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Trump administration expands US travel ban to 20 more countries, Palestinians also affected

The Trump administration has widened its travel ban, adding 20 more countries and fully restricting entry for Palestinians, citing security and vetting concerns.

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The Trump administration has widened its travel restrictions, adding 20 more countries to the existing list and imposing a complete ban on travel for people holding documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. The decision significantly expands the scope of the travel limits announced earlier this year and will come into force from January 1.

According to the proclamation issued on Tuesday, the latest move doubles the number of nations impacted by US travel and immigration restrictions. Five additional countries now face a full ban, while 15 others have been placed under partial restrictions. The administration said the measures apply to both visitors and those seeking to immigrate to the United States.

Countries facing full travel ban

The newly added countries under the full ban include Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria. In addition, people travelling on Palestinian Authority-issued passports or documents have been fully barred from entering or emigrating to the US. South Sudan had already been subject to significant restrictions before this announcement.

Earlier, the administration had imposed a complete ban on travellers from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

15 countries under partial restrictions

The list of countries now facing partial travel restrictions includes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

These join the earlier partially restricted countries such as Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. The administration also said restrictions on Laos and Sierra Leone have been upgraded, while some limits on Turkmenistan have been eased after an improvement in vetting standards.

Who is exempt from the restrictions

The proclamation clarifies that certain categories of travellers are exempt. These include people who already hold valid US visas, lawful permanent residents, diplomats, athletes, and individuals whose entry is considered to be in the national interest of the United States.

Reasons cited by the administration

The US administration said many of the affected countries suffer from widespread corruption, unreliable civil documents and weak criminal record systems, making proper vetting difficult. It also pointed to high visa overstay rates, refusal by some governments to accept deported nationals, and broader concerns related to immigration enforcement, foreign policy and national security.

The expansion follows the arrest of an Afghan national accused in the shooting of two National Guard troops near the White House during the Thanksgiving weekend. The accused has pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges.

Criticism and concerns over Afghan visas

The decision has drawn criticism from rights groups and immigration advocates, who argue that national security is being used to justify broad restrictions on entire populations. Concerns have also been raised over the removal of an exception for Afghans eligible for the Special Immigrant Visa, a category meant for those who assisted US forces during the war in Afghanistan.

Advocacy groups said these individuals undergo extensive vetting and that restricting their entry could undermine commitments made by the United States.

New restrictions on Palestinians

The full ban on people holding Palestinian Authority passports marks a further tightening of restrictions imposed earlier, which had already made it extremely difficult for Palestinians to travel to the US for work, education, business or tourism. The administration justified the move by citing the presence of US-designated terrorist groups in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as challenges in vetting due to ongoing conflict.

Governments of some newly affected countries said they were reviewing the decision and seeking clarity from US officials on the implications of the restrictions.

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Luthra brothers deported from Thailand in Goa nightclub fire case

The Luthra brothers, owners of the Goa nightclub where a fire killed 25 people, have been deported from Thailand and are returning to India.

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Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of a Goa nightclub where a massive fire led to the deaths of 25 people, have been deported from Thailand and are on their way back to India. The two brothers boarded a flight to India after Thai authorities sent them back from Bangkok.

According to information available, the Luthra brothers had left the country within hours of the tragic incident and travelled to Thailand’s Phuket. At the time the fire broke out at the Goa nightclub, both Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra were in Delhi.

The fire at the club triggered widespread outrage and raised serious questions over safety measures at nightlife venues in Goa. The incident resulted in the deaths of 25 people, making it one of the deadliest nightclub fires in the state.

After their departure from India soon after the tragedy, the whereabouts of the club owners became a key focus of the investigation. Their deportation from Thailand and return to India is seen as a significant development in the case related to the deadly fire.

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Bondi Beach shooting during Jewish festival leaves at least 15 dead

Australia’s Bondi Beach was rocked by the deadliest shooting in decades as a father and son opened fire during a Jewish festival, killing at least 15 people.

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Bondi shooting Australia

At least 15 people were killed and dozens injured after a mass shooting at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach during a Jewish celebration, in what authorities have described as the deadliest gun attack in Australia in almost 30 years.

Police on Monday confirmed that the two attackers were a father and his son. The older man, identified as 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police at the scene, while his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram was injured and is undergoing treatment at a hospital.

The attack occurred during the “Chanukah by the Sea” event, held to mark the beginning of the eight-day Hanukkah festival. Around 1,000 people were attending the gathering in a small park near the beach when gunfire erupted, triggering panic among crowds enjoying a busy summer evening.

What happened at bondi beach

According to authorities, emergency services received the first calls about shots being fired around 6:45 pm. Witnesses said the attack lasted roughly 10 minutes, with people running across the sand and into nearby streets to escape the gunfire.

Videos from the scene showed two men firing long guns from a footbridge leading to the beach. Police have not officially confirmed the exact weapons used, though footage suggested a bolt-action rifle and a shotgun.

In one widely shared clip, a bystander was seen tackling and disarming one of the gunmen. The man was later praised by state leadership as a “genuine hero.” A public fundraising effort launched for him had raised over A$200,000 by Monday morning.

Attackers and investigation

Police said one of the attackers was known to security agencies, though there was no prior indication of a planned assault. Authorities later confirmed they were confident only two people were involved.

The younger attacker is an Australian-born citizen. Officials said the father had arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, later transitioning to other residency permits. Investigators also searched the family’s home in Bonnyrigg, in western Sydney, where a heavy police presence remained through Monday.

Victims and community impact

Those killed ranged in age from 10 to 87 years. At least 42 others were hospitalised, several of them in critical condition. An Orthodox Jewish organisation confirmed that one of the victims was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi and one of the organisers of the event.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and fear. A young lifesaver present at the beach said seeing injured people, including children, was deeply distressing and unlike anything he had experienced before.

Community leaders urged unity and calm in the aftermath, stressing the importance of supporting those affected rather than allowing anger to divide communities.

Leaders condemn attack

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Bondi Beach on Monday to pay tribute to the victims, calling the shooting a “dark moment for our nation.” He described the incident as an act of antisemitism and terrorism, assuring the Jewish community of the government’s full support.

Several world leaders, including the US President, the French President and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Australia.

Authorities said the shooting was the most serious antisemitic attack in the country in decades, coming amid a rise in incidents targeting Jewish institutions since late 2023. Investigations into the motive behind the attack are ongoing.

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US lawmakers move resolution to roll back Trump’s 50% tariffs on Indian imports

Three US lawmakers have moved a resolution to end Trump’s emergency declaration that imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, calling the move illegal and harmful to trade ties.

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Three members of the US House of Representatives have introduced a resolution seeking to end former President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration that led to steep tariffs on imports from India. The lawmakers termed the duties illegal and warned that they have hurt American consumers, workers and long-standing India-US economic ties.

The resolution has been moved by Representatives Deborah Ross, Marc Veasey and Raja Krishnamoorthi. It aims to terminate the emergency powers used to impose import duties that cumulatively raised tariffs on several Indian-origin goods to 50 per cent.

What the resolution seeks to change

According to details shared by media, the proposal specifically seeks to rescind an additional 25 per cent “secondary” tariff imposed on August 27, 2025. This was levied over and above earlier reciprocal tariffs, taking the total duty to 50 per cent under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The House move follows a separate bipartisan effort in the US Senate that targeted similar tariffs imposed on Brazil, signalling growing resistance in Congress to the use of emergency powers for trade actions.

Lawmakers flag impact on US economy and consumers

Congresswoman Deborah Ross highlighted the deep economic links between India and her home state of North Carolina, noting that Indian companies have invested over a billion dollars there, creating thousands of jobs in sectors such as technology and life sciences. She also pointed out that manufacturers from the state export hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of goods to India each year.

Congressman Marc Veasey said the tariffs amount to a tax on American households already facing high costs, stressing that India remains an important cultural, economic and strategic partner for the United States.

Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi described the duties as counterproductive, saying they disrupt supply chains, harm American workers and push up prices for consumers. He added that rolling back the tariffs would help strengthen economic and security cooperation between the two countries.

Background of the tariff hike

Earlier in August 2025, the Trump administration imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, which came into effect from August 1. This was followed days later by another 25 per cent increase, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The combined duties were justified by the administration as a measure linked to Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine.

Wider push against unilateral trade actions

The latest resolution is part of a broader push by congressional Democrats to challenge unilateral trade measures and reassert Congress’ constitutional authority over trade policy. In October, the same lawmakers, along with several other members of Congress, had urged the President to reverse the tariff decisions and work towards repairing strained bilateral relations with India.

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