The date for the new £6 ETIAS permit, required for UK citizens to travel to Europe, has been confirmed. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be necessary for Brits travelling to 30 selected European countries, including popular holiday destinations like Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal. However, the start date has been delayed until 2025 due to technical issues.
And this comes as a new EU digital border system that will require fingerprints and facial scans to be taken from British travellers on first use is expected to launch in the autumn 2024, according to reports. The entry/exit system (EES) is earmarked to start on 6 October 2024, according to the i and Times newspapers, citing Getlink, the owner of Eurotunnel.
Under the EES, passengers would have to agree to fingerprinting and facial image capture the first time they arrived on the continent. After that, the data, including any record of refused entry, should allow quicker processing, according to travel bosses.
The EU Council has announced: “The new roadmap for the delivery of the new IT architecture foresees that the Entry/Exit system will be ready to enter into operation in Autumn 2024 and that ETIAS will be ready to enter into operation in Spring 2025.”
Due to unexpected delays, the launch of the ETIAS system has been pushed back to May 2025. This system is a requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of the 30 EU countries, including UK citizens.
The ETIAS system will cross-check applicant information with other EU systems to enhance security. The 30-day wait means that travellers who forget to purchase their ETIAS may not have enough time to get one before their holiday.
An ETIAS permit will cost around 7, with exceptions for applicants over 70 and minors (18 or under), who will receive it free of charge.
The EU has explained: “Recent security concerns with terrorism and the migrant crisis have called for better management of who is entering EU borders. The EU has continuously declared its goal of making travelling within its borders a more secure experience. To reduce procedures and wait times and address security concerns, the European Commission (EC) has come up with a solution ETIAS.”
“The ETIAS will undergo a detailed security check of each applicant to determine whether they can be allowed to enter any Schengen Zone country. While citizens of countries who do not need a visa for travel purposes of up to 90 days in the EU do not need to go through a long process of applying for the visa, the ETIAS will make sure that these people are not a security threat.”
Reasons the ETIAS can be denied to UK citizens:
You have a criminal background, pose a danger to society, or are on a travel watchlist about suspected terrorists
You provide fraudulent information during the application
You are travelling from an area with an epidemic/pandemic outbreak and could be a danger to public health. Story by Ben Hurst, Wales Online
At least 17 Speakers and Presiding Officers from sovereign states of the Commonwealth nations have arrived in Kampala with 15 more expected today ahead of the assembly of legislatures scheduled to begin on Thursday at Munyonyo Speke Resort.
So far those who have arrived include Leo Cato, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Grenada; Alban Kingsford Bagbin Sumana (Ghana), Mohamed Aslam (Maldives), Fetafehi Kinikinilau Lolomanaia (Tonga), Johari Abdul (Malaysia), and Auuapaau Mulipola Aloitafua (Samoa).
Others are Kenya’s Moses Francis Masika Wetangula, Sooroojdev Phokeer of Mauritius, Manzoor Nadir (Guyana), Nelly Mutti of Zambia, Namibia’s Lukas Sinimbo Muha, Jemma Nunu Kumba of South Sudan, Phandu Tombola Chaha Skelemani (Botswana), Mamonaheng Mokitimi (Lesotho), and Francisco Esperanca Laurinda of Mozambique.
Overall, 43 delegates confirmed their attendance at the 27th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference – CSPOC 2024 to run from 4th to 6th January 2024. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will officiate the opening of the event.
On Wednesday, the host Speaker Anita Among, who doubles as the Chairperson of CSPOC, held bilateral discussions with Johari Abdul the Speaker of the Parliament, and Dr. Wan Junaidi Bin Tuanku Jaafar of Malaysia with the President of the Senate of Malaysia.
She pointed out the need for the Conference to present an opportunity for legislatures to network, build, and nurture bilateral and multilateral relations through Parliamentary diplomacy within the Commonwealth fraternity.
Citing armed conflicts in the Middle East, various parts of Africa, parts of Eastern Europe, and Asia, Among observed that consensus building and effective parliamentary diplomacy is an effective remedy to disunity and a recipe for a more harmonious, tranquil, and stable society.
There are more than 45 armed conflicts currently taking place throughout the Middle East and North Africa specifically in territories of Yemen, Libya, Palestine, and Israel among others. Notably, ranks second in the number of armed conflicts per region. For instance, more than 35 non-international armed conflicts (NIACs) taking place in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.
“May the CSPOC conference re-alignment of Commonwealth Legislatures to marshal effort and confront the present-day realities of inequality, climate change, increased poverty, especially in the global south, conflict, and exploitation.” Among said.
In response, Dr. Junaidi said that he looks forward to sharing the Malaysian experience on Climate Change with the rest of the Commonwealth and also to deepening trade and investment ties.
The role of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments is pivotal in enhancing democracy and good governance. They are the gatekeepers of impartiality, custodians of parliamentary decorum and ethics, and guarantors of the rights and dignity of the minority even in the face of overwhelming majorities.
The leadership of Parliament has planned to use KIIRA Kayoola EV buses to transport the visitors who are scheduled to visit Namugongo Martyrs Shrines, Makerere University, and Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center (UWEC) in a gesture aimed at reducing carbon production.
The Conference brings together the Speakers and Presiding Officers of the national parliaments of the independent sovereign states of the Commonwealth. It was created in 1969 as an initiative of then Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, the Honourable Lucien Lamoureux. Since its inception, Canada has provided CSPOC with a secretariat to support its activities.
The Conference is an independent group and has no formal affiliation with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Commonwealth Secretariat, or the Commonwealth Heads of Government. CSPOC operates on a two-year cycle, holding a conference of the full membership every two years, usually early in January, and a meeting of the Standing Committee at the same time the intervening year.
The Conference aims to maintain, foster, and encourage impartiality and fairness on the part of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments; promote knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy in its various forms; and develop parliamentary institutions. By URN/Tower Post
President William Ruto. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]
Barely 24 hours after President William Ruto attacked the Judiciary for hindering the implementation of his projects, a section of lawyers have criticised the Head of State over his remarks.
Speaking at the funeral of the father of Nyandarua Senator John Methu in Njabini, President Ruto alleged a scheme by a few individuals who bribe judges to halt key development projects across the country through court orders.
“We will protect the independence of the Judiciary,” he said. “But we will not allow judicial tyranny and impunity."
Responding swiftly to his sentiments, critics have cautioned Ruto against imposing a tyrannical leadership style by following up on his threat to bypass directions from courts of law so that he can implement his government’s agenda such as the affordable housing project and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Prominent lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi took to X to advise Ruto to prioritize judicial reforms when he took power.
"The President must obey court orders issued by corrupt/bribe-taking judges. But he can/must remove corrupt/bribe-taking judges from the judiciary,” he stated.
Throwing his weight behind the matter that topped trends on X, law Professor Makau Mutua also called for comprehensive reforms in the judiciary instead of defying court orders.
“It is not just the judges who are corrupt. It’s a web and an ecosystem of corruption involving ministers and senior civil servants, lawyers, legislators, and businesspeople,” The Havard Law School alumnus posted.
Law Society of Kenya (LSK) National Council Member Hiet Njoki Mboce accused President Ruto of calling for an overthrow of the constitutional order and inviting anarchy.”
The advocate reminded Ruto that it was the same Judiciary that upheld his 2022 election and declared him president. By Killiad Sinide, The Standard
US Ambassador to South Sudan Michael J. Adler. [Photo courtesy]
On 31st December 2023, late Gen. Deng along with five people including two of his bodyguards were ambushed and killed by suspected armed youth while on the way to Agok to attend the New Year prayers at Jouljok Parish.
JUBA – The Embassies of Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the latest attack in the Abyei Administrative Area in which Deputy Administrator Noon Deng Nyok and several of his colleagues were killed.
On 31st December 2023, late Gen. Deng along with five people including two of his bodyguards were ambushed and killed by suspected armed youth while on the way to Agok to attend the New Year prayers at Jouljok Parish.
The Troika in the statement extended to Sudans Post said the attack and all other incidents of violence should be investigated, and perpetrators held accountable.
“The Embassies of Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States condemn the latest attack in the Abyei Administrative Area in which Deputy Administrator Noon Deng Nyok and several of his colleagues were killed on Sunday, December 31, 2023,” the statement reads in part.
The statement deplored the use of violence as a means of resolving political and economic differences.
“The use of violence as a tool for political or economic competition perpetuates a dangerous cycle and must be universally rejected by all South Sudanese leaders,” the statement said.
“This attack and all other incidents of violence should be investigated, and perpetrators held accountable,” it added. Sudans Post
10 youths arrested in Rumbek, Lakes State for drunkenness on the eve of the New Year celebration have been released.
Maj. Elijah Mabor Makuac , the police official spokesperson in Lakes State confirm their release to Radio Tamazuj on Monday.
“We just arrested them for security protection because they were under very heavy influence of alcohol and they were even not able to go home. So, the security forces decided to keep this people for their safety and up to this morning,” he said.
“The security update in Lakes State is 100 percent calm and normal. In fact, we didn't have issues during Christmas season. I can say congratulations to all security forces in Lakes State who have sacrificed themselves to offer the security services,” he said.
He said last year’s Christmas and the New Year’s celebrations were devoid of high crime rates as compared to previous years. - Radio Tamazuj
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