world news
Sudanese Pastor Sentenced to a Month in Jail
Sudan – Earlier this week ICC reported that Islamic extremists attacked a church in Central Sudan. The militants injured the pastor, Pastor Estefanos, and beat three other women in the congregation while the church was gathering for a Palm Sunday service.
One of the perpetrators was a police officer who had previously filed a sound complaint and an accusation of disturbing public order against Pastor Estefanos. At the time of the attack, Pastor Estefanos had a court hearing scheduled for Monday, April 25 on account of the police officer’s charges.
Unfortunately, Pastor Estefanos was sentenced to a month in jail at Monday’s hearings. Judge Awad Ibrahim Kury, who is a Muslim, found him guilty of disturbing the peace under Article 69 of Sudan’s 1991 penal code. His jail sentence began on April 25.
Pastor Estefanos’ lawyer, Shanabo Awad, told news sources, “This ruling is not fair and my client is innocent.”
The jailed Christian leader’s church has long been harassed by Muslim extremists. Leaders of the church were detained and questioned in February after Muslim extremists were upset about the presence of their worship building and locked it down on Feb. 21. Dalman Hassan, an evangelist arrested on Feb. 27 and released along with the church pastor later that day, said the Muslims accused church members of hostility toward Islam by holding gatherings on Fridays, the Muslim day of mosque prayer.
Following two years of advances in religious freedom in Sudan after the end of the Islamist dictatorship under former President Omar al-Bashir in 2019, the specter of state-sponsored persecution returned with a military coup on Oct. 25, 2021.
After Bashir was ousted from 30 years of power in April 2019, the transitional civilian-military government managed to undo some sharia (Islamic law) provisions. It outlawed the labeling of any religious group “infidels” and thus effectively rescinded apostasy laws that made leaving Islam punishable by death.
With the Oct. 25 coup, Christians in Sudan fear the return of the most repressive and harsh aspects of Islamic law. Abdalla Hamdok, who had led a transitional government as prime minister starting in September 2019, was detained under house arrest for nearly a month before he was released and reinstated in a tenuous power-sharing agreement in November.
Hamdock had been faced with rooting out longstanding corruption and an Islamist “deep state” from Bashir’s regime – the same deep state that is suspected of rooting out the transitional government in the Oct. 25 coup.
Persecution of Christians by non-state actors continued before and after the coup. In Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Sudan remained at No. 13, where it ranked the previous year, as attacks by non-state actors continued and religious freedom reforms at the national level were not enacted locally.
Sudan had dropped out of the top 10 for the first time in six years when it first ranked No. 13 in the 2021 World Watch List. The U.S. State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report states that conditions have improved somewhat with the decriminalization of apostasy and a halt on the demolition of churches, but that conservative Islam still dominates society. Christians still face discrimination, including problems in obtaining licenses for constructing church buildings.
In 2019, the U.S. State Department removed Sudan from the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) that engage in or tolerate “systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom” and upgraded it to a watch list. The State Department removed Sudan from the Special Watch List in December 2020. Sudan had previously been designated as a CPC from 1999 to 2018.
The Christian population of Sudan is estimated at 2 million, or 4.5 percent of the total population of more than 43 million.
Sources:persecution
world news
Haitian Pastor in New Jersey Fears Return to Haiti as Asylum Case Remains Pending
A Haitian pastor now living in New Jersey says he fears he will be killed if he is forced to return to Haiti, as legal protections for many migrants come to an end.
Pastor Samuel Dupré, his wife, and their two children are seeking political asylum in the United States. While they wait for a decision, Dupré continues to preach a message of faith, hope, and compassion.
Dupré delivers sermons in Creole centered on God’s grace and mercy to churches throughout Philadelphia and South Jersey. But those themes are deeply personal for him now. He says he is praying for compassion for his own family as they try to remain in the United States.
Dupré’s fears have intensified after the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the end of Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of migrants, including roughly 300,000 Haitians. He says deportation to Haiti would put his life in immediate danger.
“I cannot go back,” Dupré said.
Asked why, he answered: “The gangs — they will kill me. Anywhere I go, they will kill me. They have connections, and we have gangs everywhere.”
Dupré said he cannot rely on police protection in Haiti.
“The police are not going to do anything,” he said. “When I was in Haiti and the gangs came after me, I reported that to the police, and they didn’t do anything for me.”
His journey to this point began in France, where he earned two master’s degrees at the University of Strasbourg. While teaching there, he decided to return to Haiti to serve his country. He taught at a college, started a Bible school, and founded a church.
But instead of finding opportunity to serve, Dupré says he found corruption and violence. He alleges that at the college where he worked, female students were trading sex with teachers in exchange for passing grades. After reporting those cases to authorities, he says he became a target.
Dupré said gang members later came to his home intending to kill him. He was not there, but he says they left behind a death threat letter and bullets on his plate as a warning.
“They control the government because a lot of people in the government are members of those gangs,” Dupré said. “That’s why they control the government and the people.”
After fleeing Haiti in 2020, Dupré reunited with his sister in New Jersey. But her home did not have enough space for his family of four. A church eventually took them in, housing them in a small storage room where they had no privacy and no way to cook or shower.
“We were not happy, but we didn’t know where to go,” Dupré said.
The family’s circumstances began to improve with help from HIAS, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. The organization connected them with Congregation Kol Ami and several churches in South Jersey. Through that network, attorney Steven Janove, a HIAS volunteer, began helping the family secure better housing and navigate the asylum process.
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Janove said Dupré has followed every rule required of him.
“What’s so frustrating is that Pastor Samuel, like so many other Haitians, followed the rules and did exactly what they were asked to do,” Janove said. “He came here fearing persecution. He filed an asylum application, paid the fee, filed for work authorization, was granted work authorization, got a job, paid taxes, and continued to follow the law while starting a life here.”
Janove said it would be cruel to send Dupré back to Haiti, where conditions remain dire. The U.S. State Department currently warns Americans not to travel to Haiti because of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, civil unrest, and limited health care.
That danger is one reason Fervent Church in Voorhees, New Jersey, joined a coalition of churches and synagogues supporting the family. Pastor Mike Rosado said helping immigrant families is central to the church’s mission.
“What are the simple ways we can express the gospel? By being there for Samuel and his family,” Rosado said. “We do that through prayer. We do that through food. We do that through support in any way possible.”
Dupré’s family is also receiving help from the Multi-Faith Refugee Assistance Program, a coalition assisting more than 100 immigrant families facing possible deportation.
Even as his future remains uncertain, Dupré continues his ministry. He teaches a weekly Bible school over Zoom for people in Haiti, allowing him to serve from a safe distance. He also speaks at churches and synagogues across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, encouraging others to hold on to faith during hardship.
Asked what he and his family would offer America if allowed to stay, Dupré said they would contribute through ministry, teaching, and work.
“I’m a pastor. We can share the gospel of God. We can also share God’s compassion with people,” he said. “And I am a teacher. I can become a college teacher here, and I can help people. I have a Ph.D., and I can also pay taxes. There are a lot of things we can do for America.”
As the Trump administration pushes former TPS holders to leave the country or face arrest and forced repatriation, advocacy groups are urging Congress to extend protections for immigrants who could be sent back to life-threatening conditions.
For now, Dupré says he is praying his family will be allowed to stay in the United States. Until then, he says his mission is unchanged: keep serving others while he waits.
Sources:CBN News
world news
പ്രവാസികൾക്ക് അനുവദിച്ചിരുന്ന പ്രത്യേക വിസ ഇളവ് കുവൈത്ത് പിൻവലിച്ചു
കുവൈത്ത് സിറ്റി: മേഖലയിലെ സംഘർഷ സാഹചര്യത്തിൽ പ്രവാസികൾക്ക് അനുവദിച്ചിരുന്ന പ്രത്യേക വിസ ഇളവ് കുവൈത്ത് പിൻവലിച്ചു. വ്യോമപാത അടച്ചതും വിമാന സർവീസുകൾ തടസ്സപ്പെട്ടതും കണക്കിലെടുത്ത് ഫെബ്രുവരി 28നാണ് കുവൈത്ത് ആഭ്യന്തര മന്ത്രാലയം ഈ പ്രത്യേക ഇളവുകൾ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചത്. സന്ദർശന വിസകളും പെർമിറ്റുകളും സ്വയമേവ നീട്ടിനൽകുന്ന നടപടിയും, കുവൈത്തിന് പുറത്തുള്ളവരുടെ വിസകൾക്ക് അനുവദിച്ചിരുന്ന മൂന്ന് മാസത്തെ അധിക കാലാവധിയുമാണ് ഇപ്പോൾ അവസാനിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്. വരും ദിവസങ്ങളിൽ പഴയ വിസ ചട്ടങ്ങൾ പൂർണമായും പുനഃസ്ഥാപിക്കുമെന്ന് ആഭ്യന്തര മന്ത്രാലയം ഔദ്യോഗികമായി അറിയിച്ചു.
ആഗസ്റ്റ് 31നകം കുവൈത്തിൽ നിന്ന് പുറത്തുപോകുന്നവർക്ക് നിലവിലെ പ്രത്യേക ഇളവുകൾ ബാധകമായിരിക്കുമെന്ന് മന്ത്രാലയം വ്യക്തമാക്കി. എന്നാൽ സെപ്റ്റംബർ ഒന്നുമുതൽ മുൻകാല വിസ നിയമങ്ങൾ കർശനമായി നടപ്പിലാക്കുമെന്നതിനാൽ, അവധിക്ക് നിശ്ചയിച്ചിട്ടുള്ള തീയതികൾ പ്രവാസികൾ കൃത്യമായി പാലിക്കണമെന്ന് അധികൃതർ നിർദേശിച്ചു. റസിഡൻസ് പെർമിറ്റ് സംബന്ധിച്ച ഔദ്യോഗിക രേഖകളും വിശദാംശങ്ങളും ‘സഹൽ’ ആപ്പിലൂടെ ലഭ്യമാകുമെന്നും ആഭ്യന്തര മന്ത്രാലയം കൂട്ടിച്ചേർത്തു.
Sources:globalindiannews
Kuwait has announced an end to the visit visa and absence permit extensions earlier put in place due to Iranian attacks and airspace closures in the region.
The Ministry of Interior in Kuwait said that effective September 1, 2026, the original regulations governing legal durations for entry visas and absence permits will be reinstated.
Kuwait and other Gulf countries were targeted by drone and missile strikes after the US-Iran war broke out in February 2026. In March, Kuwait announced that visitors who had entered the country would receive automatic extensions due to the exceptional circumstances. Practical issues such as airspace closures in the region and security concerns were accounted for in the decision.
Three-month absence permits were given to residents who were outside Kuwait and unable to return to the country, with no in-person processing required and full exemption from fees.
An absence permit in Kuwait is an authorisation required for expats, typically arranged via the Sahel app or Residency Affairs departments, to remain outside the country for more than six months without invalidating their residency.
On August 20, the Ministry of Interior said that the regular legal periods for entry visas and absence permits will be reinstated from September 1 onwards. However, the additional period for absence permits will remain in effect for residents who left the country on or before August 31, 2026.
The residency permit certificate issued through the Sahel app is “the official and approved reference” that will be used to determine when a resident’s absence permit will expire. “Residents must adhere to the specified period upon their return to the country,” the ministry added.
http://theendtimeradio.com
world news
വർക്ക് പെർമിറ്റ് കാലാവധി കഴിഞ്ഞോ? ഇനി മാനിറ്റോബയിൽ ജോലി തുടരാം!
വിന്നിപെഗ്: കാനഡയിലെ മാനിറ്റോബ പ്രവിശ്യയിൽ വർക്ക് പെർമിറ്റ് കാലാവധി കഴിഞ്ഞതോ ഉടൻ അവസാനിക്കാനിരിക്കുന്നതോ ആയ ചില വിദേശ തൊഴിലാളികൾക്ക് വലിയ ആശ്വാസമായി പുതിയ തൊഴിൽ അനുമതി പദ്ധതി പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു. അർഹരായ തൊഴിലാളികൾക്ക് രണ്ടുവർഷത്തേക്ക് മാനിറ്റോബ-നിർദ്ദിഷ്ട വർക്ക് പെർമിറ്റ് നീട്ടാൻ അവസരം ലഭിക്കും. ഇതിലൂടെ സ്ഥിരതാമസ (PR) നടപടികൾ പൂർത്തിയാകുന്നതുവരെ അവർക്ക് ജോലി തുടരാനാകും.
മാനിറ്റോബ പ്രൊവിൻഷ്യൽ നോമിനി പ്രോഗ്രാം (MPNP) വഴി സ്ഥിരതാമസത്തിനായി ശ്രമിക്കുന്നവരാണ് ഈ ഇളവിന്റെ പ്രധാന ഗുണഭോക്താക്കൾ. തൊഴിൽ ക്ഷാമം നേരിടുന്ന മേഖലകളിലെ പരിചയസമ്പന്നരായ തൊഴിലാളികളെ പ്രവിശ്യയിൽ നിലനിർത്തുകയും തൊഴിലുടമകൾക്ക് ആവശ്യമായ തൊഴിൽശക്തി ഉറപ്പാക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുക എന്നതാണ് സർക്കാരിന്റെ ലക്ഷ്യം.
അർഹതയുള്ളവർക്ക് മാനിറ്റോബ സർക്കാരിൽ നിന്ന് Support Letter ലഭിച്ച ശേഷം പുതിയ വർക്ക് പെർമിറ്റിനായി അപേക്ഷിക്കാം. എന്നാൽ ഈ ഇളവ് എല്ലാവർക്കും ബാധകമല്ല. നിശ്ചിത മാനദണ്ഡങ്ങൾ പാലിക്കുന്നതും MPNP നടപടികളിലുള്ളതുമായ തൊഴിലാളികൾക്കാണ് ഈ അവസരം ലഭിക്കുക.
കുടിയേറ്റ നിയമങ്ങളിലെ മാറ്റങ്ങൾ കാരണം ജോലി നഷ്ടപ്പെടുമെന്ന ആശങ്കയിലായിരുന്ന ആയിരക്കണക്കിന് താൽക്കാലിക വിദേശ തൊഴിലാളികൾക്ക് ഈ തീരുമാനം വലിയ ആശ്വാസമായാണ് വിലയിരുത്തപ്പെടുന്നത്. ഇതിനൊപ്പം, സ്ഥിരതാമസത്തിനായുള്ള അപേക്ഷകൾ വേഗത്തിൽ പരിഗണിക്കാനുള്ള നടപടികളും മാനിറ്റോബ സർക്കാർ തുടരുകയാണ്.
Sources:expressherald
Labour and Immigration Minister, Malaya Marcelino, announced earlier this week that, starting April 22, MPNP candidates whose work permits expired in 2024 or will expire this year can apply for the extension under a temporary public policy with the support of their employers.
The policy will apply to those temporary foreign workers who:
Had a valid MPNP Expression of Interest profile on January 15, 2025;
Have a valid MPNP Expression of Interest at the time of applying under this program;
Are currently employed in the province; and
Intend to establish themselves as a permanent resident in Manitoba.
Those who meet the criteria can apply for a work permit support letter from the province after completing an online submission form, available as of April 22.
Manitoba employers who have employees on expiring or expired work permits should take note of this announcement, which may serve as an avenue to keep their employees in Canada. However, this announcement does not necessarily mean employees who qualify for this program will have a pathway for permanent residency. Rather, this is a way to extend employees’ work permits without having to go through other immigration processes such as the advertising and recruitment processes of the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process.
Currently, the LMIA process takes more than 70 business days to complete and costs $1,000 in filing fees. The process that Manitoba has introduced can be initiated immediately on obtaining a work permit support letter and costs employers $230 in filing fees.
In order to qualify for this public policy, temporary foreign workers must either:
Hold a valid work permit that will expire in 2025, or
Have held a work permit valid on May 7, 2024, that has since expired as long as they have submitted an application for a new work permit under section 200 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, or
Have held a work permit valid on May 7, 2024, that has since expired and have submitted an application for an extension of the authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident under section 181 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, or
Have held a work permit valid on May 7, 2024, that has since expired and have submitted an application for restoration of temporary resident status under section 182 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, or
Were authorized to work pursuant to paragraph 186 (u) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations on May 7, 2024, and the work permit extension application remains pending or was approved, and have submitted an application for a new work permit under section 200 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, or
Were authorized to work pursuant to paragraph 186 (u) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations on May 7, 2024, and the work permit extension application remains pending or was approved, and have submitted an application for an extension of the authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident under section 181 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Since 1998, the MPNP has invited skilled workers to Manitoba to fill labour gaps. Last September, Manitoba extended temporary work permits to retain skilled labour as well as pave a path toward citizenship for those workers. At the time, the provincial government identified 6,700 temporary workers eligible for that extension. While Ottawa has been reducing the number of foreign workers at a federal level, Manitoba welcomed a record 9,540 through the provincial nominee program in 2024.
Employers who require guidance through the application process or have questions about this MPNP announcement should contact the MLT Aikins immigration team.
http://theendtimeradio.com
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