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Article content Stop the presses; Chrysler has major news! Well, okay, that may be a bit dramatic. However, if you’re a lover of all things minivan , then you’ve probably been impatiently waiting for an electric minivan. Sure, maybe the Volkswagen ID.Buzz was a good start, but it’s not really and truly a minivan in the sense of a “soccer mom” equivalent, right? Chrysler brought us the first plug-in hybrid minivan via the Pacifica , and it’s still the only PHEV minivan in the North American market. (Note: The Toyota Sienna lineup is fully hybrid, and Kia recently added hybrid variants to its 2025 Carnival .) Now, if Toyota, Kia, and Honda don’t try to pull any fast moves with their minivan lineups, Chrysler will be the first to introduce an all-electric minivan in this segment. At the 2024 L.A. Auto Show , Chrysler CEO Christine Feuell confirmed to Green Car Reports that its upcoming electric minivan will also come in the form of the Pacifica , which makes the most sense, considering the only other vehicle in Chrysler’s current lineup is the Grand Caravan that comes in only one trim, and adding an all-new player to produce a lineup of three minivans would be extremely uncalled for in today’s market. “Consumers have a favorable opinion about Pacifica and very high awareness. I see no reason at this point to change the name,” Feuell told GCR , who also confirmed the Pacifica will receive a refresh for 2026, with the electric Pacifica likely to follow a year later. Details on whether the PHEV will continue to be offered, or if there might be a range extender, are still unknown. While nothing is set in stone just yet, Feuell also noted Chrysler is working on keeping the well-known Stow ‘N Go seats in the electric minivan, with a few ideas on the table. Meanwhile, design cues may come from the Halcyon concept , which could prove to be very interesting. Can you imagine a Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle EV with Halcyon styling? What do you think? Is an all-electric minivan just what we need? Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on Instagram , Facebook and X to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.Goals from Jamie Gittens, Ramy Bensebaini, and Serhou Guirassy secured a 3-0 victory for Borussia Dortmund over Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League on Wednesday. English winger Gittens opened the scoring with a spectacular solo strike from the edge of the box before half-time. Bensebaini doubled the lead early in the second half, heading in Pascal Gross’s corner, while Guirassy sealed the win with a late goal after coming off the bench. The victory marked Dortmund’s first away win in any competition since September, moving them into the Champions League top four and virtually guaranteeing a place in the knockout rounds. “We did really well and didn’t allow many chances. We dominated possession—it was a really good game from us,” said Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Related News UCL: 'I’m ready to play any position,' Bellingham says before Liverpool clash UCL: Bayern Munich beat 10-man PSG 1-0 UCL: Arsenal thrash Sporting 5-1 in Lisbon masterclass Defender Nico Schlotterbeck added, “We controlled the game and are happy to have secured this important win in Zagreb.” Despite the triumph, Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin faces concerns over Julian Brandt’s fitness ahead of their crucial Bundesliga clash with Bayern Munich on Saturday. The midfielder limped off with a suspected thigh injury before half-time. The win extends Dortmund’s impressive Champions League campaign, with four victories from five matches. Their only blemish remains a 5-2 loss to Real Madrid in October’s final rematch. AFP
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A group focused on economic development in Alberta is concerned about the financial consequences of provincial legislation focused on gender identity. 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce represents queer entrepreneurs and businesses. Executive director Nicholas Rheubottom said his group is concerned about the economic impacts of bills that limit access to health procedures and sports for gender diverse people. Another bill changes rules in the classrooms. Premier Danielle Smith has argued the measures will preserve choice for young people. “Like any chamber of commerce, we represent entrepreneurs,” Rheubottom explained. “Our secondary mandate is to create an inclusive economy here in Alberta. The chamber is non-partisan, but decided to take an active stance after members urged them to do so. Rheubottom said it came down to socioeconomic impacts that could potentially stem from policies. “We are so focused on bringing people (to the province),” he said. “That was the messaging from the Alberta government. “If we are going to stake our economic growth in terms of our reputation, we have to consider how social policies impact our reputation.” Rheubottom points to the legislation that many members of the LGBTQ2 community have deemed harmful and discriminatory. “We are built on a brand,” he said. “We are built on a destination. How do we bring people in to the province and make them want to stay here or spend their tourism dollars?” Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce data shows LGBTQ2 businesses contribute an estimated $22 billion to the economy. Those businesses also supported 435,000 jobs connected to those businesses. The chamber recently hosted an event for entrepreneurs who identified as either transgender, gender diverse or two-spirit. During the event, the executive director heard from business owners who spoke about the ways the legislation would negatively impact their work. “That included added pressures, negative impacts on mental health in able to run their business,” Rheubottom said. “As well, for those working in sports and recreation, it impacted them in very profound ways.” “If those businesses are saying this policy will damage their business and the province, I think we have to take that seriously,” Rheubottom said. Jay Rotteveel is a personal trainer in Edmonton who said the incoming legislation made him question if staying in Alberta would be bad for business. “It definitely came to mind,” he said. “If I don’t feel welcome in this province, why would I do business in this province?” Rotteveel is a member of the LGBTQ2 community. He believes incoming changes could damage Alberta’s brand and economy. “Putting in legislation against a particular community of people — we don’t know the long-term damage,” he said. “This could cost Alberta for decades.” Before the fall session of the legislature, the chamber wrote a letter to the premier, the health minister, education minister and the minister of sport and tourism. “The letter talked about why we thought this needed to be re-thought from a fiscal perspective,” Rheubottom said. “It wasn’t just social policy in a vacuum.” The chamber said the Alberta government has not yet responded to the letter. In a statement to Global News, Jobs, Economy and Trade Minister Matt Jones wrote that “Alberta’s economy is thriving.” “Under our government’s leadership, Alberta has emerged as the economic engine of Canada,” he added. “With only 11.7 per cent of Canada’s population in 2023, Alberta punches well above its weight nationally, representing, 20.5 per cent of Canada’s non-residential investment, 25.4 per cent of Canada’s goods exports; and 49.2 per cent of net private sector jobs gained over the last 12 months. “The Alberta Human Rights Act protects against discrimination based on protected grounds and in protected areas, including gender and sexual orientation. Employers, landlords and service providers cannot discriminate against a person because of the person’s actual or presumed sexual orientation.”Vietnam jails more officials over Covid-19 flight bribes Officials and culprits seen in a Vietnam court.— Reuters/File HANOI: A court in Vietnam on Friday jailed more than a dozen officials for up to 12 years for corruption over repatriation flights and quarantine during the Covid-19 pandemic. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); The case is part of a major anti-graft drive that has led to the resignation of a president and two deputy prime ministers in a country where political changes are usually carefully orchestrated. Last year, 54 officials and businesspeople were found guilty of receiving, offering or acting as go-between for bribes that state media said totalled $9.5 million. They included four former senior officials at the ministries of foreign affairs, health and public security, who were handed life sentences. At the height of the pandemic in early 2020 Vietnam had closed its borders to almost everyone bar returning citizens. The defendants in the two cases were accused of giving or taking bribes to help people get seats on repatriation flights and receive medical quarantines. At the time, returnees faced complicated entry procedures, expensive flights and quarantine costs. The defendants “took advantage of policies by the party, state and their positions.. to agree on bribes and did wrong... in bringing back citizens for medical quarantine,” Cong Ly newspaper quoted the Friday verdict as saying. Tran Tung, a former official for northern Thai Nguyen province, was found guilty of taking around $300,000 in bribes and commission for organising quarantine facilities. He was given 12 years in jail for receiving bribes and abuse of power. Sixteen other transport ministry, provincial officials and travel company employees were sentenced to up to three and a half years in jail on charges including bribery and abuse of power. Last year, a Hanoi mother told AFP how she had spent over $10,000 to get her teenage daughter back to Vietnam from a boarding school in Europe at the peak of the pandemic. The graft allegations come as part of an anti-corruption drive that has uncovered a number of deals done during Vietnam ́s pandemic response.CELH Investors Have Opportunity to Lead Celsius Holdings, Inc. Securities Fraud Lawsuit
The town has announced the 2023 Champions of Gananoque winners. The awards are handed out annually by the town to individuals who showcase exceptional contributions to the recreation and sports community. The 2023 recipients are Jessica Steacy, Pat Funnell and Mike Richard. Each was honoured with a plaque during a ceremony outside the Gananoque and TLTI Lou Jeffries Recreation Centre on Tuesday. Through volunteerism, these residents made a significant impact on recreational and competitive sports in the town. “This is the best part of my job, celebrating the people who work to make our town the wonderful place to live that we all enjoy,” said Mayor John Beddows. Beddows is urging the public to put forward the name of anyone who works tirelessly for the community, for consideration as a 2024 Champion of Gananoque. Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.ANN/VIETNAM NEWS – “With the same monthly income of VND18 million (USD720), my family’s quality of life improved dramatically when I moved from HCM City to Binh Duong for work,” said Tran Trong Nhan, originally from Ca Mau in the south. After two years of living and working in Binh Duong, Nhan noted that his family’s finances had stabilised. “Living costs, including accommodation, are 20 to 50 per cent higher in HCM City compared to nearby provinces like Binh Duong. On the same salary, my family of three could barely cover basic expenses in the city, with no money left for leisure, travel, or savings,” he explained. He highlighted housing as a major factor, noting that renting a 20-square-metre room in HCM City costs between VND2.5 and VND4 million (USD100-160) per month, while a similar room in Binh Duong, with better quality, costs only VND1.5 million (USD60). Other expenses, such as kindergarten fees, are also significantly lower in Binh Duong. Thanks to the reduction in costs, Nhan’s family can now save money and spend on leisure activities, including family outings and trips. Nhan’s experience reflects a growing trend of workers leaving HCM City due to its high cost of living. Rising prices for housing, utilities, and daily necessities are making it increasingly difficult for many families to sustain themselves. Even those with stable jobs and decent incomes find themselves struggling to make ends meet. Another case is migrant worker Le Van Thuong, 26, from the central province of Thanh Hoa, who recently decided to leave after four years working in HCM City. Before moving south, Thuong worked for a tourism event organisation in Hanoi. Attracted by HCM City’s vibrant job market and abundant opportunities for young people, he moved to the city in 2019, just before the Covid-19 pandemic began. During the pandemic, he faced prolonged social distancing and harsh challenges After the city reopened, Thuong found work at an event organisation company with a monthly salary of VND15 million (USD600). However, high living costs in the city left him unable to save or even afford trips back to his hometown for holidays like Tet (Lunar New Year). “Living in HCM City is expensive. Home rent, food, and other essentials leave no room for savings,” Thuong said. After weighing his options for more than a week, he decided to move back to his hometown Thanh Hoa, where he found a job offering 20 per cent higher pay than his previous one in the city. Nhan and Thuong are part of a broader trend that is reshaping the labour landscape in HCM City. Over the past decade, the city has been a magnet for migrant labour from across Vietnam, thanks to its dynamic economy, infrastructure, and job opportunities.
NoneNew 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire gunsThe Nigerian All-Share Index (ASI) concluded the trading session on November 25, 2024, on a subdued note, slipping by 202.75 points to settle at 97,626.27, a modest decline of 0.21%. Amid the downturn, the market witnessed a notable surge in activity, with trading volume soaring by an impressive 83.33%. A total of 671 million shares exchanged hands, a sharp increase from the previous day’s 366 million shares, underscoring heightened participation on the trading floor. Related Stories Weekly Market Wrap: All-Share Index rises by 106.74 points as John Holt gains 42.49%, Multiverse tops losers Market Wrap: All-Share Index dips 0.17% as EUNISELL soars to lead gainers On the gainers’ chart, HMCALL rose by 10.00% to claim the top spot as the day’s best-performing stock. SUNUASSUR followed with a 9.81% increase, while NCR secured the third position with a rise of 9.72%. On the flip side, NSLTECH topped the losers’ chart, dropping by 9.84%, while DAARCOMM followed closely with a decline of 9.68%. FBN Holdings (FBNH) and HMCALL dominated market activity as the most actively traded stocks of the day, showcasing robust performance and sustained investor interest despite the overall market’s subdued tone. Current ASI: 97,626.27 points Previous ASI: 97,829.02 points Day Change: -0.21% Year-to-Date Performance: +30.56% Volume Traded: 671 million shares Deals: 10,464 HMCALL: up 10.00% to N5.61 SUNUASSUR: up 9.81% to N3.47 NCR: up 9.72% to N4.74 SOVRENINS: up 9.52% to N0.69 TANTALIZER: up 9.32% to N1.29 NSLTECH: down 9.84% to N0.55 DAARCOMM: down 9.68% to N0.56 AUSTINLAZ: down 9.40% to N2.41 GUINEANS: down 9.09% to N0.50 LASACO: down 8.63% to N2.33 The Nigerian equities market saw a notable surge in activity, with trading volume rising by an impressive 83.33%. Investors exchanged a total of 671 million shares, a substantial increase from the 366 million shares recorded in the previous session. FBN Holdings (FBNH) led the charge, with a staggering 245.2 million shares changing hands, firmly establishing itself as the most actively traded stock of the day. Following closely was HMCALL, which recorded a solid 47.1 million shares traded. Other significant contributors to the trading volume included TANTALIZER with 35.3 million shares, GUINEAINS at 32.8 million shares, and PRESTIGE, rounding out the top five with 32.7 million shares. On the value front, FBNH dominated once again, driving transactions worth an impressive N6.2 billion. UBA followed with trade values totalling N640.6 million, highlighting continued investor interest. ZENITHBANK and WAPCO also attracted significant attention, contributing N423.4 million and N290.9 million, respectively, to the day’s trading value. HMCALL completed the top five with N264.4 million in transactions, reinforcing its strong appeal to market participants. In the SWOOT category, which features stocks with market capitalizations exceeding N1 trillion, OANDO stood out as the sole gainer, advancing by 2.50%. The FUGAZ stocks, comprising FBN Holdings (FBNH), United Bank for Africa (UBA), Access Holdings (ACCESSCORP), and Zenith Bank (ZENITHBANK), closed the session in negative territory. GTCO led the declines, shedding 3.39%, followed by ZENITHBANK and FBNH, which lost 2.71% and 1.57%, respectively. UBA remained unchanged, maintaining a flat close. Outlook Despite the market’s slight decline, optimism persists for a rebound in the Nigerian equities market. Strong Q3 earnings across several sectors, coupled with sustained investor interest, are expected to drive upward momentum in the coming sessions.