Storm warnings in 4 Italian regions, death toll over 30
Rome, Nov. 5 (IANS): Several regions of Italy were braced on Monday for adverse weather conditions following a week of deadly storms and flooding that has claimed the lives of over 30 people across the country. The regions of Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna and Lazio remained on orange alert as Italy’s Infrastructure Minister Danilo Toninelli announced he would visit some of the worst-hit areas in the country’s north, including the region of Veneto, home of the iconic city of Venice.
Australia to relax restrictions on work holiday, seasonal visas
Canberra, Nov. 5 (IANS): Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday announced a reduction in the conditions for granting seasonal work and backpacker visas to meet the demand for labour in the country’s agricultural sector. “We need to ensure that we get as many Australians into these jobs as we possibly can. But we also have to make sure that we actually get the job done,” Morrison told the media here. The new measures mean that the holders of the visa subclasses 417 and 462, for working holidays, may stay in Australia for up to three years from mid-2019, instead of two, provided they work six months in regional areas during their second year of stay, reports Efe news.
French territory rejects independence
Noumea (New Caledonia), Nov. 5 (IANS): Voters in the French Pacific territory here have rejected a bid for independence prompting President Emmanuel Macron to say that it showed “confidence in the French republic”. “I have to tell you how proud I am that we have finally passed this historic step together,” Macron added. Final results showed that 56.4 per cent chose to remain part of France while 43.6 per cent voted to leave -- a tighter result than some polls had predicted.
