Trump survives another assassination attempt, FBI probes incident

The FBI says it is investigating an incident involving a gunman at former US President Donald Trump’s golf course in Florida as an attempt to assassinate
the Republican presidential nominee in November poll.

Trump however says he is “safe and well” after gunshots were fired in his vicinity in West Palm Beach, Florida.
He had earlier survived an assassination attempt. It was on July 13 during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Law enforcement officials on Sunday said agents spotted a gunman with a rifle at the golf course, fired at him and eventually took him into custody after he tried to flee.
US President Joe Biden says he and Vice President Kamala Harris are “relieved” that Trump was not hurt in the incident.

Reactions
Republican congressman calls incident ‘shocking and unacceptable’
Mike Carey says he is praying for Trump’s safety.
“Now more than ever, we cannot allow violence to seep into politics,” Carey, who represents a district in Ohio, wrote in a social media post.

More political violence likely before election
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Colin Clarke, a director of research at the Soufan Group, has said today’s incident is the latest reminder of the persistent threat of political violence in the US.

The FBI has said it is investigating the incident as an “attempted assassination”, as it did following the attack on Trump in July.

“We’re in a highly polarised political climate. We live in a country awash with weaponry, and there’s a constant threat stream – an unending, incessant, ubiquitous threat stream against the top political figures,” Clarke said.

“So I’m not surprised at all, and I hate to be the bearer of bad news. This is probably not the last form of political violence that we’re going to see between now and November, to say nothing of what happens after the election.”

UK govt okays fee waiver for bereaved foreign partners

The UK government has revealed plans to introduce a new policy that will allow foreign nationals who have lost a partner and are facing financial difficulties to apply for a fee waiver when seeking settlement in the country.

Currently, individuals who apply for settlement after the death of their British partner must pay a fee of GBP 2,885, regardless of their financial circumstances. A situation about to change.

Fee waiver for bereaved partners 

Recent reports from TravelBiz inform that the UK’s minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra, confirmed in Parliament that the government will implement the fee waiver starting October 9th, 2024.

This change is designed to assist individuals facing severe financial challenges after the loss of a partner. Malhotra stated, “Losing a loved one is a deep and unimaginable pain, often worsened by financial hardship.”  

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The new rule will allow widows, widowers, and dependent children to apply for a fee waiver if they face destitution, enabling them to settle in the UK without the financial burden of the application fee.

Eligibility criteria for the waiver 

Reports confirm that the fee waiver will be available to partners on family visas who meet the destitution criteria.

Eligible applicants must have been

• Married to or in a relationship with someone who was either a British citizen, a holder of indefinite leave to remain in the UK, or a national from the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein with pre-settled status.

The waiver, as stated, extends to bereaved partners of Armed Forces members, Gurkhas, or Hong Kong military veterans discharged before July 1997.

Overhaul of Diplomatic Visa Processes

In addition to the fee waiver, the UK is revising its diplomatic visa system. The minister introduced the new “Diplomatic Visa Arrangement” (DVA) as part of a broader effort to modernize UK border controls.

The existing Diplomatic Visa Waivers (DVWs) will be phased out. Under the DVA, diplomatic passport holders from countries that previously benefited from DVWs will continue to have smooth access to the UK.

The new process,  as stated, will be simplified, with no fees or fingerprint requirements for applicants, ensuring efficient and hassle-free diplomatic travel.

These changes aim to make diplomatic travel to the UK more efficient while updating and simplifying the visa system.

Introduction of VIP Delegate Visa 

• A new visa category, the “VIP Delegate Visa,” will also be introduced for official delegations accompanying foreign Heads of State and government ministers on official visits.
• Reports provide that this visa will provide up to 20 permits for officials accompanying Heads of State and 10 for those accompanying government ministers. Like the DVA, this visa will not require application fees or fingerprint submissions.
• This move aims to align the UK’s diplomatic visa processes with international standards, facilitating smoother diplomatic visits while maintaining necessary security measures.

UK govt okays fee waiver for bereaved foreign partners

US imposes new sanctions on Russian state media

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced new sanctions against the Russian media channel RT, accusing it of being a “de facto arm of Russia’s intelligence apparatus”.

The top US diplomat told reporters on Friday that RT is part of a network of Russian-backed media outlets which have sought to covertly “undermine democracy in the United States”.

He added that the Russian government has “embedded within RT, a unit with cyber operational capabilities and ties to Russian intelligence”.

RT live-streamed Mr Blinken’s remarks on X and declared it the “US’s latest conspiracy theory”.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said there should be a “new profession” in the US, of specialist in sanctions imposed on Russia.

Responding to US allegations that RT had sought to influence elections, RT’s editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan who was sanctioned by the US last week said they were excellent teachers, adding that many RT staff had studied in the US, and with US funding.

The State Department accused the state broadcaster, formerly Russia Today, of engaging in “information operations, covert influence, and military procurement” in countries in Europe, Africa, and North and South America.

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Mr Blinken also accused RT of running online fundraisers to purchase body armour, sniper rifles, drones and other equipment for Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine.

The network, he said, has also sought to influence Moldova’s politics in coordination with Russian intelligence ahead of presidential elections in October 2024.

The US had already indicted two RT employees for allegedly attempting to interfere in this year’s presidential election, but US officials said on Friday the state broadcaster played a bigger role in Russia’s efforts to undermine democracies.

The state-funded media organisation responded at the time by mocking the US government’s accusations, saying in a statement to the BBC that “2016 called and it wants its clichés back”.

“Three things are certain in life: death, taxes and RT’s interference in the US elections.”

Mr Blinken said in a press conference: “Our most powerful antidote to Russia’s lies is the truth. It’s shining a bright light on what the Kremlin is trying to do under the cover of darkness.”

Mr Blinken emphasised that the sanctions were not related to the content of the outlet’s reporting, and he affirmed the US’s support for independent journalism.

“Covert influence activities are not journalism,” he said.

The announcement is part of a suite of actions the US government has taken against Russian state media as the 2024 election approaches. The State Department has also designated RT as a foreign mission.

US imposes new sanctions on Russian state media