Expat News

Advisory For Expat Homeowners To Secure Property In UAE

If you have achieved a major milestone by purchasing your dream apartment or villa in the UAE, thus solidifying your long-term plans to settle in the Emirates, it's essential to secure your property. Safeguarding assets helps avoid unnecessary complications and secure your family’s future. As more expatriates settle and invest in the UAE, it is necessary to ensure assets are legally safeguarded through wills, trusts, and estate planning to avoid unnecessary complications later. According to legal authorities, while expatriates are keen on buying property in the UAE, many remain unaware of the importance of asset protection and inheritance planning.

Faith Groups Invited To Apply For Multicultural NSW Grants

Faith communities across New South Wales (NSW), Australia, have been given a valuable opportunity to enhance safety and resilience at their places of worship, thanks to the newly launched Safe Places for Faith Communities Grants by Multicultural NSW. Aimed at supporting locations where faith groups gather, these grants range from $5,000 to $250,000 and are designed to address a variety of safety-focused projects that can be completed by 30 June 2026. With these grants, faith communities are encouraged to strengthen their facilities, providing safe environments where members can practice their beliefs without the threat of racial or religious intolerance. Projects funded through this programme will not only help reduce potential risks of harm to attendees and property but will also contribute to greater community wellbeing and cohesion. Multicultural NSW emphasises that the programme is part of a broader vision to foster unity, allowing faith communities to maintain their traditions and heritage confidently. By making places of worship safer, the initiative hopes to build resilience, empowering communities to thrive together in an inclusive environment. Applications for the Safe Places for Faith Communities Grants will close on December 19, 2024, at 3 pm. Interested groups are encouraged to consider how they could use this funding to reinforce their spaces and safeguard their congregations for years to come.

Auckland Rail Network To Shut Nearly 100 Days Next Year

Transport Minister Simeon Brown has confirmed Auckland, New Zealand's train system will close for up to 96 days through to the end of January 2026, as work continues on the City Rail Link. He announced the plan alongside acting Auckland mayor Desley Simspon at Mt Eden Railway station last week.

The first major closure will go from December 27 until January 28. Another long outage is planned from April 12 to April 22, around Easter. Trains will also run at reduced capacity for large parts of the rest of the year. In all, there are up to 96 days of full closures and 53 days of partial closures planned. Some $200 million was being invested through the Budget to get the rail network completed on time, he said, and while the closures would have a significant impact on passengers and freight, it would help Auckland realise the full benefits of the CRL.

Telangana Delegates Meet Indian Community in Sydney

In collaboration with the Australian Telangana community, a Meet & Greet and Diwali celebration programme was held at the Woodcroft Community Centre in Sydney, Australia. Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Legislative Council Chairman Gutha Sukender Reddy, Deputy Chairman Banda Prakash Mudiraj, and Legislature Secretary Dr V Narasimha Charyulu attended the programme. Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Prasad Kumar extended his heartfelt thanks to the Telangana community in Australia for their warm hospitality, saying, "No matter where Telugu people go, they bring kindness and warmth, making us feel at home."