e travel update

Philippine Travel Information System

Announcement

You may only register within 72 hours prior to your arrival or departure in the Philippines. Travelers are enjoined to present their eTravel QR code to flight boarding.

Update Existing Record

Philippine One-Stop Electronic Travel Declaration System

Initiative of the Government of the Philippines:

PH's e-Travel System begins full implementation on April 15. Here's how to register

By Jovelyn Cullado Published Apr 15, 2023 9:16 am

Good news, byaheros: You can now expect to spend less time navigating Philippine airports as the Bureau of Immigration has begun the full implementation of the country's e-Travel System today, April 15.

The electronic travel system aims to streamline the country's immigration procedure by providing travelers and crew members entering and departing the country an option to fill out their departure cards, in addition to health declaration forms, online before arriving at the airport.

The e-Travel System was initially launched in December of last year as a replacement for the paper arrival card and One Health Pass travelers must accomplish for immigration clearance.

BI Commissioner Norman Tangsingco said that the inclusion of the departure form is part of the country's way to integrate border control, health surveillance, and economic data analysis in a single data collection platform.

"Not only does this speed up immigration clearance, this initiative also ensures. interoperability among border management agencies and saves government resources," the commissioner explained in a statement .

Since the new system moves toward a paperless procedure, travelers and crew members entering and leaving the Philippines must register their travel information at  https://etravel.gov.ph /  before leaving or arriving the country .

Here's a step-by-step guide on the process:

1. Once you're on the website, begin your registration by supplying the following details: t ype of passport, t ravel type, t ransportation type, d ate of departure, and e-mail address.

2. Proceed to create a personal profile  that contains the following:

• Passport number
• Citizenship
• Country of birth
• Mobile number

3. Provide the address of your permanent residence, including the country and municipality.

4. Proceed to register your travel information:

• Date of departure
• Country of destination and destination address
• Purpose of travel
• Traveler type
• Name of airline and flight number
• Airport of departure

5. Lastly, confirm the details specified on the summary of your registration then submit.

After you have submitted the necessary information, the system will generate a QR code, either in green or red, as proof of registration.  Take note that you must download, take a screenshot of it, or print it before presenting it  to the  attending staff upon boarding or arrival in the country.   

A green QR card says that you are safe to travel since you have registered and completed the necessary documents. Then, you will be guided to the express lane where your card will be scanned and the immigration officer will confirm your flight details. At this point, there is no need to undergo an interview or present physical copy of documents.   

On the other hand, a red QR card means that you have missed one or some documents. You will then be required to manually update your documents and undergo an interview at the airport to determine whether you are safe for travel.     

Also, the interview is a measure to determine if you will be quarantined or need to undergo a rapid Antigen test. 

Remember that the QR code can only be used once and not repeated times. This is to ensure that the system still complies with the Data Privacy Act. 

If you happen to input wrong information in the e-Travel platform, you may still change them as long as you are not processed, verified, and tagged by border health officers. Just click the “Edit Registration” on the website and change the wrong information and details.

Only Filipino passengers departing the country are required to register "72 hours but not less than three hours from their scheduled departure," the BI said.

Meanwhile, those who failed to register or update their e-Travel record may do so online before undergoing immigration inspection or may fill out paper departure cards at the immigration area.

Tangsingco noted, though, that   "the paper-based arrival and departure cards can only be used by passengers who are incapable of e-Travel registration and in the event that the e-Travel site is inaccessible."

Prior to the update on the e-Travel System, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) expanded its website to allow travelers to pay their travel tax online before their scheduled flights.

TAGS: Bureau of Immigration naia AIRPORT e-travel immigration requirements departure cards

Jovelyn Cullado

Traveling to the Philippines: How to Get eTRAVEL QR CODE Online (Arrival Card)

Are you traveling to the Philippines? ALL incoming international travelers including Filipino citizens and foreigners, adults and children, must secure an eTravel QR code online 72 HOURS or THREE DAYS before your arrival.

Just like the old One Health Pass and eArrival Card, this new eTravel QR system serves as an all-in-one online platform for the arrival card, health declaration, and contact tracing.

But don’t worry, it’s easy to get one. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process one step at a time. Here’s how to do it.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

1. Go to eTravel official website.

The official website is https://etravel.gov.ph .

Make sure it’s the legitimate website. Note that eTravel QR Code is FREE of charge. If you landed on a website requiring you to pay for the service, it’s a scam.

2. Start your registration.

On the home page, you’ll see the registration section. For Filipino citizens, click the PHILIPPINE PASSPORT HOLDER box. Then, start entering the following details:

• Transportation Type
• Date of Arrival
• Email Address

Tick the DATA PRIVACY AND AFFIDAVIT OF UNDERTAKING box. It’s easy to miss because the tick box is quite small, but you’ll find it before the CONTINUE button.

When you check that, a page will pop. Read first, then click the YES, I AGREE button.

Finally, hit the CONTINUE button.

3. Provide your Personal Information.

Enter the following details:

• Passport Number
• Citizenship
• Country of Birth
• Mobile Number

If the system detected that you belong to the (legal) working age group, it will require you to answer the OCCUPATION section. Choose your professional field. If you can’t find it in the choices, select OTHERS . When you are done, click NEXT .

4. Enter your address.

You will be asked to provide your specific address down to house number or unit number.

If you live in Metro Manila, choose National Capital Region or NCR.

5. Submit your travel details.

Enter the following travel information:

• Arrival Date
• Country of Origin
• Purpose of Travel
• Flight Number
• Seat Number (optional)
• Name of Airline
• Airport of Arrival
• Traveller Type (aircraft passenger or flight crew).

When you are done, click NEXT .

6. Accomplish the Health Declaration Form

This includes your Vaccination Details. If you are fully vaccinated, answer NO for the section asking if you have a negative Antigen Test result. After that are the usual ‘Yes or No’ questions about history of exposure and if you’ve been sick in the past 30 days. After answering all the items, click ‘NEXT’.

7. Review the information you encoded.

Read the summary of all the details you provided. If you need to change or correct something, just click the pencil symbol on the upper right portion of the category you want to edit. If you are good and you have nothing to correct, click SUBMIT .

8. Download your QR Code.

Congratulations! You will instantly receive your QR Code.

Don’t forget to download or screenshot it! You’ll be presenting it upon arrival in the Philippines.

• If your QR Code page is GREEN , it means you met the travel requirements and you can directly go to express lane where you will have the BOQ officer scan your QR Code.
• If your QR Code page is RED , you have to let the Quarantine Officer manually verify the required additional documents to determine if you are compliant with the entry protocols set by the Philippine government. Travelers who usually get RED-marked QR Code are the unvaccinated and the partially vaccinated. Again, check the entry guideline set by the Philippine Government first before traveling to the Philippines.

One QR Code is issued per transaction and per entry. You can only use it once and you need to register again and get a new QR Code the next time you travel to the Philippines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I want to change something after generating the qr code. how to correct it.

You can still edit your info if you noticed a typo error or you entered wrong data. However, note that you can only do this BEFORE it gets validated or verified by the BOQ officer upon your arrival sa Pilipinas. Ensure that you make your corrections before your flight to the Philippines.

To do this, just go to the main page or home page of eTravel, then click the UPDATE REGISTRATION button. Provide your reference number or transaction number and birth date.

At what point of the airport process should I present the QR code?

From the team’s experience, we were asked to present our QR Codes at these stations:

• Check-in Counter, before departure abroad (at the country of origin)
• Bureau of Quarantine Area, after deplaning and before the Immigration counters in the Philippines. The staff/officers will be scanning the QR code. It’s a very quick and smooth process if you have a green QR code.

The staff may also ask for it at the boarding gate (country of origin/abroad), so just ready your copy during these times.

ATTENTION! Travel requirements change from time to time, so it’s best to check with the government of the country you want to visit the updated travel restrictions and requirements before you travel. For the Philippine’s updated entry requirements, you can check the official eTravel website: https://etravel.gov.ph/entry-guidelines.

Do I still need to accomplish One Health Pass and eArrival Card?

No need. The eTravel has officially replaced the now obsolete One Health Pass and eArrival Card starting 2 December 2022.

To be honest, all these systems are very similar. The changes are not too drastic. Some items were removed such as the Philhealth Number, and then some required items are now optional. The noticeable difference is not really the content but the appearance or the user interface.

Do I have to pay for eTravel QR Code? How much is the charge?

No, you don’t need to pay anything for the eTravel QR Code. It is FREE of charge. If you landed on a website requiring you to pay for the service, it’s a scam.

Is there a Tagalog version of this article?

Yes. Ganito Friend has a Tagalog video version on YouTube. You can find it here .

More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Is this post helpful to you?

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what option should I choose after my vacation in let’s say Japan, and I’m just going back home to the Philippines?

purpose of travel: what option should I choose after my vacation in let’s say Japan, and I’m just going back home to the Philippines?

I’m vaccinated with j&j. do I need to have booster for my etravel application

Hi Mary Grace, ‘yan ung 1 dose lang po ano? Afaik, hindi na required ang booster now.

yes po.color blu3 nging color ng qr code ko then n/a Yung lumabas dun sa health survey.ok lng po b yun?

ohhh.. for departure pala ung Blue QR code.. ung health declaration daw will be edited for Arrival na.

naku blue din ung sa akin.. nagskip siya sa health declaration na part. tapos di naman ma-edit. weird.

hello po ano po update sa color blue na qr code po? color blue rin po sakin

nakaalis naman po kayo ng walang issue sa blue QR code?

Ay. Naku di ko po alam pag blue yung QR code. Green and red lang po ung naeencounter namin. Green is diretso na, tas pag red, need pa ng additional docs to verify. Pero pag blue po, hindi ko po alam. :(

Manila to cebu need pa ba etravel again? If Foreign passport holder

Hi just to clarify, do employees fall under worker/labourer? Ty

Pano ung unvaccinated ..no chance po ba mkatravel po? Salamat po sa sasagot?

Wat if the qr code or reference# can’t save immigetly and the fillup form back again for signing? Please helo

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Gov‘t launches eTravel platform for travelers, returning residents to Philippines

The Office of the Press Secretary on Friday announced the launch of an online registration system for those travelling to the Philippines and returning residents, which aims to streamline entry and data collection processes.

The OPS said the Health Declaration Checklist of the Department of Health-Bureau of Quarantine may be accessed through the eTravel platform beginning Friday, December 2.

"The eTravel platform will host the electronic version of the paper Arrival Card that travelers must submit upon arrival in the Philippines for immigration clearance," the OPS said in its notice to the public.

"Starting 05 December 2022, the Bureau of Immigration will discontinue using the paper Arrival Card. All travelers will be required to provide their arrival information and health declaration through the eTravel portal," it added.

It said passengers using the former www.onehealthpass.com.ph would be redirected to the new eTravel domain as starting December 5, the old domain of the One Health Pass will no longer be accessible to the public.

The OPS reminded the public that registration on the eTravel platform is free.

"The public is warned against transacting with any entities or websites soliciting payments and fees of any kind as these are in no way related to the official eTravel platform of the Philippine government," the OPS said.

In a press briefing, Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the eTravel will provide more convenience and accessibility to passengers which will encourage more travelers in the country.

“Ito pong eTravel registration, hindi na-compromise dito ang batas ng BOQ wherein kailangan may specific medical details na kailangan ibigay talaga ang bawat pasahero na pumapasok sa ating bansa (This eTravel registration did not compromise the BOQ law wherein the passengers entering the country must provide specific medical details),” Vergeire said.

“So this eTravel registration provides convenience, provides more accessibility and also provides convenience to arriving passengers. And therefore mas maeencourage ang travelers na pumasok sa ating bansa (it will encourage them more to visit the country),” she said.

“At ito na lang ang kailangan (This is the only thing you need). Prior to departure, you should have this para pagpasok sa bansa, seamless na, wala na masyadong pila, wala nang inconvenience (so that when you enter the country, it will be seamless, no more lines, no more inconvenience),” she added.

The eTravel platform is a joint initiative of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, in partnership with the Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Quarantine, Bureau of Customs, Department of Tourism, Department of Health, Department of Justice, and the Department of Transportation.  — Anna Felicia Bajo and Richa Noriega/RSJ/AOL, GMA Integrated News

• Travel Services Branch

E2 eTravel forms

• E2 FAA and Agency Administrative Approvers
• E2 FAQs, User Guides and Training
• E2 Help Desk Contact Information
• Travel Management Center (TMC)
• Travel Info: Policy, Per Diem, Cost Comparisons
• Other Travel Forms and Instructions
• ESC AMK-340 Travel POCs

The e-Travel Section provides services in e-Travel Administration and CBA Reconciliation/Payment services. E-Travel administration includes establishing new users, updating existing users, and updating routing of documents in the e-Travel System. The e-Travel Team corrects interface errors and processes interface files into the accounting system (Delphi). The Team also provides e-Travel System training.

Effective December 1, 2022 - ESC Travel is excited to share a new process with you that will help protect E2 Users Sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (SPII). The new process will alleviate the need for password protected E2 forms.

• Confidential Travel Vendor Request form (Fillable PDF Document) *Encryption Passphrase is required , please reach out to [email protected] for the specific Passphrase.
• Confidential Travel Vendor Request Instructional Video
• eTravel New Profile request (PDF Document)
• Instructions for eTravel New Profile Request Form (PDF Document)
• eTravel New Profile Request Instructional Video
• eTravel Modification Profile request (PDF Document)
• Instructions for eTravel Modification Profile Request form (PDF Document)
• Routing Pool Approver Modification
• FAA Reorganization Spreadsheet (spreadsheet must be sent to [email protected] for approval before sending to ESC Travel)

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E-Gov Travel Service (ETS)

The E-Gov Travel Service (ETS) is a government-wide, web-based, and world-class travel management service. This streamlined service continually applies commercial best practices to realize travel efficiencies and deliver a transparent, accountable, and sustainable service that yields exceptional customer satisfaction.

The ETS program is currently operating in its second contract period, ETS2, which includes a three (3)-year base period and three four (4)-year option periods through June 3, 2027. The legacy ETS transition ran through November 11, 2015. The government is preparing to deliver the next iteration of an end-to-end travel and expense service, called ETSNext . 

With ETS2 you can:

• Create and manage travel authorizations and the travel approval process.
• Submit vouchers and receive reimbursements.
• Notify the traveler and the approver when a selection is out of compliance with flexible auditing based on agency business rules.
• Capture receipts, manage itineraries, and approve authorizations and vouchers on a capable mobile device.

If you would like to contact the E-Gov Program Office, please click our Contact Us and fill out the form.

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Rates are available between 10/1/2021 and 09/30/2024.

The End Date of your trip can not occur before the Start Date.

Traveler reimbursement is based on the location of the work activities and not the accommodations, unless lodging is not available at the work activity, then the agency may authorize the rate where lodging is obtained.

Unless otherwise specified, the per diem locality is defined as "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city, including independent entities located within those boundaries."

Per diem localities with county definitions shall include "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties, including independent entities located within the boundaries of the key city and the listed counties (unless otherwise listed separately)."

When a military installation or Government - related facility(whether or not specifically named) is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable per diem rate for the entire installation or facility is the higher of the rates which apply to the cities and / or counties, even though part(s) of such activities may be located outside the defined per diem locality.

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• Entering and staying in the UK
• Visas and entry clearance

eVisa rollout begins with immigration documents replaced by 2025

Millions are being invited to switch from physical immigration documents to an eVisa – a key step in creating a modernised and digital border.

Photo: Getty Images

The next stage in the government’s plan to modernise the border and introduce a digital immigration system is under way, as the Home Office moves closer to the implementation of eVisas for nearly all visa holders living in the UK by 2025.

From today (17 April 2024), the Home Office will begin to send emails to all those with physical immigration documents, called biometric residence permits (BRPs), inviting them to create a UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) account to access their eVisa, a digital proof of their immigration status.

Invitations will be issued in phases before the process opens to all BRP holders in summer 2024.

eVisas are central to making the UK safer by reducing the risk of fraud, loss and abuse of physical documents, strengthening border security, and providing a more secure way to prove immigration status. This will pave the way for increased automation to deliver the government’s vision for a contactless border.

It is free and straightforward for customers who hold physical and paper documents to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. Creating a UKVI account will not change, impact or remove customers’ current immigration status or their rights in the UK.

Minister for Legal Migration and the Border, Tom Pursglove MP, said:  

We’ve already taken really significant steps to digitally transform the border and immigration system, and this wider rollout of eVisas is a key part of that process.  Replacing physical immigration documents with eVisas will ensure firm control over who comes here to live, work or study, strengthening border security and preventing abuse of the immigration system, while delivering cost savings for UK taxpayers.

eVisas bring substantial benefits to the UK public and to visa customers. They are secure, and, unlike a physical document, cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with. They can be accessed anywhere and in real time, putting customers in control of their own data and allowing them to swiftly update the Home Office with new contact or passport details.

An eVisa is securely linked with the holder’s unique biometric information in the same way as a BRP or BRC , to protect against identity fraud.

People checking immigration status will be able to conduct one quick and simple check using a secure online service on GOV.UK. Selected public bodies are already able to access immigration status to determine eligibility for public services automatically through system to system checks.

eVisas are tried and tested, with millions of customers already using them across routes including the EU Settlement Scheme ( EUSS ). Most physical documents, such as biometric residence permits or cards (BRPs or BRCs), are being gradually phased out, with most BRPs expiring at the end of 2024.

This move to eVisas is in line with other countries which have replaced, or are planning to replace, their physical immigration documents with digital forms of immigration status.

Customers who already have an eVisa do not need to do anything as we make this change, but should continue to update their UKVI account with any changes to personal information, such as a new passport or contact details. Customers should continue to carry their in-date physical immigration documents with them when they travel internationally, until they expire.

Physical immigration documents will be gradually phased out by 2025, as we transition to a fully digital border and immigration system for new and existing customers. This will deliver enhanced security and cost savings for the UK public and greater convenience for customers and status checkers. 

Customers who already have an eVisa should tell the Home Office about any passport on which they intend to travel using the online Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details service on GOV.UK, if this is not already linked to their account, to avoid delays when travelling.

As part of the wider transformation of the UK border and immigration system, the government has already introduced the Electronic Travel Authorisation ( ETA ) scheme. ETA is a digital permission to travel to the UK for those wanting to visit but who do not need a visa. It gives the government greater ability to screen travellers in advance of travel and prevent those who pose a threat from coming here.

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• International

Iran launches barrage of strikes toward Israel

By Tori B. Powell , Sophie Tanno, Emma Tucker , Kaanita Iyer , Paul LeBlanc and Adrienne Vogt , Jerome Taylor and James Legge, CNN

Our live coverage of Iran's attack on Israel has moved here .

Iran warns its response will be "stronger and more resolute" if Israel retaliates following latest strikes

From CNN’s Alireza Hajihosseini and Eyad Kourdi

Iran has warned that it will respond with more force if Israel retaliates over this weekend's strikes, which Tehran said were themselves a reply to an Israeli attack earlier this month on its embassy complex in Syria's capital Damascus.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent right of self-defense when required," Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, said in a statement.

Citing self-defense against repeated Israeli military aggressions, Iravani said the strikes were specifically in retaliation to an Israeli attack on April 1 against what Iran says were diplomatic facilities in Damascus.

Iran claims the attack violated international law and led to the death of seven Iranian military advisors, including key commanders from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The statement also criticizes the United Nations Security Council for “failing to uphold international peace,” allowing Israel to “breach” established international norms and “escalate” regional tensions.

Additional context: Israel has carried out numerous strikes on Iran-backed targets in Syria, often targeting weapons shipments allegedly intended for Hezbollah, a powerful Iranian proxy in Lebanon. 

Israel has not claimed responsibility for the April 1 attack which destroyed an Iranian consulate building in the capital Damascus, including Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a top Revolutionary Guards commander.

However an Israel Defense Forces spokesman told CNN that their intelligence showed the building was not a consulate and was instead “a military building of Quds forces disguised as a civilian building.”

China expresses 'deep concern', calls for ceasefire

From CNN's Philip Wang and Irene Nasser

China has expressed "deep concern" over the "current escalation" following Iran's attack on Israel, according to a spokesperson for its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, adding that it is a "spillover of the Gaza conflict" and a ceasefire should be implemented without delay.

In a statement, China called "on relevant parties to exercise calm and restraint to prevent further escalations."

"The ongoing situation is the latest spillover of the Gaza conflict," the spokesperson said, adding that a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas should be implemented without any more delay.

Beijing did not  name or condemn Hamas  in the wake of the initial October 7 attacks. Since then, it has condemned the war and been a vocal  proponent of an immediate ceasefire  and the implementation of a “two-state” solution.

Last month, Chinese diplomat Wang Kejian met Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar, the first meeting between a Chinese and Hamas official publicly acknowledged by Beijing since the outbreak of the  war in Gaza .

Wang’s visit follows efforts by Beijing to step up its profile as a  peace broker in the Middle East conflict.

US forces intercepted 70+ drones and at least three ballistic missiles, US officials say

From CNN's Oren Liebermann and Haley Britzky

US forces intercepted more than 70 one-way attack drones and at least three ballistic missiles during Iran's attack on Israel, according to two US officials familiar with the situation.

The ballistic missiles were intercepted by warships in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, one of the officials said. Iran launched more than 100 ballistic missiles in total at Israel, according to a senior administration official.

The US Navy currently has two destroyers in that area, both are guided missile destroyers capable of intercepting missile and drone launches.

US fighter jets were also part of the response to Iran’s attack on Saturday and shot down drones launched towards Israel, another US official told CNN.

Biden to meet with G7 leaders Sunday as he condemns Iran's "brazen attack"

From CNN’s Lauren Koenig

US President Joe Biden will meet with G7 leaders Sunday “to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack,” according to a statement released by the White House. 

“My team will engage with their counterparts across the region. And we will stay in close touch with Israel’s leaders,” the statement from Biden reads. “And while we have not seen attacks on our forces or facilities today, we will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people.”

US defensive assets moved to the region earlier this week and “helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles,” according to the statement.

Biden also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu following Saturday’s attack “to reaffirm America’s ironclad commitment to the security of Israel.” 

United Airlines cancels three Middle East flights

From CNN’s Sara Smart

At least three United Airlines flights headed to or departing from the Middle East have been canceled amid the ongoing conflict unfolding between Iran and Israel.

On Saturday a flight from Newark, New Jersey to Tel Aviv, a flight from Washington D.C. to Amman, Jordan, and one from Dubai to Newark were canceled, the airline told CNN in a statement.

There have been no changes to any Sunday flights for United as of Saturday night, according to the airline. 

CNN has reached out to other airlines regarding cancellations.

Biden told Netanyahu US will not participate in offensive operations against Iran, US official says

From CNN's MJ Lee

The US will not participate in any offensive operations against Iran, US President Joe Biden has made clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a senior administration official told CNN.

The comments were relayed during the phone call that the two leaders shared in the aftermath of Iran's retaliatory strikes against Israel.

Biden tells Netanyahu tonight was a win, nothing of "value" hit in Israel, US official says 

Israel should consider tonight a win because the current US assessment is that Iran’s attacks had been largely unsuccessful and demonstrated Israel’s superior military capability, President Joe Biden told Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their phone call, a senior administration official told CNN.

The US’s assessment tonight was that almost all of the drones and missiles – including more than 100 ballistic missiles -- launched by Iran had been knocked out of the sky. No cruise missile made impact, the official said, and nothing of “value” was hit. 

Bolton: 'Passivity at this point for Israel would be a big mistake'

From CNN's Heather Chen

John Bolton, the former US national security adviser and ambassador to the UN, said “passivity at this point for Israel would be a big mistake,” warning of more attacks. 

“This is not time to play academic games and message and signal. This is a question of power,” Bolton told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. "If they came from a different location containing nuclear warheads, Israel might not be so lucky.”

A known Iran policy hawk, Bolton served in senior national security positions during the Trump and Bush administrations. A neoconservative, Bolton has in the past advocated war with Iran and a pre-emptive strike on North Korea.

In 2022, he was the target of an alleged assassination attempt orchestrated by a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. 

He has warned against underestimating Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran has said is for peaceful purposes only.

“I think we have enough experience with faulty intelligence by now, not to be so sure, not to know how much of Iran’s uranium enrichment program is really being conducted under a mountain in North Korea,” Bolton said.

If Tehran sent “a wire transfer to Pyongyang,” it would give the North Koreans “enough time to put a couple of warheads on an airplane and fly them to Tehran. (But) if you take away their nuclear capability, that would be a dramatic hit to the regime, maybe enough to topple it.”

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• International

April 15, 2024 - Israel-Hamas war

By Kathleen Magramo, Antoinette Radford, Maureen Chowdhury and Amir Vera, CNN

Our live coverage of Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has moved  here .

Israel delays Rafah offensive as it weighs response to Iranian attack. Catch up here

From CNN Staff

Israel was set to take its first steps toward a  ground offensive in Rafah  this week, but has delayed those plans as it mulls a response to Iran’s attack, two Israeli sources have told CNN.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long stressed the importance of invading Rafah to dismantle Hamas’s remaining battalions, despite significant international pressure to call off an all-out ground offensive. But, a military response that risks escalating the conflict with Iran further would pull the military’s attention and resources away from Gaza.

Here's what to know if you're just joining our coverage:

• War cabinet meeting : Israel's war cabinet reviewed military plans for a potential response against Iran, an official said. The cabinet remains determined to act , but it's not clear if a decision has been made. Israel has vowed to "exact a price" after the unprecedented large-scale drone and missile attack .
• White House urges de-escalation: US President Joe Biden is focusing on preventing Iran's attack from spiraling into a wider regional conflict , spokesperson John Kirby said. Kirby said ultimately the US wanted tensions to de-escalate.
• Countries urge restraint : Biden's sentiment is echoed by various countries who are urging Israel and Iran to avoid further confrontation that could plunge the area deeper into conflict. Indonesia, Malaysia , Jordan , Germany , the UK , South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Somalia — among others — have all expressed concern about rising tension in the region.
• Iran's stance : Iran maintains its attack on Israel was a "legitimate" and “responsible” reaction , the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said.
• Flight operations resume : Airports in the Iranian capital of Tehran resumed flights at 6:00 a.m. local time on Monday, according to Iran's state-aligned Tasnim news agency.
• Israel warns Palestinians to avoid the north : After thousands of Palestinians attempted to return to their homes in northern Gaza, Israel's military warned it was a "dangerous combat zone" through social media and airdropped leaflets .
• Gaza death toll : The Health Ministry in Gaza says that 68 people were killed in the territory over the past 24 hours as a result of Israeli military operations. A further 94 were injured. CNN cannot verify the figures, and the Ministry does not provide a breakdown of civilians and fighters among the casualties. The Ministry said that since October 7, 33,797 people have been killed and 76,465 injured.
• West Bank shooting: Israeli gunfire killed one person and critically wounded another in Nablus , in the occupied West Bank, on Monday, the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health said. Israeli police described the man as a "terrorist" and said he threw an explosive device at their forces.
• Palestinians released : Israeli authorities have released 150 people previously detained in Gaza according to the Palestinian General Authority for Crossings and borders on Monday. Two of the detainees were ambulance workers for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
• Israeli soldiers wounded : An explosion near the northern border has injured four Israeli soldiers , one severely, the military says.
• Gaza aid : The Israeli government agency that coordinates the delivery of aid into Gaza says that a new crossing in the north has again been used to deliver food aid .
• Hostage talks: Hamas has slashed the number of hostages it is willing to release during the first phase of a ceasefire deal by more than half, from 40 down to 20, an Israeli source close to the negotiations said. This represents a significant step backward in the talks.

The post has been updated with details on the war cabinet meeting and the hostage talks.

2 Palestinian farmers killed after confrontation with Israeli settlers near West Bank city of Nablus

From CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq

Two Palestinians were killed Monday south of the West Bank city of Nablus, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials.

The Palestinian official news agency WAFA, citing a local official, said the two were killed by Israeli settlers in Khirbet at-Tawil, which is near the settlement of Gitit. 

According to WAFA, Israeli settlers attacked and killed two farmers who were tending their farmland. 

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah identified the deceased as Abdul Rahman Maher Bani Fadel, 30, and Muhammad Ashraf Bani Jame, 21.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement it received a report Monday "about a Palestinian suspect who attacked a Jewish shepherd" in the Gitit area in the West Bank's Jordan Valley. "A violent confrontation developed there between Palestinians and Israeli citizens," the statement said. 

When IDF forces arrived, they "worked to disperse the confrontation," and "during the incident, two Palestinians were killed," the statement said. 

A preliminary investigation into the shooting appears that IDF forces did not do it, the statement concluded. 

The IDF and the Israel police are investigating the incident, the IDF spokesperson added.

China notes Iran's position on Israel attack and does not condemn strikes

From CNN’s Manveena Suri, Simone McCarthy and Wayne Chang

China said it noted Iran’s statement that the actions against Israel were an “exercise of the right of self-defense” during a phone call between the foreign ministers of the two nations on Monday, and did not condemn the weekend strikes.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that China condemned the attack on a consulate building in the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus, according to a statement issued by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Chinese foreign minister added the incident “seriously violates international law and is unacceptable.”

“China has noted Iran's statement that the actions it took were limited and it was an exercise of the right of self-defense in response to the attack on the embassy building,” the statement said. “The current regional situation is very sensitive, and Iran is willing to exercise restraint and has no intention of further escalating the situation,” the statement added, quoting Amir-Abdollahian.

Separately, China’s Special Envoy on the Middle East, Zhai Jun, met with Irit Ben-Abba Vitale, Israel’s Ambassador to China, on Monday, in which the latter expressed Israel's position and concerns on the conflict in Gaza.

Zhai said China was “deeply concerned about the current escalation of regional tensions, and conflicts and bloodshed serve the interests of no one.”

“What is pressing now is to achieve an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, ensure humanitarian aid, release all detained personnel as soon as possible, and achieve a political settlement of the Palestinian question based on the two-state solution for the peaceful coexistence of Israel and Palestine,” a statement from the foreign ministry said.

15 more bodies recovered from around Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital as exhumation process continues

From CNN’s Kareem Khadder and Zeena Saifi in Jerusalem

Fifteen bodies were recovered Monday from around Al-Shifa Hospital following the withdrawal of the Israeli military from the area two weeks ago, Gaza residents and medical crews told CNN.

Health workers and residents in northern Gaza have been searching for what they believe are mass graves and looking for their loved ones after they said Israeli forces killed hundreds of Palestinians and left their bodies to decompose during their two-week siege of the complex.

Hundreds of bodies have been recovered from areas around the hospital complex since the siege ended April 1, a Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson told CNN last week.

Video filmed by CNN Monday shows medical workers, some wearing UN-marked vests walking around the site over mounds of sand, digging up bodies. White body bags can be seen on the side of the excavation site, some marked with text that read “unidentified body” and some with names of people on them.

“Today I bid farewell to my mother who was inside Al-Shifa Hospital during the invasion and attack by the vicious Israeli occupation on this medical complex that has been turned into a big mass of rubble,” Mohammad Al-Khateeb, a resident of Gaza told CNN. “The Israeli military deprived patients, nurses, doctors and the displaced of water, medicine and food."

 Al-Khateeb’s mother, Khawala Al-Khateeb, was 75 years old when she was brought to the hospital three days before the Israeli military siege on the complex and surrounding neighborhood of Al-Rimal, and was killed three days after, he said.

CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for comment on these allegations but has not received a response.

Waleed Abu-Laila told CNN he had been searching for his mother since the Israeli siege on the hospital ended on April 1. On Monday, he said he found her body and was only able to identify her "from the specific markings on her feet and hands" from when she had a toe and finger amputated back in November.

Video shows Abu-Laila opening a white body bag, revealing his mother’s decomposed body.

“The hospital was blocked from all sides and there were bodies were scattered all over, squashed on the streets from the tank rails. When I got a call to come check the unidentified bodies, I opened a bag that was marked 'unidentified' and immediately found my mother’s body decomposed,” he said.

Khadr Al-Za’anoun of Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, contributed to this report.

Hamas lowers number of hostages it's willing to release as part of a ceasefire deal, Israeli source says

From CNN’s Jeremy Diamond in Tel Aviv

Hamas has slashed the number of hostages it is willing to release during the first phase of a ceasefire deal by more than half, an Israeli source close to the negotiations said.

In its latest counterproposal, Hamas offered to release fewer than 20 hostages in exchange for a six-week ceasefire, more than halving the number of 40 hostages that has been the basis of negotiations for months now, representing a significant step backward in the talks.

A senior Biden administration official confirmed that Hamas is focused on those 20 for the first phase of a potential ceasefire deal. The official also confirmed Hamas is telling mediators that it only has around 20 remaining hostages who are women or sick, wounded and elderly men.

Hamas also called for the release of more Palestinian prisoners in exchange for fewer hostages, the source said, as well as a higher number of prisoners serving life sentences.

The Israeli source said the latest Hamas counterproposal signals that Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza, does not want a deal, seeking to exploit fissures between the US and Israel over Israeli military operations in Gaza and domestic pressure on the Israeli government.

Basem Naim, a Hamas spokesperson, said Hamas had proposed “releasing (three) captured Israelis each week,” but said “no one is talking about final numbers.”

Beyond the ratio of Palestinian prisoners, Hamas is continuing to demand assurances about a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and unrestricted access for Palestinians to return to northern Gaza.

“I think part of this is Hamas thinks they're winning. Because their definition of success is survival and they've survived so far,” the Biden official said. “The longer the conflict has gone on the more recalcitrant Hamas has become rather than the other way around.”

This post has been updated with remarks from a Biden official.

Israeli prime minister says international community must "stand united in resisting this Iranian aggression"

From CNN’s Eugenia Yosef in Haifa and Larry Register in Atlanta

It's imperative the international community "stand united in resisting this Iranian aggression, which threatens world peace," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Monday statement from his office on X .

Netanyahu added:

“Directly and through its terror proxies Hamas and others, Iran is conducting a full-scale campaign of aggression that threatens not only Israel but the entire Middle East.”

Netanyahu's comments follow an Iranian strike against Israel over the weekend in which more than 300 missiles and drones were launched.

Tehran said the attack was in retaliation for a deadly Israeli attack against a consulate building in the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus.

Golden Gate Bridge reopens after protestors against the war in Gaza block traffic  

From CNN’s Cindy Von Quednow and Jeffrey Kopp

The Golden Gate Bridge has reopened after demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza shut down the busy roadway Monday morning, California Highway Patrol Officer Andrew Barclay told CNN. 

Traffic is beginning to flow again as both sides of the bridge reopened, Barclay added. 

Earlier in the day, protestors also blocked Interstate 880 in Oakland and the roadway remains impacted, Barclay said. The northbound side of the interstate is almost completely clear, while the southbound side remains closed, the officer detailed. Protests continue on the interstate, aerial and ground video from CNN affiliate KGO showed .

“Arrests have been made, and are continuing to be made,” Barclay said in an email early Monday. 

Before the law enforcement response, protesters held signs, including one that read “Stop the world for Gaza.”

I-880 reopened traffic later Monday, California Highway Patrol Officer Art Montiel told CNN. Protesters are still demonstrating on city streets near the interstate, the officer added. 

Montiel was not able to say how many people were arrested in the incident.

US military assets remain in Middle East as Israel debates response to Iran attack, Pentagon says

From CNN's Haley Britzky

Additional US military assets that had been moved into the Middle East before Iran’s attack on Israel remain in place, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Monday.

Ryder's comments come as Israel debates possible retaliation to Iran’s attack. 

"As (Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin) has said, both publicly and privately, we don't want to see escalation, but we obviously will take necessary measures to protect our forces in the region and as was demonstrated over the weekend, we'll take necessary measures to defend Israel," Ryder said.

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M25 closure: Everything you need to know ahead of motorway closing in both directions again

The UK's busiest motorway is shutting in both directions again next month across a seven-mile stretch between junctions 9 and 10 and diversions will be in place. Here's what you need to know about how bad traffic could be, the alternative route and why it's happening.

News reporter

Tuesday 16 April 2024 13:16, UK

Drivers are set to face significant delays as a section of the M25 shuts in both directions next month for the second time.

There was a two mile-long traffic jam when the motorway's first-ever planned daytime closure began on 15 March between junctions 10 and 11 in Surrey - though many drivers followed advice to steer clear of the area until it reopened late on 17 March, meaning long hold-ups were widely avoided .

This time it's junctions 9 and 10 that will be shut both ways and the stretch of road is two miles longer than last time.

Those set to be those travelling to, from and between the UK's two busiest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, are expected to be affected as National Highways has warned it expects long delays.

But is traffic expected to be worse than it was the first time, what are the diversion routes this time and will there be more closures after this one?

Here's everything we know so far.

When is the closure and how long will it last?

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• Travel chaos

It's from 9pm on Friday 10 May until 6am on Monday 13 May and will see a seven-mile stretch between junctions 9 and 10 closed - two miles more than in March.

What are the diversion routes?

Though there were fears of severe congestion on diversion routes along A-roads ahead of the first closure, many drivers followed advice to avoid the area, meaning long hold-ups were avoided.

But National Highways senior project manager Jonathan Wade has warned the next shutdown will be "far from a repeat of the previous closure" as the diversion routes are "longer and will be different for over-height vehicles and all other traffic".

Here are the 19-mile diversion routes, which use the A3 and the A243:

Diversion route clockwise for all but over-height vehicles: Leave M25 at junction 8, A217 (Reigate). Follow the A217 London, Sutton, (A240) Kingston. After 3½ miles turn left onto the A240 Epsom, Kingston. After 3 miles at the Esso roundabout, turn right onto the A24 (A240) Kingston. Continue for 3 miles and turn left onto the A3 Portsmouth, Guildford. Continue for 9½ miles to the M25 and re-join the motorway at junction 10.

Diversion route anticlockwise for all but over-height vehicles: Leave M25 at junction 10 to join the A3 towards London. After 9½ miles at the Hook interchange leave the A3 turning right onto the A240 Epsom, Reigate. Continue for 3 miles to the Esso roundabout and turn left onto the A240 Reigate. Continue for 3 miles then turn right onto the A217 Reigate, M25. After 3½ miles turn left to re-join the M25 motorway at junction 8.

Here's a map showing the closed road and diversion route:

Satnav warnings

Drivers are again being urged to ignore satnavs and only follow official diversion routes to prevent causing gridlock.

Mr Wade said: "Drivers listened to our advice last time which reduced motorway traffic levels by over two-thirds and meant delays were limited.

"Our advice again is please only travel if absolutely necessary and make sure you give yourself extra time if you do choose to use the M25."

Ahead of the last closure, he warned: "There's probably a greater risk of congestion by people just doing their own thing and thinking they can perhaps beat the signs and find a shorter or quicker route.

"That will cause further congestion on some of the key junctions so please avoid doing that if at all possible."

National Highways senior project manager Daniel Kittredge said: "If people move away from diversion routes that we prescribe, it creates additional issues in different parts of the road network.

"Stick on the prescribed diversion route. It's going to be more suitable for your journey."

How bad could it be?

It's only the second scheduled daytime all-lanes shutdown on the M25 since it opened in 1986, so the full extent of possible delays is not entirely clear.

The stretch between J9 and J11 is normally used by 4,000 to 6,000 vehicles in each direction every hour from 10am until 9pm at weekends.

And because the stretch of closed road is longer this time, the diversion route is also 7.5 miles longer than the one last month.

It's not only drivers who feel the effects; business owners along the diversion route during the last closure said they were forced to make cuts to their services in anticipation of traffic.

Airport warnings

People due to travel to Gatwick and Heathrow could be affected by the closure. Sky News has contacted both airports for comment on the latest disruption.

Last time, Heathrow Airport advised passengers planning to use the affected route to allow for extra time before their flight.

"Passengers using public transport should also be aware that The Airline (between Heathrow and Gatwick) and RailAir (RA2), will be running amended timetables over this weekend, please check with your operator for the latest information," their statement said.

In March, a London Gatwick Airport spokesperson said: "Passengers driving to the airport are advised to check diversion routes before they travel and allow extra time for potential delays.

"Gatwick's train station is well-connected and is a great alternative option for people travelling to the airport this weekend."

Read more from Sky News: Luxury hotel offers free night's stay if it rains too much 'Absolutely gross' maggots force flight to make U-turn

Why is it happening?

Government-owned company National Highways said the action is necessary to enable a bridge to be demolished and a new gantry to be installed as part of a £317m improvement project.

National Highways says the project will increase the number of lanes and make it easier to enter and exit the M25 at junction 10, which is one of the UK's busiest and most dangerous motorway junctions.

"These improvements will bring long-term benefits to drivers who pass through this stretch of the M25, not to mention pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders who will also see positive changes in the area," Mr Wade said.

Is this the last closure?

No - it's the second of five planned full closures between the junctions. The other dates have not yet been confirmed.

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National Highways has said it intends to close the M25 for three more weekends this year.

"There will be no weekend closures in June," it said in a statement.

"The remaining closures will take place between July and the end of 2024. We will be in a position to announce the date of the next closure as soon as the May closure is over."

The project began in summer 2022 and is expected to last three years in total.

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