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Germany Launches Online Portal for Visa Applications
Deutsche Welle
03 Jan 2025, 18:10
Photo: imago images/blickwinkel
Germany's Foreign Ministry has launched a new digital platform for visa applications, with its Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock hailing it as "a real administrative revolution" in a press release.
The digital portal, available here, aims to ease access to necessary documents for those wanting to work, study or join their family in Germany.
The applicants can choose between 28 categories of national visas online.
The new portal has been available since January 1, 2025, to all 167 of Germany's visa offices all over the world.
Overhauling visa process
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock praised the new system, saying the reform was "long overdue."
"Every year, Germany is short of at least 400,000 skilled workers," Baerbock said.
"At times like these, we cannot afford to downright put the best off coming here to roll up their sleeves because of long paper application forms and even longer waiting periods," she added.
Baerbock stressed that Germany, as an immigration country, requires "a national visa process that is state-of-the-art — modern, digital and secure."
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Saudi Arabia Unveils World's First Date-Based Soft Drink: 'Milaf Cola'
Saudi Arabia has launched the world's first soft drink made from dates. The first date-based soft drink, "Milaf Cola," has been introduced to the market by Saudi Arabia. While many avoid soft drinks for health reasons, the country promises to maintain a balance between taste and nutrition.
This drink was unveiled at the Riyadh Date Festival in November by Saudi Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadli and CEO of Thurat Al-Madina Company Bandar Al-Kahtani.
The company states that "Milaf Cola" is the result of years of research. It has been produced while maintaining international food safety and quality standards, with a strong focus on taste and nutrition. They expect it to gain significant popularity in both local and global markets.
The manufacturer of Milaf Cola also mentions that the soft drink is made using high-quality, locally sourced dates from Saudi Arabia. It is much healthier and more nutritious compared to traditional soft drinks.
In line with Saudi Arabia's vision to promote environmentally friendly and local products, Thurat Al-Madina is working on the development of various date-based food products, like Milaf Cola.
Bangladeshi Man Sentenced Lifetime Imprisonment for Rape and Murder in Greece
A Bangladeshi man has been sentenced to lifetime imprisonment in Greece for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of a young Polish woman.
On Friday, December 6, the court delivered the verdict against Salahuddin (33), a Bangladeshi expatriate, for his involvement in the crime committed in June last year on the Greek island of Kosw.
The victim, 27-year-old Polish woman Anastasia-Patricia Rubinska, was abducted, raped, and murdered in June 2023. Following her disappearance, Salahuddin was arrested as the prime suspect.
Anastasia, who worked at a hotel on Kos Island, went missing on June 12, 2023, after finishing her shift. The next day, her boyfriend, who also worked at the same hotel, reported her disappearance to the police. Six days later, Anastasia’s body was discovered.
CCTV footage revealed Anastasia shopping and spending time with a group of South Asian workers, including Salahuddin. She was last seen alive riding on Salahuddin’s scooter to his residence.
David Burzaki, the lead investigator, stated, “Salahuddin had purchased a plane ticket to Italy and was planning to leave the island.” He added, “He had searched on Google for phrases like, ‘How to hide a body,’ ‘How to erase fingerprints,’ and ‘Ways to mislead investigators.’”
After thorough investigations, the trial began on December 2, 2024. The prosecution accused Salahuddin of abduction, rape, and murder. Following the hearings, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment on Friday.
Rebels Enter Damascus; Assad Flees
Rebels in Syria have entered the capital, Damascus, after taking control of several suburban areas. Reports suggest that the capital is on the verge of falling into their hands. In this situation, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fled the capital, though his whereabouts remain unknown. The information was reported separately by Reuters and BBC on Sunday (December 8).
According to Reuters, rebels have already infiltrated Damascus. Shortly before this, they announced their capture of the key city of Homs, where they reportedly celebrated their victory.
Meanwhile, the Syrian army has withdrawn its troops from the city. Following this, thousands of residents took to the streets, chanting slogans such as "Assad has fled, Homs is free," and "Long live Syria."
The BBC reported that after taking Homs, rebel fighters entered Damascus, where gunfire has been heard in various parts of the capital. Rebels have also freed thousands of prisoners from the infamous Saydnaya Prison.
Another source reported that as rebels entered the capital, a private plane was seen departing from Damascus airport, believed to be carrying President Bashar al-Assad.
Background:
Bashar al-Assad has been in power since 2000, succeeding his father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria for 29 years.
In 2011, widespread protests against Assad's rule erupted, which were met with brutal crackdowns. These protests eventually evolved into an armed rebellion, plunging the country into civil war.
In 2015, Russia intervened to support Assad, conducting extensive airstrikes across Syria that forced the rebels to retreat.
However, in recent times, the weakening of Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia militia allied with Assad, and Russia's preoccupation with the war in Ukraine have given the rebels an opportunity to regain momentum. Recently, for the first time since 2016, rebels entered Aleppo.
Led by the Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Syrian rebels have been advancing rapidly toward Damascus. On Saturday, they captured Daraa, the fourth city to fall into rebel hands within a week, following the capture of Aleppo, Hama, and Homs.
‘New Syria’ Will Be Peaceful, Rebels Vow No Retaliation
Facing a fierce rebel offensive, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fled Damascus. While no official announcement has been made, it is widely believed that this marks the end of his 24-year-long rule. Armed rebel forces have already taken control of the capital, Damascus, and have pledged not to seek revenge against their opponents.
On Sunday (December 8), Reuters reported that President Assad left Damascus on a plane bound for an undisclosed location. Prior to this, the rebels announced their entry into the Syrian capital and declared the release of prisoners from a jail on the city's outskirts.
Following Assad's departure, the armed opposition groups declared that the end of his regime marked the beginning of a new chapter in Syria's history.
In a statement, the rebels said, “After 50 years of oppression under Ba'ath rule and 13 years of crimes, persecution, and displacement, we have ended this dark era through a long struggle against various occupying forces. Today (December 8), we declare the dawn of a new era for Syria.”
The rebels further stated that the "New Syria" will be "a place of peaceful coexistence," where justice will prevail, and the dignity of all Syrian citizens will be upheld. "We will turn the page on a dark past and open a new horizon for the future," the statement concluded.
(Source: Al Jazeera)
Attack on Bangladesh Mission in Agartala: US Calls for Peaceful Resolution
Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, has called for a peaceful resolution regarding the attack on the Bangladeshi Assistant High Commission in Agartala, the capital of Tripura, India.
On Tuesday (December 10), local time, during a regular press briefing at the U.S. State Department, he made this appeal in response to a question.
Recently, both India and Bangladesh expressed concern over the violent attack on a Bangladeshi diplomatic mission within India. A journalist asked if Washington had any comment on this issue or the growing aggressive statements involving Bangladesh.
In response, Miller stated, “We want to see all parties resolve their differences peacefully.”
Notably, on August 5, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned following a student-led uprising and fled to India. Since then, relations between the two countries have significantly deteriorated. The situation became more complicated after the recent arrest of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Das. On December 2, an attack took place at the Bangladeshi Assistant High Commission in Agartala, further escalating tensions.
Congo's Disease X: What We Know
An undiagnosed 'Disease X' is spreading in a remote region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Initial lab analyses suggest the mysterious disease spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo could be malaria, though authorities still believe more than one infection may be involved in the outbreak.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Tuesday confirmed results of the first lab tests of the disease showed the presence of the mosquito-transmitted infection.
"Of the 12 initial samples collected, 10 tested positive for malaria, although more than one disease may be involved," he said during a media briefing.
So far, Congo has recorded 416 cases of the undiagnosed disease. Severe cases have been reported among severely malnourished people, including 31 deaths, mostly children.
The spread of the disease is currently concentrated in the Panzi district in Kwango province, located about 700 kilometers (435 miles) from the capital, Kinshasa. Panzi district is remote, with difficult-to-access roads and nearly non-existent health infrastructure.
Health officials say the disease is most likely to be an already-known illness rather than a brand-new one.
"Reports of outbreaks with fatalities crop up somewhere in the world several times a year. Almost all turn out to be an already well-known infection with limited global consequences," said Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, UK, in a press statement.
What is the likeliest cause of the disease outbreak?
Jake Dunning, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Oxford, UK, said calling the incident a Disease X outbreak could be misleading and counterproductive.
"Disease X should only really be used when there is an infectious disease with epidemic or pandemic potential and a novel pathogen has been identified or is strongly suspected. It would be more appropriate to say that, currently, this is an undiagnosed morbidity and mortality event," Dunning told DW via email.
The disease causes flu-like symptoms of fever, headache, cough, and anemia.
That's why the (WHO) also believes the unidentified disease will most likely be traced back to already known causes.
Based on the symptoms, acute pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19, measles and malaria are being considered as possible causes.
These symptoms are associated with malaria, but other infections that may be causing the illness include measles and mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya.
Africa CDC investigating causes with local authorities, WHO
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has deployed a multidisciplinary team of science and health experts to support the WHO and DRC's Ministry of Health's ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, they are running diagnostic tests and implementing disease control measures on the basis that more than one disease is responsible for the infections.
However, they are likely to face difficulties detecting the cause because of the affected area's remoteness and logistical barriers.
Limited mobile phone and internet coverage across the region have hampered the deployment of response teams. It's a two-day drive from the nearest major healthcare hub in Kinshasa due to the rainy season affecting roads.
Why is this disease such a mystery?
Health experts believe the causes of the outbreak are unknown because of limited testing capabilities in the region.
Clinical laboratories in the Panzi district can only test for common pathogens. The detection of rarer pathogens often requires samples to be sent to specialist laboratories. Scientists there use techniques that aren't available in remote areas, such as gene sequencing, to find which pathogens are causing a disease to spread.
For DRC, this might mean samples will be sent abroad for testing, increasing delays.
"The DRC has some great clinicians, scientists, and laboratories, all well versed in outbreaks and emerging infections, but the DRC is a huge country and arguably remains resource-limited and a complex environment," Dunning told DW.
The lack of information about the disease makes it harder for local health authorities to accurately assess the threat they face.
International healthcare teams are investigating so-called transmission dynamics, and actively searching for additional cases, both within health facilities and at the community level.
"It is vital that these cases are investigated promptly so that appropriate treatment and control measures can be implemented," said Hunter.
Deputy governor of Kwango Remy Saki told DW on December 8 that the province had implemented measures to prevent the epidemic from spreading.
The measures include limiting the movement of people and registering the entry and exit of people from surrounding villages, as well as wearing face masks.
Vikram Misri Briefed Indian Parliament Members on His Bangladesh Visit
Vikram Misri, India's Foreign Secretary, briefed the Standing Committee on External Affairs in the Indian Parliament on his recent visit to Bangladesh.
In a meeting lasting over two and a half hours on Wednesday (December 11) at the Parliament Annex building in New Delhi, Misri responded to various questions from the parliamentarians, according to a report in the Indian Express citing PTI.
Speaking to reporters after the briefing, Shashi Tharoor, a senior Congress leader and chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, said, "We had an excellent briefing on Bangladesh. The Foreign Secretary returned from Bangladesh yesterday. He briefed us in great detail about the visit. But I cannot go into specifics. However, 21-22 parliamentarians asked the Foreign Secretary important questions about the visit. They sought information on many issues. The Foreign Secretary responded in detail and straightforwardly. But I cannot go into specifics."
Citing sources, a report in the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) stated that Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri informed the parliamentarians that the interim government in Dhaka had assured them of taking action against those involved in attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.
The Indian Foreign Secretary told the parliamentarians that during the meeting in Dhaka, the Dr. Muhammad Yunus-led administration did not mention reviewing any agreements signed with Delhi.
Citing multiple sources who attended the meeting, IANS reported that during the briefing, several Indian parliamentarians asked Vikram Misri about the status of Sheikh Hasina while she is in India.
It may be noted that Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Dhaka on the previous Monday. This was the first visit by an Indian diplomat to Bangladesh after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government in August. On that day, he led the Indian delegation in foreign office consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh. Misri met with the interim government's chief adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and foreign adviser Towhid Hossain, as well as Foreign Secretary Jasim Uddin."
Key Points from the Brief:
Purpose of the briefing: To inform Indian parliamentarians about the Foreign Secretary's visit to Bangladesh and the discussions held.
Topics discussed: The situation of Hindus in Bangladesh, the interim government's stance on existing agreements with India, and the status of Sheikh Hasina.
Reactions: Indian parliamentarians expressed keen interest and asked detailed questions.
Significance of the visit: This was the first high-level diplomatic visit from India to Bangladesh after the change in government.
Overall, the briefing highlights the importance of India-Bangladesh relations and the Indian government's keen interest in the developments in Bangladesh.
