

Current US Preclearance Locations:

Aruba: Queen Beatrix International Airport

The Bahamas: Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau

Note: US Preclearance at the Grand Bahama International Airport of Freeport, the Bahamas was closed in 2022 due to construction at the Airport. It is unknown when it will return.

Bermuda: L.F. Wade International Airport

Canada:

The following Canadian Airports operate U.S. Preclearance Facilities:

Calgary International Airport

Edmonton International Airport

Halifax Stanfield International Airport

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport

Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport

Toronto Pearson International Airport

Vancouver International Airport

Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport

Note: US Preclearance Facilities are currently being constructed at the Toronto Island Airport and Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport and are expected to open soon.

US Preclearance Facilities for Rail Passengers in Canada:

There are currently no full Preclearance Facilities for Rail Passengers in Canada.

Since 1995, Pre-Inspection for Immigration (but not for Customs) has been carried out at the Pacific Central Station in Vancouver, British Columbia for Passengers departing on the Amtrak Cascades trains to Seattle and Portland, Oregon.

US Preclearance Facilities for Sea Passengers in Canada:

In 2022, US Preclearance was opened at the Prince Rupert Alaska Marine Highway System Ferry Terminal in Prince Ruper, British Columbia.

US Pre-Inspection for Immigration (but not for US Customs) in Canada:

The Port of Victoria, British Columbia for both the Black Ball Line's MV Coho Car Ferry Service to Port Angeles, Washington and the Victoria Clipper Passenger-Only Ferry to Seattle, Washington.

The Ferry Terminal in Sindey, British Columbia for the Washington State Ferries' Anacortes–San Juan Islands Ferry Service to Anacortes, Washington.

The Port of Vancouver in British Columbia for Travelers on Cruise Lines that visit Alaska.

US Preclearance Statistics:

Today US Preclearance has 600 Immigration Officers and Agriculture Specialists stationed at 15 Preclearance Locations and US Immigration and Customs Officers have Precleared 27 Million Travelers (or 16% of all Commercial Travelers to the US.)

Possible Expansion of US Preclearance:

Brussels Airport, Belgium

Punta Cana Airport, the Dominican Republic

Narita International Airport, Japan

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the Netherlands

Oslo Airport, Norway

Madrid-Barajas Airport, Spain

Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden

Istanbul Airport, Turkey

London Heathrow Airport, the United Kingdom

Manchester Airport, the United Kingdom

El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogota, Colombia

Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) in Edinburgh, the United Kingdom

Keflavik International Airport (KEF) in Iceland

Mexico City International Airport (MEX) in Mexico City, Mexico

Milan-Malpensa Airport (MXP) in Milan, Italy

Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka, Japan

Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport (GIG) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in Rome, Italy

São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) in São Paulo, Brazil

Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) in St. Maarten.

Note: I have been through US Preclearance in Aruba; Nassau, the Bahamas; Toronto, Canada and Montreal, Canada.

Preclearance May End

From the CBC:

“Canadian travellers, airlines, airports could be hit financially if pre-clearance into U.S. lost, says expert”

Major airlines and airports, as well as both domestic and international travellers, could face added costs if pre-clearance services are lost in Canada, says an aviation expert. Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, said on Thursday that pre-clearance locations in Canadian airports are seeing declining numbers, as travel to the U.S. out of Canada slumps this year. The ambassador floated the idea that the U.S. may need to reassess offering the service. "We're not sure we can make the numbers work anymore … pre-clearance is something that is done at the expense of the U.S. government. We paid for it," Hoekstra said at the Global Business Forum in Banff, Alta. "You know, [if] you can't make the numbers work anymore — you're all business people. You know what that means. You've got to take a look at some of these things." U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra told a crowd at the Global Business Forum in Banff that as pre-clearance locations across the country experience declining numbers, Washington could reassess the program.

Pre-clearance allows travellers to clear U.S. customs in Canada before boarding, so they can avoid waiting in longer lineups at busier airports south of the border. The first airport to offer pre-clearance into the U.S. was in Toronto in 1952. It was initiated in the first place to make U.S. travel more attractive to Canadians, said John Gradek, an aviation management professor with McGill University. The service is now offered at airports in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax, Winnipeg and Ottawa.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection operates 15 pre-clearance locations across six countries: Canada, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Bermuda, the Bahamas and Aruba. The department says it pre-cleared more than 22 million travellers in 2024, representing nearly 16 per cent of all commercial air passengers travelling to the country.

Declining U.S. travel Both Air Canada and WestJet have significantly promoted flights into the U.S. from Canada, Gradek said, because of the ease pre-clearance provides. The airlines also promote this benefit to American travellers, who can use pre-clearance to pass through customs more efficiently when returning home from international destinations like London or Tokyo. "[Pre-clearance] for passengers arriving in congested airports in congested time frames is a winner," said Gradek. "So WestJet was getting a significant volume of traffic out of California [for example], connecting in Calgary to their international services." Gradek added the same could be said for Air Canada's flights to the U.S. from Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal, and that Hoekstra's comments present a lot of risk to airlines looking to attract U.S. traffic. Even though the popularity of U.S. travel has decreased in Canada this year, Gradek said the major domestic airlines still see a lot of trips booked into the U.S. On Friday, WestJet spokesperson Jen Booth said the U.S. remains a significant market for the airline. "As Canada continues to be the largest source of travellers to the United States, pre-clearance continues to be advantageous and an important element for the facilitation of cross-border travellers for both Canada and the United States, by significantly reducing congestion at points of entry in the U.S.A.," Booth said via email.

U.S. expenses to run pre-clearance Pre-clearance may take up substantial space in Canadian airports, but it's the U.S. that primarily bears the cost of it through paying to staff the service. Gradek said while it's difficult to say with certainty exactly how much the U.S. economy financially gains from pre-clearance, it's not hard to see the overall benefit to tourism. "In principle, there is value, and it doesn't take much to figure out what that value is," said Gradek. "People are making trips to Vegas or L.A. or New York, and doing those trips because of the convenience of pre-clearance." The finances of busy airports in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal that see more U.S. flights will be hit harder if pre-clearance is lost, Gradek said. But he noted smaller airports in cities like Edmonton, Halifax and Winnipeg will still feel a significant impact if such a decision leads to more people forgoing U.S. travel. While valuable real estate in Canadian airports would be opened up for other uses if pre-clearance is removed, the airports will at the same time likely lose revenue from a decline in U.S. travel.

^ US Preclearance in Canada should remain. I have used it going out of Toronto and Montreal and dispute a recent travel trend Canadians and Americans have used US Preclearance in Canada since 1952 and the traffic from the two Countries will always continue. ^

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/canadian-airlines-airports-financial-hit-1.7645299

Beginner Vs Experienced

 

Guinness

Despite always being based in Ireland from 1759 until 1939 any Brewer working at Guinness who married a Catholic lost their job.

It wasn’t until the 1960s that Guinness even employed Catholics at their Brewery.

Guinness Founder, Arthur Guinness, was part of the Protestant Ascendancy — a class of who held Wealth, Power and Political Influence in all of British-held Ireland during the 18th and 19th Centuries and in Northern Ireland until 1998.

The Guinness’ Pro-Protestant and Anti-Catholic stance continued even when the Irish Free State (which became the Republic of Ireland in 1949 – a Traditionally Catholic Country) gained Independence from the United Kingdom (an Officially Protestant Country) in 1921.

You can learn more about the Guiness Family in Netflix’s Series: “House of Guinness.”

Best Crayons

 

Aron Bell

 Aron Bell (born Aron Bielski) died on September 22, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida at the age of 98.

He was the last surviving member of the Bielski Brothers.

Aron was born on July 21, 1927 in Stankiewicz, Poland (today Belarus.)

He was the youngest of 10 Brothers and 2 Sisters

His Family were Millers and Grocers. They were the only Jewish Family in their Town.

From September 1939 until June 1941 the area was invaded and occupied by the Soviet Union (which was allied with Nazi Germany.)

In June 1941 the Germans invaded and occupied the area.

His 2 Brothers  Abraham and Yankel, were murdered in the Village, and his Parents, David and Bella, were murdered in a mass killing there in December 1941.

The Germans ordered the 10,000 Jews of the area into the Novogrudok Ghetto, but Aron and 4 of his Brothers (Tuvia, Alexander and Asael) refused to go into the Ghetto and instead lived in the forest.

Aron, who was 14, would go into the Ghetto to try and convince the People there to go to the forest to survive. 

The Bielski Brothers Resistance Group eventually had 1, 236 People (70% of them Women, Children and the Elderly.)

They turned no one away.

They lived in underground dugouts in the forest and their camp would eventually have, a School, a Kitchen, a Mill, a Bakery, a Bathhouse, a Medical Clinic and Workshops.

They survived until the Soviet Red Army entered the area in the Summer of 1944 and disbanded the Group.

Tuvia Bielski (the Leader) went to the US in 1956 and ran a Trucking Company in New York City for 30 years. He died in 1987 at the age of 81.

Alexander Bielski first moved to Israel and then to the US in 1956. He ran a Taxi Company and helped with his Brother’s Truck Company in New York City. He died in 1995 at the age of 82.

Asael Bielski was forced into the Soviet Red Army in 1944 and died during the Battle of Königsberg in February 1945 at the age of 36.

Following the war, Aron Bell immigrated to British Mandate Palestine and served in the Army during Israel’s War of Independence in 1948. 

In 1954, he moved to the United States where he married his first Wife, Judith, with whom he had three Children.

Aron Bell is survived by his Second Wife Henryka, his Children, Grandchildren, and Great-Grandchildren.

The Bielski Brothers Story came out in Nechama Tec’s 1993 Book “Defiance: which is how I learned of them.

The Book was made into a Movie in 2009 and stars Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell and George MacKay as the Bielski Brothers.

Saturday

 

My Hotels

Here are just a few of the Hotels I have stayed at around the World.

The Abbeyglen Hotel in Clifton, Ireland

The Savoy in London, England.

The Broadmoor in Coloradoan Springs, Colorado.

The New Dolmen Hotel in St. Paul’s, Malta.

The Excelsior Hotel in Dubrovnik. Croatia.

The Ardlui Hotel at Loch Lomond, Scotland.

Casa Bascara in Catalonia.

Brit ID

From the BBC:

“What is the plan for digital IDs and will they be mandatory?”

The government has announced plans to introduce a digital ID system across the UK, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying it will ensure the country's "borders are more secure". The IDs will not have to be carried day-to-day, but they will be compulsory for anyone wanting to work. The government says the scheme will be rolled-out "by the end of the Parliament" - meaning before the next general election, which by law must be held no later than August 2029.

Why is the government introducing digital IDs? The digital IDs will be used to prove a person's right to live and work in the UK. They will take the form of an app-based system, stored on smartphones in a similar way to the NHS App or digital bank cards. Information on the holders' residency status, name, date of birth, nationality and a photo will be included. Announcing the scheme, Sir Keir said: "You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID. It's as simple as that." The government says the scheme is designed to curb illegal immigration by making it harder for people without status to find jobs. Ministers argue this is one of the key pull factors for migrants entering the UK illegally. Employers will no longer be able to rely on a National Insurance number - which is currently used as part of proof of right to work - or paper-based checks. At the moment, it is quite easy to borrow, steal or use someone else's National Insurance number and that is part of the problem in the shadow economy - people sharing National Insurance numbers for example. The idea is that having a picture attached would make it - in theory - harder to abuse that system. However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said that while there are arguments "for and against" digital ID, making it mandatory "requires a proper national debate". In a post on X she said: "Can we really trust [Labour] to implement an expensive national programme that will impact all of our lives and put additional burdens on law abiding people? I doubt it." Liberal Democrats' Shadow Attorney General Ben Maguire told the BBC the party was "struggling" to see how the policy would have a meaningful impact on illegal migration.

Will digital ID be compulsory and what else could it be used for? Digital ID will be available to all UK citizens and legal residents, and mandatory in order to work. However, for students, pensioners or others not seeking work, having a digital ID will be optional. Officials also stress it will not function like a traditional identity card: people will not be required to carry it in public. Ministers have ruled out requiring the ID for access to healthcare or welfare payments. However, the system is being designed to integrate with some government services, to make applications simpler and reduce fraud. The government said that, in time, digital IDs would make it easier to apply for services such as driving licences, childcare and welfare. It said it would also simplify access to tax records. Announcing the scheme, Sir Keir Starmer said: "You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID. It's as simple as that."

Will people who don't have a smartphone need a digital ID card? The government has promised the system will be "inclusive" and work for those without smartphones, passports or reliable internet access. A public consultation expected to be launched later this year will include looking at alternatives - potentially including physical documents or face-to-face support - for groups such as older people or the homeless.

Which other countries already have ID cards? The UK government has said it will "take the best aspects" of digital ID systems used elsewhere around the world, including Estonia, Australia, Denmark and India. Each of these countries has its own unique system, but all use it as a way for people to prove who they are when accessing certain government or banking services. Estonia introduced its mandatory digital ID system in 2002, and people use it to access medical records, voting, banking and digital signatures. It's primarily stored on peoples' smartphones as a digital version of an ID card Australia and Denmark have digital ID apps that people can download and use to log into government and private services. Neither require citizens to have it India has a system through which people can obtain a unique 12-digit reference number to use as proof of residence and identity Many other countries also use digital ID of one kind or another, including Singapore, Greece, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Arab Emirates, China, Costa Rica, South Korea and Afghanistan.

Has the UK tried to introduce ID cards before? Yes. Tony Blair's Labour government legislated for voluntary ID cards in the early 2000s. However, the scheme was scrapped in 2011 by the Conservative-led coalition, which argued it was too costly and intrusive. The UK has only had compulsory ID cards during wartime. Although they stayed in place for several years after World War Two, Winston Churchill's government scrapped them in 1952 following criticism over costs and police use.

Why are some people against digital ID? Civil liberties groups argue that even a limited digital ID could pave the way for a more intrusive system, raising concerns about privacy, data security and government overreach. Big Brother Watch, alongside seven other organisations, has written to the prime minister urging him to abandon the plan, saying it will "push unauthorised migrants further into the shadows". More than a million people have signed a petition against introducing digital ID cards, on the UK Parliament website. Petitions that get more than 100,000 signatures are considered for a debate in Parliament. Other prominent critics include the former Conservative cabinet minister David Davis - who campaigned against Labour's ID card scheme in the 2000s. He said "no system is immune to failure" and warned governments and tech companies have repeatedly failed to protect people's data.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyl3lzzed2o

GBBS

Dear Netflix: It's Friday and you should be showing the new episode of "The Great British Baking Show."

It's 3:15 pm and the next episode still says "Available on September 26th."

Get your act together and make the episode available.

Friday

 

Speech

On September 4, 1942 in the Lodz Ghetto (renamed Litzmannstadt  by the Germans) in German-Occupied Lodz, Poland the Head of the Judenrat or Jewish Council (a Group formed by the Germans to carry out the running of the Ghetto) Chaim Rumkowski gave a public speech to the Inhabitants of the Ghetto in which he asked them to give up their Children, the Disabled, the Sick and the Elderly to the Germans for certain death.

(Children rounded up for Deportation to the Chelmno Death Camp where they were gassed to death in September 1942.)

The Lodz Ghetto was created by the Germans on April 30, 1940 and initially housed 163,777 People, but the Closure of smaller Ghettos across German-Occupied Poland and the Deportation of Jews from Germany and Austria brought the number 210,000 Men, Women and Children held in the Lodz Ghetto.

The Deportations to the Death Camps from the Lodz Ghetto began in December 1941 and initially everyone (except the Germans) thought the Residents were being sent to Slave Labor Camps.

By August 1942 everyone in the Lodz Ghetto knew that Deportation from the Ghetto meant certain death as 55,000 Men, Women and Children from the Ghetto had already been Deported and the trains came back with their blood-stained clothes (which the Inhabitants of the Ghetto had to clean to be sent to Germany.)

Chaim Rumkowski initially used the Deportations to get rid of anyone in the Ghetto he did not like, but the Germans kept demanding more and more People and so Rumkowski came up a deal to give the Germans the 13,000 Children and the 11,000 Elderly People left in the Lodz Ghetto with the hope to save the other, “Productive” Adults.

On September 4, 1942 Chaim Rumkowski said:

“A grievous blow has struck the Ghetto. They [the Germans] are asking us to give up the best we possess – the Children and the Elderly. I was unworthy of having a Child of my own, so I gave the best years of my life to Children. I've lived and breathed with Children, I never imagined I would be forced to deliver this sacrifice to the altar with my own hands. In my old age, I must stretch out my hands and beg: Brothers and Sisters! Hand them over to me! Fathers and Mothers: Give me your Children!”

The next Morning every single Man, Woman and Child in the Ghetto was forbidden to leave their homes as the Germans and Jewish Ghetto Police went door-to-door and took every Child under 10 years old, all the Sick and all the Elderly.

500 People were shot during the Round-Up inside the Ghetto.

24,000 People (13,000 Children and 11,000 Elderly) were Deported from the Lodz Ghetto that day and sent to the Chelmno Death Camp 37 miles away where they were stripped naked, forced to walk through confusing Hallways until they reached a door and entered a room.

That room was really a Gas Van (Vans that drove around while the People inside were suffocated to death by the toxic gas fumes being pumped inside.)

After 20 minutes everyone inside the Vans was dead. Their Bodies were then burned.

Chaim Rumkowski was deported to the Auschwitz Death Camp on August 28, 1944 where the Jewish Sonderkommando (Jewish Prisoners forced by the Germans to work during the Selection and in the Gas Chambers) beat him to death (at the door of Crematorium 2) for his role in murdering the Jews.

The Lodz Ghetto was liquidated by the Germans in August 1944.

A handful of People were left in the Ghetto to clean it up.

When the Soviet Red Army entered Lodz on January 19, 1945, only 877 Jews were still alive, 12 of whom were Children (who had been hidden inside the Ghetto.)

Of the 223,000 Jews in Lodz before the German Invasion, only 10,000 survived the Holocaust in other places.

Own Jokes

 

The Best

The best Pizza I’ve ever had wasn’t when I was in Venice, Italy (it was actually the worst Pizza I’ve ever had) or even in New York City.

It was when I was at a place off the main road in a very small town near Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness in Scotland.

The best Cuban Sandwich I’ve ever had wasn’t when I was in Tampa or in Little Havana in Miami, Florida. It was when I was at Boston’s Logan Airport waiting to fly to Iceland.

The best Shish-Kabab I’ve ever had wasn’t made by Turks when I was in Germany. It was at a small Dacha outside of Yaroslavl, Russia in the dead of Winter.

The best Hamburger I’ve ever had wasn’t at a McDonald’s it was at a small family-run tavern outside of Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Sometimes, you have to go off-the-beaten-path to find the good things in life (food or otherwise.)

EES

 

Americans and other Non-EU Citizens now have to do this when entering and leaving the 29 Member Countries of the Schengen Area starting on October 12, 2025.

It's called the EES (Entry-Exit System.)

The Schengen Area includes: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark (not including Greenland or the Faroe Islands), Estonia, Finland, France (not including Overseas Territories), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands (not including the Caribbean Netherlands), Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The US has a similar Program for Foreigners (called US-VISIT and has been around since 2004) when entering the US (there is no Exit Immigration in the US.)

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en

Typo

 

Memory

 

Shows

I can accept if someone has a different political view than I do, but if anyone spoils one of these shows before I can watch the newest episode: "The Great British Baking Show" "Halloween Wars” or "Halloween Baking Championship" they are dead to me.

100% Back

From the BBC:

“Kyiv can win all of Ukraine back from Russia, Trump says”

US President Donald Trump has said Kyiv can "win all of Ukraine back in its original form", marking a major shift in his position on the war with Russia. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he said Ukraine could get back "the original borders from where this war started" with the support of Europe and Nato, due to pressures on Russia's economy. His comments came after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, held after Trump had addressed the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to end the war, but has previously warned that process would likely involve Ukraine giving up some territory, an outcome Zelensky has consistently rejected. In his post, Trump added Ukraine could "maybe even go further than that", but did not specify what he was referring to. He also made no reference to Crimea, which was invaded and annexed by Russia in 2014. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Trump said his position had changed "after getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia military and economic situation". "Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act," he added, labelling Russia as a "paper tiger".

Zelensky hailed the "big shift" in Trump's position, and speaking to reporters in the UN building, said he understood the US was willing to give Ukraine security guarantees "after the war is finished". Pressed on what this would look like, he added: "I don't want to lie, we don't have specific details," but broached the possibility of more weapons, air defences and drones. Speaking later on Fox News, Zelensky said that Trump's Truth Social post about Ukraine's positioning surprised him but he took it as a "positive signal" that Trump and the US "will be with us to the end of the war". "I think the fact that Putin was lying to President Trump so many times also made a difference between us," he told Fox host Bret Baier. Earlier on Tuesday, following his speech to the UN, Trump also said Nato nations should shoot down Russian planes breaching their airspace, following a series of recent incursions by Russian fighter jets and drones.

Last week, Estonia and Poland requested a consultation with other Nato members after Russia violated its airspace in separate incidents. Romania, another Nato member, also said Russian drones breached its airspace. After meeting on Tuesday, Nato issued a statement condemning Russia's actions and warned that it would use "all necessary military and non-military tools" to defend itself. "Russia bears full responsibility for these actions, which are escalatory, risk miscalculation and endanger lives. They must stop," it said.

The alliance added that Moscow's actions were part of a "pattern of increasingly irresponsible" behaviour. Nato's secretary general Mark Rutte said: "We are a defensive alliance, yes, but we are not naive, so we see what is happening." Speaking at the UN, Poland's president Karol Nawrocki echoed those comments, saying his country was prepared to "defend its territory" and "react adequately". "Polish people, as well as countries of Central and Eastern Europe, will not be scared of Russian drones," he said. Russia denied violating Estonia's airspace, while it insisted the Polish incursion was not deliberate and did not comment on the Romania incident.

Asked if the US would support its Nato allies if they shot down Russian aircraft, Trump said it "depends on the circumstance" and praised the military alliance for increasing defence spending. "Nato has stepped up," he said, referring to an agreement by leaders to ramp up defence spending to 5% of their countries' economic output by 2035. In his speech hours earlier, Trump criticised some Nato members for not ceasing the purchase of Russian energy, saying they were "funding a war against themselves". Tuesday's Truth Social post represents an about-face after Trump spent most of the year insisting that Ukraine's situation was dire. In February, Trump told Zelensky during their fiery Oval Office exchange that he did "not have the cards right now" to prevail against a larger, more populous nation in a war of attrition. Before talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August, Trump said he would try to get some territory back for Ukraine but warned there would be "some swapping, changes in land". There were reports he was planning to press Zelensky to surrender the entirety of the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in return for Russia freezing the rest of the front line - a proposal put forward by Putin in Alaska. Trump has also repeatedly threatened to impose tougher measures on Russia, but has so far failed to take any action when the Kremlin ignored his deadlines and threats of sanctions.

Unpredictability has long been one of the US president's foreign policy trademarks, and perhaps this latest move is an attempt to shake up peace negotiations that have been stagnant for more than a month after Trump hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Alaska. The most notable portion of Trump's post may be the way it ended - with an assurance the US would continue to sell arms to Nato that it could then pass along to Ukraine. It is not the seemingly near open-ended commitment to the war effort that the Biden administration provided, but it is more than Trump seemed interested in offering at times this year.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c07vm35rryeo

2: Flight

2 Years ago today (September 24, 2023) 120,000 Armenians were stranded in Nagorno-Karabakh when it was completely occupied by Azerbaijan on September 20, 2023 and were forced to flee from Nagorno-Karabakh to the rest of Armenia due to Anti-Armenian violence by Azerbaijan.

(Armenians trying to flee Nagorno-Karabakh - September 2023)

Anti-Armenian Sentiment is widespread in Azerbaijan. A 2022 Poll found that 91% of Azeris perceive Armenians as the “biggest threat to Azerbaijan.”

This is not a modern trend:

From 1918-1920 when Azerbaijan was independent there were organized killings of Armenians in Baku and Shusa. 20,000 Armenians were murdered in Shusa and 30,000 Armenians were murdered in Baku.

February-March 1988 Sumgait Pogrom where 200 Armenians were murdered by the Azeris and an unknown number wounded during Soviet Times.

September 1988 Armenian Expulsion in Shusa where a 61 year old Armenian was killed and 33 Armenians were wounded by the Azeris during Soviet Times.

The January 1990 Baku Pogrom where the Azeris murdered 90 Armenians and wounded 700 Armenians in the Azeri Capital during Soviet Times.

From 1988-1990 250,000 Armenians were deported or forced to flee from Azerbaijan.

The Nagorno-Karabakh War has been going on since 1990 in different stages:

The 1st Nagorno-Karabakh War was from 1992-1994 with an Armenian Victory. 4,000 Armenian Civilians were killed. 500,000 Armenians were displaced from Azeri Territory.

The 2nd Nagorno-Karabakh War was in 2020 with an Azeri Victory. 85 Armenian Civilians were killed. 100,00 Armenians were displaced.

1,960 Russian Peacekeepers were sent to Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, but were ineffective to stop the violence or to protect Civilians from the Ceasefire Breaches.

Blockade of the Lachin Corridor (connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia) forcing the layoffs of over 11,000 Armenians and extreme scarcity of electricity, water, food, medicines, etc.

The 3rd Nagorno-Karabakh War was in September 2023 with an Azeri Victory. 10 Armenians were killed and 120,000 Armenians were displaced.

The 120,000 Armenian Civilians stuck in Azeri-Controlled Nagorno-Karabakh and fleeing to Armenia in September 2023 had to undergo tight Azeri Military Checkpoints and searches (where many of their household goods were taken from them and many Armenians were arrested and kept by the Azeris

Only a few Armenian Elderly and Disabled stayed in Azeri-Controlled Nagorno-Karabakh (because they couldn’t physically flee.) Azeri Authorities took their Passports and have been monitoring their communications.

A Peace Treaty signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan in August 2025 aims to end the Nagorno-Karabakh War and to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Note: Nagorno-Karabakh has had Armenians living there since the 7th Century BC and has many ancient Christian Churches and Monasteries - most of which have been destroyed or defaced by the Azeris. Armenians had always been more than 50% of the population.

 

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