Tag: foreigners

Be open to foreigners, Pope Francis tells Hungarians

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Pope Francis called for open doors and inclusivity during a visit to Hungary on Sunday.
The Hungarian government has long faced criticism over anti-immigration policies and rhetoric that has stoked xenophobia at home. Concerns about Budapest’s treatment of minorities were exacerbated on the eve of the pope’s three-day visit when Hungarian President Katalin Novák unexpectedly pardoned a far-right terrorist.
Speaking to a large crowd in central Budapest on Sunday morning before wrapping up his trip, the pope did not directly address the Hungarian government’s policies but was blunt about the need to embrace outsiders.
“How sad and painful it is to see closed doors,” the pope said at an outdoor mass, pointing to “the closed doors of our indifference towards the underprivileged and those who suffer; the doors we close towards those who are foreign or unlike us, towards migrants or the poor.”
“Please, brothers and sisters, let us open those doors!” he added. “Let us try to be — in our words, deeds and daily activities — like Jesus, an open door: a door that is never shut in anyone’s face, a door that enables everyone to enter and experience the beauty of the Lord’s love and forgiveness.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán — who is not Catholic himself but has close political allies who emphasize their Catholic roots — has tried to capitalize on the pope’s visit, tweeting on Friday that “it is a privilege to welcome” the pontiff and that “Hungary has a future if it stays on the Christian path.”
On Sunday, however, Pope Francis underscored that his message is directed at Hungary itself.
“I say this also to our lay brothers and sisters, to catechists and pastoral workers, to those with political and social responsibilities, and to those who simply go about their daily lives, which at times are not easy. Be open doors!” he said.

“Be open and inclusive,” the pope added, “then, and in this way, help Hungary to grow in fraternity, which is the path of peace.”

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#open #foreigners #Pope #Francis #tells #Hungarians
( With inputs from : www.politico.eu )

April 28, 2023
Egypt receives over 16,000 foreigners fleeing Sudan violence

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Cairo: Egypt has received more than 16,000 foreigners fleeing the deadly violence in neighbouring Sudan, including over 14,000 Sudanese national, the Foreign Ministry in Cairo said in a statement.
The foreigners are from 50 countries and six international organisations, Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in the statement.
“The Egyptian efforts continue around the clock to facilitate the reception of citizens fleeing military clashes in Sudan, work to alleviate their suffering, and provide them with the necessary humanitarian assistance,” Xinhua news agency quoted Abu Zeid as saying.

Egypt has managed to evacuate 2,679 Egyptians from Sudan as of Wednesday, official data showed.
The armed conflict that broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forves (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15 has killed at least 459 people and injured more than 4,000 others so far, according to the World Health Organization.
In the latest development, the SAF and RSF have agreed to extend the existing ceasefire, which expired at midnight Thursday, for three more days.
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Army’s general commander, gave initial approval for the extension late on Wednesday for another 72 hours, the SAF said in a statement, reiterating it unilaterally approved the truce extension.
In response, the RSF said that it agreed “to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional 72 hours” starting at midnight Thursday.

“We reaffirm our commitment to the terms of the humanitarian truce, considering the circumstances of the Sudanese people and to facilitate the evacuation of diplomatic and foreign nationals,” the statement added.
The current truce failed to stop fighting in the Sudanese capital Khartoum and other regions, but it created a lull for foreign countries to evacuate their diplomats and citizens from the conflict-ravaged country.
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#Egypt #receives #foreigners #fleeing #Sudan #violence
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 28, 2023
Saudi Arabia evacuates nationals, foreigners from Sudan

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Riyadh: Saudi Foreign Ministry has announced the evacuation of Saudi citizens and other nationals from Sudan as fierce fighting continues in the country.
A total of 158 people, including Saudi nationals and people from other countries, have been evacuated from Sudan and transferred to Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah ports by boat, the Saudi state television was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying.
The move came when armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the capital Khartoum enters the second week.

The Sudanese army on Saturday said its General Commander Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan received calls from leaders of a number of countries requesting the evacuation of their nationals and diplomats.
“Al-Burhan agreed to provide the necessary assistance to secure this,” the army said in a statement.
Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, with the two sides accusing each other of initiating the conflict.
Until Friday, the clashes left over 400 people dead and about 3,500 wounded, according to the Sudanese health ministry.

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#Saudi #Arabia #evacuates #nationals #foreigners #Sudan
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 23, 2023
Tulip Garden Attracts Over 2.5 Lakh Tourists, Including 1248 Foreigners In 20 Days

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SRINAGAR: The Tulip Garden in Srinagar has witnessed a rush of nearly 2.50 lakh tourists, including domestic and foreign visitors, in the last 20 days. The garden was opened for the public on March 20, 2023, and recorded a huge influx of tourists in the first week.
According to Floriculture Officer Shayiq Rasool, 2,49,433 tourists have visited the garden since its opening. He mentioned that there has been a rise in the number of foreign tourists, with 1,248 foreign tourists visiting the garden so far compared to only 150 last year.
The officers have informed that over 50,000 locals have visited the Tulip garden so far, with a total of 51,008 people having visited the garden this year. Additionally, they reported that 197,177 tourists from various parts of the country visited the garden in the last 20 days.
Notably, a few days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that Jammu and Kashmir is beautiful, particularly during the Tulip season. In response to the Srinagar District Administration’s tweet about the blooming of the Tulip garden located in the foothills of the Zabarwan Range, adjacent to Dal Lake in Srinagar, the Prime Minister tweeted, “Jammu and Kashmir is beautiful, and even more so during the Tulip season.” (KNO)

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#Tulip #Garden #Attracts #Lakh #Tourists #Including #Foreigners #Days
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

April 9, 2023
Saudi Arabia to allow foreigners to purchase property

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Riyadh: The authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has revealed that foreigners will be allowed to purchase property anywhere in the Kingdom, local media reported.
The Kingdom’s Real Estate General Authority chief Abdullah Alhammad said that it is in the final stages of establishing a new system for foreign ownership of real estate.
The comment on foreign ownership of real estate in the Kingdom came during a television interview on the Gulf Rotana channel, the Arabic daily Okaz reported.
This comes after Saudi Arabia issued a directive in 2021 allowing foreigners and legal residents of the country to purchase a single property with certain conditions.
Foreigners will reportedly be able to purchase real estate of all kinds, including commercial, residential and agricultural properties.
The system is also supposed to allow ownership in Makkah and Madinah.
Although it was not clear when the rule would take effect, Al-Hamad was quoted as saying it would be “soon.”
The Kingdom’s latest move could open up new investment destinations for expatriates and global investors looking for greener pastures away from traditional markets, including the UAE.

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#Saudi #Arabia #foreigners #purchase #property
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 30, 2023
Over 1.50 lakh illegal foreigners detected in Assam, 30,067 deported

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Guwahati: Over 1.50 lakh illegal immigrants have been identified according to the Assam Accord so far and more than 30,000 of them have been deported from the state, the Assembly was informed on Wednesday.
In a written reply to a query by AGP MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita, Implementation of Assam Accord Minister Atul Bora said a total of 1,53,129 immigrants staying illegally in Assam have been detected so far through the Foreigners Tribunal (FT).
“Out of them, 32,193 came before 1971 and 1,20,936 came after 1971,” he added.
The government has so far deported 30,067 illegal foreigners from Assam, the minister said without sharing details of their country of origin.
According to the Assam Accord, names of all foreigners coming to Assam on or after March 25, 1971 would be detected, deleted from electoral rolls and steps would be taken to deport them.
Regarding barbed fencing along India-Bangladesh border, Bora said that 98.5 percent work has been completed.
“Due to objections by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), fencing work for 4.35 km of border in Cachar-Karimganj area is remaining,” he added.
Besides, the fence could not be erected along 6.11 km of the border in Dhubri-Mankachar as it passes through low-lying areas, the minister said.

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#lakh #illegal #foreigners #detected #Assam #deported
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 15, 2023
Indians get lion’s share of Pakistani citizenship to foreigners in last 5 years

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Islamabad: The Pakistan Interior Ministry has granted Pakistani citizenship to 214 foreigners during the last five years over multiple reasons, including marriage, and family relationships among others, media reports said on Sunday.
As per official documents, 214 foreigners were granted Pakistani citizenship in the last five years, Samaa TV reported.
As per documents, these included as many as 159 Indians, it said.
The documents reveal two Indians got Pakistani nationality last month, while 55 were granted nationality in 2019, 43 in 2018, 27 each in 2020 and 2021, and 18 last year.
They also revealed that there were thousands of applications still pending with the ministry for approval, Samaa TV reported.
The citizenship was granted due to marriages, family relationships, professions, or living in Pakistan for a long, officials said.
The documents further revealed that Pakistani authorities granted citizenship to four Afghans in 2022, one in 2021, three in 2020, two in 2019, and one in 2018.
Three Chinese citizens were also granted Pakistani nationality in the past five years, while four Bangladeshis, one Italian, one Swiss, three Americans, two Canadians and four British nationals got Pakistani nationality during this period.

Over 20 nationals of Burma, Philippine, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal also got Pakistani nationality in the same period, Samaa TV reported.
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#Indians #lions #share #Pakistani #citizenship #foreigners #years
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 26, 2023
2 Polish Skier Die, 19 Foreigners Among 21 Rescued After Avalanche In Gulmarg

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Saddened By Loss Of Lives: LG
Rehan Showkat
Srinagar, Feb 1 (GNS): Two polish skiers died while 19 other foreigners and two local guides were rescued after a massive avalanche struck near Hapatkhud Kangdori in famed ski-resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday.
“This morning three teams of foreign skiers comprising of 21 Foreign Nationals and two local guides went to Affarwat Gulmarg for skiing. At about 1230 hours a massive avalanche hits Hapatkhud Kangdori and these skiing teams got trapped,” a police spokesman said.
On receiving the information, he said, Baramulla police mobilized joint rescue teams of JKP alongwith Army and tourism department who rushed on the spot and started the rescue operation using all available equipments.
“During the rescue operation, 19 foreign nationals and 2 local guides were safely rescued,” he said, adding, “Unfortunately, two foreign nationals identified as Krzysltof age (43 years) and Adam Grzech age (45 years), both from Poland lost their lives in the avalanche.”
The bodies of both have been recovered and shifted to hospital for medico legal formalities, he said.
Those rescued have been identified as Ekaterina, Maxim, Vladimir, Vasiliy, Engine, Leo, Nikita Mastryukov, Anna Chornyak, residents of Russia and Rafat Kaqmaren, Narcin Wieklux, Eukasz Potaczewck, Tukasz Pasek, Katarzyna Filip, Marcin Raczyk, Barteomie Szkop, Bartosz Domagata, Adrian Anirowsu, Macie Kowalczyk, residents of Poland, a foreign guide Bartos from Poland and two local guides as Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh and Mushtaq Ahmad Mir from Tangmarg.

“Saddened by the loss of lives due to an avalanche in Gulmarg,” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said in a tweet. “My thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their loved ones in this mishap.” (GNS)
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#Polish #Skier #Die #Foreigners #Among #Rescued #Avalanche #Gulmarg
( With inputs from : thegnskashmir.com )

February 1, 2023
Sikkim to file petition in SC on mention of Sikkimese Nepali community as foreigners

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Gangtok: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Monday said his government will file a review petition in the Supreme Court with a prayer for rectification of its “inadvertent mention of the Sikkimese Nepali community as foreigners” in an order two weeks ago.
“Let me reiterate and reassure that no injustice will be meted out to anyone with regard to the inadvertent mention of Sikkimese Nepali Community as foreigners in the observation part and not in the judgment part of the verdict of Hon’ble Apex Court in the matter of income tax exemption for the old settlers of Sikkim,” he said in a social media post.
“I express my solidarity not only with Sikkimese Nepali Community but with all the communities of our dear state. We all are one, and will always remain united,” Tamang said.
The state government has already initiated steps for filing the review petition for addressing the concerns of the Sikkimese Nepali community, the chief minister said.
Tamang said he has already spoken to Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju and the latter has assured that the Government of India will support the review petition of the Government of Sikkim, and if required will file a review petition itself as well on similar lines.
Tamang appealed to all people to be patient and keep faith in the judiciary. It is just a matter of time that this issue will be addressed for the good of one and all, he said.
The Supreme Court in its order dated January 13, 2023, had directed the Centre to amend the definition of ‘Sikkimese’ in Section 10 (26AAA) of Income Tax Act 1961 for including income tax exemption to all Indian citizens domiciled in Sikkim on or before the merger date of April 26, 1975.
“The Union of India shall make an amendment to Explanation to Section 10 (26AAA) of IT Act, 1961, so as to suitably include a clause to extend the exemption from payment of income tax to all Indian citizens domiciled in Sikkim on or before 26th April, 1975.

“The reason for such a direction is to save explanation from unconstitutionality and to ensure parity in the facts and circumstances of the case,” said the apex court while disposing of two writ petitions filed by Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS) and others with a prayer for grant of income tax exemption at par with the Sikkimese people as given under Section 10 (26AAA) of IT Act following an amendment in 2008 by the Parliament.
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#Sikkim #file #petition #mention #Sikkimese #Nepali #community #foreigners
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 30, 2023