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American Airlines adds bag charge on international trips

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:06 GMT

American Airlines is charging all customers who book basic economy airfares to check bags.The first checked bag on a transpacific or transatlantic basic economy airfare will now cost a passenger $75. Flights to Mexico, Haiti, the Caribbean, Central America, Guyana, Suriname, Panama or South America for basic economy seats will cost anywhere from $30 to $45, with some countries excluded. American already charged for check bags on domestic flights for basic economy travelers.“We are simplifying our product offerings to make it easier for customers when they are shopping for travel,” said Andrea Koos, American Airlines spokesperson. “With this change, our basic economy product will include all of the same features whether a customer is purchasing it for a domestic or international flight.”The changes come at the start of a busy summer for international travel. According to Hopper, Europe is the No. 1 destination for international travelers. Airfare to Europe this summer is averaging ne...

A look at how the Bell layoffs affect their journalism platform

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:06 GMT

TORONTO — BCE Inc. announced Wednesday that it is cutting 1,300 positions, around three per cent of its workforce, and closing or selling nine radio stations as the company plans to “significantly adapt” how it delivers the news. Here’s a look at who and what’s affected by the cuts to their journalism platform.Fewer JournalistsThe layoffs include a six per cent cut at Bell Media. Many of those who received notices of their termination shared the news on social media throughout the day, including some of Bell’s prominent journalists.As part of Bell’s shift to a more streamlined newsroom across its brands, the company said CTV National News executive producer Rosa Hwang is no longer with the company, effective immediately.The company updated the online profile of several journalists to say they were no longer with the company. Those include CTV National News Ottawa bureau chief Joyce Napier, senior political correspondent Glen McGregor, chief intern...

Robert Gottlieb, celebrated literary editor of Toni Morrison and Robert Caro, dies at 92

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:06 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Robert Gottlieb, the inspired and eclectic literary editor whose brilliant career was launched with Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22” and continued for decades with such Pulitzer Prize-winning classics as Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” and Robert Caro’s “The Power Broker,” has died at age 92.Gottlieb died Wednesday of natural causes at a New York hospital, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group announced. Caro, who had worked for decades with Gottlieb on his Lyndon Johnson biographies and was featured with him last year in the documentary “Turn Every Page,” said in a statement that he had never worked with an editor so attuned to the writing process.“From the day 52 years ago that we first looked at my pages together, Bob understood what I was trying to do and made it possible for me to take the time, and do the work, I needed to do,” Caro said in a statement. “People talk to me about some of the triumphant moments Bob and I shared, but today I remember other moments, toug...

House rejects effort to censure and fine Democrat Adam Schiff over Trump-Russia investigations

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has rejected an effort to censure California Rep. Adam Schiff, voting to turn aside a Republican attempt to fine the Democrat over his comments about former President Donald Trump and investigations into his ties to Russia.Schiff, the former Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and the lead prosecutor in Trump’s first impeachment trial, has long been a top Republican political target. Soon after taking back the majority this year, Republicans blocked him from sitting on the intelligence panel. But Schiff was helped Wednesday by more than 20 Republicans who voted with Democrats to stop the censure resolution or voted “present,” denying Republicans the necessary votes. The censure resolution from Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, who was elected last year, says that Schiff held positions of power during Trump’s presidency and “abused this trust by saying there was evidence of collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia.” Sc...

Canadian writers picket in support of U.S. counterparts, say there’s uncertainty here

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:06 GMT

TORONTO — More than one hundred Canadian film and TV workers gathered under cloudy skies and sporadic showers to picket in support of striking Hollywood writers Wednesday, warning that many of the labour issues upending U.S. sets plague Canadian ones, too.Members of the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)waved union placards and handwritten signs in front of the Toronto offices of Amazon and Apple Canada, chanting: “The writers, united, will never be divided.”The demonstration was among dozens planned around the world as a “day of solidarity” in support of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), which is now six weeks into a work stoppage.WGC president Alex Levine said unionized Canadian screen workers want their U.S. counterparts to know they support their fight for better compensation and working conditions.He said the labour dispute has also disrupted American productions that shoot in Canada, putting Canadian crews out of wo...

Russia says relations ‘on the verge of being severed’ as Ottawa seizes cargo plane

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:06 GMT

OTTAWA — Moscow is warning that relations with Canada are “on the verge of being severed” after the federal Liberal government moved to forfeit a massive Russian cargo plane.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Ukraine on the weekend, where he announced that Canada officially seized an airplane that had been sitting on the tarmac at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport since February 2022.“We perceive this act as cynical and shameless theft,” Russia’s foreign ministry said in an English-language statement posted Tuesday.A year ago, Canada became the first G7 country to enact a law that allows Ottawa to not just seize assets held by sanctioned people, but to forfeit the money and have it diverted to victims of a sanctioned regime.The law remains unused, but Trudeau said Ottawa plans to begin a process to either transfer the plane to Ukraine or sell it for money that would support the country’s recovery.“We’re going to do it as...

2 arrested in firebombing of California Planned Parenthood clinic last year

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:06 GMT

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A U.S. Marine and a second man were arrested Wednesday on federal charges of firebombing a Planned Parenthood clinic in Southern California last year, authorities said.Agents of the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service arrested Tibet Ergul, 21, of Irvine, and Chance Brannon, 23, of San Juan Capistrano, a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, according to a statement from the office of U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada.They were named in a criminal complaint that charged each with using an explosive or fire to damage real property affecting interstate commerce, the statement said. Both men were expected to appear Wednesday afternoon in federal court in Santa Ana. It was not immediately known if they had attorneys to comment on the allegations. A Molotov cocktail was thrown at the front of a clinic in Costa Mesa around 1 a.m. March 13, 2022. Security video recorded two people in hooded sweatshirts and face masks carry out the attack, the statement said.Th...

Reitmans reports $3.8 million loss in first quarter, sales rise

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:06 GMT

MONTREAL — Reitmans (Canada) Ltd. reported a net loss of $3.8 million in its first quarter, compared with a net loss of $1.7 million a year earlier. The Montreal-based retailer says sales for the quarter ended April 29 were $165.0 million, up 7.2 per cent from $153.9 million the same quarter last year. Reitmans says the growth in sales was mainly due to increased in-store traffic and improved sales dollars per unit. Meanwhile, it says the increased net loss is mainly due to higher personnel costs and higher rent. President and CEO Stephen Reitman says in a press release that the company benefited from lower supply chain costs in the first quarter.The company recently announced that Andrea Limbardi will become president and CEO on Sept. 5, while Reitman will become executive chairman of the board. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 14, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:RET)The Canadian Press

Vermont legalizes online sports betting, joining nearly three dozen other states

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:06 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Republican Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill into law Wednesday legalizing online sports betting in Vermont.Sports betting is legal in nearly three dozen states.“I first proposed Vermont legalize sports betting several years ago and I’m happy the Legislature has come to an agreement, as well,” Scott said in a statement. “We know many Vermonters already participate in the marketplace and bringing it above board provides important resources and consumer protections.”Under the law, the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery will operate sports wagering through contracts with between two and six sports betting operators. Each year the department, in consultation with the Department of Mental Health, will provide a report to the Legislature on the impact of sports betting on problem gambling in Vermont. The operators will also be required annually to provide the state with a responsible gaming plan that includes information about the posting of materials relate...

Sen. Gillibrand introduces bill to protect older Americans in the workplace

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) says she and other lawmakers are taking a stand for older Americans."Far too often, older workers are being denied employment, passed over for promotions, or even fired just because of their age," Gillibrand said.Wednesday, the bi-partisan group introduced a bill to cancel agreements that prevent workers from filing lawsuits for age discrimination."Forced arbitration is secretive, it's unfair and it strips hardworking Americans of their constitutional rights," Gillibrand said."As America ages, this is gonna be a bigger problem," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said.Graham said older workers need to be treated fairly."There are many employers out there looking for ways to replace older workers with younger workers simply because it's cheaper," Graham said.Both Democrats and Republicans agree that protecting age discrimination isn't the only way forced arbitration hurts workers."And it turns out the pairing of Graham and Gillibrand...