ALL flights are being cancelled at two major European airports tomorrow and it affects Brits.
A national strike is currently taking place across Belgium, affecting public transport.
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A three-day strike is currently taking place across BelgiumCredit: AFPAirports across Brussels are cancelling flightsCredit: Alamy
The walk out follows new laws that would change labour laws including benefits and pensions, put forward by Prime Minister Bart De Wever to tackle the country’s growing debt.
Despite starting yesterday, tomorrow will see the most chaos when it comes to flights.
Belgium’s biggest airport in Brussels confirmed all departures would be cancelled tomorrow (November 26).
Brussels Airport said in a statement: “Due to the national industrial action on Wednesday 26 November in which the staff of the security and handling service provider is participating, we unfortunately expect major disruptions to our airport operations on that day.”
“To ensure the safety of passengers and staff, we have decided, in consultation with the airlines, not to operate any departing flights on 26 November. In the upcoming days, the airlines will contact passengers directly to inform them of their options.”
Some arrival flights may also be affected as well as any public transport to and from the airport.
This affects around 30 flights to the UK, according to SkyRefund, as airlines including BA, easyJet and Brussels Airlines all operate fights there.
This means hundreds of passengers will find themselves having to make alternative arrangements.
Brussels South Charleroi Airport – primarily used by Ryanair – is also being affected by the cancellations.
They said in a statement that there would be no departures or arrivals tomorrow.
They explained: “Due to the national day of action planned for Wednesday 26 November by a united front of trade unions and the lack of staff available to ensure safe operations, Charleroi Airport will not be able to operate scheduled departures and arrivals.
“Passengers scheduled to fly via Charleroi on November 26 will be contacted in the coming days by their airline for a rebooking or refund.”
SkyRefund CEO Ivalyo Danailov says passengers should contact their airline to look at rebooking and refund options.
However, compensation won’t be available as it is seen as an “extraordinary event”.
Eurostar has also warned of disruption affecting trains between Paris and Brussels.
This will have a knock on effect for Brits travelling from London St Pancras.
A number of trains were cancelled or delayed yesterday, which could also hit more today and tomorrow.
They said in a statement: “Please keep an eye on our live train info page which we’ll update as soon as we know the strike impacts our timetable.
“Public transport and domestic train traffic could be disrupted. If you have a connecting journey, please check for travel updates with the relevant carrier ahead of your trip.
“You may need to allow extra time for your journey.”
Brussels South Charleroi Airport is mainly used by RyanairCredit: ReutersAll departures at Brussels Airport have been cancelled tomorrowCredit: AFP
McGregor’s magnificent goal papered over some large cracks against St Mirren.
Celtic have failed to score in six matches this season, have scored fewer in the league than both Hearts and Hibernian, and were blunt again against St Mirren.
It took until second-half injury time for O’Neill’s side to have an effort on target – a tame header from substitute Yang Hyun-Jun. It took a moment of magic from McGregor to turn one point into three.
For large stages of the match, it looked as though it might have been zero.
Conor McMenamin twice went close in the first half, Miguel Freckleton spooned an excellent chance over the bar, and Liam Scales put through his own goal, only to be spared his blushes by an offside flag against McMenamin.
It was put to the former Leicester City, Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland boss that off-field dramas might have affected the Celtic players on the pitch.
“When it was a continuation of not really supporting the team tonight, and it was just ‘sack the board’ the whole way through, there’s an element that it might [affect the team],” O’Neill said.
“I don’t think it helps, but the one thing we don’t lack is unity within the dressing room.”
A CHAIN of holiday parks in the UK has gone into administration, affecting 11 resorts across the country.
Cove UK is one of Britain’s biggest caravan park operators, behind Parkdean and Wyldecrest Parks.
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A number of holiday parks have gone into administrationCredit: TripAdvisor
Cove UK parks affected by the administration include Solway Holiday Park in Cumbria, which had space for 1,600 pitches, as well as Gwel an Mor Resort in Cornwall.
Eight holiday parks run by Argyll Holidays – with a combined 1,800 pitches – are also affected.
This is due to Argyll Holidays being bought by Cove UK for £100million in 2022.
Springwood Holiday Park, not part of Argyll Holidays, has also been affected.
Administrators Alvarez & Marsal Europe have been called in to Cove Communities Holiday Park UK Holdco Limited (HPUK).
This also includes three subsidiaries – Cove Communities Venture 2 Gwel an Mor OpCo Ltd, Cove Communities Venture 2 Solway OpCo Ltd, and Cove Communities Venture 2 Springwood OpCo Ltd.
Of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP, Adam Paxton, Rob Croxen and Ben Cairns have been appointed as joint administrators to Cove Communities Venture 2 Argyle OpCo Ltd, another subsidiary.
However, they have confirmed that holidaymakers will not be affected as the parks are currently closed for the season.
Adam Paxton, managing director, said: “As administrators, our priority is to ensure a smooth transition and maintain stability across the parks.
“We are working to ensure day-to-day operations continue with minimal disruption.
“Owners, residents and holidaymakers should not be impacted, and can contact the site managers with any questions they may have.”
They confirmed they would trade the company under the joint administrator’s supervision whilst “sale options are explored”.
The letter stated: “Please be assured that our priority is to ensure the continued smooth operation of the holiday parks and to keep homeowners and residents informed as matters progress.
“Going forward, all payments for site fees and any other services should no longer be made to the previous bank account.”
A Cove UK spokesperson told Sun Travel: “We confirm that administrators have been appointed to Cove Communities Holiday Park HoldCo Limited and its subsidiaries, and this affects a number of holiday parks across the UK.
“Seal Bay, our largest resort under the Cove UK group, is not part of the administration process and continues to trade as normal for our guests and owners.
“Our focus remains on serving our customers and executing our long-term strategy. We appreciate the continued support of our employees, owners and customers.”
Many caravan owners have been left gutted by the news, with one calling it an “end of an era”.
Another said: “Really worrying news. Biggest financial mistake we’ve made is buying a caravan there.”
Holiday parks have become popular for more than 100 years, with the first opening in 1894 on the Isle of Man.
However, many have since run into disrepair or been forced to close, following the rise in cheap package holidays abroad.
As United States lawmakers fail to agree on a deal to end the government shutdown, around 750,000 federal employees have been furloughed, millions of Americans go without food assistance, and air travel is disrupted across the country.
The shutdown began on October 1, after opposing sides in the US Senate failed to agree on spending priorities, with Republicans rejecting a push by Democrats to protect healthcare and other social programmes.
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Since then, both sides have failed to agree on 14 separate funding measures, delaying payment to hundreds of thousands of federal staff.
After 40 days, senators from both parties are working this weekend to try to end what has become the longest government shutdown in US history. But talks on Saturday showed little sign of breaking the impasse and securing long-term funding for key programmes.
On Friday, Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer offered Republicans a narrower version of an earlier Democratic proposal – a temporary extension of healthcare subsidies. Republicans rejected the offer, prolonging the record-breaking shutdown.
So what do we know about the shutdown, and how it has impacted Americans?
More than 1,530 flights were cancelled across the US on Saturday, while thousands more were delayed as authorities ordered airports to reduce air traffic.
According to the flight tracking website FlightAware, Saturday’s cancellations marked an increase from 1,025 the previous day. The trend looks set to continue, with at least 1,000 cancellations logged for Sunday.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said staffing shortages were affecting 42 control towers and other facilities, leading to delays in at least a dozen major cities – including Atlanta, Newark, San Francisco, New York and Chicago.
The travel chaos could prove politically costly for lawmakers if disruptions persist, especially ahead of the holiday season. Reduced air traffic will also hit deliveries and shipping, since many commercial flights carry cargo alongside passengers.
The CEO of Elevate Aviation Group, Greg Raiff, recently warned that the economic impact would ripple outward. “This shutdown is going to affect everything from business travel to tourism,” he told the Associated Press.
“It’s going to hurt local tax revenues and city budgets – there’s a cascading effect from all this.”
Threat to food assistance
In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump has said he will only restore food aid once the government shutdown ends.
“SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions of Dollars (MANY FOLD!) during Crooked Joe Biden’s disastrous term … will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government,” he wrote earlier this week on Truth Social.
The US Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, provides low-income Americans with roughly $8bn a month in grocery assistance. The average individual benefit is about $190 per month, while a household receives around $356.
Health insurance standoff
Democrats blame the shutdown on Republicans’ refusal to renew expiring healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Talks stalled again on Saturday after Trump declared he would not compromise on the issue.
Democrats are pushing for a one-year extension of the ACA subsidies, which mainly help people without employer or government health coverage buy insurance. But with a 53–47 majority in the Senate, Republicans can block the proposal.
Trump intervened on Saturday via Truth Social, calling on Republican senators to redirect federal funds used for health insurance subsidies toward direct payments for individuals.
“I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to money sucking Insurance Companies … BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE THEIR OWN, MUCH BETTER, HEALTHCARE, and have money left over,” he said.
Roughly 24 million Americans currently benefit from the ACA subsidies. Analysts warn that premiums could double by 2026 if Congress allows them to expire.
Has this happened before?
This is not the first time Washington has faced such a standoff. The graphic below shows every US funding gap and government shutdown since 1976, including how long each lasted and under which administration it occurred.
(Al Jazeera)
The current federal budget process dates back to 1976. Since its creation, the government has experienced 20 funding gaps, leading to 10 shutdowns.
Prior to the 1980s, such funding lapses rarely caused shutdowns. Most federal agencies continued operating, expecting Congress to soon approve new funding.
That changed in 1980, when Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti issued legal opinions clarifying that, under federal law, agencies cannot spend money without congressional authorisation. Only essential functions (like air traffic control) were permitted to continue.
From 1982 onward, this interpretation has meant that funding gaps have more frequently triggered full or partial government shutdowns, lasting until Congress reaches a resolution.
What happens next?
No breakthrough was announced after the US Senate convened for a rare Saturday session. The chamber is now expected to reconvene at 1:30pm local time on Sunday.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that the chamber will continue meeting until the government reopens. “There’s still only one path out – it’s a clean funding extension,” he said.
Some 1.3 million service members are now at risk of missing a paycheque, and that might put pressure on both sides to agree on a deal. Earlier this month, staff were paid after $8bn from military research and development funds were made available at the intervention of Trump.
But questions remain about whether the administration will resort to a similar procedure if the shutdown is prolonged. Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire told reporters on Friday that Democrats “need another path forward”.
Shaheen and several moderate Democrats are floating a proposal that would temporarily fund certain departments – such as veterans’ services and food aid – while keeping the rest of the government open until December or early next year.
It’s understood that Shaheen’s plan would include a promise of a future vote on healthcare subsidies, but not a guaranteed extension. It remains unclear whether enough Democrats would support that compromise.
Thune, meanwhile, is reportedly considering a bipartisan version of the proposal. On Friday, he said he thinks the offer is an indication that Democrats are “feeling the heat … I guess you could characterise that as progress”.
Looking ahead, it remains unclear what Republicans might offer regarding healthcare.
For now, Democrats face a stark choice: keep pressing for a firm deal to renew healthcare subsidies and prolong the shutdown – or vote to reopen the government and trust Republicans’ assurances of a future healthcare vote, with no certainty of success.
