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The UK has scrapped a visa-free travel scheme for Jordanian visitors due to breaches of visitor rules.
British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Electronic Travel Authorisation system, which allows visitors to enter the UK multiple times over a two-year period for a fee of £10, would no longer be available to Jordanian nationals due to the misuse of the procedure, namely an increase in asylum claims at the border.
The scheme was launched in October last year, and initially only applied to Qatar, but was opened up to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan in February.
Middle Eastern states were chosen to pilot the scheme because they represent the highest number of returning tourists, with tracking data showing that three quarters of all holiday visitors from the UAE make repeat visits to Britain.
But on Tuesday it was announced that Jordanians are no longer able to access the system, which is being expanded to other nationalities from November.
Why has the scheme been scrapped for Jordanian nationals?
Authorities said they registered an increase in the number of Jordanians travelling to the UK to claim asylum, with refusals at the border rocketing from 22 in the first quarter of this year to 463 in the three months to June.
The number of asylum claims made by Jordanian nationals also rose steeply, from 17 in the final quarter of 2023 to 77 in the first quarter of 2024, and 261 in the three months to June.
In addition, there has been an increase in Jordanian nationals using an ETA to transit through the UK and subsequently claim asylum in Ireland, the UK government said.
“We are taking this action due to an increase in the number of Jordanian nationals travelling to the UK for purposes other than what is permitted under visitor rules since the visa requirement was lifted in February 2024,” Ms Cooper told the House of Commons.
“This has included a significant and sustained increase in asylum claims, and high rates of refusals at the border due to people travelling without the intention of visiting for a permitted purpose.”
This has “added significantly to operational pressures at the border”, Ms Cooper wrote.
She added that the decision to introduce a visa requirement was taken “solely for migration and border security reasons”, and the UK's relationship with Jordan “remains a strong and friendly one”.
A four-week transition period has been introduced for travellers who already hold an ETA and have confirmed trips. But any bookings arranged after 3pm on October 8 will require a visa instead.
A manager at one of Jordan’s largest travel agencies told The National the electronic visa had spurred significant demand for travel to Britain – and abuse of the system, which coincided with new flights by state-owned Royal Jordanian to Stansted and Manchester in March.
“Demand rose but the visa was widely abused,” said the manager, who did not want to be named. “Many Jordanians obtained it relatively easily and simply stayed in Britain.”
Louise Haycock, a partner at immigration lawyers Fragomen, in London, told The National the new UK government has been clear about its tough stance on immigration and compliance, and “Jordanians are the first nation to experience the government use of the operation of ETA to identify those nations who should be subject to greater scrutiny”.
She added: “The government’s monitoring of ETA use is expected to continue, with similar consequences where non-compliance is identified.”
Who will the ETA scheme be expanded to in November?
The ETA scheme will be expanded for all other nationals, except Europeans, in November and be required for entry from January 8, 2025.
The programme will be extended to European nationals in March 2025, and be a travel requirement for them from April 2, 2025.
Ms Cooper wrote: “Once fully rolled out, the ETA scheme will close the current gap in advance permissions and mean that for the first time, we will have a comprehensive understanding of those travelling to the UK.”
Other changes include the introduction of a VIP Delegate Visa for state and ministerial delegations and a Diplomatic Visa. Bereaved partners of Gurkhas and Hong Kong military unit veterans discharged before July 1, 1997 can also benefit from a fee waiver if they are destitute.
What is the ETA?
ETAs are digitally linked to a traveller's passport.
The scheme is cheaper, faster and easier to apply for than the long-standing Electronic Visa Waiver, which allowed visitors from the Gulf to stay in Britain for up to six months for tourism, business, study or medical treatment.
Under the system, travellers can make unlimited visits to Britain over two years, or until the holder’s passport expires, whichever comes first.
Has it been a success so far?
Not universally, no. Heathrow airport recently blamed the ETA scheme for a 90,000-drop in transfer passenger numbers on routes included in the system since it was launched.
It described the programme as “devastating for our hub competitiveness” and urged the government to review the inclusion of airside transit passengers.
Heathrow bosses pointed to a decline in the number of Qatari transfer travellers, with 19,000 fewer transit passengers travelling from the Gulf state to Heathrow in its first four months of operation.
What does the UK government say?
The government argues the ETA scheme enhances British border security by increasing officials’ knowledge about those looking to visit the UK and preventing the arrival of those who pose a threat. It says the robust security checks help prevent “abuse of our immigration system”.
Decades of flight: Heathrow through the years – in pictures
The biog
Favourite Emirati dish: Fish machboos
Favourite spice: Cumin
Family: mother, three sisters, three brothers and a two-year-old daughter
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium, Malayisa
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia on October 10
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Mobile phone packages comparison
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2A)
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At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020
Launched: 2008
Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools
Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)
Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13
Impact in numbers
335 million people positively impacted by projects
430,000 jobs created
10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water
50 million homes powered by renewable energy
6.5 billion litres of water saved
26 million school children given solar lighting
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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South Korea
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Juvenile arthritis
Along with doctors, families and teachers can help pick up cases of arthritis in children.
Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least six weeks.
Dr Betina Rogalski said "The younger the child the more difficult it into pick up the symptoms. If the child is small, it may just be a bit grumpy or pull its leg a way or not feel like walking,” she said.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in US, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap.
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee, excessive clumsiness, having a high fever and skin rash are other symptoms. Children may also have swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems and can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
In the UK, about 15,000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.
SQUADS
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Asghar, Bilal Asif, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Wahab Riaz
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne (vice-capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Gamage
Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Nigel Llong (ENG)
TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
ICC match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
The specs
Engine: 4 liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous electric motors placed at each wheel
Battery: Rimac 120kWh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power: 1877bhp
Torque: 2300Nm
Price: Dh7,500,00
On sale: Now
The%20specs
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
SPECS
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
By Marion Rankine
Melville House
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
