US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that will add a $100,000 (£74,000) annual fee for applicants to the H-1B visa programme for skilled foreign workers. Trump’s order mentions “abuse” of the programme and will restrict entry unless payment is made. Critics have long argued that H-1Bs undercut the American workforce, while supporters…
Reuters A British couple detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nearly eight months have arrived back in the UK after being released. Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie, 76, who lived in Afghanistan for nearly two decades, landed at Heathrow Airport, on a flight from Doha. They were reunited with their daughter in…
Kashgar, China – Serene Air’s Owner and CEO, Yunchun Yang, met with President Asif Ali Zardari in Kashgar to discuss the airline’s expansion plans in Pakistan. During the meeting, President Zardari urged Serene Air to increase the number of aircraft in its fleet in order to strengthen the airline’s network and enhance connectivity across the…
Watch: Violation of Nato airspace needs solid response, says Estonia foreign minister Estonia has requested a consultation with other Nato members after Russian warplanes violated its airspace on Friday. Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered the Estonian skies “without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutes” over the Gulf of Finland, the…
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on all H-1B visa applications and renewals, a dramatic policy shift that could reshape the flow of skilled foreign workers into the United States. The new fee, effective September 21, 2025, marks a steep jump from previous charges, which had been in…
KABUL: The Taliban on Friday released a British couple who had been detained in Afghanistan for more than seven months on undisclosed charges, officials confirmed. The pair, whose identities have not yet been made public, were freed following months of diplomatic engagement between Kabul and London. Taliban authorities did not disclose the reasons for their…
GENEVA: The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), during its 80th session, adopted a significant resolution enhancing Palestine’s participation in UN activities. The resolution received overwhelming support with 145 votes in favor, 5 against, and 6 abstentions. It lays out mechanisms to allow Palestine meaningful engagement in the UN system. According to the adopted text: The…
LONDON: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar clarified that the recently finalized strategic defense cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia was not concluded overnight but took several months of negotiations. Speaking to the media in London, Dar said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have historically maintained a mutual defense understanding, and the latest…
Animal welfare activists in India are mourning the death of a much-loved elephant they long sought to rehabilitate. Shankar, the lone African elephant at Delhi’s zoo who spent much of his life in isolation, refused food on Wednesday and collapsed by evening. Despite veterinary efforts, the 29-year-old male died within 40 minutes, officials said. For…
New York: The United Nations Security Council has rejected a resolution seeking to ease sanctions on Iran, with the motion failing by a vote of 9 against 4. In response, Tehran expressed strong disapproval, warning that the decision could have dangerous consequences for nuclear non-proliferation efforts. Iranian officials accused Western powers of pursuing a “biased…
