US: Long Security Lines Persist at Philadelphia International Airport Amid TSA Staffing Shortage

The partial government shutdown continued to cause TSA staffing shortages, resulting in long security lines and widespread delays at airports across the United States. At Philadelphia International Airport, three security checkpoints at Terminals A-West, C, and F remained closed as the airport worked to streamline security at other terminals as of Monday, March 30.

US: Long Security Lines at Houston Airport Amid TSA Staffing Crisis

Thousands of travelers endured hours-long queues at US airports on Sunday, March 8, as spring break traffic collided with a TSA staffing crisis. With personnel working without pay during the ongoing partial government shutdown, wait times at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport were warned to exceed three hours. Airport officials advised travelers via social media to arrive four to five hours before their flights.

US: Powerful Winter Storm Hits Upstate New York Under State of Emergency

A winter storm warning was issued for upstate New York as a powerful system moved into the Tri-State area on Friday, December 26. The storm impacted post-Christmas travel, leading to the cancellation of more than 1,500 flights across Philadelphia International and New York City’s three major airports. In response to the conditions, a state of emergency has been declared in both New York and New Jersey.

US: Rare Winter Storm Hits South, Bringing Heavy Snow, Sleet, And Ice 9

A major winter storm brought frigid temperatures to the South on Monday, January 20, prompting closures of roads, schools, and airports. At least three deaths were reported in Texas and Georgia as of Tuesday.

US: Rare Winter Storm Hits South, Bringing Heavy Snow, Sleet, And Ice 8

A major winter storm brought frigid temperatures to the South on Monday, January 20, prompting closures of roads, schools, and airports, and leaving at least three dead in Texas and Georgia.

US: Rare Winter Storm Hits South, Bringing Heavy Snow, Sleet, And Ice 7

A major winter storm brought frigid temperatures to the South on Monday, January 20, prompting closures of roads, schools, and airports, and leaving at least three dead in Texas and Georgia.

US: Rare Winter Storm Hits South, Bringing Heavy Snow, Sleet, And Ice 5

A major winter storm brought frigid temperatures to the South on Monday, January 20, prompting closures of roads, schools, and airports, and leaving at least three dead in Texas and Georgia.

US: Rare Winter Storm Hits South, Bringing Heavy Snow, Sleet, And Ice 6

A major winter storm brought frigid temperatures to the South on Monday, January 20, prompting closures of roads, schools, and airports, and leaving at least three dead in Texas and Georgia.

Latest on Middle East: Explosions heard in Iran's central Isfahan province

STORY: Latest on Middle East: Explosions heard in Iran's central Isfahan province SHOOTING TIME: April 19, 2024 DATELINE: April 20, 2024 LENGTH: 0:00:58 LOCATION: Tehran CATEGORY: POLITICS/MILITARY SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): LI JUN, Xinhua correspondent in Tehran STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): LI JUN, Xinhua correspondent in Tehran "Three explosions have been heard northeast of Iran's central Isfahan province, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Friday. The official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that Iran activated its air defense system over several cities. Iranian Army's Chief Commander Mousavi said on Friday that the explosions heard in the central province of Isfahan (earlier) were due to the shooting down of a number of 'flying objects' by the country's air defense. Restrictions imposed on Friday morning on the operation of a number of airports in several Iranian cities including Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz have been lifted, (IRNA said.) 'There was no damage to Iran's nuc

Russia thwarts Ukraine's drone attack on Moscow: defense ministry

STORY: Russia thwarts Ukraine's drone attack on Moscow: defense ministry DATELINE: Aug. 23, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:46 LOCATION: Moscow CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of streets 2. various of damaged building STORYLINE: Russia has thwarted an attempt by Ukraine to attack Moscow with three drones, said the defense ministry Wednesday. The Russian air defense forces, it said, intercepted and destroyed two drones over the Mozhaysky and Khimki districts of the Moscow region, while the third one was jammed by electronic warfare and crashed into a building under construction in the Moscow-City complex. No casualties were reported, the ministry said. The Moscow airports Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky resumed normal operations, which were interrupted earlier by the drone attack, local media reported. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Moscow. (XHTV)

Direct flights between China, Spain rebound to 60 pct of pre-pandemic levels

STORY: Direct flights between China, Spain rebound to 60 pct of pre-pandemic levels DATELINE: Aug. 1, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:27 LOCATION: BARCELONA, Spain CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Chinese planes taking off and landing at Madrid and Barcelona airports 2. various of passengers 3. various of Chinese tourists (file) STORYLINE: Chinese airlines are leading the way in restoring direct flights between China and Spain, with 60 precent of the pre-pandemic connections between the two countries already restored, according to the Spanish Tourism Institute (Turespana). There are 16 weekly flights to Madrid and Barcelona from Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Chongqing, says Turespana. The Director General of Turespana Miguel Sanz said they hope to further close the gap next year. Before the pandemic, there used to be 30 direct flights every week between China and Spain, a number that fell to merely three in 2022. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Barcelona, Spain. (XHTV)

In rewiring global growth, China takes its role

STORY: In rewiring global growth, China takes its role DATELINE: June 28, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:23 LOCATION: TIANJIN, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions held in Tianjin Municipality, China 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TAWANDA GUSHA, CEO of Airports Company of Zimbabwe Private Limited 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MIWAKO ANDO, Deputy director general, Headquarters of Wellbeing & Lifestyle Business, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): WALTER BENZ, President of Big Dutchman China 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): MILAN NEDELJKOVIC, Member of the board of management of BMW AG STORYLINE: The ongoing 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions has provided a platform for global participants to advance regional and global collaboration and address the world's most pressing problems in the post-pandemic era. The three-day event, also known as the Summer Davos, opened on Tuesday in China's Tianjin, marking the resumption of the annual meeting in the country a

China's outbound group travel services revive

STORY: China's outbound group travel services revive DATELINE: Feb. 11, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:46 LOCATION: SHANGHAI, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): ZHANG MENGJIE, Xinhua correspondent 2. various of tourists at airports in Shanghai and Guangzhou 3. various of tourists arriving at Singapore STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): ZHANG MENGJIE, Xinhua correspondent "I'm in the Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Since China resumed outbound group travel to 20 countries, several overseas trips organized by local travel agencies in Shanghai started their happy journeys from here." China on Monday resumed outbound group travel to 20 countries, including Thailand, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and New Zealand. Group tours between the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions also resumed. The move came after the country downgraded its management of COVID-19 from Class A to Class B on Jan. 8. It has been three years since the country suspended o

Australia anticipates return of Chinese tourists: officials

STORY: Australia anticipates return of Chinese tourists: officials DATELINE: Feb. 6, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:30 LOCATION: CHONGQING, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Chinese travelers at airports 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ADELLE NEARY, Australian Consul General in Chengdu 3. various of an event in China's Chongqing 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANDREW HOGG, Executive General Manager, Eastern Market and Aviation, Tourism Australia STORYLINE: As China has relaxed its outbound travel restrictions, Australian officials are anticipating the return of Chinese tourists. Adelle Neary, Australian Consul General in southwest China's Chengdu, said that despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past three years, Australia is still a popular destination for Chinese tourists. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ADELLE NEARY, Australian Consul General in Chengdu "I know that our friends at Tourism Australia have been doing a wonderful job over the three years of the pandemic to ensure that Australia as a wonderful t

Spring Japan to sell indigenous products

Spring Japan to sell indigenous products

TAKAMATSU, Japan - The Japanese unit of Chinese low-cost airline Spring Airlines Co. shows local specialties which the airline plans to sell on its flights at Takamatsu Airport in Kagawa Prefecture on July 8, 2014. Local products will be sold on three routes connecting Narita with Takamatsu, Hiroshima, and Saga airports.

Itami, Kansai, Kobe airports

Itami, Kansai, Kobe airports

OSAKA, Japan - This combination of undated file photos shows (from top) Itami airport, Kansai International Airport and Kobe airport in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures. The local municipalities will try to integrate the operations of the three airports in Japan's Kansai region, its second largest business area.

At least 3 dead, dozens injured after tornadoes hit south-central U.S.

STORY: At least 3 dead, dozens injured after tornadoes hit south-central U.S. DATELINE: Dec. 15, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:52 LOCATION: HOUSTON, U.S. CATEGORY: OTHERS SHOTLIST: 1. various of workers cleaning up debris 2. various of debris in front of Discount Tire store 3. various of workers cleaning up the damage of the Extra Space Storage 4. various of debris in front of resident areas STORYLINE: At least three people have been killed and dozens more injuried as of Wednesday after a massive winter storm spawned intense tornadoes across the southern U.S. state of Louisiana, authorities confirmed. One person was killed, and eight others were injured Wednesday when a tornado ripped through Killona, a small neighborhood in St. Charles Parish, the parish's president Matthew Jewell told local media outlet 4WWL. More than 100 flights into and out of the Dallas-Fort Worth area airports were canceled and over 1,000 were delayed on Tuesday, according to the tracking service FlightAware. Xinhua News Agency corresponden

Japanese airlines tighten domestic baggage checks

Japanese airlines tighten domestic baggage checks

TOKYO, Japan - A security guard seals a passenger's checked baggage at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Oct. 10 after it underwent X-ray inspection. Three airlines -- Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways and Japan Air System -- have stepping up security checks of baggage at all domestic airports.

Spring Japan to sell indigenous products

Spring Japan to sell indigenous products

TAKAMATSU, Japan - The Japanese unit of Chinese low-cost airline Spring Airlines Co. shows local specialties which the airline plans to sell on its flights at Takamatsu Airport in Kagawa Prefecture on July 8, 2014. Local products will be sold on three routes connecting Narita with Takamatsu, Hiroshima, and Saga airports. (Kyodo)

Itami, Kansai, Kobe airports

Itami, Kansai, Kobe airports

OSAKA, Japan - This combination of undated file photos shows (from top) Itami airport, Kansai International Airport and Kobe airport in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures. The local municipalities will try to integrate the operations of the three airports in Japan's Kansai region, its second largest business area. (Kyodo)