Kuwait invaded in 1990
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Ammon
9 hours ago
- Ammon
U.S. may require some travelers to post $15,000 for visas
Ammon News - The U.S. Department of State is set to roll out a pilot program that may require foreign nationals from certain countries seeking business or tourism visas to post a bond of up to $15,000, according to a public notice set to be published Tuesday. The notice lays out the details of a 12-month "visa bond pilot program" that would allow consular officers to require visa bonds. Under the program, the bonds may be required for travelers from countries that the State Department says have high rates of visa overstays, or where screening and vetting information is considered deficient, according to the document. The notice does not specify the countries covered by the pilot program, but said the State Department will announce the list at least 15 days before it takes effect. The agency will also provide an explanation of why the bonds are required, according to the listing, which will be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday. The program will take effect 15 days after the notice is officially published and will run through August 2026, the document states. The program comes in response to an executive order issued by President Trump on the first day of his second term that sought to stem illegal immigration into the U.S., a major focus of the president's policy agenda. The measure directed the treasury secretary, along with the secretaries of state and homeland security, to take action to implement a visa bond program. The pilot program will focus on countries that have high visa overstay rates among those allowed into the U.S. for business or pleasure — through B-1 or B-2 visas, according to the notice. A B-1 visa is for those temporarily traveling to the U.S. for business activities. A B-2 visa is for foreign nationals who want to come to the U.S. temporarily for tourism or pleasure. Travelers entering the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program will not have to post a bond, according to the State Department's notice. That program allows residents of more than 40 countries to enter the U.S. for fewer than 90 days without a visa. While the countries subject to the program will be announced in the future, the list may also be modified on a rolling basis, the State Department said. The countries with the highest overstay rates for people with business and tourism visas in fiscal year 2023 were Chad, Laos, Haiti and Congo, according to the Department of Homeland Security's report. Only foreign nationals who are applying for B-1 or B-2 nonimmigrant visas, and who are from the countries identified by the State Department, may be required to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 as a condition of receiving a visa. The bond can be canceled if the person meets certain criteria, including leaving the U.S. by the date their authorization expires, according to the terms of the program detailed in the notice.
Ammon
11 hours ago
- Ammon
Japan's Ambassador: UNRWA plays indispensable role in delivering services to refugees
Ammon News - Japan reaffirmed its longstanding partnership with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) during the launch ceremony of the second phase of the Leadership Excellence and Accountability Programme, held Monday in Amman. The initiative is implemented by UNRWA in collaboration with the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) and is funded by the Government of Japan. Ambassador of Japan to Jordan, Asari Hideki, attended the event and delivered remarks in which he expressed profound respect for the commitment and resilience of UNRWA staff, who continue to serve Palestinian refugees under highly challenging conditions. He emphasized that UNRWA plays an indispensable role in delivering critical services to refugees and reiterated Japan's unwavering support for the agency's foundational values: integrity, transparency, accountability, and neutrality. The event highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional capacity within UNRWA, particularly among its frontline managers, to ensure the effective and principled delivery of humanitarian services. The programme also aligns with the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, emphasizing gender-responsive leadership and reinforcing broader efforts to promote governance, accountability, and neutrality within the agency. The Leadership Excellence and Accountability Programme, first launched in 2024, is designed to enhance the skills and performance of UNRWA's operational leaders. The second phase builds on the success of the initial cycle, continuing to promote best practices in operational excellence, accountability, neutrality, and gender sensitivity. Speaking at the ceremony, UNRWA Deputy Commissioner-General Antonia De Meo and Deputy Director for UNRWA Affairs in Jordan Kunal Dhar extended their gratitude to the Government of Japan for its consistent and generous support. They emphasized that the programme exemplifies UNRWA's institutional commitment to strengthening governance, increasing transparency, and advancing the agency's core principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. Petra
Ammon
14 hours ago
- Ammon
Israel announces to allow gradual entry of goods to Gaza via local merchants
Ammon News - Israel will allow gradual and controlled entry of goods to Gaza through local merchants, COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said on Tuesday. "This aims to increase the volume of aid entering the Gaza Strip, while reducing reliance on aid collection by the U.N. and international organisations," the agency said. On Sunday, Hamas said it was prepared to coordinate with the Red Cross to deliver aid to hostages it holds in Gaza, if Israel meets certain conditions. Palestinian and U.N. officials said Gaza needs around 600 aid trucks to enter per day to meet the humanitarian requirements - the number Israel used to allow into Gaza before the war. Reuters
