Latest News from Gulf Today
Gulf Today
3 hours ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
Over 13m people in UK face ‘tough' financial problems
The concerning lack of ability for some people to cope with unexpected costs has been revealed as new data showed one in ten (10 per cent) of UK adults have no cash savings whatsoever, leaving them vulnerable when faced with increased bills. More than 13m people across the nation are thought to be facing tough conditions financially, including amassing debt, have little savings or have missed paying bills. While the headline figure of ten per cent having no savings at all is a worry, findings from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) actually show a far greater scale of people who have minimal ability to manage any sort of shock to their income, with a further 21 per cent having less than £1,000 saved. Most financial experts agree that individuals or families should aim to build an emergency savings buffer of three to six months' worth of essential expenses, depending on circumstances, according to the Independent. This can aid to continue paying bills and essential costs like groceries, rent or mortgage repayments in the event of sudden pressures, like health emergencies, loss of work or even surging inflation. In addition to not having enough savings, the FCA data underlined two further issues: 2.8m people who have persistent debt through credit cards, which can be one of the most expensive ways to hold debt, along with a continuing rise in people using buy now, pay later (BNPL) services. More than a third of women (35 per cent) aged 25-34 use these services and a full 40 per cent of single parents do so. While some of these services do not necessarily always charge interest initially – some do of course – missing payments can be extremely costly and building up bigger repayment costs can potentially push greater debt on peoples' future. StepChange, a charity which helps with free advice to people struggling with debt, said in a statement they 'want to see the Government invest in safe options for those who can't afford to save to cope with unexpected costs, including a permanent national crisis support scheme, building on the Household Support Fund and a national no-interest loan scheme, and by working with the financial services industry to expand affordable, low-cost credit.' The FCA also shared encouraging data from those who do seek help. From 1.7m people using debt advice or services in the past year, 61 per cent 'said their debts were more manageable' in the aftermath. Compare the Market data shows more than half (52 per cent) of Gen Z – aged 16 to 28 – do not have a 'rainy day fund' for emergency expenses, while more than a quarter (27 per cent) of all people who do have one have needed to use it recently to cover increased household bills and other essential expenses. Research by wealth managers St. James's Place shows more than a quarter of the nation feeling anxious about the year ahead in monetary terms. Alexandra Loydon, director of advice, said: 'Economic challenges remain, so it's more important than ever to take steps to make your money work harder. While building a financial plan may seem daunting, especially if you've never done one before, this really shouldn't put you off., the Independent report adds. 'Identifying your key financial goals and assessing your current financial situation are the simple places to start. From there you should focus on building your emergency fund by putting aside a small amount of money each month and ensuring you're getting the best rates of return. 'While these may seem like small steps, they all help you grasp your financial situation and take action to improve it, making a real difference to your financial resilience both now and in future.'
Gulf Today
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Four European countries call for Palestine's full UN membership, implementation of two-state solution
Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain called for Palestine to be granted full membership in the United Nations and for its state to be recognized on the basis of the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. They also renewed their commitment to the two-state solution. This came in a joint statement by the four European countries published by the Spanish Foreign Ministry on its website following the Madrid+ Group meeting, a year after the group officially recognized the State of Palestine. The Spanish Foreign Ministry said one year after the official recognition of the State of Palestine by Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Spain, in the framework of the 'Madrid+' Group of the meeting, we have met to renew and reinforce the international commitment for the implementation of the two-State solution and to the principle that only a viable, contiguous Palestinian State, with internationally recognised borders, comprised of Gaza and the West Bank and with East Jerusalem as its capital, can fully satisfy the legitimate national aspirations and the needs of peace and security of both the people of Palestine and Israel. This commitment has had an undeniable impact on the international dynamics regarding the conflict in Gaza, creating momentum for the implementation of the two-State solution. After many years of stagnation, implementation of the two State solution and recognition of Palestine is not only morally right, but it also produced the necessary momentum to revive the spirit of the implementation of the two-State solution. In September 2024 in the United Nations, the international community agreed on the creation of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State solution. Its meetings have, in this spirit, strived to make the two-State reality possible. The Spanish Foreign Ministry said, 'The momentum that was created in May last year, ultimately culminated on 10th December 2024, when the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted Resolution A/RES/79/81, which called for a High Level Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. We believe that this High Level Conference, to be held on 17th June 2025 under UN auspices and co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, represents not only the occasion with the highest degree of international legitimacy, but also the appropriate framework in which to finally advance the implementation of the two-State solution.' 'We have committed, along with all the participating countries in the meeting 'Madrid +: for the Implementation of the Two-State solution', to engage substantially in the work of the Global Alliance and to ensure a meaningful participation in the High-Level Conference. We remind that recognition is another step for the implementation of the two-State solution, and we call on all members of the international community to take the necessary steps to make it reality, including individual recognition of Palestine and Israel by those who have not yet done so, UN membership of Palestine and support of an agreement between the parties, with eventual mutual recognition between Palestine and Israel.' Spanish Foreign Ministry concluded, 'It is up to the parties to bring peace to the region, but the international community has the obligation to change the ongoing dynamics on the ground that have created an endless cycle of violence and devastation.'
Gulf Today
9 hours ago
- Gulf Today
‘Philippine Heritage Collection' of Dubai-based artist unveiled
The past is taking place at the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, particularly in Al Qusais, where excavations, according to records, have traces to the Bronze and Iron Age. Consider these: The thoroughfare of Magallanes in the 'Queen City of the South' of the Philippines which is Cebu Province in Central Visayas. The Philippines' 'Wall Street of Asia,' Escolta, which, despite the blitzkreig for the Liberation of Manila during World War II – buildings, constructed to magnificently display the wealth gained during the 1500 to 1800 Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade, remain. Binondo, the world's oldest Chinatown, a witness to the rise of the 20th century Chinoy billionaires, away from the condescension their migrant ancestors went through, particularly during the Spanish Era when they were derogatorily labelled as the Sangleys. A total of 15, these are the 'Philippine Heritage Collection' of Cebu-born Dubai resident Edcel Cabalan, whose silently-creeping latent talent in watercolouring – that elementary art orientation schoolchildren learn to enjoy and embrace – yet arduous enough to be an expert on – was recently inaugurated. In time for the 'National Heritage Month' and only a few weeks to the 127th commemoration of the June 12, 1898 emancipation of the Filipino natives and Philippine-born Spaniards from the 300-year horrific rule of their Spanish conquistadores, the exhibition is the fifth instalment to the 'Labindalawa' or 'Twelve' cultural diplomacy programming of the consular mission. It is part of the 'Museo sa Konsulado,' which, since its January 2025 debut, has become the gateway for the novice – and the other conduit for the established Filipino artist across the UAE. Consul General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates Marford Angeles said: 'The 'Philippine Heritage Collection' of Mr. Edcel Cabalan is a tribute to the structures, places, and memories that shape our national imagination.' Commenting on the ingenuity of the architect who was able to overcome the restrictions caused by the trouble-maker Novel Coronavirus 2020, Angeles also said, 'Each piece captures the white dignity of ancestral homes, the rhythm of the colonial-era streets, and the character of churches and civic buildings that have now identified the Filipino's built-in paradigm.' 'His mastery of the watercolour, a medium difficult to handle, allows the viewer to experience heritage not as a static imagery; but, as a living memory portrayed with movement, light and atmosphere,' Angeles continued. Pointing out that as pages of the past have traditionally been locked in by way of the sepia photographs, Angeles expressed hope that with the expertise of Cabalan in breathing life into the photos of the 1800s, Filipinos would be inspired. Connecting the 'National Heritage Month and the 'Philippine Heritage Collection,' Angeles told Gulf Today: 'National Heritage Month remains to be a vital observance. Perhaps even more so in an era marked by rapid technological shifts. As humanity explores Artificial Intelligence and the cosmos, heritage offers a necessary counterbalance. It grounds us in values, traditions and identity. Far from being outdated, culture and heritage provide depth and context to progress. They remind us who we are and what we carry forward, regardless of how far we go.' 'Our heritage and technology need not be seen in opposition. On the contrary, they can strengthen each other. Honouring heritage is not a retreat into the past, but a conscious act of bringing our roots into every future we build,' he also said. Now a fulltime artist, Cabalan, whose 168 of his 210 paintings have found owners not only in the UAE but overseas as well, said: 'Through this collection, I aim to preserve the soul of Philippine heritage architecture. Those timeless structures that have witnessed our nation's rich history, cultural evolution, and enduring spirit.' 'Watercolour, with its delicate translucency and emotional softness, allows me to interpret these architectural icons not only with technical precision but with heartfelt reverence. Each stroke becomes a way of honouring the craftsmanship, history, and cultural identity embedded in these spaces,' Cabalan added.
Gulf Today
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
These immigrants fled violence, now harsh reality calls
Carolyn Komatsoulis, Kevin Fixler, Tribune News Service Gregory Bastos remembers being kidnapped along with a friend and beaten by Venezuelan forces for his political activism, not knowing whether he would die. The experience was traumatising, he said, sitting at a cafe in downtown Boise with his wife, Oriana Bastos. The Venezuelan-born couple, both 27, didn't wait long before they crossed the border to Colombia, took a bus to the capital, Bogotá, and flew to Mexico. The two turned themselves in at the US border to request asylum and were detained briefly. Since then, they've been waiting four years for an asylum court date. When a hearing was set for April 10, the two Idaho residents felt like there was an end in sight, finally. But their slot was cancelled a week beforehand because of a judge reassignment, they said, plunging them back into uncertainty. It's been a long road, starting from nothing. Away in the US, Oriana missed the death of her grandmother back home, she said, choking up. Oriana and her husband were both attorneys in South America, but have worked in restaurants and at a hospital locally. She said they've struggled in a different culture, with a different language and with people who aren't always welcoming. And since President Donald Trump retook office, the couple has been dealing with his rhetoric and the ever-changing news cycle. 'He doesn't have any idea what it means to be an immigrant,' Oriana said, in Spanish. 'It's life or death.' Asylum is an internationally recognised protection for people who face persecution in their home countries. The process has long been time consuming. But with the Trump administration's hardening attitude toward immigrants, local lawyers said asylum-seekers are struggling with a more hostile bureaucracy and a chaotic environment. Trump and other members of his administration have said they are trying to make America safer by deporting people and improving security at the US-Mexico border. Gregory and Oriana aren't alone in dealing with the judge's reassignment. Idaho cases are heard in Portland, according to local immigration lawyers, but a Washington state immigration judge used to hear Idaho cases remotely. Then scheduled hearings for Idaho cases started getting cancelled this spring, said Neal Dougherty, a Nampa-based immigration attorney with Ramirez-Smith Law. No official explanation was given. Department of Justice spokesperson Kathryn Mattingly did not answer questions about why those cases were cancelled. Dougherty said, after the reassignment, court dates are now scheduled as far out as 2030. In the past, his clients would wait just two or three years, he said. Some people, like Gregory and Oriana, are still waiting to be rescheduled, he said. Such legal challenges to local asylum-seekers affect more than just Latino communities. People from many other nationalities who are trying to establish legal residency or US citizenship are in the same dilemma. Eddie Hamdard, 30, a native of Afghanistan, received a path to US citizenship through a special immigration visa programme after he assisted the American military during its 20-year war in his home country. He arrived to the US in 2015 and became naturalised in 2020. But he has witnessed past US pledges to grant legal status to his immediate family members stall, and grown more and more frustrated by evolving policies, including sudden changes once Trump re-entered the White House in January. Hamdard, who lives in Boise, has been able to navigate a patchwork of US immigration systems to find routes for his mother, sister and older brother to join him in Idaho. But the status of those applications long remained in flux. And Hamdard has remained unable to find a successful path for his sister's husband. The lack of stability and reliable help and information over the years has severely impacted his and his family's mental health, he told the Statesman. 'My brother feels abandoned by the system he once trusted, while my brother-in-law faces life-threatening risks daily in Afghanistan,' Hamdard said last month. 'Many Afghans perceive US immigration policies as humiliating and dismissive of their sacrifices during US military operations, amplifying feelings of betrayal within our community.' Gregory and Oriana's home state of Táchira, in western Venezuela on the Colombian border, is well-known for its longtime opposition to the country's regime. Both of them protested against the government as part of the political party Acción Democrática. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro took office in 2013 and has presided over the largest economic decline outside of wartime in decades. His critics say he stole an election last year and has imprisoned, tortured and kidnapped people. Millions of Venezuelans have already left in the years since his ascension. Recently, several members of his opposition fled to the US, and the top opposition leader remains in hiding. Inside Venezuela, Gregory and Oriana said they met as law students at a local university. They got married in the US in 2022. 'I believe that us Venezuelans, we don't lose faith,' Oriana said, tearing up. 'That one day it will change and we can go back once again.' Now to be lawyers again, they'd have to save up to attend law school in the US. It's very expensive, they said, especially amid all of their other expenses, including taxes, vehicle costs and sending money home. A dangerous country alone isn't enough for people to qualify for asylum, said J.J. Despain, managing attorney for the Wilner & O'Reilly Boise office. People have to show specific and credible fears to receive protection in the US. Immigrants can either apply on their own or raise asylum as a defense to deportation. For many hoping to stay in the country, asylum is their only legal option, driving up the number of applications, Despain said. The US has just under 2 million open asylum cases, according to the Transaction Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. Asylum is under the purview of Congress, not the executive branch. But that didn't stop Trump from issuing orders with immediate impacts on asylum-seekers. In his first days, Trump signed an executive order prohibiting people from seeking asylum through the border with Mexico. His administration also shut down a mobile app called CBP One, which had allowed asylum-seekers to schedule appointments. The administration then cancelled the legal status of around 1 million people who had previously entered the country using the app, including some who had pending asylum applications. A recent memo laid out a plan for judges to dismiss asylum cases without a hearing. 'All that matters is if you're an immigrant, you're an enemy,' Oriana said. Trump campaigned on mass deportations and stopping the flow of immigrants into the country. In recent years, public opinion in the US has shifted to a more anti-immigration stance, according to recent Gallup national polling. That changing public opinion is part of what Gregory, Oriana and Hamdard said they find so discouraging about the current political climate. 'The systemic delays and anti-immigration policies have left my family in chaos — struggling to navigate complex legal processes while facing employment barriers and emotional distress,' Hamdard said.
Gulf Today
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
South Korean students warned over posts amid US crackdown
President Donald Trump's administration is raising scrutiny over the social media posts of South Korean students in the United States or who plan to study there, the students and agencies that support them said. That has triggered concerns for parents of students studying or planning to study in the United States. South Korean students are the third-largest among international students in the US, behind those from India and China. The US administration ordered its missions abroad to stop scheduling new appointments for student and exchange visitor visa applicants as the State Department prepared to expand social media vetting of foreign students, according to an internal cable seen by Reuters on Tuesday. The Trump administration has sought to ramp up deportations and revoke student visas as part of wide-ranging efforts to meet its hardline immigration agenda. 'My clients, parents are calling me constantly today to figure out what is going on,' said Park Hyuntae, head of Worldnet US Overseas Edu Center, an agency in Seoul that assists South Korean students. 'Those who already scheduled those interviews and will apply for interviews both are worried, nervous, but cancellations of existing interviews haven't happened yet as far as I know.' Park said the visa interview pause could cause delays in starting the school year, and that he was advising clients to be cautious over what they post online. 'I am telling them, especially male students, do not post anything extreme or disgusting on social media, like pictures of grenades or weapons,' he said. An email reviewed by Reuters from a liberal arts college told students overseas that scheduled visa interviews might be postponed and suggested they gave their 'socials a little attention.' Stiff competition to get into South Korea's top universities has driven many students to study abroad, according to the US International Trade Administration. One South Korean student who studies in the United States said he had friends who were unable to schedule visa interviews, and that he was concerned about his own plans to try to work in the United States after graduation. 'I think what is now the United States is a lot different than the United States in the past,' he said, asking not to be identified. South Korea's leading presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party will seek a personal phone call with President Donald Trump, if elected, as the first step in engaging with Washington, Lee's foreign policy adviser said on Wednesday. Wi Sung-lac, national security adviser to Lee, made the comment when asked about Lee's plans for the first move in trade talks with the United States, at a briefing held for foreign media in Seoul. In a separate development, the US State Department has ordered the suspension of student visa processing in the latest escalation of a Trump administration crackdown on foreign students criticised on Wednesday by China. Trump's administration is seeking unprecedented control over leading US universities, including revoking foreign student visas and deporting some of those involved in protests against the war in Gaza. A cable signed on Tuesday by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and seen by AFP orders embassies and consulates not to allow 'any additional student or exchange visa... appointment capacity until further guidance is issued.' The government plans to ramp up vetting of the social media profiles of international applicants to US universities, the cable said. Rubio earlier rescinded hundreds of visas and the Trump administration has moved to bar Harvard University from admitting non-Americans. China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Wednesday said Beijing urged Washington to 'safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of international students, including those from China.' Hundreds of thousands of Chinese students attend US universities, long viewed by many in China as beacons of academic freedom and rigour. The sweeping US measures have resulted in foreign governments moving to snap up affected students, with Japan and Hong Kong urging local universities to take in more international applicants. Reuters
