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UNITED NATIONS: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making a whirlwind 24-hour trip to speak at the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders this month because “there is no option” after New York’s mayor urged his arrest over the war in Gaza, Israel’s U.N. envoy said Tuesday.

Ambassador Danny Danon accused Mayor Zohran Mamdani of “doing politics” when he called the prime minister a “war criminal” and called for his arrest, which he had to withdraw because New York City does not have authority to take Netanyahu into custody.

“You know, it became very trendy to do politics by blaming Israel,” Danon added. He stressed, “For us, it’s important the prime minister will come.”

Netanyahu has become an increasingly polarizing figure over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Mamdani, whose office did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Tuesday, has pointed to the arrest warrant issued by the world’s top war crimes tribunal against Netanyahu in November 2024, accusing him and another Israeli official of crimes against humanity.

The International Criminal Court warrant said there was reason to believe Netanyahu used “starvation as a weapon of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeting civilians in the campaign against Hamas — charges Israel denies.

While New York City does not have legal authority to execute an ICC arrest warrant, Mamdani has encouraged the federal government to do so. The U.S. and Israel are not members of the court, and the Trump administration has imposed a series of sanctions on ICC staffers in a campaign to dismantle the tribunal.

Netanyahu is scheduled to arrive in New York late on Sept. 23, address the U.N. General Assembly the afternoon of Sept. 24 and fly back to Israel that night, Danon said.

Danon noted that the meeting of leaders from the 193 U.N. member nations is taking place during the Jewish holidays and an election campaign as Netanyahu tries to keep his job as prime minister.

Danon said protests against Netanyahu would “create more chaos” on New York streets during the high-level meetings the week of Sept. 22-28.

Last year, there was a mass walkout from the U.N. General Assembly hall when Netanyahu started to speak from the podium. This year, Danon said, “I expect that there will be something like another show.”

But the ambassador said Netanyahu is experienced, “and I’m sure he will deliver his speech despite those attempts.”

The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is now in place and, while most travellers are familiar with the biometric checks, a travel expert warns it’s the lesser-known rules that are catching people out

Lots of tourists may be feeling nervous about travel delays this year after reports emerged airports could face a new wave of chaos. Some of this worry has stemmed from the fact that EES, which stands for Entry/Exit System, has come into place this year – this is an automated digital IT system developed by the European Union to register non-EU nationals each time they cross the external borders of participating European nations.

However, if you’re due to travel and want to know what to expect, there’s some expert advice you may want to take on board. A few simple travel tips can make all the difference to helping the start of your holiday go more smoothly.

It’s not the first time the subject has been highlighted to travellers either. Previously, it was reported how UK travellers were preparing for border delays due to the system.

What’s it all about?

This year marked the first summer that the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) has been in operation and, while you’ve likely seen reports about lengthier queues at certain airports, for most holidaymakers, it’s simply another aspect of travelling that requires a bit of adjustment. If you’re bound for countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Portugal or Greece, here’s what you need to be aware of before you fly.

Travel expert Ricky Durrance, of package holiday specialists Teletext Holidays, says that, while everyone’s heard about the biometric checks, it’s the minor regulations that are tripping people up. He issued some guidance to help travellers.

Don’t get caught out

One of the least well-known aspects of EES is that your registration is tied to your passport, not to you personally. So, if you’ve renewed your passport since you last visited an EU country, you’ll be treated as a first-time traveller, even if you’ve previously completed biometric registration.

That means providing fingerprints and a facial scan once again at the border. So, you’ll need to allow extra time.

“Many travellers would assume once they’re already in the system that’s job done,” said Ricky. “But EES is tied to the passport, not the person, so don’t be caught out by unexpected enrolment.”

Can things be sped up?

Depending on where you’re departing from, you may even be able to complete part of the process before you set off. The EU’s free Travel to Europe app allows travellers using participating border crossings to upload passport details and a facial image up to 72 hours before departure, helping make the process even smoother.

It’s worth checking whether your airport supports it before you travel. If you’ve booked a package holiday, border delays can have a knock-on effect on transfers, so check with your travel agent whether your departure airport supports early enrolment and allow extra time on arrival.

What about kids?

Families should also bear in mind that every traveller has their own EES record, children included. Each child will require their own passport and facial image check, although under-12s are exempt from providing fingerprints, which helps to speed things up slightly.

It doesn’t apply in every country

The good news is that EES isn’t applicable across the board. Popular holiday hotspots including Turkey, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia fall outside the Schengen Area, meaning British tourists heading there won’t need to complete EES checks.

For anyone weighing up destinations, it’s simply another factor worth taking into account alongside the weather, budget and the kind of break you’re looking for. Check whether your chosen destination requires EES before you travel.

“Like any new system, there’s always a settling-in period,” added Ricky. “The important thing is not to let the headlines put you off travelling. Millions of people are still enjoying holidays across Europe.

“If you know what to expect, allow a little extra time where needed and make sure your passport is up to date, the whole process should be straightforward.”

WASHINGTON  — The Supreme Court was urged Tuesday to block construction of President Trump’s huge new ballroom until Congress weighs in. A decision, perhaps only temporary, is likely by Friday.

Acting on his own, Trump had the East Wing of the White House torn down in October and ordered work to start on a massive new building that would dwarf the old executive mansion and seat 1,000 guests for dinner.

But a federal judge in Washington ruled that Trump had overstepped his authority, and the U.S. Court of Appeals agreed in a 2-1 ruling on Aug. 7.

Those judges would stop the above-ground construction but put their decision on hold until this Friday. This gave the administration time to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation had sued, arguing that the president has no authority to erect new buildings on government property.

Federal law protects “historic buildings, parks, and places, including perhaps the most revered site in our nation: the White House and President’s Park,” the group told the court Tuesday. It is “more than the President’s residence” and “is owned by American people.”

The historic trust said Trump is moving quickly so as to bypass the law.

“Rather than obtain permission from Congress,” Trump and his appointees “have instead decided to try to outrun judicial review,” it said.

Meanwhile, Trump’s lawyers have taken to describing the ballroom as a national security project.

Last week, Solicitor Gen. D. John Sauer told the justices they should throw out the “extraordinary and unlawful injunction that will halt the ongoing construction of the integrated military complex” because “a totally secure ballroom space … is vitally required by national security.”

He also contended it is too late for judges to intervene.

“Today, the project is 65% complete in its entirety, and moving quickly toward total completion. A concrete-and-steel superstructure stretches five stories deep and 70 feet high, and occupies nearly 50,000 square feet, with construction on and above the second-story level above ground.”

While the plans have changed, the “work has followed a single coherent design,” he wrote. “By now, it has passed the point where major changes to [that] design are feasible.”

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee who ruled on the lawsuits, agreed the White House may proceed with the underground work to create a safe and secure location for the president, his family and White House employees.

The solicitor general said a new and secure ballroom is also crucial for social gatherings and foreign dignitaries.

He said that if Leon’s ruling is “allowed to go into effect, the injunction would wrongfully install a single district judge as sole arbiter of what further construction is strictly necessary to protect the safety of the President, his family, staff members, and visitors to the White House, including foreign dignitaries, and presidents and prime ministers of other countries.”

Sauer also argued the lawsuit should be thrown out on the grounds that National Trust for Historic Preservation and its members have no standing to sue because they have not suffered a particular injury.

The D.C. Circuit judges split on that issue. Judges Patricia Millett, an Obama appointee, and Bradley Garcia, a Biden appointee, ruled the plaintiffs had standing to sue. Judge Neomi Rao, a Trump appointee, dissented and said the members of the historic trust did not have standing.

Budget airline easyJet cancelled around 100 flights out of France last weekend with the possibility of further disruption this summer due to industrial action

Thousands of UK passengers are being urged to check if they are eligible for compensation after strikes by easyJet’s French cabin crew.

The budget airline cancelled around 100 flights out of France last weekend with the possibility of further disruption this summer. easyJet passengers flying through Paris, Nice, Bordeaux and Lyon are among those that have faced cancellations and delays.

Under EU regulation 261/2004, passengers can claim compensation if their flight is cancelled in certain circumstances. This can range from €125 (£106) to €600 (£513) – and this is per person.

How much money you are due depends on the length of the flight, plus how much notice you were given for the cancellation and the time of your alternative flight.

For example, if your flight distance was less than 1,500km and it was cancelled less than seven days before you were due to depart, you would be due €125 compensation if your rescheduled flight takes off more than one hour before your original flight, and arrives less than two hours after it.

You can find a full breakdown of the payouts below. But it is important to note that the airline normally only has to pay if it was their fault your flight was cancelled. This can include strikes involving an airline’s staff, including cabin crew, as this is deemed the responsibility of the airline.

Strikes outside of an airline’s control – such as air traffic control, airport security or baggage handlers – are seen as extreme circumstances, and would therefore be unlikely to qualify for compensation.

Consumer rights expert Martyn James said: “The strike compensation rules can seem a little confusing, but the rule of thumb is: if the staff work directly for the airline (cabin crew, pilots) then you should get compensation for delayed or cancelled flights.

“If the staff work as ground crew or for the airport, they don’t directly work for the airline, so the business can’t be considered to have ‘anticipated’ the situation and prevented it.

“Needless to say airlines don’t like this reading of the law. And in fact it was only clarified after they were taken to court by a disgruntled passenger.

“So remember to push back if they refuse your claim – or if they try to blame something else, like the weather or ground crew. As for a written response to your claim, especially if they turn it down.”

The flight you were on must have departed from a UK airport on any airline, or arrived at an airport in the UK on an EU or UK airline, or arrived at an airport in the EU on a UK airline.

If you believe you are entitled to compensation for a cancelled flight, you can make a complaint directly to your airline.

If the airline refuses to pay out, your next step should be to contact the relevant alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme.

Flight was cancelled between 7 and 14 days before departure

• Distance; Less than 1,500km – Rescheduled flight takes off more than two hours before your original flight, and arrives less than two hours after it – €125 compensation
• Distance; Less than 1,500km – Rescheduled flight takes off more than two hours before your original flight, and arrives more than two hours after it – €250 compensation
• Distance; Less than 1,500km – Rescheduled flight arrives more than four hours after your original flight – €250 compensation
• Distance; Between 1,500km and 3,500km – Rescheduled flight takes off more than two hours before your original flight, and arrives less than three hours after it – €200 compensation
• Distance; Between 1,500km and 3,500km – Rescheduled flight takes off more than two hours before your original flight, and arrives three to four hours after it – €400 compensation
• Distance; Between 1,500km and 3,500km – Rescheduled flight arrives more than four hours after your original flight – €400 compensation
• Distance; More than 3,500km – Rescheduled flight departs more than two hours before your original flight, and arrives less than four hours after it – €300 compensation
• Distance; More than 3,500km – Rescheduled flight arrives more than four hours after your original flight – €600 compensation

Flight was cancelled less than 7 days before departure

• Distance; Less than 1,500km – Rescheduled flight takes off more than one hour before your original flight, and arrives less than two hours after it – €125 compensation
• Distance; Less than 1,500km – Rescheduled flight arrives more than two hours after your original flight – €250 compensation
• Distance; Between 1,500km and 3,500km – Rescheduled flight departs more than one hour before your original flight, and arrives less than three hours after it – €200 compensation
• Distance; Between 1,500km and 3,500km – Rescheduled flight arrives more than three hours after your original flight – €400 compensation
• Distance; More than 3,500km – Rescheduled flight departs more than one hour before your original flight, and arrives less than four hours after it – €300 compensation
• Distance; More than 3,500km – Rescheduled flight arrives more than four hours after your original flight – €600 compensation