A former US embassy security guard has been sentenced to three years and seven months in prison by a Norwegian court for spying on behalf of Russia and Iran. The 28-year-old provided floor plans, personal details of embassy staff and their families, and information about embassy activities in exchange for payments from Russian and Iranian intelligence. The court determined the information could be used for attacks, and the accused admitted to the actions, claiming they were a protest. Despite his defense’s argument, the court ruled that the information shared was harmful to US security interests.
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The US Embassy in Singapore clarified that the H-1B1 visa process remains unchanged, unaffected by the new US$100,000 fee imposed on the H-1B work visa. This distinction is crucial, as the H-1B1 visa is exclusively for Singaporean and Chilean citizens and does not offer a path to permanent residency, unlike the H-1B visa. The H-1B1 allows qualified professionals to work in specialized occupations for one year, with a yearly cap of 5,400 for Singaporeans. The H-1B1 visa was established in 2003 as part of a free trade agreement between the US and Singapore.
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A Norwegian student in his twenties, employed as a security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, was arrested and charged with espionage for Russia and Iran. The suspect, who also runs a security company, admitted to collecting and sharing information but denies espionage charges, claiming he obtained information potentially harming third-country security. Authorities are investigating the security company’s license and confirmed the man’s intelligence-related activity damaged national security. This marks the second espionage case involving the Arctic University of Norway in recent years, highlighting heightened security concerns given Norway’s proximity to Russia.
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As a Ukrainian-American dual citizen, the recent news from the US Embassy in Ukraine hits close to home. The decision that men with dual citizenship will no longer be able to leave the country due to the necessity to register for the draft raises significant concerns and frustrations. The bureaucratic hurdles and absurdities that come with renouncing Ukrainian citizenship are overwhelming. The requirement to register for the draft in a location where I do not reside, coupled with the consulate’s refusal to facilitate the process, puts individuals like myself in a challenging position.
The notion of being unable to freely travel to a country that holds a part of my identity is disheartening.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker