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WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday due to a technical issu e just as the Christmas travel season kicks into overdrive and winter weather is threatening more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. American flights were cleared to fly by federal regulators about one hour after a national ground stop order was issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. There were 1,447 delays for flights entering or leaving the U.S. early in the day, with 28 cancellations. Snow was falling early in New York and Dallas-Fort Worth International, which is American Airlines' main hub, was getting hit with rain. Dallas-Fort Worth had the most delays, followed by Charlotte, North Carolina, Washington, New York, Chicago and Miami 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. And 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. 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. That’s because finding a last-minute flight on another airline yourself tends to be very expensive. Just before 7 a.m. Eastern time, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered all American Airlines flights grounded in the U.S. at the airline’s request. American had reported a technical issue affecting its entire system with millions traveling for the holiday. American said in an email that the problem Tuesday morning was caused by a vendor technology issue that “impacted systems needed to release flights.” The groundings couldn’t come at a worse time for the millions of travelers expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers over the holidays and through January 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Friday and Sunday, and on Dec. 26, Dec. 27 and Dec. 29. 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. Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington, D.C., are the metropolitan areas primed for the greatest delays, according to the company. —— AP Reporters David Koenig, Mae Anderson and Mike Pesoli contributed to this report.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The decorations outside Acrisure Stadium suggested Christmas. The play on the field by the home team hinted at another holiday entirely. Groundhog Day. Like Bill Murray in the iconic movie — set about 90 minutes northeast of Pittsburgh in Punxsutawney — it's not that the Steelers are reliving the same day (or in their case, season) over and over exactly. It's that no matter what plan they come up with in a frantic effort to get to the other side, they seem to end up right back where they started. Competitive sure. But a contender? Ehhhh. Despite a series of aggressive moves — particularly on offense — that was considerably “unSteeler-like" in the offseason, Pittsburgh finds itself in familiar territory following a 29-10 loss to Kansas City on Wednesday: likely heading on the road in the first round of the playoffs, perhaps as a considerable underdog. While there is still time for Pittsburgh (10-6) to turn it around before a first-round playoff game on the second weekend in January, it's running out quickly. So too is the patience of those weary of being stuck on the treadmill of “good but hardly great” for far too long. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith — who is 0-3 in the postseason since being drafted in 2020 — wondered aloud afterward if there's enough “want to” on the roster. Safety DeShon Elliott bemoaned communication issues that have cropped up, the kind of thing that is tolerable in Week 2, not so much in Week 17. Coach Mike Tomlin described a performance against the Chiefs in which his team was outclassed at seemingly every turn “junior varsity.” That may be being charitable. And while the offense certainly has its issues (see below), the reality is the NFL's highest-paid defense has lost its way during a three-game slide that has dimmed the considerable optimism that surrounded the club after Thanksgiving. Pittsburgh is allowing an average of 402 yards during the skid and while the Chiefs seemed to have plenty of juice at the end of the same three games in 11 days stretch the Steelers endured, their opponents appeared to be gassed. Patrick Mahomes did whatever he wanted as usual and Pittsburgh failed to get a single sack or produce a turnover. There were opportunities. Linebacker Mark Robinson forced a fumble on a punt return only to see someone in red-and-white fall on the loose ball. Linebacker Patrick Queen let a tipped pass in Kansas City territory fall through his arms for an incompletion. Earlier in the season, Pittsburgh was making those plays. Though it should be noted, the competition then wasn't on the scale of what it has faced against Philadelphia, Baltimore and the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. The road has gotten considerably harder, just as the Steelers knew it would when the schedule was released in May. Like Phil Connors in “Groundhog Day,” however, knowing what's coming and being able to navigate it are two different things. It took Connors a while to figure things out — anywhere from a few months to 25 or more years depending on who you ask — Pittsburgh doesn't have eternity to get it right if it wants to avoid a quick first-round playoff exit for the fourth time in five years. It has just over two weeks. And the clock is ticking. Maybe all the way back to 6 a.m. Because it sure looks like it's Groundhog Day. Again. What's working Not much. One of the few bright spots on a difficult day was the 36-year-old Russell Wilson's ability to make plays with his feet. He ran for a season-high 55 yards, his best single-game total since September 2023. What needs help One of the reasons Wilson had to run is because on some plays, he had no choice while playing behind a youth-laden offensive line that looks as if it is wearing down late in the season. The Chiefs sacked Wilson five times — some of which, to be clear, were because of Wilson's indecisiveness — even with perennial Pro Bowl defensive end Chris Jones out while nursing a calf injury. Pittsburgh wants to be a team that imposes itself physically on the opponent. That has simply not happened during the current slide. The opponents have dictated the terms, particularly along the line of scrimmage. Turning that around this deep into a season may be a difficult ask. Stock up Jaylen Warren is becoming the more dynamic option at running back. Warren has 37 touches for 212 yards during the three-game slide, while Najee Harris has 31 touches for 144 yards. Harris could become a free agent in March after the Steelers declined to pick up his fifth-year option. While Harris — who has topped 1,000 yards rushing in each of his first four seasons — certainly has a future in the NFL, it seems increasingly likely that it will be elsewhere. Stock down Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. His egalitarian approach to play-calling allows everyone to get involved. That's not a bad thing during the dog days in the middle of the season. It keeps players at all levels of the depth chart engaged and adds wrinkles opponents need to account for. Yet in the final weeks, the ball should be finding its way to the established difference-makers more frequently. Calling a run for Cordarrelle Patterson — the league's oldest running back — on third-and-3 near midfield as Smith did late in the first half makes little sense. Injuries Perhaps the most jarring thing about Pittsburgh's swoon is that the Steelers are generally healthy. Sure, they missed cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (knee) against Kansas City, but the rest of the 21 starters on offense and defense were in the lineup. Key number 0. The number of opening-drive touchdowns scored by the Steelers this season. For a group that has trouble “warming up to the game” as Tomlin likes to say, consistently being put in a position to play from behind against quality teams such as the ones Pittsburgh will see in the playoffs is inadvisable. Next steps Rest up, heal up and try to find a way to restore some of its swagger ahead of a meeting with AFC North rival Cincinnati on the first weekend in January. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Will Graves, The Associated Press
As the holiday season gets closer, investors are keeping an eye on altcoins with big growth potential before the year ends. One that’s really buzzing right now is the Lightchain AI Presale, thanks to its innovative approach and exciting growth potential. Altcoin season is almost here, and traders are buzzing about which coins could make a big splash. With Christmas 2024 on the horizon, some altcoins might see huge gains—up to 5,000%! Want to know which ones to watch this season? Let’s check them out together! Why Altcoins Are Gaining Traction in 2024 Altcoins are becoming the go-to assets for traders seeking high-risk, high-reward opportunities. While Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to dominate the market, smaller, innovative projects are quickly gaining traction, often offering much larger upside potential. With the right combination of technological innovation, use cases, and market sentiment, altcoins are ready to deliver incredible returns in the final stretch of 2024. Key factors fueling this altcoin season include. Rising DeFi Adoption: Decentralized finance (DeFi) is growing fast, and altcoins with DeFi features are set for big gains. Tech Innovation: Altcoins using new technologies like AI, NFTs, and blockchain interoperability are catching investors’ eyes for their potential. Community Power: Just like Shiba Inu and Dogecoin, altcoins with strong, passionate communities are ready to make a splash. 5 Red-Hot Altcoins Poised for 5,000% Gains by Christmas Eve While lots of altcoins are getting attention, these five have really stood out as top picks for big growth in the coming month. They're not just innovative and backed by strong communities, but they're also perfectly positioned to take advantage of the latest market trends for some great returns. Lightchain AI (LCAI) is one to watch for the 2024 bull run, combining AI and blockchain for a unique advantage. With its Proof of Intelligence (PoI) mechanism, it’s tapping into the growing demand for AI-powered decentralized apps (dApps). Right now, you can get in early with the presale price at just $0.003. Experts predict huge growth—up to 5,000% by Christmas, with even more potential into 2025. Pepe Coin (PEPE) is buzzing in the meme coin world, bringing some extra fun and utility to the mix! Just like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu, PEPE has built an excited community that’s growing every day. With so much hype around it, experts think PEPE could soar with a 5,000% jump by the end of 2024. Toncoin (TON) has made a name for itself in the crypto market by enabling high-speed transactions and integrating seamlessly into the Telegram ecosystem. With real-world applications and increasing developer support, TON is poised for substantial growth in late 2024. Having already experienced notable price increases, analysts predict Toncoin could achieve 5,000% gains as more users adopt it for fast and cost-efficient transactions. Despite its ups and downs, Solana (SOL) remains a standout in the blockchain space due to its ability to scale and reduce transaction costs. As the market expands beyond Ethereum, Solana is well-positioned for another explosive rally. Experts anticipate that SOL could reach new price highs by Christmas Eve, solidifying its place as a key player in the crypto ecosystem. Cardano (ADA) continues to strengthen its reputation through a scientifically-backed blockchain and a commitment to sustainable decentralized solutions. With upcoming upgrades and steady ecosystem growth, Cardano is expected to see a major price surge by Christmas Eve. Analysts predict a 5,000% gain, making ADA one of the top altcoins to watch in the coming months. Will These Altcoins Continue to Grow After the 2024 Bull Run? The 2024 bull run is already looking promising with some great rewards, but the real question is whether these altcoins can keep up the momentum into next year. It all depends on each token’s growth plans, how quickly the market picks them up, and how well they can grow in real-world applications. For case, LCAI’s skill to blend AI-driven shared apps in the blockchain space places it as a lasting player in the fast-changing area of AI and blockchain. Likewise, PEPE and TON has the group support and real-use value that could boost their ongoing rise into 2025 and further. Why Lightchain AI Could Be the Altcoin to Watch in 2025 While PEPE, SOL, ADA, and TON have massive growth potential in the coming months, Lightchain AI (LCAI) stands out as a leader in the crypto world, offering unmatched technological innovation and a clear use case. With its AI-powered blockchain, deflationary tokenomics, and real-world utility, LCAI is set to deliver 5,000% returns by Christmas Eve, making it the top altcoin to watch for the 2025 bull run. If you’re looking to mix things up in your portfolio and explore exciting blockchain trends, LCAI is a great chance to be part of something new and potentially see great returns as we wrap up 2024. Act fast to get in early before the next big surge—visit Lightchain AI to learn more and secure your stake in one of the hottest tokens on the market. The altcoin season is just beginning, and LCAI is leading the way. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be a part of this groundbreaking project. https://lightchain.ai https://lightchain.ai/lightchain-whitepaper.pdf https://x.com/LightchainAI https://t.me/LightchainProtocol Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.White House pressing Ukraine to draft 18-year-olds so it has enough troops to battle Russia
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Professional Photo Booth Rentals for Corporate Events in JacksonvilleGEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Acadia Ventures Ltd. (“ ”) has filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.com) an early warning report with respect to subordinate voting shares (“ ”) of VeritcalScope Holdings Inc. (the “ ” or “ ”) held by Acadia. This press release is being made by Acadia to report historical acquisitions and dispositions of the Subordinate Voting Shares which have not been previously reported under the requirements of the early warning system. Between May 10, 2023 and November 15, 2024, Acadia purchased and sold Subordinate Voting Shares in the ordinary course of its business, and as such, the number of Subordinate Voting Shares over which it has control or direction and the percentage of the total issued and outstanding Subordinate Voting Shares over which it has control or direction has fluctuated. The following transactions were reportable events under the early warning system: Acadia holds the Subordinate Voting Shares for investment purposes only and not for the purpose of influencing control or direction over the Issuer. Acadia may further purchase, hold, trade, dispose or otherwise deal in the securities of the Issuer, in such manner as it deems appropriate, including on the open market or through private transactions in the future depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors. The purchase of Subordinate Voting Shares made in the Third Reportable Event (and any subsequent purchases of Subordinate Voting Shares between the Third Reportable Event and the Fourth Reportable Event) was exempt from the formal bid requirements of National Instrument 62-104 (“ ”) as the purchase was made in reliance on the normal course purchase exemption in section 4.1 of National Instrument 62-104. The facts supporting reliance on the exemption are that: (a) the number of Subordinate Voting Shares acquired did not represent more than 5% of the then outstanding Subordinate Voting Shares; (b) the aggregate number of Subordinate Voting Shares acquired in reliance on the exemption by Acadia and any person acting jointly or in concert with Acadia within any period of 12 months, when aggregated with acquisitions otherwise made by Acadia and any person acting jointly or in concert with Acadia within the same 12 month period did not exceed 5% of the Subordinate Voting Shares outstanding at the beginning of the 12-month period; (c) the Subordinate Voting Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange; and (d) the value of the consideration paid for the Subordinate Voting Shares was not in excess of the market price at the date of the acquisition, as determined in accordance with section 1.11 of NI 62-104, plus reasonable brokerage fees or commissions actually paid. The Issuer is located at 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario M5V 2H1. Acadia is located at Flagship Building, 142 Seafarers Way, PO Box 2428, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, KY1-1105. A copy of this report may be obtained by contacting Rajesh Bavalia at +1.345.938.9731 or RB-avl@proton.me.None
You knew it was coming, didn’t you? Baseball’s reigning Evil Empire took the initiative this week, signing another high-profile starting pitcher and giving its fans something additional to be grateful for during Thanksgiving week (besides, of course, those shots of the Commissioner’s Trophy being shown off here, there and everywhere throughout Southern California). And after the bombshell announcement Tuesday night, that the Dodgers had signed Blake Snell , the howls could be heard throughout the land. The Dodgers are making a mockery of the sport. The rest of baseball can’t compete. They’re signing everybody! And how are the Cincinnatis and Pittsburghs and Colorados of the sport able to compete with an organization that not only brings in boatloads of money – and has created a second source of runaway revenue through its ties to Japan – but isn’t interested in hoarding it? Shouldn’t the next step be a salary cap to restrain this franchise’s runaway spending? Oh, stop it. Competitive balance is not an issue in baseball, period. Four different teams have won the last four World Series, and nine different fan bases have celebrated championships in the last 12 years. There hasn’t been a repeat champion in ... checks notes ... a quarter of a century. (That would be the New York Yankees, the first Evil Empire, in 1999-2000.) Meanwhile, Kansas City, Detroit and Baltimore have all risen from rebuilding to contention in the last couple of seasons. Milwaukee and Cleveland, both smaller markets, were legitimate threats as this past postseason began. And the Padres, long squeezed between Mexico to their south, the Imperial Valley to their east, the Pacific to their west and L.A. to their north, just might have been the second-best team in baseball in 2024 and, may we remind you, had the Dodgers by the neck going into Game 4 of their National League Division Series . Nor are they going away, even with some payroll retrenching in the wake of controlling owner Peter Seidler’s death. (But, nope, still no parade.) Most of the caterwauling, of course, comes from those whose favorite teams were either outbid or declined to spend. Trust me, no ownership in Major League Baseball can claim poverty, even with the cable TV issues that have scrambled some teams’ finances. Yes, big-market teams start with a financial advantage. Yes, Diamond Sports’ bankruptcy and the cord-cutting revolution have factored in. And yes, the Dodgers and Yankees have insulated themselves to a degree by owning their own cable networks. So, maybe, give them some credit for intelligence and foresight? Front Office Sports reported that deferrals on Snell’s reported five-year, $182 million deal, said to be $60 million, would push the Dodgers closer to the $1 billion mark in deferred money owed to five players. Shohei Ohtani’s whopping $680 million deferred on a $700 million contract signed last winter enabled the Dodgers to add additional pieces. Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts also have chunks of deferred money in their contracts – as does, interestingly, Teoscar Hernández on his one-year 2024 deal with the Dodgers. That would make that contract even more of a bargain than we thought. And this is an undisputable fact: Salary caps and other payroll-limiting mechanisms put no limits on front office creativity and ingenuity. It’s been pretty well established that in Guggenheim Baseball’s 13-year ownership of the Dodgers, especially after Mark Walter’s organization corrected the problems of the Frank McCourt era and particularly after Friedman arrived from Tampa Bay in 2015, the Dodgers have a smart, savvy organization whose advantages go way beyond their cash on hand. (And yes, as I noted on social media Tuesday night, we do tease them about sometimes trying too hard to be the smartest guys in the room. But most of the time they are, anyway.) Assuming everyone stays healthy – and as we saw throughout baseball in 2024, that’s a tall ask – what will the Dodgers’ rotation look like in 2025? They’ll have left-hander Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner who was one of the victims of a soft free agent market last spring and didn’t sign with the San Francisco Giants until March 19. He got off to a dreadful start as a result but was lights out from the start of July. In 14 starts he was 5-0 (and his team 12-2 in those starts), with a 1.23 ERA, an opponents’ batting average of .123, an 0.78 WHIP, five double-digit strikeout games and a 3.8-1 strikeout to walk ratio, and a complete-game no-hitter, an achievement for someone denigrated as a five-and-dive pitcher. Maybe those final three months spurred him to sign early this time. It’s almost certain the Dodgers will use a six-man rotation from the start of the season, and right now they have seven possibilities and who knows what they do from here. They’ll have Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shohei Ohtani as a pitcher. Tyler Glasnow, Snell’s former teammate in Tampa Bay, will be back, as will Tony Gonsolin in his return from Tommy John surgery. Dustin May, essentially inactive since May of 2023, will return, and Clayton Kershaw is expected to re-sign and has indicated he plans to retire a Dodger. Is there room for free agent Jack Flaherty, last season’s major trade deadline acquisition? Or fellow free agent Walker Buehler, who closed out Game 5 of the World Series against the Yankees, following a sometimes spotty comeback from injury? And the wild card might be Roki Sasaki, who will be posted by his Japanese team this winter. The Dodgers had long been considered the favorites to land him, and even Snell’s signing might not change that. Then again, the way the 2024 Dodgers went through pitchers because of injuries – 40 for the season, including 12 starting pitchers – shouldn’t they be tempted to grab every reasonably healthy arm they can and sort it out as they go along? But this is, and should be, the bottom line: Every fan in every sport wants the people running their favorite team to care as much about winning as they do. In a lot of cities, with a lot of teams, that’s really hard to envision. In Dodger Stadium, it’s not hard at all. And if they’re going to be the new Evil Empire, why not just lean into it and have Dieter Ruehle play “The Imperial March” (i.e., Darth Vader’s Theme) before every game? jalexander@scng.comTech expert warns your 23andMe genetic data could be at risk
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