Welcome to World in Focus, your source for the latest in geopolitics, security, and international affairs. Today’s top stories include the US seizing a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuelan and Iranian networks, escalating pressure on Nicolás Maduro’s government; Ukraine striking a Russian oil tanker in the Black Sea, part of Moscow’s sanctions-evading “shadow fleet”; and Thai authorities arresting Goa club owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra after a deadly nightclub fire that killed 25, with efforts underway to extradite them to India.
In our deep dive, we examine the Trump Administration’s new “Gold Card” visa, a high-cost, fast-tracked pathway to US permanent residency. Applicants must pay a $15,000 processing fee and a $1 million federal contribution, with eligibility extending to spouses and children. Companies can also secure green cards for key international employees. Designed to replace the EB-5 visa and generate revenue, the program creates a premium channel for wealthy individuals and top-tier talent, while a higher-priced “Trump Platinum Card” is under development, signaling a potential shift in US immigration policy.
