Tag: USA

Business

Maersk confirms safe passage of ship through Hormuz under US escort

Danish shipping company Maersk has confirmed that one of its commercial vessels has safely passed through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz under United States military protection. The vessel, Alliance Fairfax, a U.S.-flagged ship operated by Farrell Lines, a subsidiary of Maersk Line Limited—completed the passage on Monday without any incident, the company said. All […]

Business

US military to escort stranded ships through Hormuz

President Donald Trump said the United States will assist vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf in passing through the Strait of Hormuz, describing the move as a “humanitarian gesture” and a test of efforts to restore maritime traffic through the strategic waterway for the first time since the war with Iran began. The initiative, called […]

US Embassy in Nigeria moves to new visa service provider
Business

US reverses visa policy, allows Nigerian doctors to resume applications

Nigerian doctors are set to benefit from a policy reversal in the United States that allows physicians to resume visa applications and processing. Earlier in the year, the US introduced a broad visa restriction affecting several countries, including Nigeria, citing national security concerns. The policy disrupted visa renewals for foreign doctors, many of whom are […]

Aviation

US–Venezuela direct flights resume after seven-year suspension

United States and Venezuela is set to land in Caracas on Thursday, marking the resumption of air travel between the two countries after a seven-year suspension ordered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over security concerns. The restoration of flights follows a series of major diplomatic developments, including the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro […]

Tech

US issues global warning over alleged Chinese AI thefts

The U.S. State Department has directed its embassies worldwide to highlight what it describes as extensive attempts by Chinese firms, including AI startup DeepSeek to appropriate intellectual property from American artificial intelligence laboratories, according to a diplomatic cable reviewed by Reuters. The cable stated that the initiative aims to “warn of the risks of using […]

Business

Brent nears $95 over fears of US-Iran ceasefire collapse

Oil prices surged and European stock markets retreated after the United States seized an Iranian vessel, undermining optimism over a potential peace agreement. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, climbed 4.8 per cent on Monday to $94.69 (£70.07) per barrel. Across Europe, equities came under pressure. The UK’s blue-chip FTSE 100 slipped 0.7 per cent, […]

Business

US begins naval blockade of Iran after talks fail

The United States on Monday began enforcing a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic, sharply escalating tensions in the Gulf just hours after high-level talks between Washington and Tehran in Pakistan ended without agreement. The move, announced by President Donald Trump, followed negotiations in Islamabad that failed to produce a breakthrough despite what participants described […]

Business

US, Iran fail to reach agreement after 21 hours talk

The United States and Iran have failed to reach a deal to end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East after 21 hours of negotiations. The talks, which concluded in the early hours of Sunday, April 12, in Islamabad, Pakistan, were confirmed by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who said both sides remained deadlocked on […]

featured

US confirms visa bans on Nigeria’s religious freedom violators

The US principal adviser for global religious freedom, Mark Walker, said the policy has been activated, enabling the State Department to impose visa restrictions on individuals linked to religious freedom violations in Nigeria. In December, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the new measures, stating they would target those who “knowingly direct, authorise, fund, support, […]

North Korean hackers breaks into US crypto firm
Tech

US warns Iran‑backed hackers escalating critical infrastructure cyber attacks

The United States government has issued a warning that Iran-backed hackers are intensifying attacks on American critical infrastructure, posing growing operational and financial risks. In a joint advisory released Tuesday, the FBI, National Security Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Department of Energy cautioned that Iranian government-affiliated actors are exploiting internet-facing systems across […]

Business

12 countries to pay $15,000 bond for US visa applications

The United States announced Wednesday that starting April 2, citizens from 12 more countries will need to post bonds of up to $15,000 when applying for certain visas, expanding the program to 50 nations. The new countries include Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia. The bond, […]