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WASHINGTON — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. An American Airlines employee wearing looks toward quiet check-in counters Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. People are also reading... Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 3,712 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 55 flights canceled. It did not show any flights from American Airlines. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Jae C. Hong, Associated Press Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms developed in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. Any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. Finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. Flight nightmare? Here's how to get compensated Flight nightmare? Here's how to get compensated "It's not the destination, it's the journey," said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph clearly was not among the travellers on one of more than 350 cancelled or 1,400 delayed flights after a worldwide tech outage caused by an update to Crowdstrike's "Falcon Sensor" software in July of 2023.U.S. airlines carried nearly 863 million travellers in 2023, with Canadian carriers accounting for another 150 million, many of whom experienced lost luggage, flight delays, cancellations, or were bumped off their flights. It's unclear how many of them were compensated for these inconveniences.Suffice it to say, posting a crabby rant on social media might temporarily soothe anger, but it won't put wasted money back in pockets. Money.ca shares what to know in order to be compensated for the three most common air travel headaches.Lost LuggageBags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following:Alert the airline, both in person and in writing, of any missing bags. Remember, the clock starts ticking immediately. After 21 days, the baggage is considered lost and the airline is liable for it and its contents.Contact the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) or Canadian Transportation Agency , who will query the airline on your behalf and give them a 30-day deadline to respond.Usually, the airline will resolve the issue, but if it doesn't, or if you're unsatisfied with the offer, the next level is mediation. Beyond that, the case could move to adjudication, a court-like process with a panel deciding on the outcome. On international flights, you have up to two years to file litigation.If you expect a large payout, think again. Tariffs (air carrier contracts) limit the compensation amounts for "loss of, damage to, or the delay in delivery of baggage or other personal property."In the case of Air Canada, the maximum payout is $1,500 per passenger in the currency of the country where the baggage was processed. To raise that limit, purchase a Declaration of Higher Value for each leg of the trip. The charge is $0.50 for each $100, in which case the payout limit is $2,500.For Delta Air Lines, passengers are entitled to up to $3,800 in baggage compensation, though how much you'll receive depends on your flight. Delta will pay up to $2,080 for delayed, lost, and damaged baggage for international travellers, almost half of what U.S. domestic passengers can claim.If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby.Delayed/Cancelled FlightsDifferent air carriers and jurisdictions have their own compensation policies when flights are delayed or cancelled. For example, under European Union rules, passengers may receive up to 600 Euros, even when travelling on a non-EU carrier. Similarly, the DOT states that travellers are entitled to a refund "if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel." However, US rules regarding delays are complicated.Some air carriers, such as Air Canada, do not guarantee their flight schedules. They're also not liable for cancellations or changes due to "force majeure" such as weather conditions or labour disruptions. If the delay is overnight, only out-of-town passengers will be offered hotel accommodation.Nevertheless, many airlines do offer some compensation for the inconvenience. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby.Flight Compensation in the U.S.In terms of cash compensation, what you'll get can differ significantly based on things like departure location, time, carrier, and ticket class.The DOT offers a helpful delay and cancellations dashboard designed to keep travellers informed about their compensation rights. The dashboard is particularly helpful because, as the DOT states on its website, "whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors—such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances."Flight Compensation in CanadaThe Canadian Transportation Agency is proposing air passenger protection regulations that guarantee financial compensation to travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations, with the level of compensation varying depending on the situation and how much control the air carrier had. The proposed regulations include the following:A plane must return to its gate after three hours on the tarmac.Minimum requirements will be set for procuring food, drink, lavatories, ventilation, and access to electronic communications during the delay.For larger airlines, payouts will range from $400 for a 3-6 hour delay, to $700 for 6-9 hours, and $1,000 for more than nine hours. For smaller carriers, the compensation would be $125, $250, and $500, respectively.Here's the loophole: If the delay is related to the air carrier's maintenance problems, no compensation is required.The airline is obligated to complete the passenger's itinerary. If the new ticket is for a lower class of service, the air carrier would have to refund the cost difference; if the booking is in a higher class of service, passengers cannot be charged extra.If the passenger declines the ticket, the airline must give a full refund, in addition to the prescribed compensation. For overnight delays, the air carrier needs to provide hotel accommodation and transportation free-of-charge. Again, if you are unsatisfied, the Canadian Transportation Agency or Department of Transportation may advocate on your behalf.Bumped Off the FlightPassengers get bumped because airlines overbook. When this happens, the air carrier must compensate you.For international flights in the US, the rate is 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $675 maximum. If the airline does not make travel arrangements for you, the payout is 400% of your one-way fare to a maximum of $1,350. To qualify, you must check-in by the stated deadline, which on international flights can be up to 3 hours ahead. Keep in mind that if you accept the cash, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation, nor are you guaranteed to be rebooked on a direct flight or similar type of seat.Don't be too quick to give up your boarding pass. Negotiate for the best compensation deal that would include cash, food and hotel vouchers, flight upgrade, lounge passes, as well as mileage points. But avoid being too greedy—if the gate attendant is requesting volunteers and you wait too long, you'll miss the offer.According to Air Canada's tariff, if a passenger is involuntarily bumped, they'll receive $200, in cash or bank draft, for up to a two-hour delay; $400 for a 2-6 hours delay; and $800 if the delay is over six hours. (Air Canada was forced to raise its payouts in 2013 due to passenger complaints.) The new rules would raise the payout significantly: $900 for up to six hours; $1,800 for 6-9; and $2,400 for more than nine hours, all to be paid within 48 hours.Statistically speaking, Delta Airlines is the carrier most likely to bump. A few years ago, Delta raised its payout maximum to $9,950, while United Airlines tops out at $10,000.This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock Lost Luggage Delayed/Cancelled Flights Flight Compensation in the U.S. Flight Compensation in Canada Bumped Off the Flight Be the first to know777pub seven league guru pub 。

Incoming Trump 'border czar' Tom Homan discusses the Trump administration's deportation plans on 'The Story.' California Gov. Gavin Newsom is reportedly considering a plan to help illegal immigrants and their families threatened by president-elect Trump's mass deportation plan. A draft of the plan obtained by POLITICO, titled "Immigrant Support Network Concept," proposes the creation of an Immigrant Support Network comprised of regional hubs to "connect at-risk individuals, their families, and communities with community systems — such as legal services, schools, labor unions, local governments, etc." Fox News Digital has reached out to Trump's representatives . Newsom's office told Fox News Digital that the draft was prepared by the California Department of Social Services and has not yet been reviewed in Sacramento. CHILD RAPE AND VIOLENT INCIDENTS REPORTED AT MASSACHUSETTS MIGRANT SHELTERS, FORMER FACILITY DIRECTOR SAYS California Gov. Gavin Newsom and President-elect Trump have clashed on various issues, including immigration. (Getty/AP) "This document is an internal and deliberative draft document meant for internal discussions as part of a number of possible considerations given the incoming federal administration’s public remarks," Scott Murray, the Deputy Director, Public Affairs and Outreach Programs for the Department of Social Services, told Fox News Digital in a statement. "It is not a final proposal." The draft is part of an effort by California leaders to prepare for a second Trump administration. After Trump was elected, Newsom called a special legislative session and talked of a $25 million "Trump-proof" legal defense fund. In addition, state lawmakers were lobbying for additional funds. Senate Budget Chair Scott Wiener proposed legislation seeking $60 million, including funds to create an immigrant detention representation and coordination program, Politico reported. DEM GOVERNOR THREATENS TO USE 'EVERY TOOL' TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST TRUMP-ERA DEPORTATIONS Migrants cross through a gap in the US-Mexico border fence in Jacumba Hot Springs, California, US, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. The Republican Senate leader said significant issues remain in Senate negotiations on US-Mexico border restrictions demanded by his party in exchange for clearing assistance to Ukraine and other US allies. (Mark Abramson/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Under the draft, the state Social Services Department would give state funds to eligible nonprofits and take on administrative duties for the hubs. The draft does not indicate how much funding the plan requires. However, it said the funds would go toward "community outreach, partnership, legal services staffing positions, and approved administrative costs associated with hub operations," the Politico report said. California currently faces a $68 billion budget deficit, according to the state's Legislative Analyst's Office . Asylum seeking migrants wait in line to receive donated food, with a rainbow in the distance, at a makeshift camp while awaiting processing by the U.S. Border Patrol on November 30, 2023, in Jacumba Hot Springs, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "The administration continues to collaborate with the Legislature to finalize a thoughtful special session funding proposal, which is on track to be signed into law before January 20, 2025," department spokesperson Theresa Mier told the publication. Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com .

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records Tuesday after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street, even if they could roil the global economy were they to take effect. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to top the all-time high it set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 123 points, or 0.3%, to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6% as Microsoft and Big Tech led the way. Stock markets abroad mostly fell after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China once he takes office. But the movements were mostly modest. Stock indexes were down 0.1% in Shanghai and nearly flat in Hong Kong, while Canada’s main index edged down by less than 0.1%. Trump has often praised the use of tariffs , but investors are weighing whether his latest threat will actually become policy or is just an opening point for negotiations. For now, the market seems to be taking it more as the latter. The consequences otherwise for markets and the global economy could be painful. Unless the United States can prepare alternatives for the autos, energy products and other goods that come from Mexico, Canada and China, such tariffs would raise the price of imported items all at once and make households poorer, according to Carl Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists at High Frequency Economics. They would also hurt profit margins for U.S. companies, while raising the threat of retaliatory tariffs by other countries. And unlike tariffs in Trump’s first term, his latest proposal would affect products across the board. General Motors sank 9%, and Ford Motor fell 2.6% because both import automobiles from Mexico. Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States, dropped 3.3%. The value of the Mexican peso fell 1.8% against the U.S. dollar. Beyond the pain such tariffs would cause U.S. households and businesses, they could also push the Federal Reserve to slow or even halt its cuts to interest rates. The Fed had just begun easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high a couple months ago to offer support for the job market . While lower interest rates can boost the economy, they can also offer more fuel for inflation. “Many” officials at the Fed’s last meeting earlier this month said they should lower rates gradually, according to minutes of the meeting released Tuesday afternoon. The talk about tariffs overshadowed another mixed set of profit reports from U.S. retailers that answered few questions about how much more shoppers can keep spending. They’ll need to stay resilient after helping the economy avoid a recession, despite the high interest rates imposed by the Fed to get inflation under control. A report on Tuesday from the Conference Board said confidence among U.S. consumers improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. Kohl’s tumbled 17% after its results for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Tom Kingsbury said sales remain soft for apparel and footwear. A day earlier, Kingsbury said he plans to step down as CEO in January. Ashley Buchanan, CEO of Michaels and a retail veteran, will replace him. Best Buy fell 4.9% after likewise falling short of analysts’ expectations. Dick’s Sporting Goods topped forecasts for the latest quarter thanks to a strong back-to-school season, but its stock lost an early gain to fall 1.4%. Still, more stocks rose in the S&P 500 than fell. J.M. Smucker had one of the biggest gains and climbed 5.7% after topping analysts’ expectations for the latest quarter. CEO Mark Smucker credited strength for its Uncrustables, Meow Mix, Café Bustelo and Jif brands. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up U.S. indexes. Gains of 3.2% for Amazon and 2.2% for Microsoft were the two strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 34.26 points to 6,021.63. The Dow gained 123.74 to 44,860.31, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 119.46 to 19,174.30. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady following their big drop from a day before driven by relief following Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary. The yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.29% from 4.28% late Monday, but it’s still well below the 4.41% level where it ended last week. In the crypto market, bitcoin continued to pull back after topping $99,000 for the first time late last week. It’s since dipped back toward $91,000, according to CoinDesk. It’s a sharp turnaround from the bonanza that initially took over the crypto market following Trump’s election. That boom had also appeared to have spilled into some corners of the stock market. Strategists at Barclays Capital pointed to stocks of unprofitable companies, along with other areas that can be caught up in bursts of optimism by smaller-pocketed “retail” investors. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.WATERTOWN, Mass., Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tectonic Therapeutic, Inc. (NASDAQ: TECX) (Tectonic), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of therapeutic proteins and antibodies that modulate the activity of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), today announced that Alise Reicin, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the Piper Sandler 36th Annual Healthcare Conference being held in New York on December 3-5, 2024. For more information regarding one-on-one meetings, please contact your Piper Sandler representative. The live webcast can also be accessed under “ Events & Presentations ” on the Investors section of the Tectonic website at www.tectonictx.com . Once the conference has concluded, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company’s website for approximately 90 days. About Tectonic Tectonic is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of therapeutic proteins and antibodies that modulate the activity of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Leveraging its proprietary GEODeTM (GPCRs Engineered for Optimal Discovery) technology platform, Tectonic is focused on developing biologic medicines that overcome the existing challenges of GPCR-targeted drug discovery and harness the human body to modify the course of disease. Tectonic focuses on areas of significant unmet medical need, often where therapeutic options are poor or nonexistent, as these are areas where new medicines have the potential to improve patient quality of life. Tectonic is headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit www.tectonictx.com and follow on LinkedIn . Investors: Dan Ferry LifeSci Advisors daniel@lifesciadvisors.com (617) 430-7576 Media: Kathryn Morris The Yates Network kathryn@theyatesnetwork.com (914) 204-6412

Patriots cut starting offensive lineman, claim new player off waivers

California residents on edge as high surf and flooding threats persist on Christmas EveRivalry Closes Non-Brokered Private Placement Of Approximately $2.0 MillionNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records Tuesday after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street, even if they could roil the global economy were they to take effect. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to top the all-time high it set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 123 points, or 0.3%, to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6% as Microsoft and Big Tech led the way. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

UL's Kamryn Jones (34) is coming off a 14-point, 12-rebound performance for the Cajuns heading into Tuesday's 6 p.m. home game against New Orleans. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The regular season may have started for UL women’s basketball team on Nov. 4 in DeKalb, Illinois, but the truth is coach Garry Brodhead’s club has only played one game over the last 17 days. So when the Ragin’ Cajuns take on New Orleans at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Cajundome, it’ll almost be like starting over. “It’s good to start playing again,” Brodhead said. “I think we’re going to have a tough stretch, but we’re excited about it.” On one hand, the inactivity was good for the Cajuns because of a handful of key injuries. On the other hand, it’s hard to make much actual progress when practicing not at full strength. Brodhead is hoping Friday’s 60-55 home win over Nicholls to get to 2-1 was just the beginning. “My concern was that we had four or five kids that hadn’t played yet this year and we were able to bring them back (vs. Nicholls),” he said. “I was pleased how we played. We didn’t shoot the ball extremely well, but we did some really good things.” One of those returning players was Jaylyn James, who was a second-team preseason all-Sun Belt performer. James had a team-high 16 points – including a pair of 3-pointers – with four rebounds. Also, Houston transfer Kamryn Jones returned with 14 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and three steals. “The Jones kid is going to be really good for us, because of the style she plays,” Brodhead said. “She’s just a tough kid and I think she’s going to be able to not only score, but do some of the things you’re not really going to notice about her. She’s just so aggressive on the boards.” New Orleans comes into the game 0-5, but that includes losses to Alabama, TCU, South Alabama and most recently 78-70 at Texas Tech. “They’re a lot bigger,” Brodhead said. “They played Texas Tech down to the wire. They made a run at the end. They run that motion offense that’s a little harder to guard. “It took us almost 20 minutes to run one play (Sunday) to guard it and try to figure it out, because of how we were guarding it. Eventually, we got it.” Nubia Benedith was UL’s third double-figure scorer in the win with 13 points and four rebounds. “I was kind of pleased that we were able to play some of them more minutes than we though in the Nicholls game,” Brodhead said. “I would have rathered to play a few more games, but the circumstances didn’t work out.”CrowdStrike (NASDAQ:CRWD) Given New $400.00 Price Target at Wells Fargo & Company

The Canadian government condemned China on Tuesday for taking steps against two Canadian institutions and 20 people involved in human rights issues concerning the Uyghurs and Tibet. China announced the measures, which included asset freezes and bans on entry, on Sunday. Its targets included the Canada-based Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project and the Canada-Tibet Committee, China's foreign ministry said. "Global Affairs Canada expresses solidarity with the members of the Canadian Tibet Committee and the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project and condemns the decision by the Chinese Government to punish them for speaking out for human rights," the Canadian government said in a statement. The Canadian statement urged China to respect its obligations under international law while also urging Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution in China due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Rights groups accuse Beijing of widespread abuses of Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority that numbers around 10 million in the western region of Xinjiang, including the mass use of forced labor in camps. Beijing denies any abuses. China seized control of Tibet in 1950 in what it describes as a "peaceful liberation" from feudalistic serfdom. International human rights groups and exiles, however, have routinely condemned what they call China's oppressive rule in Tibetan areas. "The Government of Canada will not tolerate any threats, acts of violence or harassment of people in Canada or their family and friends because of their political opinions or to silence dissenting viewpoints," the Canadian government said. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Richard Chang)

Origami Sake Wins the "InvestBev Accelerator" 2024 Fall Pitch Day CompetitionBritain has a housing crisis. That much, everybody knows. We hear it time and time again: we don’t have enough homes. We must build and build and build. More and more parts of the country must be concreted over. In many parts of the UK this is true : supply has not kept up with demand. But – and this may surprise you – this country actually has more homes than it has households. In fact, according the 2021 census, there were 1.4 million more dwellings in England than there were households – in other words, there are more than enough properties to go round. This is true in every region. Even in London, where demand is highest, there were 250,000 more homes than households. What is going on? First, the housing crisis is one of affordability, not just availability. Just because there are lots of properties in a particular area, that does not mean they are priced within the reach of people on average (or even above average) incomes. Second, many people own more than one home: buy-to-let landlords, for example, may have dozens on their books. There is another problem that does not get the attention it needs: too many family-sized homes are being lived in by older people who, bluntly, do not need them. It is now quite normal to find younger people crammed into homes too small for their needs (in London, for example, one in six rented homes is now officially classed as overcrowded) while, at the same time and on the very same streets, others are living in large houses with many empty rooms. It is a woeful way of making the best use of the limited housing stock we have, yet politicians are too scared to talk about it. And so the situation goes on: the bedrooms that could be used to house the families desperately in need of them are instead being left empty: doors closed, heating off, moths their only inhabitants. This problem of what the experts call “under-occupancy” is particularly pronounced in homes owned by the elderly. Eighty per cent of over-65s own their own homes and, in general, they are not short on space. The average size of a property owned by someone in this age group is a spacious 110 square metres , according to experts at the London School of Economics. Yet half of them live alone. No surprise, then, that two thirds of over-65s say they have at least two spare bedrooms. As a result, 86 per cent of homes occupied by people of that age are classed as “under-occupied” – much higher than for other age groups. The fact that family-sized homes are being monopolised by older generations is one reason why we have a shortage of them. As a result, parents with children are too often having to settle for less room than they require. And this, of course, has a huge impact on their ability to have more children: a lack of space, and the unaffordability of housing, is one reason why the UK’s birth rate has plummeted to concerning levels. The market is not solving the problem, either: despite a shortage of three- and four-bedroom houses, developers make more profit cramming one and two-bedroom flats into their developments, meaning the supply of family-sized homes is failing match the demand. None of this, it should go without saying, is the fault of pensioners. They may have benefited from a housing market that is broken, but it wasn’t them that broke it. However, that does not hide the hard truth that Britain isn’t just failing to build enough new homes where they are needed – we are also not making effective use of the ones we already have. So what to do? It is a sensitive question, because nobody wants older people to feel forced to move out. And yet, if the system worked better, everybody would benefit from pensioners downsizing more often than they currently are. This is not about charity: we cannot expect over-65s to vacate the homes they have lived in, on average, for 25 years just because it might benefit somebody else. Instead, the Government needs to find ways to make sure that downsizing is works for them too. A carrot-and-stick approach is needed. First, councils need to do a better job of making sure that there are attractive homes available for older people to move into. Retirement communities, which are much more common in other parts of Europe, should be a bigger part of local plans. This could also help with the loneliness epidemic afflicting Britain’s pensioners. One in five over-65s say they frequently feel lonely – a situation not helped by so many living alone in large, mostly empty homes. Read Next Welcome to Hastings, the hidden homelessness capital of the UK Older people should also be given financial incentives to help them downsize. While some experts have called for a stamp-duty exemption for people downsizing, that would be fundamentally unfair. Why should wealthier homeowners cashing in on the house price boom have to pay less tax than first-time buyers who have sacrificed so much to scrabble together a deposit? A better option would be to give older people the option of delaying stamp duty payments so that the sum comes out of their estate when they die, rather than having to be paid when they move home. Once the incentives and help to downsize are in place, the Government should ask those not making good use of their homes to contribute more in council tax. If that seems controversial, it shouldn’t be: homes that are left empty for more than a year are already charged council tax at a premium rate – sometimes as much as four times the normal levy. There is no reason why a similar rule could not be applied to homes that are mostly empty. To avoid having to pay the tax, those living in heavily under-occupied homes could rent out rooms to people looking for somewhere to live. Older people who – very understandably – might not want to start sharing their home with strangers could be helped to look into downsizing. At the very least, the single-person discount on council tax should be abolished for those in under-occupied properties. This is not about punishing people in big homes or trying to force them to move. Nor is it about asking pensioners to make sacrifices for the benefit of young people. This is simply a case of using the tax system to encourage older people to take decisions that would benefit them too. By moving to a smaller property almost certain to cost less than the one they are selling, they will free up some of their wealth to enable them to make the most of their later years, rather than having to skimp or suffer because all their money is tied up in bricks and mortar. This, in turn, has further benefits for the welfare state, which currently spends eye-watering amounts supporting wealthy but cash-poor pensioners, via policies like the triple lock . Ultimately, wealth is wealth . The state should not have to continue subsidising those with wealth far above the average amount just so they can continue to avoid needing to bank their profits. This is a difficult and sensitive issue, which is why it has largely been ignored. But it is in everybody’s interests for Britain to begin a new conversation about downsizing. Yes, we need to build new homes far quicker than we currently are, but our housing crisis cannot be solved just by concreting over more and more of the country. We also need to look at who owns the homes we already have, and whether they are making good use of them. Too often, the answer is no. And, as politically sensitive as it may be, that needs to start to change. Ben Kentish presents his LBC show from Monday to Friday at 10pm, and is former Westminster editorNone

WSU Vancouver students create interactive app to learn about Woodland art inspired by Cowlitz Tribe

Over 5.59 lakh aspirants apply for 4,002 police constable posts in J&K