Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution and Travel Advisories. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will visit Britain and Germany in the first week of September as part of their work with charities, a spokesperson for the couple said on Monday. The couple joined Top reasons why Britain’s brilliant in 2021. Restored castles steeped in legend, the Royal Horticultural Society unveiling the largest gardening project in Europe, and an art-peppered treasure hunt along England’s south coast – 2021 is a year bursting at the seams with new and unmissable experiences. From discovering Britain’s rich By Rick Steves. July and August are peak season throughout England, Scotland, and Wales — with very long days, the best weather, and the busiest schedule of tourist fun. May and June can be lovely anywhere in Britain. Except during holidays and festivals, prices and crowds don't go up during peak times as dramatically in England and Wales as Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will visit Britain and Germany in the first week of September as part of their work with charities, a spokesperson for the couple Marking the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one. Marking the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one. Read the latest here.> Wm7qcmY. Wildfires in Canada have led to closures and flight delays in the US. Here's everything tourists need to know. Unprecedented wildfires have been ravaging Canada’s Atlantic coast since last week, sending hazardous smoke over the border into the nations' capitals have been shrouded in an unhealthy haze that has led to flight disruptions and the postponement of Major League Baseball you are visiting affected areas, you are advised to wear an N95 face mask to protect from PM experienced an unusually fierce start to fire season in the west of the country in have since sprung up in the east, with Nova Scotia battling to contain its largest wildfire on record. On Friday 2 June, 10,000 residents in coastal Quebec were forced to evacuate due to record million hectares of Canadian land has been scorched so far in 2023 - more than 10 times the annual average for this time of year - and the number is only officials asked other countries for additional help fighting more than 400 blazes nationwide that already have displaced 20,000 parts of Canada are affected by wildfires?In Ontario, a fire blazing 170 km west of Ottawa is causing dangerously poor air quality in the capital, which has spread south into Toronto and the US. The province of Nova Scotia on Canada’s east coast has also been hard hit by wildfires in recent weeks. Long awaited rain over the weekend helped to bring fires under control, but some areas are still the Tantallon fire northwest of Halifax is now under control, firefighters have been battling a blaze in Shelburne County in the southwest of the province since 27 May. They have only just begun to contain its spread. Schools in the area were closed on Monday and 160 wildfires are burning in the province of Quebec, around 114 of which authorities are struggling to bring under control. Access has been banned or limited to 13 of the state's the coastal city of Sept-Iles, a local state of emergency was declared on Friday due to wildfires and thousands of people were evacuated. The southwest Quebec city of Val d'Or declared a state of emergency earlier this City has not been directly affected by the wildfires but, like many places, is suffering from poor air early May, Alberta and British Columbia BC in western Canada have also been battling major blazes, leading to deployment of the armed forces. Travel warnings have been issued in parts of Vancouver, the very high risk’ air quality advisory has been lifted after fires last month but this may not can stay up to date with the latest wildfires and their severity through the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System’s CWFIS fire weather it safe to travel to Canada during wildfires?Thousands of people have been evacuated and hundreds of homes destroyed in Canada’s recent it is still safe to travel to most parts of Canada, you should check for wildfire updates and follow guidance from local sure to follow burn bans and restrictions. In some provinces, such as Nova Scotia, open fires are currently not permitted - including in parks and campgrounds. In Quebec, open fires are not permitted in or near forested Canadian government warns that wildfire smoke can be carried hundreds of thousands of kilometres from the fire zones, causing harmful air is particularly dangerous for older adults, young children, pregnant people, and people with respiratory an N95 mask could help to protect from air pollution to some from Canada's fires has spread south into the United States, prompting air quality warnings as far south as than 2,500 flights have been delayed in the US due to limited visibility, including at New York's LaGuardia, Newark Liberty and Philadelphia airports. Smoke also contributed to delayed arrivals at Dulles International Airport outside Washington DC, where a heavy haze shrouded the Washington Monument and forced the cancellation of outdoor tours. Flights in Boston and Baltimore could also be you are travelling to airports along the East Coast and Midwest, be sure to check for with hazardous levels of pollution has extended into the New York metropolitan area, central New York state and parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. If you are visiting these areas, wear a mask for protection. North Carolina and Indiana have also been areas with an air quality index over 300, you should avoid outdoor response to the smoke, New York is handing out 1 million N95 masks at state facilities. New York City has closed beaches and residents have been told to stay indoors as much as possible. Zoos in the Bronx and Central Park closed early and brought their animals inside. Some Broadway shows have been cancelled and Central Park's popular outdoor Shakespeare in the Park performances have been put off through in the northeast and mid-Atlantic this weekend or early next week is expected to clear the air a to stay safe during Canada's wildfiresIf you are travelling in fire-affected areas, stay up to date on local road, park and forest closures. Be sure to pack snacks and water in case your journey is should avoid outdoor activities in areas affected by at your accommodation, you are advised to keep doors and windows closed. When using an air conditioner, you should use the recirculate’ setting to avoid bringing in outdoor often coincide with extreme heat, creating a double threat. Check ahead for temperature warnings and take extra precaution if you are visiting areas affected by heat. A federal grand jury hearing evidence in the Justice Department’s investigation of former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents is expected to meet this coming week in Florida, according to two sources familiar with the working for special counsel Jack Smith had been presenting evidence and witness testimony before a separate grand jury in Washington, for months, but activity appeared to have slowed in recent weeks based on sources and observations at the unclear how the testimony expected in Florida will affect the grand jury that has been investigating in Washington or whether prosecutors are prepared to seek an indictment in either jurisdiction. The Justice Department would not comment on the status of the to reporting from NBC News and other outlets, prosecutors face two central legal questions 1 Did Trump wrongfully retain classified documents after he left the White House? 2 Did he later obstruct the government’s efforts to retrieve them?If Smith decides to charge Trump, it would be the first time a former president has been charged with a federal crime. Though Trump has already been indicted in New York with state crimes related to hush money payments, the cases differ maintains that he has broken no laws and continues to lambast Smith and the Justice Department, dismissing the investigation as a politically motivated smear campaign. Here’s what we know and what we don’t know, and what to watch for as this unprecedented legal case are the facts?In June 2022, federal agents traveled to the former president’s home in Florida to retrieve documents from his time in the White House, at least some of which they believed to be classified. Trump’s attorneys turned over 38 classified materials to authorities, and certified in writing that they’d done a diligent visiting Mar-a-Lago and obtaining evidence that additional classified documents had not been returned, Justice Department officials obtained a search warrant from a judge and FBI agents searched Mar-a-Lago in August 2022. In total, the Justice Department recovered more than 300 documents with classified attorneys previewed their defense case in a letter to Congress this year, writing that the documents ended up in Florida because White House staff had "simply swept all documents from the President’s desk and other areas into boxes." But it’s unclear whether Smith’s probe has unearthed evidence to the crimes could Trump be charged with?Clues about what precise crime or crimes Smith has been investigating can be found in court filings, including the search warrant and an accompanying affidavit submitted by the Justice Department. There are two basic categories 1 crimes about the handling of classified documents, and 2 crimes about obstructing investigators from retrieving those materials. Prosecutors cited the Espionage Act, which conjures up an image of someone acting as a spy for a foreign country. But the statute, enacted after World War I, is broader. It criminalizes anyone with "unauthorized possession" of "national defense" material who "willfully" retains it. A string of court decisions has concluded that even if a document isn’t technically "classified," someone can be charged under the law, so long as the information is "closely held" and the information would be useful to Department attorneys also raised the prospect of an obstruction-related crime in court filings. But that law only applies if prosecutors can show that Trump’s intent was to "impede, obstruct, or influence the investigation." If Trump is charged with obstruction, it will be important to see what specific evidence Smith’s team has gathered about the former President's also don’t have to limit their case to the crimes explicitly outlined in the search warrant. Recent reporting from The Washington Post about Trump "sometimes" showing classified documents to others raises the question of whether he could be charged under an entirely different statute, "disclosure of classified information," which prohibits revealing certain classified material to anyone not authorized to receive is Trump’s most likely defense?Since the raid, Trump has claimed that he had the power to declassify anything he wants, that he had a "standing order" to declassify documents, and that he could declassify materials simply by "thinking about it."While there’s never been a case like this before — no former President has made such claims or been accused of such conduct — most national security lawyers say Trump’s argument is legally broad power to declassify materials ended at noon on Jan. 20, 2021, once he was no longer president. But assume, for the sake of argument, that Trump declassified information in his mind as he flew on the plane from Washington to Florida. Attorney Bradley Moss says he would have still needed to effectuate that decision in some meaningful way."A verbal command doesn’t do it. A tweet doesn’t do it. There has to be follow-up documentation through the agencies making clear what is being declassified," Moss told NBC News. "If not, anyone who saw it would still have to treat it as classified.” But, Moss cautioned, there’s no precedent for anything precisely like this have pointed to the fact that Smith could avoid a battle about whether the documents were declassified by charging under the law regarding "national defense" material, but Trump would still likely argue he held onto materials he believed he had the right to possess. "His best defense is he didn’t realize they were classified documents because he didn’t pack them up," Moss an obstruction charge, Trump could argue that he relied on the advice of others, believed his team was complying with demands to return the documents, or others like his valet Walt Nauta, who moved the boxes, went are Trump’s legal vulnerabilities?Claims of Trump’s ignorance about how the documents got to Mar-a-Lago are undercut by the fact that he held onto them, even after the government repeatedly asked for them back, says Mary McCord, the former acting assistant attorney general for national security at the Justice Department and an NBC News/MSNBC contributor."He had received a request and then a subpoena," McCord said. "If the Archives said we need the documents back and he gave everything back right away, we wouldn’t be talking about criminal culpability."But that’s not all. Recent news, first reported by CNN, of Trump talking on tape about a classified document he kept after leaving office and wishing that he had declassified it also hurts his case in significant ways. "It kind of locks him in," McCord said. "It shows he actually knows he can’t show documents to people who aren’t authorized."The recording could also be key to rebutting any defense that Trump might raise about having previously declassified everything he took after he left Trump’s motivation for keeping the documents matter?No. "Motivation is irrelevant," Moss said. Even if Trump wanted to keep classified documents in Florida — not because he planned to give them to foreign adversary but merely as a memento of his time as president — he could still face criminal 2017, the Justice Department charged a former defense contractor, Harold Martin, with improperly retaining national defense information. There was no evidence that Martin intended to share the materials with anyone, but the amount of information he squirreled away at his home was described as "breathtaking." The former attorney in Maryland, Robert Hur, who prosecuted Martin, is now serving as special counsel investigating President Joe Biden’s handling of classified Trump’s case conceivably go to trial before the 2024 election?It’s difficult to say, especially without an indictment. What’s clear is that Trump’s legal team would fight any charges and undoubtedly attempt to delay the they would likely file multiple pretrial motions to get the case dismissed. And if that didn’t work, his attorneys could file appeals, which would drag the process out even is already facing a trial in March 2024 in the New York hush money case. Soon we may find out if he’ll face June 5, 2023, 11 ET A previous version of this article mischaracterized where a grand jury is meeting. Two people familiar with the matter told NBC News that a grand jury in Florida is expected to hear witness testimony this week. It’s unclear how that development affects a separate grand jury that has been investigating in Washington. IntroductionBritain and Northern Ireland currently have no official COVID-19 restrictions in place, however there is still guidance on what to do should you catch coronavirus while here on holiday. For more information, please check the official government websites using the links below. England might be small, but it packs a lot into its pint-sized shores. Whether you're climbing the Lake District's uplifting fells or wandering along Dover's fabled White Cliffs, England delivers a bucolic feast for the senses. But the weather is never far from the conversation in England. The elements here are notoriously subject to change from hour to hour, though that rarely stops the people of this gregarious nation from getting out and having fun. Here's a month-by-month breakdown of what's going on, from festivals and events to the all-important weather, to help you pick the best time to visit. Discover the world's most intriguing experiences with our weekly newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. The peak season June–August is the best time for good weather and festivals The weather in England is at its best from June to August, with plenty of sunny days. This is the school holiday period, and many UK families make the most of the break from school, so prices for accommodation are high, particularly in August. Parking can be tricky, especially in national parks, seaside areas such as Cornwall and Devon, and popular cities such as Oxford, Bath and York. Public transport in London can be sweltering on a hot day. This is festival season too, and there are some huge outdoor events across the country. Spring is a lovely time to wander through the woods in England © Martyn Ferry / Getty Images The spring and autumn shoulder seasons are best for exploring the great outdoors There are fewer crowds in spring and autumn and the weather is often mild, making this a great time for hikes and cycle rides in national parks. Expect sun mixed with sudden rain showers from March to May, and some balmy autumn days from September to October. Seasonal sights start to open up in spring. The low season December–February is the time for country pub lunches by an open fire It's normal for the weather to be wet and cold through the low season. It can be snowy too, especially up north, where the weather can affect transport schedules. Opening hours are often reduced from October to Easter, with some places shut for the entire winter, but major sights especially in London remain open all year. Make the best of the season at Christmas markets and inside cozy pubs with roaring fires. In winter, make the most of the roaring fires in England's country pubs © Myles New / Lonely Planet Enjoy budget-friendly city breaks in January After the frenetic festivities of Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the chilly first few weeks of the year can feel a bit of an anticlimax, but there are still events taking place. January is a good time of year to take advantage of cheap city breaks and low hotel events London New Year’s Day Parade, Chinese New Year can fall in February February sees the return of the Six Nations The countryside can be glorious under snow and sunshine, but it's more likely to be grey and gloomy. The Six Nations rugby tournament brings colorful flags and a jovial atmosphere to pubs across the events Jorvik Viking Festival York, Six Nations Rugby Championship, Dark Skies Festival temporarily moved to October and November in 2022 England begins to bloom in March Spring starts to show itself in March, with daffodils, bluebells, crocuses and primroses brightening up the month. Many hotels and inns offer special weekend rates to tempt people out from under their events Bath Festival, University Boat Race London April brings iconic events and warmer weather The weather is looking up, with warmer and drier days bringing out the spring blossom on the trees. Sights and attractions that are closed for the low season open up around the middle of the month and major events such as the Grand National horse races take events Grand National Aintree, London Marathon temporarily moved to October in 2022 Celebrate diversity with the LGBTIQ+ community at Pride in London © Ms Jane Campbell / Shutterstock Beer gardens begin to fill up in May With sunny spring days, the calendar starts to fill up with events. Two public holidays the first and last Mondays of May bring heavy road traffic, and pub beer gardens get very busy. Key events Stratford Literary Festival, FA Cup Final, Brighton Festival, Chelsea Flower Show London, Glyndebourne May to August, East Sussex, Keswick Mountain Festival England goes music-mad in June Headlined by the legendary flag-waving Glastonbury, June sees the music-festival season kick off properly, and some big sporting events fill out the events Derby Week Epsom Downs, Isle of Wight Festival, Trooping the Colour London, Royal Ascot, Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships, Glastonbury July brings festivals up and down the country This is it summer is in full swing, with weekly festivals and county shows. Schools break up at the end of the month, so there’s a holiday tingle in the air, dulled only by busy Friday-evening roads as people head out of town for weekends events London Pride, Latitude Festival Suffolk, Wireless London, Womad Wiltshire, Truck Festival Oxfordshire, Camp Bestival Dorset, Cowes Week regatta runs into August August is for exploring the coast and more festivals Schools and colleges are closed, parliament is in recess, the sun is shining and England is in a holiday mood, with many families heading down to the warm coasts of Devon and Cornwall. It's the start of the football soccer season, with packed stadiums through till events Notting Hill Carnival London, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Manchester Pride, Camp Bestival Shropshire Visit popular national parks such as the Lake District in autumn to avoid the worst of the crowds © Duncan Andison / Shutterstock Enjoy the last days of summer in September The first week of September feels more like August, but then schools open up again and motorway traffic returns to normal. The daylight hours start to get noticeably shorter, but it's still possible to find decent weather and even some warm events Great North Run, Last Night of the Proms London, Heritage Open Days Make the most of England’s autumn colors in October Leaves turn golden-brown, the weather begins to get colder, and days get shorter. Take advantage of cheaper hotel rates and enjoy the regal autumnal colors of the great events Falmouth Oyster Festival, Cheltenham Literature Festival, Halloween Ease the November chill at Bonfire Night The weather’s often cold and damp in November – suitably somber for Remembrance Day – while Guy Fawkes Night sparks up fun and fireworks in memory of a failed attempt to blow up parliament in events Guy Fawkes Night Bonfire Night, Remembrance Day December brings bright lights and Christmas festivities Schools break up around mid-December, and many towns and cities hold Christmas markets, ideal places to browse for Christmas presents with a plastic glass of mulled wine in hand. New Year’s Eve is the year’s biggest party, particularly in London and other big events Christmas markets, New Year celebrations Welcome to Britain in welcomes a musical extravaganza like no other and London crowned a new inventive new experiences and captivating stories, brought together with a dose of British flair. From pioneering cultural spaces and urban havens to countryside trails and relaxing wellness retreats, it’s all happening on our shores and you’re invited!Experience exciting new theatre as the world’s best perform in the West End’s latest venue. Or see pedal power take centre stage as the first edition of the UCI Cycling World Championships arrives in Glasgow. Venture off the beaten track for fresh coastal perspectives in Wales and laugh along at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Embrace Manchester’s newest cultural hub, Factory International, or tuck into big flavours as Bristol’s harbourside street food vendors serve up fabulous fusions and creative concoctions. Whatever your fancy, it’s time to experience Britain differently. Britain reached the end of its EU exit transition period on December 31st, 2020. As freedom of movement no longer applies, British travellers must meet new entry requirements when visiting Europe for short stays; as will EU citizens visiting the article looks at the rules UK travellers need to follow to visit European countries. It covers the following informationWhether British citizens will need visas before travelling to a European destinationWhat British travellers should do to ensure their passport is validWhat will change when arriving in EuropeHow UK visitors’ travel insurance requirements will changeWhat mobile phone roaming charges could applyHow pets will be able to travel with their owners to EuropWill British tourists need a visa to visit Europe?British tourists can still visit Europe without a visa. UK citizens are permitted a visa waiver for short trips of under 90 days for tourism or business to countries within the Schengen visitors can continue travelling to Europe without a visa, and with a valid from May 2023 UK passport holders will need to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver online and pay a small fee before travelling to the Schengen UK Government is aiming to introduce a similar scheme for European visitors to Britain. The UK ETA visa waiver is expected to be available to all EU nationals. This will follow broadly the same process but will apply to EU passport holders at the UK longer stays or to work full-time in Europe however, British citizens must acquire a work permit or Schengen visa from the country they wish to live in. They need to apply at the embassy of the country in British passports still be valid on a trip to Europe in 2022?Before travelling to the European Union or Schengen area, British travellers may find new passport restrictions apply. These are minor in nature but could affect a person’s ability to enter an EU UK visitors to Europe must make sure their passport has over 6 months of validity remaining from their date of entry into the EU. Yet in practice, this means that no more than 9 years and 6 months must have passed since the passport’s date of European regulations, a passport must not be over 10 years old. Any travel documents older than this will automatically be considered invalid even if it is still within its expiry situation could occur because the British passport office usually adds extra time to the validity of a passport if it is renewed early. These extra days of validity, however, would not be accepted in the EU where the cut-off is 10 years from the date of the case of UK travellers, this will mean their passport may need to be renewed earlier than expected before a European holiday. This must be done before 9 years and 6 months have passed since the document’s date of issue to travel to an EU example, if a passport was issued on the 1st December 2012, it will no longer be accepted at an EU or Schengen port of entry from 1st June 2022. This rule is applied even if the document hasn’t expired or has over 6 months left to new procedures will British tourists face when arriving in Europe?One change that British tourists will face when arriving in a European destination is that they will no longer be able to use the dedicated queue for EU and Swiss passengers. Instead, they will need to join the international UK passengers may be required to provide evidence that they are only travelling to the EU for tourism or business. This may include return tickets to the UK and proof of sufficient funds for the duration of their British tourists need travel insurance in the EU?A European Health Insurance Card EHIC can be used until it expires. The EHIC entitles the holder to state medical treatment in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and the card expires the new Global Health Insurance Card GHIC will replace it. UK travellers are still advised to take out health British tourists have to pay mobile phone roaming charges?Mobile phone roaming charges could make a return for some British tourists. The requirement that operators must waive roaming costs will no longer apply to UK mobile networks as of December 31st the reintroduction of extra mobile charges when travelling abroad in Europe will be at the discretion of mobile network operators. Therefore, UK nationals are advised to check before arriving in the EU whether these additional costs may apply to them or UK Driving licences still valid in Europe?It will still be possible to use a UK driving licence in Europe, although tourists may also need an international driving permit IDP. This is expected to apply to British travellers in several EU UK citizens driving their car from Britain to Europe may also need to follow additional steps. When travelling to the EU by car, UK passport holders should ensure to have a car “green card”, proof of insurance and to display a “GB” nationality sticker on their British tourists still bring their pets to Europe?Yes, British tourists can still travel with pets such as cats, dogs or ferrets. However, travellers will face additional safety measures to do passports issued in Great Britain are no longer valid to travel to an EU country or Northern need to be microchipped, receive a rabies vaccination a few weeks before travel and may need to hold an animal health certificate AHC. AHCs will need to be renewed for each trip the animal makes to so many changes, it’s especially important to be prepared when travelling to a European country from the UK.

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