Tag Archives: responsibility

NASHVILLE GOES DARK

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The government shutdown has caused another major air traffic control tower to go dark, leaving no one available to direct planes due to staffing shortages. Nashville’s air traffic approach control is expected to remain dark until after midnight, resulting in significant flight delays and ground stops.

According to the FAA’s website, the ground delay has already backed up flights by more than two hours at Nashville International Airport (BNA). BNA officials noted that the FAA informed them this reduction in manpower “will remain in effect until further notice.” All airlines have been notified of the slowdown, and travelers are advised to check the status of their flights with their airlines before arriving at the airport.

On Monday, a dozen facilities experienced staffing shortages, including Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed some of these issues to many air traffic control workers calling out sick. “If we see there are issues in the tower that are affecting controllers’ ability to effectively control the airspace, we’ll reduce the rate, and you’ll see more delays or you might see a cancellation,” Duffy said.

Another major hub facing travel disruptions due to the government shutdown is Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The FAA announced a ground delay there starting at 7 p.m. ET and lasting until midnight. O’Hare, one of the busiest airports in the US and the world, handles over 80 million passengers annually and thousands of flights daily.

According to Axios, O’Hare has been experiencing staffing shortages and is expected to remain understaffed in its air traffic control tower for most of the day. FlightAware’s “Misery Map” tracks delayed flights at US airports and highlights travel hubs particularly impacted by the shutdown. So far, O’Hare has seen the most delays Tuesday afternoon, postponing over 60 flights since 2 p.m. ET.

These new travel headaches come less than a day after air traffic control towers at Hollywood Burbank Airport in California were left unmanned for hours due to the ongoing shutdown.

When The Daily Mail requested a comment from the White House on Monday, they received an automatic reply blaming Democrats for the shutdown. The message read: “Due to staff shortages resulting from the Democrat Shutdown, the typical 24/7 monitoring of this press inbox may experience delays.”

Despite the widespread delays, flight cancellations have so far been kept to a minimum nationwide, with only 61 flights into and out of the US cancelled on Tuesday.

Nick Daniels, President of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), called for an immediate end to the shutdown during Duffy’s news conference. NATCA represents over 20,000 air traffic controllers and reports that many members have been working 10-hour shifts, six days a week. The shutdown has further strained these vital workers by furloughing support staff and suspending support programs.

Some major airports were already dealing with staffing shortages before Congress failed to pass a new spending bill on October 1. Newark Liberty International Airport, for example, has been plagued by staffing issues and dangerous radar blackouts throughout the year.

As the shutdown continues, travelers are urged to stay informed and prepare for possible delays at several key US airports.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-15171553

Mount Everest blizzard leaves over 200 climbers stranded, 350 rescued

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Over 200 hikers have been stranded after a blizzard struck the Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest, while around 350 others were safely escorted by villagers and rescue teams.

The conditions for those trapped at the campsites worsened on Sunday as snowfall continued unabated since Friday. Hundreds of local villagers and rescue personnel rushed essential supplies to the affected area.

According to a state-run CCTV report quoted by the BBC on Monday, more than 200 hikers remain trapped in the blizzard. Rescue teams have successfully guided approximately 350 climbers to safety.

Earlier reports indicated that over 1,000 holiday hikers were stranded in the slopes of Mount Everest, located in Karma Valley on the Chinese side of the mountain. Videos and eyewitness accounts shared on social media by the stranded climbers described thunder, strong winds, and continuous snowfall burying the tracks leading to the region on Sunday.

Chinese mainstream media has yet to provide detailed coverage of the blizzard, and only limited information is currently available. It is important to note that China is in the midst of an eight-day holiday starting October 1 to celebrate National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Mount Everest, known as Mt. Qomolangma in China, is the world’s highest peak, standing at over 8,849 meters.

In a related weather event, Typhoon Matmo, the 21st named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, made landfall along the eastern coast of Xuwen County, Zhanjiang City in southern China’s Guangdong Province on Sunday.

Local governments evacuated approximately 347,000 people from Guangdong and Hainan provinces in anticipation of the typhoon, which brought maximum wind speeds of 151 km/h.

*This story has been sourced from a third-party syndicated feed. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for the dependability, trustworthiness, reliability, or accuracy of the text. Mid-day management and mid-day.com reserve the sole right to alter, delete, or remove (without notice) the content at their absolute discretion for any reason.*
https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/over-200-climbers-stranded-after-blizzard-on-tibetan-slopes-of-mount-everest-350-rescued-23597421

Enzyme-based kidney conversion allows transplant from type A to universal type O

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For the first time, a team from the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada, successfully performed a human kidney transplant using an organ converted from blood type A to the universal blood type O. This groundbreaking procedure relies on UBC’s special enzymes as a key tool to reduce organ rejection.

Patients with blood type O can only receive type-O organs, but type-O kidneys are often transplanted into recipients of other blood types due to their universal compatibility. The researchers’ initial goal was to create universal donor blood by removing the sugars that determine blood type. However, they discovered that these same sugars, known as antigens, also cover the blood vessels within organs.

In this pioneering case, an enzyme-converted kidney was transplanted into a brain-dead recipient. The organ initially functioned well, but by the third day, a mild immune reaction was observed—significantly less severe than the typical rejection response.

This breakthrough highlights the potential of enzyme conversion to expand the pool of compatible organs and reduce rejection in transplant patients.

*Disclaimer: This story has been sourced from a third-party syndicated feed. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for the dependability, trustworthiness, or reliability of the information contained herein. Mid-day management and mid-day.com reserve the right to alter, delete, or remove content at their sole discretion without prior notice.*

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https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/canadian-researchers-achieve-milestone-with-enzyme-converted-universal-donor-kidney-transplant-23597126