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Prices for U.S. ethanol blending credits plunged Monday to their lowest levels in more than four months, Reuters reported, after the Environmental Protection Agency extended a September 1 compliance deadline for refiners and ruled on long-pending small refinery exemption requests by
Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein announced plans Monday to raise $1.77 billion by selling 280 million shares in its long-awaited IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. File photo by Hannibal Hanschke/EPA
Aug. 24 (UPI) — Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein announced plans Monday to raise $1.77 billion in its long-awaited IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
In a filing to the SEHK, Shein said it will offer nearly 280 million shares with a price range of $6.07 and $6.32 in its Sept. 1 debut, valuing the company at a little under $27 billion. The final price will be fixed on Aug. 31.
The valuation is sharply down from the $100 billion it was valued at in 2020, due to higher costs and a slowdown in the growth of sales, and follows effort to float on the New York, NASDAQ and London stock exchanges in 2023 and 2024 that were abandoned amid roadblocks erected by regulators and lawmakers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Analysts said the firm had been hit hard by U.S. President Donald Trump‘s summer 2025 scrapping of the so-called de minimis import tariff exemption on low value packages on which its business model depended, with Shein reporting a $99 million loss in Q1, down from a $395 million profit in the same period in 2025.
The European Union imposed its own flat $3.50 import tax on low value packages coming into its single market, effective July 1, with Britain, another big market for the Chinese online retailers, also expected to implement similar measures to the United States and EU in 2028.
With the Hong Kong stock market’s attention focused on a string of highly sought after AI and chipmaker IPOs, investor enthusiasm for Shein has dwindled along with much of its appeal with consumers under the age of 35 amid the challenge from competition from firms like Temu.
The firm has also had reputational issues with scrutiny over multiple issues from environmental pollution to working conditions in its supply chain, including the possible use of forced labor in its supply chain.
In February, the EU launched an investigation alleging the design of Shein’s app was addictive, a lack of transparency of recommender systems, as well as the sale of illegal products, including “child sexual abuse material.”
David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance has asked a judge to force California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta and his coalition of 11 other states to prepare to set aside as much as $1.9 billion as the Warner Bros. Discovery merger challenge heads into overtime.
In Monday’s court filing, Paramount requested the plaintiff states, including New York, Colorado, Oregon and Nevada, as well as the Writers Guild of America, post a bond that would cover the “ticking fees” Paramount promised to pay Warner shareholders should the deal stretch beyond its anticipated September close.
Ellison was confident his proposed Warner takeover would sail through its regulatory clearances. President Trump’s Justice Department approved the merger in June, as have dozens of other countries.
The states would not be required to pay the full $1.9 billion upfront. Instead, they would have to come up with a portion of that amount by Sept. 30. Should the Democrat state attorneys general and WGA lose their lawsuits, they would ultimately have to pay the full amount.
Monday’s court filing highlights Ellison’s frustrations and the financial pressures that deal delays will bring the media company. The filing also continues Paramount’s full-court political pressure campaign to get Bonta and the other states to abandon their antitrust lawsuit.
Paramount did not expect such a spirited challenge from Bonta and the 11 other Democratic state attorneys general who banded together with the WGA to try to block the $111-billion merger of two historic Hollywood studios.
Paramount’s 23-page filing, signed by former high profiile federal prosecutor Danielle Sassoon, was intended to rattle the states.
Paramount is trying to create divisions among the plaintiff states by prompting them to question their resolve in fighting a protracted and potentially expensive legal battle, according to a person familiar with Paramount’s strategy who was not authorized to speak publicly.
Because WGA has separately sued to unravel the deal, Paramount has asked the judge to have the union post a bond to cover some of the costs, too.
In its motion, Paramount cited the Clayton Antitrust Act, which is the foundation for Bonta’s lawsuit. The law carries a provision to require plaintiffs to post a bond to cover the potential financial harms of halting a transaction.
The bond gives a defendant, in this case Paramount, a way to recover lost funds should they ultimately prevail in court.
U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín will be asked to rule on the request during a Wednesday court hearing.
“We have satisfied all closing conditions under our merger agreement, having received regulatory clearances from 68 jurisdictions,” Paramount said in a statement. “These two lawsuits are the only barrier to closing this transaction.”
Paramount is incurring considerable legal fees and deal-related costs.
The company cited a potential eight-month merger delay because Martínez-Olguín scheduled the trial for March 2. If the case goes to trial, it might not be decided until next May.
At issue are the “ticking fees” that Paramount in February agreed pay to Warner investors should the merger be delayed . Paramount agreed to pay $.25 a share for every quarter until the acquisition finalizes.
The fees add up to $7 million a day, or $650 million per quarter.
Paramount is facing a June 4 deadline to close the deal. That’s when Warner Bros. Discovery can demand a $7-billion break-up fee.
Paramount wants to get the deal done as soon as possible, and with the approval of Mexican regulators last week, only Bonta and the states’ lawsuit stands in their way.
Paramount also is cognizant of shifting winds in Washington should Democrats regain control of Congress in November, which could bring fresh scrutiny to the merger .
Ticking fees weren’t the only costs of the extended timeline.
“There will be no integration and no ramped-up investment in content, production, and creative talent by the combined company,” Paramount said . “Employees of both Paramount and WBD are also harmed by the uncertainties caused by the delay.”
Last week, the Directors Guild of America and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees — which represent a combined 200,000 union members — waded into the clash over the merger, which continues to carve deep divisions throughout the industry.
“We remain confident that plaintiffs’ case is without merit and will defend our pro-competitive transaction in court,” Paramount said. “We look forward to closing this transaction and delivering its benefits to consumers and entertainment industry workers in California, the United States and around the world.”
Passengers were advised to check the latest status of their flight before heading to the airport(Image: Chalabala via Getty Images)
Passengers at three major Australian airports have been warned of flight disruptions amid strong winds.
Several flights leaving from Sydney were cancelled on Tuesday, August 11, with more delays expected throughout the day.
A spokesperson for the airport told a local news site: “Strong winds are affecting operations at Sydney Airport and flight delays are expected throughout the day.”
Passengers were advised to check the latest status of their flight before heading to the airport.
A spokesman for carrier Qantas also told the news site that that two flights from Melbourne and one from Brisbane were cancelled due to poor weather conditions.
Passengers on the flights have been rebooked onto other services.
More than 780 flights were scheduled to depart from Sydney Airport on Tuesday, according to Airservices Australia’s daily plan.
Almost 140 of these flights are expected to face delays of about 45 minutes, a local news outlet reported.
The ground delay program will be in place until 2pm due to the strong winds.
A Melbourne Airport spokesman said it had also been hit with delays and cancellations, though operations remained “relatively normal”
Close to 620 flights were scheduled to depart Melbourne Airport on Tuesday. Almost 200 flights will face delays, according to the Airservices Australia plan.
The travel disruptions come after two passenger jets narrowly avoided a ground collision at Sydney Airport and major flight delays throughout the weekend.
The close call followed days of chaos for thousands of travellers through the hub, as control tower staffing issues delayed more than 100 international and domestic flights.
TRAVELLERS are facing a second day of travel headaches after a power outage brought train services across the North West and Midlands to a halt.
If you’re heading out on the rail network today (August 7), you might be wondering if your train is actually going to turn up.
While rail bosses have reassured the public that the worst of the chaos is over, there is still a hangover of delays and cancellations to navigate today.
Here is a guide to what you need to know about the current situation, ticket acceptance, and what went wrong to cause such widespread disruption.
The delays stem from a power cut that happened at 1.40pm on Thursday afternoon.
According to SP Electricity North West, an “incident on our high voltage cable” in Harpurhey, north-east of Manchester city centre, caused a power outage that affected around 5,000 customers.
While the electricity provider said that power was restored within 90 seconds, that brief window was enough to trigger severe rail chaos.
The outage hit more than 400 Manchester postcodes, including the Manchester Rail Operating Centre, which acts as the main control hub for the entirety of north-west England’s railways.
Network Rail also said that their backup power generators failed to activate immediately when the main grid went down.
The failure resulted in railway signals automatically switching to red for safety, bringing trains to a standstill and sparking widespread cancellations.
Network Rail has confirmed it has now launched an official investigation into why the backup system failed to kick in.
The vast majority of trains are running today (August 7), and Network Rail has confirmed that “most operators are running a full service” after signalling systems were restored on Thursday night.
Engineers then worked through the early hours of the morning to get displaced trains back to their correct depots before the start of today’s service.
But don’t assume your journey will be completely smooth sailing just yet.
Because trains and rail crews ended up in the wrong places yesterday afternoon, it may take some time for the complex daily timetable to get back into sync.
Network Rail notes that some disruption remains as “trains and crew return to their normal positions”.
According to National Rail, this residual disruption is expected to continue until at least midday today.
If your train is delayed or cancelled, you won’t be left completely stranded.
Various ticket restrictions have been eased by operators to help get passengers to their destinations as quickly as possible.
If you’re travelling in and around Greater Manchester, your train tickets are currently being accepted on alternative local transport.
You can use your rail ticket to hop on Bee Network buses and Metrolink trams at no extra cost to complete your journey.
Both Northern and TransPennine Express have temporarily lifted Advance Purchase and Peak restrictions, meaning anyone holding an Advance ticket today can board any available service along their booked route without having to pay an extra fee.
Operators are also accepting each other’s tickets across shared routes.
Passengers affected by cancellations can use their tickets on Northern, TransPennine Express, LNER, and East Midlands Railway trains running in the same direction.
TransPennine Express tickets are also being accepted on CrossCountry services across key eastern routes, including between Sheffield, York, and Newcastle.
Chris Wright, Network Rail’s North West route director, praised passengers for their patience following the disruption.
He said: “While some passengers may still experience disruption, we’re continuing to work closely with train operators to return services to normal as quickly as possible.
“Anyone planning to travel this morning should continue to check before they travel for the latest information.”
If you’re travelling today, use the National Rail Status and Disruptions website, or check directly with your train operator before you leave the house.
If your travel was derailed on Thursday, you won’t lose out either.
Tickets dated for yesterday are being honoured for travel throughout today at no extra charge.
But if your plans were thrown fully into disarray by the disruption, you may be entitled to cash back.
If your train was delayed or cancelled and you chose not to travel at all, you are entitled to a full refund with no administration fee.
You will need to apply for this directly from the retailer where you bought the ticket, such as Trainline, TrainPal, or the station box office.
If you completed your journey but arrived late, you can claim compensation through the national Delay Repay scheme.
In this scenario, you must claim directly from the train operating company that ran the delayed service, rather than the ticket seller.
Claims can usually be submitted online by uploading a photo of your ticket, though paper forms are also available from station staff.
How much you receive depends on the length of the delay to your destination, rather than what time your train departed.
If you need to double-check exact arrival times to support your claim, you can look up your route on tracking websites like recenttraintimes.co.uk.
Season ticket holders are also covered and will receive a proportional refund based on the cost of their pass and the duration of the delay.
Make sure to log your claim as soon as possible, as most train companies enforce a 28-day deadline from the date of travel.
If your claim is initially turned down and you believe you’re still owed compensation, you have up to one month to submit an appeal directly to the train operator for further review.
Roughly six weeks before the first midterm ballots are mailed out, the U.S. Postal Service is emerging as a pivotal player in an election season that will determine control of Congress.
President Trump is seeking greater control over mail balloting through an executive order while a change to how the agency processes mail is leading to criticism that it’s failing to deliver ballots on time.
Democratic officials have raised concerns over the past week about how quickly the Postal Service will process ballots after tens of thousands of them in California and hundreds in Wisconsin arrived at local election offices too late to be counted in elections earlier this year. The top election offices in Kansas and Michigan are urging voters who want to cast their ballots early to avoid the mail and instead drop them off in person.
The Postal Service replied to those concerns by saying it remains “committed to fulfilling our role in the electoral process.”
“We provide a secure, efficient, and effective way for citizens to participate when policymakers decide to use mail as part of their elections,” it said in a statement Tuesday.
The Postal Service faced similar questions about mail delivery in 2024, but the scrutiny this year is heightened because of an executive order Trump issued in March that seeks to create a national voter list to guide the Postal Service in deciding who gets a mail ballot.
The order has sparked multiple lawsuits and federal court orders, leading to a case now before the U.S. Supreme Court in which the administration is asking the justices to allow it to impose its restrictions on mail balloting.
Trump has lied for years about voter fraud to try to explain away his loss to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, and mail balloting is a favorite target, even though he has used the method himself. During a recent stop in Michigan, he falsely characterized mail balloting as “inherently corrupt” and added, “Hopefully there will be no mail-in ballots.”
A 2025 report from the research group Brookings identified about four cases of fraud for every 10 million mail ballots cast.
Despite Trump’s attacks, the method remains popular with voters of both major parties. In 2024, nearly 30% of U.S. voters cast their ballots by mail, according to federal data. In Michigan, where competitive U.S. House and Senate races could help determine the balance of power in Congress, the state said it has sent out more than 2 million absentee ballots for the state’s Aug. 4 primary.
“We want to keep vote by mail. We want to protect it. We want to expand it,” said Jonathan Smith, president of the 200,000-member American Postal Workers Union, which launched a campaign in April promoting it and is opposed to turning the Postal Service into an election administrator. “Why? Because it works.”
The Postal Service proposed a rule in June in line with Trump’s executive order that would create a national list of eligible voters, based on databases kept by other federal agencies. Only those on the list would be eligible to receive mail ballots.
Democratic officials in nearly two dozen states filed a federal lawsuit in Massachusetts. A federal judge there blocked Trump’s order last month, and an appeals court upheld that ruling, prompting Trump’s appeal to the Supreme Court. But the appeals court for the District of Columbia refused Tuesday to block the order in a separate case, calling a legal challenge premature.
Democratic senators and governors have written to the Postal Service urging it to abandon efforts to implement Trump’s order.
“Donald Trump has shown he’ll stop at nothing to meddle in our upcoming elections,” Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin said in a statement to The Associated Press. “At best, this new push will exacerbate already severe delays for mail-in voters and at worst, it will stop eligible Americans from casting their ballots.”
In a letter to Democratic senators earlier this month, the heads of the Postal Service said they were abiding by the court rulings that had halted the executive order. But Smith, of the postal workers union, told the AP on Tuesday that USPS information technology staffers who are union members are working on a planned portal for the list of eligible voters “behind the scenes.”
The Postal Service declined to respond to Smith’s statements and said it could not comment about whether it’s moving forward with work related to Trump’s order because of the litigation.
The postal workers’ union opposes the plan for a portal, a national list of eligible voters and using that list to determine who can receive a mail ballot. Smith said it shouldn’t be postal workers’ responsibility “to decide who can vote and who can’t vote.”
The Postal Service has been under financial stress for years and has been consolidating mail processing into fewer regional centers. Mail travels an average of 139 miles to reach one and sometimes 500 miles, according to a recent Brookings report.
In January, a group of mostly Democratic senators said it was concerned about a decision to end twice-daily mail dispatches from local post offices to regional processing centers. The result is that mail arriving after the only daily dispatch would go out the next day.
California officials said the change was a factor in the state rejecting more than 148,000 ballots from its June primary, with 63% of them arriving too late despite a seven-day grace period. Officials worried that some ballots were postmarked at processing facilities the day after they were dropped off at a post office, possibly invalidating them. Wisconsin officials also said hundreds of ballots from an election in April arrived late.
The Postal Service said postmarks generally are being applied with automated equipment at processing centers, “in the same manner and to the same extent as before.” It said someone who wants to make sure their ballot envelope gets a timely postmark can get a free one applied by a postal worker.
A report on the 2024 election by the USPS Office of Inspector General said the Postal Service handled more than 59 million pieces of ballot mail from Sept. 1 to Nov. 15 that year and that 97.3% arrived on time.
The Michigan secretary of state’s office is advising voters to hand-deliver ballots to their local clerk’s office or a drop box.
“We’ve seen these issues over a number of election cycles now — they’re always concerning, and that’s why we’ve put out that guidance,” said Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie.
The Postal Service said its Michigan centers are not seeing processing delays.
In Kansas, concerns about late ballot deliveries in the state’s 2024 primary election prompted a quip on the social platform X from Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican: “The Pony Express is more efficient at this point.” Asked his view now, spokesperson Whitney Tempel said Schwab still believes “keeping your ballot out of the hands of the federal government is best.”
Jamie Shew, a Democrat elected to oversee elections in Douglas County, home to the main University of Kansas campus, said his office is trying to change voters’ perceptions.
“I think voters are used to, you can drop it off on Friday and we’re going to receive it by Election Day,” Shew said Tuesday. “That’s just not the reality.”
California’s state budget includes $10 million for social media campaigns and other efforts to discourage last-minute ballot mailings.
And the Postal Service said it hasn’t changed its own longstanding advice for voters: They should get their ballots in the mail at least a week before their state’s deadline for receiving them.
Hanna writes for the Associated Press. AP writers Scott Bauer in Madison, Wis., Michael R. Blood in Los Angeles, Michael Casey in Boston, and Jacqueline GaNun in Lansing, Mich., contributed to this report.
AN AFFORDABLE airline has delayed its flights from a major UK airport – before they’ve even taken off.
AirAsia X was due to launch flights from London Gatwick on August 27, however flights have been removed from the schedule.
The airline has said that due to “prolonged geopolitical instability in West Asia” the route is now expected to launch in March 2027.
Benyamin Ismail, General Manager of AirAsia X said: “Following a thorough review of the operating environment, we have made the difficult decision to defer the commencement of our Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London Gatwick services due to the prolonged geopolitical instability in West Asia.
“This decision was made in view of ongoing safety and operational considerations, with the safety and well-being of our guests and crew remaining our highest priority.
“It is also in line with actions taken by other carriers that have reduced or suspended operations in the region.
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“We will continue to closely monitor developments in the region and review the route when conditions are conducive to safe and sustainable operations.”
The route will travel between London Gatwick and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, stopping at Bahrain and would’ve operated four times a week and then daily from the start of November.
Flights were set to be on an Airbus A330-300, which with AirAsia X, holds between 285 and 377 passengers.
Despite being a long-haul flight, the airline has been able to make the route low-cost due to the stopover in Bahrain and choosing Gatwick Airport over London Heathrow.
The Malaysian airline already delayed the launch of the route due to conflict in the Middle East.
However, the airline said at the time that it was still focusing on growth, with specific destinations including Busan, Batam, Bahrain and London.
When flights eventually launch, British travellers will be able to head to 100 destinations across Asia through the airline’s Kuala Lumpur hub, including Japan and Sri Lanka.
The airline used to operate budget long-haul flights from Kuala Lumpur to London but the service stopped in 2012.
AirAsia X added that all impacted travellers will be informed and offered either a full refund or credit to be used within 730 days.
July 23 (UPI) — A Senate committee delayed a vote on the Trump administration’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director nominee, Erica Schwartz, because enough members were not present.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was absent from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions meeting on Thursday because of a family emergency, which led committee chair Bill Cassidy, R-La., to postpone the vote, Politico reported.
Cassidy also said Thursday that he decided to vote for Schwartz because of a “good faith action” the CDC reportedly made to its website earlier in the day.
The action included changing language on its website about the lack of an association between vaccines and autism, which had been ordered changed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. last year.
Cassidy asked detailed questions during her nomination hearing about vaccines and how the agency, which has had a full-time director for just one month since President Donald Trump re-entered the White House, would restore confidence in its public health mission, The Hill reported.
“I’m confident that she knows what she’s doing and will stand against those who do not,” Cassidy said during the meeting.
“If confirmed, I look forward to working with Dr. Schwartz to protect children’s health and regain trust in the CDC,” he said.
“There’s more to do to repair the damage that has been done to the U.S. public health response, but this is a start,” the Louisiana Republican added.
Even with Cassidy deciding to vote for Schwartz, Republicans on the committee would have needed a Democrat or Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who caucuses with the Democrats, to vote in favor.
Sanders ended that possibility when he expressed respect for Schwartz’s career but said that he was concerned she would not be able to hold off some of the controversial changes Kennedy has either proposed or forced on the agency.
“I will be voting against Dr. Schwartz because we need people in this country who are going to stand up, protect the American people and I don’t think you can see that right now with Secretary Kennedy in his position,” Sanders said.
The HELP committee’s next executive session is scheduled for July 30, which is also the next time it will consider nominations, making it the next opportunity for Schwartz’s nomination to come up for a vote.
The committee also put off a vote on Sean Kaufman, who is nominated to lead the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, because Republicans did not have enough votes to forward the nomination to the full Senate.
Al Jazeera reporters on ground faced lengthy queues to enter the stadium due to tighter security checks.
Published On 19 Jul 202619 Jul 2026
Fans, media workers and employees faced lengthy queues to get in to the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, which is expected to be attended by United States President Donald Trump.
In the 48 hours before Sunday’s finale at New York New Jersey Stadium, FIFA sent emails to media staff inviting them to arrive as early as six hours before kickoff and warned them of road closures 150 minutes beforehand.
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Among the media and stadium employees, the result appeared to be an early crunch to clear tight security that included inspections by Secret Service agents.
Al Jazeera reporters had a two-hour wait between entering the queue and clearing the initial security perimeter. Other journalists who arrived earlier reported wait times of three hours or more.
Trump’s helicopter landed next to the stadium as long lines of spectators waited to enter through enhanced security checks because of him.
One reporter was denied entry into the venue despite having tournament accreditation.
Malfunctioning ticket scanners added to everyone’s frustration as they queued in the heat.
Numerous other media personnel were denied entry at the security perimeter of the 80,000-capacity venue and sent to the stadium’s accreditation centre.
The same scenario was true for many fans, according to online reports. Despite warnings advising ticket-holders to show up four hours early, there were numerous reported waits of two hours or more in fan queues, with some also reporting malfunctioning ticket scanners.
However, when players from Spain and Argentina first took the field roughly 45 minutes before kickoff, a healthy portion of the lower stadium bowl appeared to be full, including the overwhelming majority of allocated supporters’ sections.
It is not the first major cup final on US soil to have logistical delays for fans.
In 2024, the kickoff of the Copa America final in Miami Gardens, Florida, was delayed by about 75 minutes due to overwhelmed personnel at fan entrances.
Significant numbers of un-ticketed fans then rushed turnstiles and forced entry before law enforcement gradually worked to clear those without paid admission as the match progressed.
11:39, 13 Jul 2026Updated 11:40, 13 Jul 2026
Jet2 urges passengers “do not get rid” of it(Image: Getty)
Millions of people are expected to go abroad during the six-week holiday, as the peak travel season typically sees masses of British families take advantage of the kids being off. With so many people set to pass through UK airports over the coming weeks, it is important to stay up to date with the latest guidelines and advice to ensure a smooth journey.
Jet2 is one of the most popular budget airlines in the UK, and welcomes around 20 million passengers on board each year. Jet2‘s website is full of information for passengers to read up on and keep in mind when travelling, including steps to take and things to do to minimise disruption and delays as much as possible, especially when bringing luggage to go into the aircraft’s cargo hold.
On its ‘Top Tips Before Travel‘ page online, the airline urges passengers to bring one particular item along with them on their journey, right until they collect their checked luggage at their chosen destination. By doing so, they can reduce the risk of longer delays should the worst happen
The airline explains: “At check-in, each item of checked baggage will be given a destination tag showing your flight number. Do not get rid of your checked baggage receipts (if given) until you pick up all checked baggage at your destination airport. Never carry unidentified items on behalf of other people.”
It’s important to keep your checked baggage receipt because it helps you track down lost luggage, file for compensation, and prove ownership if security or customs officials need to check your bags. Usually, these are the small adhesive tags that get stuck to your boarding pass or passport after you drop off your luggage at the check-in desk.
When you check-in a bag, the barcode and receipt information are linked to your digital flight booking file. If your suitcase doesn’t show up, the barcode and the 10-digit number on your receipt help airline agents find your specific bag using global systems like WorldTracer.
If your bag is lost and you have misplaced your checked baggage receipt, the airline can still look up your digital tracking information, but the process will require more manual verification and may face delays. Locating your profile manually can be time-consuming, particularly during busy travel times or when the booking system is experiencing delays.
If your bag is lost for good (missing for over 21 days), the airline or your travel insurance company may ask for more evidence of check-in. Misplacing the receipt can complicate the process of making a formal financial compensation claim, but your digital booking records usually serve as a valid paper trail, according to Citizens Advice.
Jet2 also urges passengers to label each piece of baggage with their name, flight number, and phone number. It adds: “Please ensure your baggage is strong and fit for purpose, to protect the contents and to withstand the normal baggage handling process. Soft sided cases and handles, wheels and locks can be particularly vulnerable.”
The airline also says: “Take care when claiming your baggage at your destination, as many suitcases look the same. It is best to always check the name on the baggage tag.
“You must contact the Jet2.com team at the airport (or our handling agents) immediately if your baggage is damaged or has not arrived. Irregularities must be reported immediately as claims cannot be processed once you leave the airport. Staff will help you to complete a Property Irregularity Report Form.”
EUROSTAR is warning of delays across Europe due to an incident on a track, with some services already cancelled.
Trains heading to and from Europe are experiencing delays and cancellations “due to emergency services attending an incident near the tracks in Lille Europe”.
Cancelled trains include:
There are also a number of delays to services including the 2:42pm, 3:12pm, 4:12pm, 4:40pm and 5:12pm services from Paris Gare du Nord to London St Pancras.
A service from London St Pancras to Paris at 2:31pm was also delayed.
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Services from Brussels to London have also been impacted including the 2:52pm and 3:52pm services.
The Eurostar website currently states: “We expect our trains between London and Lille/Brussels/Rotterdam/Amsterdam to be subject to severe delays on 07/07/2026 due to emergency services attending an incident near the tracks in Lille Europe.”
The operator is advising that if passengers would prefer to rearrange their plans, then you can change your ticket for free.
It comes as services still face disruptions following from an incident in the Netherlands last week where there was a major fire at Rotterdam Centraal.
At the time, Eurostar commented: “We’re very sorry that, due to a fire near station Rotterdam Centraal, train services across the Netherlands are currently severely disrupted and extremely limited.
“As a result, our trains are subject to significant delays and cancellations, and we’re unfortunately unable to offer alternative travel options.
“This situation will continue until 3rd July 2026. We recommend that you do not attempt to travel to or from the Netherlands until 3rd July. Instead, please cancel your journey or postpone it to a later date.”
Sun Travel has contacted Eurostar for further comment.
The transitional parliament aims to draft a new elections law during its 30-month term.
Published On 5 Jul 20265 Jul 2026
Syrian authorities have postponed the first meeting of the new transitional parliament, days after announcing the inaugural session had been scheduled for Monday.
“The convening of the first session of the people’s assembly has been postponed to a date to be determined later,” state television reported on Sunday, citing an electoral official and without specifying a reason.
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Syria’s new authorities dissolved the country’s rubber-stamp legislature after toppling longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, following almost 14 years of civil war which killed about half a million people.
In March 2025, new President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a temporary constitution that will be in force for a five-year transitional period.
In October, local committees appointed by the electoral commission, which was in turn appointed by al-Sharaa, began selecting two-thirds of the 210 members of the new parliament, with Sharaa to appoint the remaining third.
He appointed 70 members this week.
Druze-majority Suwayda province in the south has still not designated its members, after sectarian bloodshed there last year.
Electoral authorities have said the selection process would be held there when conditions are “appropriate”.
The selection process was held in formerly Kurdish-run areas of the north and northeast earlier this year after authorities in the capital Damascus assumed control there and signed a deal on integrating Kurdish institutions into the state.
The new parliament will have a 30-month term and work on a new elections law while preparing the ground for a popular vote, according to the head of the electoral committee, Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad.
11:19, 01 Jul 2026Updated 11:19, 01 Jul 2026
The airline shared advice for passengers on its website (stock photo)(Image: Getty)
British Airways has advice to help passengers ‘avoid delays’ at the airport. The airline’s website shares the latest guidance and travel updates for customers. It also answers frequently asked questions to help passengers have the smoothest possible experience on travel days.
In the baggage FAQ section, the airline has offered a tip for anyone travelling with medication in their hand luggage. British Airways said it recommends that passengers carry a copy of their prescription for any medication they are carrying.
The advice said: “We recommend you carry a copy of the prescription for your medication to avoid delays at security or customs.” Passengers are advised to carry any essential medications in their hand luggage.
British Airways explained: “If you need to take regular medication, it’s important to pack enough essential medication for your personal use on board – and for the first few days of your journey – into your smaller under-seat item of hand baggage. This is in case your hold baggage is delayed for any reason.”
British Airways adds that this medication shouldn’t be packed in any larger cabin bags. “Avoid packing medication in your larger cabin bag as you may be asked to put it into the hold on busy flights.
“Additional medication for personal use at your destination can also be packed in your checked baggage, so long as you are carrying enough for a few days in your hand baggage in case of any eventuality.”
There are allowances for passengers who need to carry medicines exceeding 100ml. Gov.uk explains: “You’re allowed to carry the following in your hand luggage: essential medicines of more than 100ml, including liquid dietary foodstuffs and inhalers or medical equipment, if it’s essential for your journey.
“You’ll need to carry proof that the medication is prescribed to you (for example, a letter from your doctor or a copy of your prescription) if it’s both: in liquid form and in a container larger than 100ml. You do not need to show proof if the medication is either: in tablet form or liquid in a container that’s 100ml or smaller.”
Gov.uk also shares advice for any passengers travelling with medicine containing a controlled drug. The guidance states: “You must carry medicine containing a controlled drug with you in your hand luggage when entering or leaving the UK.
It may be taken away from you at the border if you cannot prove it was prescribed for you.”
EasyJet travellers could face delays this weekend(Image: pablorebo1984 via Getty Images)
EasyJet passengers with travel plans should keep a close eye on their apps and emails for any last-minute updates arising from strike action in a popular holiday destination. Those flying to or from Italy on Sunday, July 5, face the risk of delays and cancellations.
Travel expert Kate Donnelly (@Thedonnellyedit) has reminded anyone who has trips booked to or from the European destination with the airline to monitor their inboxes carefully, as the situation could change at short notice. It comes as airline workers walk off the job this weekend, July 5.
She said: “If you’re travelling to Italy on July 5, you may well already be aware that multiple strikes are set to take place involving air traffic control and ground handling staff. But, now another one has been added to the calendar.”
Reports have confirmed that EasyJet’s Italian operation will strike on Sunday, July 5, with flights expected to be disrupted throughout the entire 24-hour period. According to the Strike Tracker website, the issue will last until midnight, with normal service expected to resume from Monday, July 6.
It says: “EasyJet pilots and flight attendants in Italy will stage a 24-hour national strike on July 5 (00:00-23:59), called by FILTCGIL, FITCISL, UILTUIL, UGL Trasporto Aereo and ANPAC. Flights to/from Italian airports may be cancelled or delayed. Travellers should check flight status with the airline.”
Kate points out that this is an airline-specific issue, meaning it “won’t matter which airport you are arriving or departing from”. Any flight booked through EasyJet could potentially be affected, reports the Express.
She said: “If you are on an EasyJet flight, it could be impacted on this date. With this particular strike action, there is obviously the risk of delays, but also a higher risk of flight cancellations.
“Airlines will obviously do what they can to try and minimise disruption. Make sure you keep an eye on your app notifications and your emails because, if they do make changes ahead of the date, you will be notified directly by them first.”
If EasyJet reschedules your flight as a result of their own Italian pilots or cabin crew walking out, you are legally entitled to compensation. Internal staff strikes are not regarded as extraordinary circumstances.
If the airline can prove that your flight was rescheduled due to Air Traffic Control closing the skies or the airport’s baggage handlers staging a walkout, this is considered an “extraordinary circumstance”. In this case, you will receive a refund or be rebooked, but no additional compensation.
Even where the airline is not at fault, EasyJet is still legally obliged to take care of you. If your rescheduled flight leaves you stranded at the airport or stuck in Italy overnight, they are required to provide:
To claim compensation or expenses from easyJet for a delayed or cancelled flight, you must submit a claim directly through the official easyJet Compensation Claims Portal or the easyJet Expense Claim Form. You will need your booking reference and your exact flight number.
The M49 junction near Bristol(Image: National Highway (formerly Highways England))
The opening of a £50m ‘dead-end’ motorway junction near Bristol that was built seven years ago and has never been used could face further delays, it has been announced.
National Highways completed the bulk of the work on the two-bridge junction off the M49 – a stretch of road between Avonmouth and Severnside – in 2019. But plans to link the junction with a nearby industrial estate used by companies such as Tesco and Amazon stalled after a dispute arose over who was responsible for building the connecting road.
Now “defects” have been identified at the junction, National Highways has revealed. The body responsible for England’s roads said it was looking at options for remedial work following an engineering survey carried out by independent specialists.
“Discussions with our contractor are ongoing,” National Highways said in a statement. “We expect this will impact the opening of the South Gloucestershire Council link road, which is in construction.
“We remain committed to opening the junction as this will benefit the regional economy and communities. For safety reasons these defects must be addressed before we can connect it to local authority roads.
“We realise how frustrating this news will be to communities and businesses and we are working with the council and other partners on next steps.”
A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said the news was “incredibly frustrating”.
“We share the anger and disbelief felt by local residents and businesses,” they said. “The council has committed to deliver the link road to connect to the M49 junction, and we remain on track to do so by the end of 2026.
“However, the opening of the junction once the link road is complete is solely a matter for National Highways.”
Under plans by the local authority, work on the link road was expected to finish this year and open to traffic in early 2027 – eight years after the junction was originally built.
But, according to South Gloucestershire Council, National Highways has not confirmed a programme or timeline for resolving issues affecting the junction and does not expect to provide an update until the autumn of this year.
“This uncertainty is deeply concerning for residents in nearby communities, who are affected by significant numbers of large vehicles using local roads,” the council spokesperson said.
“The delay is also a problem for businesses in Severnside, an area we all want to see grow and which needs to be properly connected to the strategic road network as soon as possible, in order to attract the investment to create jobs.
“We are pressing National Highways to provide as much information as possible, as soon as possible, about how and when they will make the junction ready for traffic and when we can expect the link road to be connected to the motorway in the way we have long planned. We will continue to press for answers and share updates as soon as further information becomes available.”
When the M49 junction was first proposed, it was hoped it would create an economic boost for the region and ease congestion on local roads by connecting the Port of Avonmouth and the Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area.
But the project, which secured another £7m from the Department for Transport last year, has been hampered by delays, much to the chagrin of local residents and businesses.
Landownership issues, disagreements over responsibilities and navigating ecological challenges have all contributed to slowing up the opening of the so-called “ghost junction”, reports BusinessLive.
The MP for Thornbury and Yate, Claire Young, has slammed National Highways for taking so long to disclose the issue.
“It is farcical that National Highways has waited until now to tell us there is a problem with the M49 junction they built,” she said.
Ms Young said National Highways was “unable” to reveal what the problem was.
“It means that the opening of this long awaited ‘ghost junction’ will almost certainly be delayed. My thoughts are with the long suffering local residents who will have to continue to deal with lorries thundering down their roads from massive warehouses that were located specifically to use this motorway junction.
“The surrounding roads are being ripped to shreds by lorries they were never designed to carry. Communication throughout has been poor; businesses and some local people are only now being told about the issue. I will continue to press National Highways and the government to sort out this mess as quickly as possible.”
Peter Tyzack, chair of Pilning and Severn Beach Parish Council, said it was “very disappointing and frustrating”. “Residents and businesses have waited a long time for the junction to open,” he said. “The parish council has made clear that, while safety must come first, the local community cannot simply be expected to absorb the impact of further delay without support.”
The land owner of the distribution park, Delta, has also been contacted for comment.
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — President Trump said Wednesday that he was delaying federal prosecutor Jay Clayton’s nomination to lead the U.S. intelligence community in a bid to force Congress to act on a voter ID bill that currently lacks enough support for passage.
The Republican president said in a social media post just hours before Clayton’s scheduled confirmation hearing that he will keep Bill Pulte, a top U.S. housing official, as acting director of national intelligence. Democratic and Republican lawmakers had opposed Trump’s selection of Pulte, citing his lack of known experience in intelligence and his use of his current administration perch to target perceived adversaries of the president — resistance that last week forced Trump to turn to Clayton.
The abrupt announcement creates instant uncertainty over the long-term leadership of the 18-agency intelligence community and dashes hopes for a swift renewal of a crucial surveillance program that expired in Congress last week due to bipartisan anger over Trump’s pick of Pulte.
That tool, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, permits spy agencies to collect without a warrant the communications of targeted foreigners located outside the United States. National security officials across both major political parties have for years described Section 702 as vital for gathering intelligence that can disrupt terror attacks and espionage operations, though some lawmakers and civil liberties advocates have raised concerns over the government’s use of information about Americans that is incidentally collected through the program.
Clayton had been set to appear on Wednesday for a Senate confirmation hearing that was fast-tracked because of the program’s lapse. Democrats had said they would not renew the expired surveillance programs until Trump withdrew the selection of Pulte.
Trump’s post suggests that debate to revive Section 702 could be indefinitely postponed. Lawmakers have sounded the alarm about the government operating without congressional authorization of the powerful spy tool.
A court order from last March certified that the program could continue for another 12 months, though it’s possible that communications companies could challenge the government’s authority to force them to cooperate and share data.
In his social media post, Trump accused Democrats of breaking a deal to renew the program after he nominated Clayton. Trump also said he does not want to remove Clayton from his current position as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York before his replacement, James McDonald, is approved. McDonald was named to the Justice Department post on Saturday.
And Trump added another condition: linking his approval of the surveillance program to the passage of a bill requiring people to show ID to vote.
“Therefore, to add a slight bit of intrigue but, for the Good of the Nation, and the People of our Country, I will not approve FISA without THE SAVE AMERICA ACT going along with it,” Trump said, using the acronym for the surveillance program and his name for the voter ID bill.
The Republican-controlled Congress has not acted on the voting bill because it does not have enough support in either chamber, particularly from Democrats.
Trump made the announcement in Evian-les-Bains, France, where he was participating in the final day of the Group of Seven summit of leading industrial economies.
The intelligence director position became available after Tulsi Gabbard, who had held the job, announced last month that she was resigning to spend time with her husband as he fights cancer.
Clayton, a chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term, has spent the last 14 months as the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, one of the Justice Department’s premier posts.
His office during that time facilitated the unsealing of thousands of pages of court records from the prosecutions of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, documents that were made public as part of the Justice Department’s release of records related to the late sex offender and his longtime confidant.
Clayton has also overseen the prosecution of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, on drug trafficking charges.
Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was convicted of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein but insists she’s innocent. Maduro and his wife have protested their capture and said they’re not guilty.
Madhani, Superville, Tucker and Jalonick write for the Associated Press. Superville reported from Geneva. Tucker and Jalonick reported from Washington.
In response, the MoD spokesman said that, since coming to power in July 2024, the government had signed more than 1,400 major defence contracts, adding it was providing “a generational increase in defence spending… ensuring no return to the hollowed out armed forces of the past”.
