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Travelers across the United States saw mostly on-time departures Friday (7th November 2025), even as airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights to comply with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) order tied to the ongoing government shutdown. Despite a relatively stable day of travel, concern grew over additional cancellations expected in the coming week as the FAA reduces flight operations at major airports. The agency’s order follows a rise in absences among unpaid air traffic controllers, many of whom have gone nearly a month without pay. While some travelers scrambled to adjust their plans—booking alternative flights or renting cars—the cancellations still represented a small portion of total U.S. air traffic. However, long lines and last-minute disruptions were reported at around 40 major airports, including Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, and Charlotte. Airlines said they anticipate minimal disruptions through the weekend, and international routes remain unaffected. But Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that if the shutdown continues past next week—when controllers miss another paycheck—flight cancellations could rise from 10% to as much as 20%. Long Lines and Creative Travel Solutions At Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, passengers waited in security lines that barely moved. “It was winding through every part of the terminal,” said traveler Cara Bergeron. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” Read more: Wall Street set to open higher as investors eye earnings amid US shutdown Other travelers faced bigger challenges. Karen Soika, a surgeon from Connecticut, learned her Newark flight had been moved to JFK Airport—an hour away. When rental cars were unavailable, she decided to rent a U-Haul truck and drive cross-country to Utah, where she is consulting on a TV production. Rental car companies like Hertz reported a sharp uptick in one-way rentals. Airlines Work to Rebook Passengers According to flight-tracking site FlightAware, Friday’s 1,000-plus cancellations were about five times Thursday’s total. Reagan National Airport saw the highest impact, with 18% of flights grounded, while O’Hare, Atlanta, Denver, and Dallas-Fort Worth each lost around 3% of scheduled flights. United and American Airlines said they were able to rebook most passengers quickly, prioritizing cancellations on smaller regional routes to minimize disruptions. Delta canceled roughly 170 flights Friday, American about 220 per day through Monday, and Southwest around 120. The FAA said the flight reductions will start at 4% of operations at the busiest airports and gradually increase to 10% next week. “I just don’t want to end up stranded on an airport bench,” said traveler Michele Cuthbert of Columbus, Ohio. “Everyone’s paying the price for politics.” Experts warn that if the shutdown drags on, cargo shipments could also be affected, since nearly half of U.S. air freight moves in passenger aircraft. “Air travel is a core part of America’s economic infrastructure,” said Greg Raiff, CEO of Elevate Aviation Group. “This will ripple through business, tourism, and freight.” Why the Cuts Are Happening The FAA said the service reductions aim to ease the burden on overworked controllers, many of whom are working six days a week with mandatory overtime. As financial stress mounts, more are calling out of work. “I don’t want to see delays or disruptions,” Secretary Duffy said Friday at Reagan National Airport. “But safety must come first.” Read more: Asian shares rise on Wall Street gains as tech stocks rally despite U.S. government shutdown The FAA’s decision comes as the Trump administration continues pressuring Congress to end the government shutdown. Even if an agreement is reached soon, officials said the reduced flight schedules will remain in place until staffing levels stabilize. At Denver International Airport, officials have opened a food pantry for unpaid federal workers and asked the FAA to approve using airport revenue to cover controller pay—so far, without response. What Travelers Can Do Airlines are navigating uncertain territory, said Loyola University Maryland professor Kerry Tan. “The unpredictability of the shutdown makes it difficult for carriers to plan efficiently,” he said. Passengers are entitled to full refunds for canceled flights, though airlines aren’t obligated to cover hotel or meal costs unless cancellations are within their control, according to the Department of Transportation. Travel adviser Christina Schlegel of Arlington, Virginia, advised passengers to stay calm, check flight updates regularly, and arrive early. “Think ahead,” she said. “Have a backup plan and know what other flight options are available.” Read more: Trump embarks on three-nation Asia tour, set to meet Xi as US shutdown persists

Global stock markets slipped Friday as losses in major technology shares dragged Wall Street lower overnight, while investors awaited fresh economic signals amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. European shares opened weaker, following declines in Asia. Germany’s DAX edged down 0.1%, France’s CAC 40 was flat at 7,965.31, and Britain’s FTSE 100 dropped 0.4% to 9,696.82. U.S. futures, however, showed mild gains, with the S&P 500 up 0.3% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.2%. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.2% to 50,276.37 after a week of volatile trading. China reported its exports shrank 1.1% in October, with shipments to the U.S. plunging 25% from a year earlier. Economists, however, expect exports to rebound following the recent agreement between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to ease trade tensions. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index lost 0.9% to 26,241.83, Shanghai’s Composite slipped 0.3% to 3,997.56, South Korea’s Kospi dropped 1.8% to 3,953.76, and Taiwan’s Taiex was down 0.9%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.7% to 8,769.70. Technology stocks continued to weigh heavily on Wall Street, with the S&P 500 falling 1.1%, the Dow dropping 0.8%, and the Nasdaq tumbling 1.9% on Thursday. Nvidia fell 3.7%, Microsoft 2%, and Amazon 2.9%, pulling the broader market down. Tesla shares fluctuated after shareholders approved a compensation plan that could earn CEO Elon Musk stock worth $1 trillion if performance targets are met. After initial losses, Tesla rose in after-hours trading to close at $445.91. Corporate earnings remained the key focus, as the government shutdown has delayed key economic data on inflation, jobs, and retail sales. DoorDash tumbled 17.5% after warning of higher development spending next year, while CarMax plunged 24.3% following a weak earnings update and the announcement that its CEO will step down in December. In contrast, Datadog surged 23.1% after beating earnings forecasts, and Rockwell Automation rose 2.7% on strong results. Despite a record-breaking year for equities, analysts warn valuations may be overstretched — especially among tech giants leading the rally fueled by enthusiasm over artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration said it will cut U.S. air traffic by 10% across 40 major markets starting Friday due to staffing shortages caused by the shutdown. Shares of American, Delta, and United Airlines all slipped between 1% and 2%. In commodities, U.S. benchmark crude rose 66 cents to $60.09 per barrel, while Brent crude gained 65 cents to $64.03. The dollar strengthened to 153.48 yen from 153.06 yen, and the euro eased to $1.1537.  

A European Union naval task force was racing Friday to reach a Malta-flagged oil tanker hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, amid renewed concerns over piracy in the region. The vessel, Hellas Aphrodite, carrying a gasoline cargo from India to South Africa, was attacked Thursday by armed pirates who fired machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades before boarding the ship. Its 24-member crew took shelter in a locked citadel on board, officials said. According to tracking data analyzed by the Associated Press, the tanker was over 1,000 kilometers (about 620 miles) off Somalia’s coast when the assault occurred. The EU’s anti-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta, said its naval assets were “closing distance and ready to take appropriate action” to respond to the hijacking. Meanwhile, the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations center (UKMTO) reported another attempted approach Friday in the same area. A small vessel with three suspected pirates tried to near another ship but failed after the target vessel increased speed and escaped. The hijacking comes days after another tanker, the Cayman Islands-flagged Stolt Sagaland, was attacked in a separate incident that ended in a gunfight between the ship’s security guards and suspected pirates. Officials believe both attacks may have been carried out by the same group, operating from an Iranian fishing vessel seized earlier. Piracy off Somalia once posed a major threat to global shipping, peaking in 2011 with 237 recorded attacks that cost the global economy an estimated $7 billion, including $160 million in ransom payments. International naval patrols and improved Somali governance later curbed the threat. However, officials warn that pirate activity has resurged over the past year, partly fueled by regional instability and disruptions caused by Yemen’s Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. The Hellas Aphrodite is the first commercial vessel seized off Somalia since May 2024. Local fisherman Osman Abdi in Mogadishu said the renewed attacks could harm the reputation of Somali fishers. “These hijackings create fear and suspicion toward us,” he said. “Many now see us as pirates, and that affects our livelihoods.”  

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and New York’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani share many similarities — both are left-leaning Muslim leaders of diverse global cities, both frequent targets of Islamophobic abuse — yet their political journeys and challenges differ sharply. Khan, who has governed Britain’s capital since 2016, congratulated Mamdani on his win, saying New Yorkers had “chosen hope over fear, unity over division.” His own tenure, however, has been marked by constant attacks from conservative figures and former U.S. President Donald Trump, who once branded him a “stone-cold loser.” Mamdani, 34, a democratic socialist who defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, has faced similar hate speech, with critics labeling him a “jihadist.” During his campaign, he vowed never to “change who I am or the faith I’m proud of.” Both men have drawn criticism for their pro-Palestinian positions and faced pressure to strengthen ties with Jewish communities. Khan said it was “heartbreaking but not surprising” to see Mamdani face the same vitriol he has endured for years. Despite their shared experiences, their backgrounds diverge. Khan, 55, is the son of a Pakistani bus driver and seamstress who rose from public housing to become a human rights lawyer and Labour MP before becoming London’s first Muslim mayor. Mamdani, the son of Ugandan-born academic Mahmood Mamdani and Indian filmmaker Mira Nair, grew up in New York and began his career helping tenants fight evictions before entering politics. Zohran Mamdani’s NYC Win Inspires Ugandans Both govern cities of over 8 million people struggling with similar urban challenges — rising crime, housing shortages, and unaffordable living costs. Analysts say Mamdani’s ambitious agenda, including rent freezes and free childcare, may collide with limited mayoral powers. “The mayor of New York doesn’t have unlimited authority and will face strong opposition, including from the current president,” said Darren Reid, a U.S. politics expert at Coventry University. Khan, by contrast, oversees London’s police and transport but shares control of housing and social services with local boroughs. His major achievements include expanding free school meals and freezing public transport fares. His push to clean up London’s air through the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has sparked protests but ultimately boosted his popularity. Political analyst Tony Travers noted that both men represent cities often envied — and resented — for their multicultural success. “They lead dynamic, diverse metropolises that are surprisingly peaceful and almost embarrassingly successful,” he said. Source: AP

North Korea on Friday fired at least one ballistic missile toward its eastern waters, South Korea’s military said, as Pyongyang steps up its testing activity while talks with Washington and Seoul remain stalled. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff didn’t immediately release other details, including what type of ballistic weapon it was or how far it flew. North Korea has been accelerating the pace of its weapons testing in recent weeks, including the firing of purported hypersonic missiles and cruise missiles last month that it said expanded the capabilities of its nuclear-armed military. South Korea’s military previously said it detected the North firing 10 rounds of artillery into its western waters on Monday as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth began a two-day visit to South Korea. The joint chiefs also said the North fired the same number of rounds on Saturday afternoon, before a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea’s Gyeongju, where Lee called for a stronger role by Beijing to persuade the North to return to dialogue with Washington and Seoul. Following annual security talks with South Korean defense officials on Tuesday, Hegseth praised South Korean plans to raise its military spending in the face of North Korean nuclear threats and other regional uncertainties. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been shunning all forms of talks with Washington and Seoul since his diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump derailed during Trump’s first term in 2019 amid disagreements over trading relief from U.S.-led sanctions on the North for steps to dismantle Kim’s nuclear program. He has since accelerated the expansion of his nuclear weapons and missiles program, while making Russia of his foreign policy, sending thousands of troops and large amounts of military equipment to help fuel President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine. Kim’s arsenal now includes nuclear-capable missiles of various ranges targeting U.S. allies in Asia and the U.S. mainland. At a major military parade in Pyongyang last month – attended by high-level officials from Russia, China and Vietnam – Kim showcased some of the most powerful weapons in his arsenal, including a new intercontinental ballistic missile that he may be preparing to test in the coming weeks. Kim has urged Washington to drop its demand for the North to surrender its nukes as a precondition for resuming diplomacy. He ignored Trump’s proposal to meet while the American president was in South Korea last week for meetings with world leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju. North Korea on Thursday denounced the Trump administration’s latest sanctions targeting cybercrimes that help finance its illicit nuclear weapons program, accusing Washington of harboring “wicked” hostility toward Pyongyang and vowing unspecified countermeasures. Some experts said the statement suggests that North Korea does not have an immediate urgency to reopen talks with Washington.  

Pope Leo XIV held his first in-person meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday, where the two leaders discussed the urgent need to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza and to revive efforts toward a two-state solution to end the Middle East conflict. The hour-long meeting at the Vatican was described as “cordial” in an official statement, taking place nearly a month after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in Gaza. “During the cordial talks, it was recognized that there is an urgent need to provide assistance to the civilian population in Gaza and to end the conflict by pursuing a two-State solution,” the Holy See said in a statement. Pope Leo and Abbas had previously spoken by phone in July about the escalating violence in Gaza and the West Bank. In September, the pontiff reiterated to Israel’s president that the Vatican viewed a two-state solution as the “only way out of the war” and renewed calls for a lasting ceasefire. Abbas’ visit marked the 10th anniversary of the “Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine.” He arrived in Rome on Wednesday and visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major to pay tribute at the tomb of the late Pope Francis, whom he had met several times during his papacy.

Indonesia is set to repatriate two British nationals imprisoned for drug-related crimes in Bali, following a bilateral agreement between Jakarta and London, officials said Thursday. Lindsay Sandiford, 69, who was on death row, and Shahab Shahabadi, 35, serving a life sentence, are scheduled to leave Bali early Friday, according to Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for law, human rights, immigration and correctional institutions. “They will fly shortly after midnight to Dubai before continuing to London,” Mahendra told the Associated Press, adding that both inmates suffer from serious health issues. The prisoner transfer agreement was signed on October 21 by Mahendra and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, allowing the convicts to serve the remainder of their sentences in the UK. Sandiford was arrested in May 2012 upon arrival in Bali from Bangkok, after customs officials found 3.8 kilograms of cocaine worth about $2.5 million concealed in her suitcase. Though prosecutors did not seek capital punishment, she was sentenced to death in 2013, sparking criticism from Britain and human rights groups. Shahabadi was detained in Jakarta in 2014 for his role in an international drug trafficking ring that smuggled methamphetamine from Iran. He has been held in the high-security Nusa Kambangan prison, often dubbed Indonesia’s “Alcatraz,” and was moved to Bali ahead of his repatriation. Indonesia enforces some of the world’s toughest anti-drug laws, with around 530 inmates currently on death row — nearly 100 of them foreign nationals — according to official data. Under President Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia has repatriated several foreign prisoners through bilateral arrangements, including citizens of the Philippines, Australia, and France. The president has also pledged to grant clemency to about 44,000 inmates as part of a broader national reconciliation initiative.   End/AP/UNB/SS

A man has died in hospital following a light plane crash west of Sydney in a rural area of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) on Wednesday. NSW Police said in a statement on Thursday that emergency services were called to reports of an ultra-light plane crash near the small town of Hay, almost 600 km west of Sydney and 370 km north of Melbourne, around 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Ambulance paramedics attended the scene and commenced CPR on the sole occupant of the plane, a 39-year-old male, who sustained serious injuries. He was taken to a nearby hospital in a critical condition before being airlifted to a Melbourne hospital where he later died. NSW Police said that a crime scene was established at the site of the crash and that a report on the incident would be prepared for the state's coroner.  

What was meant to be a brief walk from Mexico’s National Palace to the Education Ministry for President Claudia Sheinbaum turned into a national spotlight on gender violence after a video captured a drunken man groping the country’s first female president. On Wednesday, Sheinbaum used her daily press briefing to announce that she had filed charges against the man, urging state authorities to review laws and procedures to make it easier for women to report assaults. “Women’s personal space must not be violated,” she said. She added that pressing charges was a responsibility she felt “for all Mexican women,” questioning, “If this is done to the president, what will happen to the young women in our country?” The incident highlights a broader problem of street harassment in Mexico. Andrea González Martínez, 27, said she has been harassed on public transportation, once followed home by a man. “It happens regularly, every day,” she said. Her colleague, Carmen Maldonado Castillo, 43, said, “You can’t walk freely on the streets.” Sheinbaum recalled experiencing harassment at age 12 while commuting to school, stressing the prevalence of the issue nationwide. The president dismissed concerns about her personal security, explaining that she had chosen to walk to avoid a 20-minute car ride in traffic. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada confirmed the man had been arrested, emphasizing that harassment against any woman — including the nation’s most powerful — is an assault on all women. Brugada said, “This is a commitment to not look the other way, to not allow misogyny to continue, and to prevent further abuse or femicide.” Activists welcomed Sheinbaum’s response. Lilian Valvuena, 31, said it highlighted the need to better train police in responding to gender violence. Marina Reyna, executive director of the Guerrero Association against Violence toward Women, said the president’s decision to speak out could change how such cases are handled after years of impunity, which she estimated at over 70%. According to the World Health Organization, one in three women in the Americas experiences physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Federal statistics show that femicides in Mexico dropped nearly 40% in the first seven months of this year compared to 2024, while intentional injuries against women fell by 11%. Political scientist Manuel Pérez Aguirre said that in Sheinbaum’s case, “a truly exemplary punishment” is needed to send a clear message to sexual aggressors across Mexico.   Source: AP

Since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza began on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 21 hostages held for the past two years. But the process of returning the bodies of the seven remaining hostages, as called for under the truce deal, is progressing slowly. Hamas says it has not been able to reach all of the remains because they are buried under rubble left by Israel’s two-year offensive in Gaza. Israel has accused the militants of dragging their feet and threatened to resume military operations or withhold humanitarian aid if all remains are not returned. In the most recent release, Hamas returned the remains of an Israeli soldier killed during the militants' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. Israel's military said the remains were identified as Itay Chen, an Israeli-American tank commander. In return, Israel has released the bodies of 285 Palestinians back to Gaza. Israel has not provided details on their identities, and it is unclear if they were people killed in Israel during the Oct. 7 attack, Palestinian detainees who died in Israeli custody or bodies taken from Gaza by Israeli troops during the war. Health officials in Gaza have struggled to identify the bodies without access to DNA kits and have identified 84 of the bodies. Here’s a look at the hostages whose remains have not been returned. Meny Godard, 73 Meny Godard was a professional soccer player before enlisting in the Israeli military and serving in the 1973 Mideast War, according to Kibbutz Be’eri. He served in a variety of different positions in the kibbutz, including at its printing press. On the morning of Oct. 7, Godard and his wife, Ayelet, were forced out of their home after it was set on fire. She hid in the bushes for a number of hours before militants discovered her and killed her. She was able to tell her children that Meny had been killed before she died. The family held a double funeral for the couple. They are survived by four children and six grandchildren. Hadar Goldin, 23 Hadar Goldin’s remains are the only ones that have been held in Gaza since before the war. The Israeli soldier was killed on Aug. 1, 2014, two hours after a ceasefire took effect ending the that year’s war between Israel and Hamas. Based on evidence found in the tunnel where Goldin’s body was taken, including a blood-soaked shirt and prayer fringes, the military quickly determined that he had been killed in the attack. Goldin is survived by his parents and three siblings, including a twin. He had proposed to his fiancée before he was killed. Earlier this year, Goldin’s family marked 4,000 days since his body was taken. The military retrieved the body of another soldier who was killed in the 2014 war earlier this year. Ran Gvili, 24 Ran Gvili, who served in an elite police unit, was recovering from a broken shoulder he sustained in a motorcycle accident but rushed to assist fellow officers on Oct. 7. After helping people escape from the Nova music festival, he was killed fighting at another location and his body was taken to Gaza. The military confirmed his death four months later. He is survived by his parents and a sister. Joshua Loitu Mollel, 21 Joshua Mollel was a Tanzanian agricultural student who arrived at kibbutz Nahal Oz only 19 days before Oct. 7. He had finished agricultural college in Tanzania and hoped to gain experience in Israel he could apply at home. Two smaller Palestinian militant groups posted graphic footage on social media showing their fighters stabbing and shooting Mollel, according to a Human Rights Watch report. He is survived by two parents and four siblings in Tanzania. Dror Or, 52 Dror Or was a father of three who worked at the dairy farm on Kibbutz Be’eri for 15 years, rising to the position of manager. He was an expert cheesemaker, according to family and friends. On Oct. 7, the family was hiding in their safe room when militants lit the house on fire. Dror and his wife, Yonat, were killed. Two of their children, Noam, 17, and Alma, 13, were abducted and released during the November 2023 ceasefire. Sudthisak Rinthalak Sudthisak Rinthalak was an agricultural worker from Thailand who had been employed at Kibbutz Be’eri. According to media reports, Rinthalak was divorced and had been working in Israel since 2017. A total of 31 workers from Thailand were kidnapped on Oct. 7, the largest group of foreigners to be held in captivity. Most of them were released in the first and second ceasefires. The Thai Foreign Ministry has said in addition to the hostages, 46 Thais have been killed during the war. Lior Rudaeff, 61 Lior Rudaeff was born in Argentina and moved to Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak at age 7. He volunteered for more than 40 years as an ambulance driver and was a member of the community’s emergency response team. He was killed while battling militants on the morning of Oct. 7 and his body was brought to Gaza. Rudaeff is survived by four children and three grandchildren.