More than ten Chinese doctoral students in science have been denied reentry into the United States after visiting their families in China in the past three months. Some of them are from renowned American universities such as Yale, Johns Hopkins, or other major research institutions. The reason remains unclear, as the U.S. Customs and Border […]
Israel said on Dec. 26 that it will stop granting automatic visas for United Nations employees while accusing the UN of being “complicit partners” in Hamas’s “propaganda.” Instead, the nation will consider visa requests from U.N. employees on a case-by-case basis, according to government spokesman Eylon Levy. The decision comes as tensions between the United Nations […]
NEW DELHI—India on Thursday suspended new visas for Canadians and asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in the country, sharply escalating a spat triggered by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations linking New Delhi to a Sikh separatist’s murder. The Indian foreign ministry said Canada has not shared any specific information in connection with the […]
Visa and Mastercard confirmed on March 9 that they’re pausing the implementation of a new merchant category code (MCC) that will help track cardholders’ purchases at gun stores. The pause stems from legislation advancing in several states that would restrict the use of the new code, and complicate matters, Visa said. “There is now significant confusion and legal uncertainty in the payments […]
WASHINGTON—Former Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro has applied for a six-month tourist visa to remain in the United States, his lawyer said on Monday, despite calls for any U.S. visas held by Bolsonaro to be revoked following violent protests in Brasilia. The United States received his application on Friday, his lawyer, Felipe Alexandre, said, adding that […]
TOKYO—China announced it was resuming issuing visas for Japanese travelers beginning Sunday, ending its nearly three-week suspension in an apparent protest of Tokyo’s tougher COVID-19 entry requirements for tourists from China. The decision was announced in a statement posted on the Chinese Embassy’s website. According to Asia Nikkei, the decision was to prioritize business in […]
A self-confessed spy who publicly defected from Beijing has been denied the right to stay in Australia. In 2019, Wang Li-qiang spilled Beijing’s espionage secrets on Australian prime time national TV. Four year later, he’s now facing deportation back to China.
U.S. and German embassies in China’s capital of Beijing announced on Dec. 15 the suspension of routine visa services due to the city’s COVID-19 outbreak that is also being seen in other large cities in China, following dozens of countries who have already suspended their visa applications in China. Meanwhile, concerns have been rising that the […]
MELBOURNE, Australia—A year after Novak Djokovic’s deportation from Australia because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19, the 21-time Grand Slam champion is set to be granted a visa to enter the country so he can compete at the Australian Open in January. The Australian Broadcasting Corp. said Tuesday it had confirmed newspaper reports that the […]
A federal judge ruled Friday that it is reasonable to infer that payment processor Visa knowingly helped Pornhub “monetize child porn” and denied its motion to dismiss the claim that it violated California’s Unfair Competition Law. District Judge Cormac Carney of the U.S. District Court of the Central District of California wrote in his ruling […]
LONDON—Credit cards issued by Russian banks using the Visa and Mastercard payment systems will stop functioning overseas after March 9, Russia’s central bank said on Sunday, adding that some local lenders would look to use China’s UnionPay system instead. Russian-issued Mastercard and Visa cards would be accepted within Russia until their expiry, the bank said, […]
Two of the biggest payment processing firms in the world on March 5 announced they were suspending operations in Russia. Mastercard and Visa said Russian banks would be cut off from their networks and their cards would not work at Russian merchants or ATMs. “We don’t take this decision lightly. Mastercard has operated in Russia […]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has temporarily lifted a visa requirement for foreign nationals who wish to join Ukraine’s “International Defence Legion” to fight against Russia. Zelensky signed a decree late Monday, which will take effect on Tuesday and remain in effect as long as martial law persists. Foreigners—with the exception of Russian citizens–won’t need a […]
The UK’s visa scheme for Hongkongers may be extended to allow younger people to come to Britain. MPs are proposing an amendment that would extend the visa scheme to 18- to 24-year-old Hongkongers, many of whom were involved in the 2019 pro-democracy protests.
The government launches a 10-year strategy to come down hard on lifestyle drug users. The prime minister defends Omicron travel restrictions after a government adviser said they may have come too late. MPs propose extending the visa scheme to Hongkongers aged 18 to 24, many of whom have faced protest charges.
