US House re-elect Pelosi as leader

WASHINGTON: Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday swept aside a challenge to her Democratic leadership in the US House of Representatives by a congressman from a blue-collar district who warned the party has lost touch with workingclass Americans.

Pelosi, 76, retained her post as minority leader after an anxious closed-door vote in which she survived a challenge from congressman Tim Ryan of Youngstown, Ohio to extend her 13-year grip on party control in the chamber.

“Honored to be elected by my colleagues to serve as Democratic Leader. Let’s get to work,” Pelosi said on Twitter. — AFP

Chinese pilot suspended for urging passengers to protest delay

BEIJING: A Chinese pilot has been suspended, his airline said, after social media footage showed he told passengers to deplane and protest against a flight delay, the latest outburst over the country’s notorious air transport services.

The flight, operated by Lucky Air, was scheduled to leave the tourist destination of Xishuangbanna for the southern city of Kunming at midnight on Monday.

Thirty minutes after the scheduled departure, the captain told passengers that a plane operated by a larger carrier had jumped the queue and caused the delay, according to a passenger who posted a video on China’s Twitter-like Weibo.

“I am very angry. Please get off the plane. We won’t depart for now. Let’s put some pressure on the airport, go and vent for me,” the passenger on the video quoted the pilot as saying.

Passengers got off and started yelling on the tarmac: “Explain the queue-jumping! A plane scheduled behind us took off first!” People began taking selfies and kicking around shuttlecocks, the passenger said. — AFP