Gaza cancer patients are dying at two to three times the pace they did before the start of the genocide in the territory, as Israel blocks many from travelling for treatment after destroying the only local specialised facility. Israel blew up Gaza's specialised cancer hospital last year after claiming that troops found a tunnel used by Hamas running beneath it, a claim that they have yet to substantiate. That means that an estimated 17,000 Gazans with cancer have no local option for chemotherapy or other advanced therapy. Practically no Palestinians can afford to travel for treatment, and those who can face Israeli restrictions. The military imposes strict caps on daily crossings to Egypt, despite a 2025 Israel-Hamas "ceasefire" deal that requires free movement in and out. Asked for comment, COGAT, the Israeli military agency that controls access to Gaza, said it coordinates medical evacuations with the World Health Organisation. To depart, Gazans mus...
In a major change to travel rules, European nationals heading to the UK will be required to obtain a mandatory entry permit starting Wednesday, a move the British government says will enhance border security. The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which can be purchased online, will cost 10 pounds (12 euros) initially, with the price set to increase to 16 pounds from April 9. Similar to the US’s ESTA system, the ETA will be mandatory for all European visitors from April 2, following its introduction for US, Canadian, and other visa-exempt nationals in January. “By digitising the immigration system we are paving the way for a contactless UK border,” said Migration Minister Seema Malhotra earlier this month when the website was opened for the first applications. “Expanding ETA worldwide cements our commitment to enhance security through technology and innovation.” The permit allows visits of up to six months and is valid for two years, and it is required for all travellers, including minors and babies. Applications, which can be made via a smartphone app or the government website, take around 10 minutes, with most decisions made within minutes. However, the government advises allowing up to three working days for processing. From Wednesday, nationals of about 30 European countries, including all EU member states except Ireland, will need the ETA to enter the UK, which left the EU in 2020. Applicants will need to provide a passport photo and a facial image. The ETA is digitally linked to the applicant’s passport once approved. Flight passengers transiting airside without entering the UK are exempt from the ETA requirement, following pressure from Heathrow, which was concerned about potential reductions in passenger traffic. Only Heathrow and Manchester airports offer airside transit in the UK. Almost 84 million passengers passed through Heathrow in 2024, with a third coming from the EU. The ETA scheme, launched in 2023 for Qatar, was expanded to five Gulf countries and later to around 50 other nations, including Argentina, South Korea, and New Zealand. By the end of 2024, the Home Office reports that nearly 1.1 million visitors had been issued with ETAs. However, the ETA does not apply to UK residents or anyone with existing UK immigration status. The new ETA requirement mirrors the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is planned for visa-exempt travellers to 30 European countries but has been delayed until 2026.
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from Latest World News, International News | Breaking World News https://ift.tt/TDX1Npw
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