WASHINGTON — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. An American Airlines employee wearing looks toward quiet check-in counters Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 3,712 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 55 flights canceled. It did not show any flights from American Airlines. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms developed in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. Any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. Finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. "It's not the destination, it's the journey," said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph clearly was not among the travellers on one of more than 350 cancelled or 1,400 delayed flights after a worldwide tech outage caused by an update to Crowdstrike's "Falcon Sensor" software in July of 2023. U.S. airlines carried nearly 863 million travellers in 2023, with Canadian carriers accounting for another 150 million, many of whom experienced lost luggage, flight delays, cancellations, or were bumped off their flights. It's unclear how many of them were compensated for these inconveniences. Suffice it to say, posting a crabby rant on social media might temporarily soothe anger, but it won't put wasted money back in pockets. Money.ca shares what to know in order to be compensated for the three most common air travel headaches. Bags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following: If you expect a large payout, think again. Tariffs (air carrier contracts) limit the compensation amounts for "loss of, damage to, or the delay in delivery of baggage or other personal property." In the case of Air Canada, the maximum payout is $1,500 per passenger in the currency of the country where the baggage was processed. To raise that limit, purchase a Declaration of Higher Value for each leg of the trip. The charge is $0.50 for each $100, in which case the payout limit is $2,500. For Delta Air Lines, passengers are entitled to up to $3,800 in baggage compensation, though how much you'll receive depends on your flight. Delta will pay up to $2,080 for delayed, lost, and damaged baggage for international travellers, almost half of what U.S. domestic passengers can claim. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Different air carriers and jurisdictions have their own compensation policies when flights are delayed or cancelled. For example, under European Union rules, passengers may receive up to 600 Euros, even when travelling on a non-EU carrier. Similarly, the DOT states that travellers are entitled to a refund "if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel." However, US rules regarding delays are complicated. Some air carriers, such as Air Canada, do not guarantee their flight schedules. They're also not liable for cancellations or changes due to "force majeure" such as weather conditions or labour disruptions. If the delay is overnight, only out-of-town passengers will be offered hotel accommodation. Nevertheless, many airlines do offer some compensation for the inconvenience. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. In terms of cash compensation, what you'll get can differ significantly based on things like departure location, time, carrier, and ticket class. The DOT offers a helpful delay and cancellations dashboard designed to keep travellers informed about their compensation rights. The dashboard is particularly helpful because, as the DOT states on its website, "whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors—such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances." The Canadian Transportation Agency is proposing air passenger protection regulations that guarantee financial compensation to travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations, with the level of compensation varying depending on the situation and how much control the air carrier had. The proposed regulations include the following: The airline is obligated to complete the passenger's itinerary. If the new ticket is for a lower class of service, the air carrier would have to refund the cost difference; if the booking is in a higher class of service, passengers cannot be charged extra. If the passenger declines the ticket, the airline must give a full refund, in addition to the prescribed compensation. For overnight delays, the air carrier needs to provide hotel accommodation and transportation free-of-charge. Again, if you are unsatisfied, the Canadian Transportation Agency or Department of Transportation may advocate on your behalf. Passengers get bumped because airlines overbook. When this happens, the air carrier must compensate you. For international flights in the US, the rate is 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $675 maximum. If the airline does not make travel arrangements for you, the payout is 400% of your one-way fare to a maximum of $1,350. To qualify, you must check-in by the stated deadline, which on international flights can be up to 3 hours ahead. Keep in mind that if you accept the cash, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation, nor are you guaranteed to be rebooked on a direct flight or similar type of seat. Don't be too quick to give up your boarding pass. Negotiate for the best compensation deal that would include cash, food and hotel vouchers, flight upgrade, lounge passes, as well as mileage points. But avoid being too greedy—if the gate attendant is requesting volunteers and you wait too long, you'll miss the offer. According to Air Canada's tariff, if a passenger is involuntarily bumped, they'll receive $200, in cash or bank draft, for up to a two-hour delay; $400 for a 2-6 hours delay; and $800 if the delay is over six hours. (Air Canada was forced to raise its payouts in 2013 due to passenger complaints.) The new rules would raise the payout significantly: $900 for up to six hours; $1,800 for 6-9; and $2,400 for more than nine hours, all to be paid within 48 hours. Statistically speaking, Delta Airlines is the carrier most likely to bump. A few years ago, Delta raised its payout maximum to $9,950, while United Airlines tops out at $10,000. This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!China to cut import tariffs on certain goods to expand domestic demand
Mast Maja Maadi Director Ananth Raju Returns With ‘Capital City’, Trailer And Songs OutBrits will watch FIVE hours of telly a day over Christmas and ‘lie’ to loved ones to avoid socialising for a boxsetChina’s economy has demonstrated robust resilience over the past five years despite headwinds, with the latest national economic census pointing to significant strides in key areas including economic scale, structural optimization, and innovation-driven and digitally fueled development. Looking forward, officials and experts said China’s economy is on track for steady and sustainable growth in the long run, given its ultra-large domestic market, the advancement of industrial transformation and upgrading, a thriving digital economy and comprehensive deepening of reforms. The fifth national economic census showed on Thursday that China’s GDP for 2023 was revised up to 129.4 trillion yuan ($17.7 trillion), an increase of 3.4 trillion yuan compared with the earlier, preliminary calculation. Revising GDP data is a common practice worldwide, as GDP figures are not fixed after the initial calculation. Instead, they are continuously updated based on more complete and reliable data, as preliminary figures typically prioritize timeliness and rely on the availability of basic data, which may result in sacrificing some degree of completeness and detail. “China’s GDP reached nearly 130 trillion yuan in 2023, maintaining its position as the world’s second-largest economy,” said Kang Yi, head of the National Bureau of Statistics. “Over the past five years, China’s contribution to global economic growth has averaged around 30 percent, making it the largest driver of growth for the world economy.” Kang told a news conference held in Beijing on Thursday that compared with the results of the fourth national economic census, China’s economic development has shown significant positive changes in aspects such as overall scale, structural optimization, innovation-driven growth and green transformation, demonstrating strong resilience and tremendous potential. Data from the fifth national economic census showed that a total of 33.27 million legal entities were engaged in the secondary and tertiary industries as of the end of 2023, up 52.7 percent compared with the figures at the end of 2018. The role of technology in driving industrial upgrading has become more evident, with a noticeable acceleration in the application of new technologies and processes. The number of patent applications filed by industrial enterprises above the designated size reached 614,000 in 2023, up 65.1 percent compared with 2018. Enterprises above the designated size are those with annual revenue of at least 20 million yuan. Meanwhile, the research and development expenditure of industrial enterprises above the designated size hit 2.1 trillion yuan, an increase of 61.9 percent from 2018. Notably, industries related to strategic emerging sectors saw robust growth, with 96,000 large industrial enterprises in these fields by the end of 2023, representing nearly one-fifth of the country’s major industrial companies. While dismissing some pessimistic views on the Chinese economy propagated by some Western media and scholars, experts said China still has the conditions and capabilities to strengthen economic momentum and foster steady and high-quality growth in the long term. Joe Ngai, chairman of management consultancy McKinsey China, reaffirmed his belief that “the next China is still China”, saying that there is no substitute for the Chinese market, whether as a market for products or in terms of demand. In fact, China’s economic structure has continued to improve in recent years. The added value of China’s tertiary industry, a term for the services sector of the economy, accounted for 56.3 percent of the country’s GDP in 2023, an increase of over 2 percentage points compared with 2018, NBS data showed. Meanwhile, the number of legal entities in the manufacturing sector reached more than 4 million by the end of 2023, a 23.8 percent increase from 2018, with total assets in the sector growing 41.7 percent to 151 trillion yuan. Zhang Ming, deputy director of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of Finance and Banking, said that looking ahead, China’s annual GDP growth rate is likely to reach 4.7 percent to 5 percent in 2025 if the government takes expansionary moves in macroeconomic adjustments. Source: China Daily
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Oscar-nominated Don’t Look Up director Adam McKay has said he wouldn’t be surprised to see Wicked banned in America given the country’s current political trajectory. McKay, 56, made the bold assumption on X/Twitter on Monday (December 23), calling Part 1 of Jon M. Chu’s blockbuster smash, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande , “one of the most radical big studio Hollywood movies ever made.” “I know Part 2 swings back to the center a bit,” he said of the second half of the musical epic coming to theaters on November 21, 2025, “but Part 1 is nakedly about radicalization in the face of careerism, fascism, propaganda.” Responding to a surprised commenter who said they hadn’t seen Wicked yet because they thought it looked more like “American fantasy, franchise-wringing and CGI fare,” McKay said: “I think you’ll be shocked. If America keeps going on the track it is I wouldn’t be surprised to see the movie banned in 3-5 years.” He went on to compare Wicked to a handful of 20th-century classics, including The Sound of Music , Citizen Kane , Bridge on the River Kwai and The Searchers , as well as newer fare such as The Hunger Games , which he labeled “incredibly left wing.” “What’s really striking about Wicked Part 1 is that it’s coming out NOW when America has never been more right wing and propagandized,” he added. “And yes, I know the theatrical production and the book are much older so part of the timing is a coincidence but still...” Replying to one critic who shared a picture of a hand touching grass, The Big Short director retorted: “Yeah, I’m so crazy for thinking films, books or music could ever get banned in the U.S.” He included a link to an article outlining every Texas school district book ban. “They banned dozens of songs after 9/11 including ‘Imagine’ by one of the Beatles,” McKay noted. In a separate response to a user mocking him for suggesting that the movie would be banned nationwide, the Step Brother director said: “Jesus dude. You really think I’m 100% saying the movie will for sure be banned to the point where no one can ever see it? The idea of shutting down non profits at the President’s discretion is in motion. Things r changing fast.” Earlier this month, Chu’s record-breaking adaptation of the Broadway hit about two witches who forge an unlikely bond was briefly pulled from Kuwait cinemas, with a number of local outlets speculating the ban was due to the film’s LGBTQ+ casting. McKay is well-known for directing political movies. His latest picture was the 2021 star-studded doomsday satire Don’t Look Up , which followed two astronomers who embark on a media campaign to warn mankind of an incoming meteor set to destroy Earth. He also directed the 2018 political satire Vice about former U.S. president Dick Cheney.
Posted: Saturday, December 7, 2024. 11:00 am CST. By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: This week, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology launched USpace, a new initiative focused on learning through hands-on coaching. The Houses of Culture in Corozal and Orange Walk have been upgraded with technology to help communities build digital skills and foster innovation through culture. Visitors can access premium features, including computers, internet, coding and robotics training, competitions, Access501 to explore Belize’s heritage, and the People’s Archive Project to digitize culture in real-time. This initiative was done through a partnership with the Ministry, NICH, UNICEF, and the Belize National Library Service. The expansion of USpace will include turning all five remaining Houses of Culture nationwide and continuously adding new and engaging features. Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315. © 2024, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.
The only man to lead both the FBI and the CIA urged caution to senators who might vote to confirm former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence and Kash Patel to lead the FBI, according to a letter sent to senators this week. "I am deeply concerned about the potential nominations of Mr. Kash Patel to lead the FBI and the inclusion of Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as DNI in intelligence roles," William Webster, who led the FBI during the Carter and Reagan administrations and the CIA after that, said in a letter to senators on Thursday. MORE: Why most of Trump's Cabinet picks will get confirmed by the Senate Webster wrote that Patel's loyalty to Trump may cause problems. "Statements such as 'He’s my intel guy' and his record of executing the president’s directives suggest a loyalty to individuals rather than the rule of law -- a dangerous precedent for an agency tasked with impartial enforcement of justice," said Webster, who turns 101 in March. MORE: Chris Wray's FBI departure won't immediately clear path for Kash Patel: Experts He said that during his tenure at the FBI, he was contacted by the president only twice -- once by President Jimmy Carter, who asked him to investigate an issue, and once when President Ronald Reagan had a question about Nancy Reagan's security. Webster added that Gabbard's "profound lack of intelligence experience and the daunting task of overseeing 18 disparate intelligence agencies further highlight the need for seasoned leadership." "History has shown us the dangers of compromising this independence. When leaders of these organizations become too closely aligned with political figures, public confidence erodes and our nation’s security is jeopardized," he wrote. "Every president deserves appointees they trust, but the selection process must prioritize competence and independence to uphold the rule of law." The letter was first reported by Politico. The Trump transition team defended both Patel and Gabbard to Fox News. "Kash Patel is loyal to the Constitution. He’s worked under Presidents Obama and Trump in key national security roles," said Alex Pfeiffer, a Trump transition team spokesman. MORE: Who is Tulsi Gabbard? Meet Trump's pick for director of national intelligence Alexa Henning, a Trump transition official, also defended Gabbard. "Lt. Col. Gabbard is an active member of the Army and has served in the military for over two decades and in Congress. As someone who has consumed intelligence at the highest levels, including during wartime, she recognizes the importance of partnerships with allies to ensure close coordination to keep the American people safe," she told Fox News.
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean law enforcement officials on Monday requested a court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol as they investigate whether his short-lived martial law decree on Dec. 3 amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours, confirmed it requested the warrant from the Seoul Western District Court. They plan to question Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Yoon has dodged several requests by the joint investigation team and public prosecutors to appear for questioning and has also blocked searches of his offices. It’s not clear whether the court will grant the warrant or whether Yoon can be compelled to appear for questioning. Under the country’s laws, locations potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge, and it’s unlikely that Yoon will voluntarily leave his residence if he faces detainment. Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after the National Assembly voted to impeach him on Dec. 14 over his imposition of martial law that lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. Yoon’s fate now lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him. Yoon has defended the martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, describing it as a warning against the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which has been bogging down his agenda with its majority in the parliament. Parliament voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had assumed the role of acting president after Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Yoon’s case. The country’s new interim leader is Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also finance minister.
NoneFormer US President Jimmy Carter, after whom an Indian village was named, passes away at 100