Buddhist monks concluded a 108-day, 2,300-mile peace walk from Texas to Washington, D.C., this week, as a partial government shutdown loomed, potentially impacting air travel, and questions swirled around the brief closure of the El Paso International Airport. Meanwhile, the Berlin Film Festival prepared to open with a film from Afghanistan.
Thousands gathered at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday to welcome the Buddhist monks who had completed their journey, according to NPR News. The monks' walk, which began in Texas, aimed to promote peace.
Simultaneously, lawmakers warned of potential disruptions to air travel as Congress approached a funding deadline that could shutter the Department of Homeland Security. The acting head of the Transportation Security Administration, Ha Nguyen McNeill, reminded a House Appropriations subcommittee that a protracted shutdown would leave most TSA officers working without pay, potentially impacting security at over 430 commercial airports nationwide, according to Time. "A lack of funding and predictability of resourcing will pose significant challenges to our ability to deliver transportation security with the level of excellence we expect and Americans deserve," McNeill stated.
Adding to the week's developments, the El Paso International Airport briefly closed and reopened, sparking confusion. While an initial announcement suggested a 10-day closure, the situation was quickly clarified, though the exact reasons for the shutdown remained unclear, according to Vox.
In other news, the Berlin Film Festival was set to open with "No Good Men," a film from Afghanistan directed by Shahrbanoo Sadat. The film, which features an onscreen kiss and a vibrator, mixes romance, politics, and humor, according to Variety.
Finally, Vox reported that a Washington, D.C., grand jury had failed to indict Democratic lawmakers in a recent attempt.
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