White House says $100,000 H-1B visa fee to be one-time payment
Washington, United States -- The White House issued a major clarification Saturday to its new H-1B visa policy that had...Geostrategy
Macron risks Israeli backlash with Palestinian recognition, yet seizes historic chance to reshape Middle East diplomacy
France and the UK will be the first permanent UN Security Council members to recognise a Palestinian state and, along...Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia takes part in global mineral and mining meet in Canada
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – A delegation comprising several entities from the Kingdom’s industry and mineral resources' system participated in PDAC...The Saudi delegation held meetings with teams from Canada, the Czech Republic and Ecuador.
These are part of the 85 meetings they will hold with officials of countries and global firms participating in the event.
Netanyahu okays plan for operation in Gaza’s packed Rafah
Netanyahu "approved the plans for action in Rafah," his office said in a statement, without giving details or a timeline....The statement from Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the military was "prepared for the operational side and for the evacuation of the population."
Biden, who has supported Israel during the war, has said an Israeli invasion of Rafah would be a "red line" without credible civilian protection plans in place
US sanctions network smuggling American tech to Iran’s central bank
US Treasury sanctioned a number of alleged ISC subsidiaries and front companies based in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates,...The sanctions relate to Informatics Services Corporation (ISC), the technology arm of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), the Treasury Department said in a statement
Treasury's move freezes any US assets associated with the sanctioned individuals and entities, and generally prohibits Americans from doing business with them
In Gaza, there are no more ‘normal-sized babies’: UN official
The war began October 7 when a surprise attack by Hamas resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians,..."Doctors are reporting that they no longer see normal-sized babies," Dominic Allen, UN official said after visiting hospitals still providing maternity services in north of Gaza
Allen said Israeli authorities had refused to allow in some UNFPA supply shipments, such as kits for midwives, or had removed supplies like flashlights and solar panels
UN says 5 million at risk of starvation in Sudan
The war between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has since April last year...Some five million Sudanese could face calamitous food insecurity in coming months as a nearly yearlong war between rival generals continues to tear the country apart, UN said
UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths noted that nearly 730,000 Sudanese children - including more than 240,000 in Darfur - are thought to suffer from "severe" malnutrition
Hamas, Houthis hold rare meeting: Palestinian sources
According to sources from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, leaders from the two Palestinian groups, as well as the Marxist Popular...The Houthis have attacked Red Sea shipping for months since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7, saying they are targeting vessels in solidarity with Palestinians
Hamas and the Houthis belong to the "axis of resistance", a collection of Iran-backed movements hostile to Israel and the United States that also includes Lebanon's Hizbollah
G7 vows ‘significant’ new sanctions if Iran sends missiles to Russia
Washington, US - G7 countries warned Iran on Friday that they will impose "significant" new sanctions if Tehran transfers ballistic missiles...Among the steps that have been discussed is ending national airline Iran Air's flights to Europe, the official added.
A senior US administration official told journalists that if Iran decides to sell ballistic missiles to Russia, the costs will far outweigh the benefits.
Seven children among 22 dead as boat capsizes off Turkish coast
Istanbul, Turkey - Twenty-two migrants including seven children have drowned after a boat capsized off the Turkish coast, local officials said..."The Turkish coastguard found the bodies of 22 people including seven children," the local governor's office said in a statement.
Officials said the boat began sinking overnight and on Friday many ambulances were standing by at the port of Kabatepe near Gokceada.
European Union to sanction violent Israeli settlers and Hamas
Britain and the United States have already imposed sanctions on a small number of Israeli settlers accused of committing human...A high-ranking EU official said that he expected foreign ministers from the bloc's 27 member states to give political backing to the moves.
The 27-nation EU has struggled for a unified position in the face of the Hamas attack and Israel's subsequent devastating military operation in Gaza.aZ
US forces ‘destroy’ Houthi anti-ship missiles and drones in Yemen
Dubai, United Arab Emirates--The US military said Thursday it had destroyed nine anti-ship ballistic missiles and two drones in Yemen after...CENTCOM said two missiles fired by the Houthi rebels towards the Red Sea and two towards the Gulf of Aden had caused no damage or injuries
The Houthi attacks have sent insurance costs spiralling for vessels plying the key trade route and prompted many shipping firms to avoid the Red Sea
