World

India’s long wait for United States visa appointments has eased significantly, according to the latest update from the US State Department. Processing times for key visa categories have decreased across major cities. This offers relief to students, workers and visitors after months of heavy backlogs.The following are the updated wait times for major Indian consulates:New…

File photo: Attorney general Pam Bondi & secretary of defense Pete Hegseth speak during a pardoning ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. (Picture credit: AP) Frederick Forsyth has created many memorable protagonists, but Calvin Dexter from Avenger remains one of his most fascinating. Dexter, an ex–Tunnel Rat who crawled through…

UAE 54 celebrated with massive Ajman vehicle formation / Image: WAM News On 2 December 2025, Ajman officially entered the Guinness World Records after 603 vehicles were precisely arranged to form the phrase “EID AL ETIHAD UAE 54”. The large-scale formation was part of the UAE’s 54th Eid Al Etihad (Union Day) celebrations and was…

Mohamed bin Zayed’s 2025 wealth reflects power, leadership, and expansive assets/Image: X Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, widely known as MBZ, is the President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. Celebrated for his strategic acumen and decisive governance, he has transformed Abu Dhabi into a global economic and political hub….

Kuwait banned pet import for trade, introduced strict pet-import rules / AI Generated Image Kuwait’s Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) has announced a ban on the commercial import of dogs and cats as part of a drive to tackle a rising stray-animal problem in residential areas. The measure limits the flow…

Singapore will require all secondary school students to keep their smartphones and smartwatches locked away for the entire duration of the school day from January 2026, extending an existing restriction that currently applies only during lesson time. The ministry of education (MOE) announced the new rules on November 30, saying they are intended to curb…

A fire on the roof of the Raleigh convention center was contained within an hour on Monday night after a natural gas incident sparked flames around 9.30pm, according to city of Raleigh officials. No injuries were reported.City spokeswoman Julia Milstead told WRAL that the blaze was restricted to the roof and did not spread into…

Saudi Arabia and Russia signed a visa exemption, allowing citizens 90 day stays for tourism and business/Image: SA MOFA In a historic move aimed at strengthening ties and boosting travel between the two nations, Saudi Arabia and Russia have signed a mutual visa exemption agreement. The deal, formalized during the Saudi-Russian Investment and Business Forum…

A Manhattan judge on Monday reviewed key evidence in the murder case against Luigi Mangione, including a 911 call from the Altoona, Pennsylvania McDonald’s where he was arrested last year after a dayslong manhunt after he killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.Mangione has pleaded not guilty in both state and federal cases, with federal prosecutors seeking…

New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Monday, sharply criticised federal immigration raids, calling them “cruel and inhumane” and arguing they fail to advance public safety. The remarks came after more than a dozen protesters were arrested during a violent confrontation with federal agents in lower Manhattan over the weekend. Speaking to reporters Monday, Mamdani…