Latest news with #foreigners
Washington Post
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
The Taliban criticize neighboring countries for their mass expulsion of Afghans
ISLAMABAD — The Taliban on Wednesday criticized neighboring countries for the mass expulsion of Afghans, as Iran and Pakistan expel foreigners who they say are living there illegally. The two countries set deadlines and threatened them with arrest or deportation if they did not comply. They deny targeting Afghans, who make up significant numbers in both countries.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Japan's anti-foreigner politics on the rise as right-wing party wins votes online
Yuta Kato says he is increasingly annoyed by foreigners ignorant of Japan's social etiquette, whether that involves blocking the streets near his work in Tokyo's upscale Ginza district or distracting commuters by playing loud videos on their phones. The 38-year-old hairdresser is among a growing number of Japanese voters drawn to the right-wing Sanseito party, whose warnings about foreigners helped it establish a strong foothold in an upper house election on Sunday. "It is not about discrimination, it's just like, why don't they notice?" said Kato, who, like many Sanseito supporters, obtains his information from YouTube and other social media sites, a space the party has utilised to amplify its "Japanese First" message. Japan's foreign-born residents account for just 3% of the total population, a fraction of the corresponding proportion in the United States and Europe, but record numbers of tourists in recent years have made foreigners more visible in major cities. While Sanseito largely avoids identifying specific immigrant groups, Romeo Marcantuoni, a Tokyo-based academic who has studied the party, said it taps into latent concerns ranging from badly-behaved tourists to conspiracy theories about sneaking Chinese influence. Kato said he believes the Chinese, the biggest cohort of foreign residents in Japan and among the largest visitor groups, are quietly taking over the country. Chinese are also often the focal point for anti-immigrant rhetoric propagated online. Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and other party lawmakers and candidates have raised concerns about Chinese buying up land and resources in Japan. One of the party's policies listed on its website is to "stop the silent invasion of Japan by foreign forces". Sanseito's rise has sparked a backlash by those who fear the party is normalising xenophobia. A rally on Monday attracted dozens of protesters who tried to drown out the speakers. "It is people falling for lies and displacing their frustrations - economic hardship, political alienation - onto others," said Miroko Kato, a 42-year-old haiku poet among the protestors. "We're here to say: we're watching you!" The party did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Kamiya has previously denied criticism that it is xenophobic. Sanseito is most popular among 18 to 39-year-olds, with men favouring the party more than women, according to a poll conducted by public broadcaster NHK, a trend increasingly seen among support for right-wing parties in democracies worldwide. In contrast, support for Ishiba's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which lost its majority in Sunday's election, is deepest among those aged over 70 with no clear gender divide, the NHK poll showed. Sanseito's presence online has given them visibility among younger voters that the LDP has struggled to reach, Kato said. The party's official YouTube channel has three times as many followers as the LDP's, with engagement in their content far higher than other parties, a study by Asahi newspaper found. "They are the party of YouTube," said Jeffrey Hall, a lecturer at Kanda University of International Studies who has authored a book on right-wing politics in Japan. YouTube did not respond to emails seeking comment on Sanseito's use of the platform. On its community guidelines page, YouTube says it closely monitors content and removes videos it deems to promote "harmful or dangerous behavior". Broader appeal Birthed during the COVID-19 pandemic when they spread conspiracy theories about vaccinations, Sanseito has broadened its appeal with its tough immigration policies and pledges to help households struggling with rising prices. It also wants to scrap Japan's pacifist constitution and restore the Emperor's authority, fringe ideas promoted by other right-wing groups that regularly drive around Japan's cities in black trucks blaring imperial-era military songs. While that megaphone politics has long been largely ignored by the Japanese, Sanseito has set its sights on emulating the successes of other far-right groups in Europe, such as Germany's AfD and Britain's Reform UK. At a rally held outside Tokyo's bustling Shimbashi train station on Monday, crowds clapped and cheered some of Sanseito's newly elected lawmakers. "They're going to get things done," said Eriko Harada, 47, a housewife wearing a kimono and a headband emblazoned with the words 'Samurai Spirit', who said she voted for the first time this year.
CNA
20-07-2025
- CNA
Malaysian authorities say situation at land border with Singapore back under control following day of auto-gate chaos
Malaysian authorities say the situation at a major land border with Singapore is back under control after some auto-immigration gates resumed normal operations on Saturday evening. Thousands of travellers had reported hours-long wait, due to issues affecting auto-gate functions for foreigners since Friday afternoon. Visitors from 63 countries and regions, including Singapore, have used this system to cross the border since June last year. Nicolas Ng with more.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Gunmen kill 2 Indians and abduct a third in Niger
NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Gunmen killed at least two Indians and abducted a third during an attack in Niger's southwest Dosso region, according to Indian authorities, the latest such violence targeting foreigners in Niger's conflict-battered territories. The Indian Embassy in Niger said in a statement on X on Friday that the attack occurred on Tuesday, and that it was in touch with local authorities to repatriate the bodies of the victims and ensure the safe release of the kidnapped individual. Local media in Niger identified the victims as workers at a construction site in Dosso, located 140 kilometers (87 miles) from the country's capital of Niamey. Foreigners are increasingly becoming targets of armed groups in Niger. Several of them have been kidnapped this year, including an Austrian woman who has lived in Niger as an aid worker for more than 20 years, a Swiss woman seized from her home in April and five Indian workers, also in April. Niger has for many years battled a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, a security crisis that analysts say has worsened since the military toppled the country's government in July 2023, and has since struggled to restore peace in hot spots. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, June was one of the country's deadliest months on record as IS-backed fighters launched a major offensive across the Tillaberi and Dosso regions, killing more than 100 civilians in what marked a return to mass atrocities in rural areas. The Associated Press Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Malay Mail
19-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Woman flees Immigration raid in Ipoh, leaves husband and children behind
IPOH, July 19 — A foreign woman, believed to be from Sulawesi, fled and left behind her husband and two young children during a pre-dawn immigration raid at a construction site in Persiaran Panorama Lapangan Perdana here today. The family was among over 200 foreigners screened in the joint operation by the Perak Immigration Department and the General Operations Force. Her husband and children, aged two and three, were detained, while she escaped. Perak Immigration director Datuk James Lee said about 120 individuals were arrested for offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and related regulations. 'Our main focus tonight was on those using fake or expired documents, or staying in the country illegally,' he said. He urged employers to deal directly with the Immigration Department and avoid using middlemen. Those detained will be sent to the Home Ministry Complex, while undocumented children will be placed in a special depot. — Bernama
