World News Archives - National Times

08 Oct

US Suspends Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HCL, Microsoft, Adobe From Green Card Programme; What It Means For Indians

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsAdobe, Capgemini, Cognizant, HCL, Microsoft, PERM Programme, TCS, US Green Card Programme, US Suspends Infosys, Wipro

Washington DC (Rajeev Sharma): The Donald Trump administration has suspended eight major technology companies, including Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, HCL Technologies, Microsoft and Adobe, from a key US programme used by employers to sponsor skilled foreign workers for permanent residency. The US Department of Labour announced on Thursday, October 8, that it would stop accepting new applications and processing pending applications under the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme involving the affected companies. Cognizant and Capgemini are also on the list. US officials have accused the companies of abusing foreign-worker programmes and harming employment opportunities for American workers. The…

08 Oct

India Condemns Attacks on Saudi Airports, Expresses Solidarity With Riyadh

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Trending, World NewsRiyadh

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): India has strongly condemned a series of attacks targeting airports in Saudi Arabia, calling strikes against civilian infrastructure unacceptable and expressing solidarity with the Saudi government and people. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said the attacks in recent days had targeted Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The incidents have reportedly resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. New Delhi expressed deep concern over the loss of civilian lives and conveyed its condolences to the families who have lost relatives in the attacks. India also wished those injured a swift…

06 Oct

Saudi Arabia Condemns Fresh Houthi Attacks, Warns of Threat to Regional Security

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsSaudi Arabia

RIYADH (Rajeev Sharma): Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned a fresh series of attacks attributed to Yemen’s Houthi militia, accusing the group of targeting civilians, economic infrastructure and Saudi territory. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Riyadh said the repeated attacks represented a serious threat to the Kingdom’s security and stability. The statement also condemned attacks targeting Saudi cities including Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, Najran, Taif and Yanbu. Saudi Arabia also denounced what it described as attacks against Saudi vessels operating in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, an important maritime passage…

06 Oct

Indian Seafarer Injured After Russian Strike Hits Cargo Ship in Black Sea

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Trending, World NewsBlack Sea

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): India has responded after a Russian drone attack on a civilian cargo vessel in the Black Sea left at least two people dead and several others injured, including an Indian crew member. The Turkish-owned cargo ship MV Royad Mammadov came under attack while sailing outside Romania's territorial waters, according to preliminary information. The strike reportedly triggered a fire on board the vessel. Three Indian nationals were among the ship's crew, the Indian Embassy in Romania said. One of them was injured and taken to hospital for treatment. The embassy said it was immediately in contact with…

05 Oct

Russian Drone Strike Hits Turkish-Owned Cargo Ship in Black Sea; One Dead, Indian and Azerbaijani Crew Onboard

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, World NewsBlack Sea drone strike, Indian crew, Sumy warehouse strike, Turkish cargo vessel, Volodymyr Zelensky

Kyiv/New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh)— At least one person was killed and eleven others were rescued after a Russian drone attack struck a Turkish-owned commercial cargo ship operating in neutral waters in the Black Sea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday. The civilian vessel, which was transporting corn, had crew members from India and Azerbaijan onboard. President Zelensky announced the incident in a statement on social media platform X, detailing that the cargo carrier was hit by two Russian drones, triggering an onboard blaze. "Azerbaijani and Indian citizens were on board. As of now, unfortunately, we know that the ship's…

05 Oct

US Air Force Pulls Bombers From UK Base After Suspected Terror Plot

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsUS Air Force

Washington (Rajeev Sharma): The United States has withdrawn its bomber aircraft from a military facility in Britain following an investigation into an alleged terror plot targeting the base. The aircraft had been operating from RAF Fairford, a US-run facility in Gloucestershire that has played a role in American military operations, including strikes against Iran. The decision to remove the bombers comes as security officials examine the circumstances surrounding the suspected attack and assess potential risks to personnel and military assets at the installation. RAF Fairford has long served as an important staging location for US Air Force operations in Europe.…

05 Oct

France Braces for More Student Unrest as Hundreds of High Schools Close

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsFrance

Paris (Rajeev Sharma): Hundreds of high schools across France are expected to suspend classes on Monday as authorities prepare for another major wave of student demonstrations over concerns about the country's education system. Education Minister Edouard Geffray said between 400 and 500 secondary schools could see classes cancelled either completely or partially because conditions were considered unsafe. He said 24 schools had already suffered arson attacks, vandalism or extensive damage since the protests began. The temporary closures are being treated primarily as a security measure, with organisers calling for demonstrations to intensify on Tuesday. Geffray said officials hoped schools could…

05 Oct

Multiple Explosions Reported Near Tanker Off Yemen Coast, Crew Safe

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsYemen

Yemen (Rajeev Sharma): Several explosions were reported in the vicinity of a tanker sailing off Yemen on Sunday, prompting a maritime security alert and renewed concerns over the safety of vessels operating in the region. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the incident took place around 60 nautical miles south of the port city of Mokha. According to the agency, the tanker’s company security officer reported witnessing a number of explosions close to the vessel. The blasts were described as occurring in the surrounding waters, although no details were immediately available on their source or whether the ship…

04 Oct

Flydubai Co-Pilot Who Targeted Tel Aviv-Bound Flight Likely Acted Alone, Say Investigators

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld News

Dubai (Rajeev Sharma) — The first officer who assaulted Indian-origin Captain Smit Machchhar during a mid-air bid to crash an Israel-bound flydubai passenger jet likely operated as a lone wolf without organizational backing, according to preliminary findings emerging from an international intelligence probe on Sunday. The suspect, identified across multiple news outlets as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami though not yet formally named by authorities, had previously been barred from commercial cockpits in Oman over suspected extremist ideological affiliations, according to reports in the Wall Street Journal. International aviation and security agencies from the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Saudi Arabia…

03 Oct

UAE Says Flydubai Co-Pilot Attacked Indian Captain With Axe in Suspected Terror Attempt

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsUAE

Dubai (Rajeev Sharma): The United Arab Emirates has described the mid-air attack aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 as an attempted “terrorist” act, saying the co-pilot assaulted Indian Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe and tried to seize control of the aircraft. The UAE prosecutor general said the incident occurred inside the cockpit while the Boeing 737 was travelling from Dubai towards Tel Aviv. The statement marks the first time Emirati authorities have publicly characterised the incident as a suspected terrorist attack. The co-pilot has been identified by sources as Omani national Hammam al-Hammami. UAE authorities have not publicly confirmed his…