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fc188 logo Billionaires have seen their combined wealth shoot up 121 percent over the past decade to $14 trillion, Swiss bank UBS said Thursday, with tech billionaires' coffers filling the fastest. Switzerland's biggest bank, which is among the world's largest wealth managers, said the number of dollar billionaires increased from 1,757 to 2,682 over the past 10 years, peaking in 2021 with 2,686. The 10th edition of UBS's annual Billionaire Ambitions report, which tracks the wealth of the world's richest people, found that billionaires have comfortably outperformed global equity markets over the past decade. The report documents "the growth and investment of great wealth, as well as how it's being preserved for future generations and used to have a positive effect on society", said Benjamin Cavalli, head of strategic clients at UBS global wealth management. Between 2015 and 2024, total billionaire wealth increased by 121 percent from $6.3 trillion to $14.0 trillion -- while the MSCI AC World Index of global equities rose 73 percent. The wealth of tech billionaires increased the fastest, followed by that of industrialists. Worldwide, tech billionaires' wealth tripled from $788.9 billion in 2015 to $2.4 trillion in 2024. "In earlier years, the new billionaires commercialised e-commerce, social media and digital payments; more recently they engineered the generative AI boom, while also developing cyber-security, fintech, 3D printing and robotics," UBS said. The report found that since 2020, the global growth trend had slowed due to declines among China's billionaires. From 2015 to 2020, billionaire wealth grew globally at an annual rate of 10 percent, but growth has plunged to one percent since 2020. Chinese billionaire wealth more than doubled from 2015 to 2020, rising from $887.3 billion to $2.1 trillion, but has since fallen back to $1.8 trillion. However, North American billionaire wealth has risen 58.5 percent to $6.1 trillion since 2020, "led by industrials and tech billionaires". Meanwhile billionaires are relocating more frequently, with 176 having moved country since 2020, with Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and the United States being popular destinations. In 2024, some 268 people became billionaires for the first time, with 60 percent of them entrepreneurs. "The year's new billionaires were mainly self-made," said UBS. The report said US billionaires accrued the greatest gains in 2024, reinforcing the country's place as the world's main centre for billionaire entrepreneurs. Their wealth rose 27.6 percent to $5.8 trillion, or more than 40 percent of billionaire wealth worldwide. Billionaires' wealth from mainland China and Hong Kong fell 16.8 percent to $1.8 trillion, with the number of billionaires dropping from 588 to 501. Indian billionaires' wealth increased 42.1 percent to $905.6 billion, while their number grew from 153 to 185. Western Europe’s total billionaire wealth rose 16.0 percent to $2.7 trillion -- partly due to a 24 percent increase in Swiss billionaires. UAE billionaires' aggregate wealth rose 39.5 percent to $138.7 billion. UBS said billionaires faced an "uncertain world" over the next 10 years, due to high geopolitical tensions, trade barriers and governments with mounting spending requirements. Billionaires will therefore need to rely on their previous distinctive traits: "smart risk-taking, business focus and determination". "Risk-taking billionaires are likely to be at the forefront of creating two technology-related industries of the future already taking shape: generative AI and renewables/electrification," UBS predicted. And more flexible wealth planning will be needed as billionaire families move country and spread around the world. The heirs and philanthropic causes of baby boom billionaires are set to inherit an estimated $6.3 trillion over the next 15 years, UBS said. rjm/gv

Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights

Check out same-game parlay recommendations as the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) will attempt to break a five-game losing streak when they visit the Tennessee Titans (3-9) on Sunday, December 8, 2024 at Nissan Stadium. BetMGM is one of the most trusted Sportsbooks in the nation. Start with as little as $1 and place your bets today . Parlay payout based on standard calculation and is not associated with any sportsbook offers. Visit BetMGM for odds and payout information. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .Check out same-game parlay recommendations as the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) will attempt to break a five-game losing streak when they visit the Tennessee Titans (3-9) on Sunday, December 8, 2024 at Nissan Stadium. BetMGM is one of the most trusted Sportsbooks in the nation. Start with as little as $1 and place your bets today . Parlay payout based on standard calculation and is not associated with any sportsbook offers. Visit BetMGM for odds and payout information. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .

Trump demands 'immediate' release of Oct 7 hostages warns there will be 'HELL TO PAY'It becomes clearer by the day that the world is shaky due to the world’s unstable Islam hubs that are destabilizing further. It is Islam that fights the Jews, the Christians and is in a constant battle within itself. That is, Islam against Islam, the Shia Islam against the Sunni Islam and vice versa. Syria’s Civil War In the past few days Islam war against Islam erupted in Syria, destabilizing the region with significant repercussions ahead. The Syrian civil war has been an ongoing multi-sided conflict, involving various state-sponsored and non-state actors. As part of the wider Arab Spring protests in the region, in March 2011, popular discontent with the rule of dictator Bashar al-Assad and his Arab Socialist Baʿth Party triggered large-scale protests and pro-democracy rallies across Syria. After months of vicious crackdown by the Syrian security apparatus, various armed rebel groups, such as the Free Syrian Army began forming across the country, marking the beginning of the Syrian insurgency. By mid-2012, the crisis had escalated into a full-blown civil war. The current map of Syria Divided Syria What is taking place in Syria is rather confusing, or of little interest, to people in the West. However, the effects of these events are global. The political-military situation in Syria and who is attacking whom in Syria is as follows: Northeastern (green) Syria: a Kurdish-dominated sector called the Syrian Democratic Forces, which has a similar situation to the Kurdistan region in Iraq. The Syrian army is present in important cities in this sector, such as Hasakah and border centers with Turkey, and they have a balanced approach with Bashar al-Assad. Northern (purple) Syria: there are areas that were conquered by Turkish military operations and are the main center of presence of the Syrian Liberation Army, a group run by the Syrian opposition and forces separated from the Syrian army, as well as Turkish political and military assistance. Northwestern (green) Syria: where you find Tahrir al-Sham. This group controls the important and strategic city of Idlib, Syria and apparently is opposed to Turkey, but in fact it provides all its weapons and needs through Turkey. East, (black) toward the central regions of Syria: there are scattered ISIS cells, and if this area is neglected, there is a possibility of a new ISIS group forming in this area. The colors map of Syria as it is divided by the fighting forces. Who Is Fighting Whom in Syria? It’s rather complicated. The best way to start understanding who supports and who opposes Mr. Assad and his government. On the Syrian government’s side, are: Russia, that carries out air strikes and provides political support at the UN; Iran, that provides arms, credit, military advisers and reportedly combat troops; how soon will Iran decide to send regular Iranian military units to Syria? Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia movement has sent thousands of fighters. However at present it has been weakened by Israel, therefore its support diminishes; Shia Muslim militias, recruited by Iran from Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen; On the side of the rebels* (* the term “rebels” is used to describe a huge and diverse array of fighters, some of whom co-operate with jihadists like those from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an al-Qaeda-linked alliance. Different foreign states often back different rebel factions). There are: Turkey, provides arms, military and political support; Gulf Arab states, provide money and weapons; The US, provides arms, training and military assistance to “moderate” groups; Jordan, provides logistical support and training; According to Syria: Hezbollah cannot help Assad and Russia and its air force are very busy. Islamists Against the Iranian Axis in Syria – Who Are They? The meltdown and attacks began the day after Israel signed a ceasefire agreement with Iran’s proxy Hezbollah, on November 26, 2024. Both Iran and Hezbollah are detested by the rebels. An overview of the ongoing civil conflict: On Wednesday, November 27, 2024, the Syrian rebels began a surprise offensive attack against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in northern Syria. In a swift operation, lasting under 72 hours, they seized significant portions of the city of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, which had taken the Syrian regime’s forces over four years to reclaim. Employing tactics such as rocket assaults, drone strikes, and rapid incursions from concealed positions – all very familiar to Israel in its war with Hamas and Hezbollah – the rebels managed to outmaneuver the Russian and Syrian air forces that dominate the skies. Catching off guard the Syrian army and its allies, including Iranian militias and Russian troops, the rebels celebrated triumph, capturing prisoners, seizing abandoned weapons, and chanting religious slogans. Who Are These Rebels? After years of the Syrian conflict fading from view how did this conflict emerge overnight? The answer is involved with the uprising complex political landscape. The rebel forces can be categorized into two main factions. First group: Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Abu Muhammad al-Julani, an extremist Islamist organization with roots in al-Qaeda and ISIS operatives who joined the anti-Assad movement at its inception. The group has become the dominant force among Syrian rebels and was instrumental in orchestrating the northern offensive. Tahrir al-Sham has been engaged in extensive training allegedly funded by Persian Gulf states, while building underground command networks and stockpiling weapons and ammunition sourced from Turkey. Second group: spearheading the northern attack, consists of various factions under the umbrella of the “Syrian National Army,” which receives direct military support from Turkey. These groups, ranging from moderate nationalists to more radical Islamist factions, do not always cooperate smoothly, some factions have even clashed with one another. Both rebel groups significantly rely on the Turkish military presence in northern Syria, support that helped stabilize the front lines, preventing the capture of Idlib province. In the meantime, Idlib has turned into a chaotic environment, where countless refugees endure dire living conditions. From this much of northern Syria region, the rebels have long strategized for a counteroffensive to reclaim their homeland. With Turkey’s desire for reprisal against Moscow, the weakening of the Iranian axis, impaired by setbacks for Hezbollah in Lebanon, the situation transformed into a meticulous planning scenario ripe for the actions taking place in Syria as of this writing. Captured Kurdish women – Screenshot from a video the rebels posted on social media; proud of their behavior just like Hamas terrorists Just Like Hamas Hamas captured Israeli women. Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists of Turkey, have captured hundreds of Kurdish women in Tel Rafaat, Syria, threatening to sell them as sex slaves. This is the exact scenario they did to Yazidi women in 2014. These painful scenes are reminiscent of the horror of October 7 th , 2023 in Israel. Captured Kurdish women – Video Screenshot from a video the rebels posted on social media ; proud of their behavior just like Hamas terrorists Islam Against Islam In Pakistan, where years of Islamic chaos have taken place, Shiite militias beheaded a senior Sunni cleric, and put his head on display. The Muslims bring blessing and enlightenment wherever they go. The darkness of the Middle-Ages covers the Muslim entities, and now also the unfortunate West. For Israel, There Are No Good Guys Here There are no good guys in the Syrian current war. The rebels are al-Qaeda and ISIS, assisted by Turkey and Ukraine. The other side consists of Syria, Iran, and Russia. Almost all the above hate and reject Israel, but the rebels have learned to detest the Arab-“Palestinian” because it is funded and enabled by Iran and is supported by Russia. And so, in a very strange way, the rebels are inadvertently supporting Israel’s fight against Hamas and Hezbollah, for now. Israel must not trust any jihadist Muslim, even if it seems for a moment that he serves the same interests. Israel must use the situation to advance its interests only. The enemy of my enemy is no friend of mine. Israel’s goal should be to continue dismantling the Shiite axis of evil that has formed around it, which ultimately aims for Israel’s demise. Gideon Sa’ar, Israel Foreign Minister on the rebel attack in Syria: “We don’t want to take sides in this matter, there is no good side there.” “We need to look at the interests of the Kurdish minority in northern Syria, see what their desires are and how we can take advantage of the situation to increase cooperation.” Only time will tell how the cards of this war fall. For now they are falling to all sides and fast. Lesson learned The lesson that every free society country, especially the State of Israel that all those fighting each other in Syria are its enemies, must learn: “Indeed I have defeated the enemy and dealt him a mortal blow. It is true that he is now gathering in a smaller area, beaten, bruised, weakened and discouraged. And I think there is no chance that he will want to fight again, and so, ‘calm will be met with calm.'” This is what, in 2020, Syria’s dictator Bashar al-Assad thought to himself about the rebels. After nine years of fighting and rivers of blood – the Russians, the Iranians and what was left of Assad’s regime crushed – temporarily – the resistance. At the end of the war, they allowed the remnants of the rebels to establish themselves in part of the Idlib province, thinking that trouble would be far from them and that the rebels would sit quietly forever. But the rebels took the time to arm and strengthen themselves. Then, in those 4 years with the thought that “calm will be met with calm” everything exploded in Bashar and the Russians’ faces. At the most inconvenient moment for them, when Hezbollah and the Iranian axis were defeated and weak by Israel, the rebels who had strengthened, armed, trained and prepared for this moment of truth went on the offensive. Assad froze in his tracks and is now paying the price with interest. We are accustomed to hearing the same phrases and ideas from our leaders and politicians. “They are weakened,” “We have dealt a decisive blow,” “They are deterred,” and so on. It is all a cover for the truth. Bashar al-Assad is now paying the price for blindly allowing small and weakened rebels to strengthen and attack mercilessly. And by the way, let’s hope that after October 7, 2023, Israel has learned on its own skin the crux that such a privilege of “calm will be met with calm” does not exist for it.

Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Cumbie knows how to pull off a bowl game upset. Flash back to the 2004 Holiday Bowl, when Cumbie threw for 520 yards to lead No. 23 Texas Tech to a 45-31 win over Aaron Rodgers, Marshawn Lynch and No. 4 California. Twenty years later, Cumbie hopes to engineer another postseason surprise as Louisiana Tech (5-7) is a prohibitive underdog against No. 22 Army (11-2) in the Independence Bowl on Saturday in Shreveport, La. The Bulldogs weren't supposed to be a part of this game. They are a replacement for Marshall (10-3), which withdrew because of the exodus of at least 25 players through the transfer portal. Enter Louisiana Tech, which adds local flavor as Shreveport is an hour drive from the Bulldogs' campus in Ruston. Cumbie said that the seniors were especially excited after they had left campus for the holiday break figuring their college careers were over. "The first guys we got on the phone with were the seniors," Cumbie said. "They thought it was like a prank call. They thought we were jacking with them." Louisiana Tech is dealing with 16 portal losses, including several linemen from a defense which allowed 301.9 yards per game, the best mark in Conference USA. Defensive lineman David Blay, who led the Bulldogs in sacks (6.5) and tackles for a loss (10.5), has committed to Miami. Offensively, Louisiana Tech averages just 3.0 yards per carry. The Bulldogs rely more on Evan Bullock, who has thrown for 1,932 yards and 14 touchdowns with just two interceptions. Army has an opportunity to finish the season on a positive note after surrendering the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy in a deflating 31-13 loss to Navy on Dec. 14. It's also a chance for Bryson Daily to rebound as he threw three interceptions against Navy after tossing just one previously in the regular season. Daily, who finished sixth in voting for the Heisman Trophy, is the bell cow in Army's rush-heavy triple-option offense. He has carried for 1,532 yards and 29 touchdowns and has also thrown for nine scores. Army will be without its second-best running threat, Kanye Udoh, who announced his transfer to Arizona State hours after the Navy game, prompting Black Knights coach Jeff Monken to call the transfer landscape "off the rails." "I don't think it's healthy to have a transfer portal window open during the season," Monken said. Udoh rushed for 1,117 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. If Army can handle Louisiana Tech, it will finish with 12 wins, which would be the most in a season in program history, even if it didn't get the one it wanted the most. "Anytime you get your butt whipped, you want to get back out there and prove that's not who we are," Monken said. This will be Louisiana Tech's first bowl appearance since 2020 and its sixth time in the Independence Bowl, where it has a 3-2 record. Army was last in a bowl game in 2021, and this is its second appearance in the Independence Bowl. In its first appearance, it lost to Auburn 32-29 in 1996. Army and Louisiana Tech have met twice before, with the Black Knights winning both matchups in 2008 and 2013. --Field Level Media

Wooley and Cottle each score 32, Kennesaw State knocks off Brewton-Parker 112-77

Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another recordTrump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death rowWASHINGTON — 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... New director transitioning to role at community food pantry Beatrice man pleads guilty to receiving child sex abuse images Former Beatrice man sentenced for sex assault of runaway Is John Dutton real? Meet the powerful rancher seemingly inspiring the 'Yellowstone' legend At the courthouse, Dec. 21, 2024 Gage County says board had authority to deny permit for broadband provider Meyn, charged in death of 4-month-old, has case continued to March Sex offender arrested for not reporting change in employment Downtown Beatrice festive for the holidays Nebraska volleyball libero Lexi Rodriguez signs with LOVB's Omaha team At the courthouse, Dec. 14, 2024 Main Street welcomes new director Matt Rhule and Nebraska football plan Pinstripe Bowl practice in Central Park As Brenda Lee turns 80, the Christmas song she sang as a teen is a holiday staple Milke pre-trial hearing in Beatrice shooting death continued to March 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 3,712 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 55 flights canceled. It did not show any flights from American Airlines. 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!

No. 22 Army faces unexpected foe La. Tech in Independence BowlTo improve teacher workforce, report says Maine needs better pathways

As part of its celebration of the 2024 holiday season, Epic Games is giving away a free title each day until January 1. Today, that late stocking-stuffer is Orcs Must Die 3 , an action-packed battle through hordes of orcs that combines aspects of hack-n-slash gameplay with tower defense. Normally $30, this game is yours for the low price of just a click, but only until tomorrow at 11 AM. Epic Games has given away one free item each day since December 19, and this one joins the ranks of heavy-hitters like Vampire Survivors , Astrea: Six Sided Oracles, TerraTech, Wizard of Legend, Dark and Darker, Dredge, Control , Ghostrunner 2 , Hot Wheels Unleashed, and Kill Knight. There are three more free games to be had after today, but we aren’t sure what they are yet. It’s a safe bet that Epic will save its most impressive giveaway till last, so keep your eyes peeled on January 1. Orcs Must Die 3 introduces War Scenarios, a mode that throws you against a veritable tidal wave of orcs and monsters. It also lets you hop aboard a War Machine — a special type of trap that hits multiple enemies at once — and carve through swathes of foes with ease. And don’t worry about it being the third in the franchise. The storyline is set 20 years after the events of the second game, but it’s a brand-new story and a great place for players to enter the series. Once the campaign and story are complete, you can get a lot of replayability from the Scramble to Survive mode. You can download Orcs Must Die 3 from the Epic Games Store today only. A new surprise will take it’s place tomorrow morning at 11 AM EST.

Hey Zeus: a potential saviour for rural stroke patientsAfter a 24% rise last year and a 27% increase in 2024 (as of Dec. 16), the S&P 500 is currently in record territory. While this has worked out extremely well for investors who have already put money to work, it could potentially be discouraging for those who have been on the sidelines. But I don't think there's any reason to worry. Investors can still find compelling opportunities out there. In fact, here's one dominant tech enterprise that looks like the ultimate growth stock to buy with $1,000 right now. Finding so many ways to grow Companies that exhibit solid growth prospects usually benefit from having very favorable conditions in the end markets they operate in. But here's where tech juggernaut Amazon ( AMZN 0.73% ) stands out. This business has multiple secular trends working in its favor, making it a great growth stock. Perhaps there's no segment that draws as much investor attention as Amazon Web Services (AWS), the industry-leading cloud computing platform. Last quarter, AWS saw revenue increase 19% year over year, continuing a streak of solid double-digit gains. The developments taking place in artificial intelligence (AI), and the interest that many businesses have to leverage this technology, is also helping AWS. AWS has various products and services that offer AI-related tools. This makes the platform critical to its customer base, as they all will depend on AWS even more as time passes. Every investor knows that Amazon has long dominated the e-commerce industry. It went from selling only books online to now offering up vehicles on the marketplace. Given that physical retail still represents 84% of commerce in the U.S., there is certainly a long runway in this sector for Amazon to further capture. Investors might not be familiar with the fact that Amazon generated $14.3 billion from ad services in the third quarter. That figure was up 19% compared to the third quarter of 2023. According to Grand View Research, the global digital ad market is going to increase at a 15.5% compound annual rate through the rest of this decade, giving Amazon another growth driver. Amazon has historically won over investors precisely because it was never short on finding ways to grow its sales. However, the company has recently been increasing its earnings at a remarkable pace, thanks to management's intense focus on keeping costs under control. Operating income jumped 55% to $17.4 billion last quarter. Competitive strengths Investors might be drawn to earlier-stage and faster-growing enterprises than Amazon. But these businesses usually lack any durable competitive strengths. Again, here's where Amazon is able to stand out. It has advantages that help it defend against the threat of disruption. The first notable strength comes from the company's massive scale, which results in cost advantages. Amazon's sprawling logistics footprint, coupled with the huge number of products it sells, leads to lower costs when shipping goods. In other words, its revenue is so high that it can better leverage the sizable investments it makes in its supply chain. Amazon also benefits from positive feedback loops throughout its entire sprawling business empire. "When we win a Golden Globe, it helps us sell more shoes," founder Jeff Bezos said in 2016. He's talking about how the success of the company's streaming service, Prime Video, could lead to more Prime members. And once they realize the other benefits being a Prime member has, these consumers will start spending more money on Amazon.com. This, in turn, could result in greater ad revenue. It's a powerful virtuous cycle. Amazon's valuation In the past two decades, shares of Amazon have skyrocketed 11,260%, crushing the broader market indexes by incredible margins. And the current market cap sits at $2.4 trillion. I wouldn't blame you if you think that it might be too late to become a shareholder. However, a quick look at the valuation indicates it's not too late. As of this writing, the stock can be purchased at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 45.4. Given that consensus analyst estimates call for earnings per share to increase at a 37.6% yearly clip between 2023 and 2026, Amazon still looks like a smart buying opportunity today that justifies paying that valuation.

NATCHITOCHES, La. (AP) — Addison Patterson's 33 points led Northwestern State over Southern University at New Orleans 89-79 on Friday. Patterson had 10 rebounds for the Demons (6-5). JT Warren scored 11 points, shooting 5 for 11, including 1 for 3 from beyond the arc. Landyn Jumawan went 2 of 7 from the field (2 for 5 from 3-point range) to finish with eight points. Tyon Thompson led the way for the Knights with 21 points, six assists and three steals. Jamal Gibson added 18 points, seven rebounds and three steals for Southern University at New Orleans. Tony White also recorded 10 points and three steals. NEXT UP Northwestern State visits Texas in its next matchup on December 29. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Stock market today: Dow leads losses as stock rally hits pause, bitcoin pulls back from record above $100,000