Business
More than 1,000 flights cancelled as US air traffic cuts enter second day
Getty ImagesMore than 1,400 flights to, from, or within the US were cancelled on Saturday after airlines were told this week to cut traffic during the federal government shutdown.
Nearly 6,000 flights were also delayed, down from over 7,000 delays on Friday, according to flight tracker FlightAware.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced earlier in the week that it would be reducing air travel capacity by up to10% at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports as air traffic controllers, who are working without pay during the shutdown, report fatigue.
Republicans and Democrats remain divided over how to end the impasse in Congress as the shutdown, which began 1 October, continues.
Saturday marked the 39th day of the longest shutdown in history as Republicans and Democrats still have not agreed on a funding resolution to reopen the government.
Senators are in Washington over the weekend for bipartisan negotitations aimed at ending the shutdown, which is beginning to be felt by more and more Americans amid cuts to food aid payments and the flight disruptions.
In a statement on Saturday, American Airlines urged “leaders in Washington, D.C., to reach an immediate resolution to end the shutdown”.
New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport was experiencing some of the longest wait times. As of Saturday afternoon, arrivals to the airport were delayed by an average of more than four hours, while departures from the airport were delayed by an average of 1.5 hours, according to the FAA.
The airports with the most cancelled flights on Saturday, both to and from the location, were Charlotte/Douglas International, Newark Liberty International, and Chicago O’Hare International, according to FlightAware.
Departures to John F Kennedy International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, and La Guardia were delayed by nearly three hours, over 2.5 hours, and about an hour, respectively, the FAA reported as of Saturday afternoon.
With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching on 27 November, it’s one of the busiest travel seasons of the year in the US.
It’s not just commercial flights that have been affected. Restrictions on private jets are also in place, Secretary Duffy said in a Saturday post on X.
“We’ve reduced their volume at high traffic airports — instead having private jets utilize smaller airports or airfields so busy controllers can focus on commercial aviation,” Duffy wrote. “That’s only fair.”
And things will likely get worse in the coming days as the FAA increases the percentage of cancelled flights.
On Thursday, the agency announced that the flight reductions would be gradual, starting at 4% of flights on Friday before rising to 6% by 11 November, 8% by 13 November, and the full 10% by 14 November.
The FAA said the cuts were necessary to maintain safety as air traffic controllers have been overworked during the shutdown.
As essential workers, the controllers are required to continue working without pay, and as a result, many have called out sick or taken on second jobs to afford necessities, unions say.
The controllers are just some of the 1.4 million federal workers who have either been working without pay or been put on forced during the shutdown.
Another factor impacting air travel is that most of the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) 64,000 agents are also not being paid while the shutdown is in place.
During the previous government shutdown, under US President Donald Trump in 2018, it was found that up to 10% of TSA staff chose to stay at home rather than work for free.
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Taxpayers facing refund holds due to mismatches must act before December 31.
Knowing revised and belated ITRs can help avoid penalties. (representative image)
The Income Tax Department has recently sent messages and emails to many taxpayers saying their refunds are on hold. The reason given is a mismatch in the income tax return (ITR) details. In these alerts, taxpayers have been asked to take action before December 31, this year, to fix the issue.
This has caused confusion, especially among those who believed they had filed their returns correctly. The department has also stepped up checks on cases where it feels excess refunds may have been claimed. As a result, many taxpayers are now unsure about the right way to respond.
In its email, the department reportedly stated, “As the time limit for filing of revised ITR for A.Y. 2025-26 will expire on 31 December 2025, you are requested to avail this opportunity to file Revised Return within the due date if so required. Alternatively, you may file an updated return w.e.f. 1 January 2026, however, subject to an additional tax liability.”
With the deadline nearing, it is important to understand the options available after the original ITR due date has passed.
What Is A Revised ITR?
A revised ITR allows taxpayers to fix mistakes made in the original return. These errors could include missing income details, wrong deductions, calculation errors, or choosing the wrong ITR form. Under Section 139(5) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, taxpayers can submit a revised return to correct such issues.
A revised ITR can also be filed if the refund amount needs to be increased or reduced based on corrected information.
What Is A Belated ITR?
A belated ITR is filed when a taxpayer misses the original filing deadline. As per Section 139(1) of the Income Tax Act, this return can be submitted until December 31 of the assessment year. However, filing late usually means paying a penalty.
Taxpayers who miss the deadline are advised to file a belated return instead of not filing at all, as non-filing can lead to further trouble.
Why File A Revised ITR?
A revised return is useful when the original ITR has errors. These may include underreported or overstated income, wrong deductions, incorrect refund claims, or other filing mistakes.
As quoted by Livemint, CA, Shefali Mundra, tax expert at ClearTax, says, “There is no penalty for filing a revised return within the prescribed timeframe.”
Revised ITR vs Belated ITR Explained
“A revised return is filed to correct errors or omissions in a previously filed return (either original or belated). It can be filed before 31 December of the relevant assessment year or before the department completes the assessment. The revised return is linked to the original filing, and the taxpayer can make corrections without any penalties, apart from paying any additional taxes and interest,” CA Mundra told Livemint.
She added that a belated ITR is treated differently.
“A belated return is filed after the original due date for submitting the return, which is typically 31 July for individual taxpayers. A belated return is still considered an original return, and it is subject to a late filing fee under Section 234F (up to Rs 5,000, depending on the income) and interest on unpaid tax. Additionally, certain benefits, such as carrying forward losses, may not be available when filing a belated return,” CA Mundra also stated.
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Delhi, India, India
December 27, 2025, 10:31 IST
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A rejected critical illness claim may not be the final word if the policy clearly covers the condition.
Policyholders can successfully challenge unfair decisions.(Representative Image)
A policyholder recently faced trouble after his/her spouse was diagnosed with a serious brain-related illness. The condition was identified as bacterial meningitis with encephalitis. Believing the illness was covered, the family filed a critical illness claim with their insurer.
However, the insurance company turned down the request. The reason given was that the illness did not fall under the list of covered conditions. This left the family confused and unsure about the next step, especially at a time when medical stress and costs were already high.
Why A Rejected Claim May Still Be Valid
A claim rejection does not always mean the insurer is right. The first step is to read the policy document carefully. Most critical illness plans clearly list the illnesses they cover. In many policies, bacterial meningitis is included, but only if certain medical conditions are met.
In a similar case, a close review of the policy showed that the illness was listed among 32 covered conditions. The medical records also clearly confirmed the diagnosis and seriousness of the disease. When both the policy terms and medical proof match, the rejection can be questioned.
How To Raise The Issue With The Insurer
The next step is to approach the insurer’s grievance team. This means sending a clear written request that explains why the claim should be accepted. It is important to point out the exact policy clauses and attach all medical reports.
In the case mentioned, the policyholder shared hospital records, diagnosis details, and proof of treatment. Despite this, the insurer stuck to its earlier decision and did not provide any new explanation. This is when many people give up, but there is still another option available.
When The Insurance Ombudsman Can Help
If the insurer does not resolve the issue, the policyholder can approach the insurance ombudsman. Filing a complaint here does not cost anything. The ombudsman reviews both the policy terms and the medical evidence.
During the hearing in this case, the policyholder submitted hospital documents and a doctor’s certificate. The records confirmed that the patient had a lasting brain-related problem for over six weeks, which is an important requirement in many critical illness policies. The insurer failed to provide proof to challenge these findings.
What This Case Teaches Policyholders
After reviewing all details, the ombudsman ruled in favour of the policyholder and asked the insurer to pay the claim amount to the nominee. This shows that unfair claim rejections can be overturned if the policy terms are clear and the documents are in order.
It is always wise to read your policy closely, keep complete medical records, and use the grievance and ombudsman process when needed. Many rejected claims can be resolved because the facts and the policy are on the customer’s side.
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December 27, 2025, 09:33 IST
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Business
India’s Forex Reserves Surge $4.36 Billion To $693 Billion, Gold Holding Rises $2.6 Billion
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India’s Latest Forex Reserves: The value of the gold reserves jumps $2.623 billion to $110.365 billion during the week ended December 19.
India’s Latest Forex Reserves.
India’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves surged $4.368 billion to $693.318 billion during the week ended December 19, according to the latest data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The value of the gold reserves jumped $2.623 billion to $110.365 billion during the week.
The overall kitty had increased by $1.689 billion to $688.949 billion in the previous week.
For the week ended December 19, foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, increased by $1.641 billion to $559.428 billion, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s latest ‘Weekly Statistical Supplement’ data.
Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effects of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units, such as the euro, pound, and yen, held in the foreign exchange reserves.
The special drawing rights (SDRs) were up by $8 million to $18.744 billion.
India’s reserve position with the IMF was up by $95 million to $4.782 billion in the week, according to the RBI data.
The price of the safe-haven asset gold has been on a sharp uptrend over recent months, perhaps amid heightened global uncertainties and robust investment demand.
After the last monetary policy review meeting, the RBI had said that the country’s foreign exchange reserves were sufficient to cover more than 11 months of merchandise imports. Overall, India’s external sector remains resilient, and the RBI is confident it can comfortably meet external financing requirements.
In 2023, India added around $58 billion to its foreign exchange reserves, contrasting with a cumulative decline of $71 billion in 2022. In 2024, reserves rose by just over $20 billion. So far in 2025, the forex kitty has increased by about $47-48 billion, according to data.
Foreign exchange reserves, or FX reserves, are assets held by a nation’s central bank or monetary authority, primarily in reserve currencies such as the US dollar, with smaller portions in the Euro, Japanese Yen, and Pound Sterling.
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December 27, 2025, 08:17 IST
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