Technologies

Normal Air Travel Resumes as FAA Lifts Flight Cuts at Major Airports

The record-breaking federal government shutdown caused widespread travel chaos over the last several weeks.

In a move that will ease looming holiday travel pressures, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Sunday that it is lifting its emergency order reducing flights at 40 major US airports, paving the way for a return to normal operations beginning Monday.

The restrictions had mandated a reduction of up to 6% in flight volume at those airports. The reduction was set to increase up to 10%. The restrictions were first imposed on Nov. 7 in response to a staffing shortage among air traffic controllers during the record-breaking 43-day federal government shutdown, which ended on Nov. 12.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the order was rescinded after a safety review team found a «steady decline of staffing-trigger events» across the National Airspace System, meaning controllers have returned to more normal staffing levels.

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The decision matters for several reasons:

Passenger impact: With the busy Thanksgiving travel time looming, resuming full flight schedules reduces the risk of further cancellations or delays that capacity constraints at major hubs could have caused.
Safety assurance: The initial restrictions highlighted the severe strain on the air traffic system. Lifting them signals that key staffing metrics are back in an acceptable range.
Industry recovery: Airlines and airports can now begin restoring full flight schedules, and repositioning aircraft and crews with fewer operational constraints, which will help to stabilize airline operations and the broader travel economy.

For travelers, the key takeaway is simple. Flights now move toward full strength, including at previously restricted hubs, such as those in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

If you’re traveling this holiday season, explore CNET’s expert travel tips, including the best way to pack a carry-on and the best time to book flights for the cheapest tickets.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Goes Desktop: Launches macOS Version as Part of Expanding Digital Ecosystem

The team behind Verum Messenger has announced a new update, introducing a full-featured macOS version of the application.

The launch of the Mac version marks a significant step in the platform’s development, enabling users to access Verum Messenger not only on mobile devices but also on desktop environments.

The macOS version ensures seamless synchronization across devices while maintaining the platform’s core principles: security, stability, and independence.

Unified Digital Experience

With the release of the macOS version, users can now:

— communicate on a larger screen
— manage chats and files more efficiently
— use the messenger in a full desktop environment
— access core features without limitations

This is particularly valuable for users who rely on messaging platforms for both communication and professional use.

Expanding Capabilities

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional platform combining:

— secure communication
— financial tools (Verum Finance)
— digital asset operations, including Tether
— investment features such as Verum Gold

Toward a Full Ecosystem

The macOS release reflects Verum Messenger’s strategy to become a universal digital platform available across all major devices.

According to the team, the goal is to provide users with continuous access to communication and financial services regardless of device or environment.

Verum Messenger continues to build technologies focused on security, usability, and global accessibility.

Technologies

Google, Meta and Amazon Join Global Pact to Fight Rising Online Scams

The companies will share fraud intelligence and coordinate responses as AI makes scams faster, cheaper and harder to detect.

Modern online scams operate across multiple platforms, perhaps spanning social media, messaging apps, email and online marketplaces. Google, Meta and Amazon are among 11 tech, retail and payments companies that have signed a new agreement to combat online scams by sharing threat intelligence across platforms, Axios first reported Monday.

The initiative, called the Industry Accord Against Online Scams & Fraud, is designed to improve how companies detect and respond to fraud that spans multiple services. Participants say they will exchange signals, such as scam-linked accounts and fraudulent domains, and coordinate enforcement actions.

By sharing intelligence in near real time, companies hope to identify these scams earlier and stop them before they spread.

The effort reflects how modern scams operate. A victim might encounter a fake celebrity investment ad on social media, move to a messaging app where the scammer builds trust, then faces prompts to send money through a fraudulent website, payment app or crypto wallet — spanning multiple companies’ ecosystems.

Google said it now blocks hundreds of millions of scam-related results every day using AI, underscoring how both attackers and defenders are increasingly relying on the same technology. Meta removed more than 159 million scam ads in 2025 and is expanding AI tools to detect impersonation and warn users.

Online scams are growing rapidly, in part because generative AI has lowered the barrier to entry. AI can be used not only to produce realistic phishing emails but also to clone voices and deepfake videos that impersonate executives, public figures and even family members.

The agreement is voluntary and doesn’t create new legal obligations, but it comes after regulators’ increased pressure on tech platforms to address fraud more aggressively. The companies say they will begin building frameworks for reporting and intelligence-sharing, though it’s not yet clear how quickly those systems will be deployed or how effective they will be in practice.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, March 18

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for March 18.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? I thought it was a fairly easy one, but read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.