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Sunday, September 20, 2026

Italy Plans School Ban On Burqas, Niqabs; Meloni Proposes Foreign Student Cap

Italy is preparing to restrict face coverings such as burqas and niqabs in schools and limit the number of foreign students in each classroom, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni indicated during a youth programme organised by her party on Sunday. The proposed measures are being viewed in the context of Meloni’s right-wing political image. Italy, due to its location in the Mediterranean, is among the European countries that receive a large number of migrants, making immigration a major issue for successive governments. <h2>What Did Meloni Say?</h2> Meloni said a proposal would soon be presented at a Cabinet meeting. It will include provisions to limit the number of foreign students in each classroom. She also said parents of foreign students who face serious difficulties integrating into schools would need to learn Italian. The proposal would also ban burqas and niqabs in schools. “If there is only one child in a class who does not know the Italian language, that child will probably learn the language with the help of friends and teachers and integrate quickly,” Meloni said. “But if there are more such children, it will become difficult to ignore. They will not be able to integrate and will end up forming their own majority,” she added. Meloni did not specify the proposed limit on the number of foreign students in each classroom during her speech. <h2>11.6% Students In Italian Schools Are Non-Citizens</h2> According to research by Italian organisation Fondazione ISMU cited in the report, 11.6% of students studying in Italian schools are not Italian citizens. This means that around 12 out of every 100 students are foreign nationals. <h2>‘You Will Have To Go To School With Your Face Uncovered’</h2> Addressing school students, Meloni said they would have to attend school without covering their faces. “You will have to go to school with your face uncovered. In Italy, no one can, in the name of a real or perceived tradition, say that a young woman should cover herself,” she said.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/italy-to-restrict-burqas-niqabs-in-schools-meloni-proposes-foreign-student-cap-1867572

'When Do I Blow Entire Nation?': Trump Says 3 Options On Table For Iran

US President Donald Trump has laid out three possible paths for ending the war with Iran, saying the choices are “wiping Iran out”, allowing it to “rot economically” or reaching a deal. In an interview with Fox News, Trump also said he was “open” to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. His comments came after Tehran sent Washington a list of demands for ending the conflict, as tensions remain high and both sides weigh their next moves.  <h2>Trump’s Three Options</h2> According to Fox News, Trump described the choices currently before his administration as military action against Iran, continued economic pressure, or a negotiated settlement. Trump’s remarks reflected the competing approaches Washington has considered during the conflict. He has repeatedly threatened further military action while also signalling that a deal remains possible if Tehran agrees to terms acceptable to the United States. In the interview, Trump also used particularly stark language when discussing the possibility of further escalation, saying: “My question is: If and when do I blow the entire nation up? They better behave.” The comments came as Iran conveyed conditions for ending the war through Qatar. Tehran has presented seven core demands, with the White House now considering its response. Also Read: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-live-news-update-tehran-warns-us-says-it-won-t-be-forced-strait-of-homruz-trump-1867556">'Ready For Both War And Negotiations': Iran Says It Won't Be Forced To Choose Between Fighting And Talks</a> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TlQomnCdato?si=3jYVF9whTwRcd1TP" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h2>Trump Open To Pezeshkian Meeting</h2> Despite the threats of further escalation, Trump indicated he could meet Pezeshkian during the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. Fox News reported that Trump said he would “probably” be open to such a meeting. Iranian officials, including Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, are expected to travel to New York after the US agreed to allow a core Iranian delegation to attend the UN gathering. Reuters reported that the delegation will face travel restrictions while in the United States. The possible meeting comes against the backdrop of intermittent contacts between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the conflict. Trump has previously said Iran wants a deal, while stressing that any agreement would have to meet US demands. Also Read: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/prepared-for-a-decisive-war-iran-sets-7-conditions-for-us-talk-awaits-trump-s-response-1867552">‘Prepared For A Decisive War’: Iran Sets 7 Conditions For US Talk, Awaits Trump's Response</a>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-latest-update-better-behave-trump-says-3-options-on-table-for-iran-open-to-meeting-pezeshkian-1867570

Saturday, September 19, 2026

Welcome tighter H-1B scrutiny, but not at the cost of American innovation: FIIDS

Washington, Sep 19 (PTI): The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) has welcomed tighter scrutiny of H-1B visa applications, but cautioned that it should not come at the cost of American innovation, as jobs requiring highly specialised skills cannot always be filled immediately from the available domestic labour pool. The statement from FIIDS, an advocacy group, came hours after US President Donald Trump tightened oversight of the H-1B visa programme, contending that it had been widely misused by certain employers, including IT outsourcing firms. FIIDS appreciates and understands the Administration's intent to protect America's national and economic interests, safeguard American workers, and address abuse of the H-1B programme. Those are legitimate objectives, Khanderao Kand, Chief of Policy and Strategy at FIIDS, said in a statement on Friday. He said the ability of the US to attract exceptional talent has made it the world's leading innovation economy. Ajay Bhutoria, former advisor to President Joe Biden, said federal oversight must remain focused on bad corporate actors rather than penalising law-abiding, highly-skilled legal immigrants who play by the rules, pay taxes, and contribute significantly to American innovation. Bhutoria emphasised that while safeguards against unfair worker displacement are essential, government policy must maintain a predictable, transparent framework for compliant employers and legal visa holders. “Real reform means holding big corporations and body shops accountable when they abuse visa programmes to undercut local wages or displace workers. Protecting system integrity isn't about blaming immigrants; it's about stopping corporate greed and ensuring fair play for Americans and the legal workforce alike,” Bhutoria said. The FIIDS official said in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced semiconductors, cloud infrastructure, and specialised data engineering, employers can face real and highly specific skills gaps that cannot always be filled immediately from the available domestic labour pool. Kand said the US will be the strongest when it protects workers from exploitation and discrimination, rewards employers that comply with the law, invests seriously in American talent, and remains capable of attracting the people whose ideas, enterprises, and expertise create the next generation of American jobs. The answer is not to pit American workers against high-skilled immigrants. The answer is a transparent, enforceable, merit-based system: rigorous anti-fraud enforcement; meaningful consequences for bad actors; strong wage and recruitment safeguards; substantial investment in domestic education, training, and reskilling; and a lawful, predictable avenue for employers to hire global talent when a documented specialised need remains, Kand said. He said FIIDS urged an evidence-based and administrable implementation focused on demonstrable misconduct rather than broad assumptions based solely on a company's total head count or visa usage. Trump has extended by a year the requirement for a USD 100,000 payment for certain H-1B visa petitions, the White House said. In a presidential proclamation issued on Friday, Trump said the 2025 measure imposing the USD 100,000 payment had led to a 92 per cent decrease in H-1B registrations by large IT outsourcing firms. Indians remain the largest group of beneficiaries of the US H-1B visa programme. Trump issued a separate order to tighten scrutiny of H-1B visa applications by directing US agencies to consider recent or planned layoffs of similarly situated American workers when reviewing applications. The White House said the measure aims to improve programme integrity and prevent employers from using the H-1B programme to undercut or displace US workers. PTI SKU SKS SKS SKS(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/welcome-tighter-h-1b-scrutiny-but-not-at-the-cost-of-american-innovation-fiids-1867471

Trump Bans CNN, MS NOW, Politico From White House; News Outlets Vow Legal Action

Edited by: Zac Crellin News outlets CNN, MS NOW and Politico on Saturday signaled they would take legal action after their journalists were denied access to the White House grounds earlier in the day. It comes a day after US President Donald Trump announced he would ban the three news outlets from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in a row over their coverage of his presidency. Trump has accused the media of "fake news" over their often critical coverage of his second term in office. Experts say the bans conflict with the United States Constitution's First Amendment protections for free speech and press freedom. <h2>What did CNN, MS NOW and Politico say?</h2> CNN reported that its journalist Betsy Klein was denied access at the White House on Saturday morning and her press pass was seized. "CNN’s mission to report on the U.S. government will continue regardless of any attempts to restrict physical access to the White House and other government buildings, or any other attempts to impede our journalism,” a statement from the channel said. “We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do our reporting without hindrance or interference from the government and this ban is an illegal assault on this fundamental right." Meanwhile, the left-leaning MS NOW, whose journalists were also turned away from the White House grounds on Saturday, said in a statement that it would challenge Trump's ban. "The White House belongs to the American people and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars,” the network said. "MS NOW intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy.” Politico's global editor-in-chief Jonathan Greenberger, meanwhile, wrote in an email to staff: “A few minutes ago, our colleague Cheyenne Haslett attempted to enter the White House to do her job as a POLITICO reporter." "Secret Service denied her entry to the complex and confiscated the pass that allows her access to the White House. "We stand by her and all reporters here covering the White House. As we said yesterday, we will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights,” Greenberger wrote. <h2>What did Trump accuse US media outlets of?</h2> In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump said the media outlets "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they're covering the president of the United States." "Other fake news media outlets to follow," he warned. Trump said there was no one incident that prompted the ban, telling reporters in the Oval Office, "It's really just cumulative stories over the past few years." "I don't have to let them into my, into the people's house," he added. It was unclear whether the banned media outlets would also be blocked from flights aboard the presidential plane, Air Force One. The US is just weeks away from the November 3 midterm elections in which Trump's Republican Party will struggle to defend narrow majorities in Congress. With the president's approval ratings at 35%, near historic lows, Reuters/Ipsos polls also show Democrats ahead by around 7-9 points. <h2>Trump's war with the press</h2> During his second term, Trump has continued to round on journalists he deems critical to his administration — a tactic he employed when first elected in 2016. Last year, he banned the Associated Press news agency from the usual pool of journalists that report on the presidency over its refusal to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. He has, however, given closer access to new, far-right media outlets seen as more sympathetic to his policies. Trump has even called on the US media regulator to remove the licenses of several broadcasters, whose comedy or news shows have mocked his policies and family. The president has also filed several lawsuits against the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the BBC and Iowa's Des Moines Register, sometimes costing the media outlets millions in settlements. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/trump-bans-cnn-ms-now-politico-from-white-house-news-outlets-vow-legal-action-1867464

Donald Trump To Create ‘AI Force’ For AI Regulation, Plans To Name ‘Czar’ Soon

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he is creating an “AI Force” to oversee the regulation of artificial intelligence and will soon announce an AI “czar”. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the move would not hinder the growth of the AI industry, while stressing that authorities would continue to act against wrongdoing. “We will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry,” Trump wrote. “Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!” <iframe class="truthsocial-embed" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0;" src="https://ift.tt/W6pBFPc" width="600" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <script src="https://ift.tt/BPzCdeW" async="async"></script> “However, we will also be looking for BAD, and we can do that, very easily, with our already existing Criminal and Civil Justice System,” he added.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/donald-trump-to-create-ai-force-for-ai-regulation-plans-to-name-czar-soon-1867463

Friday, September 18, 2026

Trump Signs Russia Sanctions Bill Into Law, Paves Way For Up To 100% Tariffs On India, China

US President Donald Trump has signed a new law that could expose major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China, to tariffs of up to 100 per cent as Washington seeks to squeeze Moscow's revenue amid its war in Ukraine. The legislation, passed by Congress this week, gives Trump wide-ranging powers to penalise countries purchasing Russian energy.  The new law targets Russia's energy and defence sectors, as well as President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials. It also includes sanctions against Moscow's so-called shadow fleet of tankers used to evade Western restrictions, Reuters reported. Companies and foreign actors supporting Russia's military could face restrictions under the legislation. The measure also extends sanctions related to Iran. <h3>Congress Approves Bill</h3> The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed the package by 262 votes to 159 on Wednesday. The Senate had approved it last month. The law is formally titled the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026", named after South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham, who died in July. Graham, a longtime critic of Russia, was a prominent supporter of the legislation. The broad tariff powers led to an unusual split among Democrats. Although the party has largely supported Ukraine, several Democrats opposed granting Trump greater authority over trade. <h3>India Says Oil Sourcing Will Remain Diversified</h3> The legislation comes amid efforts by Washington to further restrict revenue that helps finance Moscow's war in Ukraine. India said on Thursday that it would continue purchasing oil "through diversified sourcing." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier described the passage of the legislation as symbolic and thanked US lawmakers. The legislation has triggered concern over the possibility of the US using its new tariff powers against countries that maintain trade ties with Moscow. Critics have argued that the measure could create difficulties for other nations if they later fall within Trump's focus, Reuters reported. <h3>China Meeting Adds Significance</h3> Trump's signing of the bill comes about a week before his scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington. The legislation has also raised concerns beyond Russia, as it gives the US president powers to impose tariffs on major trading partners of Moscow. Critics have argued that these powers could create difficulties for other countries if they come under Trump's focus in the future. The law also authorises tariffs that could remain in effect beyond Trump's presidency, adding another dimension to the concerns surrounding the legislation.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/trump-signs-russia-sanctions-bill-into-law-paves-way-for-up-to-100-tariffs-on-india-china-1867337

President Trump signs Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act

Washington, Sep 19 (PTI): President Donald Trump signed the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which seeks to impose steep levies on Moscow and its top energy buyers such as China and India. “On Friday, September 18, 2026, the President signed into law: H.R. 5334, the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,” which authorizes and expands statutory sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions on Russia and extends existing sanctions on Iran,” the White House said. The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which seeks to impose sanctions on Russia's leadership and energy sector -- as well as on collaborators in Moscow's defence industry and its so-called shadow fleet. The Act also authorises President Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries buying Russian oil and gas, including China and India. The law gives Trump wide discretion over implementation, including which countries face tariffs, the tariff rates imposed, and whether sanctions provisions are waived. The law comes into effect within 30 days of signing by the President and requires him to impose duties of up to 100 per cent on goods imported from countries that are the top five purchasers of Russian crude oil or natural gas by total volume during the 12 months preceding enactment. A country is exempt from the gas-related duties if its Russian gas imports accounted for less than 15 per cent of Russia's total exports during the applicable period and it has taken "significant steps" to reduce those imports. The legislation targets Russia's “shadow fleet” and other foreign persons involved in supporting Russian energy production or sanctions evasion, including vessel owners, operators, managers, insurers, and other parties engaged in covered activities. PTI SKU NB NB(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/president-trump-signs-sanctioning-russia-and-iran-act-1867333