The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered all American Airlines flights grounded in the US after the carrier reported a technical issue affecting its entire system with millions travelling for the holiday. In social media replies to frustrated travellers, the airline said: "Our team is currently working to rectify this. Your continued patience is appreciated." The company has not issued a press release explaining the issue and an email was not immediately returned. A post on the Federal Aviation Administration's website acknowledged the airline's request for a 'nationwide ground stop' for all American Airlines planes and their subsidiary airlines. The groundings couldn't come at a worse time for the millions of travellers expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers over the holidays and through January 2. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 December,2024 07:16 PM IST | Washington | APFormer President Bill Clinton was admitted Monday to Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington after developing a fever. The 78-year-old was hospitalized in the 'afternoon for testing and observation," Angel Urena, Clinton's deputy chief of staff, said in a statement. 'He remains in good spirits and deeply appreciates the excellent care he is receiving,' Urena said. Clinton, a Democrat who served two terms as president from January 1993 until January 2001, addressed the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this summer, and campaigned ahead of November's election for the unsuccessful White House bid of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. In the years since Clinton left the White House, he's faced some health scares. In 2004, he underwent quadruple bypass surgery after experiencing prolonged chest pains and shortness of breath. Clinton returned to the hospital for surgery for a partially collapsed lung in 2005, and in 2010 he had a pair of stents implanted in a coronary artery. Clinton responded by embracing a largely vegan diet that saw him lose weight and report improved health. In 2021, the former president was hospitalized for six days in California while being treated for an infection that was unrelated to COVID-19, when the pandemic was still near its height. An aide to the former president said then that Clinton had a urological infection that spread to his bloodstream, but was on the mend and never went into septic shock, a potentially life-threatening condition. The aide said Clinton was in an intensive care section of the hospital that time, but wasn't receiving ICU care. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 December,2024 09:06 AM IST | Washington | APJapanese automakers Honda and Nissan have announced plans to join forces, forming the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and said Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Automakers in Japan have lagged behind their big rivals in electric vehicles and are trying to cut costs and make up for lost time. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month, with reports saying that the talks on closer collaboration partly were driven by aspirations of Taiwan iPhone maker Foxconn to tie up with Nissan, which has an alliance with Renault SA of France and Mitsubishi. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 December,2024 08:26 AM IST | Tokyo | AgenciesPresident Joe Biden announced on Monday that he is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment mere weeks before President-elect Donald Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. The move spares the lives of people convicted in killings, including the slayings of police and military officers, people on federal land and those involved in deadly bank robberies or drug deals, as well as the killings of guards or prisoners in federal facilities. “Make no mistake. I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss. But guided by my conscience and my experience I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level,” Biden’s statement said. Biden also took a political jab at Trump, saying, “In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 December,2024 08:25 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesJapan’s beloved former Emperor Akihito marked his 91st birthday on Monday, as he continues to pursue his lifetime research into goby fish, care for his wife and pray for peace. Akihito, who abdicated in 2019 and handed over the Chrysanthemum throne to his son, Emperor Naruhito, now holds the title of Emperor Emeritus. Akihito has since receded from official duties and enjoys his time quietly while caring for his 90-year-old wife, former Empress Michiko, who broke her leg bone in October and is still recovering, according to the Imperial Household Agency. Akihito also continues to actively research the classification of Japanese freshwater goby fish at a palace laboratory and his residence. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 December,2024 08:25 AM IST | Tokyo | AgenciesA pair of five-year-old pandas, named An An and Ke Ke, celebrated their first Christmas early in a Hong Kong park on Monday, munching on special treats and looking cute for the cameras. An An, the male panda, was presented with an ice slab that had ‘Merry Christmas’ written on it with sweet potato and carrots while Ke Ke, his female companion, got a snowman garnished with slices of carrot and apple. China sent the pair to Hong Kong in late September in a bid to boost tourism in the city. An An is described as intelligent and active while Ke Ke is known to have a gentle temperament and is a good climber. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 December,2024 08:25 AM IST | Hong Kong | AgenciesTwo recently retired senior Israeli intelligence agents shared new details about a deadly clandestine operation years in the making that targeted Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and Syria using exploding pagers and walkie talkies three months ago. The agents spoke with CBS ‘60 Minutes’ in a segment aired on Sunday night. They wore masks and spoke with altered voices to hide their identities. 10 years in the making One agent said the operation started 10 years ago using walkie-talkies laden with hidden explosives, which Hezbollah didn’t realise it was buying from Israel, its enemy. The walkie-talkies were not detonated until September, a day after booby-trapped pagers were set off. “We created a pretend world,” said the officer. The plan using the booby-trapped pagers began in 2022 after Israel’s Mossad learned Hezbollah had been buying pagers from a Taiwan-based company, the second officer said. Getting it right The pagers were slightly larger, to accommodate the explosives. They were tested on dummies to find the right amount of explosive that would hurt only the Hezbollah fighter and not anyone else in close proximity. Mossad also tested ring tones to find one that sounded urgent enough to make someone pull the pager out of their pocket. The second agent said it took two weeks to convince Hezbollah to switch to the heftier pager, in part by using false ads on YouTube promoting the devices as dustproof, waterproof, providing a long battery life and more. He described the use of shell companies, including one based in Hungary, to dupe the Taiwanese firm, Gold Apollo, into unknowingly partnering with the Mossad. By September, Hezbollah militants had 5,000 pagers in their pockets. The attack and aftermath Israel triggered the attack on September 17, when pagers across Lebanon started exploding. The next day, Mossad activated the walkie-talkies, some of which exploded at funerals for those killed in the pager attacks. After the explosions, people in Lebanon were afraid to even turn on their air conditioners. Remains of 1974 crash helo found Israeli soldiers during a routine operation in Syria found the rotor head of an Air Force helicopter that crashed in Syria during the Yom Kippur War, the Israel Defense Forces said. The ‘Hatsara’ helicopter crashed on April 27, 1974 during a mission to rescue injured paratroopers. The six crew members were killed in the accident. Air strikes on Gaza kill at least 20 Palestinian medics say Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 20 people. One of the strikes hit a tent camp in the Muwasi area killing eight people. Another six were killed in a strike on people securing an aid convoy and another two were killed in a strike on a car. Four more people were killed in separate strikes. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 December,2024 08:25 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesUS President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday in a strong-worded statement threatened Panama to give the canal back to them, and said that it was a vital asset of the US. Trump said that the Panama Canal was not China's and that it should not fall into the "wrong hands". 🚨 Statement from President Donald J. Trump: pic.twitter.com/pfuDqVjw6R — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) December 21, 2024 "The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL National Asset for the United States, due to its critical role to America's Economy and National Security. A secure Panama Canal is crucial for US Commerce, and rapid deployment of the Navy, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and drastically cuts shipping times to US ports. The United States is the Number One user of the Canal, with over 70 per cent of all transits heading to, or from, US ports," Trump said in his statement. Trump further said that the canal came at a high cost for the Americans and that it was 'foolishly' given away by ex-US President Jimmy Carter. He warned of Chinese influence in the region. "Considered one of the Wonders of the Modern World, the Panama Canal opened for business 110 years ago, and was built at HUGE cost to the United States in lives and treasure - 38,000 American men died from infected mosquitos in the jungles during construction. Teddy Roosevelt was President of the United States at the time of its building, and understood the strength of Naval Power and Trade. When President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away, for One Dollar, during his term in Office, it was solely for Panama to manage, not China, or anyone else," he said. Trump added that the canal was to be managed by Panama. He criticised Panama for charging "exorbitant prices" from the US. "It was likewise not given for Panama to charge the United States, its Navy, and corporations, doing business within our Country, exorbitant prices and rates of passage. Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the US. This complete "rip-off" of our Country will immediately stop," he said. The US President-elect said that the US will never let Panama Canal fall in "wrong hands". "The United States has a vested interest in the secure, efficient, and reliable operation of the Panama Canal, and that was always understood. We would and will NEVER let it fall into the wrong hands! It was not given for the benefit of others, but merely as a token of cooperation with us and Panama. If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question. To the Officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly!" he said. Completed in 1914, the Panama Canal symbolized US technological prowess and economic power. Although US control of the canal eventually became an irritant to US-Panamanian relations, at the time it was heralded as a major foreign policy achievement, as the US constructed the canal. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 December,2024 08:57 AM IST | Washington DC | ANIIsraeli strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Sunday killed at least 20 people, including five children, Palestinian medical officials said. A strike on a school housing displaced people in Gaza City killed at least eight people, including three children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. A strike on a home in the central city of Deir al-Balah late on Saturday killed at least eight people, including three women and two children, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. A man and his wife were killed in a strike in the southern city of Khan Younis on Sunday, just after midnight, according to the nearby Nasser Hospital. A strike on a car in Gaza City killed two people, according to the Health Ministry. There was no immediate comment from Israel on those strikes. Vatican envoy celebrates Mass with Christians Israeli authorities allowed Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the leader of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, to enter Gaza and celebrate a pre-Christmas Mass with members of the territory’s small Christian community. Worshippers gathered in the Holy Family Church in Gaza City as Pizzaballa and other clergy celebrated Mass. A Christmas tree decorated with lights and golden ornaments market the occassion. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 December,2024 08:18 AM IST | Deir Al-Balah (Gaza Strip) | AgenciesSouth Korea successfully placed into orbit its third homegrown spy satellite launched from a US space centre. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the satellite normally lifted off at 8.34 pm (Korean time) from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California as planned and sent the reconnaissance satellite into orbit at 9.24 pm. The launched satellite succeeded in communicating with an overseas ground station at 11.30 pm in a step indicating the satellite’s normal operation. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 December,2024 08:18 AM IST | Seoul | AgenciesThe death toll from stampedes during two Christmas charity events in Nigeria has increased to 32, police said, with many of the victims collapsing during a crowd surge as people grew desperate for food items. The dead included 22 people in southeastern Anambra state’s Okija town, where a philanthropist organised food distribution, local police said. Ten others were also confirmed dead in the capital, Abuja, where a church organised a charity event to distribute food and clothing items. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 December,2024 08:18 AM IST | Abuja | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
