The British government is planning to restrict visa applications from students of various countries, including Pakistan, as they are considered most likely to seek asylum after reaching the United Kingdom. The move comes as the Keir Starmer-led government looks to bring down annual net migration and restrict inflow from countries whose students apply for student visas but become asylum seekers later.

People who voted for Prime Minister Starmer's Labour Party have expressed anger and frustration over many issues, including illegal immigration. This has prompted the government to formulate a policy document, or a White Paper, which it plans to publish during the coming week.

Russia will cease hostilities during the Victory Day ceasefire announced by President Vladimir Putin but will retaliate adequately if Ukraine attacks its positions or facilities, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

"There will be no hostilities. However, if there is no reciprocity from the Kyiv regime and they continue to attack our positions or facilities, we will retaliate,"

Putin announced a 72-hour ceasefire on April 28 in its ongoing 'Special Military Operation' in Ukraine on account of the Victory Day celebrations from May 8 to 11.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia returned to Dhaka on Tuesday after four months of medical treatment in London. She was accompanied by her two daughters-in-law — the acting Chairman of the party, Tarique Rahman’s wife Zubaida Rahman, and the late Arafat Rahman Koko’s wife Syeda Sharmila Rahman.

The air ambulance, provided by Qatar’s Emir, reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Tuesday morning.

As Khaleda Zia travelled to her Gulshan residence from the airport, hundreds of party workers lined the streets to welcome her return, chanting slogans such as “Welcome Khaleda Zia” , "Khaleda Zia, fear not, we haven't left the streets” and “Tarique Rahman, Khaleda Zia”.

A New Zealand lawmaker is pushing for legislation that would ban children under 16 from accessing social media in a move that could see the country follow Australia's lead in tightening regulations on digital platforms.

New Zealand National Party MP Catherine Wedd has introduced a member's bill that would require social media companies to verify users' ages and block minors from creating accounts, according to news agency.

Platforms could face financial penalties for non-compliance and would be obligated to take "all reasonable steps" to ensure users are at least 16 years old, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported on Tuesday.

"My Social Media Age-Appropriate Users Bill is about protecting young people from bullying, inappropriate content and social media addiction by restricting access for under 16-year-olds," RNZ quoted Wedd as saying.

At least 14 people were injured in fresh US airstrikes on Yemen's capital of Sanaa early Monday morning, local medics told news agency.

The medics said 14 residents in the densely populated Shu'ub neighbourhood in the eastern part of Sanaa were injured as a result of the strikes, which also shattered windows in several homes and shops.

Meanwhile, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported that dozens of additional US airstrikes targeted various locations across Sanaa, as well as in the provinces of Hodeidah, Saada, Marib and Al-Jawf. No casualties were reported in those areas, as the Houthis rarely disclose their losses.

Nine people died, one was missing, and 70 were injured after four tourist boats capsized due to sudden gales on a river in Qianxi, southwest China's Guizhou province, according to state media.

A total of 84 people fell into the water following the accident on Sunday afternoon, and the search for the last missing person continues.

Speaking to Chinese media Red Star News, tourists who were on-site during the accident said that there was a sudden rainstorm accompanied by hail, thunder, and strong winds.

According to reports, the local meteorological authority issued a yellow alert on Sunday, stating that thunderstorms would occur in multiple places.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday urged all-out efforts to search for those who fell into the water and treat the injured after the boats capsized.

Iran revised the death toll from a major explosion at its main commercial port late last month down to 57 from 70, while state television reported two arrests in connection with the blast.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted Hormozgan province's Chief Justice Mojtaba Qahremani as saying the updated figure for the April 26 blast at Shahid Rajaee Port includes 46 recovered and identified bodies and 11 people still missing.

Qahremani explained that the initial count was lowered after forensic examinations determined that some body parts collected separately belonged to the same individuals. A special working group has been established to follow up on the missing, he added.

State television reported separately on Sunday that two people, including a government official, had been arrested over the explosion.

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Indian time) announced a new 100 per cent tariff on foreign films, stating that the movie industry in America is "dying a very fast death," which, according to him, is posing a national security threat.

He accused other countries of offering all sorts of incentives and drawing filmmakers and studios away from the US.

"Industry in America is dying a very fast death. Other countries are offering all sorts of the movie incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood and many other areas within the USA are being devastated. This is a concerted effort by other nations and, therefore, a national security threat," he posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.

The US State Department has approved an F-16 fighter jet training and sustainment package worth $310 million for Ukraine, the Pentagon announced.

The package included aircraft modifications, flight training, maintenance support, spare parts, ground handling equipment, and specialised software systems, according to the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, BAE Systems and AAR Corporation are the deal's principal contractors. However, This package contained no actual aircraft, as the jets would be provided by NATO allies rather than directly from the United States, said the DSCA.

Polling stations across Singapore opened at 8:00 a.m. (local time) on Saturday for the country's general election.

A total of 211 candidates, including two independents, are contesting the 97 elected parliamentary seats. Of these 97 seats, five in a multi-member constituency have already been secured by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), as no opposition candidates were fielded there.

The PAP, the ruling party since Singapore's independence in 1965, is fielding 97 candidates and contesting every seat. This election marks the first time Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is leading the party into a general election after succeeding Lee Hsien Loong in May 2024, following Lee's two-decade tenure, reports news agency.

In the 2020 general election, the PAP garnered 61.24 per cent of the popular vote, down from 69.86 per cent in 2015.