The International Air Transport Association’s Travel Pass will use blockchain technology to encrypt users' data, eliminating the possibility of it being tampered with.
The digital health passport is a mobile app that allows travellers to share Covid-19 test and vaccine certificates with airport authorities, airlines and governments.
However, users will stay in control of their data and decide the amount of information they would like to share, according to Alan Hayden, Iata’s head of airport, passenger and security products.
“The passenger owns their data, and they share it with the airline ... it is so powerful and it is probably one of the first examples of blockchain technology being implemented in a way that benefits people,” Mr Hayden told Future Travel Experience, an independent travel events’ organiser and media portal in Surrey.
There will be no central database or data repository to store Travel Pass data and the app is being built in accordance with the self-sovereign identity principles, the airline industry body said.
The SSI model recognises a person's right to manage and control their digital identity and data without intervention by administrative authorities.
“Governments are focusing on everybody getting vaccinated as a health issue, but the other part of the equation is the proof of vaccination ... what we need are electronic vaccination certificates,” said Mr Hayden.
“This is the only thing that will make society free again to do all the things it needs to do.”
Iata is also working with the World Health Organisation and other bodies to come up with the necessary standards.
The Travel Pass is being developed in four independent modules that can interact with each other.
These include a global archive with information regarding passengers’ regulatory entry requirements, a registry of certified labs and vaccination centres, a dedicated lab app that allows authorised testing centres to send reports and vaccination reports directly to users and a digital passport module.
These four modules are designed to be offered as part of the airline’s own mobile application.
They can either work separately or together, depending on the user's choice.
“Within the airline app, passengers will be able to create a digital version of their passport,” said Mr Hayden.
“Once the passenger has a digital version of their passport on their phone, they will go to the laboratory and scan a code, which creates a link between the passport details and the laboratory.”
The UAE's Etihad Airways and Emirates are already working with Iata to adopt its Travel Pass.
Etihad said that its passengers will be able to use the app in the first quarter of this year.
Emirates will begin trials in April before fully adopting it across its network.
Singapore Airlines said it was the first operator to trial the app last month. The service was initially offered to passengers flying from Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur to Singapore from December 23.
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Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
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Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
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Director: Anu Menon
Rating: Three out of five stars
India cancels school-leaving examinations
Vidaamuyarchi
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Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
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Result
Qualifier: Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Lahore: Eliminator 1 - Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators
Wednesday, Lahore: Eliminator 2 – Karachi Kings v Winner of Eliminator 1
Sunday, Karachi: Final – Islamabad United v Winner of Eliminator 2
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CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES
Mar 10: Norwich(A)
Mar 13: Newcastle(H)
Mar 16: Lille(A)
Mar 19: Middlesbrough(A)
Apr 2: Brentford(H)
