The Trump administration has told U.S. embassies to stop scheduling new visa interviews for international students and exchange visitors. This pause is part of a plan to increase social media checks on applicants.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the government is reviewing how it screens these visa applicants and will soon update its guidelines. While interviews already scheduled can still happen, new ones must be canceled for now.
Officials say the goal is to make sure all visitors are thoroughly vetted, especially by checking their online activity. U.S. embassies are being told to focus on American citizen services, immigrant visas, and preventing fraud instead.
This move comes as Trump pushes stricter immigration rules, including deporting students or green card holders who support Palestinians or criticize Israel’s actions in Gaza. Critics say this violates free speech rights.
One student from Türkiye was even jailed for weeks after co-writing an article criticizing her university’s stance on Gaza. She was freed after a judge granted her bail.
Recently, Trump also moved to stop Harvard from accepting international students, accusing the university of resisting government demands. International students make up about 27% of Harvard’s student body.
The Trump administration on Tuesday announced a landmark plan to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following the 2025 hurricane season. The move signals a fundamental shift in the nation's approach to disaster recovery, placing the primary responsibility on state governments.
The U.S. Mint will end production of the penny by early next year, citing high manufacturing costs and a directive from President Donald Trump.
President Donald Trump signed four executive orders directing the Department of Energy to ease regulations and accelerate the construction of nuclear reactors.
The Trump administration has granted Syria a temporary waiver from key U.S. sanctions and loosened business restrictions, marking the first formal step in a broader plan to dismantle decades-old penalties.
The Trump administration has barred Harvard from admitting international students, fueling diplomatic tensions and sparking outrage in China.
The U.S. military has repositioned aircraft and naval vessels from key Middle East installations to safeguard personnel and assets amid rising tensions with Iran, two U.S. officials said on Wednesday.
The United States has resumed processing student visa applications but now requires foreign applicants to disclose their social media profiles for scrutiny, as part of a broader national security directive.
North Korea launched over 10 rockets from near Pyongyang on Thursday, prompting fresh concerns in the region.
The U.S. Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Wednesday at 4.25%–4.50%, while maintaining its projection for two rate cuts by the end of 2025.
KazMunayGas (KMG) and China’s Sinopec have reached an agreement on the terms for jointly implementing the Berezovski subsoil use project in Kazakhstan’s West Kazakhstan region. The signed documents outline joint activities and formalize the strategic partnership between the two companies.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has cancelled certain flights scheduled for 13th and 14th June amid recent escalation of situation in the Middle East and the closure of airspace in several countries for security reasons.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 17th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iran's foreign minister is expected in Istanbul on Saturday for a key Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) council meeting as regional tensions rise over Israel's strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
The World Bank has approved a $640 million loan to Bangladesh to help improve gas supply security and reduce dangerous air pollution in urban areas.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Ukraine “will have to understand and accept” the post-war realities, as Moscow signals openness to a third round of peace negotiations with Kyiv.
More than 2 million Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons have returned to their homes since December, according to the UN refugee agency, which emphasized the urgent need for a political resolution to prevent renewed instability.
As the massive pink-hulled container ship ONE Modern pulls into the Port of Hong Kong, its crew rushes to offload more than 700 containers within a tight 10-hour window.
The U.S. military has repositioned aircraft and naval vessels from key Middle East installations to safeguard personnel and assets amid rising tensions with Iran, two U.S. officials said on Wednesday.
The United States has resumed processing student visa applications but now requires foreign applicants to disclose their social media profiles for scrutiny, as part of a broader national security directive.
North Korea launched over 10 rockets from near Pyongyang on Thursday, prompting fresh concerns in the region.
The U.S. Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Wednesday at 4.25%–4.50%, while maintaining its projection for two rate cuts by the end of 2025.
KazMunayGas (KMG) and China’s Sinopec have reached an agreement on the terms for jointly implementing the Berezovski subsoil use project in Kazakhstan’s West Kazakhstan region. The signed documents outline joint activities and formalize the strategic partnership between the two companies.
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