Dubai: Kerala businessman Dr. PA Ibrahim Haji, Co-Chairman Malabar Group and Chairman PACE Group on Monday was awarded with the UAE’s 10-year permanent residency Golden card. Dr. Ibrahim Haji received his Golden card by Lieutenant Colonel Omar Matar Khamis Al Mezaina, Director of Establishment Department, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai.

Dr. Ibrahim joins the list of around 400 outstanding expatriates, including business leaders who have received the Golden card since the UAE government introduced the permanent residency earlier this year.

Doctors, investors, specialists and students (those with a grade of 95 per cent and above in general secondary and university students with a grade of 3.75 and above. Executive managers with a monthly salary of Dh30,000 and above are also eligible for the long-term visa.

"Granting the 10-year visa is a great initiative by the Government of UAE. This step is in fulfillment of the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make UAE one of the most investor friendly countries in the world. It has benefited not only the investor residents of UAE but also this is an attraction for more and more businessmen from all over the world to live and establish themselves in UAE. This will also contribute not only to the economic development of this country but also technological advancement and scientific research with the advent of the skilled new generation," the company said in a statement.

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New Delhi (PTI): An Australian journalist on Tuesday claimed that she was forced to leave India after the government refused to extend her work visa contending that her reportage had "crossed a line".

Avani Dias, the South Asia Bureau Chief of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, said she had to leave India on April 19, the day the Lok Sabha elections started after the government objected to her reporting on the assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

"Last week, I had to leave India abruptly. The Modi Government told me my visa extension would be denied, saying my reporting 'crossed a line'," Dias said on X.

"We were also told my election accreditation would not come through because of an Indian Ministry directive. We left on day one of voting in the national election in what Modi calls "the mother of democracy," said Dias, who had been working in India for the past two-and-a-half years.

She said after intervention from the Australian government, her visa was extended for two months which was conveyed "less than 24 hours before my flight".

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said Dias was informed of the decision by an official from the Ministry of External Affairs, who said her most recent Foreign Correspondent episode "crossed a line".

ABC said YouTube has also blocked access in India to an episode of its news series Foreign Correspondent on the Nijjar killing.