An Air France overnight flight from Paris to Rio de Janeiro has disappeared off radar, and is presumed crashed in the Atlantic Ocean. 228 people were on-board the Airbus 330. The plane was last heard from when it encountered severe turbulence and thunderstorms, when it reported some electrical faults and loss of cabin pressure.
It is unusual for a modern airliner to disappear over open ocean without notification, although there is no evidence of hijacking or terrorism. Read more…
As of today, new rules are in effect if you want to travel between the United States and Canada or Mexico. Basically, you must have with you a valid passport or a special driver’s license with you when crossing the border. This is the last step in a gradual increase in border crossing rules. Recommendations after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 were made to increase border security, and this is the last measure to be enacted.
Public opinion is split on the issue. Some feel it will cause unnecessary headaches at the border. Others find it dangerous that it had taken this long for security measures to be put in place. Read more…