Latest news with #non-Europeans
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Exploring Krugersdorp's historic post office
Before the internet, people relied on post offices, and in the fifth edition of Echoes of Krugersdorp, the focus is on uncovering the stories and letters from Krugersdorp's historic post office, or the Central General Post Office as it was known when it was completed in 1938. Recently, the Krugersdorp News partnered up with the Krugersdorp Heritage Association (KHA) to revisit some of the past events and remarkable buildings that hold deep historical significance in our town. Co-founder of the KHA, Jaco Mattheyse, explains that the post office on the corner of Ockerse and Kruger Street is a more recent addition to the town, at least in comparison to the buildings previously featured in this series. ALSO READ: Echoes of Krugersdorp: Town Hall and its rich history 'Originally, this site formed part of a block of stands reserved by the ZAR government for official use. An exception was made for the corner of Commissioner and Kruger Street, which was allocated to Abner Cohen for his Monument Hotel, later known as the Majestic Hotel. Before the construction of the post office, the precise site served as the Pass Office under the ZAR administration,' he explained. Jaco continued to say to maximise the potential of the plot, the architects opted for an L-shaped layout, with the southern wing that housed public spaces and circulation offices, while the western wing contained staff facilities and, above, a switch-room. He added that the main entrance, originally from the private box and posting lobby facing Kruger Street, is of generous proportions. Sadly, this entrance is no longer in use, and the once grand main façade is now neglected. 'The principal public hall reserved at the time for Europeans measured 20 by six metres and had a secondary entrance on Ockerse Street, which serves today as the building's main access point.' He said that adjacent to it was a smaller, nearly square room of 5.5m x 6m, designated for non-Europeans. This section was accessed through an atrium off Ockerse Street. 'Today, the two spaces have been combined into a single large hall. Both public halls were acoustically treated and originally paved with wooden blocks. 'The Kruger Street wing included rooms for the Postmaster, accounts and general offices, male and female staff rooms, a records room, a cable vault and duct, and a staff entrance and stairwell leading from the postal yard,' he said. ALSO READ: Watch: World's most powerful rocket makes history with epic catch Jaco said the first floor was entirely dedicated to the engineering section, lit from the west by double bull's-eye windows and from the east by glass bricks. Architecturally, the building is clad in face brick, with white-painted concrete cornices and fins at window-head height. On the Kruger Street elevation, fins at sill level help square the building against the steeply sloping street. 'The main entrance is framed by four semi-circular-ended brick pylons. The two central pylons are topped with bronze effigies of a winged springbok, symbolising the building's communication function. This entrance is recessed slightly from the main wall and further distinguished by glass brick panes on the first floor and a variegated brick frieze. 'The frieze depicts an ox-wagon, representing the Great Trek and the discovery of the Reef, with mine dumps, headgear, and buildings of Krugersdorp's past and present in the background,' he revealed. Jaco continued that the building has served the Krugersdorp community for almost 90 years. 'It made national headlines on a rainy day in January 1992, when Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging members Petrus Jacobus Judeel and Andries Stefanus Kriel bombed the post office, scattering glass and debris across Ockerse Street. These two men were also involved in the bombings of Hillview High School in July 1991 and Cosatu House in Pretoria in December 1991. ALSO READ: Krugersdorp Bowling Club makes history They were granted amnesty on 12 June 1998 for these acts, including the theft of explosives from the Rustenburg Platinum Mine in 1991. 'This outstanding example of 1930s Art Deco architecture has withstood the trials and tribulations of nearly a century and remains a symbol of Krugersdorp's past, present and future,' he concluded. TEASER: Step back in time with the Krugersdorp Heritage Association as they explore the nearly century-old post office building. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
LeMonde
3 days ago
- LeMonde
French museums plan to raise admission fees for non-European visitors
It was to be expected. The announcement that the Louvre would introduce a special €30 admission price for non-European visitors as of January 1, 2026, has had a domino effect. According to Le Monde 's sources, this distinction between Europeans and non-Europeans will also be tested at the Château de Versailles (Paris region), at a monument managed by the National Monuments Center (CMN) – either the Arc de Triomphe or the Conciergerie, both in Paris – at the Château de Chambord, a castle in the Loire Valley (central France), as well as at Paris' Opéra Garnier. A source at the Culture Ministry said they were convinced that tourists who have come from afar would not hesitate to pay any price to step back in time with Marie-Antoinette, take a selfie with the Mona Lisa, or enjoy panoramic views of Paris from the Arc de Triomphe. This measure is expected to be extended to other sites in 2027. The goal is clear: to raise money, at a time when budget cuts threaten public subsidies, sponsorship has been drying up, and construction costs are soaring. At the Château de Versailles, which is always seeking funds to repair a cracked pool, restore a neglected grove, or fix a leaking roof, non-European visitors represent 42% of the monument's 8 million annual visitors.
Economic Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Portugal considers sweetening incentives for Golden Visa program
Live Events Less than two months after Spain scrapped its golden visa due to concerns about its effect on the housing market, Portugal is considering whether to sweeten its golden visa program and make a special tax regime for expatriates even more of the Presidency Antonio Leitao Amaro said in an interview that the measures being discussed would aim to bolster foreign investment and lure global talent to Portugal's declining to provide specifics, he said the goal was to burnish Portugal's image as an 'investment destination.'(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)Portugal's golden visa, among the most popular in Europe, offers non-Europeans a fast-track to residency through options including a minimum €500,000 ($572,780) investment in eligible funds. New Portuguese residents may also be eligible for a 20% flat tax on local income and a ten year exemption on most foreign to the golden visa and tax programs, Amaro said that the government is looking into organizing them in 'a more effective and economically efficient way' while ensuring that any changes are 'economically and socially fair.'Portugal's approach stands in contrast to not only Spain, which scrapped its golden visa program in April over complaints that it was driving up housing prices, but also to other European nations. Malta, Ireland, the Netherlands and Greece have all either ended or tightened the rules around their golden visa or equivalent programs in recent has risen for Portugal's golden visa, which only requires participants to spend about a week per year in the country. Golden visa approvals also rose 72% last year to a record 4,987 from the previous year, according to the country's immigration agency AIMA. Since the program launched in 2012, Americans have been among the top three recipients of golden visas along with Chinese and Brazilian whose center-right government won a second mandate in an early election last month, said there were no plans to scrap or 'demonize' the golden visa. That's a reversal from the previous socialist government, which removed real estate investment as a basis for golden visa eligibility in 2023 as a way to fight speculation in the housing market, where prices have surged to record highs. It previously threatened to scrap the program entirely.'There's no plan to end it. It's not on the table,' said Amaro. He said AIMA is working on clearing a backlog of almost 45,000 golden visas applications currently awaiting review.'We expect that by the end of the year this process will be largely taken care of,' he added.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Portugal considers sweetening incentives for Golden Visa program
Less than two months after Spain scrapped its golden visa due to concerns about its effect on the housing market, Portugal is considering whether to sweeten its golden visa program and make a special tax regime for expatriates even more attractive. Minister of the Presidency Antonio Leitao Amaro said in an interview that the measures being discussed would aim to bolster foreign investment and lure global talent to Portugal's economy. ALSO READ: Portugal speeds up Golden Visa processing after long delays by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Honor a Forgotten Father Today HelpAge India Donate Now Undo While declining to provide specifics, he said the goal was to burnish Portugal's image as an 'investment destination.' (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Portugal's golden visa, among the most popular in Europe, offers non-Europeans a fast-track to residency through options including a minimum €500,000 ($572,780) investment in eligible funds. New Portuguese residents may also be eligible for a 20% flat tax on local income and a ten year exemption on most foreign income. Live Events ALSO READ: Portugal is done being one of Europe's most welcoming destinations for foreigners Referring to the golden visa and tax programs, Amaro said that the government is looking into organizing them in 'a more effective and economically efficient way' while ensuring that any changes are 'economically and socially fair.' Portugal's approach stands in contrast to not only Spain, which scrapped its golden visa program in April over complaints that it was driving up housing prices, but also to other European nations. Malta, Ireland, the Netherlands and Greece have all either ended or tightened the rules around their golden visa or equivalent programs in recent years. ALSO READ: Portugal tightens migrant labour laws: End of work permits for these workers Demand has risen for Portugal's golden visa, which only requires participants to spend about a week per year in the country. Golden visa approvals also rose 72% last year to a record 4,987 from the previous year, according to the country's immigration agency AIMA. Since the program launched in 2012, Americans have been among the top three recipients of golden visas along with Chinese and Brazilian nationals. Amaro, whose center-right government won a second mandate in an early election last month, said there were no plans to scrap or 'demonize' the golden visa. That's a reversal from the previous socialist government, which removed real estate investment as a basis for golden visa eligibility in 2023 as a way to fight speculation in the housing market, where prices have surged to record highs. It previously threatened to scrap the program entirely. 'There's no plan to end it. It's not on the table,' said Amaro. He said AIMA is working on clearing a backlog of almost 45,000 golden visas applications currently awaiting review. 'We expect that by the end of the year this process will be largely taken care of,' he added.
Local Italy
29-04-2025
- Business
- Local Italy
EU court rules 'golden passport' schemes for rich investors are illegal
"The acquisition of Union citizenship cannot result from a commercial transaction," the EU's Court of Justice said, ruling that Malta had infringed EU law. Brussels had taken Malta to the top court in 2022 over the programme, which allows non-Europeans to effectively buy Maltese -- and therefore EU -- citizenship through defined payments or investments. Tuesday's decision is binding and Malta must comply or risk hefty fines. "A member state cannot grant its nationality –- and indeed European citizenship -– in exchange for predetermined payments or investments, as this essentially amounts to rendering the acquisition of nationality a mere commercial transaction," the court said. Although the court stressed that each member state has the right alone to decide on nationality, this was a freedom that must "be exercised in compliance with EU law". The Maltese scheme "infringes the principle of sincere cooperation and jeopardises the mutual trust between member states concerning the grant of their nationality", the court said. Rich Russians and Chinese had used the scheme to obtain EU citizenship from Malta. There had been similar schemes in Cyprus and Bulgaria but these countries later dropped them. Malta excluded Russian and Belarusian applications for "golden passports" following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when Europe cracked down on Kremlin-linked individuals.
