World

Trump administration weighs $1,000 fee for expedited U.S. visa interviews The Trump administration is reviewing a proposal to introduce a $1,000 fee for expedited interview appointments for U.S. tourist and other non-immigrant visas, according to an internal State Department memo.…

Japan’s birthrate hits record low, raising alarm over demographic crisis Japan recorded fewer than 700,000 births in 2024 for the first time since records began in 1899, highlighting a deepening demographic crisis, The Guardian reported. Government data revealed 686,061 births…

Asia-Pacific faces record marine heatwave in 2024, triggering extreme weather and coral bleaching A record-breaking marine heatwave engulfed nearly 40 million square kilometres of ocean across Southeast Asia and the Pacific in 2024—an area five times the size of Australia—according…

Trump’s new travel ban sparks widespread criticism from lawmakers and rights groups Donald Trump’s newly announced travel ban on 12 countries has triggered widespread condemnation from Democrats, human rights organizations, and some Republicans, who argue the policy is discriminatory, politically…

Diphtheria outbreak in Europe hits migrants and homeless, experts urge vaccination The largest diphtheria outbreak in Western Europe in 70 years has affected over 500 people since 2022, primarily targeting vulnerable populations such as migrants and the homeless, according to…

Vietnam ends two-child policy amid falling birthrate Vietnam has officially ended its decades-old two-child policy, allowing couples to decide freely on family size, state media announced Wednesday. The decision comes in response to a declining birthrate, which fell to 1.91…

Trump Administration presses ICE to increase daily immigration arrests Senior U.S. immigration officials have directed field officers to intensify arrests, including of individuals not originally targeted, referred to as “collaterals,” according to internal emails obtained by The Guardian. The guidance,…

Trump Administration targets Columbia University over alleged failure to combat antisemitism The Trump administration has warned that Columbia University may no longer meet federal accreditation standards due to its handling of antisemitism on campus, the CNN reported. U.S. Secretary of…

New Zealand lawmakers suspended over haka protest in parliament New Zealand’s Parliament on Thursday approved record suspensions for three Te Pati Maori lawmakers who performed a haka during a protest against a proposed bill affecting Indigenous rights, media outlets reported.…

Trump Administration issues new travel ban on 12 countries The Trump administration signed a proclamation Wednesday suspending entry to the U.S. for citizens from 12 countries, citing national security concerns, CNBC reported. The affected nations include Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Myanmar,…