Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas universities and state agencies on Tuesday to halt new H-1B visa petitions, which are used by employers to hire foreign workers with specialised skills, until next year. The pause in the red state, which is home to tens of thousands of H-1B visa holders, comes amid actions by the Trump administration aimed at reshaping the visa programme. Critics argue that it has become a pipeline for overseas workers willing to work for lower pay and is taking job opportunities from Americans. But supporters say the program is crucial to attract top global talent, fill specialised roles and drive innovation. The pause in Texas, which only applies to state agencies "controlled by a gubernatorially appointed head" and public universities, is scheduled to last until May 31, 2027. Abbott's order does allow exceptions if permission is granted from the Texas Workforce Commission. Abbott said the freeze will give lawmakers time to "establish statutory guardrails for future employment practices regarding federal visa holders in state government" and for Congress to "modify federal law" and for the Trump Administration to "implement reforms aimed at eliminating abuse of this visa program." Currently, the public university in the state with the most H-1B visas is the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas with 228 visa holders, based on data reported by the US Citizen & Immigration Services in September. The university employees more than 23,000 people, according to their website. University staff did not immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press seeking comment on the pause. Other institutions with H-1B visa holders include: the Texas A&M University in College Station with 214; the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston with 171; the University of Texas at Austin with 169; and Texas Tech University in Lubbock with 143. While there is a wide range of employers who can apply for HB-1 visas - including hospitals, bands and universities - at least 60 per cent of the H-1B visas approved since 2012 have been for computer-related jobs, according to the Pew Research Center. Last year across the country, Amazon was by far the top recipient, with more than 10,000 visas approved, followed by Mumbai-based informational technology company Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Apple and Google. In Texas, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation - a multinational information technology company - has the most H-1B visas in the state with 3,172. Abbott, who along with Republicans allege that the visas are being abused, said he is also reviewing the programme's use. As such, he is ordering agencies and universities to provide information on the number of new or renewed H-1B visa petitions they filed last year, the number of visa holders currently sponsored, job titles, countries of origin and visa expiration dates. The Republican also asked for documentation showing employers made an effort to give "qualified Texans candidates with reasonable opportunity to apply" for positions filled by H-1B visa holders. "State government must lead by example and ensure that employment opportunities - particularly those funded with taxpayer dollars - are filled by Texans first," Abbott wrote in his letter. Abbott is not the only GOP governor taking action against the visa program. Last year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called for fewer H-1B hires, alleging abuse of the program to fill non-specialised roles. On Thursday, the Board of Governors, which oversees the Florida's public university system, is scheduled to discuss pausing the use of H-1B programme to hire new personnel until next year. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation last year imposing a USD 100,000 annual H-1B visa fee on highly skilled workers, which is being challenged in court. Created by the 1990 Immigration Act, H-1B visas allow American companies to bring in people with technical skills that are hard to find in the United States. The visas, which are good for three years and can be extended another three years, are not intended for people who want to stay permanently. Some eventually do, but only after transitioning to different immigration statuses. The number of new visas issued annually is capped at 65,000, plus an additional 20,000 for people with a master's degree or higher. Some employers, such as universities and nonprofits, are exempt from the limits. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 January,2026 09:12 AM IST | Houston | APUS President Donald Trump addressed ongoing legal challenges to his tariff policies during a campaign-style stop in Clive, Iowa, expressing hope that the Supreme Court would ultimately rule in favour of his administration even as lower courts have declared his sweeping tariff regime illegal. Referring to the pending legal challenge, Trump criticised judicial decisions blocking his tariffs and portrayed them as being favourable to China. " I hope we win the Supreme Court case," Trump said. "You know, we have people that are China-oriented, people literally that [are] very China-oriented and foreign-country-oriented trying to stop that." Trump warned that even an adverse ruling from the Supreme Court would not deter him from pursuing wide-ranging tariffs, insisting his administration would find alternative ways to implement them. "We'll get it done. One way or the other, we're going to do it. If we have to do it a different way, we'll do it," he said. Defending his trade approach, Trump claimed his policies were generating massive revenue for the United States. "But we're taking in hundreds of billions of dollars. We're doing amazing. Nobody can even believe it. Foreign countries cannot believe what's happened. They're studying us, but it won't work." His remarks followed developments at the US Supreme Court, which on January 20 issued three rulings but stopped short of deciding the closely watched case challenging the legality of Trump's global tariff policy. The court did not provide any indication on when it might take up the dispute next, maintaining its practice of not announcing in advance which decisions will be delivered on any given day. Reacting to the developments, Trump said he was uncertain about how the Supreme Court would rule, warning that the government could be forced to return hundreds of billions of dollars in tariff revenue if it loses the case. "I don't know what the Supreme Court is going to do ... To me, it reads so plainly. It couldn't be plainer," Trump said, reiterating his belief that the tariffs were imposed legally. He also cautioned that reimbursing duties already collected would be difficult "without hurting a lot of people." The court's decision to defer a ruling has left uncertainty hanging over Trump's trade agenda, even as lower courts have already questioned the legality of the sweeping measures. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 January,2026 09:05 AM IST | Iowa (USA) | ANINorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country will unveil plans to further bolster its nuclear programme at the upcoming ruling party congress, as he observed the North's latest weapons launch, state media reported Wednesday. The report came a day after South Korea and Japan said they detected multiple ballistic missiles fired from North Korea, the country's first weapons launches in about three weeks. The Korean Central News Agency said North Korea performed a live-fire drill of an upgraded large-caliber multiple rocket launcher system in the presence of Kim on Tuesday. It quoted Kim as saying the test launch was meant to enhance the effectiveness of the country's "strategic deterrent," a term used to describe its nuclear weapons capability. KCNA said the launcher system's mobility and strike accuracy have been improved. Experts say North Korea's large-sized rocket launchers blur the boundaries between artillery systems and ballistic missiles because they can create their own thrust and are guided during delivery. North Korea has said some of these systems are capable of delivering nuclear warheads. Kim said that boosting the country's military capability is the invariable line of the ruling Workers' Party. He said the upcoming party congress, the first of its kind in five years, will be a venue to declare "next-stage plans for further bolstering up the country's nuclear war deterrent," KCNA said. The congress, expected to start in February, is one of North Korea's biggest propaganda spectacles and is used to establish new political and economic priorities. Since December, North Korea has already test-fired what it called hypersonic missiles, long-range, strategic cruise missiles and new anti-air missiles. North Korea's recent testing activities were likely meant to demonstrate or review its weapons development achievements ahead of the congress. KCNA didn't say what the next-stage nuclear development plan will be like. Many foreign analysts say North Korea needs to master an ability to place multiple warheads on a single missile to defeat its rivals' missile defences. There are also questions on whether North Korea has acquired the technology to shield warheads from the high-temperature, high-stress environment of atmospheric reentry for long-range missiles targeting the US mainland. North Korea has refused to engage in talks with the US and South Korea since Kim's nuclear diplomacy with President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. Experts say Kim could return to talks if he's assured of some economic and political rewards for limited denuclearization steps. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 January,2026 08:59 AM IST | Seoul | APUS President Donald Trump reiterated his hard-line stance on Iran during a campaign-style event in Clive, Iowa, emphasising both military pressure and the possibility of negotiations with Tehran as tensions persist over the crackdown on protesters and regional security. Pointing to a significant US military buildup in the Middle East, Trump said, "By the way, there's another beautiful armada floating beautifully toward Iran right now. So we'll see. I hope they make a deal. I hope they make a deal. They should have made a deal the first time. They'd have a country." His comments highlighted Washington's show of force while also leaving the door open for diplomacy. That dual message was echoed in a separate interview with Axios, where Trump said the situation with Iran is "in flux," noting that he has moved major American military assets into the Middle East and suggesting that Tehran may be open to a diplomatic solution, according to The Times of Israel. Amplifying the contrast between force and negotiation, Trump told Axios, "We have a big armada next to Iran. Bigger than Venezuela," and added that officials in Tehran have repeatedly signalled a willingness to engage. "They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk," he said. Following the interview, a senior US official briefed reporters that the United States remains prepared to enter talks if Iran reaches out under clear conditions. "With regard to Iran, we are open for business. If they want to contact us, and they know what the terms are, then we're going to have the conversation," the official said, as reported by The Times of Israel. Earlier this month, US special envoy Steve Witkoff outlined conditions the administration says would be necessary for any deal, including a ban on uranium enrichment, the removal of already-enriched uranium, capping Iran's long-range missile stockpile, and reversing support for regional proxy forces. While Tehran has expressed willingness to negotiate, it has rejected those terms outright. Trump also referenced previous military action against Iran's nuclear infrastructure. He asserted that US strikes in June had "obliterated" the country's nuclear capacity by hitting three facilities, though the extent of disruption to Iran's enrichment programme remains unclear. "People have been waiting for 22 years to do that," he said while referring to the June bombing campaign. The president's tough stance follows his first-term decision to withdraw the United States from the 2015 nuclear agreement and pursue a "maximum pressure" campaign aimed at weakening Tehran through sanctions. Despite his warnings, Trump has not yet decided whether to authorise further military action against Iran, Axios reported, even after previously pledging to act if the regime killed protesters -- a crackdown that resulted in thousands of deaths. He is scheduled to hold further consultations with his national security team this week, with military options likely to expand following the arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in Middle Eastern waters, according to The Times of Israel. Trump also told Axios that during a 12-day war last June, he prevented an Iranian missile attack on Israel by authorising Jerusalem to strike first, underscoring his administration's emphasis on combining military pressure with diplomatic overtones. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 January,2026 08:55 AM IST | Iowa (USA) | ANIThe 27 member states of the European Union formally adopted the regulation on phasing out Russian imports of both pipeline gas and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) into the EU on Monday. In a statement shared by the EU Council, it was mentioned that the new rules also include measures on effective monitoring and diversification of energy supply. As per the regulation, importing Russian pipeline gas and LNG into the EU will be prohibited. “The ban will start to apply six weeks after the regulation enters into force. Existing contracts will have a transition period. This stepwise approach will limit the impact on prices and markets. A full ban will take effect for LNG imports from the beginning of 2027 and for pipeline gas imports from autumn 2027”, the statement said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 January,2026 06:53 AM IST | Brussels | AgenciesThe world’s fastest civilian aircraft has received European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification. Developed by Bombardier, the Global 8000 business jet is the fastest civilian aircraft since the Concorde, with an industry-leading top speed of Mach 0.95 (1173.06 kmph). The aircraft offers a class-leading range of 8000 nautical miles and enables passengers to fly faster and farther than ever before. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 January,2026 06:50 AM IST | Paris | AgenciesAt least 15 people have died across multiple US states as a powerful winter storm unleashed deadly cold, ice and snow, with authorities linking several deaths to hypothermia and snow shovelling incidents, as reported by CNN. Vehicles in Washington stuck on the road after the storm brought down least six inches of snow to the region The storm across the southern US has caused widespread power outages, particularly in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity as frigid temperatures linger. A view of the frozen Hudson River looking in New York on Monday Officials say several additional deaths remain under investigation. More than 200 million people are under cold-weather alerts as the brutal cold sets new daily temperature records. Nature’s fury 800,000+Power outages reported nationwide 1 inchThickness of ice recorded in many areas -17°CTemperature in Nashville, Tennessee 6.7 inchesThickness of sleet (ice pellets) that fell at in Little Rock, Arkansas 10No. of days it could take to restore power in Kentucky 22.2 InchesAmount of snow that fell in Massachusetts 200+No. of dogs rescued This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 January,2026 06:47 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesResearchers in the US have uncovered evidence suggesting that Thomas Edison may have accidentally produced graphene over a century before it was formally identified, while developing his first light bulb in 1879. The study aimed to reconstruct Edison’s original light bulb experiments using modern analytical tools. The team replicated the US inventor’s carbon-filament bulb design and applied electrical conditions similar to those used in the 19th century. Researchers then realised that parts of the filament transformed into turbostratic graphene. Turbostratic graphene is a form of multi-layer graphene recognised for randomly rotated, misaligned stacking between layers. It is highly valued for scalable, high-volume production, particularly in energy storage and composite strengthening. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 January,2026 06:44 AM IST | New York | AgenciesChina has just unveiled the world’s largest car carrier, capable of transporting up to 10,800 vehicles in a single trip. The vessel is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel car carrier. It was developed by Guangzhou Shipyard International Co Ltd (GSI), a state-owned shipbuilder and a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). The company specialises in designing and building large vessels. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 January,2026 06:37 AM IST | Beijing | AgenciesA branch of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will help with security for the Winter Olympics in Italy, it confirmed Tuesday, sparking anger and warnings they were not welcome. Reports had been circulating for days that the agency embroiled in an often brutal immigration crackdown in the United States could be involved in US security measures for the February 6-22 Games in northern Italy. In a statement overnight to AFP, ICE said: "At the Olympics, ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is supporting the US Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service and host nation to vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organisations. "All security operations remain under Italian authority." It's not known whether the HSI has in the past been involved in the Olympics, or whether this is a first. According to the ICE website, the HSI investigates global threats, investigating the illegal movement of people, goods, money, contraband, weapons and sensitive technology into, out of, and through the United States. ICE made clear its operations in Italy were separate from the immigration crackdown, which is being carried out by the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) department. "Obviously, ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement operations in foreign countries," it said. The protection of US citizens during Olympic Games overseas is led by the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). Yet the outrage over ICE immigration operations in the United States is shared among many in Italy, following the deaths of two civilians during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. The leftist mayor of Milan, which is hosting several Olympic events, said ICE was "not welcome". "This is a militia that kills... It's clear that they are not welcome in Milan, there's no doubt about it, Giuseppe Sala told RTL 102.5 radio. "Can't we just say no to (US President Donald) Trump for once?" Alessandro Zan, a member of the European Parliament for the centre-left Democratic Party, condemned it as "unacceptable". "In Italy, we don't want those who trample on human rights and act outside of any democratic control," he wrote on X. Monitoring Vance Italian authorities initially denied the presence of ICE and then sought to downplay any role, suggesting they would help only in security for the US delegation. US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are attending the opening ceremony in Milan on February 6. On Monday, the president of the northern Lombardy region, said their involvement would be limited to monitoring Vance and Rubio. "It will be only in a defensive role, but I am convinced that nothing will happen," Attilio Fontana told reporters. However, his office then issued a statement saying he did not have any specific information on their presence, but was responding to a hypothetical question. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi was quoted as saying late Monday that "ICE, as such, will never operate in Italy". The International Olympic Committee when contacted by AFP about the matter replied: "We kindly refer you to the USOPC (the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee)". Thousands of ICE agents have been deployed by President Donald Trump in various US cities to carry out a crackdown on illegal immigration. Their actions have prompted widespread protests, and the recent killings of US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37, on the streets of Minneapolis sparked outrage. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
27 January,2026 07:13 PM IST | Italy | AFPNorth Korea fired at least two ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, Tokyo and Seoul said, a day after a visiting US official hailed Washington's "model ally" in the South. Pyongyang has significantly increased missile testing in recent years, aimed according to analysts at improving precision strike capabilities, challenging Washington as well as Seoul, and testing weapons before exporting them to key ally Russia. The Japanese coast guard, citing the defence ministry, said it had detected two ballistic missiles fired towards the Sea of Japan. Japanese news agency Jiji Press reported the two missiles had landed outside of the country's Exclusive Economic Zone, citing defence ministry sources. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff also said it had detected several ballistic missiles fired by the North towards what Seoul calls the East Sea. The test is Pyongyang's second of the month, following a salvo of missiles fired hours before South Korea's leader headed to China for a summit. It comes a day after a high-level visit to Seoul by the Pentagon's number three official Elbridge Colby, who hailed South Korea as a "model ally". Longstanding treaty allies, ties between the United States and South Korea were forged in the bloodshed of the Korean War. Washington still stations 28,500 troops in South Korea as a deterrent against the nuclear-armed North. Pyongyang routinely denounces Washington and Seoul's joint military drills as rehearsals for invasion. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month bashed Seoul's push to develop its own nuclear-powered submarines with the United States, calling it a "threat" that "must be countered". 'Heighten tensions' Trump met North Korea's Kim three times during his first term, in efforts to reach a denuclearisation deal. But since a summit in Hanoi fell through over differences about what Pyongyang would get in return for giving up its nuclear weapons, no progress has been made between the two countries. Trump had expressed hopes for a meeting with Kim ahead of a regional summit in South Korea in October, but these went unanswered by the North Korean leader. Pyongyang meanwhile has dispatched thousands of troops to fight for Russia, according to South Korean and Western intelligence agencies, as Moscow presses ahead with its nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine. North Korea is also set to hold a landmark congress of its ruling party in the coming weeks, its first in five years. Ahead of that conclave, Kim ordered the "expansion" and modernisation of the country's missile production. Yang Moo-jin, chair professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP that "with the party congress approaching, the latest launch appears intended to heighten tensions to reinforce internal discipline and consolidate regime unity." He added that the timing of the launch "may also be a response to Colby's visit" to the peninsula. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
27 January,2026 07:11 PM IST | Seoul, South Korea | AFPADVERTISEMENT
