Facts you may not know about Portugal

Newswire Lisbon: Portugal is a beautiful country in Europe with attractions for everyone. The country is home to Europe’s westernmost point, Cabo da Roca, located near Lisbon. It’s not just a picturesque spot but also holds historical significance as it marks the edge of the European continent. The University of Coimbra, established in 1290, is […]

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Europe’s migrant crisis continues as Spanish islands ‘demand help’

Ali Rehman Malik Walk through some of the post-industrial towns of Lancashire and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve stepped into another century. In places like Blackpool and Burnley, home to some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in England, the streets still echo with the ghosts of Victorian Britain, not from nostalgia, but from neglect. […]

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China’s expanding visa-free policy enhances inclusive globalization

Global Times Starting Monday, China began implementing a trial visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. With this expansion, China now offers unilateral visa-free entry to 47 countries. Not long ago, China extended its unilateral visa-free policy to Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) by granting visa-free entry to […]

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Italy: Referendum on easing citizenship rules thwarted by low turnout

Newswire Rome: An Italian referendum on easing citizenship rules and strengthening labour protections this week failed after hard-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni encouraged voters to boycott the vote. As polls closed on Monday, it emerged that many citizens had heeded Meloni’s call as only 30 percent of the electorate cast their ballots over two days […]

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International tourists drive shopping surge in China

Henan Daily Zhengzhou: Favourable policies such as visa-free transit and a nationwide instant tax refund system are helping to make China an increasingly popular destination for international travellers, alongside strong global demand for “Made in China” products. At a DJI store in Beijing’s SKP mall on April 23, an American tourist browsed drones on his […]

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China’s consumer goods trade-in program spurs 1.1 trillion yuan in sales

Henan Daily Zhengzhou: China’s consumer goods trade-in program has generated 1.1 trillion yuan (about 153.1 billion U.S. dollars) in sales in the first five months this year, the Ministry of Commerce said this week. As of Saturday, nationwide trade-ins had fueled a surge in transactions, including 4.12 million vehicles, 77.62 million units of household appliances […]

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Expanding visa-free ‘circle of friends’ shows China’s focus on openness, cooperation

Global Times China’s visa-free “circle of friends” has once again expanded. Effective June 1, China began implementing a trial policy that unilaterally grants visa-free entry to citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. Beginning June 9, the policy will also apply to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. These initiatives vividly reflect China’s diplomatic […]

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France to ban smoking on beaches, parks and bus stops from July 1

Newswire Paris: France will ban smoking in all outdoor places that can be accessed by children, including beaches, parks and bus stops, the health and family minister announced this week. Famed as a country where smokers linger over cigarettes on cafe terraces or strolling down cobblestone streets, France has increasingly tightened restrictions on tobacco use […]

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Meet the winners: Turismo de Portugal

Newswire Lisbon: Representatives from Turismo de Portugal this week spoke with Routes in Seville after winning the Destination category at the Routes Awards for the second consecutive year. Turismo de Portugal is the national tourism authority tasked with promoting, enhancing and ensuring the sustainability of tourism activity in Portugal, a sector critical to the country’s […]

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Portugal to process work visas within 20 days for foreign workers

Newswire Lisbon: Portuguese authorities will fast-track agreement for foreign workers. Portuguese employers will need to meet several criteria to bring foreign workers to the country through the fast-track scheme. Under this agreement, Portugal will process work visa applications for foreign workers with job offers within 20 days from the date of application and will make […]

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What is the ETA? European travellers need €12 entry permit to visit the UK starting this week

Newswire Brussels: The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system has officially expanded to European travellers. Starting 2 April 2025, all European visitors will need ETA approval – or, for some non-EU nationals, a visa – to enter the UK. The system became mandatory for travellers from the US, Canada and Australia on 8 January 2025, […]

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Germany introduces new visa appointment system in Pakistan

Karachi: Germany’s Consulate General in Karachi this week implemented a significant change to its visa appointment system, effective immediately. Due to overwhelming demand, applicants will no longer be able to book appointments directly. Instead, they must first register on a waiting list, with appointments being allocated based on availability and registration order. The change specifically […]

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Pakistan may face travel ban by US if govt doesn’t address ‘deficiencies within 60 days’

Islamabad: Donald Trump’s administration in Washington is considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban and Pakistan has been placed in a group that would be considered for a partial suspension of visa issuance if their governments “do not make efforts to address deficiencies within […]

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Denmark grants ‘historic’ low asylum requests in 2024

Copenhagen: Denmark’s strict immigration policies resulted in the granting of just 860 asylum requests last year, the lowest number with the exception of 2020, when Covid-19 lockdowns halted new arrivals. Denmark’s immigration approach has been influenced by the far-right parties for over 20 years, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, the head of the Social Democrats, […]

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China’s railways see over 200 million passengers since start of Spring Festival rush

Henan Daily Zhengzhou: China’s railways have transported over 200 million passengers since the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush kicked off on Jan. 14, China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) said. As of Jan. 30, the country’s railways had transported a total of 206 million passengers, according to the China Railway. The transportation was […]

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Portugal might grant citizenship to stateless people after 3 years of residency under new proposal

Newswire Lisbon : Portugal’s green political party, Livre, has proposed to grant Portuguese nationality to stateless people who have been residing in Portugal for at least three years, provided they have sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language and don’t pose a risk to national security. The bill proposed by Livre was discussed in the Parliament […]

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The stunning seaside town in Italy with a ‘Santorini feel’ you may have never heard of

Newswire Rome: A quaint little town in the southern region of Puglia offers up the quintessential Italian experience, described as being similar to Santorini but with much a calmer ambiance. Monopoli charmingly combines its historic medieval centre with its picturesque coastline and is one of the loveliest places to stroll. The town is home to […]

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2024, a record year for international tourism in France

Newswire Paris: The ministry of economy this week announced a record year 2024 for French tourism, due to the growth of international visits. The 2024 attendance and revenue figures bear show that over 100 million international visitors came to France (+2 million), generating €71 billion in international revenue (+12%). An encouraging and promising balance sheet […]

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‘China travel’ continues to heat up as impact of visa-free policies grows

Newswire Zhengzhou: With China relaxing and optimizing its visa-free policies and introducing measures to facilitate foreign travelers, “China travel” has become a top choice for many international tourists. According to the latest data from the National Immigration Administration of China, in 2024, immigration authorities nationwide handled 610 million border crossings, a year-on-year increase of 43.9 […]

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Pakistan heaven for tourists: High Commissioner Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri

Canberra: Pakistani High Commissioner to Australia Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said this week that Pakistan is a heaven for the tourists. Highlighting Pakistan’s beauty on X, he shared pictures of the beautiful sites. Speaking to Covert, the envoy said Pakistan offered enormous opportunities to the tourists with safe and secure environment. High Commissioner Chaudhri said Pakistan […]

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Pakistani authorities arrest suspected human smuggler linked to last year’s Greece boat tragedy

Abdullah Jan Islamabad: Pakistani authorities this week announced the arrest of a suspected human smuggler from Azad Kashmir, accusing him of involvement in last year’s Greece boat tragedy that killed five nationals and charging him with sending one victim abroad after taking Rs 4.5 million ($16,200). The incident occurred in December when a wooden vessel […]

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What to expect for golden visa program of Portugal in 2025: Predictions & key developments

Newswire Lisbon: In 2025, an increasing demand is expected for Portugal’s Golden Visa Program from North America as well as the United Kingdom. The demand from the Asian market is expected to remain consistent throughout 2025. In 2025, authorities in Portugal are aiming to streamline the processing of applications to meet the surge in demand […]

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