South Korea is trying to increase its future working population by making it easier for children of foreign residents to become citizens, but its plans have run into trouble in the face of rising anti-China sentiment. 
 
A measure proposed by the Ministry of Justice, first made public in April, called for easing the pathway to citizenship for children born to long-term foreign residents, by simply notifying the ministry. 
 
A presidential petition opposing the revision has gathered over 300,000 signatures. The chatroom of an online hearing held to discuss the proposal in May was overwhelmed with expletive-laced complaints by the tens of thousands of viewers. 
 
The justice ministry has said it is still taking into account public opinion and the advice of experts before submitting the proposal to the Ministry of Government Legislation. 
 
"Given the strong backlash, I would say the ministry has already lost much of the momentum to push ahead with the proposal," said Jang Yun-mi, an attorney, who specialises in issues related to children. 
 
The controversy highlights the challenges South Korea faces as it seeks to ensure a robust future population in the face of declining birthrates and rapidly aging workers, and the potential policy implications of increasingly negative views of China, its biggest trading partner. 
 
Data from last year suggests only about 3,930 people would be eligible under the rule change, but the fact that 3,725 of them were of Chinese heritage prompted much of the criticism. 
 
South Korean views have been coloured by what some see as economic bullying by Beijing, its poor handling of the COVID-19 crisis, and the assertion by some Chinese that dearly held aspects of Korean food and culture, such as kimchi and the traditional hanbok dress, have roots in China. 
 
Among immigrant communities, the proposed measures are not seen as worth the backlash, said Kim Yong-phil, editor-in-chief of E Korea World, a local newspaper for Chinese-Koreans. 
 
"Anti-Chinese people could use this issue as a pretext to attack Chinese-Koreans," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

South Korea is trying to increase its future working population by making it easier for children of foreign residents to become citizens, but its plans have run into trouble in the face of rising anti-China sentiment.

South Korea is trying to increase its future working population by making it easier for children of foreign residents to become citizens, but its plans have run into trouble in the face of rising anti-China sentiment. A measure proposed by the Ministry of Justice, first made public in April, called for easing the pathway to citizenship for children born to long-term foreign residents, by simply notifying the ministry. A presidential petition opposing the revision has gathered over 300,000 signatures. The chatroom of an online hearing held to discuss the proposal in May was overwhelmed with expletive-laced complaints by the tens of thousands of viewers. The justice ministry has said it is still taking into account public opinion and the advice of experts before submitting the proposal to the Ministry of Government Legislation. "Given the strong backlash, I would say the ministry has already lost much of the momentum to push ahead with the proposal," said Jang Yun-mi, an attorney, who specialises in issues related to children. The controversy highlights the challenges South Korea faces as it seeks to ensure a robust future population in the face of declining birthrates and rapidly aging workers, and the potential policy implications of increasingly negative views of China, its biggest trading partner. Data from last year suggests only about 3,930 people would be eligible under the rule change, but the fact that 3,725 of them were of Chinese heritage prompted much of the criticism. South Korean views have been coloured by what some see as economic bullying by Beijing, its poor handling of the COVID-19 crisis, and the assertion by some Chinese that dearly held aspects of Korean food and culture, such as kimchi and the traditional hanbok dress, have roots in China. Among immigrant communities, the proposed measures are not seen as worth the backlash, said Kim Yong-phil, editor-in-chief of E Korea World, a local newspaper for Chinese-Koreans. "Anti-Chinese people could use this issue as a pretext to attack Chinese-Koreans," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Proposed changes to S Korea citizenship law face anti-China headwinds

After battling the second wave of the novel coronavirus, the French government has decided to reward their frontline workers in a way that speaks volumes and also helps the workers.

On Tuesday, the French government announced that the hundreds of immigrants&nbsp;who have been working tirelessly in France for the last few months to help the country battle the pandemic will be gifted French citizenship as a 'thank you'.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-macron-still-presenting-same-covid-19-symptoms-france-351022">President Macron still presenting same COVID-19 symptoms: France</a>

"Health professionals, cleaning ladies, childcare workers, checkout staff: They all proved their commitment to the nation, and it is now the turn of the republic to take a step towards them,"&nbsp;the interior ministry said on Tuesday.

The process for this started in September when the ministry invited all immigrant frontline and healthcare workers to apply for the fast-track naturalisation process.&nbsp;

After the announcement, nearly 3,000 people responded to the offer and 74 had already obtained citizenship while the nearly 693 were in the final stage of completing the process,&nbsp;the office of Marlene Schiappa, the junior minister for citizenship, said in a statement.

This 'thank you' gift was appreciated by many who feel this has not only given them an appreciation for their work but has also motivated them to do more for the country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-depression-rate-among-youths-increased-due-to-covid-19-lockdowns-351048">WATCH|</a>

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In addition to this, the ministry also urged the officials to&nbsp;reduce the residency period in cases of "great services rendered"&nbsp;that is required to obtain citizenship. As of now, the period is five years which will be reduced to two years.

The order has come at a time when France's President Emmanuel Macron is battling his personal fight against the novel coronavirus, but he claims to be "doing well".

After battling the second wave of the novel coronavirus, the French government has decided to reward their frontline workers in a way that speaks volumes and also helps the workers.

After battling the second wave of the novel coronavirus, the French government has decided to reward their frontline workers in a way that speaks volumes and also helps the workers. On Tuesday, the French government announced that the hundreds of immigrants who have been working tirelessly in France for the last few months to help the country battle the pandemic will be gifted French citizenship as a 'thank you'. Also read| President Macron still presenting same COVID-19 symptoms: France "Health professionals, cleaning ladies, childcare workers, checkout staff: They all proved their commitment to the nation, and it is now the turn of the republic to take a step towards them," the interior ministry said on Tuesday. The process for this started in September when the ministry invited all immigrant frontline and healthcare workers to apply for the fast-track naturalisation process. After the announcement, nearly 3,000 people responded to the offer and 74 had already obtained citizenship while the nearly 693 were in the final stage of completing the process, the office of Marlene Schiappa, the junior minister for citizenship, said in a statement. This 'thank you' gift was appreciated by many who feel this has not only given them an appreciation for their work but has also motivated them to do more for the country. WATCH| × In addition to this, the ministry also urged the officials to reduce the residency period in cases of "great services rendered" that is required to obtain citizenship. As of now, the period is five years which will be reduced to two years. The order has come at a time when France's President Emmanuel Macron is battling his personal fight against the novel coronavirus, but he claims to be "doing well".

France to reward COVID-19 frontline workers with citizenship

If there's one country that has been benefitted or has reported a budget surplus during the coronavirus pandemic and worldwide lockdown, it's the South Pacific island nation Vanuatu.

The country has perused its controversial passport scheme to keep its budget in surplus despite the COVID-19 pandemic and a damaging cyclone crippling its dominant tourism sector, budget papers show.

Vanuatu late on Thursday reported a budget surplus for the first six months of 2020 of 3.8 billion vatu ($34.16 million), led by 32% rise in sales of citizenship -- and driven by surging demand for its passports, worth 7.1 billion vatu.

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Vanuatu citizenship costs US$130,000. About $80,000 goes directly to the government: the remainder stays with the agent, who must be a born or naturalised Vanuatu citizen, and who pays a 15% tax on their revenues. The figures suggest at least 650 people have received Vanuatu citizenship under the programme since the beginning of the year.

The jump in passport sales has helped Vanuatu avoid the mounting debts some Pacific island states have racked up with China and other lenders, but experts warn the practice risks harming Vanuatu's beneficial relationship with countries such Australia.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/safe-full-of-cash-robbed-from-ninja-museum-in-japan-322066">Also read|&nbsp;Safe full of cash robbed from Ninja museum in Japan</a>

This is because some of the people buying these passports have been on Interpol red notices and the more that happens, the more it undermines the value of the passport. At least four Chinese people stripped of their citizenship last year after records showed they were on Interpol's wanted list.

Vanuatu gives access to a passport that is highly valued as holders can travel visa-free to over 100 countries and territories including the European Union, Britain, Russia and Hong Kong - countries that can be difficult to visit for some nationalities.

There are no residency requirements on people who acquire Vanuatu citizenship.

Vanuatu, which has no personal or corporate income tax, says the scheme has allowed it to issue a 4.2 billion vatu stimulus package -- one of the most generous in the Pacific -- amid estimates that tens of thousands of locals have lost their jobs after the closure of the country's border.

Since visa programs began in 2016, Vanuatu has accumulated unprecedented cash reserves that have allowed the government to clear the bulk of its domestic debts, and pay back some external debts more rapidly. Earlier this year, the department of finance paid down about US$13m in Chinese debt ahead of schedule.

If there's one country that has been benefitted or has reported a budget surplus during the coronavirus pandemic and worldwide lockdown, it's the South Pacific island nation Vanuatu.

If there's one country that has been benefitted or has reported a budget surplus during the coronavirus pandemic and worldwide lockdown, it's the South Pacific island nation Vanuatu. The country has perused its controversial passport scheme to keep its budget in surplus despite the COVID-19 pandemic and a damaging cyclone crippling its dominant tourism sector, budget papers show. Vanuatu late on Thursday reported a budget surplus for the first six months of 2020 of 3.8 billion vatu ($34.16 million), led by 32% rise in sales of citizenship -- and driven by surging demand for its passports, worth 7.1 billion vatu. Also read| Australia: Two men dig nuggets worth $250,000 Vanuatu citizenship costs US$130,000. About $80,000 goes directly to the government: the remainder stays with the agent, who must be a born or naturalised Vanuatu citizen, and who pays a 15% tax on their revenues. The figures suggest at least 650 people have received Vanuatu citizenship under the programme since the beginning of the year. The jump in passport sales has helped Vanuatu avoid the mounting debts some Pacific island states have racked up with China and other lenders, but experts warn the practice risks harming Vanuatu's beneficial relationship with countries such Australia. Also read| Safe full of cash robbed from Ninja museum in Japan This is because some of the people buying these passports have been on Interpol red notices and the more that happens, the more it undermines the value of the passport. At least four Chinese people stripped of their citizenship last year after records showed they were on Interpol's wanted list. Vanuatu gives access to a passport that is highly valued as holders can travel visa-free to over 100 countries and territories including the European Union, Britain, Russia and Hong Kong - countries that can be difficult to visit for some nationalities. There are no residency requirements on people who acquire Vanuatu citizenship. Vanuatu, which has no personal or corporate income tax, says the scheme has allowed it to issue a 4.2 billion vatu stimulus package -- one of the most generous in the Pacific -- amid estimates that tens of thousands of locals have lost their jobs after the closure of the country's border. Since visa programs began in 2016, Vanuatu has accumulated unprecedented cash reserves that have allowed the government to clear the bulk of its domestic debts, and pay back some external debts more rapidly. Earlier this year, the department of finance paid down about US$13m in Chinese debt ahead of schedule.

Vanuatu's citizenship-for-sale scheme keeps economy afloat, helps record budget surplus

Asia Bibi, the Pakistan Christian woman who spent 8 years on death row in Pakistan has been given honorary citizenship of Paris. Asia was convicted under Pakistan's strict blasphemy law in 2010.

Asia Bibi now a Parisian

The United States Embassy in Delhi issued a travel advisory for its citizens amid the anti-Citizenship Act protest that has gripped the country for two weeks.

"US Citizens should exercise caution in light of continued protests and demonstrations which are continuing in many parts of India, the advisory said, while noting, "demonstrations in National Capital Region have been relatively peaceful over the past few days."

"US citizens should continue to monitor local media for news concerning demonstrations and their locations, and avoid those areas," the advisory said.

"Embassy personnel should exercise caution if travelling to Uttar Pradesh, where violent demonstrations continue."

Earlier on December 13, the US has issued a travel advisory for country's northeast region only.

Protests have erupted across the country after the parliament passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019. It became law earlier this month after getting assent of President Ram Nath Kovind.

The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, seeks to grant citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

Defending the Citizenship Act on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it "will benefit the marginalised".

Intending to simplify the tenets of the new citizenship bill, Modi also said, ''There is a very simple difference, an infiltrator never reveals his identity and a refugee never hides his identity. Many of these infiltrators are coming out and speaking. Why don't they speak the truth? They are scared that their reality will come out''.

The United States Embassy in Delhi issued a travel advisory for its citizens amid the anti-Citizenship Act protest that has gripped the country for two weeks. "US Citizens should exercise caution in light of continued protests and demonstrations which are continuing in many parts of India, the advisory said, while noting, "demonstrations in National Capital Region have been relatively peaceful over the past few days.

The United States Embassy in Delhi issued a travel advisory for its citizens amid the anti-Citizenship Act protest that has gripped the country for two weeks. "US Citizens should exercise caution in light of continued protests and demonstrations which are continuing in many parts of India, the advisory said, while noting, "demonstrations in National Capital Region have been relatively peaceful over the past few days." "US citizens should continue to monitor local media for news concerning demonstrations and their locations, and avoid those areas," the advisory said. "Embassy personnel should exercise caution if travelling to Uttar Pradesh, where violent demonstrations continue." Earlier on December 13, the US has issued a travel advisory for country's northeast region only. Protests have erupted across the country after the parliament passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019. It became law earlier this month after getting assent of President Ram Nath Kovind. The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, seeks to grant citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. Defending the Citizenship Act on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it "will benefit the marginalised". Intending to simplify the tenets of the new citizenship bill, Modi also said, ''There is a very simple difference, an infiltrator never reveals his identity and a refugee never hides his identity. Many of these infiltrators are coming out and speaking. Why don't they speak the truth? They are scared that their reality will come out''.

US issues travel advisory for its citizens in India amid anti-Citizenship Act protests

Even as Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in India has led to lot of global reactions, member of the central government coalition in Malaysia P Ramasamy has questioned the Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad and has said that he "may not have understood the purpose of the new amendment to the citizenship law in India."

Writing in Free Malaysia Today, one of the most popular websites of the south-east Asian country, Ramasamy said Mahathir Bin Mohamad may have "overreacted by saying that India should not deprive Muslims of their citizenship."

P Ramasamy is the Deputy Chief Minister of Penang state situated in northwestern peninsular Malaysia and he is a member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) which is part of the Pakatan Harapan coalition led by Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad.

Explaining the CAA law, Ramasamy said, "new amendment to India’s citizenship law is not about depriving Muslims of their citizenship. Far from it. The new law has nothing to do with Muslims in India."

Adding, "It is about fast-tracking citizenship for non-Muslim minorities like Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Parsis, who have been shunned and discriminated in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, countries that have declared themselves as the Islamic nation".

India has slammed Malaysian PM for his comments on the law that was passed by India's parliament in early December.&nbsp;

The ministry of external affairs in a release said, "Prime Minister of Malaysia’s comment is factually inaccurate" and New Delhi "call upon Malaysia to refrain from commenting on internal developments in India, especially without a right understanding of the facts."

Malaysian PM has two times in the past few days reacted on India's CAA law.&nbsp;

On Saturday morning he again commented on the law saying it is unfortunate and "to exclude Muslims from becoming citizens even by due process is unfair. Have voice our disagreement".

Mahathir was among the few global leaders, along with Turkey's President Erdoğan who were critical of New Delhi after it removed the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Even as Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in India has led to lot of global reactions, member of the central government coalition in Malaysia P Ramasamy has questioned the Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad and has said that he "may not have understood the purpose of the new amendment to the citizenship law in India.

Even as Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in India has led to lot of global reactions, member of the central government coalition in Malaysia P Ramasamy has questioned the Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad and has said that he "may not have understood the purpose of the new amendment to the citizenship law in India." Writing in Free Malaysia Today, one of the most popular websites of the south-east Asian country, Ramasamy said Mahathir Bin Mohamad may have "overreacted by saying that India should not deprive Muslims of their citizenship." P Ramasamy is the Deputy Chief Minister of Penang state situated in northwestern peninsular Malaysia and he is a member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) which is part of the Pakatan Harapan coalition led by Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad. Explaining the CAA law, Ramasamy said, "new amendment to India’s citizenship law is not about depriving Muslims of their citizenship. Far from it. The new law has nothing to do with Muslims in India." Adding, "It is about fast-tracking citizenship for non-Muslim minorities like Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Parsis, who have been shunned and discriminated in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, countries that have declared themselves as the Islamic nation". India has slammed Malaysian PM for his comments on the law that was passed by India's parliament in early December. The ministry of external affairs in a release said, "Prime Minister of Malaysia’s comment is factually inaccurate" and New Delhi "call upon Malaysia to refrain from commenting on internal developments in India, especially without a right understanding of the facts." Malaysian PM has two times in the past few days reacted on India's CAA law. On Saturday morning he again commented on the law saying it is unfortunate and "to exclude Muslims from becoming citizens even by due process is unfair. Have voice our disagreement". Mahathir was among the few global leaders, along with Turkey's President Erdoğan who were critical of New Delhi after it removed the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

CAA fallout: Member of Malaysian central government coalition says PM Mahathir has overreacted

India's Firm Response To Pakistan PM Khan's Speech On Citizenship Law. #Gravitas

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India's Citizenship Law Sparks A Rare Activism In Bollywood. #Gravitas

Gravitas: Citizenship Law: When Actors Turned Activists...

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to stall the implementation of Citizenship (Amendment) Act after a three judge-bench led by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde along with Justice BR Gavai and Justice Surya Kant heard 20 petitions challenging the Act.&nbsp;

Up to 60 petitions have been filed so far questioning the legal validity of the Act that has stirred violent protests throughout the country.

The court also issued a notice to the Centre on a batch of pleas challenging the CAA, asking the Centre to file its response by the second week of January.&nbsp;

The petitioners come from all walks of life including Political parties like Indian union of Muslim League, Asom Gana Parishad, Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam; leading politicians Jairam Ramesh, Mahua Moitra and Asaduddin Owaisi; a lawyers association from Assam and student movements like Democratic Youth Federation of India and All Assam Students Union.&nbsp;

The petitioners want the newly enforced law to be struck down as violative of Fundamental Rights (Article 14), opposed to Secularism that forms a basic feature of our Constitution and also wants the Court to decide whether religion can be the basis to declare someone a citizen as it has never happened in the past.

The petitioners want to know the basis on which Centre has concluded that non-Muslim migrants need to be included as citizens while denying it to Muslim migrants along with questioning the discretion of Centre to exclude Sri Lanka and Burma where religious persecution has forced many to take shelter in India.

They question the assumption that Muslims in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh face no discrimination and list out Shias and Ahmediyas in Pakistan and Hazaras in Afghanistan as examples.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019 became an Act after receiving formal assent from President Ram Nath Kovind on December 13.&nbsp;

The highly contentious Act seeks to grant Indian citizenship to undocumented religious minorities-namely Hindus, Sikh, Jain, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians from the neighbouring Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan who moved to the country before the date of December 31, 2014.

&nbsp;It amends the Citizenship Act, 1955 which regulates who may acquire Indian citizenship and on what grounds by adding provisions for Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian community in section 2, in sub-section (1), in clause (b) that they shall not be treated as illegal migrants. Illegal migrants are not eligible for Indian Citizenship.

&nbsp;Under the provisions for procurement of citizenship by naturalisation, the BJP lead Indian government seeks to amend the requirement that the applicant must have resided in India "not less than five years" in place of "not less than eleven years" for the mentioned six religious communities from the three Muslim majority countries through Section 2(1) (b).

The Bill also seeks to amend provisions related to Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders, making it possible to cancel OCI registration of these persons in case of violation of any law notified by the Central Government.

The apex court said it would hear petitions challenging the law on January 22 as December 18 is the last working day of the Supreme Court before it reopens January 1 after winter break.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to stall the implementation of Citizenship (Amendment) Act after a three judge-bench led by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde along with Justice BR Gavai and Justice Surya Kant heard 20 petitions challenging the Act.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to stall the implementation of Citizenship (Amendment) Act after a three judge-bench led by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde along with Justice BR Gavai and Justice Surya Kant heard 20 petitions challenging the Act. Up to 60 petitions have been filed so far questioning the legal validity of the Act that has stirred violent protests throughout the country. The court also issued a notice to the Centre on a batch of pleas challenging the CAA, asking the Centre to file its response by the second week of January. The petitioners come from all walks of life including Political parties like Indian union of Muslim League, Asom Gana Parishad, Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam; leading politicians Jairam Ramesh, Mahua Moitra and Asaduddin Owaisi; a lawyers association from Assam and student movements like Democratic Youth Federation of India and All Assam Students Union. The petitioners want the newly enforced law to be struck down as violative of Fundamental Rights (Article 14), opposed to Secularism that forms a basic feature of our Constitution and also wants the Court to decide whether religion can be the basis to declare someone a citizen as it has never happened in the past. The petitioners want to know the basis on which Centre has concluded that non-Muslim migrants need to be included as citizens while denying it to Muslim migrants along with questioning the discretion of Centre to exclude Sri Lanka and Burma where religious persecution has forced many to take shelter in India. They question the assumption that Muslims in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh face no discrimination and list out Shias and Ahmediyas in Pakistan and Hazaras in Afghanistan as examples. The Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019 became an Act after receiving formal assent from President Ram Nath Kovind on December 13. The highly contentious Act seeks to grant Indian citizenship to undocumented religious minorities-namely Hindus, Sikh, Jain, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians from the neighbouring Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan who moved to the country before the date of December 31, 2014. It amends the Citizenship Act, 1955 which regulates who may acquire Indian citizenship and on what grounds by adding provisions for Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian community in section 2, in sub-section (1), in clause (b) that they shall not be treated as illegal migrants. Illegal migrants are not eligible for Indian Citizenship. Under the provisions for procurement of citizenship by naturalisation, the BJP lead Indian government seeks to amend the requirement that the applicant must have resided in India "not less than five years" in place of "not less than eleven years" for the mentioned six religious communities from the three Muslim majority countries through Section 2(1) (b). The Bill also seeks to amend provisions related to Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders, making it possible to cancel OCI registration of these persons in case of violation of any law notified by the Central Government. The apex court said it would hear petitions challenging the law on January 22 as December 18 is the last working day of the Supreme Court before it reopens January 1 after winter break.

As Supreme Court refuses to stall implementation of Citizenship (Amendment) Act, here is what petitioners are seeking

Dozens of protests broke out across northeastern India on Tuesday (December 10), after the lower house of Indian parliament passed the controversial religion-based Citizenship (Amendment) Bill late at night.

Protests erupt across northeastern India over religion-based citizenship bill

Popstar Selena Gomez finds the current immigration crisis in the United States utterly upsetting.

The singer-actor voiced her concerns in a write up published in Time magazine while discussing her own family's history, reported Fox News.

"In the 1970s, my aunt crossed the border from Mexico to the United States hidden in the back of a truck," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/selena-gomez-fangirl-over-taylor-swifts-new-album-lover-248448">Gomez</a>&nbsp;said.

"My grandparents followed, and my father was born in Texas soon after. In 1992, I was born a US citizen thanks to their bravery and sacrifice."

The 27-year-old actor-singer said that her family struggled for around four decades to get their US citizenship. While she wonders about immigration "every day," she never happens to take the fortune of being born in her country for granted.

"But when I read the news headlines or see debates about immigration rage on social media, I feel afraid for those in similar situations," she added.

"I feel afraid for my country."

She also explained that her concern isn't much of a political issue but instead of&nbsp;she is more bothered about real people's lives and how they're all affected.

"It is a human issue, affecting real people, dismantling real lives. How we deal with it speaks to our humanity, our empathy, our compassion. How we treat our fellow human beings defines who we are," she said.

Popstar Selena Gomez finds the current immigration crisis in the United States utterly upsetting. The singer-actor voiced her concerns in a write up published in Time magazine while discussing her own family's history, reported Fox News.

Popstar Selena Gomez finds the current immigration crisis in the United States utterly upsetting. The singer-actor voiced her concerns in a write up published in Time magazine while discussing her own family's history, reported Fox News. "In the 1970s, my aunt crossed the border from Mexico to the United States hidden in the back of a truck," Gomez said. "My grandparents followed, and my father was born in Texas soon after. In 1992, I was born a US citizen thanks to their bravery and sacrifice." The 27-year-old actor-singer said that her family struggled for around four decades to get their US citizenship. While she wonders about immigration "every day," she never happens to take the fortune of being born in her country for granted. "But when I read the news headlines or see debates about immigration rage on social media, I feel afraid for those in similar situations," she added. "I feel afraid for my country." She also explained that her concern isn't much of a political issue but instead of she is more bothered about real people's lives and how they're all affected. "It is a human issue, affecting real people, dismantling real lives. How we deal with it speaks to our humanity, our empathy, our compassion. How we treat our fellow human beings defines who we are," she said.

'I feel afraid for my country': Selena Gomez on immigration crisis in United States

A top Iranian constitutional body has approved a law allowing Iranian women to pass their nationality to their children, state media reported on Wednesday.

Human rights experts have said the measure could help thousands of children living in legal limbo by letting them acquire citizenship in Iran, one of about 25 countries that do not permit women married to foreigners to hand their nationality to their children.

The state news agency IRNA quoted Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, spokesman for the Guardian Council which vets legislation passed by parliament for compliance with the constitution, as saying the body had approved the measure.

The council had earlier objected to the proposed law on security grounds and required changes allowing background checks on foreign fathers of the children, according to local media reports.

The reform could benefit children born to women who have married men from Iran's large Afghan refugee and migrant population, according to Human Rights Watch. There are an estimated 3 million Afghans in Iran.

A top Iranian constitutional body has approved a law allowing Iranian women to pass their nationality to their children, state media reported on Wednesday. Human rights experts have said the measure could help thousands of children living in legal limbo by letting them acquire citizenship in Iran, one of about 25 countries that do not permit women married to foreigners to hand their nationality to their children.

A top Iranian constitutional body has approved a law allowing Iranian women to pass their nationality to their children, state media reported on Wednesday. Human rights experts have said the measure could help thousands of children living in legal limbo by letting them acquire citizenship in Iran, one of about 25 countries that do not permit women married to foreigners to hand their nationality to their children. The state news agency IRNA quoted Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, spokesman for the Guardian Council which vets legislation passed by parliament for compliance with the constitution, as saying the body had approved the measure. The council had earlier objected to the proposed law on security grounds and required changes allowing background checks on foreign fathers of the children, according to local media reports. The reform could benefit children born to women who have married men from Iran's large Afghan refugee and migrant population, according to Human Rights Watch. There are an estimated 3 million Afghans in Iran.

Iran passes law allowing women to pass citizenship to children

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday issued a notice to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-counter-affidavit-in-supreme-court-rahul-gandhi-again-regrets-chowkidar-chor-hai-comment-214344">Congress president Rahul Gandhi</a> over his citizenship after receiving a complaint from Rajya Sabha MP Dr Subramanian Swamy.

''Ministry has received a representation from MP Dr Subramanian Swamy in which it has been brought out that a Company named Backops Limited was registered in the United Kingdom in the year 2003 and that you were one of the Directors and Secretary of the said Company,'' the notice read.

Swamy has stated that the Congress president had declared his nationality as British in a UK-based company.

''It has been further brought out in the complaint that in the Company’s Annual Returns filed on October 10, 2005, and October 31, 2006, your date of birth has been given as June 19, 1970, and that you had declared your nationality as British. Further, in the Dissolution application dated 17/02/2009 of the above-referred company, your nationality has been mentioned as British,'' the notice said.

On April 20, BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao had also raised a similar objection to Gandhi’s citizenship at a press conference here.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday issued a notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his citizenship after receiving a complaint from Rajya Sabha MP Dr Subramanian Swamy.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday issued a notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his citizenship after receiving a complaint from Rajya Sabha MP Dr Subramanian Swamy. ''Ministry has received a representation from MP Dr Subramanian Swamy in which it has been brought out that a Company named Backops Limited was registered in the United Kingdom in the year 2003 and that you were one of the Directors and Secretary of the said Company,'' the notice read. Swamy has stated that the Congress president had declared his nationality as British in a UK-based company. ''It has been further brought out in the complaint that in the Company’s Annual Returns filed on October 10, 2005, and October 31, 2006, your date of birth has been given as June 19, 1970, and that you had declared your nationality as British. Further, in the Dissolution application dated 17/02/2009 of the above-referred company, your nationality has been mentioned as British,'' the notice said. On April 20, BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao had also raised a similar objection to Gandhi’s citizenship at a press conference here.

Ministry of Home Affairs issues notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi over citizenship row

Britain has revoked citizenship from two more women who joined the Islamic State group in Syria, a newspaper reported Sunday, raising questions about the fate of their children.&nbsp;

The revelation follows a row over a similar decision regarding London teenager <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/baby-of-islamic-state-teen-shamima-begum-dies-in-syria-sdf-202107">Shamima Begum, whose newborn baby died</a> in a Syrian refugee camp last week.

Reema Iqbal, 30, and her sister Zara, 28, left east London for Syria in 2013, and between them now have five boys under the age of eight, The Sunday Times newspaper said.

Citing legal sources, the paper said they had been stripped of their British citizenship.

The pair, who are of Pakistani heritage, reportedly married into a terror cell linked to the murder of western hostages.

The British interior ministry said it does not comment on individual cases.

A spokesman said: "Any decisions to deprive individuals of their citizenship are based on all available evidence and not taken lightly."

Begum, who married a Dutch IS fighter, was located by journalists in a refugee camp after fleeing fighting between the terror group and US-backed forces.

She had asked to return to Britain with her baby after her two other children died under IS rule.

Interior minister Sajid Javid revoked her citizenship amid security fears but has been criticised for not doing more to help her son.

British law states that the government cannot remove a person's citizenship if that would make them stateless.

Begum was thought to be eligible for Bangladeshi citizenship through her parents, but Dhaka said she could not go there.

Javid has previously said that more than 100 individuals had already been deprived of their British citizenship.

 
&nbsp;

Britain has revoked citizenship from two more women who joined the Islamic State group in Syria, a newspaper reported Sunday, raising questions about the fate of their children.

Britain has revoked citizenship from two more women who joined the Islamic State group in Syria, a newspaper reported Sunday, raising questions about the fate of their children. The revelation follows a row over a similar decision regarding London teenager Shamima Begum, whose newborn baby died in a Syrian refugee camp last week. Reema Iqbal, 30, and her sister Zara, 28, left east London for Syria in 2013, and between them now have five boys under the age of eight, The Sunday Times newspaper said. Citing legal sources, the paper said they had been stripped of their British citizenship. The pair, who are of Pakistani heritage, reportedly married into a terror cell linked to the murder of western hostages. The British interior ministry said it does not comment on individual cases. A spokesman said: "Any decisions to deprive individuals of their citizenship are based on all available evidence and not taken lightly." Begum, who married a Dutch IS fighter, was located by journalists in a refugee camp after fleeing fighting between the terror group and US-backed forces. She had asked to return to Britain with her baby after her two other children died under IS rule. Interior minister Sajid Javid revoked her citizenship amid security fears but has been criticised for not doing more to help her son. British law states that the government cannot remove a person's citizenship if that would make them stateless. Begum was thought to be eligible for Bangladeshi citizenship through her parents, but Dhaka said she could not go there. Javid has previously said that more than 100 individuals had already been deprived of their British citizenship.

Britain removes citizenship from two more IS brides: Report

Former Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta Sunday warned the Narendra Modi government that a "volatile" situation will arise in the state if the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is passed by the Rajya Sabha.

The two-time chief minister and founder-president of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) said the state is witnessing a mass uprising, similar to the Assam agitation of 1979-85, against the proposed legislation and the situation may turn worse if the NDA government "doesn't respect" people's sentiment.

"Situation in Assam will be very volatile if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is passed by the Rajya Sabha. The Modi government will be responsible for it," Mahanta, who is now in Delhi to campaign against the bill, told PTI.

The bill provides for Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslims of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Mahanta, who led the Assam agitation against the illegal immigrants, said the bill violates the provisions of the Assam Accord and basic tenants of the Constitution as it wants to give citizenship to anyone who had come to India till December 31, 2014 on the basis of religion.

"When the Assam Accord was signed (1985), all political parties, including the BJP, had welcomed it. But the BJP-led government wants to ruin it now. The bill also violates the basic tenants of the Constitution as it provides for citizenship on the basis of religion," he said.

Mahanta said the bill also violates the Supreme Court verdict on the famous Keshavanand Bharti case, which made it clear that basic structure of the Constitution is inviolable and hence can't be amended by Parliament.

The bill provides for according Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after seven years of residence in India instead of 12 years, which is the norm currently, even if they do not possess any document.

The legislation was passed by the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session on January 8 and has been awaiting Rajya Sabha nod.

There has been strong opposition in Assam and other Northeastern states against the bill.

Political parties, students groups and others have been protesting on the grounds that the bill seeks to grant nationality to non-Muslims who have come up to December 31, 2014, thereby, increasing the deadline from 1971 as per the Assam Accord.

Also, according to the Assam Accord, all illegal immigrants who have come after 1971, irrespective of their religion, have to be deported and this bill violates that.

A delegation of the AGP, including Mahanta, met a number of BJP and opposition leaders in last two days to impress upon them the strong sentiment of the people in Assam against the bill.

The AGP team met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, among others.

The AGP has already quit its alliance with the BJP in Assam protesting against the Modi government's decision to get Parliament's approval for the bill. 
Mahanta alleged that the BJP is completely ignoring the sentiment of the Assamese people.

"It talks about something but does something else," he said.

The senior leader also claimed that there are intelligence reports about the current unrest in the Northeast and the central government is aware about them.

"If the government goes ahead with the bill, situation will be very difficult," he said.

Addressing the joint sitting of Parliament, President Ram Nath Kovind Thursday said the bill will give justice to persecuted minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan through Indian nationality.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also announced that the bill is an "atonement of the wrong that was done during India's Partition. India will safeguard all who had been victims of the Partition".&nbsp;

Former Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta Sunday warned the Narendra Modi government that a "volatile" situation will arise in the state if the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is passed by the Rajya Sabha.

Former Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta Sunday warned the Narendra Modi government that a "volatile" situation will arise in the state if the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is passed by the Rajya Sabha. The two-time chief minister and founder-president of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) said the state is witnessing a mass uprising, similar to the Assam agitation of 1979-85, against the proposed legislation and the situation may turn worse if the NDA government "doesn't respect" people's sentiment. "Situation in Assam will be very volatile if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is passed by the Rajya Sabha. The Modi government will be responsible for it," Mahanta, who is now in Delhi to campaign against the bill, told PTI. The bill provides for Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslims of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Mahanta, who led the Assam agitation against the illegal immigrants, said the bill violates the provisions of the Assam Accord and basic tenants of the Constitution as it wants to give citizenship to anyone who had come to India till December 31, 2014 on the basis of religion. "When the Assam Accord was signed (1985), all political parties, including the BJP, had welcomed it. But the BJP-led government wants to ruin it now. The bill also violates the basic tenants of the Constitution as it provides for citizenship on the basis of religion," he said. Mahanta said the bill also violates the Supreme Court verdict on the famous Keshavanand Bharti case, which made it clear that basic structure of the Constitution is inviolable and hence can't be amended by Parliament. The bill provides for according Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after seven years of residence in India instead of 12 years, which is the norm currently, even if they do not possess any document. The legislation was passed by the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session on January 8 and has been awaiting Rajya Sabha nod. There has been strong opposition in Assam and other Northeastern states against the bill. Political parties, students groups and others have been protesting on the grounds that the bill seeks to grant nationality to non-Muslims who have come up to December 31, 2014, thereby, increasing the deadline from 1971 as per the Assam Accord. Also, according to the Assam Accord, all illegal immigrants who have come after 1971, irrespective of their religion, have to be deported and this bill violates that. A delegation of the AGP, including Mahanta, met a number of BJP and opposition leaders in last two days to impress upon them the strong sentiment of the people in Assam against the bill. The AGP team met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, among others. The AGP has already quit its alliance with the BJP in Assam protesting against the Modi government's decision to get Parliament's approval for the bill. Mahanta alleged that the BJP is completely ignoring the sentiment of the Assamese people. "It talks about something but does something else," he said. The senior leader also claimed that there are intelligence reports about the current unrest in the Northeast and the central government is aware about them. "If the government goes ahead with the bill, situation will be very difficult," he said. Addressing the joint sitting of Parliament, President Ram Nath Kovind Thursday said the bill will give justice to persecuted minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan through Indian nationality. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also announced that the bill is an "atonement of the wrong that was done during India's Partition. India will safeguard all who had been victims of the Partition".

Ex-Assam CM Prafulla Kumar Mahanta warns of 'volatile' situation if Citizenship Bill is passed

Australia failed to make basic checks before stripping a suspected <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/australia-asks-turkey-to-extradite-top-is-terror-suspect-9349?amp">Islamic State fighter</a> of his citizenship, a senior official said Wednesday, an admission likely to call into question the legality of the move.

The country last month striped Neil Prakash of citizenship after claiming he was Fijian — prompting strenuous denials from the authorities in Suva and an embarrassing diplomatic rift.

Prakash is accused of being a member of the IS jihadist group and identified as the 12th Australian dual-national to lose their passport over terrorism links.

He is currently in Turkey facing charges of joining the organisation.

A parliamentary intelligence committee on Wednesday grilled Home Affairs officials on the issue, asking whether they verified his status with Fiji or consulted experts in Fijian law before revoking Prakash's citizenship.

"No, we did not" admitted senior department official Linda Geddes.

If Prakash is neither Fijian nor Australian he would now be stateless in contravention of decades-old UN accords and Australian law.

A Special Counsel advising the government told the parliamentary committee he offered "strong advice" on the case, but would not go into detail.

The move against Prakash was touted at the time by hardline Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton as the ruling Liberal Party eyed its base supporters and May elections.

But it created an awkward backdrop for a recent landmark Pacific visit by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Australia failed to make basic checks before stripping a suspected Islamic State fighter of his citizenship, a senior official said Wednesday, an admission likely to call into question the legality of the move.

Australia failed to make basic checks before stripping a suspected Islamic State fighter of his citizenship, a senior official said Wednesday, an admission likely to call into question the legality of the move. The country last month striped Neil Prakash of citizenship after claiming he was Fijian — prompting strenuous denials from the authorities in Suva and an embarrassing diplomatic rift. Prakash is accused of being a member of the IS jihadist group and identified as the 12th Australian dual-national to lose their passport over terrorism links. He is currently in Turkey facing charges of joining the organisation. A parliamentary intelligence committee on Wednesday grilled Home Affairs officials on the issue, asking whether they verified his status with Fiji or consulted experts in Fijian law before revoking Prakash's citizenship. "No, we did not" admitted senior department official Linda Geddes. If Prakash is neither Fijian nor Australian he would now be stateless in contravention of decades-old UN accords and Australian law. A Special Counsel advising the government told the parliamentary committee he offered "strong advice" on the case, but would not go into detail. The move against Prakash was touted at the time by hardline Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton as the ruling Liberal Party eyed its base supporters and May elections. But it created an awkward backdrop for a recent landmark Pacific visit by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Australia admits misstep over Islamic State suspect

*By&nbsp;Steven Friedman

One day, if they follow instructions, Africa’s new democracies will grow up to be “real” like those of Western Europe and North America. This assumption makes little sense – but it influences the way many people in the West and in Africa think about African democracies.

Challenging this myth is a central theme of my book Power in Action: Democracy, Citizenship and Social Justice, which has just been published by Wits University Press.

Over the past two decades, the book notes, democracy has blossomed in Africa: in 1990, the continent housed, at most, four democracies. Today, countries in which the government is not at least elected in a free vote in which opposition parties contest are a small minority. But there is still a deep-rooted feeling among Western academics, policymakers and journalists that African democracies are not yet “the finished product” – that they are still on their way to becoming full democracies.

This view gave birth to a field of academic study in the West – the search for “democratic consolidation”. It emerged because academics assumed that the new democracies were not yet “complete”, even though they called themselves democratic. And so they set out to discover whether democracies in Africa (and Asia and Latin America) were “consolidated”, which meant that they were the finished product.

The academics have never said how we would know a “complete” democracy when we saw one. They don’t have to – it is obvious from their writing that, to become the “finished article”, democracies have to become like those in the West.

The academics are reflecting a widely held view. Western governments that set out to make the world democratic were trying to “help” democracies outside the West to become just like those in it. European and US politicians who care about democracy elsewhere share this view. So do many Africans.

Colonial mindset&nbsp;

Academics on the African continent are keen to study whether their democracies are on the way to being “consolidated” and much commentary on the continent assumes that a “grown-up” democracy looks like Britain, France or the US. This is particularly so in countries like South Africa which house a significant minority of people of Western origin, many of whom believe that the West is the home of civilisation to which the rest of the world should aspire.

This view has a distinctly colonial flavour. The moral excuse for colonialism was that it was bringing to the colonised “civilisation”, which meant whatever people in the colonising country valued. There is no difference between this and trying to persuade the formerly colonised that their democracies can only become “real” if they mimic those in the West.

But it makes very little sense to claim that Western democracies are the “finished product”.

First, Western democracies differ between themselves. So which version are people in Africa meant to mimic? Must their countries become unitary states like Britain or France, or federal like the US and Germany? Must African states give unions and business associations a say in decisions as Sweden, Austria and Switzerland have done? Must language or religious groups be allowed a special say as Belgium and Holland have done? It is not clear which of the many forms of Western democracy Africans are meant to want to be.

Second, the “finished products” of the West are not that finished. Britain has an unelected house of traditional leaders and clergy – the House of Lords. The US system allows the half-million residents of one state to have the same say in the Senate as the 35 million of another. Several Western democracies detain suspects without trial – the US has done this for nearly two decades at Guantanamo Bay, far longer than South Africa’s apartheid state ever detained anyone without trial.

The media in several Western countries is judged by specialists to be less free than those in some non-Western democracies. To show the absurdity of claiming that Western democracies are always better, think what would happen if an African president was elected because he won the vote in a state where the voting machines were faulty and the governor was his brother? This happened in the US in 2000 – and no-one has declared it an “incomplete” democracy.

Third, the democratic idea is that every adult should have an equal say in the decisions which affect them. Where does that happen? Nowhere. So no democracy is a “finished product”. All fall short of the democratic goal and so Western democracies are no more real than those elsewhere. It also makes little sense to claim that one democracy is further down the road to “completion” than another – democracy has many aspects and on some, newer democracies outside the West are further down the road than those they are meant to want to be.

More people vote in some African countries than in some in the West. South Africa does more to promote women’s participation than most Western countries. A study of Botswana complained that its people did not value democracy because only 45% of voters knew the name of their member of Parliament – but the equivalent figure in Sweden was only 33% and several other European countries lagged far behind Botswana, whose voters are better informed than Swedes.

Inferiority complex 

In sum, the democratic inferiority complex of many Africans is unwarranted. The idea that our democracies are “B Grade” and those of the West are prime quality is false.

None of this means that African democracies are better than those in the West. It means that the idea of “real” and “not yet real” democracies expresses a colonial mentality, not reality.

Like all democracies, Africa’s have much room for improvement. But they will never become what they could be if they struggle to become a copy of a romanticised Western democracy. Africa’s democracies will progress if they concentrate on the core democratic principle – giving more and more people a say over more and more issues – and debate how to do that in their particular conditions.

*(Steven Friedman is Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-claim-that-democracy-fares-better-in-the-west-than-in-africa-is-a-fallacy-110408">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

*By Steven Friedman One day, if they follow instructions, Africa’s new democracies will grow up to be “real” like those of Western Europe and North America. This assumption makes little sense – but it influences the way many people in the West and in Africa think about African democracies.

*By Steven Friedman One day, if they follow instructions, Africa’s new democracies will grow up to be “real” like those of Western Europe and North America. This assumption makes little sense – but it influences the way many people in the West and in Africa think about African democracies. Challenging this myth is a central theme of my book Power in Action: Democracy, Citizenship and Social Justice, which has just been published by Wits University Press. Over the past two decades, the book notes, democracy has blossomed in Africa: in 1990, the continent housed, at most, four democracies. Today, countries in which the government is not at least elected in a free vote in which opposition parties contest are a small minority. But there is still a deep-rooted feeling among Western academics, policymakers and journalists that African democracies are not yet “the finished product” – that they are still on their way to becoming full democracies. This view gave birth to a field of academic study in the West – the search for “democratic consolidation”. It emerged because academics assumed that the new democracies were not yet “complete”, even though they called themselves democratic. And so they set out to discover whether democracies in Africa (and Asia and Latin America) were “consolidated”, which meant that they were the finished product. The academics have never said how we would know a “complete” democracy when we saw one. They don’t have to – it is obvious from their writing that, to become the “finished article”, democracies have to become like those in the West. The academics are reflecting a widely held view. Western governments that set out to make the world democratic were trying to “help” democracies outside the West to become just like those in it. European and US politicians who care about democracy elsewhere share this view. So do many Africans. Colonial mindset Academics on the African continent are keen to study whether their democracies are on the way to being “consolidated” and much commentary on the continent assumes that a “grown-up” democracy looks like Britain, France or the US. This is particularly so in countries like South Africa which house a significant minority of people of Western origin, many of whom believe that the West is the home of civilisation to which the rest of the world should aspire. This view has a distinctly colonial flavour. The moral excuse for colonialism was that it was bringing to the colonised “civilisation”, which meant whatever people in the colonising country valued. There is no difference between this and trying to persuade the formerly colonised that their democracies can only become “real” if they mimic those in the West. But it makes very little sense to claim that Western democracies are the “finished product”. First, Western democracies differ between themselves. So which version are people in Africa meant to mimic? Must their countries become unitary states like Britain or France, or federal like the US and Germany? Must African states give unions and business associations a say in decisions as Sweden, Austria and Switzerland have done? Must language or religious groups be allowed a special say as Belgium and Holland have done? It is not clear which of the many forms of Western democracy Africans are meant to want to be. Second, the “finished products” of the West are not that finished. Britain has an unelected house of traditional leaders and clergy – the House of Lords. The US system allows the half-million residents of one state to have the same say in the Senate as the 35 million of another. Several Western democracies detain suspects without trial – the US has done this for nearly two decades at Guantanamo Bay, far longer than South Africa’s apartheid state ever detained anyone without trial. The media in several Western countries is judged by specialists to be less free than those in some non-Western democracies. To show the absurdity of claiming that Western democracies are always better, think what would happen if an African president was elected because he won the vote in a state where the voting machines were faulty and the governor was his brother? This happened in the US in 2000 – and no-one has declared it an “incomplete” democracy. Third, the democratic idea is that every adult should have an equal say in the decisions which affect them. Where does that happen? Nowhere. So no democracy is a “finished product”. All fall short of the democratic goal and so Western democracies are no more real than those elsewhere. It also makes little sense to claim that one democracy is further down the road to “completion” than another – democracy has many aspects and on some, newer democracies outside the West are further down the road than those they are meant to want to be. More people vote in some African countries than in some in the West. South Africa does more to promote women’s participation than most Western countries. A study of Botswana complained that its people did not value democracy because only 45% of voters knew the name of their member of Parliament – but the equivalent figure in Sweden was only 33% and several other European countries lagged far behind Botswana, whose voters are better informed than Swedes. Inferiority complex In sum, the democratic inferiority complex of many Africans is unwarranted. The idea that our democracies are “B Grade” and those of the West are prime quality is false. None of this means that African democracies are better than those in the West. It means that the idea of “real” and “not yet real” democracies expresses a colonial mentality, not reality. Like all democracies, Africa’s have much room for improvement. But they will never become what they could be if they struggle to become a copy of a romanticised Western democracy. Africa’s democracies will progress if they concentrate on the core democratic principle – giving more and more people a say over more and more issues – and debate how to do that in their particular conditions. *(Steven Friedman is Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The claim that democracy fares better in the West than in Africa is a fallacy

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said on Thursday that the ruling Mizo National Front would not hesitate to snap ties with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is not revoked.

Addressing MNF workers at Aibawk village near Aizwal, Zoramthanga said that the party and his government had been making all-out efforts to ensure the defeat of the bill.

"The ruling party would withdraw its support to the NDA if situation arises," he said.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant Indian nationality to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and entered India before December 31, 2014.

"The state cabinet adopted a resolution opposing the proposed legislation and I have met both the prime minister and the Union Home Minister to inform them about our opposition to the legislation," the MNF chief said.

The party would be at the forefront of the movement against the proposed bill, Zoramthanga asserted.

"The bill should not be enacted as it does not value the historic Mizo accord signed between India and the erstwhile underground MNF in 1986," he added.

The Mizo National Front was formed in 1950s to protest against the inaction of the central government towards the famine situation in the Mizo areas of Assam.

Following years of underground activities, it signed the Mizoram Accord with the Union government in 1986, renouncing violence.

The party cruised to an absolute majority last year, winning 26 of the 40 seats in the Mizoram Assembly.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said on Thursday that the ruling Mizo National Front would not hesitate to snap ties with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is not revoked.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said on Thursday that the ruling Mizo National Front would not hesitate to snap ties with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is not revoked. Addressing MNF workers at Aibawk village near Aizwal, Zoramthanga said that the party and his government had been making all-out efforts to ensure the defeat of the bill. "The ruling party would withdraw its support to the NDA if situation arises," he said. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant Indian nationality to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and entered India before December 31, 2014. "The state cabinet adopted a resolution opposing the proposed legislation and I have met both the prime minister and the Union Home Minister to inform them about our opposition to the legislation," the MNF chief said. The party would be at the forefront of the movement against the proposed bill, Zoramthanga asserted. "The bill should not be enacted as it does not value the historic Mizo accord signed between India and the erstwhile underground MNF in 1986," he added. The Mizo National Front was formed in 1950s to protest against the inaction of the central government towards the famine situation in the Mizo areas of Assam. Following years of underground activities, it signed the Mizoram Accord with the Union government in 1986, renouncing violence. The party cruised to an absolute majority last year, winning 26 of the 40 seats in the Mizoram Assembly.

Will withdraw support from NDA over Citizenship Bill if situation arises: Mizoram Chief Minister

Indian citizenship would not be granted to any foreigner without the consent of state governments concerned after the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the Home Ministry said on Tuesday.

Ministry spokesperson Ashok Prasad said every application for Indian citizenship will be enquired into by the deputy commissioner or district magistrate concerned, who will carry out due diligence and submit it to the state government concerned.

“The state government also has to conduct an enquiry through its agencies. Only then, an individual will be granted Indian nationality. Without the state government’s recommendations, no one will be given Indian citizenship,” Prasad said.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019, being strongly opposed by a large section of people and organisations in the Northeast, seeks to provide Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities — Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Christians — from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after they have stayed in India for seven years, instead of 12 years at present.

This is applicable to those who came to India before December 31, 2014. The six religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan were earlier given a special dispensation for grant of long term visas.

People belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhism, Jain, Parsi and Christian religions from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan will have to prove they belonged to any of the three countries and were persecuted on religious lines among other things for Indian citizenship.

A large section of people and organisations in the Northeast have opposed the Bill saying it will nullify the provisions of the Assam Accord of 1985, which fixed March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date for deportation of all illegal immigrants irrespective of religion.

There have been sporadic protests against the Bill in the region ever since it was introduced and passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8. Home Minister Rajnath Singh has already said the Bill will apply to all States and Union Territories and the beneficiaries can reside anywhere in the country.

“The burden of these persecuted migrants will be shared by the whole country. Assam alone would not have to bear the entire burden and the government is committed to giving all help to the state government and people of Assam,” Singh had said.

Home Ministry sources said the ministry is considering a proposal to provide incentives to those people who want to settle anywhere in India, except the Northeast.

Indian citizenship would not be granted to any foreigner without the consent of state governments concerned after the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the Home Ministry said on Tuesday.

Indian citizenship would not be granted to any foreigner without the consent of state governments concerned after the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the Home Ministry said on Tuesday. Ministry spokesperson Ashok Prasad said every application for Indian citizenship will be enquired into by the deputy commissioner or district magistrate concerned, who will carry out due diligence and submit it to the state government concerned. “The state government also has to conduct an enquiry through its agencies. Only then, an individual will be granted Indian nationality. Without the state government’s recommendations, no one will be given Indian citizenship,” Prasad said. The Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019, being strongly opposed by a large section of people and organisations in the Northeast, seeks to provide Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities — Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Christians — from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after they have stayed in India for seven years, instead of 12 years at present. This is applicable to those who came to India before December 31, 2014. The six religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan were earlier given a special dispensation for grant of long term visas. People belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhism, Jain, Parsi and Christian religions from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan will have to prove they belonged to any of the three countries and were persecuted on religious lines among other things for Indian citizenship. A large section of people and organisations in the Northeast have opposed the Bill saying it will nullify the provisions of the Assam Accord of 1985, which fixed March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date for deportation of all illegal immigrants irrespective of religion. There have been sporadic protests against the Bill in the region ever since it was introduced and passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8. Home Minister Rajnath Singh has already said the Bill will apply to all States and Union Territories and the beneficiaries can reside anywhere in the country. “The burden of these persecuted migrants will be shared by the whole country. Assam alone would not have to bear the entire burden and the government is committed to giving all help to the state government and people of Assam,” Singh had said. Home Ministry sources said the ministry is considering a proposal to provide incentives to those people who want to settle anywhere in India, except the Northeast.

Indian citizenship won’t be given without state govt’s consent after Citizenship Bill passage: Home Ministry

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, saying the citizenship bill is not applicable to the state as it is protected under Article 371 (A) of the Constitution.&nbsp;

A Cabinet meeting, chaired by Rio, on Friday asserted that the state is protected under provisions of Article 371 (A) and the Inner Line Permit (ILP) as per Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, (BEFR) of 1873, a release issued by the Chief Minister's Office said Sunday.

The article deals with special provisions with respect to Nagaland.&nbsp;

It states that no act of Parliament with respect to religious or social practices of the Nagas, Naga customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law, ownership and transfer of land and its resources, shall apply to the state unless the Legislative Assembly by a resolution so decides.

The Cabinet deliberated on the matter in view of the citizenship bill being passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8 and its consequent impact on Nagaland and other north-eastern states.

The state Cabinet, during the meeting, also decided to appeal to the Centre to have wider consultations with all north-eastern states to ensure that rights of indigenous people are fully protected.

The Cabinet decided to re-affirm all provisions of Article 371 (A) and to strengthen the implementation of the ILP as per BEFR of 1873 that will also be taken up in the next session of the state assembly.

The release stated that as per the Cabinet decision, the chief minister has also written a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, conveying the concern and apprehension of the people of Nagaland regarding the bill, the release said.

The letter says the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, even if enacted, will not be applicable to Nagaland in view of the Article 371 (A) that guarantees the Nagas their way of life un-interfered by any Parliamentary enactment, unless the Legislative Assembly by a resolution so decides, it said.

The citizenship bill provides for according Indian citizenship to the Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after six years of residence in India, instead of 12 years currently, even if they do not possess any document.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, saying the citizenship bill is not applicable to the state as it is protected under Article 371 (A) of the Constitution.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, saying the citizenship bill is not applicable to the state as it is protected under Article 371 (A) of the Constitution. A Cabinet meeting, chaired by Rio, on Friday asserted that the state is protected under provisions of Article 371 (A) and the Inner Line Permit (ILP) as per Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, (BEFR) of 1873, a release issued by the Chief Minister's Office said Sunday. The article deals with special provisions with respect to Nagaland. It states that no act of Parliament with respect to religious or social practices of the Nagas, Naga customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law, ownership and transfer of land and its resources, shall apply to the state unless the Legislative Assembly by a resolution so decides. The Cabinet deliberated on the matter in view of the citizenship bill being passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8 and its consequent impact on Nagaland and other north-eastern states. The state Cabinet, during the meeting, also decided to appeal to the Centre to have wider consultations with all north-eastern states to ensure that rights of indigenous people are fully protected. The Cabinet decided to re-affirm all provisions of Article 371 (A) and to strengthen the implementation of the ILP as per BEFR of 1873 that will also be taken up in the next session of the state assembly. The release stated that as per the Cabinet decision, the chief minister has also written a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, conveying the concern and apprehension of the people of Nagaland regarding the bill, the release said. The letter says the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, even if enacted, will not be applicable to Nagaland in view of the Article 371 (A) that guarantees the Nagas their way of life un-interfered by any Parliamentary enactment, unless the Legislative Assembly by a resolution so decides, it said. The citizenship bill provides for according Indian citizenship to the Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after six years of residence in India, instead of 12 years currently, even if they do not possess any document.

Citizenship bill not applicable to Nagaland as state protected under Article 371(A): CM to Rajnath Singh

The likely incoming Democratic chairman of the congressional panel overseeing the US census said on Tuesday he aims to pressure the Trump administration into removing a question about citizenship from the 2020 census questionnaire.

Representative Gerald Connolly said that when Democrats assume leadership of the House of Representatives in January, they plan to call Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to testify about the citizenship question, which has spurred criticism and lawsuits.

Ross earlier "lied to Congress" about why the question was added to the census, Connolly told Reuters in an interview.

"My hope is we get this question removed from the actual census," Connolly said in an interview with Reuters, saying he would seek to bring that about by calling the public`s attention to the issue.

"It`s not too late ... we have until June before the forms are finalised," he said.

Evidence produced by the committee could also be cited by courts investigating the matter, he said.

Ross announced the citizenship question in March, billing it as a way to help enforce the Voting Rights Act, which requires a tally of citizens of voting age to protect minorities against discrimination.

Critics have said the question could depress the response to the census from immigrants, who often live in Democratic-leaning areas. If undercounted, areas with high immigrant populations could lose seats in the House.

Numerous US states and cities have sued the administration to have the question removed, calling it unconstitutional.

US congressional elections last month gave Democrats control of the House starting in January. Connolly is expected to chair the government operations subcommittee, part of the House Oversight Committee.

Connolly and Representative Elijah Cummings, likely chairman of the full Oversight Committee, earlier this year questioned Ross` contention that the Commerce Department added the citizenship question at the request of the Justice Department, saying court documents indicated Commerce initiated the idea.&nbsp;

"Wilbur Ross has a problem. ... He told Congress previously that (the Justice Department) kind of made him do it. We now know that’s not true. ... That means you (Ross) lied to Congress about this," Connolly said Tuesday. "Why? If you are so confident in the importance of this question, why would you feel compelled to lie about it?" he said.

A Commerce Department spokesman said Ross had explained his rationale in March for including the citizenship question, and that nothing in the court documents subsequently produced "changes the sound rationale he articulated."

The likely incoming Democratic chairman of the congressional panel overseeing the US census said on Tuesday he aims to pressure the Trump administration into removing a question about citizenship from the 2020 census questionnaire.

The likely incoming Democratic chairman of the congressional panel overseeing the US census said on Tuesday he aims to pressure the Trump administration into removing a question about citizenship from the 2020 census questionnaire. Representative Gerald Connolly said that when Democrats assume leadership of the House of Representatives in January, they plan to call Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to testify about the citizenship question, which has spurred criticism and lawsuits. Ross earlier "lied to Congress" about why the question was added to the census, Connolly told Reuters in an interview. "My hope is we get this question removed from the actual census," Connolly said in an interview with Reuters, saying he would seek to bring that about by calling the public`s attention to the issue. "It`s not too late ... we have until June before the forms are finalised," he said. Evidence produced by the committee could also be cited by courts investigating the matter, he said. Ross announced the citizenship question in March, billing it as a way to help enforce the Voting Rights Act, which requires a tally of citizens of voting age to protect minorities against discrimination. Critics have said the question could depress the response to the census from immigrants, who often live in Democratic-leaning areas. If undercounted, areas with high immigrant populations could lose seats in the House. Numerous US states and cities have sued the administration to have the question removed, calling it unconstitutional. US congressional elections last month gave Democrats control of the House starting in January. Connolly is expected to chair the government operations subcommittee, part of the House Oversight Committee. Connolly and Representative Elijah Cummings, likely chairman of the full Oversight Committee, earlier this year questioned Ross` contention that the Commerce Department added the citizenship question at the request of the Justice Department, saying court documents indicated Commerce initiated the idea. "Wilbur Ross has a problem. ... He told Congress previously that (the Justice Department) kind of made him do it. We now know that’s not true. ... That means you (Ross) lied to Congress about this," Connolly said Tuesday. "Why? If you are so confident in the importance of this question, why would you feel compelled to lie about it?" he said. A Commerce Department spokesman said Ross had explained his rationale in March for including the citizenship question, and that nothing in the court documents subsequently produced "changes the sound rationale he articulated."

Lawmaker aims to get citizenship question removed from US census

Over 50,000 Indians were granted the American citizenship in 2017, four thousand more than the previous year, according to the latest official report.

The Department of Homeland Security in its latest annual immigration report said that in 2017, as many as 50,802 Indians took citizenship of the United States.

This is four thousand more than 2016's figure of 46,188 Indian naturalization and eight thousand more than 42,213 Indian citizenship in 2015.

In all, 707,265 foreign nationals took the oath of American citizenship in 2017, as against 753,060 in 2016 and 730,259 in 2015.

Mexico with 118,559 citizenships topped the list among all foreign nationals.

India was a distant second, followed by China (37,674); the Philippines (36,828); Dominican Republic (29,734); Cuba (25,961).

Figures indicated that more females (396,234) took American citizenship than male (310,987).

The report indicates that as many as 12,000 newly naturalized American citizens from India settled in California, followed by New Jersey (5,900), and Texas about 3,700.

More than 7,100 naturalized Americans lived in the regions of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.&nbsp;

Over 50,000 Indians were granted the American citizenship in 2017, four thousand more than the previous year, according to the latest official report. The Department of Homeland Security in its latest annual immigration report said that in 2017, as many as 50,802 Indians took citizenship of the United States.

Over 50,000 Indians were granted the American citizenship in 2017, four thousand more than the previous year, according to the latest official report. The Department of Homeland Security in its latest annual immigration report said that in 2017, as many as 50,802 Indians took citizenship of the United States. This is four thousand more than 2016's figure of 46,188 Indian naturalization and eight thousand more than 42,213 Indian citizenship in 2015. In all, 707,265 foreign nationals took the oath of American citizenship in 2017, as against 753,060 in 2016 and 730,259 in 2015. Mexico with 118,559 citizenships topped the list among all foreign nationals. India was a distant second, followed by China (37,674); the Philippines (36,828); Dominican Republic (29,734); Cuba (25,961). Figures indicated that more females (396,234) took American citizenship than male (310,987). The report indicates that as many as 12,000 newly naturalized American citizens from India settled in California, followed by New Jersey (5,900), and Texas about 3,700. More than 7,100 naturalized Americans lived in the regions of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

50,000 Indians took US citizenship in 2017: Official report

The process of filing petitions for H-1B visa has begun amidst unprecedented scrutiny by the United States President Donald Trump`s administration.&nbsp;

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is the federal agency responsible to process the visas, has indicated that there will be zero tolerance for even minor errors.&nbsp;

H-1B is considered as the most sought-after work visa among highly-skilled Indian professionals. It is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.&nbsp;

Earlier in March, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services had announced that it will temporarily be suspended the premium processing for the H-1B visa.&nbsp;

"The USCIS will begin accepting applications for the fiscal year 2019 (October 2018 to September 2019) from April 2. The suspension will last until September 10," the body had said.&nbsp;

"This temporary suspension will help us reduce overall H-1B processing times. By temporarily suspending premium processing, we will be able to process long-pending petitions, which we have currently been unable to process due to the high volume of incoming petitions and the significant surge in premium processing requests over the past few years," the USCIS added.&nbsp;

The Donald Trump administration recently announced a new measure, making the approval of H-1B visa more tougher.&nbsp;

As per the new policy, any company will have to make one more clarification to prove that its H-1B employee at a third-party worksite has specific and non-qualifying speculative assignments in a speciality occupation.&nbsp;

The updated policy is a part of Trump's "Buy American and Hire American" Executive Order, which directs to protect the interests of US workers.&nbsp;

According to the US administration officials, the scrutiny is needed to ensure the integrity of the controversial visa programme, which according to critics has cost American jobs.

The USCIS will begin accepting applications for the fiscal year 2019 (October 2018 to September 2019) from April 2

The process of filing petitions for H-1B visa has begun amidst unprecedented scrutiny by the United States President Donald Trump`s administration. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is the federal agency responsible to process the visas, has indicated that there will be zero tolerance for even minor errors. H-1B is considered as the most sought-after work visa among highly-skilled Indian professionals. It is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Earlier in March, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services had announced that it will temporarily be suspended the premium processing for the H-1B visa. "The USCIS will begin accepting applications for the fiscal year 2019 (October 2018 to September 2019) from April 2. The suspension will last until September 10," the body had said. "This temporary suspension will help us reduce overall H-1B processing times. By temporarily suspending premium processing, we will be able to process long-pending petitions, which we have currently been unable to process due to the high volume of incoming petitions and the significant surge in premium processing requests over the past few years," the USCIS added. The Donald Trump administration recently announced a new measure, making the approval of H-1B visa more tougher. As per the new policy, any company will have to make one more clarification to prove that its H-1B employee at a third-party worksite has specific and non-qualifying speculative assignments in a speciality occupation. The updated policy is a part of Trump's "Buy American and Hire American" Executive Order, which directs to protect the interests of US workers. According to the US administration officials, the scrutiny is needed to ensure the integrity of the controversial visa programme, which according to critics has cost American jobs.

'Tough' H-1B visa application process begins

Multiple H-1B applications will lead to rejection of the petitions, a federal American agency has warned foreign workers, days ahead of the initiation of filing process for the non-immigrant visa, popular among Indian techies.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has indicated that it would intensify scrutiny of such applications. 
The H-1B filing process begins from April 2 for the fiscal year 2019 starting October 1.

"After notice, we will deny or revoke the approval of all H-1B cap-subject petitions filed for one beneficiary by 'related entities' unless there is a legitimate business need," USCIS said.

H-1B petitioners who submit multiple cap-subject petitions on behalf of the same beneficiary undermine the integrity of the lottery process, it added.

The federal agency issued policy guidance related to H-1B petitions, clarifying how the term "related entities" applied to the bar on multiple H-1B filings.

"Related entities" include petitioners, whether or not related through corporate ownership and control, that file cap-subject H-1B petitions for the same beneficiary for substantially the same job, it said.

"Absent a legitimate business need to file multiple cap-subject petitions for the same beneficiary," USCIS said, adding that it will deny or revoke the approval of all H-1B cap-subject petitions filed by related entities for that beneficiary.

Noting that a single employer "may not file more than one cap-subject petition for the same beneficiary even if there is a legitimate business need", it asserted that H-1B programme did not permit speculative employment.

It, however, recognised that occasionally an employer may extend the same beneficiary two or more job offers for distinct positions and therefore may have a legitimate business need to file two or more separate H-1B petitions on behalf of the same alien.

The rule, however, precluded that practice if the beneficiary is subject to the cap.

USCIS recognised that allowing multiple filings by one employer on behalf of the same beneficiary could create a loophole for employers who seek to exploit the random selection process to the competitive disadvantage of other petitioners.

Such employers could file multiple petitions on behalf of the same alien under the guise that the petitions are based on different job offers when the employment positions are in fact the same or only very slightly different.

Instead, USCIS explained that a petitioner could file one initial petition, and then if accepted under the cap, file an amended or new petition for concurrent employment.

The H-1B programme offers temporary US visas that allow companies to hire highly skilled foreign professionals working in areas with shortages of qualified American workers.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has indicated that it would intensify scrutiny of such applications

Multiple H-1B applications will lead to rejection of the petitions, a federal American agency has warned foreign workers, days ahead of the initiation of filing process for the non-immigrant visa, popular among Indian techies. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has indicated that it would intensify scrutiny of such applications. The H-1B filing process begins from April 2 for the fiscal year 2019 starting October 1. "After notice, we will deny or revoke the approval of all H-1B cap-subject petitions filed for one beneficiary by 'related entities' unless there is a legitimate business need," USCIS said. H-1B petitioners who submit multiple cap-subject petitions on behalf of the same beneficiary undermine the integrity of the lottery process, it added. The federal agency issued policy guidance related to H-1B petitions, clarifying how the term "related entities" applied to the bar on multiple H-1B filings. "Related entities" include petitioners, whether or not related through corporate ownership and control, that file cap-subject H-1B petitions for the same beneficiary for substantially the same job, it said. "Absent a legitimate business need to file multiple cap-subject petitions for the same beneficiary," USCIS said, adding that it will deny or revoke the approval of all H-1B cap-subject petitions filed by related entities for that beneficiary. Noting that a single employer "may not file more than one cap-subject petition for the same beneficiary even if there is a legitimate business need", it asserted that H-1B programme did not permit speculative employment. It, however, recognised that occasionally an employer may extend the same beneficiary two or more job offers for distinct positions and therefore may have a legitimate business need to file two or more separate H-1B petitions on behalf of the same alien. The rule, however, precluded that practice if the beneficiary is subject to the cap. USCIS recognised that allowing multiple filings by one employer on behalf of the same beneficiary could create a loophole for employers who seek to exploit the random selection process to the competitive disadvantage of other petitioners. Such employers could file multiple petitions on behalf of the same alien under the guise that the petitions are based on different job offers when the employment positions are in fact the same or only very slightly different. Instead, USCIS explained that a petitioner could file one initial petition, and then if accepted under the cap, file an amended or new petition for concurrent employment. The H-1B programme offers temporary US visas that allow companies to hire highly skilled foreign professionals working in areas with shortages of qualified American workers.

Another roadblock to H-1B visa: US to reject multiple applications

Ecuador has granted citizenship to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.&nbsp;

Assange has been sheltering at <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/julian-assange-denied-diplomatic-status-by-uk-29259" target="_blank">Ecuador&#39;s London embassy for the past five years</a> in order to evade arrest.&nbsp;

Ecuador&#39;s Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa said Thursday at a press conference in Quito that Assange had been made an Ecuadorian citizen on December 12.&nbsp;

AFP reported that Ecuador has requested Britain to recognise Assange as a diplomat which would give him immunity from arrest, a request which Britain has refused.&nbsp;

Julian Assange, faces rape and sexual assault allegations in Sweden.&nbsp;

Assange has always denied the sexual assault allegations against him, claiming the sex was consensual and that the case was politically motivated to get him extradited to the US over massive Wikileaks dumps of secret US military reports that year.

A United Nations panel had concluded in 2016 that Assange was under arbitrary detention. But the British government has maintained he must face justice in UK courts over his breach of bail conditions.

WikiLeaks is an international non-profit journalistic organisation that publishes secret information, news leaks and classified media from anonymous sources.

Assange has been sheltering at Ecuador's London embassy for the past five years in order to evade arrest

Ecuador has granted citizenship to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Assange has been sheltering at Ecuador's London embassy for the past five years in order to evade arrest. Ecuador's Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa said Thursday at a press conference in Quito that Assange had been made an Ecuadorian citizen on December 12. AFP reported that Ecuador has requested Britain to recognise Assange as a diplomat which would give him immunity from arrest, a request which Britain has refused. Julian Assange, faces rape and sexual assault allegations in Sweden. Assange has always denied the sexual assault allegations against him, claiming the sex was consensual and that the case was politically motivated to get him extradited to the US over massive Wikileaks dumps of secret US military reports that year. A United Nations panel had concluded in 2016 that Assange was under arbitrary detention. But the British government has maintained he must face justice in UK courts over his breach of bail conditions. WikiLeaks is an international non-profit journalistic organisation that publishes secret information, news leaks and classified media from anonymous sources.

Ecuador grants citizenship to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

By Naziya Alvi Rahman

It&#39;s traumatic for any woman to learn that her husband is gay. And when the husband in question is from Pakistan and the wife from India, it&#39;s a story that goes beyond personal anguish to get enmeshed in the complicated tangle that the two countries are forever caught in.

Ask Salma, whose marriage lasted just a year and who has been fighting a lone battle for her 11-year-old daughter&#39;s nationality. The resident from Mumbra was married to Karachi-based Salman in 2005. She was from a lower-middle-class family who had managed to complete her masters in economics, and he a rich brat who claimed to be an engineer but was actually a school dropout.

&quot;There was no means to cross-check. And we believed them as they were related to us distantly,&quot; says 40-year-old Salma, regretting every day that her daughter was born in Pakistan. &quot;If only if she was not born there... I got her here when she was 2.5 months old and applied for her nationality within the first year of moving back. Eleven years later, she is still a Pakistani.&quot; With that comes worries about her school, college and other admissions.

Salma is not alone. Given the fractious, yet symbiotic, relationship between the two countries and the large number of divided families, there are many such Salmas across India. &quot;In Maharashtra alone, there are hundreds of pending cases,&quot; says an official on the condition of anonymity.

The Home department&#39;s foreign section is flooded with such cases &ndash; Indian women married to Pakistanis, divorced and back in India with &#39;Pakistani&#39; children. Officials who deal with these cases claim that one of every 10 cases that comes for citizenship is of children born of such marriages.

In some cases, like that of 29-year-old Saira, a resident of Sewri Cross Road, divorce resulted in the children being divided. She managed to bring three children back but her eldest, a boy, remained with the father.

&quot;She would come to us every second month to seek a visa to go to Pakistan to meet her eldest son. We understand a mother&#39;s plight but we can&#39;t move her file seeking a Pakistan visa so frequently. We have so many such cases,&quot; says a Home department official.

&quot;I have no means to raise these three kids. It&#39;s not easy for me to leave behind my son. I want to go back and seek alimony from my in-laws. I will fight for my children&#39;s rights,&quot; Saira says determinedly.

Officials believe there are several reasons behind the failure of these marriages. &quot;It&#39;s like any NRI marriage where you only know the truth after you get married,&quot; says an official.

Salma&#39;s is a classic such case. That he was gay was known in Pakistan but she realised it only much later. &quot;He left within two days of our wedding without establishing any physical relations with me&hellip; It was only a month later when I reached Pakistan that I learnt about his sexual preference.&quot;

She says she was tortured by her in-laws and came back to India after three months. Told the full story, her parents supported her decision to stay back but relatives persuaded them to give him one more chance. Her father-in-law himself came over to India with the boy.

&quot;It was during this encounter that I conceived my daughter. We believed that everything would be fine now and I went back to stay with him,&quot; says Salma.

When Salma gave birth to a girl child, the family lost interest in her and she was sent back to India. &quot;Since that day, they have never looked back at me or my daughter. For how many more years will I have to continue to run from pillar to post to get her an Indian nationality?&quot;

Salma, who supports a family of four with the Rs 25,000 she gets as an executive in a private firm, got married again but lost her second husband in a road accident.

Officials claim her case is now in the final stages. But the process can only be completed after she surrenders her daughter&#39;s Pakistani passport to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

She doesn&#39;t have the money to travel to Delhi and stay in a hotel. &quot;The department officials did request them to consider my case as an exemption&hellip; but on December 16, 2016, my file came back with a rejection,&quot; Salma says.

And the wait continues.

(This report first appeared on DNA)

Hundreds of such citizenship cases are pending in India's western state of Maharashtra

By Naziya Alvi Rahman It's traumatic for any woman to learn that her husband is gay. And when the husband in question is from Pakistan and the wife from India, it's a story that goes beyond personal anguish to get enmeshed in the complicated tangle that the two countries are forever caught in. Ask Salma, whose marriage lasted just a year and who has been fighting a lone battle for her 11-year-old daughter's nationality. The resident from Mumbra was married to Karachi-based Salman in 2005. She was from a lower-middle-class family who had managed to complete her masters in economics, and he a rich brat who claimed to be an engineer but was actually a school dropout. "There was no means to cross-check. And we believed them as they were related to us distantly," says 40-year-old Salma, regretting every day that her daughter was born in Pakistan. "If only if she was not born there... I got her here when she was 2.5 months old and applied for her nationality within the first year of moving back. Eleven years later, she is still a Pakistani." With that comes worries about her school, college and other admissions. Salma is not alone. Given the fractious, yet symbiotic, relationship between the two countries and the large number of divided families, there are many such Salmas across India. "In Maharashtra alone, there are hundreds of pending cases," says an official on the condition of anonymity. The Home department's foreign section is flooded with such cases – Indian women married to Pakistanis, divorced and back in India with 'Pakistani' children. Officials who deal with these cases claim that one of every 10 cases that comes for citizenship is of children born of such marriages. In some cases, like that of 29-year-old Saira, a resident of Sewri Cross Road, divorce resulted in the children being divided. She managed to bring three children back but her eldest, a boy, remained with the father. "She would come to us every second month to seek a visa to go to Pakistan to meet her eldest son. We understand a mother's plight but we can't move her file seeking a Pakistan visa so frequently. We have so many such cases," says a Home department official. "I have no means to raise these three kids. It's not easy for me to leave behind my son. I want to go back and seek alimony from my in-laws. I will fight for my children's rights," Saira says determinedly. Officials believe there are several reasons behind the failure of these marriages. "It's like any NRI marriage where you only know the truth after you get married," says an official. Salma's is a classic such case. That he was gay was known in Pakistan but she realised it only much later. "He left within two days of our wedding without establishing any physical relations with me… It was only a month later when I reached Pakistan that I learnt about his sexual preference." She says she was tortured by her in-laws and came back to India after three months. Told the full story, her parents supported her decision to stay back but relatives persuaded them to give him one more chance. Her father-in-law himself came over to India with the boy. "It was during this encounter that I conceived my daughter. We believed that everything would be fine now and I went back to stay with him," says Salma. When Salma gave birth to a girl child, the family lost interest in her and she was sent back to India. "Since that day, they have never looked back at me or my daughter. For how many more years will I have to continue to run from pillar to post to get her an Indian nationality?" Salma, who supports a family of four with the Rs 25,000 she gets as an executive in a private firm, got married again but lost her second husband in a road accident. Officials claim her case is now in the final stages. But the process can only be completed after she surrenders her daughter's Pakistani passport to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. She doesn't have the money to travel to Delhi and stay in a hotel. "The department officials did request them to consider my case as an exemption… but on December 16, 2016, my file came back with a rejection," Salma says. And the wait continues. (This report first appeared on DNA)

Citizens of nowhere: Children born to Indian mothers & Pakistani fathers caught in India-Pak tangle

In recent years, offering citizenship or permanent residencies has grown to become a lucrative business opportunity for countries. With more and more countries joining the list of those that offer immediate citizenship, people have a chance at moving beyond borders, more than a tourist.

Here is a list of countries that sell their citizenship, if you have the money to buy it:

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Countries and their citizenship program (Table) (WION)
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	<li>Bulgaria</li>
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A pedestrian walks past a puddle near a tree decorated with Christmas lights in Sofia, Bulgaria (AFP)
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Allows: Visa-free travel to 153 countries 
The country ties up your cash for 5 years interest free. It will take two years to get the passport and you will be required to visit Bulgaria twice. Residence is granted only after a clean background check. Bulgaria is only one of two countries where the principal amount can be returned to you.

<ul>
	<li>Hungary</li>
</ul>

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Sz&eacute;chenyi Chain Bridge, Budapest, Hungary (Others)
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Allows: Visa-free travel to 152 countries 
It has one of the fastest application processes, which can be completed within 30 days. It is a guaranteed investment plan that can be returned after 5 years. The passport gives free movement throughout Europe&#39;s Schengen zone.

<ul>
	<li>St. Lucia</li>
</ul>

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St Lucia, Caribbean Island (Others)
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Allows: Visa-free travel to 121 countries and 180 days in the Schengen area 
Instead of paying the amount, you could also invest $550,000 and get a passport immediately. The capital will be returned in 5 years. &nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Cyprus</li>
</ul>

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Paphos castle at night in Cyprus (Others)
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Allows: Visa-free travel to 166 countries 
Cyprus is the third smallest nation in the European Union. It started its citizenship program after the country faced a severe economic recession in 2013.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Dominica</li>
</ul>

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Typical landscape near the sea along the eastern coast of Dominica (Others)
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Allows: Visa-free travel to 91 countries 
It is the least expensive of all the passports in this list.

<ul>
	<li>Antigua and Barbuda</li>
</ul>

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Antigua, Carlisle Bay, Caribbean (Others)
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Allows: Visa-free travel to 132 countries

<ul>
	<li>St. Kitts and Nevis</li>
</ul>

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View of St. Kitts from a ship on the coast (Others)
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Allows: Visa-free travel to 132 countries, which includes Brazil as the latest addition 
St. Kitts and Nevis recorded the highest number of passport sales in the last year. Just pay the money or invest in property and you will be given a passport without even a visit.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Grenada</li>
</ul>

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Grenada (Others)
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Allows: Visa-free travel to 110 countries 
It is the second passport on this list apart from St. Kitts that is not necessarily on everyone&rsquo;s radar and where transaction can be completed in private.

In many nations, foreigners can now purchase citizenship legitimately in return for an investment. There are, however, two forms of residency programs - one that is immediate and one that entails &ldquo;staying for a minimum period of time.&rdquo;&nbsp;The recent spurt&nbsp;in the number of applications&nbsp;for residency in&nbsp;these countries has&nbsp;proven that people are increasingly&nbsp;keen to move and experience a new life in places that might be far removed from their countries of birth. This works well for these host countries too, as the influx of foreign money helps build their infrastructure and economies.&nbsp;

(Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

Writing one cheque can give you a new identity and visa-free travel to more than 100 countries around the world

In recent years, offering citizenship or permanent residencies has grown to become a lucrative business opportunity for countries. With more and more countries joining the list of those that offer immediate citizenship, people have a chance at moving beyond borders, more than a tourist. Here is a list of countries that sell their citizenship, if you have the money to buy it: Countries and their citizenship program (Table) (WION) × Bulgaria A pedestrian walks past a puddle near a tree decorated with Christmas lights in Sofia, Bulgaria (AFP) × Allows: Visa-free travel to 153 countries The country ties up your cash for 5 years interest free. It will take two years to get the passport and you will be required to visit Bulgaria twice. Residence is granted only after a clean background check. Bulgaria is only one of two countries where the principal amount can be returned to you. Hungary Széchenyi Chain Bridge, Budapest, Hungary (Others) × Allows: Visa-free travel to 152 countries It has one of the fastest application processes, which can be completed within 30 days. It is a guaranteed investment plan that can be returned after 5 years. The passport gives free movement throughout Europe's Schengen zone. St. Lucia St Lucia, Caribbean Island (Others) × Allows: Visa-free travel to 121 countries and 180 days in the Schengen area Instead of paying the amount, you could also invest $550,000 and get a passport immediately. The capital will be returned in 5 years. Cyprus Paphos castle at night in Cyprus (Others) × Allows: Visa-free travel to 166 countries Cyprus is the third smallest nation in the European Union. It started its citizenship program after the country faced a severe economic recession in 2013. Dominica Typical landscape near the sea along the eastern coast of Dominica (Others) × Allows: Visa-free travel to 91 countries It is the least expensive of all the passports in this list. Antigua and Barbuda Antigua, Carlisle Bay, Caribbean (Others) × Allows: Visa-free travel to 132 countries St. Kitts and Nevis View of St. Kitts from a ship on the coast (Others) × Allows: Visa-free travel to 132 countries, which includes Brazil as the latest addition St. Kitts and Nevis recorded the highest number of passport sales in the last year. Just pay the money or invest in property and you will be given a passport without even a visit. Grenada Grenada (Others) × Allows: Visa-free travel to 110 countries It is the second passport on this list apart from St. Kitts that is not necessarily on everyone’s radar and where transaction can be completed in private. In many nations, foreigners can now purchase citizenship legitimately in return for an investment. There are, however, two forms of residency programs - one that is immediate and one that entails “staying for a minimum period of time.” The recent spurt in the number of applications for residency in these countries has proven that people are increasingly keen to move and experience a new life in places that might be far removed from their countries of birth. This works well for these host countries too, as the influx of foreign money helps build their infrastructure and economies. (Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

These 8 countries sell their citizenship. Any takers?

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