Canada's wildfires could continue into fall, says government
Canada is facing its second-worst wildfire season on record, with 7.8 million hectares already burned, and the fires could persist for weeks, accordin...
The United States has resumed processing student visa applications but now requires foreign applicants to disclose their social media profiles for scrutiny, as part of a broader national security directive.
The US State Department on Wednesday announced the resumption of student and exchange visa processing after a suspension in May, introducing a controversial new rule mandating social media disclosure for all applicants.
Under the new guidance, foreign nationals applying for F, M, or J visas must make their social media accounts publicly accessible. Consular officers have been instructed to review the “entire online presence” of each applicant, including social media platforms, search history, and other digital content accessible through official databases.
The department said this move aims to identify posts or interactions deemed “hostile toward the United States, its government, institutions, culture, or founding principles.” Limited profile visibility may be interpreted as an attempt to conceal potentially disqualifying behavior, officials warned.
The policy applies to both new and returning applicants and reflects the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to tighten immigration controls and enhance national security screening processes.
Last month, US embassies worldwide were instructed to suspend all new student visa interviews while the administration evaluated new vetting protocols. The result is what many legal experts and university officials are calling an unprecedented expansion of surveillance over international students.
Critics argue that these measures infringe on privacy and suppress freedom of expression. Civil rights groups and legal scholars say the practice could violate the First Amendment protections of free speech, which apply to all individuals on US soil, regardless of citizenship status.
This latest step comes amid broader controversies involving the Trump administration’s immigration stance, including attempts to cancel student visas over political opinions and an ongoing investigation targeting Harvard University’s foreign student body.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck 56 kilometres east of Gorgan in northern Iran early Sunday morning, according to preliminary seismic data.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
Honduras has brought back mask mandates as COVID-19 cases and a new variant surge nationwide.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he expected Russian President Vladimir Putin to release more than 1,000 Ukrainian prisoners soon, after a trilateral meeting was set up with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Canada is facing its second-worst wildfire season on record, with 7.8 million hectares already burned, and the fires could persist for weeks, according to federal officials.
A research team led by Tsinghua University has unveiled a groundbreaking method for making organs transparent, offering the most detailed view yet of the brain’s inner workings.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in New Delhi today for a closely watched round of bilateral discussions with senior Indian leaders, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
In Bolivia's first-round presidential election, voters decisively rejected the leftist party that has ruled the country for most of the past two decades, signaling a shift toward more market-friendly policies to address the nation's economic struggles.
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