Latest news with #U.S.DepartmentofState
Ya Biladi
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Boulos visit to Algiers draws response from MSP, silence from Polisario
Massad Boulos, senior advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump on African affairs, made a high-level visit to Algeria on July 26 and 27. In Algiers, he was accompanied by Joshua Harris, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. While the American delegation did not publicly address the Western Sahara issue following meetings with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the Sahrawi Movement for Peace (MSP) welcomed U.S. involvement in efforts to resolve the conflict. «The MSP welcomes the United States' engagement in seeking a solution to the Western Sahara conflict», Hach Ahmed Bericalla, the MSP's secretary-general, told Yabiladi. «From his first term, President Trump has emphasized that achieving peace and stability in North Africa hinges on reconciliation between the two principal regional powers, Morocco and Algeria. The MSP appreciates the U.S.'s dedication to finding a peaceful, just, and lasting resolution to the conflict, as well as the potential role they can play as guarantors of this solution», he added. «We responded to this visit because the MSP represents a third way. We aim for a peaceful resolution to this issue and maintain independence in our decisions». Meanwhile, the Polisario Front chose to remain silent. Media outlets affiliated with the group merely relayed an Algerian Press Service (APS) dispatch covering the meeting between Massad Boulos and Algeria's Foreign Minister, Ahmed Attaf. In the aftermath of the visit by Trump's special advisor for Africa, the Polisario's general secretariat met on Monday, July 28, to «review internal and external issues».
Business Wire
11 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Resecurity Appoints Charles Chen to Advisory Board on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Resecurity (USA), a global leader in cybersecurity and threat intelligence solutions, has appointed Charles Chen, former Senior advisor for the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology and former Director of the Office of Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies at the U.S. Department of State, to its Advisory Board on Artificial Intelligence (AI). This appointment reinforces Resecurity's strategic focus on developing advanced, intelligence-driven cybersecurity solutions powered by responsible and ethical AI. With nearly three decades of experience in IT infrastructure, ICAM, Secure Communications, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Mr. Chen is widely recognized for his leadership at the intersection of national security and digital innovation. At the U.S. Department of State, he led transformative efforts to integrate artificial intelligence and emerging technologies into mission-critical environments, supporting diplomatic technology and security operations across global platforms. His prior experience also includes founding and scaling an international telecommunications firm, reflecting a unique blend of government service and private-sector entrepreneurship. Mr. Chen holds a Bachelor's degree from UCLA and a Master's degree from Northwestern University, along with several top-tier industry certifications including CISSP, CCSP, CISM, CEH, CCNP, and MCSE. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Cyber Intelligence Initiative (CII) at the Institute of World Politics (IWP) in Washington, D.C., where he contributes to thought leadership on cyber intelligence strategy and the ethical deployment of AI technologies. According to Gene Yoo, CEO of Resecurity, 'Charles brings invaluable expertise in AI governance, national security, and cyber operations. His strategic vision aligns closely with our mission to harness artificial intelligence to enhance threat detection, fraud prevention, and risk mitigation at scale.' Yoo emphasized that Chen's appointment comes at a critical time as organizations increasingly face highly adaptive and sophisticated cyber threats that demand next-generation solutions. Charles Chen noted that, 'Artificial intelligence is a transformative force in cybersecurity. The key is building frameworks that balance innovation with ethical responsibility. Resecurity has demonstrated global leadership in this domain, and I'm excited to support their efforts to advance secure and intelligent systems for both public and private sector stakeholders.' Through this appointment, Resecurity is strengthening its position at the forefront of AI-driven cybersecurity innovation, reinforcing its commitment to advancing threat intelligence, zero-trust frameworks, and digital risk monitoring capabilities globally. About Resecurity Resecurity ® is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified endpoint protection, fraud prevention, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence platform. Known for providing best-of-breed data-driven intelligence solutions, Resecurity's services and platforms focus on early-warning identification of data breaches and comprehensive protection against cybersecurity risks. Founded in 2016, it has been globally recognized as one of the world's most innovative cybersecurity companies with the sole mission of enabling organizations to combat cyber threats regardless of how sophisticated they are. Most recently, by Inc. Magazine, Resecurity was named one of the Top 10 fastest-growing private cybersecurity companies in Los Angeles, California. As a member of InfraGard National Members Alliance (INMA), AFCEA, NDIA, SIA, FS-ISAC, and the American Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia (AmChamKSA), Singapore (AmChamSG), Korea (AmChamKorea), Mexico (AmChamMX), Thailand (AmChamThailand), and UAE (AmChamDubai). To learn more about Resecurity, visit
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
US envoy visits IIM Ranchi to interact with B-school students
Ranchi: IIM Ranchi on Monday organized a session on U.S. Government Exchange Programs – Youth Programs for Mission India, aimed at informing students about academic and professional opportunities through international exchange. It was attended U.S. Consulate General, Kolkata, Kathy Giles-Diaz and Sananda Mitra, Exchange and Alumni Coordinator, Public Diplomacy Section. Diaz interacted with students to provide insights into over 30 academic and cultural exchange programs offered by the U.S. Department of State. Mitra highlighted exchange programs that are accessible not only to UG and PG students but also to faculty members, encouraging broader participation in international academic exchange encouraging them to explore these global opportunities, stated a statement from IIM-Ranchi.
Business Insider
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
U.S. govt targets Nigerians in latest move to curb birthright citizenship trend
In a renewed advisory targeting visa misuse, the United States has cautioned Nigerians against attempting to travel to the country with the primary aim of giving birth, a practice commonly referred to as birthright citizenship. The United States has issued an advisory cautioning Nigerians against traveling to the country with the primary intention of giving birth. Consular officers are instructed to deny visas if they suspect applicants' intentions related to exploiting birthright citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of State, using a visitor visa for the sole purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for a child born on American soil is considered visa fraud and could lead to automatic denial of entry or future visa ineligibility. U.S. consular officers are under strict instructions to assess an applicant's travel intent, and any suspicion that a Nigerian applicant is seeking to exploit the birthright citizenship provision—whereby any child born in the U.S. automatically becomes a citizen—could result in a rejected visa application. The State Department emphasized that ' traveling to the U.S. primarily to give birth' is not a permissible reason under the B1/B2 (tourist or business) visa category. The statement which was issued by the US Mission in Nigeria via their X (formerly Twitter) page said " Using your visa to travel for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States so that your child will have U.S. citizenship is not permitted. Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent" Trumps move to end birthright citizenship The warning comes amid heightened scrutiny of global birth tourism trends, and as Washington tightens its immigration controls. While birthright citizenship remains a constitutional right in the U.S. under the 14th Amendment, the U.S. government maintains that visa applicants must demonstrate credible, lawful reasons for their visits. Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed his intention to sign an executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship, a constitutional right enshrined in the 14th Amendment, which guarantees U.S. citizenship to anyone born on American soil, regardless of their parents' immigration status. Trump had insisted that for a baby to become a citizen, ' At least one parent will have to be a citizen or a legal resident.' The announcement has triggered intense legal scrutiny and widespread controversy, as constitutional scholars and civil rights groups argue that such an executive action would likely face immediate legal challenges and be struck down by the courts for violating the Constitution. The move is particularly significant for Nigeria, which ranks among the top countries with citizens seeking birthright citizenship for their children in the U.S. U.S. authorities are urging Nigerians to ensure transparency and compliance with visa regulations to avoid sanctions, deportations, or long-term bans. Meanwhile, a recent Supreme Court decision has cleared the path for President Donald Trump's controversial executive order ending birthright citizenship to take effect, as legal challenges continue in lower courts.
Arab Times
21 hours ago
- Business
- Arab Times
No more easy renewals! US tightens visa rules, drops waiver from 48 to 12 months
The US is tightening the B1/B2 visa interview waiver policy starting September. DUBAI, July 28: The United States will significantly tighten its visa interview waiver policy from September 2, 2025, impacting thousands of travelers renewing B1/B2 visas for business and tourism. The eligibility window for bypassing an in-person interview will be reduced from 48 months to just 12 months, the U.S. Department of State announced. Under the current rules, B1/B2 visa holders whose visas expired within the past 48 months can apply for renewal without undergoing a consular interview. However, beginning in September, only those whose visas expired within the past 12 months will be eligible for this waiver. What changes: Until September 1, 2025: Interview waiver applies to applicants whose previous B1/B2 visa expired within 48 months.n From September 2, 2025: Only applicants whose visa expired within the past 12 months qualify for an interview waiver.n This change means a greater number of visa applicants will now be required to attend face-to-face interviews at U.S. consulates. Experts warn this could place additional pressure on visa processing infrastructure, especially in high-demand countries like India, where over 700,000 B1/B2 visa applications were processed in 2023. The updated rule affects more than just B1/B2 visa holders. Students on F-1 visas and professionals under H-1B who previously qualified for waivers may now also be required to appear in person if their prior visa expired over a year ago. While the dropbox facility — which allowed applicants to submit their renewal documents without visiting a consulate — will still be available, the pool of eligible candidates will shrink significantly. Additionally, U.S. consular officers maintain the authority to request an interview from any applicant, even if they meet waiver criteria. Who still qualifies for interview waivers? Despite the tightening of eligibility, certain groups will continue to be exempt: Children under 14n Adults over 79n Applicants for diplomatic and official visas (A-1, A-2, G-1 to G-4, NATO, TECRO E-1)n Renewals of diplomatic/official visasn Certain Mexican nationals with valid Border Crossing Cards applying from their home country, with no visa refusals or disqualificationsn In a separate update, the U.S. has introduced a new Visa Integrity Fee of $250, applicable across all major non-immigrant visa categories including B-1, B-2, F, M, H-1B, and J. The fee will be charged at the time of visa approval, not during application, and is subject to annual revision based on inflation. 'There are no exemptions for these groups,' the U.S. State Department noted in a consular advisory. The combination of increased interview requirements and the new fee marks a significant shift in U.S. visa policy, aiming to enhance scrutiny and improve visa system integrity.
