Raphael Johnson
President Donald Trump arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday for his first multi-day foreign trip since he returned to the White House earlier this year.
Trump was received at King Khalid International Airport by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, seen as Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler.
Riyadh is the first leg of Trump’s Gulf tour, ahead of visits to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
The trip is expected to focus on economic deals, the war in Gaza, and Iran’s nuclear programme.
Trump is scheduled to attend a Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum on Tuesday before a summit with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain on Wednesday.
His talks in Riyadh could lead to an anticipated agreement on civilian nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia.
The kingdom has already announced it will invest 600 billion dollars in the United States in the coming years.
Trump said he will be asking the crown prince to increase that to around one trillion dollars.
Saudi Arabia was the destination for Trump’s first trip abroad as president in 2017 during his first term in office, after the oil-rich country announced 450 billion dollars in investments in the U.S.
The stop in Riyadh marked Trump’s first official trip abroad since taking office again in January, although he made a short visit to Rome last month for Pope Francis’ funeral.
Trump’s visit to Doha this week could be overshadowed by reports that he is set to accept a luxury Boeing aircraft as a gift from Qatar’s royal family.
The president has also suggested he could fly to Turkey on Thursday to join a possible meeting between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky.
[5/13, 1:40 PM] Pius Nsabe: UK Government Unveils Drastic Measures to Cut Immigration Numbers
Raphael Johnson
In a move aimed at reducing net migration by around 100,000 people each year, the United Kingdom Government has released a White Paper that unveiled a sweeping set of immigration reforms.
The new Immigration White Paper released on Monday outlined changes across work visas, international study, asylum policy, enforcement, and long-term settlement.
One of the most significant changes is that “Legislation will be brought in to make clear that the Government and Parliament – not courts – determine who should stay, tackling misuse of Article 8 (right to family life) to block deportations.”
In a move to limit work-related migration, skilled workers will now need university-level qualifications, and the salary thresholds required for visas will increase.
“The Immigration Skills Charge – paid by sponsors – will rise by 32 percent for the first time since 2017, in line with inflation,” it added.
A major change affects the social care sector, with overseas visas being closed to new applicants.
The paper noted, “Social care visas will close to new overseas applicants; people already in the UK with work rights can extend or switch visas until 2028, subject to review.”
Sectors heavily reliant on overseas labour will be required to submit workforce strategies showing how they plan to hire and train more British workers.
“A Temporary Shortage List will be introduced to give time-limited access to the Points-Based immigration system for roles below RQF level 6.
“Only jobs facing long-term shortages and backed by the Migration Advisory Committee will qualify for the above – if there’s also a workforce plan and employers commit to hiring more UK workers.”
The White Paper includes provisions to allow skilled refugees and displaced people recognised by the UN to apply for work visas. Additionally, the UK will open more routes for highly skilled workers and top global talent to enter the country.
Changes to student immigration include reducing the post-study work visa from two years to 18 months. Universities could also face a levy on the income they receive from international students, with the money redirected to fund domestic skills training.
“Graduates will be able to stay in the UK for only 18 months after their studies, compared to current period of two years.
“A levy on income from international students is being considered, with the money potentially going towards domestic skills training.
“Sponsoring institutions will face tougher requirements to be allowed to recruit international students
“The pass mark for compliance metrics will rise by 5 percent, meaning sponsors must now have at least a 95 percent course enrolment rate and 90 percent completion rate,” the paper stated.
In response to concerns about illegal immigration and criminality, foreign nationals convicted of crimes even if not imprisoned could now be deported under new thresholds. There will also be tougher enforcement against those who claim asylum without credible evidence of risk in their home country.
The Government will introduce digital IDs known as eVisas to replace physical biometric residence permits, making it easier to monitor migrants’ legal status. More resources will be devoted to cracking down on illegal work, especially in gig economy sectors.
Further measures to improve integration and community cohesion include raising the required level of English proficiency for most visa applicants. The settlement period for most migrants will be extended from five to ten years, although faster routes will remain for those who contribute significantly to the UK economy or society.
The White Paper confirmed that family members of British citizens can still settle in five years and protections remain in place for victims of domestic abuse. The Government also plans to support young people who have grown up in the UK without legal status, especially those in care.
