President Ilham Aliyev arrives in Albania for working visit
President Ilham Aliyev has arrived in Albania to take part in a key European summit, underscoring Azerbaijan’s engagement in continental political dialogue.
From Wednesday, European visitors to Britain will need to purchase an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before arriving, as the UK implements new pre-entry screening measures to tighten border controls.
The ETA scheme, already in place for non-European travellers from countries like the U.S., Canada, and Australia, now extends to EU citizens. The permit costs £10 (€12) until April 9, when the price rises to £16. Irish citizens are exempt.
Approved ETAs allow multiple UK visits of up to six months over a two-year period. Applications are processed through the UK ETA app and typically approved within minutes. Travellers must submit a photo, passport details, and answer questions on criminal history and eligibility.
Airlines, ferry companies, and rail operators will be responsible for checking ETA status before boarding.
Migration minister Seema Malhotra said the expanded system shows the UK’s commitment to using technology to enhance security.
Britain welcomed 22.5 million EU visitors in 2023, up from 19 million the previous year. Airlines like easyJet said the change is unlikely to impact demand.
The move precedes similar EU rules set to take effect in October. The bloc’s Entry/Exit System (EES) will digitally record non-EU travellers’ border crossings, replacing manual passport stamps with biometric scans. That system will be followed by ETIAS, which will require non-Schengen travellers, including Britons, to obtain a permit before entry.
Currently, Britons pay about £17 for a similar U.S. travel authorisation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
EU approves 17th Russia sanctions, blacklisting almost 200 shadow‑fleet ships, 30 evasion firms and 75 defence figures, banning missile chemicals and arming Brussels to strike Kremlin hybrid and operations.
China will allow citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay to enter visa-free for one year starting June 1, aiming to strengthen ties with Latin America. The move follows a forum where President Xi pledged $9 billion in credit and new investments in the region.
Starting May 1, 2025, all foreign travellers to Thailand, regardless of visa status or length of stay, must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before being allowed entry into the country.
Türkiye’s skies were more crowded than ever in 2024, as hot air balloon tourism soared to a historic high with a record-breaking 933,195 tourists taking flight across seven scenic regions.
Starting this week, three major Japanese airports will introduce new electronic kiosks to streamline immigration and customs checks. This will simplify the current process, which requires passports to be shown multiple times.
The head of IATA downplayed concerns that potential US trade tariffs would disrupt the ongoing surge in travel demand. While acknowledging added uncertainty, he suggested that Trump’s policies might ultimately benefit the airline industry by promoting consolidation and regulatory changes.
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