WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that F-1 students seeking optional practical training (OPT) can now file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, online if they are filing under one of these categories: (c)(3)(A) – Pre-Completion OPT; (c)(3)(B) – Post-Completion OPT; and (c)(3)(C) – 24-Month Extension of OPT for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students.
OPT is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). Eligible F-1 students who receive STEM degrees may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT.

Famed chef Nusr-et Gökçe — better known as “Salt Bae” — has been hit with a $5 million copyright infringement lawsuit by a Brooklyn artist, who alleges the social media star used his artwork all over the world without permission according to New York Post' report. William Hicks says he and fellow artist Josphe Iurato were hired by Gökçe in September 2017 to make a mural of Turkish restaurateur “in his signature salt-sprinkling pose,” according to a Manhattan Federal lawsuit from Monday. The first work was displayed in Gökçe’s Miami steakhouse and subsequent commissioned stencil murals also went up at his restaurants in Doha, Dubai and New York, the court papers say.

Kenya and South Sudan have been hit hard by a drought, families have been affected by hunger, thirst, covid, and worse.

Turkish Ambassador Murat Mercan is not a stranger to the capital. He has worked at the universities in both Florida and Ohio. He has also been to Washington D.C. many times during his term as a member of parliament.

Turkish Ambassador Mercan will soon present his credentials to the White House however, this will not happen face to face due to Covid-19 limitations. 

Turkish Ambassador Mercan met Philip Thomas Reeker, undersecretary for Europe and Eurasia, U.S. Department of State,Albert Bourla Pfizer CEO, Daniel S. Mariasch, CEO of the "B'nai B'rith International;"  Archbishop of the American Greek Orthodox Church Elfidoforos; and Senator Lindsey Graham, Members of Congress Pete Sessions, Bill Pascrell and Steven Chabot met with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla and representatives of 7 different think tanks.

Ambassador Mercan started his duties very quickly, meeting with Turkish NGOs and business associations New York and New Jersey last weekend.  Ambassador Mercan visited Mor Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in New Jersey and met with the Syriac community members. He also visite Turkish Ahiskan American Foundation in Philadelphia and met with the members of the Ahiskan community. 

Recent interview with AA, Turkish Ambassador Mercan said :' Turkey-U.S. need 'realist but positive' approach"

"Turkey is much stronger with its military power, cultural history and human infrastructure when compared to other countries in the region. There may be cyclic ups and downs in Turkish-American relations. This is very natural.When you look at long-term relations, we should see what the mutual interests are between the two nations. Let's continue to talk about the existing problems, but those problems should not poison our cooperation in other areas.If we focus on existing problems, only develop strategies to solve those problems and put our relations into this framework, we will not be able to make much progress,"