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Even after marking his 500th game in charge of with a much-needed victory, Pep Guardiola insisted his team has ¿no chance¿ of winning a fifth straight Premier League title. Guardiola looked visibly relieved after City ended a five-game winless run in all competitions by beating Leicester 2-0 on Sunday, only a second victory in 14 matches after the worst stretch of results in the Spanish manager's illustrious career. The win still left City 14 points behind Liverpool after the leaders trounced West Ham 5-0 away, with Arne Slot's team also having a game in hand. So after winning an unprecedented four straight Premier League titles, Guardiola has already written off his team's chances before reaching January. "We are far away from winning the . We accept there's already no chance of that but we have other things to fight for", Guardiola said. Just winning a game is a battle for City these days. A team that used to easily beat teams like relegation-threatened Leicester by three or four goals found itself pegged back for much of the game despite Savinho's 21st-minute opener, and the hosts missed several good chances to equalize before Erling Haaland headed home City's second in the 74th. "Just relief, that is the word to express how all of us feel", Guardiola said. "It was not the ideal performance but hopefully the victories will give our mood a better position. ... Hopefully in the new year we can bounce back a bit from a bad moment." For the first time in a while, Guardiola had a genuine smile on his face as he walked onto the pitch after the final whistle to hug his players and applaud the fans after taking his tally to 362 wins in his 500 games along with 18 trophies. "The players have given me a good present today, celebrating 500 games like this", he said.
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After being bombarded for months with relentless political advertising, the 2024 election couldn’t end soon enough for many Montanans. But, one dedicated group is still digging into the details in hopes of improving the voting system and restoring public trust in its integrity. The Montana Election Observation Initiative sent 118 trained volunteers to monitor 76 polling locations in 16 counties across the state. Voters cast ballots at MetraPark in Billings on Election Day. Leaders of the independent effort to put nonpartisan eyes on the Nov. 5 election recently shared key takeaways after taking a close look at almost all aspects of the state’s voting process. Observers highlighted overall strengths, including local election workers adherence to the law, transparency from officials, a focus on ballot security and widespread regard for voter participation. “When you think about electoral quality and integrity, these strengths are not indicative of an election where someone is intent on malfeasance,” the initiative’s coordinator Daniel Bruce said. Snow and wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour didn't deter voters who waited hours outside the polls at MetraPark's Montana Pavilion in Billings on Election Day. Observers also reported weaknesses, such as long lines at some polling sites, lapses in ID verification, delays in setting up voting machines, insufficient supplies, staff shortages and fatigued election workers. In-person registration and voting is under way at MetraPark on Tuesday. The Georgia-based nonprofit Carter Center funded the observation effort, working in partnership with the University of Montana’s Mansfield Center. The group plans to release a more detailed report of its findings on Jan. 6, making the information available just in time for the upcoming legislative session. Katie Vaughan, director of civic engagement at the Mansfield Center, said initiative leaders hope to work with lawmakers, election officials and political parties to improve Montana’s voting system. Voters fill out registration forms at MetraPark in Billings on Nov. 5. “Our goal is to reinforce public confidence in elections through education and also highlight our role as a nonpartisan voice in this politically polarized environment for the 2024 election and now into the future,” she said. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Apiaries abuzz over ruling against widening cross-border trade in live honeybees'Damn fine journo and a gentleman': Veteran TV3 news reporter dies
Shares of Nvidia fell Monday after China said it is investigating the high-flying U.S. microchip company over suspected violations of Chinese anti-monopoly laws. In a brief news release with few details, Chinese regulators appear to be focusing on Nvidia's $6.9 billion acquisition of network and data transmission company Mellanox in 2019. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Japan, the United States and South Korea affirmed Monday they will continue to closely work together in dealing with North Korea, amid the political chaos in Seoul brought about by President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law. During a meeting in Tokyo, senior officials from the three nations reiterated "serious concerns" over North Korea's advancing military cooperation with Russia, such as its recent dispatch of troops to help in the war against Ukraine, and its nuclear and missile development programs, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry. The gathering came after a North Korea-Russia defense cooperation treaty took effect Wednesday, with the accord including a provision for mutual assistance if either country comes under attack. The talks involved Hiroyuki Namazu, director general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Daniel Kritenbrink, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, and Cho Koo Rae, South Korea's vice foreign minister for strategy and intelligence. The three countries underscored the importance of cooperation "even in the face of various complicating situations," the ministry said, alluding to last week's developments in South Korea. They also discussed progress on initiatives to advance trilateral cooperation to disrupt North Korea's "malicious" cyber activities and reaffirmed their commitment to jointly seeking the immediate return of abductees, detainees and unrepatriated prisoners of war in the country, according to the U.S. State Department. Yoon's declaration of martial law, which lasted only six hours from late Tuesday, triggered harsh criticism from the country's public and lawmakers. The president survived an opposition-led impeachment attempt over the weekend, but the ruling party has said he will not be actively governing ahead of his impending resignation. Since Yoon, a conservative known for his hard-line stance toward North Korea, took office in 2022, the United States and its two close Asian allies have been boosting their defense collaboration. South Korea and Japan have also seen their bilateral ties improve after years of strained ties over wartime compensation and other disputes.
Hudson Joseph Meek, 16, saved five lives with his organs after tragic death, his mother reveals at memorial Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By CASSIE CARPENTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 21:31 GMT, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 21:34 GMT, 29 December 2024 e-mail 15 shares View comments Hudson Joseph Meek was honored at his Celebration of Life in Homewood, AL on Saturday morning following his tragic death, at age 16, from blunt-force trauma on December 21 . The 93-minute memorial dedicated to the Baby Driver alum was held at held at the Dawson Memorial Baptist Church and livestreamed via his Instagram account and his mother Lani Wells Meek's Facebook account. Since Hudson passed away four days before Christmas , the church choir opened with a stirring rendition of Casting Crowns's 2008 song I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. At first, Dawson Memorial Baptist Church senior pastor Dr. David Eldridge - who baptized Meek in 2008 - helped mourners wrap their head around his loss. The Vestavia Hills High School sophomore's heartbroken parents - Lani and Derek - then shared some if their favorite memories of Hudson, including the time he amusingly joined a group of twerking dancers in New Orleans. There was no substances nor suspected foul play involved in Hudson's death, which was the result of him falling out of a moving vehicle in the 1900 block of Canyon Road around 10:45pm on December 19 - according to TMZ . Hudson Joseph Meek was honored at his Celebration of Life in Homewood, AL on Saturday morning following his tragic death, at age 16, from blunt-force trauma on December 21 (pictured September 9) The 93-minute memorial dedicated to the Baby Driver alum was held at held at the Dawson Memorial Baptist Church and livestreamed via his Instagram account and his mother Lani Wells Meek's Facebook account Meek - who was an organ donor - was rushed to the hospital, but sadly succumbed to his injuries two days later. 'Guys, he would be so proud to have known that on Christmas eve, five families learned that their loved ones would be receiving life-saving organs,' Lani informed the audience. 'So on Christmas Day, Hudson saved five lives. He'd be so, so proud of that.' Read More Mystery of Baby Driver star's death deepens with police update The mourning matriarch went on to describe the Rebels footballer as 'bold, spontaneous, and completely unfiltered in the greatest possible way.' According to his Searcy Funeral Home obituary, Hudson - who's also survived by his 19-year-old brother Tucker - had visited all 50 US states and he achieved his advanced open water certification in scuba diving at age 13. Meek's family founded the Hudson J. Meek Memorial Scholarship to be awarded to one student annually, and they've asked for donations to be made via Venmo (HudsonMeekScholarship) or Wells Fargo (Account #5908190381). The devout Christian last portrayed the character Sirius in Todd Wiseman Jr.'s film The School Duel, which has yet to secure distribution after premiering September 6 at the Deauville American Film Festival. Hudson's most memorable role was playing the younger version of Ansel Elgort's character Miles aka 'Baby' in Edgar Wright's critically-acclaimed action film Baby Driver, which amassed $226.9M at the global box office in 2017. Meek's largest role was voicing Bada in 52 episodes of the animated series Badanamu Stories between 2020-2021. The avid skiier also guest-starred in episodes of National Geographic's Genius, The CW's Legacies, NBC's Found, and CBS' MacGyver - as well as movies like Michael Polish's 2015 film 90 Minutes in Heaven and Whitney Hamilton's 2018 film Union. Since Hudson passed away four days before Christmas, the church choir opened with a stirring rendition of Casting Crowns's 2008 song I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day At first, Dawson Memorial Baptist Church senior pastor Dr. David Eldridge - who baptized Meek in 2008 - helped mourners wrap their head around his loss The Vestavia Hills High School sophomore's heartbroken parents - Lani and Derek - then shared some if their favorite memories of Hudson, including the time he amusingly joined a group of twerking dancers in New Orleans There was no substances nor suspected foul play involved in Hudson's death, which was the result of him falling out of a moving vehicle on December 19 Meek - who was an organ donor - was rushed to the hospital, but sadly succumbed to his injuries two days later Lani informed the audience: 'Guys, he would be so proud to have known that on Christmas eve, five families learned that their loved ones would be receiving life-saving organs. So on Christmas Day, Hudson saved five lives. He'd be so, so proud of that' The mourning matriarch went on to describe the Rebels footballer as 'bold, spontaneous, and completely unfiltered in the greatest possible way' (pictured in 2016) Hudson - who's also survived by his 19-year-old brother Tucker - had visited all 50 US states and he achieved his advanced open water certification in scuba diving at age 13 Meek's family founded the Hudson J. Meek Memorial Scholarship to be awarded to one student annually, and they've asked for donations (2014 stock shot) The Badanamu Stories star last portrayed the character Sirius in Todd Wiseman Jr.'s film The School Duel, which has yet to secure distribution after premiering September 6 at the Deauville American Film Festival Hudson's most memorable role was playing the younger version of Ansel Elgort's character Miles aka 'Baby' in Edgar Wright's critically-acclaimed action film Baby Driver, which amassed $226.9M at the global box office in 2017 Meek also guest-starred in episodes of National Geographic's Genius, The CW's Legacies, NBC's Found (pictured September 11), and CBS' MacGyver - as well as movies like Michael Polish's 2015 film 90 Minutes in Heaven and Whitney Hamilton's 2018 film Union Share or comment on this article: Hudson Joseph Meek, 16, saved five lives with his organs after tragic death, his mother reveals at memorial e-mail 15 shares Add comment
Cherished Hands Expands Its Commitment to 24-Hour Home Care in Potomac. 12-24-2024 11:28 PM CET | Health & Medicine Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Grow Senior Care Marketing Providing peace of mind and compassionate home care for Potomac families. Potomac, MD - Cherished Hands, a trusted provider in senior home care, announces its continued dedication to offering 24-hour home care in Potomac. With a focus on supporting families in maintaining the well-being of their loved ones, this service reflects Cherished Hands' commitment to delivering compassionate care designed to enhance the quality of life for seniors in their homes. "Our mission at Cherished Hands is to provide a seamless blend of comfort, companionship, and essential health support," says Abby Sakariyah the owner of Cherished Hands says. "By offering 24-hour home care, we allow Potomac families to enjoy peace of mind knowing their loved ones receive personalized and consistent care around the clock." The expanded 24-hour home care service benefits seniors by supporting their independence and reducing hospitalizations through personalized, preventive care. This approach is especially beneficial for those dealing with chronic conditions, disabilities, or dementia, as it provides the continuous assistance necessary to manage these challenges at home safely. With experienced caregivers available at any hour, families can confidently entrust Cherished Hands to support the unique needs of their loved ones. Round-the-clock home care significantly benefits seniors, particularly those managing chronic health conditions, memory impairments, or limited mobility. With 24-hour supervision, caregivers can immediately respond to any health concerns or emergencies, reducing the need for hospital visits and ensuring continuity of care. This constant presence is crucial for monitoring medication schedules, managing symptoms, and providing support that promotes better health outcomes for seniors. For families, 24-hour home care offers an invaluable sense of security and relief. Knowing their loved ones are in capable hands at all times enables family members to maintain their routines, focus on their work and other responsibilities, and enjoy quality time with their loved ones without the added stress of caregiving. This setup also allows family members to enjoy peace of mind, as professional caregivers are trained to handle a wide array of needs, from daily assistance to specialized care for conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Moreover, 24-hour home care can enhance the emotional well-being of seniors by reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness. With dedicated caregivers, seniors benefit from regular companionship, which fosters social engagement and emotional comfort. Cherished Hands caregivers strive to build meaningful relationships, offering conversation, support, and reassurance, which are vital to the mental and emotional health of elderly clients. This holistic approach helps seniors maintain a fulfilling lifestyle while remaining comfortable in their familiar surroundings. For those interested in learning more about Cherished Hands and their 24-home care in Potomac [ https://cherishedhands.net/24-hour-home-care/ ], please visit their website at https://cherishedhands.net About Cherished Hands Home Health Care: Cherished Hands is a leader in senior home care services, dedicated to enhancing the lives of seniors through compassionate and professional care. With a team of highly skilled caregivers, Cherished Hands provides a full spectrum of services, including 24-hour home care, to ensure that every senior enjoys a dignified, independent life. Based in Potomac, Cherished Hands remains committed to meeting the evolving needs of families and seniors with excellence and care. Media Contact Company Name: Cherished Hands Home Health Care Contact Person: Abby Sakariyah Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=cherished-hands-expands-its-commitment-to-24hour-home-care-in-potomac ] Phone: +1 240 550 6035 Address:18526 Office Park Dr City: Montgomery Village State: MD 20886 Country: United States Website: http://cherishedhands.net/ This release was published on openPR.
NoneWASHINGTON — 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. 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... Foxy Roxy's Pizza prepares to bring pizza perfection to downtown Statesville, one slice at a time 2 troopers, 1 Statesville man injured in in head-on crash after Alexander County chase Initial realignment draft puts 5 Iredell schools in same 6A/7A conference Efficiency and versatility of Flowers a winning combination for North Iredell volleyball North Iredell Holiday Classic Basketball Schedule Garbage pickup, holiday hours listed for Statesville, Mooresville, Iredell County North Iredell dominates second basketball meeting with South Iredell West Iredell’s Moore, Lake Norman’s Dingman shine brightest in cross country Iredell Memorial Hospital named one of nation’s top hospitals 2 US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent 'friendly fire' incident, US military says See balloons light up Statesville Park and Soccer Complex on Saturday Mooresville duo leads list of Iredell's top football players in 2024 Get to know Statesville basketball player Jay'Veon Lackey 3 injured in car-chase crash on Old Mountain Road in Alexander County 160-home development rejected by Statesville City Council 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 4,058 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed, with 76 flights canceled. The site had not posted any American Airlines flights on Tuesday morning, but showed in the afternoon that 961 American flights were delayed. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 Luggage Bags 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 Flights Different 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 Canada The 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 Flight Passengers 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. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Pope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump says he'll “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole. Trump said that he will direct the Department of Justice to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated.” Trump was vague on what specific actions he may take. 21 dead as Mozambique erupts in violence after election court ruling MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Violence that engulfed Mozambique after the country’s highest court confirmed ruling party presidential candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner of disputed Oct. 9 elections has killed at least 21 people, including two police officers. Mozambique Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday that a wave of violence and looting was sparked by the court’s announcement a day earlier. He said it was led by mostly youthful supporters of losing candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, second to Chapo, who got 65%. Prosecutors find workers in 'slavery like' conditions at Chinese car company site in Brazil RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — A task force led by Brazilian prosecutors says it has rescued 163 Chinese nationals working in “slavery-like” conditions at a construction site in northeastern Brazil, where Chinese electric vehicle company BYD is building a factory. The Labor Prosecutor’s Office released videos of the dorms where the construction workers were staying, which showed beds with no mattresses and rooms without any place for the workers to store their personal belongings. In a statement issued Monday, the prosecutor’s office said the workers had been hired in China by Jinjian Group, one of the contractors on the site, which is located in Camaçari, a city in the Salvador metropolitan region. Haiti gangs fire on journalists covering a planned hospital reopening, leaving casualties PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Suspected gang members have opened fire on journalists in Haiti’s capital as they were covering the attempted reopening of the country’s largest hospital, wounding or killing an unknown number of people. The country's interim president, Leslie Voltaire, said in an address to the nation that journalists and police were among the victims of the vicious Christmas Eve attack. He did not specify how many casualties there were, or give a breakdown for the dead or wounded. Radio Télé Métronome said earlier on Tuesday that seven journalists and two police officers were wounded in the shooting. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Hurricane-force winds bear down on California, latest in stretch of extreme weather LOS ANGELES (AP) — California has been hit hard by extreme weather over the past several weeks. Atmospheric rivers, which are long stretches of wet air that can produce heavy rains, brought a record-setting rainfall before Thanksgiving. A series of atmospheric rivers are producing strong waves and storms near Santa Cruz this week. Thousands were left under evacuation warnings and orders because of a fire around Malibu. Climate change means that strong storms will be responsible for a greater share of the state's yearly precipitation and the periods between those events will be drier. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to 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 Tuesday about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by vendor technology in its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled. Biden signs a bill officially making the bald eagle the national bird of the US WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has made it official: The bald eagle is now the national bird of the United States. Biden signed a bill into law on Tuesday to correct what had long gone unnoticed and designate the bald eagle as the national bird. The bald eagle has been a symbol of the United States for more than 240 years, appearing on the nation's Great Seal since the design was finalized in 1782. That year, Congress also designated the bald eagle as the national emblem. But the honor of becoming the national bird had remained elusive until now. NFL players who use platform to share their faith say it's their duty to spread their love of Jesus ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Jake Bates was standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions. Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love of Jesus. A month later, Bates told The Associated Press it is a duty to share his faith. The NFL is filled with players and coaches who feel the same way, such as Houston's C.J. Stroud, Atlanta's Kirk Cousins, and Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens.Comparably Announces Best Places to Work and Best CEOs of 2024 Based on Millions of Employee Ratings
California law, refinery exit reflect ongoing fuel market challenges, EIA saysWINNIPEG - Mike O’Shea stood in front of reporters Friday and kept his cool while answering questions about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 41-24 Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts last weekend. The head coach was asked if he made a mistake keeping injured quarterback Zach Collaros in the game, why star running back Brady Oliveira didn’t get the ball more and whether a flawed game plan led to Winnipeg’s third consecutive championship loss. “As an entire team, we didn’t have our best game,” O’Shea said in his end-of-the-season press conference. “We didn’t lack effort. We didn’t lack desire. “We didn’t have our best game as an entire team. Three phases. Coaches — everybody. Me especially.” O’Shea admitted he missed calling a timeout in the fourth quarter when there were only 11 Blue Bombers on the field instead of 12. “I don’t get the count over the headset as quickly as I probably need to, we can’t count. As I’m seeing a guy come off, that’s the right time for that timeout that I should have used,” O’Shea said. He also said he should have used a challenge flag earlier on a play he didn’t identify, and checked on his players more during the game. But hindsight wouldn’t change his decision to put Collaros back in the game after the index finger on his throwing hand was cut deep when it hit a defender’s helmet. “He absolutely deserves every opportunity to lead this team,” O’Shea said. “From what I saw and from chatting with him very briefly, I felt really comfortable with that. I didn’t think it was going to be easy, but I thought it’s Zach, so...” The injury to Collaros’s finger happened late in the third quarter when the Blue Bombers were trailing the Argonauts 17-10. The veteran left the game and returned with a bandaged finger that needed five stitches and a numbing agent. He wore a glove on the hand and told reporters earlier this week it was difficult to grip the ball. Collaros said he warned receivers in the huddle his throws might not have the usual zip and they should be prepared to come back for the ball. “(I) saw him delivering the ball on the sidelines. Then you see him deliver a couple balls out there and some of them are pretty damn good, right?” O’Shea said. “The awareness of Zach to say to the receivers, ‘hey, work a little harder for me,’ I think it’s natural and what should be said. I think they already know that.” When Collaros re-entered the game, he threw interceptions in back-to-back series. “On one of them he got rid of the ball and I thought it was a good ball and the defensive player made a good play,” O’Shea said of the picks. “One slipped right out of his hand or I don’t know if it got tipped or not. You’ve got to give him that opportunity.” Oliveira was questioning his lack of opportunities in the game when he spoke to reporters earlier in the week. The CFL’s newly minted most outstanding player and top Canadian only had 11 carries for 84 yards and one late touchdown. About 17 or 18 run plays were called, O’Shea said. “One starts off with a procedure penalty in the first and then six of those get pulled because there’s X number of guys in the box or the read says this is not a run play anymore, this is now a pass play,” he said. “You call that many runs and then a pile of them get pulled because of the structure of the defence. That’s OK with me at that point.” O’Shea said Bombers offensive co-ordinator Buck Pierce has been granted permission to talk to CFL teams with head-coaching job openings. The B.C. Lions are reportedly interested in Pierce. The Edmonton Elks also have a vacant head coach spot. If Pierce doesn’t become a head coach, O’Shea said he wants him to stay in Winnipeg. He believes Pierce had the offence “extremely well-prepared” for the Grey Cup. “I’m never going to question the play-calling, and I think what’s going on here is we’re questioning,” O’Shea said. “We’re trying to find blame and fault when that’s nowhere in our DNA of how we built this eight, nine, 10 years ago. We’re starting to try and find all these answers and question all these people that were 0-4 and 2-6 and then 10-1, and we just didn’t play our best game.” The Bombers finished 11-7 and claimed the West Division title that earned them a fifth consecutive trip to the Grey Cup. They won the championship in 2019 and ’21, but lost 28-24 to the Montreal Alouettes last year and 24-23 to Toronto in 2023. “We’re the same group that got there, that went on a phenomenal run after a bad start, and a bad start for a lot of reasons that we overcame,” O’Shea said. “I just, I don’t question any of it. I look for answers, too. I watch the film over and over and over again. And look to already make notes on how we’re going to be better, how we’re going to get back there again.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2024.
We are done with woke Hollywood revisions of the classics, right? The artistic obsession with ramming political messages down the throats of consumers, of spoiling a good story with a parable about tolerance, or acceptance, or diversity, or whatever? Apparently not. Ariana Grande, as Galinda, and Cynthia Erivo, as Elphaba, in Wicked. Credit: Universal Call it a post-Trump lament, if you like, but Wicked – the blockbuster prequel to The Wizard of Oz , and which explains the back-story of Glinda and Elphaba, the witches of the West and the East, one good and one wicked – has captivated audiences and broken box-office records. It is already the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation ever, ahead of 1978’s Grease – a movie that did not trouble itself at all with political correctness. Wicked is openly a political allegory . It tells the story of the green-skinned Elphaba, who is marked as different from birth. She is ostracised and demonised by those around her, including her own family. As an adult witch with extraordinary powers (which, as with Elsa from Frozen , she has not yet learnt to control), Elphaba is groomed as a useful tool by the state of Oz, and later persecuted when she refuses to do its bidding. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in Sydney last month. Credit: Kate Geraghty Oz, of course, is led by a strongman leader, the Wizard, played by a creepy Jeff Goldblum, who flirts with just enough neediness to make him perfectly Trumpian. Elphaba is the only one brave enough to stand up for the minority segment of society (animals), which the Wizard is blaming for all of Oz’s ills, and so she is hunted down by the state. The story truly has something for everyone: it is a morality tale about racism, fascism, the power of propaganda, and the dangerous seduction of peer pressure and groupthink. Even animal rights activists have claimed Wicked as their own – it is animals who are increasingly marginalised in Oz, forced out of jobs and eventually banned from speaking, a repression-creep that borrows much from Germany in the 1930s. I count myself as a narrative purist – I get tired of ideological messages which get in the way of good story-telling. But Wicked is not that. It’s never that – otherwise it wouldn’t be so beloved by adults and children alike. The politics drive the story but never impinge on it. And at the story’s heart is the relationship between Elphaba and Galinda, the young wizardry student who will go on to become Glinda the Good Witch – Dorothy’s great benefactor. For my money, the most complex political message in Wicked lies in its treatment of female friendship, and the unblinking gaze it casts on the opposing roles women are often channelled into. Most radically, it calculates, with mathematical precision, the cost of female niceness. Galinda (who, halfway through the movie, drops the first “a” in her name in an act of performative virtue signalling) is styled as the idealised good girl/witch, princessy and pretty in pastel hoop skirts and dainty shoes. Her waist is tiny. Her hair is long, thick and blonde. She has perfected the art of swooshing it. She oozes privilege and perfection. Galinda is the alpha female of the university she and Elphaba both attend. At their initial meeting, Galinda squeaks in disgust at Elphaba’s green skin. But then, remembering her personal brand is Goodness, with a capital G, she quickly rearranges her features in a mask of concern for Elphaba, the poor, poor thing. Elphaba refuses to accept Galinda’s pity and sees straight through her phoney benevolence. We have our conflict: the story has begun. The two clash, particularly as they have been thrown together in a dorm room which Galinda populates with her extensive wardrobe and girlish paraphernalia. But then the story does something more interesting than simply playing out a female rivalry (even though it nods to the traditional arc of such stories with a “makeover” scene and a love triangle between the two witches and a charismatically rogueish prince). Galinda, played by pop star Ariana Grande, starts envying Elphaba. At first, she is jealous of Elphaba’s magic powers – which are far superior to Galinda’s own – and the attention those powers bring from the regal headmistress of the college. But then, as she gets to know Elphaba – played magnificently by Cynthia Erivo – Galinda begins to envy her classmate’s self-possession and her freedom to be herself. Her green skin allows her to sidestep pretence. Galinda is all pretence, and by observing Elphaba, she starts to see how constricting it is. Galinda is trapped in a prison of niceness, needing to publicly display her unending kindness and unfailing sweetness at every turn, lest she ruin her image. She is ruled by moral vanity. But she is not “nice” – she is envious and covetous, with a capacity for real malice. Which is to say, she is human. When the class holds a party, Galinda gives Elphaba a hat to wear. She does so with treacly sweetness, knowing that Elphaba will be mocked when she wears it. Galinda’s transformation comes when she allows herself to be more like Elphaba – non-conformist. Apart from anything else, Galinda is very funny, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not, and it’s not possible to be funny without some capacity for wickedness. But as all women know, the need for niceness runs deep. It is hard to de-program oneself from people-pleasing, even though the mask often slips, revealing the resentment that lies under it. Galinda struggles with the conflict between doing the right thing and doing what is expected of her by the society of Oz. The film is the first of two parts, so the conflict is not resolved. We have to wait for the sequel. But as Grande told a journalist during the extensive press tour for the movie – Wicked serves “to remind people that change is possible ... we can choose to be good, and we can be wrong”. It also serves to show everyone (but especially young girls), that we can reject the tyranny of niceness. We can choose to be green-skinned, sardonic, clever and wicked. Apart from anything else, those things make for a more interesting story. Jacqueline Maley is a senior writer and regular columnist.The Bank of Scotland’s business barometer poll showed 73% of Scottish businesses expect to see turnover increase in 2025, up from 60% polled in 2023. Almost a quarter (23%) of businesses expect to see their revenue rise by between six and 10% over the next 12 months, with just over a fifth (21%) expecting it to grow by even more. The poll found that 70% of businesses were confident they would become more profitable in 2025, a two per cent increase when compared with the previous year. Revenue and profitability growth was firms’ top priority at 52%, though 40% said they will be targeting improved productivity, and the same proportion said they will be aiming to enhance their technology – such as automation or AI – or upskill their staff (both 29%). More than one in five (22%) want to improve their environmental sustainability. Other areas businesses are hoping to build upon AI-assisted technology (19%), and 24% will be investing in expanding into new UK markets and 23% plan to invest in staff training. The business barometer has surveyed 1,200 businesses every month since 2002, providing early signals about UK economic trends. Martyn Kendrick, Scotland director at Bank of Scotland commercial banking, said: “Scottish businesses are looking ahead to 2025 with stronger growth expectations, and setting out clear plans to drive this expansion through investments in new technology, new markets and their own teams. “As we enter the new year, we’ll continue to by their side to help them pursue their ambitions and seize all opportunities that lie ahead.”SHAREHOLDER INVESTIGATION: Halper Sadeh LLC Investigates ALTR, MPB, CDMO, AVAV on Behalf of Shareholders