WASHINGTON: Republicans in Congress want to bar Chinese military scientists from obtaining visas to study or work in the United States, drawing criticism on Wednesday (May 15) from Beijing.Companion bills in the House and Senate would compel the White House to identify a list of research and scientific institutions that the president determines are affiliated with or funded by the Chinese People's Liberation Army.The PLA Visa Security Act introduced on Tuesday would prevent people currently or formerly employed or sponsored by such entities from entering the United States on student or research visas.The legislation landed as the two global powers are locked in a fierce trade showdown that has bruised US-China ties, roiled world markets and led President Donald Trump to boost punitive tariffs on Chinese merchandise imports.Senator Tom Cotton, a bill co-sponsor, said "keeping PLA scientists out of our research laboratories is a basic act of self-defence.""Student and research visas … [Read more...] about No US research visas for China military scientists: Republicans
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US refused visas to 3 officials: Pakistan Minister
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi confirmed that the US has imposed visa sanction on three senior government officials because of a row over repatriation of deportees, the media reported on Wednesday. Qureshi on Tuesday told the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs that visa curbs had been applied by the US on the three officials of the Interior Ministry, reports Dawn news. The sanctions have been put in place after a row between the two countries over deportation of dozens of Pakistanis, currently in the US, because of visa overstay and other allegations. Qureshi said the US authorities intended to deport more than 70 Pakistanis, but the government had asked them to fulfil the legal requirements. The US has over the past 18 months deported over 100 Pakistanis, all of whom were accepted back. It is the first time that Pakistani authorities have insisted on a verification of the credentials of the deportees. The Foreign Minister, however, clarified that … [Read more...] about US refused visas to 3 officials: Pakistan Minister
Guangdong ready for visa-free visits
Guangdong province in South China will allow overseas travelers from 53 nations and regions to enjoy a 144-hour visa-free visit starting in May, with an aim to further promote the province’s tourism industry. Lin Weixiong, deputy director general of the Guangdong Department of Public Security, said foreign passengers can visit all of Guangdong’s 21 prefecture-level cities when they have entered the province. “In addition to the international airports, foreigners can enter and leave Guangdong through the four railways, the eight land and 15 water ports in the province,” Lin said at a news conference in the Guangdong provincial capital of Guangzhou on April 30. “The new visa-free policy will play a very active role in promoting regional economic construction in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and advancing cooperation between Guangdong and the neighboring Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions in the following years,” Lin … [Read more...] about Guangdong ready for visa-free visits
Malaysia not under US visa waiver programme: Foreign Ministry
KUALA LUMPUR: A news portal has wrongly stated that Malaysia is listed under the United States visa waiver programme, according to the Foreign Ministry. To date, it said, there had been no change in the status of the programme for Malaysians. “Malaysians wanting to visit the US are still required to apply for visas the normal way,” the ministry said in a statement today. It said the incorrect information was contained in the article entitled ‘US Adds Jamaica, 9 Other Countries to Its Visa Waiver Program’ via news link news-ap.com. “The ministry calls for an immediate halt to the circulation of the news through WhatsApp and any other social or communication channels,” the statement said. — Bernama … [Read more...] about Malaysia not under US visa waiver programme: Foreign Ministry
EU accepts Visa, Mastercard offer to cut non-EU card fees to end antitrust probe
Business The European Union said on Monday that it has accepted an offer by Visa and Mastercard to cut fees on payments made by tourists using cards issued outside the bloc to stave off fines and end an EU antitrust investigation. 29 Apr 2019 05:50PM Bookmark BRUSSELS: The European Union said on Monday that it has accepted an offer by Visa and Mastercard to cut fees on payments made by tourists using cards issued outside the bloc to stave off fines and end an EU antitrust investigation."This, together with our January 2019 decision on Mastercard's cross-border card payment services, will lead to lower prices for European retailers to do business, ultimately to the benefit of all consumers," Europe's antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.The commitments will cut such multilateral interchange fees by 40 percent on average, the European Commission said on Monday.(Reporting by Alissa de Carbonnel; Editing by Philip Blenkinsop) … [Read more...] about EU accepts Visa, Mastercard offer to cut non-EU card fees to end antitrust probe