rules

US judge says that rapid deportation of migrants to countries other than their own violates due process.

A United States federal judge has ruled that the administration of President Donald Trump had violated the law through the swift deportation of migrants to countries other than their own, without giving them an opportunity to appeal their removal.

US District Judge Brian Murphy declared the policy invalid on Wednesday, teeing up a possible appeal from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the Supreme Court.

“It is not fine, nor is it legal,” Murphy wrote in his decision, adding that migrants could not be sent to an “unfamiliar and potentially dangerous country” without any legal recourse.

He added that due process – the right to receive fair legal proceedings – is an essential component of the US Constitution.

“These are our laws, and it is with profound gratitude for the unbelievable luck of being born in the United States of America that this Court affirms these and our nation’s bedrock principle: that no ‘person’ in this country may be ‘deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law’,” Murphy said.

The ruling is the latest legal setback in the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign.

Trump has long pledged to remove immigrants from the country who violate the law or are in the country without legal paperwork. But critics argue that his immigration crackdown has been marked by widespread neglect of due process rights.

They also point out that some of the deportees have been in the country legally, with their cases being processed through legal immigration pathways like asylum.

Murphy said in his ruling that the swift nature of the deportation obscures the details of each case, preventing courts from weighing whether each deportation is legal.

“The simple reality is that nobody knows the merits of any individual class member’s claim because [administration officials] are withholding the predicate fact: the country of removal,” wrote Murphy.

In the decision, Murphy also addressed some of the Trump administration’s arguments in favour of swift deportation.

He highlighted one argument, for instance, where the administration asserted it would be “fine” to deport migrants to third-party countries, so long as the Department of Homeland Security was not aware of anyone waiting to kill them upon arrival.

“It is not fine, nor is it legal,” Murphy responded in his decision.

Murphy has previously ruled against efforts to swiftly deport migrants to countries where they have no ties, and over the past year, he has seen some decisions overturned by the Supreme Court.

Noting that trend, Murphy said Wednesday’s decision would not take effect for 15 days, in order to give the administration the opportunity to appeal.

Last year, for instance, the conservative-majority Supreme Court lifted an injunction Murphy issued in April that sought to protect the due process rights of migrants being deported to third-party countries.

The injunction had come as part of a case where the Trump administration attempted to send eight men to South Sudan, despite concerns about human rights conditions there.

Wednesday’s decision, meanwhile, stemmed from a class-action lawsuit brought by immigrants similarly facing deportation to countries they had no relation to.

A lawyer for the plaintiffs, Trina Realmuto from the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, hailed Murphy’s latest ruling.

“Under the government’s policy, people have been forcibly returned to countries where US immigration judges have found they will be persecuted or tortured,” Realmuto said in a statement.

Realmuto added that the ruling was a “forceful statement” about the policy’s constitutionality.

NEW passport rules are being introduced from today – and anyone breaking then could be banned from their flight.

From today (February 25), dual national passport holders can no longer use their foreign passport to enter the UK.

Affecting as many as 1.2million people who hold more than one passport in the UK, they must now use a valid British passport when arriving into the UK.

Anyone without this must instead have a certificate of entitlement, which costs £589.

Passengers trying to enter the country by plane, ferry or train without this risks being banned from travelling.

A Home Office spokesperson previously explained: “From February 25, 2026, all dual British citizens will need to present either a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement to avoid delays at the border.”

PASS IT ON

Major airline rolls out strict new passport rule for Brits from TODAY

PASS IT ON

New passport rules starting this week to affect more than one million people

Many have slammed the new rules, which were only announced earlier this month, for not allowing enough time for people living abroad to buy a new passport.

New British passports can take up to three weeks, while first time applications can take as long as 10 weeks.

The government suggested that airlines may allow passengers to travel with an expired passport, however this is at their own discretion.

A spokesperson told The Sun: “At their own discretion, carriers can accept an expired British passport as alternative documentation.”

Not only that, but it must be no older than an expiry of 1989 or later.

They also confirmed that anyone who previously held a British passport, but it has now expired, can instead get an emergency travel document to enter the UK instead.

The new rules are in line with the electronic travel authorisation (ETA), which has also launched from today.

Any non-British national must now may for the £16 ETA to enter the country.

Lasting up to six months, it will be required from people who are from destinations like Europe, the US and Australia.

Anyone who is a dual national cannot apply for an ETA under the new rules.

Brits will not need an ETA when returning to the UK.

Here are some other passport rules you need to be aware of.

And we explain how to apply for your child’s first passport.

Feb. 24 (Asia Today) — Average household debt per borrower in South Korea rose to a record 97.39 million won ($73,000) at the end of last year, as mortgage lending expanded amid rising home prices, according to data released Monday by the Bank of Korea.

The figure marked the first time per-borrower debt has exceeded 97 million won, up 2.24 million won ($1,680) from a year earlier. Total household loan balances reached about 1,853 trillion won ($1.39 trillion), an increase of 51 trillion won ($38.3 billion) from the previous year.

The central bank said the average rose as overall loan balances increased while the number of borrowers declined slightly, pointing to a growing concentration of debt.

Mortgage loans accounted for much of the increase, particularly among borrowers in their 20s to 40s. The average mortgage balance for borrowers in their 30s climbed to 225.41 million won ($169,000), the highest among age groups.

Loans were concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, where home prices continued to rise. According to the Korea Real Estate Board, apartment prices in Seoul increased 13.5% last year, the steepest gain since 2021.

Despite a slowdown in new lending following the government’s Oct. 15 real estate measures, authorities are moving to tighten controls further as household debt approaches 2,000 trillion won ($1.5 trillion), a level widely viewed as a risk to economic stability.

The Financial Services Commission has said it will set a lower annual loan growth target than last year’s 1.8% and is considering imposing separate caps on mortgage lending, the core component of total loan management.

Regulators are also reviewing a plan to raise risk-weighted asset ratios on mortgage loans from 20% to 25%, a move that would effectively make banks more cautious in extending housing credit.

Major commercial banks have already begun reducing household loan balances in line with regulatory guidance. As of Sunday, the combined household loan balance of the five largest banks stood at 765.6 trillion won ($574 billion), down about 200 billion won ($150 million) from the end of January.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260224010007193

NEW passport rules are causing chaos for more than one million people – and they start this week.

It was announced earlier this month that all dual national citizens will no longer be able to use their foreign passport to enter the UK.

Instead, from February 25, they must show their British passport to return to the country.

Anyone without one must instead pay for a “certificate of entitlement” that costs £589 and it attached to the passport.

Passengers trying to enter without either could face being banned from their flight and prevented from returning to the UK.

A Home Office spokesperson previously explained: “From February 25, 2026, all dual British citizens will need to present either a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement to avoid delays at the border.”

PASS ON

Airlines could accept expired passports from 1million passengers ahead of new rules

PASS IT ON

New passports being rolled out across the UK will be ‘most secure ever’

It is thought as many as 1.2million people across England and Wales currently hold more than one passport.

This works out to just over two per cent of the population.

Yet the new rules have sparked fury due to the lack of notice given.

Many people currently living abroad have slammed the change as it doesn’t allow enough time to order a new passport.

Dual national Kara Przybylski, from Brisbane, doesn’t have a British passport, and said: “It sucks for people who have flights booked, the government should have allowed more time before it comes into effect.”

The UK government said last week that an expired British passport could be used as “alternative documentation.”

Yet this is at the airline’s discretion, so could still risk families being turned away at the border.

A Home Office official told Sun Travel: “We recognise that this is a significant change for carriers and travellers, but we have been clear on requirements for dual British citizens to travel with a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement, in line with those for all British citizens.

“At their own discretion, carriers can accept an expired British passport as alternative documentation.

“Separately, individuals who have previously had a British passport can apply for an emergency travel document if they urgently need to enter the UK.

The new passport change is on the same day as the rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

Costing £16, any non-British or non-Irish tourists will have to pay the fee to enter the country, with it acting like a visa waiver.

Dual nationals are not able to apply for it.

Brits living in the UK will also not need an ETA, although will need an ETIAS later is travelling to Europe.

Set to start later this year (with a confirmed date yet to be announced) it will cost £17 and act like an American ESTA, lasting three years.

Here are some other passport rules that are still catching Brits out.

Artemis 2 is a precursor to the US space agency’s planned astronaut moon landing with Artemis III scheduled for 2028.

NASA chief Jared Isaacman says Artemis 2 – the first crewed flyby mission to the moon in more than 50 years – will not launch next month because of technical problems.

Workers detected an issue with helium flow to the massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that will “take the March launch window out of consideration”, Issacman said in a post on social media Saturday.

Solid helium flow is essential for purging the rocket’s engines and pressurising its fuel tanks.

“I understand people are disappointed by this development. That disappointment is felt most by the team at NASA who have been working tirelessly to prepare for this great endeavor,” Isaacman said.

NASA’s next opportunity for the launch would be at the beginning or end of April.

The US space agency hopes to put humans back on the moon as China forges ahead with a rival effort that is targeting 2030 at the latest for its first crewed mission.

China’s uncrewed Chang’e 7 mission is expected to be launched in 2026 for an exploration of the moon’s south pole, and testing of its crewed spacecraft Mengzhou is also set to go ahead this year.

Multiple postponements

NASA surprised many late last year when it said Artemis 2 could happen as soon as February – an acceleration explained by the administration of US President Donald Trump’s wish to beat China to the punch.

But the programme has been plagued by delays. The uncrewed Artemis 1 mission took place in November 2022 after multiple postponements and two failed launch attempts.

Then, technical problems in early February – which included a liquid hydrogen leak – cut short a so-called wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis 2 launch. That was finally completed earlier this week.

The wet dress rehearsal was conducted under real conditions – with full rocket tanks and technical checks – at Cape Canaveral in Florida, with engineers practising the manoeuvres needed to carry out an actual launch.

The space agency revealed the latest technical problem just one day after targeting March 6 for the launch of the Artemis 2 mission.

The towering SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft will be rolled back into the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to investigate the technical issues and make any necessary repairs, Isaacman said. He said a bad filter, valve, or connection plate could be to blame for the stalled helium flow.

Isaacman added that a complete briefing will follow in the coming days.

The goal of the Artemis 2 mission, a 10-day flight around the moon and back, is to “explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars”, according to NASA.

The planned Artemis 2 crew includes three US astronauts – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch – and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The mission is poised to be the farthest human flight into space ever, and the first crewed moon mission since the US Apollo programme more than half a century ago.

Artemis 2 is a precursor to NASA’s planned astronaut moon landing with Artemis 3, which is scheduled for 2028.

Travel expert Simon Calder warns that dual British citizens with expired UK passports could face £589 certificate fees as new electronic travel authorisation rules come into force from February 25

Travel expert Simon Calder has issued advice to Brits travelling to and from Europe. The alert comes as a significant change affecting UK-bound travellers takes effect on February 25.

From that date, anyone wishing to visit the UK who isn’t British or Irish must register for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). The Government describes it as delivering ‘a more streamlined, digital immigration system which will be quicker and more secure‘.

An ETA serves as digital travel permission – it’s neither a visa nor a tax and doesn’t guarantee UK entry – rather, it authorises someone to journey to Britain. However, Mr Calder highlighted another aspect that could trip people up.

Speaking to the Independent, he warned that British citizens holding out-of-date passports might encounter problems. He explained: “There’s growing confusion and concern about electronic borders. The first change that’s going to be happening is on the 25th of February.

“It’s going to be mandatory for everyone who is not a British or Irish citizen and who wants to travel to the UK to register for the electronic travel authorisation. This is the online permit that increasingly many countries are demanding.

“That is clear, except that it also means that dual citizens who have the right to live in the UK have to enter on a British passport or have a certificate of entitlement to live in the UK. British passports cost £94.50. That certificate of entitlement is £589. And there is concern that a lot of people who are British citizens but don’t have a valid passport for all sorts of reasons-they’ve never needed one, they had one but it lapsed, they’ve got a perfectly good passport from somewhere else-they are going to have to have either that passport or the certificate of entitlement if they want to come to the UK.

“Again, this does not apply to anybody with the immense wisdom and good fortune to have an Irish passport, because that is the passport with superpowers that will get you in and out of the UK and indeed the European Union without any problems at all.”

READ MORE: Doctor explains ‘really apparent’ problem levothyroxine users need to ‘speak to medical professional’ aboutREAD MORE: AA says ‘more than 10,000’ drivers caught by high-tech AI cameras that spot offences a mile away

According to the 2021 Census, approximately 1.26 million usual residents across England and Wales held multiple passports. The Home Office has cautioned that airlines will be verifying passengers have the correct documentation.

The right of abode that Mr Calder references permits you to live or work in the UK without any immigration restrictions whatsoever. If you possess the right of abode, you do not require a visa or ETA to enter the UK.

There’s no cap on how long you can remain in the country. Concerns have also emerged regarding Europe’s new biometric border system currently being introduced.

Several airports have allegedly experienced delays stretching up to six hours, prompting warnings of potential travel ‘chaos’.

The European Commission indicated it might be feasible to suspend the new system during busy periods until September. Mr Calder explained: “The European Union’s entry-exit system started to be rolled out in October. By the 9th of April, it is supposed to be in a position where everybody is able to enter or exit through those Schengen area frontiers, just being fingerprinted on the first occasion and having a facial biometric taken. After that, it’s going to be the facial biometric all the way.

“Now, the airports and the airlines are saying it’s a terrible thing, it’s not working properly. We’ve already seen two-hour queues; they’re warning of four-hour queues in the summer. They want it to be suspended. No sense that it will be or not at the moment. Europe says it is going well, but don’t be surprised if it is.

“The only advice I can offer, because this is simply something that’s done to you-you don’t need to prepare for it-is when you’re coming back from the Schengen area, I would turn up at the airport really early just to make sure you make your plane, because it applies on the way out as well as on the way in to the Schengen area.”

New Entry/Exit system and ETIAS requirements coming to Europe in 2026 mean British passport holders need to prepare for biometric checks and travel authorisation.

As winter fades away, millions of Britons are probably mapping out their summer getaways. Some might already have flights secured, and if that’s you, it’s crucial to familiarise yourself with the new regulations taking effect.

Whether you’re jetting off to Europe or across the Atlantic, fresh legislation is being implemented that could result in substantial hold-ups at airports and railway terminals. Updated requirements covering visas, biometric information and passport checks mean that international travel is growing increasingly complex.

That said, provided you understand what’s needed, your journey should remain hassle-free.

For those bound for Europe, the new entry/exit system may trigger bottlenecks. The introduction of this began in October 2025, and by April 2026, it’s anticipated to operate throughout all Schengen zones.

It demands biometric information – fingerprints and a facial photograph – at the airport, reports the Express.

This may create hold-ups at border crossings, so it’s vital to factor these in and avoid leaving your travel arrangements too tight.

Also anticipated in 2026 is the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). This will oblige non- European Union nationals to secure ETIAS approval if they intend to visit Europe for up to 90 days.

The application will set you back £17.46 but comes free for those under 18 and over 70, and remains valid for three years or until your passport runs out.

Whilst this won’t launch until the final quarter of 2026, specialists are encouraging travellers to get ready and stay informed about the upcoming transformation.

Those planning a journey to the US will be required to use the Mobile Passport Control App. The application was created to cut down queuing times at airports and do away with paper documentation.

Upon arrival in the US, passengers must download the app, set up a profile and respond to a number of questions about themselves.

After completing your submission, you’ll be given a QR code to present at passport control.

Nicole Kerr, CEO at ground transportation platform Mozio, said: “UK searches for ‘summer holiday deals’ have increased by 123% in the past three months, as Brits look to secure their travel plans ahead of peak season.

“While a holiday is meant to be a relaxing and stress-free experience, experts have warned that changes to the travel industry could cause delays and confusion.”

F1’s bosses agreed at a meeting of the F1 Commission rules-making body on Wednesday they would assess data from this final test at a further meeting to decide whether action needed to be taken in the short term.

Concern arises from the fact the new engine rules have tripled the power provided by the electrical part of the engine but left the batteries more or less the same size as last year, and removed one of the devices used to recover energy.

This had led to cars that are energy starved and forced the teams to find new ways to harvest sufficient electrical energy to produce the best performance. The rules governing energy recovery are also highly complex.

That in turn has required drivers to perform behaviours that have been described as “counter-intuitive” to optimise lap time.

These include not going flat out put of the final corner before a qualifying lap, lifting and coasting on a qualifying lap, and even not accelerating at full power at the end of a lap because it was more advantageous to use the energy elsewhere.

However, drivers have generally been positive on the handling characteristics of the new cars, and a number of top drivers all told BBC Sport they are still driving to the limit of grip, and driver ability will still be as crucial as ever.

Domenicali said: “Don’t be worried about the energy management. We’re going to solve that. If we need to solve it, by the way.”

He has spent his time in Bahrain having a series of discussions with individual drivers about the sport, including Verstappen.

And he added: “Max wants and does care about Formula 1 more than anyone else. He has a way of putting the point that he wants to say in a certain way.

“Max will be part of the future of Formula 1 and of course it’s very important that we listen to him and all the top drivers that are very important in this sport.”

Domenicali also said F1 was looking at introducing new sporting elements on Fridays, expanding on the approach that led to sprint-race weekends, which feature two qualifying sessions rather than one, and a shorter race on the Saturday in addition to the grand prix on Sunday.

He has already previously said F1 is considering increasing the number of sprint events beyond the current six.

Domenicali added: “Feedback from the fans, from the people attending the track, the promoter, [is] that people want to see action, real action during the three days.

“People want to see already on Friday something that is sporting – qualifying, points, whatever it is.

“So, it is true that there is the trend to go in the direction of, even if it is not a sprint every weekend.”

ONE country in Asia with incredible mountain scenery, Alpine lakes and a vibrant capital city is now so much cheaper for Brits to explore.

To encourage more holidaymakers to visit, Armenia has dropped visa fees, ahead of a budget airline beginning direct flights in just a few months.

Armenia isn’t a popular holiday destination for Brits yet, but this could soon change as it has scrapped visa entry requirements for the first half of 2026.

Travellers can stay in Armenia for up to 180 days within a one year period.

The rules are less strict to encourage tourism, particularly longer holidays as well as short city breaks.

Previously, the visa system meant travellers had to apply and pay a fee to enter the country – which at its most expensive cost around £30 and for a stay of up to 120 days.

DREAMY DEALS

Our pick of the best long haul holidays for short haul prices

FUN FREEBIES

Huge list of 100 free family days out this spring – from concerts to festivals

Lusine Gevorgyan, chairman of the tourism committee of Armenia, said: “This decision is a clear invitation to travellers around the world. Armenia is open and welcoming, and we look forward to sharing our culture, landscapes and hospitality with more visitors throughout 2026.

“With its ancient monasteries, dramatic mountain scenery, vibrant food scene and rich traditions, Armenia offers travellers a unique blend of history and modern life.

“From exploring Yerevan’s cafe culture and museums to discovering hiking trails and Unesco World Heritage sites, the country provides diverse experiences year-round.”

In a few months, Brits will be able to visit Armenia very easily as one budget airline will begin direct routes.

Wizz Air has gained new slot at London Luton Airport and will fly to  Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.

The flights will start on June 8, 2026 – these will be the only direct flight routes from the UK.

In August, one-way flights are as little as £38 and will take just over five hours.

The direct flights from Wizz Air will stop on October 23, 2026.

Armenia is incredibly affordable too.

Last year, travel insurance company HelloSafe studied the average daily budget required by travellers in 131 countries.

Taking into account expenses like accommodation, food, and transport, Armenia came out as being the sixth cheapest destination.

According to Wise, a meal at an inexpensive restaurant is on average £8.85 with a local beer costing as little as £1.57 and a coffee is under £3.

The country shares borders with Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran.

In the capital of Yerevan there’s lots to see like Yerevan Cascade which is a giant, art-filled stairway which has incredible views of the Mount Ararat mountain which sits across the border in Turkey.

Also in Yerevan is Republic Square, the central town square in the city which is a symbol of Armenia.

The buildings in the square include the Government House, the History Museum, the National Gallery and Armenia Marriott Hotel.

It also has huge fountains that are lit up and in the summer there’s even an evening show.

For those wanting to pick up a souvenir, head to Vernissage Market which sells handmade crafts, artwork, and jewellery.

An hour outside of is the popular spot of Lake Sevan which is one of the world’s highest freshwater alpine lakes.

It’s popular in the summertime with swimmers and those wanting to bask on its sandy banks.

The best time to visit Armenia is between May and June as well as autumn between September and October due to the mild temperatures up to 25C.

The 15 cheapest countries in the world to travel…

For more on cheap holiday destinations, one in Asia is getting a new £168million airport.

And one man who left the UK to travel on £35 a day loved this unheard of destination with fairytale canyons.

TUI, easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and British Airways rules on flying with pets including the airlines that do allow you to bring animals into the cabin

Every pet owner has found themselves missing their cuddly companion when away from home. If you’re particularly close to your dog or cat, you might even be wondering whether it’s possible to take them with you. Policies vary from airline to airline, as does the cost. It’s also worth checking the requirements for bringing pets to your destination, as well as returning to the UK with your pet, as you’ll need to follow a number of steps to get them through customs.

Here’s what some popular airlines say about travelling with animals.

TUI

Pets aren’t allowed in the cabin of TUI’s aircraft, although registered assistance dogs can travel with their owners for free. Any other animals need to travel in the hold, and TUI say pets will usually go on the same flight as their owners. Its website reassures owners that: “The hold is pressurised and at the same temperature as the passenger cabin.”

Pets need to be kept in a travel box with a water bowl, and cannot be medically sedated, although herbal calming products cam be used. Owners will need to call or email TUI beforehand to check whether their pet can be accommodated, as some routes have restrictions, and to arrange for their pet’s travel in advance.

EasyJet

EasyJet’s policy is clear: “Animals are not allowed on our flights, apart from recognised registered guide and assistance dogs.” Animals can not be carried in the cabin or hold.

Passengers travelling with assistance dogs will need to contact the special assistance team in advance, at least 48 hours before the flight, and will need to provide documents that the pet is a trained assistance dog. The dog will also need an animal health certificate, or pet passport if accepted, and the necessary vaccination certificates depending on the destination.

Ryanair

Ryanair also say: “We do not carry animals on board any Ryanair flights, except guide/assistance dogs on certain routes.” Assistance dogs need to be registered with an organisation such as Assistance Dogs International (ADI), Assistance Dogs UK, or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF).

Ryanair added: “Emotional support or therapy dogs that are not recognized as assistance dogs by the above organizations are not permitted to travel with Ryanair.” It also has a list of requirements for assistance dogs on its website.

Jet2

Jet2 does not allow pets in the cabin or hold, and assistance dogs are the only animals allowed onboard. Assistance dogs travel with their owner for free, and Jet2 advise that passengers should contact their Assisted Travel Team before travelling so arrangements can be made.

It advises: “Please note an additional seat may be required to ensure there is enough floor space for the assistance dog to lie down, and if this is the case, an additional charge may be applicable depending on the size of the assistance dog.” Jet2 also warned: “If the assistance needs (including carriage of assistance dogs) of customers on the same flight create conflicting health issues, we reserve the right to decide how the conflict shall be resolved at our absolute discretion.”

British Airways (BA)

BA advise that all pets must be carried in the hold on flights to and from the UK. It has partnered with cargo services that specialise in the transport of pets, details of which can be found on its travelling with pets page.

BA warn: “British Airways is unable to accept emotional support dogs for travel in the cabin on any British Airways operated flights. Your emotional support dog can travel as a pet.” However, it also makes an exception for assistance dogs, which can travel free of charge in the cabin. Assistance dogs will need to be registered and trained with a suitable organisation, and the dog will need to be registered ahead of the flight’s departure.

Air France

Air France is one of the few European airlines to allow pets in the cabin, but there are restrictions. It only allows cats or dogs up to 8kg in weight, and up to 75kg in total with its carrier. Pets over this size must go into the hold.

Owners will need to contact Air France before they travel and check the strict list of requirements. Certain breeds with snub-noses will need to be cleared by a vet to fly. This includes pugs, bulldogs, and Persian cats. Pets can’t travel in the cabin on intercontinental flights and aren’t allowed in business class.

Vueling

Spanish airline Vueling also allow some pets onboard including dogs, cats, birds, and turtles, although they must be kept inside a carrier at all times when in the cabin. It does not allow pets in the hold.

The maximum weight for pets travelling on Vueling is 10kg including the carrier, and it’ll need to go under the seat in front of you. Pet owners will need to check the requirements for their destination country and should contact the airline to book their pet’s space.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

A CHANGE to how you board the Eurostar is about to make it much easier to head over to Europe.

The international train operator has said they will cut boarding times by 30 minutes in an attempt to ease crowding at St Pancras station.

Currently, Eurostar passengers must check in an hour before boarding their train, where they they have to wait in departures.

According to The Telegraph, there are plans to allow passengers to board Eurostar trains as soon as they arrive at the station.

This would mean that passengers would be able to board up to half an hour before their train departs.

The hope is that this will allow people to arrive at St Pancras much closer to the time that their train is due to leave, as well as ease crowds.

Read more on travel inspo

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

Wendy Spinks, chief commercial officer at London St Pancras High Speed, said that the process of boarding Eurostar had become too much like flying, when in reality it should be easier than an airport.

She added: “It has become too close to the airport experience, where you check in, go to security, wait in the lounge and then rush to the gate.

“You will always want some people to turn up a bit earlier so that you can process them and get them on board but at least 50 per cent of passengers should go straight to the train.”

Not only should train travel be less stressful, but it also allows passengers to go directly into the city centre, rather than an airport further out.

But she warned: “The more you go beyond two hours and start getting out to Germany or Geneva, say, then your time differential is harder against flying. If we shrink the time that you hang around in the station it cuts the end-to-end journey.”

The changes come amid the major renovation of St Pancras, ahead of the launch of new travel rivals Richard Branson‘s Virgin Trains and Trenitalia of Italy by 2030.

Ms Spinks also warned that the busy departures area is preventing any further growth of Eurostar, especially ahead of the new kiosks ahead of the new EU Entry/Exit System.

The St Pancras renovation – which is expected to cost around £100million – will hopefully free up space and could even cut waiting times to just 15 minutes.

Not only that, but a new ground floor layout would double the station’s current capacity to 5,000 passengers an hour.

The full renovation is set to be complete by the 2030s, which is also when the new additions of destinations such as Germany and Switzerland could be rolled out.

In other train news, UK’s busiest train station with 100million passengers finally gets go ahead for controversial £1.2billion expansion.

Plus, major UK train station shuts for nine days for ‘once in generation’ overhaul worth £8million.

LOTS has and is changing in the world of travel and it can be confusing to keep up – but there are two vital changes for Brits.

Last year a new system known as the Entry/Exit System (EES) was introduced and later this year, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be introduced.

Both impact Brits travelling to much-loved holiday destinations including Spain, France and Greece.

But what are they both and how are they different?

EU Entry/Exit System (EES)

EES stands for Entry/Exit System and is a new digital border system in Europe.

Anyone who is not a European national, which includes Brits, and is travelling for a short stay (up to 90 days within any 180-day period) within EU countries will now be tracked when they enter and exit that country.

Read more on travel inspo

HOL YES

I’m a travel editor & mum-of-3… my favourite family holidays from just £3pp a night

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

In order to do this, a new system was put in place where travellers scan their fingerprints and have their photo taken when they are at the border of an EU country.

If you have not done this before, you will have to register at a kiosk when travelling to a participating country.

However, this is usually done as a selection process as the new system is being rolled out in phases until April 2026.

If you are selected, your passport will be scanned, as well as your fingerprints and your photo will be taken.

You will also be asked some questions about your travels, such as why you are visiting the country you have arrived into and where you will be staying whilst you are in the country.

Your data will then be stored in the Biometric Matching Service for three years.

If you travel again within these three years to EU countries, you will only need to scan your face or a fingerprint.

Children under 12-years-old will not need to give their fingerprints.

The system has been introduced to hopefully make border checks faster and more modern.

It also allows authorities to track who comes in and out of the Schengen Area – which is a zone in Europe that allows passport-free travel under a common visa policy.

Some of The Sun Travel team have experienced EES already.

Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor, said: “I travelled through Alicante Airport the other day, guided to the EES kiosks set just prior to border control, where the traditional passport stamping system is still in place for Brits.

“The assumption by airport staff was that every Brit getting off the plane wouldn’t have registered yet.

“There was a high number of kiosks, where staff were busy guiding Brits through the registration process: first, language selection; then passport scan (just like the one at electronic border control); next a facial picture; then fingerprint scans are taken.

“For me, along with about 30 per cent of the other travellers around me, the kiosk wouldn’t register my fingerprints, so I was sent to border control where my passport was stamped in the traditional way.

“On the return leg, Brits have to go to the same kiosks, this time in departures. They will be asked to go through the same process before passing through border control to reach the non-Schengen gates.”

Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter, said: “On my arrival at Vilnius Airport in Lithuania, I was quickly ushered towards the new EES machines for registration.

“Luckily I was one of the first off the plane and had plenty of time to do so.

“The first thing I had to do was select my language, then it began the process.

“It will scan your passport first, then take a photo of you, and then scan your fingerprints.

“I was then asked a few questions about my trip, like if I had proof of accommodation, what my citizenship status is, if I had a return travel ticket, money to fund my holiday and medical insurance – where you answer yes, no or other in some cases.

“Registration took just a few minutes, but I then had to queue up at border control for almost an hour.

“Here they still stamped my passport and asked further questions like the name of my hotel and proof of my return journey.”

The system is expected to be fully operational by April 10, 2026 – which means if you travel after then and haven’t yet been registered, you will be at that point.

European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)

On the other hand, ETIAS is a completely different system and stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation.

This is a new system that will allow visitors to enter countries within the Schengen Area and other participating countries.

Sounds like EES, right?

Wrong – ETIAS is essentially a visa waiver that is linked to your passport and says you can visit a country.

Whereas EES is the system that tracks you when you eventually visit that country.

Any national who is visa-exempt, including Brits, will have to get ETIAS authorisation.

It will be valid for up to three years, or until your passport expires – whichever is soonest.

To get ETIAS authorisation, you will need to visit the official ETIAS website and follow the instructions on its portal.

The application should only take a couple of minutes to complete, but it may take up to 30 days to be approved – so it is best to be prepared.

Unlike EES, you will also need to pay for ETIAS – like you would do with an ESTA for America.

ETIAS will cost €20 (£17) per person, but travellers under 18 and over 70 do not need to pay the fee (though they still have to apply for one).

ETIAS hasn’t started yet, but is expected to begin in late 2026, with a specific introduction date to be announced by the EU closer to the time.

In other important travel news, there are 37 new flights launching from a major UK airport this year.

Plus, the UK’s busiest train station with 100million passengers finally gets go ahead for controversial £1.2billion expansion.

NEW passport rules are being rolled out by the UK government this week, and it affects anyone with two passports.

From February 25, dual British nationals will have to carry a valid British passport.

Anyone who tries to travel into the UK – via train, ferry or plane – could be banned from boarding if they are unable to show one.

The only alternative to having a British passport is instead paying for a £589 “certificate of entitlement,” the Guardian reports.

A Home Office spokesperson explains: “From February 25, 2026, all dual British citizens will need to present either a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement to avoid delays at the border.”

This will be attached to the non-British passport instead.

PASSED OVER

Mum forced to miss £820 holiday & is banned from flight after passport mistake

GO ON

All the little-known websites for cheap or FREE tickets to gigs, theatre & festivals

It is thought as many as 1.26million people in England and Wales hold more than one passport – working out to 2.1 per cent of the population.

The new rules follow the roll out of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which requires any non-British or non-Irish tourists to £16 for.

The UK government said the changes were to create a “seamless travel experience”.

Some have slammed the rules, claiming there is not enough time to allow them to get a British passport or change flights.

Kara Przybylski, 26, from Brisbane, is a dual citizen but doesn’t currently have a British passport.

She said: “It sucks for people who have flights booked, the government should have allowed more time before it comes into effect.”

Others worry for their children – one British woman in Germany said that it would affect their kids.

She called the rule change “short-notice, shortsighted [and] arbitrary”.

The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot explains: “People abroad have said they weren’t told enough in advance this was happening.

“Getting a passport is going to be a lengthy process, and expensive for families to have two passports per person.

“You could be denied boarding unless you have a British passport or this certificate”.

British nationals living in the UK will not be affected by the rule change, nor do they need to purchase an ETA when returning to Britain.

However, an ETIAS will be required from Brits heading to Europe when it is rolled out later this year.

Yet to confirm an official date, the visa-waiver will be similar to the ESTA required for the US.

Costing around £17, it will last three years, although will be free for under 18s and over 70s.

And here is what to know about the new Entry/Exit System (ESS) being rolled out across Europe as well.

Israeli government moves to change rules around land registration in the West Bank, making it easier for Israeli Jews to buy property in the illegally occupied territory, are raising alarm among Palestinians, fearful that the new rules will establish defacto Israeli annexation.

The Israeli cabinet announced the decisions on Sunday. In addition to allowing Jews to buy property in the West Bank – a Palestinian territory that Israel has occupied since 1967 in defiance of international law – the Israeli government has also ordered that land registries in the West Bank be opened up to the public.

That means that it will be easier for Israelis looking to take territory in the West Bank to find out who the owner of the land is, opening them up to harassment and pressure.

The cabinet also decreed that authority over building permits for illegal Jewish settlements in Hebron, and the Ibrahimi Mosque compound, would pass to Israel from the Palestinian Hebron municipality.

Moataz Abu Sneina has seen Israel’s efforts to seize Palestinian land first hand. He is the director of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, a Palestinian national symbol and an important Islamic holy site due to its connection to the Prophet Ibrahim, also known as Abraham.

Abu Sneina said that the latest Israeli decisions reflect a clear intention to increase Israeli control over Hebron’s Old City, and the Ibrahimi Mosque compound.

“What is happening today is the most serious development since 1967,” Abu Sneina said. “We view it with grave concern for the Old City and the Ibrahimi Mosque, which is the symbol and beating heart of Hebron, and the shrine of the patriarchs and prophets.”

The Ibrahimi Mosque site is also revered by Jews, who refer to it as the Tomb of the Patriarchs.

An Israeli Jewish settler killed 29 Palestinians after opening fire on Muslims praying at the mosque in 1994. Shortly afterwards, Israeli authorities divided the site into Jewish and Muslim prayer areas, and far-right Israeli settlers continue to strengthen their control over areas of Hebron.

Despite only numbering a few hundred, the settlers have taken over large areas of the city centre, protected by the Israeli military.

Abu Sneina explained that Israel has repeatedly attempted to strengthen its foothold inside Hebron and the mosque, and that the latest government moves are a continuation of Israeli policy that has only increased since the October 2023 start of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

“This has taken the form of increased settler incursions, restrictions on worshippers, control over entry and exit, and bans on the call to prayer – all part of a systematic policy aimed at complete control over the holy site,” Abu Sneina said.

“[Israel] continues to violate all agreements, foremost the Hebron Protocol, closing most entrances to the mosque and leaving only one fully controlled access point,” he added. “This paves the way for a new division or an even harsher reality than the temporal and spatial division imposed since the 1994 massacre.”

Taking over Hebron

Mohannad al-Jaabari, the director of the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee, a Palestinian organisation focused on the restoration of Hebron’s Old City, said that the Israeli government was already increasing its presence on the ground, in an effort to take control of the city.

He pointed to the confiscation of shops belonging to the Hebron Municipality in the Old City, the construction of dozens of illegal settlement units, and the reconfiguration of water pipes by connecting them to an Israeli water company’s network, creating what he described as “a massive apartheid system”.

Al-Jaabari warned that the ultimate goal is to establish a Jewish quarter linking settlements to the Ibrahimi Mosque by emptying Palestinian neighbourhoods of their residents.

“All Hebron institutions are preparing for a difficult phase,” he said. “We are bracing for a fierce attack on Palestinian institutions, foremost the Rehabilitation Committee.”

The Israeli government’s latest decisions open the door for what has happened in Hebron to happen elsewhere, with Israeli settlers establishing a presence in other Palestinian cities, forcing locals out, experts say.

Nabil Faraj, a Palestinian journalist and political analyst, called the Israeli government’s moves “dangerous” and added that they “have driven the final nail into the coffin of the peace process”.

He explained that Israel is reengineering the geographic landscape of the West Bank, expanding infrastructure to serve settlements, and seeking to strip the Palestinian Authority of administrative and security control.

The Hebron model

Palestinians in Bethlehem are now worried that they will get a taste of what Hebron has already experienced.

One of the Israeli cabinet’s decisions on Sunday stipulated that the Bilal bin Rabah Mosque in the city, known to Jews as Rachel’s Tomb, would be placed under Israeli administration for cleaning and maintenance, after previously being under the jurisdiction of the Bethlehem municipality. The mosque’s cemetery has also been affected.

“It will affect the living and the dead,” said Bassam Abu Srour, who lives in Bethlehem’s Aida refugee camp. “Annexing the area would prevent burials and visits to the Islamic cemetery. This is extremely serious and completely unacceptable to us.”

In Bethlehem, Hebron, and the rest of the West Bank, Palestinians feel powerless to stop what they view as a creeping annexation.

Mamdouh al-Natsheh, a shop owner in Hebron, said he now has a growing sense that what is unfolding is an attempt to impose a permanent reality.

“The city is being taken from its people step by step,” he said. “Daily restrictions are turning it into a fixed policy that suffocates every detail of life.”

He added that the deepest impact is on children and young people, growing up in a city that is “divided and constantly monitored”, stripping them of a natural sense of the future.

“I fear the day will come when we are told this area has been officially annexed, and that our presence depends on permits,” al-Natsheh said. “In Hebron, a house is not just walls – it is history and identity. Any annexation means the loss of security and stability.”

Strict new rules have been enforced in a favourite winter holiday hot spot that could see any tourist who vapes or brings an electronic cigarette product into the country slapped with a hefty fine or even put behind bars

Thanks to its sunny, comfortable, and dry weather from November through to April, Mexico has been a top destination for those seeking winter warmth for many years.

However, British tourists jetting off to the North American country and its popular holiday spots need to be aware of severe punishments if they break harsh new rules on vaping.

Not only is it now illegal to vape in a public space, where on-the-spot fines can be enforced, but a new ban on importing electronic cigarettes means holidaymakers who enter the country by land or sea with their device on their person could face time in jail.

READ MORE: This exact time ‘is the cheapest’ to book a holiday — and ‘never book in this hour’READ MORE: Avoid paying for expensive food at UK airports with ‘little known snack rule’

Mexico already had strict laws on smoking and vaping in public since 2023, with immediate fines of up to 3,000 Mexican pesos (about £150) enforceable for anyone caught violating the rules. It includes a ban on puffing in beaches, parks, and public transport, as well as enclosed spaces. But on January 16 President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo published a constitutional reform which banned the importation, sale and distribution of vaping products. The law came into force the following day.

The amendment stated: “The law will penalize all activities related to electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, and other analogous electronic systems or devices specified by law, as well as the production, distribution, and sale of toxic substances, chemical precursors, the illicit use of fentanyl, and other unauthorized synthetic drugs.”

Tourists may think they are exempt from the rules, but they are not, and customs officials in popular destinations like Cancún, Cabo San Lucas, and Cozumel are said to be rigorously enforcing the ban.

Reports vary on what the punishments could be, but the British government strongly advises against taking any devices into the country or using them whilst there. “It is illegal to bring e-cigarettes, vaping devices and solutions into Mexico or to buy and sell them,” it states. “Customs officials will confiscate these items, and they could fine or detain you,” it adds.

As well as affecting flights into Mexico, the ban includes travellers on cruise ships stopping off anywhere on shore. “Disposables, refillable models, pods, and even non-nicotine devices,” are also included in the vape ban,” Cruise Hive reports.

It says that if holidaymakers are caught, they could see their devices confiscated, face huge fines “of up to $12,500, and/or detainment”. The publication adds that the crime is punishable by up to eight years in prison.

One traveller who claimed to have been detained by authorities for being in possession of a vape in the country just after the law was introduced said they were given the choice of prison or a whopping fine. “I came through the airport 1/18 and had a vape. I was detained and given the option of jail or 4K USD fine,” they wrote on Reddit.

Other countries that have imposed laws and bans on vaping include India, Thailand, Singapore, Brazil, Argentina, Qatar and Vietnam.

As of last year, it was estimated up to 5.6million Brits were vapers, which equated to around 11% of the population.

For the first time, the number of people who smoke traditional tobacco products in the UK has been outnumbered by vapers.

Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez has said that the country will not hold presidential elections in the immediate future, emphasising that the government’s current focus is on national stability.

His comments came late on Monday in an interview published with the conservative outlet Newsmax in the United States.

Presidential terms run for six years in Venezuela, and the last election was controversially held in 2024. Newsmax host Rob Schmitt asked if that meant another election would not happen for another five years.

“The only thing I could say is that there will not be an election in this immediate period of time where the stabilisation has to be achieved,” Rodriguez replied.

He explained that the decision is tied to a wider effort to rebuild and strengthen Venezuela’s state institutions.

“What we’re working on at the moment is what we call the re-institutionalisation of the country, so that every single institution of the country can again be brought to full power and full recognition by everybody,” he said.

Rodriguez, who has led the National Assembly since 2021, added that Venezuelans are seeking a return to normalcy following the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro.

“The government of Delcy Rodriguez is actually looking for that, to stabilise the country completely and to make it all good and reconcile everybody, all the population of Venezuela,” he said.

The US abducted Maduro in a military action on January 3. In the weeks since, the Venezuelan Supreme Court has appointed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, the National Assembly leader’s sister, as acting president.

She was formally sworn in on January 5, with support from both Venezuela’s military and the governing party, as well as the US.

Jorge Rodriguez told Newsmax that the current government would need to “reach an agreement with all sectors of the opposition” to create a “timetable” for new elections.

Amnesty law

Maduro’s abduction had initially inspired hope that a new election would be carried out after the controversy that accompanied the 2024 presidential race.

In that election, Maduro controversially claimed victory for a third straight term, despite the opposition publishing voter tallies that appeared to show its candidate won.

Protests broke out, and Maduro’s government responded with a violent crackdown. An estimated 25 people were killed, according to the US State Department.

In Monday’s interview, Rodriguez rejected the assertion that the 2024 race was not legitimate. Instead, he emphasised his push for national unity, saying, “We have been divided for a very long time.”

He highlighted the legislature’s efforts to pass a mass amnesty law, which would result in the release of all political prisoners and forgive any crimes related to political dissent since 1999.

The bill was approved unanimously in the first of two votes on Thursday and is expected to pass this week.

Still, questions have surrounded the bill. Critics fear that political repression could take other forms after the prisoners’ release.

Schmitt asked whether opposition leader Maria Corina Machado would be able to return to Venezuela and campaign freely in a future election, following the bill’s passage.

“So, allow me not to speak about only one single name, because there are many, many actors abroad that have to be included in this discussion,” Rodriguez responded.

“There is an amnesty law that is being done at the moment that contemplates working with people, but there are sectors of the opposition abroad which have promoted violence.”

He then indicated that the amnesty bill would not apply to the opposition leaders accused of violent crimes.

“Through this amnesty law, we are promoting for all the sections of the opposition who are abroad to comply with the law, so they can come back to the country,” Rodriguez said.

Opposition leaders, however, have long alleged that the government has peddled false accusations of violent crime to arrest and jail them.

Machado herself was accused of conspiring to assassinate Maduro in 2014, leading to her expulsion from the National Assembly.

Rodriguez’s comments also come amid developments in the case of former lawmaker Juan Pablo Guanipa.

The leader was released on Sunday after spending more than eight months in pretrial detention, but he was rearrested less than 12 hours later, after speaking with the media and supporters.

According to his family, he was detained by armed men without identification or a court order. His son, Ramon Guanipa, described the incident as an “abduction”.

Officials later stated that they had requested the revocation of his release order, citing his alleged failure to comply with the conditions imposed upon his release.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Guanipa was transferred to his residence in Maracaibo, where he remains under house arrest.

Machado condemned the actions, stating that Guanipa’s case demonstrates that the releases announced by the government do not guarantee the full exercise of political and civil rights.

“What was Juan Pablo’s crime? Telling the truth. So are these releases, or what are they?” Machado said on Monday.

She proceeded to question whether the released prisoners were truly free from what she described as the repressive machinery of the Venezuelan government.

“Can’t we talk in Venezuela about those who have been in prison? Can’t we recount what they have experienced? Can’t we describe the horror of what is happening in our country today?”

Feb. 10 (UPI) — Same-sex partners can legally co-own property in the Philippines, the nation’s Supreme Court announced Tuesday, a landmark decision for LGBTQ rights in the overwhelmingly Christian nation.

The ruling, which was dated Thursday but released Tuesday, states for the first time that same-sex partners can jointly own property under Article 148 of the Family Code, the country’s primary law governing marriage, family and property relations.

“Our laws should be read from more contemporary lenses. We must bear in mind how the lived realities of many couples in the Philippines are now far from heteronormative standards,” Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said in a concurring opinion.

“To be different is not to be abnormal. A same-sex relationship is a normal relationship and therefore should be covered by Article 148 of the Family Code. Otherwise, we render legally invisible some forms of legitimate intimate relationships.”

The ruling comes in litigation over ownership of a Quezon City house once inhabited by same-sex couple Jennifer Josef and Evalyn Ursua.

They purchased the property in 2006, agreeing to register it under Ursua’s name for ease of bank transactions. According to court documents, when they separated, they agreed to sell the house and divide the proceeds equally.

However, Josef filed a complaint for partition of the property and damages after Ursua refused to sell it, recognize Josef as a co-owner or give her half of the property.

Same-sex unions are illegal in the conservative Christian nation where public support of such relations was only about 22%, according to a 2018 survey by the nonprofit social research institute Social Weather Stations.

Shared property is governed under two provisions of the Philippine Family Code: Article 147, which applies to legally married couples; and Article 148, which concerns couples who cannot legally marry, such as so-called adulterous heterosexual relationships, incestuous or otherwise prohibited relationships and bigamous or polygamous marriages.

This effectively left same-sex couples without a clear legal basis to assert shared property claims.

The case made its way to the Supreme Court after a lower court and then an appeals court ruled against Josef.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court reversed the previous orders, citing a 2007 document signed by Ursua that recognized Josef as co-owner of the property into which she paid 50% of the expenses for its acquisition and renovation.

With its ruling, the high court clarified the provisions of the Family Code to state that same-sex couples fall under Article 148 since marriage is only permitted between a man and a woman.

The justices also stated that without a law recognizing same-sex marriage, Congress and local governments must work to address issues affecting the rights of same-sex couples.

“This Court does not have the monopoly to assure the freedom and rights of homosexual couples,” the Second Division of the Supreme Court said.

“With the political, moral and cultural questions that surround the issue concerning the rights of same-sex couples, political departments, especially the Congress, must be involved to quest for solutions, which balance interests while maintaining fealty to fundamental freedoms. The process of legislation exposes the experiences of homosexuals who have been oppressed, ensuring that they are understood by those stand with the majority.”

A MAJOR European airline has introduced strict new luggage rules, with huge fines for rulebreakers.

Spanish airline Iberia is cracking down on passengers who travel with non-standard shaped luggage.

This can mean any bulky or irregular shaped items, which can also include soft luggage if it doesn’t fit the usual shape.

The new rules were rolled out last month since January 28.

The website states: “Starting today, January 28, an extra charge may apply for checking in irregularly shaped baggage.

“Irregularly shaped baggage is defined as any item whose shape, material, or dimensions may interfere with the airport’s automated systems (for example: soft bags, plastic packages, round or oval bags, or non-rigid packaging).”

PACK IT IN

Ryanair warning to any Brits jetting off with Xmas presents in their luggage

Taking flight

Hand luggage sizes explained: Each major airlines baggage allowances

The airline warns that the bag will be assessed at the special baggage check in counter.

The maximum fine is £125, for anyone on a connecting long-haul flight to America or Asia.

Brits are more likely to be fined around £55 for a flight from the UK to Europe.

Passengers could even have the bag refused if it is said to fail any “operational or security reasons”.

Or, it might have to travel on a later flight in “exceptional cases”.

The Sun has contacted Iberia for additional comment.

Last year, Ryanair changed its hand luggage for the better.

The airline increased the size of the free bags that can be taken into the cabin from 40cmx20cmx25cm to 40cmx30cmx20cm.

This means the overall capacity increased from 20 litres to 24 litres.

Here are some other hand luggage rules to be aware of.

We’ve rounded up some of the best suitcases to buy ahead of your summer holiday.

And here are our best underseat cabin bags.

The Palestinian presidency calls the decision a ‘dangerous’ Israeli ‘attempt to legalize settlement expansion’.

Israel’s security cabinet has approved new rules aimed at strengthening Israeli control over the occupied West Bank, according to local media reports, drawing condemnation from Palestinian authorities.

The Palestinian presidency, in a statement on Sunday, called the decision “dangerous” and an “open Israeli attempt to legalize settlement expansion” and land confiscation. The office of President Mahmoud Abbas called for the United States and the United Nations Security Council to intervene immediately.

Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the decision, which it said was “aimed at imposing illegal Israeli sovereignty” and entrenching settlements.

The Hamas group called on Palestinians in the West Bank to “intensify the confrontation with the occupation and its settlers.”

The rules will make it easier for Israeli settlers to buy land in the occupied West Bank and give Israeli officials stronger powers to enforce laws on Palestinians in the area, Israeli media reported.

The West Bank is among the areas that Palestinians seek for a future independent state, along with Gaza and occupied East Jerusalem. Much of the West Bank is under direct Israeli military control, with extremely limited Palestinian self-rule in some areas, governed by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA).

According to the Israeli news outlets Ynet and Haaretz, the new steps include removing rules that stopped private Jewish individuals from buying land in the occupied West Bank.

The measures also include allowing Israeli authorities to take charge of managing some religious sites, and increasing Israeli supervision and enforcement in areas run by the PA, according to the media reports.

The office of far-right Israeli Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich, in a statement said “we will continue to bury the idea of a Palestinian state”.

Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh said the reports about expected Israeli steps to increase annexation and create new facts on the ground in the occupied West Bank are a total violation of all signed and binding agreements, a serious escalation, and a violation of international law, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

He emphasised that these unilateral measures aim to eliminate any political prospects, obliterate the two-state solution, and drag the entire region into further tension and instability.

The reports come three days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC.

Regulations surrounding the carriage of liquids on aircrafts have changed and there are two main alterations to the 100ml rule at UK airports.

Regulations surrounding carrying liquids at airports have been changing recently and it’s important to know where you stand because different airports have different rules.

Multiple British airports have relaxed the stringent 100ml liquid restriction, with Britain’s busiest airport, London Heathrow, the latest to confirm the significant update on January 23, 2026. The modification has been made possible through newly installed computed tomography (CT) scanners which give security personnel detailed 3D imagery of luggage, enabling passengers to keep liquids of up to two litres in their bags during security checks.

This recent development at Heathrow represents the final stage of its £1 billion security transformation that’s been underway over recent years. Furthermore, travellers no longer need to take out laptops, tablets, and liquids from their hand luggage at Heathrow, where the advanced scanners are now in operation.

A statement released by Heathrow on the same day said: “Passengers travelling through all terminals at Heathrow no longer need to remove liquids or electronics from their hand luggage, or juggle plastic bags at security. The UK’s hub has become the largest airport in the world to fully roll out next-generation CT (computed tomography) security scanners – a move that promises faster queues, less stress and a smoother start to journeys for millions of travellers.”

These new rules for carrying liquids at UK airports began to take effect on July 17, 2025. The two main changes mean:

• Travellers can now carry up to two litres in their hand luggage
• Passengers no longer need to separate them into a clear plastic bag when passing through security.

All UK airports, including Heathrow, were mandated to install new CT scanners by summer 2025, enabling passengers to carry up to two litres of liquids in their cabin bags and keep all electronic devices in their hand luggage. However, not all airports have made the changes in that timeframe.

In fact, 2019 saw Boris Johnson vow that the liquid rules at major UK airports would ease by 2022, which would allow passengers to carry larger quantities. Rishi Sunak’s government then extended that deadline to June 1, 2024.

From summer 2025 onwards, individual airports that pass Department for Transport (DfT) inspections have been permitted to ease the 100ml restriction.

UK airports that have ditched the 100ml rule

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

The switch hasn’t been rolled out at every UK airport, with some still enforcing the 100ml limit or less. Certain airports also require liquids to be taken out and placed in a clear plastic bag during security checks.

UK airports that still require you to remove liquids over 100ml

• Aberdeen
• Bournemouth
• Cardiff
• East Midlands
• Glasgow International
• Glasgow Prestwick
• Inverness
• Isle of Man
• Leeds Bradford
• Liverpool
• Luton
• London City Airport
• Manchester
• Newcastle
• Newquay
• Norwich
• Southampton
• Southend
• Stansted
• Teesside

Exemptions apply for essential medicines, baby food or milk, and special dietary requirements.

It’s crucial to verify your airport’s requirements before travelling, especially ahead of the February half-term, to prevent delays or having liquid items seized at security.

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: “Airports are responsible for the installation and operation of security equipment. Passengers should continue to check security requirements with airports before they travel and come prepared with liquids in containers no larger than 100ml in hand baggage unless advised otherwise.”

Why did the 100ml liquid ban come into force?

The 100ml liquid ban and other rules surrounding liquids in airports were introduced worldwide almost overnight, in August 2006. The aviation sector and travellers woke up to the news that airport authorities had foiled an attempted terrorist conspiracy to destroy transatlantic flights travelling from Heathrow to North America.

The suspects allegedly planned to smuggle the components for homemade explosive devices onto multiple aircrafts, which would be concealed in soft drink bottles. While a massive tragedy was stopped from occurring in 2006, it also meant that the aviation industry was changed forever.

Full list of items you can’t take through UK security

• Bleach
• Catapults
• Compressed gas
• Corrosives
• Creosote, quicklime, oiled paper
• Crossbows
• Darts
• Diving equipment – check with your airline
• Explosives ammunition, detonators and related equipment
• Firearms (including replicas)
• Fireworks and pyrotechnics
• Flammables (fire lighter, lighter fuel, paints, thinners)
• Golf clubs
• Harpoon or spear guns
• Heavy bats and sticks (including baseball, softball and cricket bats)
• Ignitable gas devices
• Incapacitating sprays
• Infectious substances (e.g. live virus materials)
• Instruments containing magnets
• Liquids and gels – with certain restrictions
• Magnetrons. Instruments containing mercury
• Martial arts equipment (including knuckledusters, clubs, coshes, rice flails and nunchuks)
• Non-safety matches
• Oxidisers
• Poisons, arsenic, cyanide, weedkiller
• Radioactive materials, acids, corrosives, alkalis, caustic soda
• Sharp items (including scissors with blades over six inches)
• Smoke canisters and smoke cartridges
• Toxic
• Vehicle fuel system components which have contained fuel
• Walking / hiking poles
• Wet-cell car batteries

Avoid paying a massive fee at the airport gates by checking your cabin bag size before you fly. With half term on the way, here’s the latest sizing regulations for some of the most popular airlines

One thing that often catches passengers out when flying on budget airlines is cabin baggage allowances. On busy flights, it’s common to see the dreaded bag sizer coming out, and being over just a centimetre can mean you end up paying a massive fee to check your bag at the gate.

To make things even more confusing, cabin bag size allowances change all the time, so even if you’re a frequent flyer, you can get caught out. It’s always best to check the size of the cabin bag that’s included with your ticket just before you go, so you can avoid hassle at the gates.

It’s also much cheaper to pay for extra bags when you book your flight, not once you’re at the airport, so always make sure you’ve booked the amount you need in advance.

Cabin bag allowances by airline

READ MORE: Jet2 makes major flight change for July, August and SeptemberREAD MORE: Woman living in the Grand Canyon shares reality of remote life with 1 drawback

Ryanair

Ryanair is notorious for strictly enforcing cabin baggage sizes, and if you’re taking a bag on board, you should make sure you get the tape measure out and check the dimensions before you head to the airport.

However, there’s good news for Ryanair passengers: the free underseat bag included in its basic fare can now be slightly larger. Previously, this small bag had to fit in a sizer with the dimensions of 40 x 25 x 20 cm, but since summer 2025 it can now be up to 40 x 30 x 20 cm. These free bags need to fit under the seat in front of you, and usually people bring a handbag, laptop bag, or small rucksack.

Technically, there’s no weight limit on these small bags, as long as they fit under the seat, but passengers will need to be able to carry and handle them, and an excessively heavy bag could be noticed by flight attendants.

Passengers can also pay to bring a second cabin bag of up to 55 x 40 x 20cm onboard with them, and this bag has a weight limit of 10KG. Passengers will need to lift this bag into the overhead locker above them, so bear this in mind when packing. If you prefer to check a bag, you can add a 10KG, 20KG, or 23KG bag to the hold. Prices vary depending on route and availability.

EasyJet

Budget airline easyJet is also known for strictly monitoring bag sizes, and you’ll see lots of orange sizers around the airport so you can check whether your luggage will fit. However, it’s best to measure bags at home when they’re packed so you can adjust accordingly.

Everyone who flies with easyJet gets one small underseat cabin bag included in the price. This can be up to 45 x 36 x 20 cm in size, and easyJet states it can’t exceed 15KG in weight.

Customers also have the option to book a second cabin bag of 56 x 45 x 25 cm maximum, including handles and wheels. As a bonus, if you book a second bag, you get speedy boarding included. When booking your flight, you also have the option to pay for up to three checked bags of 15KG, 23KG, or a whopping 32KG. Some airports offer a twilight bag drop for passengers on early flights, meaning you can check your luggage the night before heading off and head straight for security in the morning.

Jet2

Whether you’ve booked a package holiday with Jet2, or just a flight, cabin baggage allowances are the same. You get a small bag of 40 x 30 x 20cm, which must fit under the seat, and the price also includes a 10KG piece of hand luggage of up to 56cm x 45cm x 25cm. Again, you must ensure measurements include handles, wheels, and other fixtures.

Package holidays include 22KG of checked baggage, but if you’ve only booked a flight, you can still add a checked bag for a fee. Passengers can buy up to three bags of 22KG in weight, perfect for those who don’t like to travel light.

Families travelling with young kids can also bring a collapsible pushchair, car seat, and/or travel cot free of charge.

British Airways

British Airways (BA)’s economy basic fare includes a handbag and a cabin bag. The former can be up to 40 x 30 x 15cm in size and needs to easily fit under the seat in front, while cabin bags can be up to 56 x 45 x 25cm in size. However, BA can only guarantee that the smaller item will be allowed on board. If there’s not enough space in the overhead locker, your cabin bag may need to go in the hold.

BA also offers a range of options for checked bags, depending on the flight route you take and which classes are available. Economy with checked bag includes a 23KG bag in the hold, and unlike most airlines, BA put a size restriction on these checked bags of 90 x 75 x 43cm. Those lucky enough to fly business or first class get much bigger allowances.

READ MORE: Stay overnight at Alton Towers, Chessington or Legoland and get year’s free entry to top theme parksREAD MORE: PAW Patrol land first look as Chessington seeks children to test rides

TUI

If you’ve booked a flight only on TUI Airways, you’ll get a piece of hand luggage of up to 10KG in weight for free, and this can measure up to 55 x 40 x 20 cm. You can also bring a small personal item like a handbag or laptop bag of up to 40 x 30 x 20cm that’s placed under the seat in front of you. TUI emphasises that passengers must be able to lift their hand luggage into overhead storage compartments themselves.

Customers can also add a checked bag when booking their flight, with prices depending on the route and availability. However, if you book a package holiday through TUI and are flying with its airline, then 20KG of checked luggage is included. Some holiday types, such as TUI BLUE or cruises, have a 25KG allowance, so it’s worth checking your booking confirmation before you go.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

WASHINGTON — On New Year’s Eve, Lee Zeldin did something out of character for an Environmental Protection Agency leader who has been hacking away at regulations intended to protect Americans’ air and water.

He announced new restrictions on five chemicals commonly used in building materials, plastic products and adhesives, and he cheered it as a “MAHA win.”

It was one of many signs of a fragile collaboration that’s been building between a Republican administration that’s traditionally supported big business and a Make America Healthy Again movement that argues corporate environmental harms are putting people’s health in danger.

The unlikely pairing grew out of the coalition’s success influencing public health policy with the help of its biggest champion, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Health and Human Services secretary, he has pared back vaccine recommendations and shifted the government’s position on topics such as seed oils, fluoride and Tylenol.

Building on that momentum, the movement now sees a glimmer of hope in the EPA’s promise to release a “MAHA agenda” in the coming months.

At stake is the strength of President Trump’s coalition as November’s midterm elections threaten his party’s control of Congress. After a politically diverse group of MAHA devotees came together to help Trump return to the White House a little more than one year ago, disappointing them could mean losing the support of a vocal voting bloc.

Activists such as Courtney Swan, who focuses on nutritional issues and has spoken with EPA officials in recent months, are watching closely.

“This is becoming an issue that if the EPA does not start getting their stuff together, then they could lose the midterms over this,” she said.

Christopher Bosso, a professor at Northeastern University who researches environmental policy, said Zeldin didn’t seem to take MAHA seriously at first, “but now he has to, because they’ve been really calling for his scalp.”

MAHA wins a seat at the table

Last year, prominent activist Kelly Ryerson was so frustrated with the EPA over its weakening of protections against harmful chemicals that she and other MAHA supporters drew up a petition to get Zeldin fired.

The final straw, Ryerson said, was the EPA’s approval of two new pesticides for use on food. Ryerson, whose social media account “Glyphosate Girl” focuses on nontoxic food systems, said the pesticides contained “forever chemicals,” which resist breakdown, making them hazardous to people. The EPA has disputed that characterization.

But Ryerson’s relationship with the EPA changed at a MAHA Christmas party in Washington in December. She talked to Zeldin there and felt that he listened to her perspective. Then he invited her and a handful of other activists to sit down with him at the EPA headquarters. That meeting lasted an hour, and it led to more conversations with Zeldin’s deputies.

“The level of engagement with people concerned with their health is absolutely revolutionary,” Ryerson said in an interview. She said the agency’s upcoming plan “will say whether or not they take it seriously,” but she praised MAHA’s access as “unprecedented.”

Rashmi Joglekar, associate director of science, policy and engagement at UC San Francisco’s Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, said it’s not typical for an activist group to meet with the EPA administrator. She said MAHA’s ability to make inroads so quickly shows how “powerful” the coalition has become.

The movement’s influence is not just at the EPA. MAHA has steered federal and state lawmakers away from enacting liability shields that protect pesticide manufacturers from expensive lawsuits. In Congress, after MAHA activists lobbied against such protections in a funding bill, they were removed. A similar measure stalled in Tennessee’s Legislature.

Zeldin joined a call in December with the advocacy group MAHA Action, during which he invited activists to participate in developing the EPA’s MAHA agenda. Since then, EPA staffers have regularly appeared on the weekly calls and promoted what they say are open-door policies.

Last month, Ryerson’s petition to get Zeldin fired was updated to note that several signers had met with him and are in a “collaborative effort to advance the MAHA agenda.”

Zeldin’s office declined to make him available for an interview on his work with MAHA activists, but EPA Press Secretary Brigit Hirsch said the forthcoming agenda will “directly respond to priorities we’ve heard from MAHA advocates and communities.”

The American Chemistry Council said “smart, pro-growth policies can protect both the environment and human health as well as grow the U.S. economy.”

EPA’s alliance with industry raises questions

Despite the ongoing conversations, the Republican emphasis on deregulation still puts MAHA and the EPA on a potential collision course.

Lori Ann Burd, the environmental health program director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said the administration has a particularly strong alliance with industry interests.

As an example, she pointed to the EPA’s proposal to allow the broad use of the weed killer dicamba on soybeans and cotton. A month before the announcement, the EPA hired a lobbyist for the soybean association, Kyle Kunkler, to serve in a senior position overseeing pesticides.

Hirsch denied that Kunkler had anything to do with the decision and said the EPA’s pesticide decisions are “driven by statutory standards and scientific evidence.”

Environmentalists said the hiring of ex-industry leaders is a theme of this administration. Nancy Beck and Lynn Dekleva, for example, are former higher-ups at the American Chemistry Council, an industry association. They now work in leadership in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, which oversees pesticide and toxic chemical regulation.

Hirsch said the agency consults with ethics officials to prevent conflicts of interest and ensures that appointees are qualified and focused on the science, “unlike previous administrations that too often deferred to activist groups instead of objective evidence.”

Alexandra Muñoz, a molecular toxicologist who works with MAHA activists on some issues and was in the hourlong meeting with Zeldin, said she could sense industry influence in the room.

“They were very polite in the meeting. In terms of the tone, there was a lot of receptivity,” she said. “However, in terms of what was said, it felt like we were interacting with a lot of industry talking points.”

Activists await the EPA’s MAHA agenda

Hirsch said the MAHA agenda will address issues such as lead pipes, forever chemicals, plastic pollution, food quality and Superfund cleanups.

Ryerson said she wants to get the chemical atrazine out of drinking water and stop the pre-harvest desiccation of food, in which farmers apply pesticides to crops immediately before they are harvested.

She also wants to see cancer warnings on the ingredient glyphosate, which some studies associate with cancer even as the EPA said it is unlikely to be carcinogenic to humans when used as directed.

Although she’s optimistic that the political payoffs will be big enough for Zeldin to act, she said some of the moves he’s already promoting as “MAHA wins” are no such thing.

For example, in his New Year’s Eve announcement on a group of chemicals called phthalates, he said the agency intends to regulate some of them for environmental and workplace risks, but didn’t address the thousands of consumer products that contain the ingredients.

Swan said time will tell if the agency is being performative.

“The EPA is giving very mixed signals right now,” she said.

Govindarao, Swenson and Phillis write for the Associated Press. Govindarao reported from Phoenix.