New US visa rules from September 2, in-person interviews now mandatory

This change rolls back earlier exemptions and is part of a broader move towards tighter visa screening. The announcement came from the US State Department on 25 July. It follows the recent introduction of a new USD 250 processing fee for non-immigrant visa applications, which was implemented earlier the same week.

Trump turns tariff into weapon of revenge against Brazil over trial of ex-president Bolsonaro

There is a sense of kinship as Trump was indicted in 2023 for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 US presidential election. The US president addressed his tariff letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who bested Bolsonaro in 2022.