ICE chief grilled by lawmakers on mass deportation operations at divided U.S. House hearing

Todd Lyons, acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and other immigration officials on Tuesday were questioned by lawmakers on mass deportation operations at a U.S. House of Representatives hearing, with Republican and Democratic lawmakers expressing divided views.

Lyons testified at a hearing before the House Homeland Security Committee, along with Rodney Scott, commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, and Joseph Edlow, director of Citizenship and Immigration Services. All three agencies operate under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Russia ready to seek negotiated solution to Ukraine crisis: Russian FM

Russia is ready to seek a negotiated solution to the Ukraine crisis based on understandings reached by the leaders of Russia and the United States, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

He said Russia remains fully committed to the outcomes of the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump held in the U.S. city of Anchorage, Alaska in August last year, and noted that Moscow expects its interests to be fully taken into account in the process of reaching mutually acceptable agreements with partners open to honest and direct dialogue.

Palestinian VP urges int'l pressure on Israel to respect Palestine's sovereignty

Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh on Tuesday urged the international community to pressure Israel to respect the sovereignty of the State of Palestine.

He spoke at a meeting in Ramallah with ambassadors, diplomats, and international officials, calling for "real and effective pressure" on Israel to stop what he described as ongoing attacks and violations of international law.

Iran says talks with U.S. will stay in Oman

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday rejected reports that indirect talks between Tehran and Washington would be held outside Oman, saying Muscat was always the agreed venue, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told a news briefing that Iran welcomed diplomatic efforts by regional and neighboring countries that had offered to help ease tensions and support dialogue.