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‘Massive gap’ between WestJet, pilots’ union as strike looms and bookings fall: CEO

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

TORONTO — WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech says a massive gap remains between the airline’s offer to pilots and the union’s counter-proposal for a new contract as job action looms.Round-the-clock negotiations between WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association continue to intensify as the clock ticks down toward a Friday strike deadline.Around 1,800 pilots at the carrier and its Swoop subsidiary are poised to walk off the job as of 3 a.m. eastern daylight time Friday after the union issued a strike notice Monday night.The standoff leaves thousands of passengers with travel plans for the May long weekend and beyond hanging in limbo — and has already affected bookings, the CEO says.With more than 16,700 flights slated for this month, WestJet carries nearly a third of Canada’s domestic market, while Air Canada has half of it.Bernard Lewall, who heads the pilot union’s WestJet contingent, says pay, scheduling and job security remain the sticking points.“T...

New Zealand police say hostel fire that killed 6 was arson, launch homicide investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand police said Wednesday they believe a fire that killed at least six people in a Wellington hostel was arson and launched a homicide investigation.Police Inspector Dion Bennett said they haven’t yet arrested anybody but they have a list of people they want to speak to and hope to quickly identify any suspects or persons of interest. He declined to say if they had found accelerant or other evidence of criminal behavior at the scene.Police said there had been a couch fire at the Loafers Lodge hostel about two hours before the large, fatal fire on Tuesday. They said the couch fire was not reported to emergency services at the time, and they were investigating to see if there was any link between the two fires. Bennett also told reporters there was more reconnaissance and examination to be done in some unstable parts of the four-story hostel building and his “gut feeling” was the death toll could rise.The homicide investigation represents a...

Daily horoscope for May 17, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or important decisions from 5 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. EDT today (2 a.m. to 5:45 a.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Aries into Taurus.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, May 17, 2023:You will radiate positive energy. You like to be helpful, but you can be stubborn. Many of you are passionately involved with music. This is a slower-paced year. Take time to rejuvenate yourself and concentrate on the relationships that make will you happy.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★This is an excellent day to make plans concerning your earnings or your job, because you are fortunate right now with moneybags Jupiter entering your Money House. In addition, you’re in a practical, grounded frame of mind. This is a valuable combination. Tonight: Positive finances.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★Today the Moon is in your sign lined up with Jupiter and Mercury. It’s also doing a two-step with Saturn. The result is you can trust your ideas today. Furthermore, you can trust your a...

France to send dozens of armoured vehicles and light tanks to Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

France will send to Ukraine in the coming weeks dozens of armoured vehicles and light tanks, including the AMX-10RCs fighting vehicles, according to a joint statement issued after President Emmanuel Macron's talks with Ukraine's president.After a working dinner that lasted more than three hours between Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the French presidency indicated that Paris was also concentrating its efforts on supporting Kyiv's air defence capabilities against Russian strikes.The visit to Paris formed part of Zelenskiy's whirlwind weekend tour of several key European allies to drum up military and financial support ahead of an expected major Ukrainian counter-offensive against Russian forces.After securing a bumper $3 billion new military package from Germany over the weekend, Zelenskiy said in Berlin on Sunday that Kyiv and its allies could make a Russian defeat "irreversible" as early as this year.Macron reaffirmed to Zelenskiy that Paris will continue to provide political, fin...

Do Muslims and Sikhs have an image problem?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

In the past few years there seems have great increase in presentation of violence related information about religion and followers of religion via social media and messaging services. Social media has expedited the pace with which a particular event almost immediately take religious undertones. For instance, recent extreme demonstrations in UK, Canada, and the US related to Sikh Khalistan movement and attacks on Hindu temples by Muslim mobs in Bangladaesh, Taliban banning education for women have been directly presented as rooted in religion by media reports. More recently, assassination of Atiq Ahmed, lawless turned politician while in Police custody in India has been immediately linked to religion and religion based ideologies. Therefore, it is important to examine what people think of various religions. A survey was conducted by Indian Institute of Management-Rohtak research team across India 4012 respondents in age group of 18 to 65 years having at least high school level qualif...

The Afghan questions: What do Afghans think about past, present, and future?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

Recent reports indicate that Afghanistan is confronting its vilest humanitarian predicament since the Taliban captured power last year. Several recent reports indicate that poverty and unemployment are at unprecedentedly high level. Furthermore, The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has recently stated that more than fifty percent of Afghanistan's population is reliant on humanitarian aid. Natural calamities have further accentuated the situation. In addition, the rights of women are being further taken away. The Taliban were reasserting that women will have virtually no rights. Also, the humanitarian aid provided finds it difficult to reach the needy thereby exacerbating the already critical situation, write Professor Dheeraj Sharma, Director, Indian Institute of Management-Rohtak, India, Nargis Nehan, former minister of Mines, Petroleum and Industries, Afghanistan and Shahmahmood Miakhel, Former Governor of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. Hence, in order to gain...

Miss Manners: What’s a polite way to make sure I get the painting when she dies?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Several years ago, I admired a painting in the home of some friends several years my senior. They appreciated my interest, and told me I could have it when they moved to a smaller home.After the husband in this couple passed away, his widow asked me what I would like from their home when she moved to a smaller place. I reminded her of my affection for the painting and also asked about a particular chair.She decided to take both with her to her new home, but said I could have them when she was ready to give them up.At 95 years of age, my friend may soon not be in a position to remember her offers and may not have discussed them with her two children, both of whom I know. Do good manners provide a polite way to remind my friend or her children of her earlier intentions?GENTLE READER: No.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Why is it rude to wash your hands in the kitchen? Advice | Miss Manners: Can I dance in the aisle while my husband s...

Dear Abby: The man I was cheating with won’t apologize for cheating on me

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I started having sex with a married co-worker.He cheated on me with other women. When I found out, I told him to tell me he was sorry because I didn’t deserve it. He could have just left me alone.He won’t apologize. What do I do? I’m really upset about it. He’s married, living a single life.NOT THE ONLY ONE IN GEORGIADEAR NOT THE ONLY ONE: You knew this co-worker was married, and yet you helped him cheat. Why are you surprised that you are not the only other woman in his life?You are hardly the wronged woman; his wife is.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: Is it wrong to get married when I’m hung up on a dead man? Advice | Dear Abby: I’ve retired from cheating. Why does my wife still have me on a tight leash? Advice | Dear Abby: My husband’s mandatory family events cut into my hobby time Advice | Dear Abby: The wedding invitation has a coded message I find tasteless A...

Four Evenepoel teammates leave Giro after testing positive for COVID

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Four teammates of world champion Remco Evenepoel tested positive for the coronavirus and followed the Soudal Quick-Step leader by pulling out of the three-week Giro d’Italia, their team said Wednesday.Evenepoel had won Sunday’s individual time trial to reclaim the leader’s pink jersey, but his team later announced that he tested positive for COVID-19.“Following the positive test of maglia rosa Remco Evenepoel on Sunday, a further round of tests were made on the riders and staff that remained in Italy, with Jan Hirt, Josef Cerny, Louis Vervaeke and Mattia Cattaneo unfortunately unable to continue,” the Belgian team said in a statement before Wednesday’s Stage 11.Team doctor Toon Cruyt said that after Evenepoel tested positive two more riders started to feel unwell Monday, but their antigen tests returned negative.“Therefore a PCR test was carried out on the seven remaining riders, the results of which showed that the four guys were positive,” he said. R...

Hopes for historic Pacific visit dashed after Biden cancels trip to Papua New Guinea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Papua New Guinea had declared next Monday a public holiday in anticipation of an historic visit by U.S. President Joe Biden and other leaders from the region.Police were tightening security, billboards were going up, and people were getting ready to sing and dance in the streets. Expectations were high for what would have been the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to any Pacific Island nation.“I am very honored that he has fulfilled his promise to me to visit our country,” Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape had written on Facebook.Those expectations were dashed Wednesday when Biden canceled the visit to focus on debt limit talks at home. To be sure, many of the festivities will still be going ahead. Biden’s planned three-hour stopover — sandwiched between the Group of Seven meeting of wealthy democracies in Japan and a now-scrapped trip to Australia — was timed to coincide with a trip by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wi...