## State Department to deny visas to fact checkers and others, citing 'censorship'

Authored by npr.org

State Department to deny visas to fact checkers and others, citing 'censorship'.

The State Department is instructing its staff to reject visa applications from people who worked on fact-checking, content moderation or other activities the Trump administration considers "censorship" of Americans' speech.

The directive, sent in an internal memo on Tuesday, is focused on applicants for H-1B visas for highly skilled workers, which are frequently used by tech companies, among other sectors.

The memo was first reported by Reuters; NPR also obtained a copy.

It refers to a policy announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in May restricting visas from being issued to "foreign officials and persons who are complicit in censoring Americans.".

President Trump was banned from multiple social media platforms in the aftermath of his supporters' attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

On Wednesday, the State Department announced it would require H-1B visa applicants and their dependents to set their social media profiles to "public" so they can be reviewed by U.S. officials. »

### US supreme court approves redrawn Texas congressional maps

Authored by theguardian.com

Texas can use a redrawn congressional map that adds as many as five Republican-friendly congressional districts, the supreme court ruled on Thursday, handing Donald Trump a major win in his push to boost Republican seats ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

“The district court improperly inserted itself into an active primary campaign, causing much confusion and upsetting the delicate federal-state balance in elections,” the supreme court said in an order explaining its decision.

Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, welcomed the supreme court ruling in favor of the state’s Republican party. »

### Manhattan luxury home sales are booming after Mamdani’s election, no millionaire exodus

Authored by fortune.com

It’s what Westchester County and Florida realtors told the world (including Fortune) about what would happen if Gotham elected a socialist mayor.

New signed contracts of more than $4 million increased at more than twice the rate of the overall market, the report noted.

Compared with October’s luxury sales totaling 115, November’s sales increased more than 31% to 151 properties, according to the firm. »

### Kenyan court declares law banning seed sharing unconstitutional

Authored by apnews.com

KISUMU, Kenya (AP) — A high court in Kenya on Thursday declared unconstitutional sections of a seed law that prevented farmers from sharing and selling indigenous seeds in what food campaigners have called a landmark win for food security.

Farmers in Kenya could face up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of 1 million Kenya shillings ($7,700) for sharing seeds through their community seed banks, according to a seed law signed in 2012.

Justice Rhoda Rutto on Thursday said sections of the seed law that gave government officials powers to raid seed banks and seize seeds were also unconstitutional. »

### Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa Dies: ‘Mortal Kombat, ‘Last Emperor’ & ‘Man In The High Castle’ Actor Was 75

Authored by deadline.com

Tagawa died due to complications from a stroke early this morning surrounded by his children.

He began playing the character in New Line’s 1995 film adaptation and was also featured in the 1997 follow-up Mortal Kombat Annihilation.

Tagawa lived on the island of Kauai where he and his wife Sally raised their two children. »

## In pictures

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