Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
Trump’s New U.S. Strategy Seeks to Deter China and Protect Taiwan 
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
Putin and U.S. Envoy Witkoff Hold “Truly Friendly” Talks as Ukraine Peace Efforts Intensify 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
Cuba Quietly Signals Openness to Post-Maduro Venezuela as U.S. Pressure Intensifies 
CFPB to Review Anti-Discrimination Policies and Fair Lending Rules Amid Policy Shift 
Escalating Conflict in Eastern Congo Despite U.S.-Brokered Peace Efforts 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Honduras Awaits Final Election Results as Asfura Holds Slim Lead Amid U.S. Attention 
The United States has proposed a number of refugee admissions for the 2023 fiscal year. The State Department announced last week that the administration proposed to admit 125,000 refugees into the country for the coming fiscal year.
US State Department spokesperson Ned Price issued a statement Friday last week that the Biden administration is proposing a target of 125,000 refugees into the country for the 2023 fiscal year.
Price explained that the target number, which is the same as the current fiscal year, will help address the needs caused by the humanitarian crises in the world.
President Joe Biden has pledged to reverse the hardline immigration policies put in place by his predecessor Donald Trump, including the 15,000 refugee cap which is the lowest in the history of the modem refugee program.
In the current fiscal year, the Biden administration has admitted less than the 125,000 refugee cap. As of August 31, the administration has only admitted 19,919 refugees.
Also Friday last week, the Treasury Department issued a statement imposing sanctions on Iran’s intelligence ministry and its minister following the accusations that Tehran was behind the cyberattack on Albania in July along with engaging in cyber activities against the United States and its allies.
The July cyberattack temporarily disrupted government websites and other public services. According to analysts, the cyberattack was meant to punish Albania for supporting an Iranian dissident group that is now based in the country.
This follows Albania’s move to cut diplomatic relations with Iran on Wednesday over the incident and ordered the Iranian embassy to close down and its diplomats and staff to leave the country within 24 hours.
The Treasury said the Iranian intelligence ministry directs several networks of cyber threat individuals, including those who are involved in cyber espionage and ransomware attacks in support of Tehran. The ministry is already subject to previous sanctions.
“We will not tolerate Iran’s increasingly aggressive cyber activities,” said Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Brian Nelson in the statement.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also issued a statement on the matter, saying that Iran has disregarded “norms of responsible peacetime state behavior in cyberspace.”
