Latest news with #LisiNiesner
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
German government restricts migrant family reunification, path to citizenship
FILE PHOTO: Suspected illegal migrants sit on the ground after they were detained by German police during their patrol along the German-Polish border to prevent illegal migration, in Forst, Germany, September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo BERLIN - Germany's government approved measures to restrict family reunification for migrants and delay citizenship access on Wednesday, forging ahead with a major shift in migration policy under conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The cabinet agreed to a two-year suspension of the right for migrants who do not qualify for full refugee status, so called "subsidiary protection" holders, to bring their children and spouses to Germany. Around 380,000 people, mainly Syrians, hold this status. Subsidiary protection previously allowed 12,000 family members to join their relatives in Germany annually. According to the draft law, this temporary suspension aims "to relieve pressure on Germany's reception and integration systems" and provides an "appropriate means for quickly relieving burden on municipalities". The government also eliminated the "fast-track" naturalization option after three years of residency, extending the minimum waiting period for citizenship to five years. This decision overturns a regulation introduced six months ago by the three-party coalition under Social Democrat Olaf Scholz. Last year, Germany saw around 200,000 naturalizations, the highest in 25 years. The criteria for applicants typically include financial independence, stable employment and strong language skills. The legislative proposals will be fast-tracked through parliament via the governing coalition of conservatives and Social Democrats, bypassing the need for referral to the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
German government restricts migrant family reunification, path to citizenship
FILE PHOTO: Suspected illegal migrants sit on the ground after they were detained by German police during their patrol along the German-Polish border to prevent illegal migration, in Forst, Germany, September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany's government approved measures to restrict family reunification for migrants and delay citizenship access on Wednesday, forging ahead with a major shift in migration policy under conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The cabinet agreed to a two-year suspension of the right for migrants who do not qualify for full refugee status, so called "subsidiary protection" holders, to bring their children and spouses to Germany. Around 380,000 people, mainly Syrians, hold this status. Subsidiary protection previously allowed 12,000 family members to join their relatives in Germany annually. According to the draft law, this temporary suspension aims "to relieve pressure on Germany's reception and integration systems" and provides an "appropriate means for quickly relieving burden on municipalities". The government also eliminated the "fast-track" naturalization option after three years of residency, extending the minimum waiting period for citizenship to five years. This decision overturns a regulation introduced six months ago by the three-party coalition under Social Democrat Olaf Scholz. Last year, Germany saw around 200,000 naturalizations, the highest in 25 years. The criteria for applicants typically include financial independence, stable employment and strong language skills. The legislative proposals will be fast-tracked through parliament via the governing coalition of conservatives and Social Democrats, bypassing the need for referral to the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat. (Reporting by Markus Wacket, writing by Kirsti Knolle, editing by Rachel More)
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- Straits Times
Arctic warming seen at three times global average in years ahead, UN weather agency says
FILE PHOTO: A general view of sea ice in the arctic ocean close the coast of Svalbard, Norway, April 5, 2023. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo Arctic warming seen at three times global average in years ahead, UN weather agency says GENEVA - The world is expected to experience more record temperatures over the next five years, with Arctic warming predicted at more than three times the global average, a new report by the U.N. weather agency said on Wednesday. There is an 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will see record heat, with a high likelihood that average warming will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, according to the report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Last year, the hottest year on record, saw the first breach of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which committed countries to avoid global warming of more than 1.5 C. From this year until the end of 2029, the mean near-surface temperature globally is forecast to be between 1.2 C and 1.9 C higher than pre-industrial levels of the years 1850-1900, the WMO said, adding that this would fuel more extreme weather. "Every additional fraction of a degree of warming drives more harmful heatwaves, extreme rainfall events, intense droughts, melting of ice sheets, sea ice, and glaciers, heating of the ocean, and rising sea levels," it said in a statement. In the Arctic, the above-average projected warming will accelerate ice melt in the Arctic and northwest Pacific Ocean. The report said Arctic warming was predicted to be more than three-and-a-half times the global average, at 2.4 C above the average temperature during the most recent 30-year baseline period over the next five winters. Overall global temperatures will remain at or near record levels until the end of the decade, the WMO report said. Above-average rainfall is forecast in parts of the world including the Sahel, northern Europe, Alaska and northern Siberia, for the months between May and September between 2025 and 2029, while drier-than-average conditions are foreseen this season over the Amazon, according to the weather agency. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Star
Arctic warming seen at three times global average in years ahead, UN weather agency says
FILE PHOTO: A general view of sea ice in the arctic ocean close the coast of Svalbard, Norway, April 5, 2023. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo GENEVA (Reuters) -The world is expected to experience more record temperatures over the next five years, with Arctic warming predicted at more than three times the global average, a new report by the U.N. weather agency said on Wednesday. There is an 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will see record heat, with a high likelihood that average warming will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, according to the report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Last year, the hottest year on record, saw the first breach of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which committed countries to avoid global warming of more than 1.5 C. From this year until the end of 2029, the mean near-surface temperature globally is forecast to be between 1.2 C and 1.9 C higher than pre-industrial levels of the years 1850-1900, the WMO said, adding that this would fuel more extreme weather. "Every additional fraction of a degree of warming drives more harmful heatwaves, extreme rainfall events, intense droughts, melting of ice sheets, sea ice, and glaciers, heating of the ocean, and rising sea levels," it said in a statement. In the Arctic, the above-average projected warming will accelerate ice melt in the Arctic and northwest Pacific Ocean. The report said Arctic warming was predicted to be more than three-and-a-half times the global average, at 2.4 C above the average temperature during the most recent 30-year baseline period over the next five winters. Overall global temperatures will remain at or near record levels until the end of the decade, the WMO report said. Above-average rainfall is forecast in parts of the world including the Sahel, northern Europe, Alaska and northern Siberia, for the months between May and September between 2025 and 2029, while drier-than-average conditions are foreseen this season over the Amazon, according to the weather agency. (Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin;Editing by Helen Popper)
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Relive the top shots from the 2025 French Open
Relive the top shots from the 2025 French Open May 25: Tommy Paul of the United States returns a shot against Elmer Moller of Denmark on Day 1 at Roland Garros Stadium. Susan Mullane, Imagn Images May 25: Qinwen Zheng of China serves during her match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Day 1 at Roland Garros Stadium. Susan Mullane, Imagn Images May 25: France's Frances Tiafoe in action during his first round match against Russia's Roman Safiullin at the French Open. Lisi Niesner, Reuters May 25: Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her first round match against Russia's Kamilla Rakhimova at the French Open. Denis Balibouse, Reuters May 25: Belgium's Zizou Bergs in action during his first round match against France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the French Open. Lisi Niesner, Reuters May 25: France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard reacts during his first round match against Belgium's Zizou Bergs at the French Open. Lisi Niesner, Reuters May 25: Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in action during her first round match against Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez at the French Open. Lisi Niesner, Reuters May 25: Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez in action during her first round match against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina at the French Open. Lisi Niesner, Reuters
