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The US Department of Transportation has issued an emergency order banning Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones on all flights in the US. DOT said people “may not transport the device on their person, in carry-on baggage, or in checked baggage on flights to, from, or within the United States”. The prohibition includes all Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices, DOT said. The phones also cannot be shipped as air cargo. The ban went into affect on October 15.
Terrorists in China are facing a new nemesis with a cattle-prod wielding “robo-cop” now patrolling Shenzen Boa’am International Airport in the southern province of Guangdong. The intelligent robot, which is decorated with an impressive police shield and is eerily reminiscent of the Daleks in the BBC science fiction series Dr Who, is the first in China to be trained to carry out security checks. It began patrolling the airport’s Terminal 3 last month on a round-the-clock basis.
Reuters reports the White House plans to announce steps aimed at promoting competition in the US airline industry and increasing transparency in pricing, a source said on Tuesday. The source briefed on the matter said that the White House effort was aimed at ensuring that consumers had better information about air travel costs and airline performance. A Credit Suisse Research report said that the announcement also had to do with fee disclosures and access to airlines for disabled passengers. In August, Democratic US senators Richard Blumenthal, Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren urged the Transportation Department to use its existing authority to allow price comparison websites, like Travelocity, Priceline, and Kayak, to have access to airline pricing information.
The Justice Ministry will start using an automatic facial recognition system at the nation’s airports and seaports to better prevent terrorists from entering Japan. The new system, which goes into operation on Monday at 156 airports and ports across the country, will automatically compare the facial images of foreign nationals at immigration with those of suspected terrorists obtained from organizations both at home and abroad. If the images match, special staff will analyze them and question the suspects. They may be deported once they are determined to be terrorists, the ministry said. Since November 2007, all foreign nationals aged 16 or older are in principle required to be photographed and submit their fingerprints at immigration. Previously, immigration officers manually compared the facial images of foreign nationals with those of suspected terrorists.
Within 24 hours, Bermuda bounced back from one of the strongest storms to ever hit the country, Hurricane Nicole, a dangerous Category 4 storm. Hurricane Nicole hit Bermuda Oct. 13 toppling trees, flooding neighborhood streets and knocking out power to 90% of the island. However, strict building codes and a commitment to hurricane preparedness paved the way for a wide-ranging recovery effort immediately following the storm. No major injuries or loss of life resulted from the hurricane. The airport is open and all hotels are open with little to no damage reported. Bermuda is on track this year to welcome the most visitors to the island since 2008, and to be back online within 24 hours of such a major storm is a testament to Bermuda’s dedication to visitors. Hotels such as the Fairmont Southampton and Grotto Bay entertained guests during the storm with a Hurricane Party and Rum Cake Bingo, respectively. The Hamilton Princess was fully operational through the storm, including Marcus restaurant.
In a new partnership with The Metropolitan Opera, Viking Cruises will air Puccini’s opera ‘La Bohème’ with special documentary behind-the-scenes footage. This latest addition to Viking’s culture-intensive on-board programming will be broadcast in the ocean ships’ main theater and on the big screen at the central, glass-topped pool.