World

The United States has turned down an invitation to a multinational conference on Afghanistan that Russia plans to host on April 14, according to the AP news agency.

Citing an anonymous State Department official, AP reported on March 24 that the decision not to attend was made because Moscow did not consult Washington before extending the invitation and that the Kremlin did not disclose its objectives for the conference.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, India, and several Central Asian nations are among the invitees to the Moscow conference, while officials from the Taliban have not been invited, AP said.

Russia held a six-party meeting on peace in Afghanistan in February that was attended by officials from India, China, Iran and Pakistan.

Based on reporting by AP

U.S. embassies and consulates around the world have been instructed to identify groups of people warranting increased scrutiny in the visa-application process and to screen their social-media accounts.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson revealed the new requirements in recent diplomatic cables, according to March 24 reports from AP and Reuters, which first reported the news.

The measures do not define which "population sets" are to be targeted, but reviews of social-media accounts of visa applicants are intended for anyone suspected of terrorist ties or of having been in areas controlled by the Islamic State (IS) extremist group.

The AP said the State Department would not comment on the report, though it added that attempts were being made to meet requirements from the administration of President Donald Trump to ensure that "visitor screening and vetting procedures are designed to effectively identify individuals who could pose a threat to the United States."

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters