U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a full travel ban on citizens from seven additional countries, expanding restrictions that now affect people from a total of 39 nations, according to a letter released by the White House on Tuesday. Under the new decision, full travel restrictions will apply to Palestine, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria. The administration has also imposed partial travel limits on citizens from 15 other countries, though specific details of those restrictions were not immediately released. The White House said the measures are being introduced in the i

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a possible peace agreement to end the long-running war with Russia could be finalized within the next few days following discussions with United States officials. He said Washington is leading renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing the conflict to a negotiated close after years of fighting. Zelenskyy told reporters that U.S. envoys are expected to present a draft framework to Moscow ahead of potential high-level meetings in the United States next week. He said Ukraine remains engaged in talks while seeking security guarantees and international

A small private jet crashed during an attempted emergency landing in central Mexico on Tuesday, killing seven people and leaving three others unaccounted for, according to Mexican authorities. The aircraft had departed from the coastal city of Acapulco late Monday and was en route to Toluca International Airport when it reportedly developed a technical malfunction. Officials said the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a populated area as the situation worsened. During the landing attempt, the jet narrowly missed a football field before striking the roof of a factory in the San Mateo Atenc

Hong Kong’s High Court has convicted veteran media entrepreneur and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai in one of the most closely watched national security cases since Beijing imposed the law on the city in 2020. A panel of three judges approved by the government ruled Monday that Lai conspired with others to collude with foreign forces and took part in publishing what authorities described as seditious material. Lai, 78, is the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, once one of Hong Kong’s most widely read and outspokenly critical publications. He pleaded not guilty to all charge

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jordan on Monday for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. He was received at the airport by Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan. During the first day of his visit, Prime Minister Modi met members of the Indian-origin community in Jordan, highlighting the role of people-to-people connections in deepening bilateral relations. The visit is taking place at the invitation of Jordan’s King Abdullah. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi and King Abdullah are expected to hold bilateral talk

Doctors in Dhaka say former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia has been moved to a ventilator after her oxygen levels dropped sharply earlier this week. The 80-year-old opposition leader has been in Evercare Hospital since November 23 for multiple ongoing health complications, according to her medical team. Members of the hospital’s medical board reported that Zia began experiencing increased difficulty breathing, prompting the shift to full respiratory support. Physicians say her condition has not shown significant improvement despite weeks of treatment. Zia, who heads the Bangladesh Na

Former United States president Donald Trump announced on Thursday the launch of a new immigration initiative he calls the Gold Card, opening the application process for the program. Under the plan, individuals can apply for the Gold Card at a fee of US$1 million, while companies wishing to secure a card for executives or employees would pay US$2 million. Trump’s campaign says cardholders would receive a U.S. passport, full voting rights and the same benefits enjoyed by other American citizens. Trump framed the Gold Card as part of his broader “America First” policy agenda, asserting the

Sophie Kinsella, the British writer whose lighthearted “Shopaholic” novels gained an international readership, has died at the age of 55. Her family confirmed that she passed away this week after living with brain cancer, a diagnosis she made public in 2024. Kinsella, born Madeleine Wickham, became widely recognized for her comic writing style and her ability to connect with readers through stories about everyday pressures, financial missteps, and modern relationships. Beginning in 2000, her “Shopaholic” series grew into 10 bestselling titles that reached audiences across Europe and No

Indonesian emergency officials say at least 22 people died after a fire swept through a seven storey office building in central Jakarta on Tuesday. Local police reported that the blaze is believed to have started on the ground floor where batteries were stored, before spreading quickly through several levels of the building. Firefighters deployed nearly 30 fire trucks and hundreds of personnel to contain the flames. Crews worked for about three hours before bringing the situation under control. Authorities have launched an investigation into what triggered the incident, noting concerns about e