UNITED STATES

More nations added to costly visa bond policy

US President Donald Trump's administration has put 25 more countries on a list of nations whose citizens could be required to post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply for entry into the US, the State Department website showed on Tuesday. The list mostly included countries from Africa, Latin America and South Asia. It had a total of 38 countries as of Tuesday. The policy for the newly added nations will go into effect on Jan 21, the website said. "Any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond for $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000," the website said.

IRAN

Police officer killed, many injured in clashes

One police officer was killed and several others wounded on Tuesday in armed clashes with alleged "rioters" in Iran's western Ilam Province, the semiofficial Fars News Agency reported. The violence broke out after the burial of two individuals who had been killed during a protest on Saturday in Malekshahi County. Fars said nearly 100 mourners split from the main procession, entered the city and damaged three banks. Police urged the group to disperse, but some individuals reportedly opened fire on officers. The slain officer, identified as Ehsan Aghajani, was shot in the chest and later died in hospital.