World news

US to start accepting applications for H-1B visa from April 1

The US has completed implementation of H-1B electronic registration process for the 2021 cap season and the petitions for the most sought after work visa among Indian IT professionals will be accepted from April 1 next year, the country’s immigration agency has announced. The H-1B visa is a non-i

Chilean military plane en route to Antarctica ‘disappears’ with 38 people on board

A military plane with 38 people on board disappeared on Monday while it was on its way to Antarctica, Chile’s Air Force announced, according to Reuters. “A C-130 Hercules aircraft took off at 16:55 [1.25 am Tuesday IST] from the city of Punta Arenas to the President Eduardo Frei Antarctic Base...

Miss Universe 2019 winner is Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi, India's Vartika Singh crashes out

South Africa's Zozibini Tunzi is the Miss Universe 2019. Zozibini and Miss Universe Puerto Rico Madison Anderson were the top two contestants for the Miss Universe title. Miss Universe Mexico is the second-runner up. Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray crowned Zozibini Tunzi at the event held in Atlant

At least 100 tourists near Volcano, says New Zealand PM as several go missing after sudden eruption

Wellington: A volcano erupted Monday on a small New Zealand island frequented by tourists, and a number of people were missing and injured after the eruption. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said about 100 tourists were on or near White Island when it erupted in the afternoon. "Some of those, at

North Korea says it carried out 'very important test'

SEOUL : North Korea said Sunday it had carried out a "very important test" at its space launch centre, as Pyongyang ramps up pressure on Washington over stalled nuclear talks. The announcement of Saturday's test at the Sohae satellite launch site came just hours after US President Donald Trump sa

7 killed, 13 injured in China fireworks factory explosion

Beijing: Authorities in central China say seven people have been killed and 13 injured in an explosion at a fireworks factory in Hunan province. The Liuyang city government says the blast occurred Wednesday morning due to ''illegal production.'' Such accidents are common, especially in the runup

We’ve sleepwalked beyond the point of no return: UN chief on climate change

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25) opened in Madrid on Monday with the largest scientific community on climate science warning that the planet’s ability to adapt to and cope with how it is being treated is fraying and that the impact of the climate crisis is far more significant th

18 Indians killed in factory fire in Sudan

At least 18 Indians were among 23 people killed in an LPG tanker blast that destroyed a ceramic factory in Sudan, the Indian mission said here on Wednesday. Over 130 were injured. Sixteen Indians were missing after the incident at the Seela Ceramic Factory in Bahri area in the Sudanese capital Kh

18 Indians aboard Hong Kong vessel kidnapped by pirates off Nigerian coast: Report

  Eighteen Indians on board a Hong Kong-flagged vessel were kidnapped by pirates near the Nigerian coast, said a global agency tracking maritime developments in the region. Sources said that following the reports of kidnapping of the Indians, the Indian mission in Nigeria has approached t

TikTok accused of sending user data to China: report

Beijing: Chinese short-video making platform TikTok, has been accused by a college student from Palo Alto, in a class-action lawsuit, of gathering private user data to and sending it to servers in China. The platform, known for its quirky short format videos, has been accused by Misty Hong, a col

PM Modi offers $450 mn development, anti-terror aid to Lanka

India on Friday announced lines of credit amounting to $450 million to Sri Lanka as its newly elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on ways to push the bilateral relations and undertake developmental activities jointly in the island nation, including those

Nasa finds Chandrayaan-2 lander Vikram with help of Indian engineer

Almost three months after Chandrayaan 2—India’s second mission to moon— went awry in the last 2.1km of its journey, US space agency Nasa has located the lander with the help of observation made by an Indian engineer. “This image shows the Vikram Lander impact point and associated debris field. Gr

US man surrenders for killing 25-year-old Indian student in California

Washington: A US national has surrendered to the police in San Bernardino and been arrested on charges of killing Indian national Abhishek Sudhesh Bhat early this week, the police said on Sunday. The suspect Eric Turner, 42, turned himself in on Saturday, the San Bernardino Police Department said

Trading firm to import 11,000 tonnes onion from Turkey: Report

State-owned trading firm MMTC, which is importing onion on the behalf of the Centre, has placed an order of 11,000 tonnes of edible bulb from Turkey as part of its efforts to boost domestic supply and ease soaring prices, sources said. This is the second import order placed by the MMTC. The publi

9 people killed, 3 injured after plane crashes in US state

Authorities say nine people have been killed after a plane crashed in South Dakota. Peter Knudson with the National Transportation Safety Board tells The Associated Press that the Pilatus PC-12 had 12 people on board when it crashed at about 12:30 pm Saturday, shortly after taking off from Chambe

Iraqi PM formally submits resignation amid more violence

Baghdad: Three anti-government protesters were shot dead and at least 58 wounded in Baghdad and southern Iraq on Saturday, security and medical officials said, as Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi formally submitted his resignation to parliament. Lawmakers were expected to either vote or accept out

I want to take ties with India to very high level: Lankan Prez

New Delhi: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday said he would strive to take his country’s bilateral relationship with India to a “very high level”. Speaking to reporters after a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, he also said both India and Sri Lanka need to work together

Mysuru student shot dead in California

Mysuru: A 25-year-old youth from Mysuru, pursuing his master’s degree in computer science in the US, was reportedly shot dead by an unknown assailant, family members said on Saturday. Abhishek Sudesh Bhat was temporarily looking after a motel in California, where he was shot on Thursday, Srivatsa