PBOC Scraps FX Risk Reserves to Curb Rapid Yuan Appreciation 
IMF Urges U.S. to Cut Fiscal Deficit to Reduce Trade and Current Account Gaps 
Asian Markets Slide as Nvidia Earnings, U.S.-Iran Tensions and AI Valuations Weigh on Investor Sentiment 
Australia Inflation Rises Above Forecast in January, Fueling Interest Rate Hike Concerns 
Germany and China Reaffirm Open Trade and Strategic Partnership in Landmark Beijing Visit 
Asian Markets Rally as AI Stocks Surge; Yen and BOJ Rate Outlook in Focus 
Gold Prices Rally in February as Geopolitical Risks and Economic Uncertainty Boost Safe-Haven Demand 
U.S. Stocks Close Lower as Hot PPI Data, Nvidia Slide Weigh on Wall Street 
Dominican Republic Unveils Massive Rare Earth Deposits to Boost High-Tech and Energy Sectors 
UBS Boosts Chinese Tech and AI Stocks for 2026 as Sector Eyes Strong Growth 
Bank of Korea Holds Interest Rate at 2.50% as Growth Outlook Improves Amid AI Chip Boom 
Hong Kong Economy Forecast to Grow 2.5%-3.5% in 2026, Budget Deficit Set to Narrow 
Australian Dollar Rallies on Hawkish RBA Outlook; Yen Slips as BOJ Faces Political Pressure 
USITC to Review Impact of Revoking China’s PNTR Status, Potentially Raising Tariffs on Chinese Imports 
Gold Prices Rebound as U.S. Tariffs, Fed Policy and Iran Talks Drive Market Sentiment 
Tokyo Core Inflation Slows Below 2%, Complicating BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
The TSA has warned that a government shutdown could severely disrupt airport operations during the holiday season. With 59,000 essential staff working unpaid, record passenger volumes may result in longer wait times unless lawmakers act quickly to avoid the funding crisis.
Higher Airport Wait Times Feared Amid Looming Shutdown
TSA Administrator Randolph Alles voiced concern that higher wait times at airports could result from a protracted partial US government shutdown, Investing.com reports.
If the government does not strike a budget agreement by Saturday, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which is responsible for airport security screening, has stated that around 59,000 of its 62,000 employees are deemed critical and will continue working without pay.
Among the federal employees who would be compelled to continue working but would not be compensated for their efforts are air traffic controllers and officers of the TSA.
"While our personnel are prepared to handle high volumes of travelers and ensure safe travel, please be aware that an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports," TSA Administrator David Pekoske wrote on social media.
TSA and FAA Brace for Shutdown Fallout
Following the record-breaking performance of the agency during the Thanksgiving holiday, it anticipates screening a record forty million passengers over the course of the holiday season.
In the absence of a settlement, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) predicts that it would be forced to stop training air traffic controllers and lay off more than 17,000 personnel during the shutdown.
The 35-day government shutdown in 2019 caused an increase in controller and TSA officer absenteeism due to unpaid wages, which in turn caused some airport checkpoint wait times to be longer than expected.
Holiday Travel Disruptions Could Pressure Lawmakers
Air traffic was compelled to slow by the FAA during the previous shutdown, which increased pressure on Congress to resolve the impasse.
