International News
Australia To Raise International Student Visa Fee To A$2,000
International students planning to study in Australia could soon face steeper costs, as the federal government announces plans to raise student visa fees from A$1,600 to A$2,000 (approximately USD 1,279) starting in 2025.
The proposed A$400 increase, revealed in a joint statement by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, is expected to generate an estimated A$760 million over the next four years.
Speaking at a news conference, Gallagher said, “We think that’s a sensible measure that prizes the value of studying here in Australia.”
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The fee hike, contingent on the ruling Labor Party’s re-election, is part of a broader overhaul of Australia’s migration policy and education sector.
Announced ahead of the upcoming federal election, the move has ignited debate over immigration, education costs, and housing strain in a country already grappling with rising student numbers.
This marks the second major visa fee increase in under two years. In July 2023, Australia more than doubled the fee from A$710 to A$1,600, making it one of the most expensive study destinations globally in terms of visa costs.
In contrast, student visa fees in the U.S. and Canada are significantly lower, at USD 185 (around A$290) and CAD 150 (approximately A$160), respectively.
The changes come at a time when Australia’s international education sector remains a major economic driver.
Over one million international students were enrolled nationwide in 2024, with a record 200,000 arrivals in February 2025 alone—an increase of 12.1% from the previous year and 7.3% above pre-pandemic levels.
Amid growing concerns about housing availability and net migration, the government also plans to cap new international student numbers at 270,000 for 2025.
The conservative opposition has pushed for a stricter limit of 240,000 and is proposing even higher visa fees—starting at A$2,500 and up to A$5,000 for elite institutions such as the Group of Eight universities.
International News
DOJ Confirms Federal Criminal Investigation After Agents Raid Ilhan Omar’s Home
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
International News
Bangkok Underwater: Nearly 4,900 Evacuated as Floods Hit Thailand Capital
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
International News
‘They Are Dying’ — Trump Explains Why He Rejected Iran’s Hormuz Proposal
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
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According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.





