rule

WASHINGTON  — The Supreme Court announced Friday it will rule on President Trump’s ban on asylum claims at the southern border, testing a key part of his hard-line policy on immigration.

At issue is a clash between the promise of asylum for those fleeing persecution and the reality of a border overwhelmed by hundreds of thousands who arrived seeking to apply.

Trump’s lawyers said his ban on asylum claims in January 2025 was his “single most effective policy” in ending the chaos along the border.

“Over preceding four years, at least eight million illegal aliens were encountered along the southern border,” Solicitor Gen. D. John Sauer told the court, “and countless millions more evaded detection and illegally entered the United States.”

The sheer numbers of people coming to the border had “overwhelmed the system,” making it impossible for U.S. officials to screen and interview asylum seekers, he said. Lacking facilities to detain applicants, most were released into the country.

But the American Civil Liberties Union and other immigration rights advocates said the right of individuals to seek asylum was recognized in U.S. law and could not be abolished.

The law authorizes asylum for people who can demonstrate they are fleeing persecution based on race, religion, nationality or belonging to a particular social or political group.

Federal judges in Washington agreed that asylum must be preserved. They said immigration officials were free to reject claims for asylum but they could not eliminate the right for the entire category of potential applicants.

However, their ruling was put on hold while the administration appealed to the Supreme Court.

“The president does not have the right to unilaterally override the protections Congress has afforded those fleeing danger,” said Lee Gelernt, lead counsel and deputy director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project. “The courts are right to reject this unprecedented power grab that would put countless lives in danger. We look forward to making our case before the Supreme Court.”

Keren Zwick, executive director of the National Immigrant Justice Center, said the plaintiffs in the case “fled persecution and torture, including political imprisonment and threats from the Taliban. Yet, the Trump administration refused to honor its obligation to consider them for asylum.”

Instead, some of them “were removed to third countries and then pushed back to the very place they fled. This vicious attack on due process and human rights has put thousands of lives in danger.”

Federal immigration law gives the president broad authority to close the border to most migrants.

It says he “may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate.”

The court said it would hear the case of Mullin vs. Refugee and Immigrant Center early next year and rule by June.

Ryanair has changed its airport check-in rules from today (Tuesday, 10 November), and any passengers who don’t abide could face being ‘denied boarding without refund’

Keeping up with the constantly shifting travel rules for airlines and airports ahead of any holiday can be a real challenge. Some regulations remain in place for years before being amended, leaving holidaymakers scratching their heads, while others are introduced to make the whole travel experience simpler and more efficient.

Regardless, there’s a hefty list of rules to bear in mind and abide by, from crucial expiry dates on your passport to liquid allowances in your hand luggage, right through to the key timings for checking in, clearing security and boarding your flight. Therefore, it’s absolutely essential to stay clued up on any updates and stick to the guidelines to guarantee a safe and hassle-free trip.

One major change has now been introduced by Ryanair, coming into effect today (Tuesday, 10 November). The revised rule from the budget carrier will affect its check-in procedures, and any passenger caught unawares could be ‘denied boarding without refund’, potentially throwing their entire holiday into jeopardy.

In a notice to passengers, Ryanair confirmed: “For all passengers flying from 10 November 2026 onwards, the check-in desks close strictly 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time unless you are notified otherwise before flight departure. If you do not complete check-in by then, you may be denied boarding without refund.”

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Previously, Ryanair check-in desks shut strictly 40 minutes before a flight’s scheduled departure time, unless passengers were notified otherwise. However, under the new rule, holidaymakers will have 20 minutes less time to check in at the airport before their flight if they haven’t already done so online, reports the Liverpool Echo.

In addition to the reduced timeframe, those who fail to check in online outside the airline’s designated window may incur an extra charge. “If you do not complete check-in online more than two hours before the scheduled departure time, you will be charged the airport check-in fee set out in our table of fees. If you booked a Plus or Flexi Plus ticket before the 14 of August 2025, you can check in at the airport free of charge,” the budget airline warned under their ‘General terms & conditions of carriage’.

The good news is that customers still have plenty of opportunities to check in for their Ryanair flight online. “Online check-in opens 60 days before the scheduled departure time if you have purchased an allocated seat. Customers can be allocated a seat free of charge if they check in online between 72 and two hours before each booked flight. You cannot check in online during the two hours before your flight’s scheduled departure time,” Ryanair confirmed on its website.

In addition to Ryanair’s update, several UK airports have upgraded their security scanning equipment, meaning passengers can now carry up to two litres of liquids through security, rather than the former 100ml limit, and no longer need to remove them from their hand luggage. This includes the following airports so far:

• Belfast International
• Belfast City
• Birmingham
• Bournemouth
• Bristol
• Edinburgh
• London Gatwick
• London Heathrow

Elsewhere, this year also saw the European Union’s (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) fully launched across airports on Friday, 10 April 2026. The new system requires all British travellers heading to the Schengen area to “create a digital record” and submit their biometric details, including fingerprints and a photograph.

A further update took effect at 13 UK airports on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, permitting children aged 8 and above to use the eGates. Previously, eGates were only available to passengers aged 10 and over, but lowering the age threshold is expected to enable around 1.5 million additional children, who must also be at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall, to pass through the electronic gates and other re-entry points considerably more quickly.

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Ryanair passengers travelling with luggage face stricter rules starting tomorrow

Budget airline Ryanair is introducing a major rule change starting tomorrow, Tuesday, November 10, 2026. It will require millions of holidaymakers to adjust their arrival times at airports.

From tomorrow morning, physical check-in desks and airport bag drop services at all Ryanair airports will close exactly 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time. This moves the deadline up by 20 minutes from the previous 40-minute cut-off. Ryanair has warned that anyone who reaches the desk in this final hour will be turned away and may miss their flight.

Who is affected by the new deadline?

The rule change specifically impacts the estimated 20% of Ryanair passengers who travel with checked luggage, such as 10kg or 20kg hold bags, or those who require in-person assistance at the airport terminal. If you have checked luggage, you must have your bags fully processed through the drop system before the one-hour countdown begins.

The 80% of passengers travelling cabin-bag-only are unaffected. If you only have hand luggage and check in online, your process remains unchanged; you can bypass the desks and proceed straight to airport security as usual.

Why is the rule changing?

According to Ryanair’s Chief Marketing Officer, Dara Brady, the buffer is intended to create a smoother terminal experience. By forcing luggage to be dropped off earlier, the airline aims to reduce the number of travellers who miss their flights due to peak-time bottlenecks at security and passport control checkpoints.

Wider industry guidelines for online check-in have not changed. Passengers can still complete their check-in via the Ryanair App up to two hours before departure.

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However, the airline strongly urges anyone checking a bag this winter to treat the 60-minute mark as a hard cutoff and aim to arrive at the airport at least two hours before departure to account for potential queues.

In a statement on the Ryanair website, Ryanair CMA Dara Brady said: “From Tuesday, 10 November, bag drop services at all Ryanair airports will close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of the current 40 minutes.

“This small change will give the 20 per cent of Ryanair passengers who check in a bag, more time to clear airport security and passport control queues and get to their departure gate before boarding begins, particularly during busy travel periods when airport queues can be longer.”

Ryanair carries approximately 214 million passengers per year. Ryanair and its subsidiary Ryanair UK operate flights from around 21 to 22 airports across the United Kingdom.

A squeeze on European airfares

The adjustment comes alongside a broader warning from CEO Michael O’Leary, who recently alerted European travellers to brace for historic airfare increases. Driven by rising jet fuel costs linked to geopolitical tensions and a reduction in overall European seat capacity due to airline bankruptcies and takeovers, average ticket prices are forecasted to jump by up to 20% over the coming months.

Withdrawal of passports is not the same as withdrawing citizenship, officials reassure

People applying for a British passport have been told that they could have it “cancelled” or “withdrawn” at any time. UK Government officials state that this legal travel document belongs to them.

Gov.uk explains: “Passports belong to the government and can be cancelled or withdrawn at any time.” According to information published on December 18, 2025, the UK Parliament states: “British passports are issued at the discretion of the Home Secretary under the royal prerogative (an executive power which does not require legislation). They can be withdrawn or withheld using the same discretionary power.

“Withdrawal of passports is not the same as withdrawing citizenship. Someone whose passport is withdrawn remains a British citizen, but their overseas travel is restricted. Home Office policy states this will be done ‘sparingly’, such as where the person intends to travel abroad to engage in terrorism.

“There is no right of appeal against having a passport withdrawn, but the person can ask for an internal review by the government or apply for judicial review by a judge.”

What is the eligibility for a British passport?

Government officials explain that a person must have British nationality to apply for or hold a British passport. However, having British nationality does not guarantee you a passport.

For example, you may not get a new passport – or your existing passport may be taken from you – if:

• You’re suspected of a serious crime, and an arrest warrant has been issued
• A court order stops you having a UK passport or restricts your travel
• You’re on bail and bail conditions mean you cannot leave the UK
• You’ve been brought back to the UK before at the government’s expense and have not repaid what you owe
• You’ve received a European Union or United Nations order which restricts your travel

A child’s passport may also be cancelled or refused for renewal if a court order is in place preventing them from leaving the UK. When you apply, your eligibility and entitlement to a British passport will be assessed.

How can I apply for a passport?

If you’re in the UK, you can apply for a passport online. This costs £102. You can also apply for a passport with a paper form – this costs £115.50. There’s a different way to apply for a passport if you’re overseas.

You can apply for a first adult passport if all of the following apply:

• You’re a British national
• You’re aged 16 or over (or will be in three weeks)
• You’ve never had a UK passport before

You must also apply if your last UK passport was issued before January 1, 1994. You can use your child passport until it expires, even if you’re over 18. An adult passport is valid for 10 years.

The symphony orchestra takes its name from the Greek symphonía, meaning sounding in agreement, and orkhēstra which implies a public stage for dance or, in ancient Rome, where senators and other big shots sat. Democracy comes from dēmokratia, rule by the people. Even though the modern orchestra originated three centuries ago as a plaything of princes, there has always been an implicit connection — and tension — between orchestras and democracy.

Despite the orchestra never having been a financially sustainable model, dependent on some form of patronage, the symphony orchestra was embroiled in political activism by the early 19th century. Beethoven brazenly yanked the dedication to Napoleon from his “Eroica” Symphony when the “hero” proclaimed himself emperor in 1804, a betrayal of the democratic ideals of the French Revolution.

More than two centuries later, the orchestra continues to be a potent reminder of power to the people, a community of exquisitely trained artists marching to a beat, staying in tune and on message. In this year’s election season orchestras have been practicing the call for democratic thinking on a global scale, including in Los Angeles, Boston and Leipzig, Germany. Strikingly, this comes at a time when beleaguered orchestra musicians have also been demanding a more democratically minded workplace.

Throughout October and up to election day, Wild Up in L.A. has taken the lead in orchestral electoral activism. Its “Democracy Sessions” are an ongoing procession of interdisciplinary concerts, theatrical events, interactive gatherings, environmental presentations and gabfests in theaters, museums, libraries, parks, on neighborhood streets and around the L.A. River. Wild Up winds up its call for democracy with “Music to Vote By,” lunchtime solo acoustic sets, noon to 2 p.m., through Tuesday at the Democracy Center at the Japanese American National Museum Plaza in Little Tokyo.

Wild Up, itself, is a uniquely egalitarian collective, a chamber orchestra of composers and soloists, although one that nonetheless requires traditional leadership of its visionary founder, conductor Christopher Rountree. Rountree’s interdisciplinary “sessions” run from the musically sophisticated and accomplished to ad hoc and participatory funkiness, less designed to change minds than to relieve democracy anxiety.

A democracy zeitgeist, for instance, pervaded a performance at REDCAT of Louis Andriessen’s “De Staat,” a Dutch minimalist masterpiece from the mid-1970s. To intense rhythmic propulsion of piano and winds, four women vocalists intone excerpts from “The Republic,” in which Plato calls for rule of the people not the rule of music, fearful of a music that can alter “the most fundamental laws of the state.” Andriessen set out to show how mistaken Plato was.

Elsewhere, Rountree acted as an assembler, demonstrating democracy in action. In British composer Oliver Leith’s “Garland,” a kind of musical and theatrical tool kit, Rountree created a spectacle of song, dance, instrumental mayhem (whirly tubes, button whistles and the like added to the mix) and included amateur performers from the community hymn singing with the pros. It ended with a lovely appearance by a black horse all in the expanses of MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary. What does this have to do with the price of gasoline? Nothing more than a reminder that the quotidian world around us can be a hymn all by itself.

Wild Up’s performance of “Garland” at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.

(Josh Rose / Wild Up)

Germany is having its own brush with democracy with a recent election in which the far-right Alternative for Germany party won power in the central state of Saxony-Anhalt. The city of Leipzig borders that state, and its historic Gewandhaus Orchestra marked the days preceding the election with a democracy weekend it called “Reading the Signs.” The suggestion here was rather than falling for oversimplification and conspiracy theories when it comes to examining the interaction of “music, discourse and social action,” look to Beethoven.

That included a performance by Stegreif, an improvising orchestra that functions as a kind of German Wild Up. For Democracy Weekend, Stegreif “exploded” Beethoven’s “Eroica.”

It so happens that the Boston Symphony and Gewandhaus share a music director in Andris Nelsons, who has strived to bring the two orchestras together in joint projects. Sure enough, the BSO has been living up to its calling as the orchestra in the birthplace of American democracy. At Tanglewood, the orchestra’s summer home in the Berkshires, the orchestra celebrated the semiquincentennial with the premiere of Philip Glass’ “Lincoln” symphony and Yo-Yo Ma’s weeklong “We the People” residency, which offered a widely varied look at our democratic musical roots.

Then barely two weeks before the midterms, the BSO channeled Boston’s revolutionary spirit with explosive AI. At a time when much of the country sees artificial intelligence as a significant threat to democracy, the premiere of Tod Machover’s “already and not yet,” a concerto for orchestra with electronics bathed in AI, begs otherwise.

Machover’s brilliant new half-hour orchestral score asks AI for agency. It does so by treating the technology as stupid, musicians as creative artists and the audience as capable of opening its collective mind. It handles democracy not as a done deal, but a series of scary questions — and doesn’t trust the heartless machines for answers.

A commission in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the MIT Media Lab, “already and not yet” challenges us to make the world more beautiful by looking deeply into ourselves. The Media Lab is an unprecedented electronic playground born of AI. For one of the optimistic developers of AI, the musically minded computer scientist Marvin Minsky, the Media Lab functioned akin to a surgeon removing blockages to the imagination.

The interior of MIT’s groundbreaking Media Lab.

(Mark Swed)

Minsky was also a mentor to Machover, who has been at the Media Lab since the start and now heads the faculty. Machover’s AI is not a data collector in the sense of the commercial, data-gobbling, mind-numbing monstrosities lately foisted on the public. It becomes a new tool in his piece, not a way of life, something merely taught to listen and analyze in hopes of giving musicians a new idea or two.

With the help of an AI operator, Manaswi Mishra, who is embedded in the orchestra, the AI becomes the “already” in “already and not yet.” It doesn’t have much use in the tumultuous first movement, “SMASH UP,” when the world is a mess and that’s our problem. In the ethereal second movement, “WAKE UP,” players become individual and AI spits out responses that read as ordinary electronic mimicry, but the players, if game, take that as a challenge. Weirdly the machine brings them to life and as individuals. In the last movement, “STAND UP,” the machine is tamed! We frolic in a new, sonic wonderland. Even Thoreau might approve!

Can AI-assisted utopian art save democracy? That’s a tall order. Let it first try to do something about the BSO. As conductor, Kent Nagano was the ultimate listener (he can cut off the AI when it’s not interesting). After the performance he told me the orchestra was always game. And he sandwiched Machover with lithe, colorful Mendelssohn performances (including the Fifth Symphony).

But this is an orchestra in revolt, and it looked it. Grim of mien, many players on the night I attended sported red flowers on their lapels, a sign of their dissatisfaction with the administration for not renewing Nelsons’ contract when it expires this summer, after 13 years leading the BSO. The orchestra claimed it was broadsided by the announcement that management and Nelsons did not have a shared vision. The players want a say, an orchestra as democracy and more than just AI’s version of agency.

Ironically, Nelsons, who signed a nondisclosure agreement, doesn’t seem to show much vision when it comes to democracy. The Latvian conductor did not participate in Tanglewood’s democracy concerts (although he did conduct excerpts from John Adams’ “Nixon in China,” which sounded, in the radio broadcast, as having such a heavy hand that there was no room for free thinking).

In Leipzig, Nelsons’ contribution to the Gewandhaus democracy weekend was no democracy at all, only an irrelevant program of Tchaikovsky and Dvorak standards. Leipzig, bursting like Boston with young people, has become a German tech hub, it too could have used a whirl with democratic AI.

Swed is The Times’ former classical music critic.

Need to know

HM Passport Office has reissued guidance on the two-year rule

All you need to know as HM Passport Office reminds of two-year UK passport rule:

• HM Passport Office has issued a reminder about the two-year rule that applies when someone needs to confirm a passport applicant’s identity.
• The requirement applies when applying for a new passport for a child or adult, renewing a child’s passport, or replacing a lost, stolen or damaged document.
• In a post on X, formerly Twitter, HMPO clarified that “a referee must have known the person applying for at least 2 years and confirm their identity”.
• Referees must be at least 18, live in the UK and hold a British or Irish passport. They must know the applicant as a friend, neighbour or colleague – not solely through a professional relationship – and work in, or be retired from, a “recognised profession”.
• Some examples of a recognised profession include: accountant, councillor, teacher or lecturer, barrister, journalist, and dentist. An extensive list can be found here
• You cannot verify someone’s identity if you’re related by birth or marriage; are in a relationship with them or share a home; you’re employed by HM Passport Office; you’re employed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) on British citizenship or right of abode applications; or if you’re a medical professional – unless you know the individual requesting this well (for instance, you’re a close friend).
• For a child’s application, the two-year rule applies to the adult making the application.

READ THE FULL STORY: Two-year British passport rule you may not know about

Ryanair passengers checking in luggage will have less time to reach the airport desk under a new deadline

Anyone travelling with Ryanair who leave their airport journey until the last minute could risk missing their flight when a new rule takes effect. From Tuesday, November 10, airport check-in and bag-drop desks will close 60 minutes before departure, instead of the current 40 minutes.

The change means travellers checking in a suitcase will need to get their bags accepted earlier than they may be used to, even if they have already checked in online. For a flight scheduled to leave at 10am, the deadline will move from 9.20am to 9am. Ryanair carried 206.5 million passengers in the 2025 calendar year.

Travel expert Arber Abdullahu, from TripSIM, has urged holidaymakers to check their airport arrangements before setting off, particularly if they have booked a transfer. He warned that having a boarding pass on a phone does not mean a checked bag has been accepted or that passengers can arrive at the desk whenever they like.

“Checking in online can make you feel that everything is sorted. But if you’re taking a suitcase that needs to go in the hold, you still have a separate deadline to meet at the airport,” he said.

Getting to the airport and reaching the correct desk are not necessarily the same thing, as travellers may need to park, take a shuttle, find their terminal and queue. Anyone relying on a transfer that arrives shortly before the cut-off should review the timings rather than treating the deadline as their target arrival time.

The change could also catch people out on their return journey if they are away when the new rule begins. Someone flying out before November 10 but returning on or after that date should check the deadline for both legs and make sure their hotel pick-up leaves enough time to reach the airport.

“Don’t assume the routine that worked on your outbound flight will work for your return. Check your hotel pick-up time and tell the transfer provider which flight you are taking,” Mr Abdullahu said.

Ryanair says the earlier cut-off is intended to give passengers more time to get through airport security and passport-control queues before reaching their departure gate. The airline says around 20 per cent of its passengers check in a bag, while those who check in online and travel without checked luggage will be unaffected by the bag-drop change.

Passengers should remember that online check-in has a separate deadline and remains open until two hours before departure. Anyone using airport check-in or bag drop should check the latest instructions for their flight and allow enough time to complete each stage of the journey.

Two California governors faced recall in the last 30 years.

In 2021, Gavin Newsom survived an effort to recall him amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But in 2003, Gray Davis was ousted from office and replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Now, voters will consider significant changes to recall rules for elected state officials.

The basics

Under current law, when an elected official is recalled in California, the election for their replacement occurs at the same time. Proposition 5 breaks up that process into two parts, prioritizing the voters’ right to oust an official before selecting a replacement.

The impact

This ballot measure would amend the state constitution to change the current recall system. Under the proposed changes, voters would first be asked to choose whether or not to oust an official. Then, in the event of a recall, the official would be replaced by appointment, succession or special election at a later date. In the case of a special election, the former officeholder could run again.

The measure also would designate California’s lieutenant governor as the de facto replacement for a recalled governor until the next term.

Dig deeper

California’s rules for recalling politicians date to the Progressive era and were seen at the time as a way to give more power to voters.

But there have been concerns in recent years that the process needs reform, especially after the 2021 recall that Newsom overwhelmingly beat back; it cost local and state governments more than $200 million.

After the Newsom recall failed, the Legislature began a bipartisan task force to suggest changes.

More reading

California’s costly, confusing recall sparks an effort to rethink the rules (L.A. Times, 2021)

The history of recalls in California (L.A. Times)

The Little Hoover Commission on recall reform (State of California)

US District Judge Richard Stearns sided with 25 states and the District of Columbia which sued the administration.

A federal judge has ruled against enforcing a new rule by the administration of US President Donald Trump that would require chronically ill people on Medicaid, a public health insurance programme for low-income individuals, to prove themselves “medically frail” to qualify for work exemptions.

US District Judge Richard Stearns blocked the rule on Thursday, siding with 25 states and the District of Columbia, which had sued the Trump administration in June over the change, arguing that it unlawfully limits exemptions for people with serious medical conditions.

The law says the definition of medically frail must include people who are blind or disabled, have substance use disorders or disabling mental disorders, have certain disabilities that significantly impair daily activities, or have serious or complex medical conditions.

‘Significantly impair’ abilities

But the administration’s rule went further, requiring people in those categories to show that their conditions also “significantly impair” their ability to comply with the law’s work requirements.

The plaintiffs argued that the stricter rule would prevent eligible Americans from accessing the care they need, and that it oversteps the law’s text.

“The states have met their burden of showing irreparable harm for which monetary damages would provide inadequate compensation – they face the burden of costly and intensive alterations to their eligibility verification systems,” Stearns said in his 16-page ruling.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the agency that adopted the rule, declined to comment.

Medicaid is a public health insurance programme for low-income people, funded by state and federal governments.

Two restrictions upheld

Starting January 1, 2027, Medicaid expansion enrollees aged 19 to 64 must show that they work or do community service at least 80 hours a month, or are in school at least half the time. There are exceptions for those considered medically frail or in addiction treatment programmes, among others.

Notably, while the ruling will make it easier for some Medicaid recipients with qualifying medical conditions to obtain an exemption from the new work requirements, Stearns’s decision does not strike down the work requirements as unlawful.

Stearns serves in the District of Massachusetts and was appointed by President Bill Clinton.

His ruling upheld two other federal restrictions on how states can verify medical frailty that the states and the District of Columbia had also contested.

Passengers travelling with checked luggage face stricter deadlines from November 10

Budget airline Ryanair has confirmed it is making a major change to one of its luggage rules. The upcoming change, set to take place from next month, is expected to affect millions of people who fly with the airline.

Ryanair announced it is changing its airport check-in and bag drop rules, starting November 10, giving passengers less time to drop off their luggage before a flight. The change is hoped to give passengers more time to clear airport queues before takeoff.

Under the new policy, Ryanair will close all airport bag drop desks and physical check-in counters strictly 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time. This is a significant shift from the airline’s previous rule, which allowed passengers to drop off their checked luggage up to 40 minutes before takeoff.

The airline has stated that the extra 20-minute window is being introduced to help operations run more smoothly. If your flight is at 10am, you used to have until 9.20am to drop your bags. Starting November 10, you must have them dropped by 9am.

According to Ryanair, the change is designed to give passengers more time to successfully navigate airport security lines and passport control queues. Ryanair says this should help reduce the number of travellers who miss their flights due to airport delays.

Who is affected by the new rule?

The rule change specifically impacts the estimated 20% of Ryanair passengers who travel with checked luggage or require physical check-in assistance at the airport desk. If you have paid for a 10kg or 20kg checked bag, you must ensure your luggage is fully processed at the bag drop kiosk or desk at least 1 hour before your flight is scheduled to depart.

Ryanair CMO, Dara Brady, said: “From Tues, 10 Nov, bag drop services at all Ryanair airports will close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of the current 40 minutes. This small change will give the 20% of Ryanair passengers who check in a bag, more time to clear airport security and passport control queues and get to their departure gate before boarding begins, particularly during busy travel periods when airport queues can be longer.

“We remind passengers using airport bag drop services to arrive at the airport in good time and ensure they have checked in and dropped their bags before check-in and bag drop closes 60 minutes before departure. The remaining 80% of passengers who check in online and do not check in a bag are unaffected by this change.”

Who can skip the queue?

The vast majority of Ryanair passengers will see no change to their travel routine. Roughly 80% of the airline’s customers travel with cabin baggage only and check in via the official Ryanair app or website. If you are travelling with hand luggage only and have already downloaded your digital boarding pass, you do not need to visit the check-in desks.

You can continue to bypass the counters and head straight through airport security as normal. Ryanair’s standard online check-in timelines remain completely unchanged. Passengers can still check in online via the app or website up to two hours before their scheduled departure.

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What happens if you arrive late?

Passengers are being urged to double-check their airport arrival times ahead of the November 10 deadline. Ryanair is known for its strict enforcement of cut-off times. If you arrive at the bag drop desk less than 60 minutes before your flight, the airline will close the desk, and you will not be allowed to check your luggage.

Missing this deadline will likely result in you being denied boarding, and Ryanair does not offer refunds for missed flights. To ensure a stress-free journey, holidaymakers and business travellers alike are advised to arrive at the airport well in advance of the new one-hour cutoff.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi surprised observers when he recently announced his intention to leave office after his third presidential term ends in April 2030.

El-Sisi had been widely suspected of moving to amend the Egyptian constitution to allow him to serve another term, or possibly indefinitely.

But speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy, el-Sisi insisted that his departure was a settled matter and that “no one would tamper with” the constitution.

So what is behind the decision? There has been much speculation that el-Sisi may use this declaration to rally popular support for a fourth term or preempt a move by the military against him. But there is also the possibility that he is setting up the next phase of military rule in Egypt.

It is important to point out first that voluntarily leaving power is a risky proposition for any authoritarian leader.

In el-Sisi’s case, his 2030 departure would leave open the possibility that a future Egyptian government could seek to use him as a scapegoat for the country’s problems, possibly even holding him to account for alleged crimes committed during his presidency.

El-Sisi led a coup in 2013 against Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi, which was accompanied by massacres and the jailing of tens of thousands of politicians, activists, and journalists.

El-Sisi’s economic record has also been the subject of criticism, with detractors accusing him and his government of corruption, poor fiscal policy and lavish spending on vanity projects. Egypt’s debt stands at 81 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), with interest payments alone exceeding combined spending on healthcare, education, wages and subsidies. Meanwhile, the Egyptian pound has lost more than 80 percent of its value against the US dollar since 2014, while cumulative inflation exceeds 460 percent.

In this context, el-Sisi’s announcement that he plans to step down in 2030 was rather unexpected. Some have speculated that he has no intention of actually leaving office and could go back on his statement, as he has done before.

In 2013, following Morsi’s overthrow, el-Sisi denied that he would run for president.

After telling the media in 2017 that he was committed to “preserving [the constitution’s] two four-year terms and not changing it”, he helped lead the drive to amend the constitution in 2019.

A judicial source told Mada Masr last week that el-Sisi’s announcement left open the door for a “popular call” for the president to remain in office.

A second possibility is that with this move, el-Sisi may be attempting to preempt a possible military intervention, which could become more likely if the economy continues to falter.

In 2011, the military responded to popular protests against former President Hosni Mubarak by forcing him to step down.

The army could attempt to defuse public anger by presenting el-Sisi as a scapegoat, forcibly removing him from power, and replacing him with someone who can preserve a measure of stability as well as secure its vast economic interests.

In that context, a member of parliament said recently that he has heard el-Sisi say in private meetings that he would rather step down than wait for the military to force him out.

But a third and much more likely possibility deserves particular attention: el-Sisi may be preparing to leave the presidency while ensuring that Egypt’s military-dominated political system survives his departure.

It is perhaps not coincidental that during the announcement, he cited Article 200 of the constitution, which gives the armed forces an extraordinary role in Egyptian politics.

The article, amended in 2019, makes the military responsible for maintaining the country’s “democracy” and the “gains, rights and freedoms” of the Egyptian people.

According to el-Sisi, the aim of the article is “to protect the Egyptian state from any attempt to infiltrate it or allow people to take it over who cannot handle the responsibility of this country or who do not even understand the meaning of ‘state’”.

Article 200, combined with Article 234 — which requires that a president secure approval from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces before appointing a defence minister — gives the military significant control over Egyptian political life.

El-Sisi’s vision for the selection of Egypt’s next president gives the military an outsized role. His proposal includes setting up a committee of experts to draft legislation for selecting hundreds of highly educated Egyptians to undergo specialised training at the Egyptian Military Academy.

Applicants, el-Sisi proposes, should hold doctoral degrees, be between 40 and 50 years of age, and be prepared to spend 30 months at the academy learning about the Egyptian state.

The programme would also train future ministers, governors and members of parliament.

Combined with Articles 200 and 234, this proposed mechanism seems intended to preserve the military’s dominance long after el-Sisi leaves office. It could be favourable to him as well.

A genuinely independent, civilian president could seek to investigate massacres overseen by el-Sisi, allegations of corruption, or other alleged crimes. A transition process closely managed by the military is highly unlikely to yield such a result.

The open question now is how an increasingly frustrated and critical Egyptian public will respond to a political process managed by the military that effectively wipes out the need for a popular mandate.

For now, el-Sisi and the military appear determined to shape Egypt’s political future. But the people may have the last word.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

HM Passport Office is reminding people of the rule

HM Passport Office has moved to explain a two-year rule some people may not know about.

Whether you’re applying for a new passport for a child or an adult, it’s likely you’ll need someone to confirm your identity. This is also the case if you’re replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged passport, renewing a child’s passport, or if your appearance has changed significantly. In a new alert on X, formerly Twitter, HMPO moved to explain the rules for ‘referees’.

Part of the post clarifies that “a referee must have known the person applying for at least 2 years and confirm their identity”. Additional guidance on GOV.UK outlines who is eligible to verify a person’s identity.

To qualify, a referee must be 18 years of age or older, reside in the UK, and currently hold a British or Irish passport. They must also have been acquainted with the applicant for a minimum of two years (this refers to the adult submitting the application if the passport is for a child under 16), and must know the applicant as a friend, neighbour or colleague, rather than someone they know purely in a professional capacity.

Referees must also be employed in, or retired from, a “recognised profession”. These include:

• accountant
• airline pilot
• articled clerk of a limited company
• assurance agent of recognised company
• bank or building society official
• barrister
• chairman or director of a limited company
• chiropodist
• commissioner for oaths
• councillor, for example local or county
• civil servant (permanent)
• dentist
• director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
• engineer with professional qualifications
• financial services intermediary, for example a stockbroker or insurance broker
• fire service official
• funeral director
• insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
• journalist
• Justice of the Peace
• legal secretary (fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs)
• licensee of a public house
• local government officer
• manager or personnel officer of a limited company
• member, associate or fellow of a professional body
• Member of Parliament
• Merchant Navy officer
• minister of a recognised religion (including Christian Science)
• nurse (RGN or RMN)
• officer of the armed services
• optician
• paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals)
• person with honours, for example an OBE or MBE
• pharmacist
• photographer (professional)
• police officer
• Post Office official
• president or secretary of a recognised organisation
• Salvation Army officer
• social worker
• solicitor
• surveyor
• teacher or lecturer
• trade union officer
• travel agent (qualified)
• valuer or auctioneer (fellow or associate members of the incorporated society)
• Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers

You cannot confirm someone’s identity if:

• you’re related by birth or marriage
• you’re in a relationship with them or live together
• you work for HM Passport Office
• you work for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) on British citizenship or right of abode applications
• you’re a doctor – unless you know the person who has asked you well (for example, you’re a good friend)

‘I’m absolutely disgusted by how we were treated’

A Ryanair passenger says he is ‘absolutely disgusted’ with the airline after travelling for a family funeral. Edward Stokes had flown to London Stansted with his son to pay his respects at the funeral of his cousin’s wife.

What should have been an emotional family occasion allegedly descended into a travel nightmare when the 49 year old said he ran into difficulties with his booking on the journey home last week. Edward claims he and his son were each hit with a £46 (€55) charge after missing the online check-in window by just three minutes for their outbound flight.

“I’m absolutely disgusted by how we were treated,” said Edward. “I’ve been a loyal Ryanair customer for years.

“In fact, Ryanair is practically the only airline my family and I ever use. But after what happened to me this week, I am absolutely shocked and disgusted.

“We were three minutes late checking in online on Tuesday morning and were charged €55 each, €110 in total. Fair enough, we were late.

“We accepted responsibility, paid the money and moved on. But what happened on the way home was a completely different story.”

Edward alleges he was then refused boarding on his homeward flight to Dublin due to a mix-up over the name on his reservation. His booking listed both Edward and Teddy – a nickname he commonly uses – and he claims he had been permitted to travel to England without any problems.

Unable to board his scheduled flight, he said he was forced to book an alternative service departing at 10pm for £300 (€357.57), after an earlier option would have set him back around £450. Yet he says his journey home was anything but straightforward.

Mr Stokes claims the replacement flight was delayed by approximately an hour and 45 minutes, meaning he missed the last bus home. With no funds for a taxi and nobody on hand to collect him, he says he was left stranded at Dublin Airport for five hours until the next bus, finally making it home the following morning.

Edward, a blinds and carpets business owner from Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland, said: “I’ve been known as Teddy all my life. On the way over, my booking included Edward Teddy Stokes, and Ryanair allowed me to travel without any problem.

“On my return journey, there was confusion over my booking name, and I was refused boarding. I explained the situation to the Ryanair staff member.

“I explained that I had just attended one of the saddest funerals of my life and was simply trying to get home to my family. Her response?

“‘That’s not my problem. What do you want me to do about it? I couldn’t believe the attitude.

“There was absolutely no compassion, understanding or willingness to help. We have no problem accepting responsibility when I’m wrong.

“We were three minutes late checking in, and we paid the money. But where is the same accountability when an airline causes passengers serious inconvenience? What hurt me most wasn’t even the money.

“It was the way I was spoken to, the complete lack of compassion and the feeling that we were treated like we didn’t matter.. “Nobody should be spoken to or treated like that.

“All I wanted was to attend a family funeral, support my cousin and get home safely. I was absolutely exhausted.

“Between the sadness of the funeral and everything that happened with my flights, it’s been a very difficult and emotional week for me. Ryanair, is this really how you treat loyal customers?”

A Ryanair spokesperson said: “The first and surname on a passenger’s booking must match the first and surname on their travel documents. The passport that Mr Stokes presented at the boarding gate in Stansted did not match the first name on his booking for this Stansted to Dublin flight (14 October). Ryanair offers passengers a 24-hour grace period to correct minor spelling errors on bookings free of charge or full name changes up to two hours before scheduled departure (subject to a fee).

“Unfortunately, Mr. Stokes did not avail of either option and presented at the boarding gate in Stansted with a passport that did not match the name on his booking.”

For more information on names on travel documents, visit the Ryanair website’s section on the subject.

Pensioners could get it for free – saving themselves an annual fee of £180

Pensioners could be missing out on a free TV Licence – saving them £180 per year.

The standard annual TV Licence costs £180 for a colour licence. Meanwhile, a black-and-white licence costs £60.50, following an increase on April 1, 2026.

There are around 23.3 million TV licences in force – a fall of 539,000 year on year, according to a BBC report on July 14, 2026. This generated income of £3.9 billion, up £36 million year on year, “largely driven by the licence fee uplift.”

Pensioners could get a free TV Licence

You need a TV Licence to watch or record live programmes on any channel, including the BBC. A licence is also required to watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, whether you’re streaming live or watching a downloaded programme on a TV, computer, tablet or smartphone.

If you need one, you could get a free licence if you’re 75 or over and you get Pension Credit. You can also get a discounted TV Licence if you’re blind or live in residential care.

If you’re 75 or over, you could get a free TV Licence

You can get a free TV licence if you’re 75 or older and you either:

• get Pension Credit
• live with your partner who gets Pension Credit

The licence covers everyone who lives at your address. If you already receive Pension Credit, you can apply from age 74. You’ll still need to pay for your licence until the end of the month before you turn 75, after which your free licence will take effect.

TV Licensing notes that there are separate arrangements in place for over-75s on the Isle of Man, the Bailiwick of Jersey, and the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

If you don’t have Pension Credit but think you may be eligible for it, it’s worth checking, TV Licensing suggests.

You can apply online here. If you would prefer to apply for a free TV Licence by phone, call 0300 790 6117* to speak to an advisor. Lines are open between 8.30am and 6.30pm, from Monday to Friday.

*Calls to their 0300 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number, whether from a mobile or landline. If you get inclusive minutes, calls to an 0300 number will be included free of charge.

If you’re in residential care or sheltered accommodation

You can get a heavily discounted TV Licence if you live in an eligible residential care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation. TV Licensing says that this is known as an Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) licence and costs £7.50 per room, flat or bungalow.

You must be either:

• retired and over 60
• disabled

You should speak to your care home managers to find out if your accommodation qualifies. They are responsible for arranging this type of licence, gov.uk advises.

If you’re registered blind

If you’re blind (severely sight-impaired) and can provide the required evidence, you can apply for a 50% concession. Your licence will also cover anyone who lives with you.

A blind concession TV Licence costs £90 for colour and £30.25 for black-and-white annually. If you’re partially sighted (sight impaired), you’re not eligible.

If someone you live with is blind (severely sight impaired), you can apply for a blind concession, whatever their age. If you already have a TV Licence but it isn’t in the blind person’s name, you’ll need to transfer it into their name. You can do this by submitting a first-time blind application and entering the existing TV Licence number for your address when you apply.

Joe Lycett was voted off after telling the Faithful he was desperate to become a Traitor, admitting afterwards ‘I’ve done this to myself’

Banished Faithful Joe Lycett was so desperate for a green cloak that after being voted out of The Celebrity Traitors he called for a rule change allowing dumped players to return as baddies.

His exit last night came after he loudly proclaimed he wanted to be recruited into the turret – which didn’t happen – but nobody believed him when he truthfully announced his disappointment the next morning.

“I’d like to motivate the Traitors to find an unknown clause in the contract that can bring back a Faithful that’s been banished to recruit because I’m there if they want me,” he laughed.

The comedian, 38, received 11 of the 14 votes after what seemed like a big slip-up at the round table in which he said that if he went, the Traitors would need to recruit again. Afterwards he acknowledged that he only had himself to blame. “I sort of didn’t play being a Faithful or a Traitor right. I tried to straddle both, and I was being greedy and I was rightly punished for it.

“I’m a silly billy – it was a combination of me begging for recruitment and then the Faithful being thick as mince. I concede I’ve done this very much to myself, but I was too hungry to be recruited. And you know, if being passionate is a crime, then banish me from the castle.”

Joe, who was instrumental in exposing Richard E Grant as a Traitor by asking him what he was on the first day, said the experience of being kept separate from friends and family during filming had been enjoyable. Asked to explain what he’d learned about himself by taking part in the game, he said: “The word that comes to mind for this whole experience is gratitude. It’s made me really grateful for my life. I’m really grateful that I am in a position that I get to experience this, because I’m famous enough to be in the mix. I loved having my phone taken away from me, and I’m really grateful for the fact that I have a lovely life to miss.”

Admitting that the game was sometimes “infuriating”, but also “joyous and thrilling”, Joe said he thinks the most likely winner is Romesh Ranganathan. “I think Romesh is a front runner,” he said. “I think he’s kind of unreadable but may get heat just on that basis. Then I think there could be a real curve ball, like Jerry or Joanne, someone who’s playing it in a way that’s out there.”

But he said it was hard to stick to strategies when you were inside the castle. “I’ve gone to Round Tables not knowing who I was going to vote for, and I don’t know who’s a Traitor – any of them could win at this stage.”

Miranda Hart formed such a close bond with Joe during their time filming together that she wept when he left – having refused to put his name on her slate and writing Ross instead. During the programme she explained: “Three or four years ago, due to illness, I thought that I might not ever have a gentle walk around a park again. Now I find myself on a Scottish Highland wheelbarrowing along a very large head. It’s really exciting.”

Miranda, 53, has been suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome for many years, which she believes was caused by having Lyme disease as a teenager. Having recently recovered enough to sign up for the programme, she has joined in with the missions wholeheartedly. In last night’s effort she grew tired carrying the statue parts at one point so swapped to transport a giant head in a wheelbarrow towards the plinth where it could be erected on top of its body, earning money for the prize pot. The current fund stands at £46,000, after the players successfully constructed five out of the six statues.

The comedy star tearfully told James Acaster that having fun outside with Joe had made her feel the happiest she’d felt in a long time. “I can’t believe how emotional I’m getting,” she said, as the floodgates opened. “Connection and laughter and joy are bigger than this game and to meet someone and to just play and laugh, it’s all us humans need.”

The good news is that she is proving so popular in the castle that many fans are calling for a return of her BBC sitcom Miranda, which last aired with a Christmas special in 2015. Another suggestion is that she stars in a different show. “A Miranda detective series like Jonathan Creek would be… such fun!” one fan said.

Joe felt that he would miss her too. “Miranda is someone that I’ve met briefly in the past and I’ve always loved. I’m really pleased that I got a chance to play with her, do some sort of an improv, essentially, and kind of mess about. I got very close with her.”

He said that – against his expectations – he’d got on well with everyone. “I really, really liked them all – and didn’t expect to when I saw the lineup. I thought, well, there’s going to be some people I’m going to find difficult, or are divas or whatever. And the reality was completely different.”

Joe’s high point came right at the start when he asked the question that sparked Richard E Grant’s astonishing outburst. The comic said he was glad he hadn’t been persuaded to ignore it. “I know lots of people tried to steer me away from it, but I was like, there’s no game around that, he absolutely meant it when he said it to me. God knows what was going through his head. It was an absolutely superb, classic, Richard E. Grant way of responding to this game. It’s one of the most iconic performances I’ve ever seen.”

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Football’s global governing body is expected to change a rule that allowed a red card for USA forward Folarin Balogun to be controversially overturned during the World Cup, according to media reports on the agenda for Thursday’s FIFA council meeting in Zurich.

The decision-making body is convening for the first time since this year’s tournament, and a ⁠⁠motion to prohibit such actions in the future will be top of the agenda. Members will also discuss the organisation’s funding, rules and other matters amid a turbulent time in the sport.

During the World Cup’s round-of-32 match, Balogun received a red card for stepping awkwardly on the right ankle of Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia in a 2-0 win for the home team. It triggered an automatic one-game suspension.

However, United States President Donald Trump urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the case, and Balogun’s red card was overturned, allowing him to play in the USA’s round-of-16 match against Belgium.

The decision to overturn Balogun’s red card ignited one of the tournament’s biggest controversies, with widespread criticism from football federations, former FIFA officials, experts and coaches.

The 37-member FIFA council is expected to vote on whether to prohibit disciplinary committees from overturning automatic match suspensions at the World Cup, but the Balogun controversy is unlikely to go away.

FIFA Vice President Debbie Hewitt is among the sport’s leaders who have asked ‌‌‌‌Infantino to release all documents related to the case.

Thursday’s FIFA council meeting is the first since Infantino came ‌‌‌‌under ‌‌‌‌fire earlier this year for a now-shelved plan to sell a 20 percent stake in the World Cup’s commercial business to private investors.

Infantino has faced calls to resign from the leaders of three regional football confederations – UEFA (Europe), AFC (Asia) ⁠⁠⁠⁠and CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean) – and their representatives will be present in Zurich for the FIFA meeting.

They will be joined by their counterparts from Africa, South America and Oceania.

On the agenda will be a discussion of the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme, which Infantino was forced to abandon ⁠⁠⁠⁠within days of announcing it in July.

Under the plan, Infantino proposed selling a minority stake in a FIFA commercial subsidiary to private investors, with a company launched by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, identified as the proposed lead investor.

The council will also address FIFA’s governance, with some of the sport’s most powerful figures determined to limit Infantino’s powers if they cannot force him out of office.

Infantino, 56, will stand for re-election in March 2027, with a ‌‌‌‌November 18 deadline looming for potential candidates to submit their nominations.