Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new fee structure for international students seeking employment through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, including a $70,000 fee for initial OPT participation and a $30,000 fee for subsequent participation.

Under the proposed rule, the fees would be paid by Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified schools rather than directly by F-1 students. DHS said the proposal is intended to address fraud and abuse, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system and protect U.S. workers.

The proposal would require a school to pay $70,000 when an F-1 student is initially recommended for OPT. A $30,000 fee would apply to any subsequent OPT authorization, including subsequent participation such as a STEM OPT extension.

“Optional Practical Training was never meant to be a back door into the American workforce, a subsidy for cheap labor, or a prize for those who game the system,” a DHS spokesperson said.

DHS said the proposed fees are intended to discourage the misuse of the OPT program and encourage schools to exercise greater oversight when recommending students for employment authorization.

Under current federal regulations, eligible F-1 students may participate in OPT when the employment is directly related to their major area of study. Students must receive a recommendation from their designated school official (DSO) and apply for employment authorization through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

F-1 students may participate in OPT before completing their academic program, known as pre-completion OPT, or after completing their program, known as post-completion OPT. Eligible students can generally receive up to 12 months of OPT at each education level. Students who earn degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields may qualify for an additional 24-month extension.

DHS said the proposed rule follows concerns identified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regarding fraud and abuse involving schools, designated school officials, employers and F-1 students.

According to DHS, officials have identified schemes involving problematic worksites and so-called “pay-to-stay” arrangements, in which students allegedly maintain their immigration status through arrangements that do not reflect the intended purpose of practical training.

Under the proposed system, SEVP-certified schools would have to pay the applicable fee before their designated school officials recommend an F-1 student for OPT in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

The fee would also have to be paid before the student applies for employment authorization with USCIS. DHS said USCIS would not grant employment authorization if the required fee had not been paid by the school.

The proposed fee would not be linked to a particular employer. Instead, it would apply when a school recommends an F-1 student for any type of OPT. The collected fees would be deposited into the U.S. Treasury.

The proposal comes as the Trump administration continues to pursue changes to immigration and employment programs involving international students and foreign workers. The proposed OPT fee is separate from other immigration measures and remains subject to the federal rulemaking process.

The proposed fees would represent a significant new cost for colleges and universities that recommend international students for OPT. The program is widely used by international students seeking U.S. work experience after completing their studies, particularly graduates in STEM fields.

DHS will accept public comments on the proposed rule beginning October 8 and continuing through November 9. The Paperwork Reduction Act section of the proposal will have a separate 60-day public comment period.

After the comment period ends, DHS will review the submissions and other materials received from the public. The agency may revise the proposal before issuing a final rule. The proposal is not yet a final regulation. Until DHS completes the rulemaking process and issues a final rule, the proposed $70,000 and $30,000 fees do not constitute final OPT requirements.

Ruma Bhoumik, Dhaka – The United States is supporting Bangladesh’s national measles-rubella catch-up vaccination campaign through UNICEF, with the aim of protecting 3.4 million children aged six to 59 months amid the ongoing outbreak. US Chargé d’Affaires Eric Geelan today visited the vaccination campaign at T&T Field in Korail, Banani, here.

The campaign, launched on September 26, is being supported under the United States’ America First Global Health Strategy, according to a statement attributable to US Mission Spokesperson Poornima Rai.

He was joined by State Minister for Health Dr Mohammad Abdul Muhit, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan and DNCC Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Imrul Kayes Chowdhury.

UNICEF Bangladesh Chief of Communications and Advocacy Miguel Mateos Muñoz and UNICEF Bangladesh Immunization Lead Dr Riad Mahmud were also present. The campaign represents a nationwide effort to vaccinate vulnerable children against measles and rubella as Bangladesh continues to respond to the current outbreak.

The US support, channelled through UNICEF, is aimed at strengthening the government’s immunisation response and expanding vaccine coverage among children in the target age group.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC — President Donald Trump’s approval rating remains at a record low in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, with 32% of Americans approving of his job performance and 65% disapproving as the country approaches the November midterm elections. The nationwide poll, conducted online from Sept. 30 through Oct. 5 among 4,506 U.S. adults, found Trump’s overall approval unchanged from the previous survey. The result matches the lowest approval rating recorded for Trump in the Reuters/Ipsos polling series. The poll has a margin of error of approximately two percentage points.

The findings come as voters continue to identify the cost of living and inflation as major concerns, while the administration faces political pressure over the economic effects of high energy prices and the ongoing war with Iran.

The poll found particularly low approval among Hispanic Americans. Only 24% of Hispanic respondents said they approved of Trump’s performance, the lowest level recorded for him among Hispanic voters in either of his presidential terms, according to Reuters.

The decline is notable because Hispanic voters were an important part of Trump’s coalition in the 2024 presidential election. Reuters reported that Trump received nearly half of the Hispanic vote in 2024, compared with roughly one-third in 2020. The latest findings indicate that Trump’s standing among this group has weakened considerably during his current term.

Economic issues are playing a central role in voters’ views of the administration. The Reuters/Ipsos survey found that the cost of living was the leading issue for Americans as they considered the upcoming congressional elections. Rising gasoline and diesel prices have added to concerns about household expenses.

The administration has taken several steps aimed at addressing fuel prices. On Oct. 5, Trump signed an executive order expanding access to tax-exempt diesel fuel as prices remained elevated. Reuters reported that diesel prices had reached approximately $6.50 a gallon in September. The administration has linked the energy-price pressures to disruptions caused by the war with Iran and other international supply pressures.

The Ipsos survey also measured voters’ preferences for the November 3 congressional elections. Among registered voters, 44% said they planned to support Democratic candidates, compared with 37% who said they planned to support Republican candidates. Among independent voters, Democrats held a 37%-21% advantage in the survey, while 28% of independent voters remained undecided.

Among Hispanic registered voters, 52% said they planned to support Democratic candidates, compared with 26% who said they planned to support Republicans. These figures describe the preferences of respondents at the time of the survey and do not determine the eventual election results.

Trump continues to retain substantial support within his own party, although previous Reuters/Ipsos polling has shown a decline in Republican approval.

An earlier September Reuters/Ipsos survey found that 73% of Republicans approved of Trump’s overall job performance, down from 86% in January. Republican ratings of Trump’s handling of the U.S. economy and the cost of living also declined in that survey.

The latest poll comes as Republican candidates campaign across the country ahead of the midterm elections, with economic conditions and the administration’s foreign-policy decisions becoming central campaign issues.

The latest Reuters/Ipsos findings also showed changes among older voters, a group that has historically been important in midterm elections.

Republicans held only a narrow advantage among voters aged 50 and older in the latest survey, according to Reuters. Among voters younger than 50, Democrats had a larger lead. Independent voters remained an important group because a substantial share had not decided which party they would support.

The latest polling comes amid controversy over government-funded television advertisements featuring Trump. A separate Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted during the same period found that 86% of Americans considered the use of taxpayer money for election-related television advertisements featuring the president or members of his administration inappropriate. The figure included 80% of Republicans.

The administration has said the advertisements are educational and patriotic rather than campaign material. Critics, including lawmakers from both parties, have questioned whether taxpayer funds are being used for political purposes.

With the Nov. 3 congressional elections approaching, the poll provides a snapshot of public opinion at a particularly active stage of the campaign.  Trump is not personally on the ballot, but his approval rating and the administration’s policies have become important factors in the national political environment.

Republicans currently control the White House and both chambers of Congress, making the midterm elections significant for the legislative agenda during the remaining years of Trump’s current term.

The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that Americans remain focused heavily on economic pressures, particularly the cost of living, while Trump’s overall approval remains at the lowest level recorded in the Ipsos series.

The survey represents public opinion during the six-day period in which it was conducted; attitudes can change as economic conditions, international events and the election campaign develop.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC— The U.S. Department of Justice has launched denaturalization proceedings against 40 naturalized U.S. citizens accused of serious crimes, immigration fraud and other conduct that the government says affected their eligibility for American citizenship.

The cases, filed in federal courts between Aug. 21 and Oct. 2, represent the largest number of denaturalization complaints filed during a single period under the Trump administration, according to the Justice Department.

The department said the cases include allegations involving foreign-government activity, espionage, violent crimes, sexual offenses, tax violations, fraudulent marriages and identity or immigration fraud.

The announcement is part of a broader Justice Department effort to pursue denaturalization in cases where prosecutors allege that citizenship was obtained illegally or through the concealment of material information.

Despite the wording sometimes used to describe the cases, the 40 individuals have not automatically lost their U.S. citizenship. The Justice Department has filed civil actions asking federal courts to revoke their naturalization. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, naturalized citizenship can be revoked if the government establishes that it was illegally obtained or secured through concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation.

The cases remain subject to judicial proceedings. The allegations contained in the complaints are not, by themselves, final findings of wrongdoing. The Justice Department said the 40 cases involve a broad range of alleged offenses.

Among those identified by the department are individuals accused of concealing criminal histories during the naturalization process, using false identities or immigration documents, entering fraudulent marriages and failing to disclose information that prosecutors say was relevant to their eligibility for citizenship. The cases also include allegations involving serious criminal conduct.

One defendant, according to the department, is former U.S. Navy sailor Jinchao Wei, who was convicted of espionage and sentenced to more than 16 years in prison. The Justice Department is seeking his denaturalization based on allegations concerning his conduct and the information allegedly concealed during the citizenship process.

Another case involves Ping Li, whom the department alleges conspired to act as an agent of the Chinese government without notifying the U.S. attorney general. The department says Li was sentenced in 2024. Other cases involve alleged sexual offenses, money laundering, tax evasion, voluntary manslaughter and immigration-related fraud.

The complaints were filed across federal judicial districts throughout the United States. The individuals named in the cases come from numerous countries, including Mexico, Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, Egypt, Nigeria, Iran, Haiti, Nepal, the Philippines, Venezuela, Ghana, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Cambodia, Peru, Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom. One individual’s country of origin was listed as unknown.

The Justice Department said the cases are focused on allegations that the individuals obtained naturalization through unlawful means or concealed information that could have affected their eligibility.

The latest cases follow a series of denaturalization actions announced by the Justice Department during 2026. In August, the department announced 25 denaturalization complaints involving naturalized citizens accused of offenses including attempted murder, assault and sexual crimes against children. The department said at the time that the complaints filed since Jan. 20, 2025, brought its total to 123 civil denaturalization complaints, which it described as the highest number in recorded history.

The latest 40-case filing represents a further expansion of the administration’s use of denaturalization proceedings. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department intends to continue using the process in cases where it believes citizenship was obtained through deception or unlawful conduct.

Denaturalization is a legal process through which the government seeks to cancel the citizenship of a person who became a U.S. citizen through naturalization. It is different from deportation and does not apply to people who are U.S. citizens by birth in the same way. For a naturalized citizen, the government must pursue the matter through the courts and establish the legal grounds for revocation.

The Supreme Court has also emphasized the significance of citizenship and the government’s burden when seeking to revoke naturalization. Consequently, the filing of a complaint is the beginning of a legal proceeding, not a final decision that citizenship has been revoked.

The expansion of denaturalization proceedings has drawn national attention because citizenship is a fundamental legal status carrying important constitutional and statutory rights.

The Justice Department argues that the process is necessary when individuals allegedly obtained citizenship through fraud or by concealing serious misconduct.

Civil liberties and immigration advocates, meanwhile, have raised broader concerns about the government’s increasing use of a rarely invoked legal mechanism. Coverage of the latest filings has characterized the effort as a significant expansion of denaturalization under the Trump administration.

The cases will now proceed through the federal courts, where the government’s allegations can be contested and judges will determine whether the legal requirements for denaturalization have been met.

The 40 defendants will have an opportunity to respond to the government’s allegations in court. If the government successfully proves that an individual’s naturalization was illegally obtained or obtained through material concealment or willful misrepresentation, a federal court may revoke the person’s naturalization.

Until such proceedings are resolved, however, the filing of the cases should not be treated as a final determination that the individuals have lost their citizenship.

The Justice Department’s latest action signals that denaturalization will remain an important part of the administration’s immigration enforcement strategy, with additional cases potentially moving through federal courts in the months ahead.

WASHINGTON DC — The United States is heading into the November midterm elections with unemployment near historically low levels, but a weakening pace of hiring, persistent inflation and declining confidence in the economy are complicating the picture for President Donald Trump and his Republican Party.

The unemployment rate stood at 4.2% in September, a level generally associated with a labor market close to full employment. But the latest employment figures show an economy that is no longer generating jobs at the pace seen during the post-pandemic recovery, with employers becoming more cautious about hiring and workers losing some of the bargaining power they previously enjoyed.

Employers added just 29,000 jobs in September, well below the 90,000 increase economists surveyed by Reuters had expected. Payroll growth for August was also revised downward. Despite the weak hiring figures, there has been little evidence of a broad increase in layoffs, with unemployment claims remaining near historically low levels.

The labor market’s changing dynamics are creating a more complicated economic environment ahead of the November 3 elections. While Americans who have jobs continue to support consumer spending, fewer workers are finding the rapidly rising wages and abundant employment opportunities that characterized the years immediately following the pandemic.

Inflation has further weakened the benefits of wage growth. Real disposable income growth has remained below 2%, meaning that after accounting for rising prices, many households have seen only modest increases in the amount of money available for spending and saving.

The labor supply is also facing structural pressures. An aging population and lower birth rates are limiting the growth of the workforce, while tighter immigration policies have further affected the number of workers available to employers. The labor force remains below the record level reached in late 2025, according to the Reuters analysis.

Manufacturing employment presents another challenge for the administration. Trump campaigned on expanding American manufacturing through tariffs and deregulation, but manufacturing employment has so far shown limited improvement. The sector employed about 12.6 million people, roughly 21,000 fewer than when Trump took office in January 2025, according to Reuters.

The broader economy is also facing renewed inflationary pressure. The U.S. services sector expanded in September, but activity slowed slightly and the prices paid by businesses for inputs rose to their highest level in more than four years, according to an Institute for Supply Management survey reported Monday. Higher fuel and commodity costs, along with supply-chain disruptions, are adding to concerns about inflation.

The Federal Reserve is closely watching the conflicting signals. A weaker September jobs report has reduced expectations of another interest-rate increase at the central bank’s October meeting, although persistent inflation could keep another increase on the table later in the year.

For the White House, the economic record presents both strengths and vulnerabilities. The low unemployment rate provides evidence of continued labor-market resilience, but slower hiring and elevated living costs are shaping how households experience the economy.

With voters preparing to choose members of Congress in November, the distinction between a technically strong labor market and the day-to-day economic experience of households could become increasingly important. The economy continues to expand and layoffs remain limited, but the post-pandemic period of rapid hiring and strong wage gains has clearly lost momentum.

The result is an economy entering the midterm campaign with low unemployment but fewer signs of the extraordinary labor-market strength that defined the earlier recovery. For voters and policymakers alike, the central question is increasingly whether the current stability can be maintained while inflation, energy costs and slower job creation continue to put pressure on American households.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — The United Nations is approaching a critical leadership transition as it confronts mounting financial pressure, deep divisions among major powers and growing demands for reform. The organization’s next secretary-general will inherit a UN struggling to maintain its influence over some of the world’s most serious conflicts while facing questions about its ability to meet expanding humanitarian and development needs.

The transition comes as the United Nations prepares for a new secretary-general to take office on January 1, 2027. The incoming leader will succeed António Guterres, who has spent nearly a decade at the helm of the organization and has repeatedly warned that the international system is under severe strain.

In a recent assessment, The Associated Press described the UN as facing a combination of financial difficulties, geopolitical divisions and questions over its relevance. The organization continues to play a major role in humanitarian assistance and international cooperation, but its ability to resolve major conflicts has often been constrained by disagreements among powerful member states.

One of the most immediate challenges is the United Nations’ financial position. The United States, historically the organization’s largest financial contributor, has accumulated substantial unpaid assessments. According to Congressional Research Service data, U.S. unpaid assessments stood at approximately $2.04 billion for the UN regular budget and $2.25 billion for peacekeeping as of April 30, 2026.

Washington has indicated that it intends to make payments toward its outstanding obligations. Reuters reported in August that the Trump administration had notified Congress of plans for a payment of $725 million toward U.S. debt to the United Nations. The issue nevertheless remains part of a broader dispute over the cost, structure and effectiveness of the international organization.

The financial pressure has consequences beyond the UN’s headquarters in New York. United Nations agencies and programs provide assistance to millions of people affected by conflict, displacement, hunger and natural disasters. Reduced or delayed funding can force agencies to scale back operations at a time when humanitarian needs are increasing in several regions.

The organization is also under pressure to reform its internal structure. Guterres has promoted the UN80 Initiative, an effort intended to make the United Nations more efficient, reduce duplication and strengthen accountability. The initiative has included organizational restructuring and reductions in posts as the UN seeks to operate with fewer resources.

But the most difficult reforms are political rather than administrative. For years, countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America have demanded changes to the UN Security Council, arguing that its current structure does not adequately reflect the modern international system.

The Security Council’s five permanent members—the United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom—retain veto power over substantive decisions. African countries in particular have called for permanent representation on the council, while other governments have pressed for broader changes to the composition of the body.

Reforming the Security Council, however, remains extremely difficult. Any major change would require agreement among member states, including the existing permanent members whose own political interests can conflict with calls for a broader distribution of power.

The UN’s difficulties have become particularly visible during major international conflicts. The organization has remained heavily involved in humanitarian operations related to wars in Gaza, Ukraine and other regions, but disagreements among major powers have frequently limited the Security Council’s ability to take decisive action.

That gap between the UN’s humanitarian responsibilities and its political limitations has become one of the central challenges facing the organization. UN agencies continue to deliver food, medical assistance and other essential services, even as political divisions make it difficult for the wider organization to establish unified responses to conflicts.

The financial challenge is being compounded by a wider decline in international assistance. The UN’s own reform reporting has warned that international assistance fell sharply between 2024 and 2025, increasing pressure on humanitarian programs and development efforts.

Despite those difficulties, the United Nations remains a central institution for international cooperation. Its agencies continue to coordinate humanitarian relief, support refugees, assist developing countries and address global issues ranging from climate change to poverty and public health.

The organization has also continued efforts to provide emergency assistance to underfunded crises. UN officials have warned that financial resources alone are not sufficient, however, and that humanitarian operations also depend on security, political access and cooperation from governments and armed groups.

For the next secretary-general, the challenge will be to balance competing demands while restoring confidence in an institution facing unprecedented political fragmentation. The new leader will have to work simultaneously with Washington, Beijing, Moscow and other major powers while maintaining relationships with the broader UN membership.

The transition therefore represents more than a change in leadership. It is a test of whether the United Nations can adapt to a rapidly changing international system while retaining the principles on which it was founded.

Guterres has argued that the world does not need a weaker United Nations. The next secretary-general will face the task of demonstrating how the organization can become more effective at a time when its members are increasingly divided over money, power and the future of international cooperation.

For an organization created after World War II to prevent conflict and promote cooperation among nations, the coming years could prove decisive. Whether the UN emerges from its current difficulties stronger or weaker will ultimately depend not only on its next leader, but on whether its member states are prepared to provide the political support and financial resources necessary for reform.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC — President Donald Trump is intensifying his campaign activity ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, embarking on a 32-day political tour aimed at helping Republican candidates defend the party’s majorities in Congress. Trump’s campaign push took him to Ohio on Saturday, where he rallied Republican supporters in Vandalia and campaigned for Senator Jon Husted and other GOP candidates in one of the country’s closely watched Senate contests.

The Ohio appearance followed campaign stops in Republican-leaning states including Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama, as Trump seeks to mobilize Republican voters and use his national profile to support candidates across the country. Reuters reported that Trump has been using rallies in strongly Republican areas while also focusing attention on competitive races.

Ohio has become a significant focus of the Republican campaign because control of the Senate could depend on a small number of competitive races. At Saturday’s rally, Trump endorsed Husted, who is seeking election to the Senate seat he currently occupies after being appointed to fill the vacancy created when JD Vance became vice president. Former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown is seeking to return to the Senate and is challenging Husted.

Trump also campaigned for Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who is facing Democrat Amy Acton. The president used the rally to promote his administration’s economic policies and defend the expansion of large data centers in Ohio, which have become a contentious issue because of concerns over electricity costs, land use and the impact of artificial-intelligence infrastructure on local communities. Trump argued that data-center investment would bring economic benefits to Ohio and warned that restricting such projects could push investment toward China.

Trump began his latest midterm campaign offensive Thursday, traveling to Texas before continuing to Oklahoma and Alabama. The White House and Republican National Committee have described an intensive schedule of appearances designed to boost Republican candidates and turnout before Election Day.

Reuters reported that Trump is seeking to persuade voters to focus on his administration’s economic record while Republicans campaign on issues including manufacturing, energy costs, immigration and economic growth. Trump has also promoted a proposal to provide a $5,000 payment to adult Americans if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress. The proposal would require congressional action and has drawn questions about its potential cost.

The campaign comes as economic concerns remain a major issue for voters. An AP-NORC poll conducted September 24-28 found that only 26% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s handling of the economy, while 17% approved of his handling of the cost of living. The poll found that 65% of respondents attributed persistent high costs more to Trump’s policies than to factors outside his control.

The economic environment has complicated the Republican campaign as candidates seek to defend their party’s record while addressing voter concerns over prices, energy costs and employment. Trump has responded by arguing that the administration’s policies are producing economic gains that are not adequately reflected in public perceptions.

The president’s intensified campaigning reflects the importance of the midterms to the remainder of his second term. Republicans currently control both the House and Senate, and the November elections will determine the balance of power in Congress for the next two years. Trump has urged Republican voters to treat the election as a referendum on his administration and has repeatedly asked supporters to vote as though he himself were on the ballot.

The president’s campaign schedule is expected to continue through the final weeks before Election Day, with appearances designed to support candidates in competitive races as well as strengthen Republican turnout in areas where the party traditionally performs strongly.

For Trump and Republican candidates, the campaign now enters its most intensive phase, with economic conditions, energy prices, immigration, artificial-intelligence infrastructure and the administration’s broader record all expected to remain central issues through November 3.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC — U.S. intelligence agencies are monitoring efforts by Russia and other foreign adversaries to influence the 2026 midterm elections through disinformation and efforts to undermine public confidence in the electoral process, according to U.S. lawmakers and officials cited in a report published Sunday. The intelligence assessment comes as state election officials prepare for the November elections amid concerns about the ability of the federal government and states to respond to foreign interference and other election-related threats.

According to the Washington Post, U.S. intelligence agencies expect Russia to use digital disinformation and other influence operations to sow distrust in the 2026 election results and deepen political divisions in the United States.

However, U.S. intelligence agencies have not detected evidence that foreign adversaries are capable of directly manipulating voting machines or vote counts, the report said. The assessment places renewed attention on election security as Americans approach the November midterm elections, when all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats are scheduled to be contested.

Foreign interference in U.S. elections has increasingly focused on information operations rather than direct manipulation of voting equipment. Officials say adversaries can use social media, fabricated material and coordinated online campaigns to spread false or misleading claims about candidates, voting procedures and election results. The objective can be to create confusion, increase distrust and deepen existing political divisions.

The latest intelligence assessment specifically identifies Russia as a continuing source of concern, while also referring to efforts by other foreign adversaries. The concerns come as election officials across the country work to protect voting infrastructure and maintain public confidence in the electoral process.

The Washington Post reported that state officials are concerned about changes to the federal government’s election-security infrastructure and its ability to coordinate effectively with states ahead of the midterms. Election administration in the United States is highly decentralized, with states and local jurisdictions responsible for conducting elections. That structure means cybersecurity, physical security, voter-registration systems and election-related communications involve federal, state and local authorities.

The federal government has nevertheless played a significant role in identifying and responding to foreign threats, particularly through intelligence and cybersecurity agencies. The Defense Department has also recently directed its personnel to strengthen efforts against foreign interference in U.S. elections. An Axios report published September 28 said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a directive instructing the department to use intelligence and cyber capabilities against foreign actors seeking to interfere in U.S. elections.

The foreign-interference threat is unfolding alongside intense domestic political disputes over election administration. Democrats in Congress have been conducting contingency planning for possible disruptions surrounding Election Day, including scenarios involving misinformation, federal involvement at polling locations and disputes over election results. CNN reported that Senate Democrats have held closed-door discussions with legal experts and former officials to prepare for a range of possible election-day scenarios.

Those scenarios are political contingency plans rather than evidence that the events described will occur. At the same time, federal officials have continued investigations into alleged election-related violations, including suspected illegal voting and registration offenses. The Associated Press reported last month that federal investigations since January 2025 had resulted in approximately 1,600 voter-fraud cases and 160 arrests, although election-law experts emphasized that such cases represent a very small share of the country’s more than 211 million active registered voters.

Despite the warnings about foreign influence operations, the distinction between influencing voters and manipulating votes remains critical. The latest intelligence assessment cited by the Washington Post found no evidence that foreign adversaries can directly interfere with voting machines or alter vote counts. The primary concern is therefore the integrity of the information environment surrounding the election: whether voters receive accurate information, whether false claims can spread rapidly online and whether foreign actors can exploit political divisions to undermine confidence in legitimate election results.

With the November midterms approaching, federal and state authorities face the challenge of countering foreign influence while maintaining public confidence in an election system administered largely at the state and local levels. The 2026 election-security debate is consequently developing on two separate fronts: protecting the technical process of voting and protecting public trust in the results.

TEHRAN – Iran’s top diplomat insisted on Sunday that there would be no military solution to the United States’ war against the Islamic republic, with talks on ending the conflict apparently at an impasse. A campaign of heavy bombardment failed to bring a decisive close to the war launched by the US and Israel in late February, and Washington in recent weeks has dialled back military operations in favour of economic pressure.

The main point of contention remains Iran’s attempt to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for Gulf oil and gas where a UK maritime agency reported on Sunday another tanker struck by an unknown projectile. “If our enemies again choose the path of military confrontation, our response will be stronger than before, and we will defend ourselves with even more force,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said at a gathering of foreign ambassadors.

“There is no military solution, nor any solution based on new sanctions,” he continued, adding “only negotiations based on justice and fairness” could end the conflict. The two sides agreed a memorandum of understanding in June that spelled out a framework for a permanent resolution, but Iranian attacks on vessels in the Hormuz prompted a return to US military operations.

Iran has sought to impose its control over the vital shipping lane since the start of the war, striking vessels that attempt to transit without its authorisation. The US has imposed its own counterblockade of Iranian ports, and has also struck vessels it accuses of violating it.

On Sunday, the British maritime security agency UKMTO said a tanker in the Hormuz “reported being struck by an unknown projectile, causing damage to the engine room”, though the crew were reported safe and no environmental impact was recorded. The agency did not specify the date of the incident, the vessel’s origin or destination, or whether it was an oil tanker or LNG carrier.

Iranian and US officials last week held indirect talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with Tehran saying it presented seven conditions for reopening the strait. Iran has demanded, among other things, a ceasefire across the Middle East, the unfreezing of its assets abroad, the lifting of sanctions on its oil sector and an end to the US naval blockade.

Trump, however, rejected the proposal, while leaving the door open both to further talks or renewed military operations. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei on Sunday characterised the latest US counterproposal as being “in line with their previous proposals concerning nuclear issues”.

“We have clearly indicated that we are focusing on the issue of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, adding that reopening the waterway required “an end to the disruptions to Iranian commercial maritime traffic and the lifting of sanctions”.

The United States and Israel have characterised the war as being necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons — a goal it has long denied pursuing — though the focus soon shifted to reopening the Hormuz after its closure sent shockwaves through world energy markets. The United States has not struck Iran since September 1, but it has recently pursued a fresh military buildup in the region.

US media outlet Axios reported that Washington has deployed additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to help protect key energy facilities from possible Iranian retaliation. It also reported that the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and its strike group were heading to the Middle East, where they could join two other US carrier strike groups already in the region.

Axios reported that top Trump cabinet members met Friday to discuss the war in Iran, as well as the conflict in Yemen, where the Tehran-backed Houthis have been fighting government forces and attacking Saudi Arabia.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC — Republicans are navigating an increasingly complicated political debate over immigration as the 2026 midterm elections approach, with some GOP candidates seeking to distance themselves from aspects of the Trump administration’s enforcement policies while other Republicans continue to emphasize border security. Immigration has been a central issue for the Republican Party during President Donald Trump’s administration. However, recent reporting and polling suggest that the issue is not carrying the same level of attention among voters that it did during the 2024 presidential election cycle.

An Axios report published October 1 said immigration had fallen behind the cost of living as a leading concern among voters. The report also noted that polling on which party voters trust more to handle immigration has produced differing results. The changing political environment has created challenges for Republican candidates in competitive races. Several GOP lawmakers have publicly sought to distinguish their campaigns from some of the administration’s immigration enforcement measures.

Among them is Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., who said in a September campaign advertisement that some of the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts had “gone too far.” Her position has become an example of the differing approaches emerging within the Republican Party as candidates prepare for November’s elections. Other Republican candidates have similarly faced pressure to address concerns about immigration enforcement while maintaining the party’s longstanding emphasis on border security.

White House border czar Tom Homan has criticized Republicans who are distancing themselves from Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. According to the Washington Examiner, Homan urged Republican lawmakers and candidates to engage directly with ICE and address their concerns. The debate comes as the Trump administration continues to defend its immigration record. The White House has argued that stricter enforcement has reduced illegal immigration and increased border security.

For Republican candidates, immigration therefore presents competing political considerations: maintaining support among voters who prioritize border enforcement while addressing concerns among voters who oppose or question particular enforcement practices. The issue is also intersecting with broader voter concerns about the economy and the cost of living. Recent reporting suggests that those economic issues are receiving greater attention from voters as the midterm elections draw closer.

With the November 2026 elections approaching, Republican candidates are continuing to shape their immigration messages around the political and demographic circumstances of their individual districts and states. The evolving debate illustrates how immigration remains an important issue within the Republican Party while candidates differ over how prominently to feature the Trump administration’s enforcement policies in their campaigns.