The World in Brief from The Economist

The Trump administration suspended Microsoft from a green-card sponsorship programme, accusing it of abusing the visa system and excluding Americans from jobs; More conflict in the Middle East pushed up oil prices. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose to around $105 a barrel.

Syria denied earlier reports it will send troops to Yemen but reaffirmed its support for Saudi Arabia in its fight against the Houthis. Also, a sell-off in American government bonds abated after a $39bn auction of ten-year Treasuries saw strong demand.

A sell-off in American government bonds abated after a $39bn auction of ten-year Treasuries saw strong demand; The World Health Organization is seeking information from Russia following reports of a second suspected case of pneumonic plague in Irkutsk, a city in Siberia

The World Health Organisation is seeking information from Russia following reports of a second suspected case of pneumonic plague in Irkutsk. Also, Israelis gathered for vigils marking the third anniversary of Hamas’s attack on October 7th, which killed 1,200 people.

The S&P 500 index of big American companies hit a record high, climbing at one point by 0.8%; it closed the day up by 0.6%.

The S&P 500 index of big American companies hit a record high, climbing at one point by 0.8%; it closed the day up by 0.6%; More than 250,000 people across France joined student-led protests against poor school conditions on Tuesday, the country’s Interior Ministry said.

Parents and union members in France joined pupils in a national “day of action” against the sorry state of the country’s schools. Also, Donald Trump eased restrictions on the use of tax-exempt red diesel.

Turkey and Pakistan agreed to a “rapid deployment” of military forces in Saudi Arabia.