Latest news with #TSO
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
5 ways to make a TSA officer hate you — and how to avoid it
Ever feel like a TSA officer has it out for you? You're not alone. The Transportation Security Administration screens millions of passengers daily. If you've never worked security at an airport, you probably can't imagine what it's like repeating the same instructions every few seconds, only to be ignored half the time. So, yes, some officers may seem short with you, but often, it's less about rudeness and more about exhaustion. TSA Officers don't actually hate you. But the truth is, they might be extremely annoyed with you—and for good reason. Still, knowing what grinds their gears can help you breeze through security faster and with fewer hiccups. Here's your unofficial guide to not being that traveler. You're late. Your gate is boarding. And you're contemplating begging a TSA officer to let you cut the line. Let me stop you right there. It's not going to work. If TSA made exceptions for every late passenger, there'd be chaos. Officers follow protocol to maintain fairness and order. But here's a Gate Access Tip: build rapport. When I was a TSO, frequent flyers who took the time to say hello, ask how I was doing, or follow up on previous conversations occasionally got waved through during slower moments. So instead of pushing your luck with entitlement, try kindness and consistency. You might be surprised how far it gets you. Trying to speed things up by handing over your family's entire batch of boarding passes? Don't. Each passenger is expected to present their own ID and boarding pass. This ensures accuracy, particularly in the age of facial recognition technology. It also reduces confusion and keeps lines moving smoothly. Gate Access Tip: If you're unsure, just ask: 'Would you prefer we go one-by-one?' Officers appreciate the courtesy, and it helps keep you from being added to their already long list of annoying travelers. You know that moment when the officer asks, 'Anything in your pockets?' and you say no, but the body scanner flags you anyway? Chances are, you left a crumpled tissue or receipt in there. And guess what? That 'harmless' tissue just made your screening process 10 minutes longer. Body scanners are extremely sensitive, designed to detect even the smallest objects. When you set off an alarm, it creates extra work and may trigger a pat-down. And no, saying 'It's just paper' won't help your case. Gate Access Tip: Before you get in line, do a full pocket sweep—not just for metal, but for paper, gum, and even ChapStick. If you didn't know, you can keep Chapstick in your hand. All you have to do is open the top so the TSA officer can take a quick look inside the tube. When your bag gets pulled aside, hands off. Seriously. That 'restricted side' of the conveyor belt isn't just a holding area—it's a controlled inspection zone. TSA officers are trained to inspect bags in a specific order, and interfering, even just to grab your shoes, can be seen as a security breach. Gate Access Tip: Want to avoid being barefoot for 10 minutes? Send your shoes through in a separate bin. That way, if your bag is flagged, you can still grab your shoes and at least stand comfortably while you wait. Choosing a pat-down over the full-body scanner is 100% within your rights. You have the legal authority to opt out of the scanner for any reason, whether for religious beliefs, health concerns, or personal discomfort. That said, TSA officers dread this option. Why? Because it requires stopping what they're doing, calling for a same-gender officer, and going through a time-consuming physical screening process. If you choose this route, pack your patience. It may take longer, especially during peak travel times when staff are stretched thin. But don't let officer frustration deter you because it's your right, and you should feel comfortable exercising it. TSA officers aren't trying to ruin your vacation; they're actually there to make sure you make it to your vacation safely. They're doing a high-stress job, often under tight time constraints. By avoiding these common missteps, you'll not only make their day a little easier, but you'll also make your own journey smoother. So next time you're at your home airport and navigating through the TSA checkpoint, try to stand out and be known as non-problematic, especially if you're a frequent flyer. It might not get you upgraded to first class, but it could save you some serious hassle.
Reuters
02-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Swedish grid operator forecasts less severe power crunch this winter
OSLO, June 2 (Reuters) - Sweden is expected to face less of a crunch on power supply this winter than in previous years as higher energy prices have curbed demand, though southern Sweden remains in deficit, grid operator Svenska Kraftnat said on Monday. The transmission system operator (TSO) estimated a power balance during peak load hours of 600 megawatt hours (MWh) per hour under normal temperatures but warned of a 600 MWh/h deficit in the event of a colder-than-usual winter. In theory, this means Sweden will not depend on net imports to cover peak demand hours, it said in its 2025 report on the power balance in the Swedish market. The TSO publishes a new report every year and previously forecast a 3,800 MWh/h deficit for the 2025/26 winter, but has now lowered its expectations for peak load demand, it said. "This is largely due to increased price awareness among electricity customers," Eva Vitell, head of Svenska Kraftnat's system division, said in a statement. Electricity demand in Sweden totalled 135 terawatt hours (TWh) in the past three years, down from around 140 TWh in the years before the 2022 energy crisis, which resulted in record-high prices, it said. Consumption last winter - which meteorologists described as unusually mild - peaked at 22,500 MWh/h on January 13, the lowest winter peak since records began in 1997/98, the TSO said. While southern Sweden has a generation capacity deficit, northern Sweden has seen a boom in wind power installations creating a power surplus. Svenska Kraftnat forecast a power balance in southern Sweden of -7,700 MWh/h this winter in the case of normal temperatures, with the shortfall expected to be offset by power flows from northern Sweden and imports from neighbouring countries.
The Star
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
KL strikes a chord as Tokyo Symphony debuts and KL Orchestra Fest lifts off
The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is set to make its Malaysian debut with a concert at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) in Kuala Lumpur this Sunday (June 1), marking a new milestone in cultural collaboration between Japan and Malaysia. Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata said this aligns perfectly with the TSO's Asia Project philosophy of embracing diverse cultural values and promoting mutual understanding through music. Comprising 80 musicians, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra will perform under the baton of Naoto Otomo, who has also appeared in orchestras outside of Japan, including with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and Orchestre National de Lorraine. "Western classical music has had a profound and enduring impact on Japan's cultural landscape since its introduction into the school curriculum as part of the Meiji government's modernisation policy efforts nearly 150 years ago,' Shikata said in a statement. Award-winning Japanese pianist Tomoharu Ushida will take the DFP stage in Kuala Lumpur to perform Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 In E minor with the TSO. The evening continues with Mussorgsky's iconic Pictures At An Exhibition, brought to life in all its vivid, orchestral colour. Founded in 1946, TSO regularly performs operas and ballets at Tokyo's New National Theatre and has played 79 concerts across 58 cities worldwide. Shikata added he has fond memories of attending concerts by the City of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra in Kyoto during his school days. "After starting my diplomatic career, I had the wonderful experience of attending classical music concerts conducted by global icon Seiji Ozawa at the Boston Symphony Orchestra. "Since then, I have frequently attended classical music concerts in Tokyo, as well as in Washington DC, Paris, London and Beijing,' he said. Strings across the capital Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will host the 2025 Kuala Lumpur Orchestra Festival (FOKL) from May 31 to June 29 at selected venues across the city. In a statement, DBKL said the annual festival aims to promote orchestral music regionally and offer inclusive, world-class cultural experiences. "Throughout the month-long programme, the public can experience a unique blend of Western classical music and traditional local instruments, performed by local and international orchestras, celebrating the richness and diversity of Malaysia's distinct culture," the statement read. Now in its second edition, FOKL 2025 goes beyond music to celebrate culture, community, and unity, reinforcing Kuala Lumpur's identity as a culturally vibrant global city. This year's expanded programme is presented in partnership with the Kuala Lumpur Society, with a vision to position the capital as a South-East Asian hub for orchestral music. In addition to orchestral performances, FOKL 2025 will host masterclasses by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (TSO), giving local musicians and educators valuable access to world-class training. The festival also highlights youth participation, with school students across Kuala Lumpur given the opportunity to perform on a professional stage alongside seasoned musicians. DBKL will hold a charity concert for the Malaysian Association for the Blind on May 31 at Auditorium Bandaraya, and invite over 60 Kuala Lumpur schools to free selected performances, expanding access to live orchestral music. To ensure inclusivity, DBKL is partnering with the OKU GNB Welfare Association to facilitate the attendance of persons with disabilities. FOKL will also host a regional forum on orchestra management, uniting music leaders from across Asia, including the Association of Japanese Symphony Orchestras, Beijing-based critics and conductors from Bangkok, to help strengthen the regional orchestral ecosystem. "The forum will serve as a dynamic platform for exchanging insights, addressing challenges, and sharing best practices in contemporary orchestra management, while jointly shaping strategies to advance the orchestral music industry across East and South-East Asia," the statement added. – Bernama
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Illumina widens access to cancer tests with Medicare and new CDx
Illumina is expanding access to its oncology range of in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests, as the company's TruSight Oncology (TSO) Comprehensive IVD is now covered under Medicare. This coverage also extends to most commercial health plans in the US. Preceding the US announcement, Illumina also announced that TSO Comprehensive has been approved by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). TSO uses next-generation sequencing (NGS) to detect variants in more than 500 genes using nucleic acids extracted from tumour tissue samples from cancer patients with solid malignant neoplasms to increase the likelihood that immuno-oncology or clinically actionable biomarkers will be identified. Illumina's chief commercial officer Everett Cunningham said: 'With our growing portfolio of distributable clinical solutions, we are unlocking the next new standard of care for clinicians and their patients.' As part of a 2023 partnership with Pillar Bioscience, Illumina will offer the former's oncoReveal CDx to patients as of mid-2025. Used in sync with Illumina's MiSeq Dx system, oncoReveal detects genetic variations in 22 genes and is intended for previously diagnosed patients with solid tumours. As of last month, the kit is also covered under Medicare. Pillar's chief marketing officer Brian Wright commented: 'With over 66 million people in the US covered by Medicare, reimbursement of oncoReveal CDx will help ensure that highly accurate, actionable, and reimbursable next-generation sequencing testing is available to clinical laboratories and biopharmaceutical companies.' Illumina's TSO Comprehensive test and two companion diagnostic (CDx) indications secured approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year. The CDx indications are for establishing whether adults and paediatric patients will benefit from treatment with Bayer's Vitrakvi (larotrectinib) when neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusions are detected in solid tumours. They also determine adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). TSO Comprehensive is part of Illumina's broader TSO product portfolio. The company previously announced plans to launch TruSight Oncology 500 v2, a new version of its flagship next-NGS cancer assay for comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) of solid tumours, by mid-2025. According to GlobalData, the global NGS test devices market is set to reach a valuation of $5.1bn by 2033. Alongside Illumina, other leaders in the space include Thermo Fisher Scientific and Agilent Technologies. "Illumina widens access to cancer tests with Medicare and new CDx" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Terna, IPTO partner for new Italy-Greece electrical interconnection
Terna, the Italian national grid operator, has signed a three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with IPTO, the Greek Transmission System Operator (TSO), to develop a new electrical interconnection between the two countries, known as the GRITA 2 project. The agreement, signed in Rome during the Italy-Greece Intergovernmental Summit, sets the stage for a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link between the countries. It will also augment existing assets and facilitate future network expansions. The MOU outlines a joint governance framework to strategise and coordinate project activities. The estimated investment by Terna and IPTO for this venture stands at €1.9bn. With a transmission capacity of up to 1GW, the link will span roughly 300km, including a subsea section extending up to 240km at depths reaching 1km. This initiative will bolster the existing 500MW connection that has been in operation since 2002. The connection will enhance energy security and support decarbonisation efforts in the Mediterranean region. The Italian terminus of the subsea cable will be located in Melendugno, with a new converter station planned for Galatina, both within the province of Lecce. Terna CEO and general manager Giuseppina Di Foggia said: "The new submarine power link between Italy and Greece will enhance energy security in southern Italy and facilitate efficient energy procurement by enabling new resources and maintaining energy exchange between the two countries. Operating alongside the existing interconnection, which has been in service since 2002, this project will further increase the efficiency of electricity transmission." Future agreements will cover the joint management of procurement for the cable and converter station, as well as the overall implementation of the project. The GRITA 2 project is already part of the European TSOs' ten-year network development plan for 2024 and has been proposed for inclusion in the second list of Projects of Common Interest/Projects of Mutual Interest. IPTO chairman and CEO Manos Manousakis said: "Electrical interconnectivity plays a vital role in advancing Europe's climate goals and clean energy transition. The new energy corridor between Greece and Italy will not only expand the capacity for electricity exchange but also bolster energy security and enhance the efficiency of the integrated European electricity market, delivering tangible benefits to consumers in both nations.' "Terna, IPTO partner for new Italy-Greece electrical interconnection" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
