Aiming to solve what officials delicately called “a minor enthusiasm deficit,” the federal government announced Wednesday that the Tren Maya — the multi‑billion‑dollar rail project promoted as the crown jewel of Mexican infrastructure — will soon be replaced by an enormous aerial cable car system stretching across the Yucatán Peninsula.
An impression of what the potential new cable car service would look like... if this was real.
Officials described the project as a “logical next step” after noticing that, on most days, the train’s 1,500 kilometers of track were primarily used by a rotating cast of two tourists, a mango vendor, and at least one enthusiastic influencer filming a “solo jungle commute” vlog.
The new Teleférico Maya will reportedly stretch across five states, eight ecosystems, and approximately four billion bureaucracy forms. Engineers describe it as a “sustainable aerial ribbon of progress,” though sources confirm that 40 percent of it will be conveniently “under repair” before it opens.
Asked about the environmental impact, officials emphasized the project’s “minimal footprint,” noting that “it only requires cutting down a few trees for support towers, which is still fewer than last time.”
Sources confirmed that preliminary surveys already showed increased public interest—though most respondents believed the project was satire.
At press time, the Secretariat of Tourism unveiled plans to market the new ride as “the most Instagrammable infrastructure project in Latin America,” emphasizing that while it won’t connect Mayan cities by rail, it will offer “unparalleled views of all the archaeological sites we definitely didn’t disturb.”
American Airlines is waiving change fees for flights booked by Jan. 19, 2026, for travel Jan. 23–25, 2026, to/through over 30 airports due to a winter storm, including Basic Economy. Rebooking must be completed by Jan. 25, 2026, in the same cabin (no origin/destination changes), with travel rebooked through Jan. 28, 2026.
Key Details on 2026 Winter Storm Waivers:
Affected Locations: Over 30 airports, including Charlotte (CLT), Asheville, Columbia, Greensboro, Greenville-Spartanburg, Raleigh-Durham, and Wilmington.
Eligibility: Tickets must be booked on or before Jan. 19, 2026, for travel between Jan. 23 and Jan. 25, 2026.
Rebooking Window: New travel must be rebooked by Jan. 25, 2026, and completed by Jan. 28, 2026.
Conditions: The origin and destination cities must remain the same.
Fare Class: The waiver applies to all classes, including Basic Economy.
General Policies
24-Hour Rule: A full refund is available for any ticket booked at least 2 days before departure, if cancelled within 24 hours of purchase.
Standard Changes: Generally, non-refundable tickets can be changed without a fee, though a fare difference may apply.
For the most up-to-date information, it is recommended to check the American Airlines travel alerts page directly.
On January 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of State officially reduced Jamaica’s travel advisory to Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. This update reflects the country’s progress in recovering from Hurricane Melissa, which hit the island in late October 2025 and had previously triggered an increase to Level 3.
Key details of the current Jamaica Travel Advisory include:
Risk Indicators: While the overall level has been lowered, the State Department still advises caution due to crime, health, and natural disaster risks.
Hurricane Recovery: Major airports have reopened, but western areas like Montego Bay and Black River are still in various stages of recovery from post-storm infrastructure impacts.
Medical Care: The advisory warns that basic and specialized medical services may be limited in many parts of the island.
High-Risk Zones: Certain areas, including parts of St. Catherine, Clarendon, and specific neighborhoods in St. Ann, remain under a Level 4: Do Not Travel warning due to high crime.
Traveler Precautions: U.S. citizens are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive real-time security updates.
Sphere Entertainment is preparing to bring its signature immersive venue concept to the Washington, D.C. region — this time in a more compact form. The company has announced plans to build a 6,000‑seat Sphere at National Harbor in Maryland, positioned beside the MGM National Harbor casino. The project would mark the first “smaller‑scale” version of the Las Vegas Sphere, which seats more than 17,000.
State officials and developers describe the venue as a major cultural and economic opportunity for Prince George’s County. The proposed structure would feature the same striking Exosphere — the programmable LED exterior that has become a global visual icon — though scaled to fit the waterfront site overlooking the Potomac River. The location is currently a parking lot, according to planning details.
The Maryland Sphere would be only the second in the United States and the third worldwide, following the Las Vegas flagship and a planned venue in Abu Dhabi. The project is expected to be supported by a mix of public and private funding, including roughly $200 million in incentives from state, local, and private partners.
Local leaders say the venue could help fill the gap left by several entertainment closures in the region and further elevate National Harbor as a destination for tourism, nightlife, and large‑scale events. Sphere Entertainment CEO James Dolan emphasized that the company aims to build a “global network of Spheres” in forward‑looking cities, with National Harbor serving as the first example of the new, smaller design model.
The timeline for construction remains uncertain, as the project still requires formal agreements and government approvals. But if it moves forward, the National Harbor Sphere could become one of the region’s most distinctive landmarks — and a new East Coast hub for immersive entertainment.
The United States has long been one of the many countries where people are allowed to have more than one passport, or what's commonly known as dual citizenship or nationality. While the U.S. isn't the world's easiest place to acquire dual citizenship (except via the birthright route) because there are some exceptions to eligibility, most U.S. citizens are, for the most part, free to become nationals of other nations and travel with as many passports as they so desire.
However, American travelers are being warned that a Republican Senator's newly proposed bill could strip away that freedom. Moreover, should the new ban rule be enforced, it would render some Americans' passports, along with their U.S. citizenship, null and void, either by choice or force.
According to the U.S. Department of State, Americans who were born in the U.S. but then raised in another country are allowed to keep both passports. Similarly, Americans who become naturalized somewhere new later in life can also keep both passports. In reverse, foreigners who acquire U.S. citizenship can, in most cases, continue to hold both passports as well.
"U.S. law does not require a U.S. citizen to choose between U.S. citizenship and another (foreign) nationality (or nationalities). A U.S. citizen may naturalize in a foreign state without any risk to their U.S. citizenship," the State Department writes.
It's been this way for decades. But U.S. citizens' right to hold multiple passports (and citizenships) could soon be removed under a new proposal.
The Exclusive Citizenship Act Of 2025 Would End Americans' Right To Hold Multiple Passports And Citizenships
Republican Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio proposed the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 in late 2025. His new bill would effectively end dual citizenship for Americans—that includes Americans who hold and travel with their U.S. passport and any others.
Currently, the State Department emphasizes that "U.S. dual nationals owe allegiance to both the United States and the foreign country (or countries, if they are nationals of more than one)." However, if mandated, the law would require U.S. citizens to owe "sole and exclusive allegiance" to the United States.
In other words, Americans with dual citizenship must choose one passport to keep, and be forced to give up all others—if they want to keep their American passport and citizenship, that is. There are two possible outcomes.
Americans would have to formally renounce any foreign citizenship to keep their U.S. passport and citizenship. Alternatively, if they choose to keep their other non-American passport and citizenship instead, they'd have to forfeit their U.S. passport and citizenship.
If the bill becomes law, Americans who already hold U.S. citizenship and another nationality would have one year to decide which one to keep. Its enactment would start a 180-day timer until the new rules apply.
Additionally, any U.S. citizens who later acquire foreign citizenship in another nation would automatically be considered to have relinquished their American citizenship—meaning they're stripped of their U.S. status and American passport.
Senator Moreno's reasoning for the proposed legislation comes down to loyalty to the U.S. He also argues that banning dual nationality is essential to maintaining national identity and preventing divided allegiances and conflicts of interest.
"One of the greatest honors of my life was when I became an American citizen at 18, the first opportunity I could do so," Senator Moreno said. "It was an honor to pledge an Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America and ONLY to the United States of America!" he added. But while reminiscing, he made his "all or nothing" stance clear.
This switch is a stark difference from how the U.S. has approached dual nationality in the past. Current U.S. law doesn’t force Americans to choose between passports, even if they naturalize in another country (one of the various ways to acquire citizenship). Millions of people have U.S. citizenship alongside another, most commonly because they were born and/or raised elsewhere, or due to where their parents came from. Plus, many have simply built lives in more than one country—some citizenships are far easier than others to obtain, after all.
Dual citizens also typically have legal obligations to both the U.S. and the other nations where they hold citizenship. These include taxes, travel requirements, and even military service. They also have to use their U.S. passport when entering or leaving the United States, and, in some cases, they may need their other passport when traveling internationally. All of this is and has been legal—until now, if Moreno's bill is enacted.
Would Senator Moreno's Exclusive Citizenship Act Force Native Americans To Choose Between Tribal Affiliations And U.S. Citizenship?
Additionally, there remain questions regarding the bill's impact on Native American tribes. The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 granted U.S. citizenship for Native Americans and allowed birthright citizenship for all indigenous people born within U.S. territory. But this legislation also lets them preserve their tribal affiliations in a special kind of dual status.
However, Senator Moreno's bill, in all likelihood, wouldn't affect Native Americans who hold this unique type of dual status because federally recognized tribes aren't considered foreign nations; they're viewed as domestic dependent nations within the U.S. As Forbes reported, the U.S. Supreme Court in Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, 30 U.S. 1 (1831) established this distinction.
Still, the bill could create consequences for others, though, beyond just Americans who use their U.S. passport for travel.
The Exclusive Citizenship Act Could Affect Other Americans (Beyond Just Travelers Who Use A U.S. Passport)
Those who lose their U.S. citizenship may face harsh exit taxes, plus the potential loss of social security benefits and the right to vote. Transfer taxes may also be imposed on U.S. citizens receiving gifts or bequests from certain expats who no longer have American citizenship. One demographic, however, faces a particularly less-talked-about risk: U.S. military retirees with dual citizenship.
The Department of Defense generally works on the consensus that military retirees' entitlement to retirement pay is incompatible with U.S. citizenship loss. The reason is that citizenship is viewed as a key factor for U.S. armed forces membership. Retired pay requires retired military status, which could disappear along with a military retiree's U.S. citizenship if they lost or relinquished it under Senator Moreno's bill.
The Exclusive Citizenship Act Would Add The U.S. To The List Of Countries Where Dual Citizenship And Multiple Passports Are Prohibited
The Exclusive Citizenship Act is only a proposal right now; Congress would need to pass it first, not to mention there would probably be waves of legal challenges to overcome before it ever becomes a reality. Even so, if it did manage to slide through lawmakers, the U.S. would join a long list of around 51 or so countries where dual citizenship and multiple passports aren't recognized.
Countries That Don't Recognize Dual Citizenship In 2026 (Listed Alphabetically)
Rank
Country
1
Andorra
2
Azerbaijan
3
Bahamas
4
Bahrain
5
Belarus
6
Botswana
7
Bhutan
8
China
9
Cuba
10
Congo
11
Djibouti
12
Ethiopia
13
Haiti
14
India
15
Indonesia
16
Iran
17
Japan
18
Kazakhstan
19
Kuwait
20
Kyrgyzstan
21
Laos
22
Macau
23
Malaysia
24
Marshall Islands
25
Micronesia
26
Monaco
27
Mongolia
28
Mozambique
29
Myanmar
30
Nepal
31
North Korea
32
Oman
33
Papua New Guinea
34
Qatar
35
San Marino
36
Saudi Arabia
37
Singapore
38
Slovakia
39
Solomon Islands
40
Swaziland
41
Tajikistan
42
Thailand
43
Tonga
44
Turkmenistan
45
Ukraine
46
Uzbekistan
47
United Arab Emirates
48
Venezuela
49
Vietnam
50
Yemen
51
Zimbabwe
Some of these countries do have indirect workarounds; for instance, India's OCI status and China's use of long-term permits allow limited benefits without needing to accept a second passport.
Furthermore, while the U.S. considers removing dual nationality and multiple passport-holding rights, other countries on the above list are debating reforms to their laws. Two of those are Ukraine and Ecuador, which are reviewing restrictions for 2025–2026.
Enforcement of dual citizenship bans in a number of these countries is often uneven. Many authorities don't actively search for people with more than one nationality. However, if the U.S. joins them under Senator Moreno's new bill proposal, federal agencies would apparently track compliance and alter/remove citizenship from anyone who doesn't choose by the deadline.
Naturally, Americans' reactions to the possibility of passports and citizenship revocations have, so far, been very mixed.
How Some Americans Have Responded To The Potential Ban On Dual Citizenship And Passports
Many Americans have reacted since it was revealed that Senator Moreno's Exclusive Citizenship Act could strip away the right to hold dual citizenship and passports. Responses have been fairly divided, however.
Over on Facebook, some people both supported and condemned the bill. A number of those who like the idea of relinquishing their U.S. passport and citizenship cited freedom from taxation (all American citizens must complete tax returns and pay any owed taxes to the IRS, regardless of whether they live and work in the U.S.).
Although some did agree with the proposal, plenty of Americans (and non-Americans) chimed in with opposition. Some people accused politicians of hypocrisy. "Congress is rife with conflicts of interest. What a crock this bill is," one person wrote on Facebook. Some TheTravel users similarly agreed with the hypocritical standpoint and challenged Senator Moreno's claims about loyalty to the U.S.
Meanwhile, others speculated that U.S. international politics has played a role in the bill: "They want to do this cause they are making enemies of our allies and neighboring countries," someone wrote on Facebook. Others said they believe the act could hurt the integrity of global diplomacy in the U.S.
Granted, America's potential dual citizenship and passport ban rule may only be in the proposal stage for the time being, but its emergence is already a conversation-starter that's drawing both positive and negative reactions.
As more people than ever before hold multiple passports in their pockets, notably in a nation as diverse and multicultural as the U.S., would Senator Moreno's Exclusive Citizenship Act garner more loyalty to the USA? Or would it deter people and force a slew of American passport renunciations? U.S. citizens will undeniably find out the answer should they cross that bridge.
Capital One signed an agreement to build a lounge in Charlotte. It will be on the mezzanine level of the Concourse A expansion. At ~ 14,000 square feet it will be Capital One’s largest lounge to date. New York JFK is 13,500 square feet.
We don’t know much about the specific offerings at the lounge beyond “expansive tarmac views, locally inspired menus, a full-service coffee bar, and dedicated workspaces.”
Capital One currently has lounges at:
Dallas – Fort Worth
Denver
Las Vegas
New York JFK
Washington Dulles
Washington National (“Landing”)
And a Capital One Landing is expected to open soon at New York LaGuardia.
What we know so far about Charlotte is simply a concessions lease. There’s no timing available yet. They’ll work on concept and schematics, airport approvals (design standards, security, mechanical/engineering/plumbing tie-ins), permitting, and buildout. That won’t happen quickly. Phase II of the airport’s Concourse A Expansion opened in September 2024. Delta’s Sky Club is 14,000 square feet on the mezzanine there.
While some might hope to see this lounge before the end of 2027, and Charlotte should be an easier building environment than LAX or New York JFK, we could also be looking at 2028.
I’m excited to see the development, though, and it means the experience in Charlotte is going to get a lot better. American is building a new Admirals Club and Flagship lounge, and they’ve opened their Grab ‘n Go market (“Provisions”). There’s a The Club and a couple of Minute Suites as well as a Centurion lounge. But nothing there today is particularly attractive today. In fact, I avoid Charlotte connections when possible. But I much look forward to seeing Capital One there.
Touchless ID allows TSA PreCheck passengers to move through the security checkpoint without needing to present their ID. Even better, it’s usually the quickest (and shortest) line at airport security.
Image Credit: TSA
However, it’s only available at 15 airports in the U.S. right now.
That’s set to change, as the TSA plans to bring this technology to an additional 50 airports by the end of spring, increasing the total number of airports offering it from 15 to 65.
Where will you find Touchless ID? Let’s take a look.
You need to opt into this service, though; simply having TSA PreCheck doesn’t automatically enroll you. Touchless ID offers a dedicated lane at airport security, when available, and my experience has been that this line is the shortest at security, helping me get through the line and on my way as efficiently as possible.
To participate, you need to upload a valid U.S. passport to your frequent flyer account with a participating airline. You can only use the Touchless ID lane if an indicator for it shows on your boarding pass.
Presently, Touchless ID is available at just 15 airports with only 5 airlines:
Alaska Airlines: Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), Portland (PDX), Salt Lake City (SLC), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Washington Reagan (DCA)
American Airlines: Atlanta, Charlotte (CLT), Chicago, Dallas (DFW), Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia (LGA), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington Reagan
Delta Air Lines: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Detroit (DTW), Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington Reagan
Southwest Airlines: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Seattle
United Airlines: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Newark, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Washington Reagan
By the end of spring, the number of airports offering TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is expected to increase from 15 to 65, thanks to the introduction of 50 additional locations. That’s a 433% increase.
First priority is to add it to these locations: Anchorage (ANC), Baltimore (BWI), Boston (BOS), Dallas Love Field (DAL), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Houston-Bush (IAH), Houston-Hobby (HOU), John Wayne-Orange County (SNA), Kansas City (MCI), Long Beach (LGB), Miami (MIA), Orlando (MCO), West Palm Beach (PBI), San Jose (SJC), Sacramento (SMF), and Washington Dulles (IAD).
Image Credit: TSA
By the end of spring, you’ll find these airports joining, as well: Albuquerque (ABQ), Austin (AUS), Birmingham (BHM), Boise (BOI), Buffalo (BUF), Charleston, South Carolina (CHS), Chicago Midway (MDW), Cincinnati (CVG), Cleveland (CLE), Columbus (CMH), Hartford Bradley (BDL), Honolulu (HNL), Indianapolis (IND), Jacksonville (JAX), Milwaukee (MKE), Nashville (BNA), New Orleans (MSY), Oklahoma City (OKC), Palm Springs (PSP), Phoenix (PHX), Pittsburgh (PIT), Providence (PVD), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), San Antonio (SAT), San Diego (SAN), San Juan (SJU), St. Louis (STL), Tampa (TPA), Tulsa (TUL), and Westchester County (HPN).
TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is about to undergo a significant expansion, increasing from its current 15 locations to 65 by the end of spring. Those 50 new locations represent a 433% increase in the number of airports where you can use this service; however, remember that you must opt in before you can use it.
