48,000 UK ETAs issued to Kuwaitis

KUWAIT: British Ambassador to Kuwait Belinda Lewis revealed 48,239 Kuwaitis were granted electronic travel authorizations (ETAs) between February and June 2024. This comes as part of the UK’s ETA scheme, which was extended to nationals of Kuwait, other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan. Kuwaitis accounted for the second-highest number of ETA applications in the GCC, surpassed only by Saudi nationals. The ETA allows multiple short-term visits to the UK for purposes such as tourism, business, study, or medical treatment, over a two-year period.

Kuwait strips 78 citizenships

KUWAIT: Kuwait has revoked the citizenship of 78 more people before referring the measure to the Cabinet, pending its approval, an ad hoc committee formed to investigate the matter said on Thursday. In May, an Amiri decree was issued to form the supreme committee to investigate Kuwaiti citizenship, appointing the first deputy prime minister, defense and interior minister as the committee’s head, with the deputy prime minister and minister of state for Cabinet affairs, foreign minister and secretary general of the Cabinet as members. — KUNA

Harris campaign hires Arab lawyer

WASHINGTON: Kamala Harris’ campaign for US president has hired an Egyptian American lawyer and former Department of Homeland Security official to help lead outreach to Arab American voters who hold sway in some states that could help decide the Nov 5 election, the campaign said on Wednesday. Brenda Abdelall would be tasked with shoring up support from a community frustrated with US support for the Zionist war in Gaza. Vice President Harris has already hired Afghan American lawyer Nasrina Bargzie for outreach to Muslim Americans. Harris is in a tight race with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, and votes from Muslim and Arab Americans could help decide the outcome in battleground states like Michigan. While pro-Palestinian voices are not expected to vote for Trump and have indicated no support for the Republican, some activists have launched a campaign called “Abandon Harris” and have urged their supporters to back third-party candidates. — Reuters