Dozens are dead in a historic New York blizzard; the U.S. government is investigating Southwest airlines over canceled flights; and China is dropping its quarantine requirement. These stories and more highlight your morning rundown, aimed straight down the middle, for Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022.
DOT to investigate Southwest
The Department of Transportation is now looking into Southwest airlines after flight delays and cancellations lit up the boards at airports. The government is investigating whether the travel chaos was something Southwest could have better handled or if it was out of its control.
Southwest canceled nearly 3,000 flights Monday, or 70% of scheduled flights. On Sunday, nearly half of the flights were canceled. And the problem continued Tuesday morning with 60% of flights today already disrupted.
Dozens of people dead in historic blizzard
Authorities are calling it New York’s snow storm “the blizzard of a century.” Officials in Buffalo, New York, are expecting its death toll to climb Tuesday. Rescue crews are scrambling to unbury vehicles looking for survivors after hours-long blizzard conditions dumped more than 60 inches of snow.
The New York governor called it a war with mother-nature, as dozens of people died over Christmas weekend.
“As much as we can see the skies right now, we know that the storm is coming back. We’re expecting another 6 to 6 or 12 inches. So anyone who declares victory and says it’s over, it is way too early to say this is at its completion,” Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said.
So far, 27 people in the state have been found dead from the extreme cold produced by the winter storm.
South Korea to boost military, drones
As the year comes to a close, South Korea is reflecting on the North’s escalated hostility throughout 2022. And after North Korea’s latest breach of the border, the South is aiming to boost its air defense and drone technology in the face of further conflict.
The announcement came after North Korean drones were reportedly spotted across its border-line and South Korea failed to shoot them down. South Korea’s military apologized for its inability to react faster to the North’s threats and vowed to put emphasis on military expansion at a time the U.S. is heavily involved in South Korean military exercises.
China drops quarantine requirement
Travel to China is taking a significant turn after the country’s latest shift away from its zero-COVID policy. Travelers will no longer be required to quarantine starting Jan. 8.
The move will largely reopen the country to those with work and study visas or those wanting to visit family after almost three years of closed borders. While China pulls back on its strict policy, COVID cases in the country are rising.
Congressman-elect caught in lies
A New York Republican elected to the U.S. House in November has admitted he lied on his resume leading up to the midterms.
Congressman-elect George Santos said his job history and education was embellished on his resume.
He claimed he worked for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs but that wasn’t true. He didn’t graduate from college despite touting multiple prestigious degrees.
Santos reportedly also lied about running a non-profit and doesn’t own more than a dozen properties despite telling voters he did.
Santos says he still plans to take the oath of office on Jan. 3, despite the new revelations.
