British embassy in Tehran temporarily closes
The British embassy in Tehran has been temporarily closed, with services now operating remotely, the government announced Wednesday....
The United States has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing from 75 countries, expanding President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration.
A U.S. official said the pause will take effect on January 21 and will apply to immigrant visas, including those for employment and family reunification. Non-immigrant visas, such as tourist and student visas, are not affected.
The suspension covers countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, including Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Haiti, Somalia and Russia. It also includes Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and many others.
The State Department said the decision follows a reassessment of immigration procedures under the “public charge” provision of U.S. law, which allows authorities to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to rely on public assistance.
“Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said. He added that the aim is to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would “take welfare and public benefits.”
Pigott said the administration was moving to end what it called abuse of the U.S. immigration system.
Several of the affected countries were already included in the administration’s expanded travel ban list.
The Department of Homeland Security said last month that more than 605,000 people had been deported under the Trump administration, while another 2.5 million left the country voluntarily.
The move marks the latest step in Trump’s hardline immigration agenda and is expected to face criticism from human rights groups and immigrant advocacy organisations.
The Trump administration will suspend all visa processing for visitors from 75 countries beginning 21 January 2026, according to a State Department memo reported by media.
The U.S. has issued an urgent security notice calling all American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing escalating protests, growing violence and widespread communication shutdowns across the country.
Apple will use Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) models for its revamped Siri voice assistant later this year, in a multi-year deal that strengthens the tech giants’ partnership and boosts Alphabet’s position in the race against OpenAI.
Israel and Arab States have urged the U.S. to delay any potential military action against Iran, warning that such a move could undermine ongoing protests inside the country, according to NBC News.
Sweden is sending a group of military officers to Greenland at Denmark’s request, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Wednesday, as Nordic countries and NATO allies step up coordination around the Arctic territory.
Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez said Wednesday that her government will continue releasing prisoners detained under former President Nicolás Maduro, calling it part of a “new political moment” since his ouster by the United States earlier this month.
The U.S. and UK are reducing personnel at Qatar’s Al-Udeid air base as President Donald Trump weighs possible action against Iran over its violent crackdown on protesters.
The United Nations has called on Uganda to lift a nationwide internet blackout ahead of Thursday’s general election, describing the restrictions as “deeply worrying.”
Whole milk is heading back to school cafeterias across the U.S. after President Donald Trump signed a bill overturning Obama-era limits on higher-fat milk options.
NASA is carrying out the first emergency return in International Space Station history after an astronaut aboard Crew-11 suffered a serious medical condition.
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