Saturday, 30 Nov, 2024

International

US lawmakers seek reform in H-1B, L-1 visa norms 

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. A group of influential lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan legislation in the US Senate to comprehensively overhaul the

China vows to ‘fight back’ if US speaker meets Taiwan’s president

China has threatened to “resolutely fight back” if US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy meets Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during her planned transit through the United States. The warning on Wednesday came as Tsai was due to depart for a trip to Guatemala

Fire at Mexican migrant detention centre kills 40

Hours after the fire broke out late Monday (local time), rows of bodies were laid out under shimmery silver sheets outside the facility in Ciudad Juarez, which is across from El Paso, Texas, and a major crossing point for migrants. Ambulances, firefighters and vans from the morgue

Myanmar military dissolves Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD party

Myanmar’s military-controlled election commission has announced that the party of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi party will be dissolved for failing to re-register under a new electoral law, according to state television. The National League for Democracy Party (NLD) was among

Ukraine war: Germany sends much-awaited Leopard tanks

The first shipment of Leopard 2 tanks from Germany has been sent to Ukraine, the German defence ministry says. Eighteen cutting-edge main battle tanks were delivered after Ukrainian crews were trained to use them. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said he was sure the tanks could

Xi hails Middle East thaw in call with Saudi crown prince

Chinese President Xi Jinping lauded what he called the easing of tensions in the Middle East during a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, state media reported. Beijing brokered an agreement between Tehran and Riyadh on March 10 to restore diplomatic ties

Amateur Australian gold digger finds massive nugget

An Australian man armed with a budget metal detector has hit the jackpot, finding a 4.6kg rock containing gold worth A$240,000 (£130,000; $160,000). The man, who doesn't want to be named, made the discovery in Victoria's goldfields - which were the heart of

Six killed in Nashville school shooting

Three children and three adults have been killed after a woman opened fire at a primary school in Nashville, Tennessee, local officials said, in the latest instance of deadly gun violence in the United States. The shooting happened on Monday morning at The Covenant School, a private

20 killed in bus crash in Saudi Arabia

A bus ferrying pilgrims to Makkah burst into flames after a collision on a bridge on Monday, killing 20 people and injuring more than two dozen others. The incident in the southern province of Asir highlights persistent challenges to safely transporting worshippers to Makkah and

More than 180 Rohingya refugees land in western Indonesia

Indonesian officials have said that more than 180 Rohingya refugees landed in the country’s western Aceh province, the latest among hundreds who have fled by boat from desperate conditions in Myanmar and in camps in Bangladesh. Thousands of people from the mostly Muslim ethnic

Myanmar army chief vows to crush resistance in rare speech

The head of Myanmar's military government has pledged to deal decisively with what he called "acts of terror" by armed resistance groups. Min Aung Hlaing also accused countries critical of his regime's human rights record of being terror supporters. Since seizing

Mass Israel protests after Netanyahu fires defence minister

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets across Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defence minister. Yoav Gallant had spoken out against controversial plans to overhaul the justice system. In Jerusalem, police and soldiers used water cannon against

At least 29 migrants die off Tunisia coast

At least 29 migrants have died after at least two boats sank off Tunisia's coast within hours of each other, officials say. The sub-Saharan migrants were trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Italy. It is the latest in a string of migrant boat capsizes off Tunisia's

Honduras cuts ties with Taiwan, opens relations with China

Honduras has ended its decades-long diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favour of ties with China, prompting Taipei to accuse Beijing of using “coercion and intimidation” to lure its few remaining allies. The Honduran foreign ministry said on Saturday that “the

26 dead as tornado tears across Mississippi

At least 26 people have been killed after a powerful storm that spawned at least one tornado ripped across the US states of Mississippi and Alabama, tearing off roofs, smashing cars and levelling entire neighbourhoods. Mississippi’s emergency management agency put the death toll

Russia to station nuclear weapons in Belarus: Putin 

Russia will station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, President Vladimir Putin has said. President Putin said the move would not violate nuclear non-proliferation agreements and compared it to the US stationing its weapons in Europe, according to Russian state media. Moscow would

At least 23 killed in Mississippi tornado, storms

At least 23 people have been killed after a tornado and severe storms swept through the US state of Mississippi. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) said there were “dozens injured” and four people missing as search and rescue teams combed through the

UN accuses Russia, Ukraine forces of ‘summary executions’ of prisoners

On Friday, the UN (United Nations) expressed “deep concern” regarding what it called summary executions of prisoners of war by both Russian and Ukrainian forces on the battlefield. These allegations came shortly after Kyiv accused Russian forces of killing a captured

Pro-Iranian forces in Syria warn US of response to air strikes

Pro-Iranian forces in Syria have said they have a “long arm” to respond to further United States air strikes on their positions, after tit-for-tat missile and drone attacks in Syria over the last 24 hours. The online statement, released late on Friday and signed by the

Europe migrant crisis: 34 missing off Tunisian coast

At least 34 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa - including children and babies - are missing off the Tunisian coast after their boat capsized. It is the fifth migrant boat to sink in two days, with seven people confirmed dead so far, and 67 still missing. Authorities believe the boat