Free transit for New Year’s Eve revellers in Winnipeg
Netflix will have one of its biggest days Wednesday since the site launched in 1998 when it airs two NFL games for the first time. "NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix" begins with a two-hour pregame show at 11 a.m., before Pittsburgh hosts Kansas City. Baltimore faces Houston in the second game. The streaming giant agreed to a three-year contract in May to carry Christmas Day games. Where will the games be available? Netflix's 282.3 million subscribers in over 190 countries will be able to stream the games, marking the first time one outlet has distributed an NFL game globally. Netflix will have the games available in five languages — English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. The games will also air on CBS affiliates in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Houston. NFL policy dictates that games on cable or being exclusively streamed must also be on an over-the-air station in the competing teams' markets. It will also be available on mobile devices in the U.S. for those who have NFL+. People are also reading... Why is the NFL putting Christmas Day games on a streaming platform? The biggest reason is money. The league is getting $150 million from Netflix for the two games this season. It also continues the NFL's moves into streaming — Thursday night games are in their third season on Amazon Prime Video and the "Sunday Ticket" package moved to YouTube TV last year. But Christmas is on a Wednesday when games usually aren't played. That's true, but the league wasn't about to give up Christmas after seeing the ratings. Last year's three games averaged 28.68 million viewers. The early afternoon contest between the Las Vegas Raiders and Chiefs led the way, averaging 29.48 million. The Chiefs, Steelers, Ravens and Texans played on Saturday, giving them the same turnaround they would have if they played on Sunday and then Thursday. What is at stake for the teams playing? All four have clinched playoff spots in the AFC, but seeding remains up for grabs. Kansas City (14-1) can clinch the top seed — which would mean a first-round bye and home field throughout the playoffs — with a win over the Steelers. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are tied atop the AFC North at 10-5, with the Steelers holding the tiebreaker due to a better conference record. Houston (9-6) has wrapped up the AFC South and holds the fourth seed. Has Netflix fixed its streaming problems from the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight? Netflix hopes so. Brandon Riegg, Netflix's vice president of nonfiction series and sports, said the system was stress tested, and then some, during the Nov. 14 bout, along with internet service providers reporting they were also overwhelmed by the surge that occurred before and during the fight. The bout peaked at 65 million concurrent streams, including 38 million concurrent streams in the United States. According to the website Down Detector, nearly 85,000 viewers logged problems with outages or streaming leading up to and during the fight. Could there be the same number streaming the games that there were during the fight? Possible? Yes. Likely? No. The largest audience for a streamed-exclusive NFL game was 23 million on Peacock for last season's AFC wild-card game between the Miami Dolphins and Chiefs. Nielsen will measure the ratings for the Christmas Day games, with early numbers expected late afternoon on Thursday. When could there be surge in demand on Wednesday? It will probably be at kickoff for both games, but especially around 5:45 p.m. EST. That would be near halftime of the Ravens-Texans game, and when Beyoncé will be performing. What other celebrities will appear? Mariah Carey will kick off the day with a taped performance of "All I Want for Christmas is You." There is no word if Taylor Swift will make the trip to Pittsburgh to watch her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Swift has been spending time in Kansas City since she wrapped up her Eras Tour two weeks ago. How many Christmas games will Netflix carry in the next two seasons? The NFL will have at least two games on Dec. 25 in 2025 and '26, with Netflix slated to have at least one each year. Amazon Prime Video will have a night game with Christmas on a Thursday next year. Does Netflix have an interest in other sports? Netflix's worldwide partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment will begin on Jan. 6 when "Monday Night Raw" moves to the streaming service. On Friday, Netflix secured the U.S. rights for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Months after Colorado's Marshall Fire, residents of surviving homes reported health symptoms, poor air quality December 23, 2024 University of Colorado at Boulder Three years after the Dec. 30, 2021, Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Boulder County, two new studies offer insight into what happens to air quality and health in the aftermath of urban wildfires. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email Six months after the Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,000 houses in Boulder County, Colo., more than half of residents of surviving homes in the area reported physical symptoms -- including headaches, sore throats or a strange taste in their mouth -- that they attributed to poor air quality, a new CU Boulder study has found. A companion study showed that the air quality inside one home post-fire equaled that of downtown Los Angeles in the 1990s on a high pollution day, with hazardous gases lingering for weeks. "Our research suggests that there could be important health impacts for people returning to smoke- or ash-damaged homes after a fire and that we need to have systems in place to protect them," said Colleen Reid, associate professor of geography and co-author of the studies. The papers, published this week in ACS Environmental Science & Technology Air , are the first to explore air quality inside smoke- and ash-damaged homes and to assess the health impacts on people who live in them. They come as fires in the Wildland-Urban Interface, like in Paradise, California, in 2018 and Lahaina, Hawaii, in 2023 grow more common. "A lot of time has been spent studying wildfire smoke -- what you get when you burn vegetation. But what do you get when you burn a home, with all its furniture and electronics and cars? Until now, there has been very little known," said co-author Joost de Gouw, a professor of chemistry and fellow with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at CU Boulder. A record winter blaze Fueled by 100-mile-per-hour winds and record dry conditions, the Dec. 30, 2021, Marshall Fire burned 1,084 buildings in densely populated areas, took two lives and forced 37,000 people to evacuate. Once residents returned home, scientists at CU Boulder, just 4 miles from the fire's ignition, started getting calls. "At first, they felt really lucky, but when they went into their homes they saw ash everywhere and it smelled differently -- like a campfire or chemicals," said Reid. "They asked: What should we do? We don't know if it's safe to go back in." With little research offering answers, the scientists began to investigate. Ten days after the fire, de Gouw's team erected field instruments in an intact home bordering a block where houses burned down. Over five weeks, they continually measured the presence of 50 gases. Meanwhile, Reid and colleagues developed a survey to send to residents within the burn perimeter, as well as a random sample of those within 2 miles. At six months, 642 people had responded; 413 had responded at the one-year mark. Some 55% of respondents reported symptoms that they attributed to the fire at the six- month mark, and survey answers depended largely on the condition of their home when they returned home. For instance, those who found ash inside were three times as likely to report headaches compared to those who didn't find ash; those who reported an odd odor were four times as likely to report headaches compared to those who did not pick up an unusual scent. People with the same symptoms tended to cluster together, according to computer mapping analyses. For example, those living near destroyed homes, especially in the direction the wind was blowing the day of the fire, were far more likely to report a strange taste in their mouth. "These findings are consistent with chemical exposures and suggest that residents of smoke- and ash-damaged homes may have experienced lingering air quality and physical health challenges months after the fire," said Reid. Long-term impacts uncertain The authors cannot say which chemicals caused the health impacts that survey respondents reported. But measurements in one home found high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene, a carcinogen found in gasoline and Diesel exhaust. Dust samples also showed high levels of copper, zinc, arsenic and industrial pollutants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are known to cause eye irritation. "If your home survives, and the neighbor two doors down burns, all those melted things can get into the air and find their way into your home" settling into furnishings, carpets and drywall, said Reid. The authors stress that VOCs are only considered carcinogenic at levels much higher than what they found, and people are regularly exposed to low levels daily through pollution. Their research found that simple measures, like opening windows and using low-cost, carbon-activated air filters, can substantially improve air quality. One year after the fire, the number of residents reporting symptoms had declined to just 33% and most said confidence in their home's air quality had improved. Until more studies are done, the researchers cannot say whether such exposures can lead to long-term health problems. Nonetheless, Reid urges anyone going inside a smoke- or ash-damaged home just after a wildland urban interface (WUI) fire to use caution, wearing KN95 masks and gloves. They hope their ongoing research can lead to clearer guidelines for policymakers and insurance companies about when it is safe for people to return to smoke-damaged homes. "This wasn't just any fire. It felt personal," said de Gouw. "Knowing that we could at least begin to provide some answers to our community has made the work extra meaningful." Story Source: Materials provided by University of Colorado at Boulder . Original written by Lisa Marshall , Nicholas Goda. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference : Cite This Page :As the cold air mass continues to make its way through southern China, it is important for residents to take steps to prepare for the cooler weather. This may include dressing in layers, stocking up on warm clothing, and ensuring that homes are properly insulated to retain heat.
More details are being uncovered in Blake Lively 's legal complaint against Justin Baldoni . In the lengthy document filed with the California Civil Rights Department and obtained by E! News , the actress accused her It Ends With Us costar and director of sexual harassment on set and spearheading a smear campaign as a retaliation for raising concerns about his behavior on set of the Colleen Hoover adaptation. And according to the filing, it was Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds unfollowing Baldoni on social media that was among the catalysts that led to the Jane the Virgin alum and his team coordinating their own messaging effort. In a May 2024 text from Baldoni to his publicist Jennifer Abel included in the filing, he told her Reynolds had blocked his social media account before stating, “We should have a plan for IF she does the same when [the] movie comes out.” (According to Lively's complaint, however, both she and the Deadpool star had unfollowed his social media accounts 10 months before this message.) One month later, Abel allegedly expressed more concern about Baldoni's public image due to Lively and the rest of the It Ends With Us cast choosing to do publicity for the film separately from him. In the filing, Lively said she had not publicly addressed his alleged workplace misconduct at that time. As Abel wrote in a June 2024 text message to a colleague, "We can't have fans guessing why JB is left out of this stuff." The following month, Baldoni hired crisis PR professional Melissa Nathan. As Lively alleged in her filing, to prevent the public from learning about the sexual harassment and toxic workplace allegations, Baldoni, his PR team and his production studio Wayfarer Studios participated in a months-long public smear campaign against her, in which they allegedly "created, planted, amplified, and boosted content designed to eviscerate Ms. Lively's credibility." However, Baldoni's attorney Bryan Freedman has denied all of Lively's accusations in a statement to The New York Times , describing her complaint as "categorically false" and "yet another desperate attempt to 'fix' her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film." E! News reached out to a rep for Abel to comment on Lively's accusations but has not heard back. Following her complaint, Lively received an outpouring of support from family and friends, including her sister Robyn Lively , Gwyneth Paltrow and her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars America Ferrera , Alexis Bleidel and Amber Tamblyn . "As Blake's friends and sisters for over twenty years," wrote America, Amber and Alexis in a Dec. 22 Instagram post, "we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation." For more stars who have spoken out in support of Lively, read on... Colleen Hover After Blake Lively filed a legal complaint against It Ends With Us costar and director Justin Baldoni , accusing him of sexual harassment on the film's set and for later taking part in a smear campaign against her —claims that he has since denied via his lawyer— Colleen Hoover , who wrote the book that the movie is based on, shared a message to the actress . "@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met," Colleen wrote on her Instagram Stories Dec. 21. "Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt." Robyn Lively Blake's sister, fellow actress Robyn Lively , also weighed in. "I urge everyone to read The NY Times article in its entirety," Robyn wrote on Instagram Dec. 23, referencing the NYT piece that details Blake's complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department. "It calls out those behind the ruthless and nefarious smear campaign that aimed to take down my sister." The Teen Witch star went on to note that it also "highlights" what Blake allegedly experienced on the set of It Ends With Us . Paul Feig Blake's A Simple Favor director also came to her defense, writing on X Dec. 22, "I’ve now made two movies with Blake and all I can say is she’s one of the most professional, creative, collaborative, talented and kind people I’ve ever worked with. She truly did not deserve any of this smear campaign against her. I think it’s awful she was put through this." Amy Schumer The comedian showed her support for the Gossip Girl alum, writing on her Instagram Story Dec. 22, "I believe Blake." Gwyneth Paltrow Shortly after Blake's complaint was made public, the Goop founder shared a photo of The Town star's hair company, Blake Brown, on her Instagram Story, writing, "Just added to my Christmas wish list." Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn & America Ferrera Blake's BFFs and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars penned a joint message , posted to Instagram Dec. 22, stating they "stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation."The incident quickly went viral on social media, with fans and netizens praising Xiao Hua for his incredible technique and precision. Some even joked that he must possess supernatural powers to be able to give a haircut without a single hair being lost. The attention to detail and dedication to his craft displayed by Xiao Hua has further solidified his status as a top hairstylist in the industry.
Mayor Eric Adams’ legal team claims feds don’t have the evidence for another indictmentAs he stood on the brink of academic success, Alex could not shake the feeling of emptiness that had plagued him for so long – the longing to be reunited with the family he had lost. Determined to uncover his past and find closure, Alex embarked on a relentless quest to trace his roots and locate his birth parents.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — First it was Canada, then the Panama Canal. Now, Donald Trump again wants Greenland. The president-elect is renewing unsuccessful calls he made during his first term for the U.S. to buy Greenland from Denmark, adding to the list of allied countries with which he's picking fights even before taking office on Jan. 20. In a Sunday announcement naming his ambassador to Denmark, Trump wrote that, "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity." Trump again having designs on Greenland comes after the president-elect suggested over the weekend that the U.S. could retake control of the Panama Canal if something isn't done to ease rising shipping costs required for using the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He's also been suggesting that Canada become the 51st U.S. state and referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "governor" of the "Great State of Canada." Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, said Trump tweaking friendly countries harkens back to an aggressive style he used during his days in business. "You ask something unreasonable and it's more likely you can get something less unreasonable," said Farnsworth, who is also author of the book "Presidential Communication and Character." Greenland, the world's largest island, sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It is 80% covered by an ice sheet and is home to a large U.S. military base. It gained home rule from Denmark in 1979 and its head of government, Múte Bourup Egede, suggested that Trump's latest calls for U.S. control would be as meaningless as those made in his first term. "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale," he said in a statement. "We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom." Trump canceled a 2019 visit to Denmark after his offer to buy Greenland was rejected by Copenhagen, and ultimately came to nothing. He also suggested Sunday that the U.S. is getting "ripped off" at the Panama Canal. "If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question," he said. Panama President José Raúl Mulino responded in a video that "every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to," but Trump fired back on his social media site, "We'll see about that!" The president-elect also posted a picture of a U.S. flag planted in the canal zone under the phrase, "Welcome to the United States Canal!" The United States built the canal in the early 1900s but relinquished control to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. The canal depends on reservoirs that were hit by 2023 droughts that forced it to substantially reduce the number of daily slots for crossing ships. With fewer ships, administrators also increased the fees that shippers are charged to reserve slots to use the canal. The Greenland and Panama flareups followed Trump recently posting that "Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State" and offering an image of himself superimposed on a mountaintop surveying surrounding territory next to a Canadian flag. Trudeau suggested that Trump was joking about annexing his country, but the pair met recently at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida to discuss Trump's threats to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods. "Canada is not going to become part of the United States, but Trump's comments are more about leveraging what he says to get concessions from Canada by putting Canada off balance, particularly given the precarious current political environment in Canada," Farnsworth said. "Maybe claim a win on trade concessions, a tighter border or other things." He said the situation is similar with Greenland. "What Trump wants is a win," Farnsworth said. "And even if the American flag doesn't raise over Greenland, Europeans may be more willing to say yes to something else because of the pressure."
Netanyahu says he supports proposed ceasefire with Lebanon's Hezbollah JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will recommend his Cabinet adopt a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as Israeli warplanes struck across Lebanon, killing at least 23 people. The Israeli military also issued a flurry of evacuation warnings — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah down to the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. For the first time in the conflict, Israeli ground troops reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River, a focal point of the emerging deal. In a televised statement, Netanyahu said he would present the ceasefire to Cabinet ministers later on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. Trump's sharp tariff hikes could speed up China's shift to new markets and offshore factories YIWU, China (AP) — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to sharply raise tariffs on all Chinese imports and close some loopholes Chinese exporters currently use to sell their products more cheaply in the U.S. If enacted, his plans would likely raise prices in America and squeeze sales and profit margins for Chinese exporters. Smaller Chinese companies like those in Yiwu — an eastern Chinese city that is home to the world’s largest wholesale market — are bracing for the impact. Exporters are maneuvering to cope with the potential tariffs by becoming less reliant on the American market and selling more elsewhere. Some are moving production to Southeast Asia and elsewhere to avoid the duties. Mexico suggests it would impose its own tariffs to retaliate against any Trump tariffs MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has suggested Mexico could retaliate with tariffs of its own, after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Mexican goods if the country doesn’t stop the flow of drugs and migrants across the border. Sheinbaum says she is willing to engage in talks on the issues, but said drugs were a U.S. problem. She says "one tariff would be followed by another in response, and so on until we put at risk common businesses,” referring to U.S. automakers that have plants on both sides of the border. Trump won about 2.5M more votes than in 2020, some in unexpected places Republican Donald Trump’s support has grown broadly since he last sought the presidency. In his defeat of Democrat Kamala Harris, Trump won a bigger percentage of the vote in each one of the 50 states, and Washington, D.C., than he did four years ago. According to an Associated Press analysis, he won more actual votes than in 2020 in 40 states. Even with turnout lower, Trump received 2.5 million more votes than he did in 2020. Trump cut into places where Harris needed to overperform to win a close election, especially in swing-state metropolitan areas that have been Democrats' winning electoral strongholds. Now Democrats are weighing how to regain traction ahead of the midterm elections in two years. Childhood cancer patients in Lebanon must battle disease while under fire BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanese families with children diagnosed with cancer are now grappling with the hardships of both illness and war. One family now has to drive three hours to reach the center where their 9-year-old gets treatment. It used to take just 90 minutes. Other families have been displaced by an intensified Israeli bombardment that began in late September. The Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon quickly identified each patient’s location to ensure treatments remained uninterrupted, sometimes facilitating them at hospitals closer to the families’ new locations. Doctors too have struggled during the war. Biden proposes Medicare and Medicaid cover costly weight-loss drugs for millions of obese Americans WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of obese Americans would be eligible to have popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound covered by Medicare or Medicaid under a new rule the Biden administration proposed Tuesday morning. The proposal, which would not be finalized until after President-elect Donald Trump takes office, could cost taxpayers as much as $35 billion over the next decade. It would give millions of people access to weekly injectables that have helped people shed pounds so quickly that some people have labeled them miracle drugs. New rule allows HIV-positive organ transplants People with HIV who need a kidney or liver transplant will be able to receive an organ from a donor with HIV. That's according to a new rule announced Tuesday by U.S. health officials. Previously, such transplants could be done only as part of research studies. The new rule takes effect Wednesday. It's expected to shorten the wait for organs for all, regardless of HIV status, by increasing the pool of available organs. The practice is supported by a decade of research, during which 500 transplants of kidneys and livers from HIV-positive donors have been done in the U.S. Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump's promised crackdown on immigration President-elect Donald Trump will return to power next year with a raft of technological tools at his disposal that would help deliver his campaign promise of cracking down on immigration — among them, surveillance and artificial intelligence technology that the Biden administration already uses to help make crucial decisions in tracking, detaining and ultimately deporting immigrants lacking permanent legal status. One algorithm, for example, ranks immigrants with a “Hurricane Score,” ranging from 1-5, to assess whether someone will “abscond” from the agency’s supervision. Ukraine says Russian attack sets a new record for the number of drones used KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The Ukrainian air force says Russia launched 188 drones against most regions of Ukraine in a nighttime blitz, describing it as a record number of drones deployed in a single attack. It said Tuesday that most of the drones were intercepted, but apartment buildings and critical infrastructure such as the national power grid were damaged. No casualties were immediately reported in the 17 targeted regions. Russia has been hammering civilian areas of Ukraine with increasingly heavy drone, missile and glide bomb attacks since the middle of the year. The Russian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, issued a rare official acknowledgement of its assets being hit on its own soil by U.S.-made longer-range missiles that the U.S. recently authorized Ukraine to use. UK Supreme Court hears landmark legal challenge over how a 'woman' is defined in law LONDON (AP) — The U.K. Supreme Court has begun hearing a legal challenge focusing on the definition of “woman” in a long-running dispute between a women’s right campaign group and the Scottish government. Five judges at Britain’s highest court are considering a case which seeks to clarify whether a trans person with a gender recognition certificate that recognizes them as female can be regarded as a woman under equality law. While the case centers on Scottish law, the women's campaign group bringing the challenge has said its outcome could have U.K.-wide consequences for sex-based rights as well as everyday single-sex services such as toilets and hospital wards.Twelve people were charged with various impaired driving offences last weekend in the South Okanagan, as BC Highway Patrol checked more than 300 vehicles on Nov. 22 and 23. An additional two individuals were charged while driving prohibited, the provincial road safety unit said. "BC Highway Patrol recognizes that the holiday season is upon us and that there are increased social events where alcohol is being served," reads a media release. "We are reminding the public to plan ahead for these events and arrange for a designated driver or some other form of safe ride home." The unit added that it will be "out in full force" in the South Okanagan this holiday season, as it conducts enforcement activities and "works hard to make our roads safer."
Roland Sets Medium- to Long-Term Goals for CO2 Emissions Reduction
In addition, the impact of the water tax extends beyond individual consumers to industries and businesses. Companies that rely heavily on water for their operations may face higher operational costs due to the implementation of this tax. However, this can also serve as a catalyst for innovation and the development of more water-efficient technologies and practices within these sectors.The Syrian government has condemned the Israeli airstrikes as a flagrant violation of its sovereignty and has vowed to retaliate against what it perceives as unwarranted aggression. The escalating tensions between Israel and Syria, as well as the involvement of other regional actors, raise serious concerns about the potential for further violence and instability in the region.Beyond its successful product offerings, Sony has also forged strategic partnerships with leading game developers and publishers, ensuring a robust pipeline of content for its platforms. Collaborations with industry giants such as Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, and Square Enix have resulted in exclusive titles, timed releases, and exclusive content that further differentiate Sony's gaming ecosystem from its competitors.How to live stream Vancouver Canucks at Boston Bruins: time, channels
As the investigation into this harrowing event continues, the thoughts and prayers of the nation are with the CEO, his family, and the entire UnitedHealth community. May justice be swiftly served, and may this tragic incident serve as a wake-up call for us all to work towards creating a safer and more compassionate work environment for everyone.
Not a few tears were shed during the touching retirement ceremony in honor of Rene Almendras, who is stepping down as senior managing director and group head of public affairs of Ayala Corp. Almendras joined the Ayala Group in January 2001 when he was appointed chief executive officer of Cebu Holdings Inc. and Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corp. He took on different roles in the succeeding years, including CEO of Manila Water Co. He did take a six-year break from 2010 to 2016 as he was called up to join the administration of his friend, the late former President Benigno Aquino III. He took on different roles there as well, among them secretary to the Cabinet. READ: Ayala earnings up 5% to P34B But even if he had held top posts in both the government and in the private sector, the proud Cebuano has been known to be among the most approachable of the top Ayala executives, able to relate to everyone up and down the corporate ladder. This is not difficult for Almendras who believes that “You can be significant no matter how lowly your position or how simple your role when you affect others positively.” Informed sources told Biz Buzz that Almendras’ retirement—to be followed by the retirement next year of Globe Telecom CEO Ernest Cu— means that the changing of the guard at the country’s oldest conglomerate is almost complete. What will Almendras do next? For now, what is sure is that he will join the boards of the Center for Family Ministries of the Ateneo de Manila University and the Institute for Regional Security in Canberra, Australia. He has also been asked to stay on at Ayala as a part-time consultant. But will he eventually join corporate boards outside the Ayala Group? Only time will tell. —Tina Arceo-Dumlao It is, indeed, the holiday season. And we’re not saying this just because of the hellish traffic we’ve been seeing in Metro Manila lately. For the first time, budget carrier Cebu Pacific surpassed 80,000 passengers flown in a single day on Dec. 20, when 81,243 people boarded its aircraft toward home or a vacation. READ: Cebu Pacific receives delivery of 16th aircraft for 2024 The celebration was brief but made better the next day: according to Cebu Pacific chief operating officer Javier Massot, they flew 83,100 passengers on Saturday, Dec. 21. “As we approach the Christmas season, we’re proud to help reunite families and friends for the holidays,” Massot said in a LinkedIn post. This, of course, should no longer come as a surprise, especially as nearly everyone we know will spend their holidays in other parts of the country, or, for some, the world. Cebu Pacific has likewise been launching new routes left and right. Earlier this year, it began offering direct flights to Chiang Mai and Don Mueang in Thailand, Osaka in Japan, and announced additional flight schedules to local destinations. Just to make sure that they have enough planes in their fleet to accommodate the booming travel demand, Cebu Pacific also recently took delivery of its 16th aircraft for the year. Maybe we can expect another breach of its daily record before the year ends. After all, we still have the New Year holiday. —Meg J. Adonis When an official of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines spoke about the “rejection” of the P29.82-billion proposal of Comclark Network and Technology Corp. to upgrade the country’s air navigation facilities, it came as a surprise to the proponent, tech tycoon Dennis Anthony Uy of Pampanga. Discussions are still ongoing but the project is shaping up now to be a joint venture (JV) with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) — and not a PPP, Uy said in a recent media chat. As such, it’s the DOTr that knows more about the progress of the project, he said. Uy said he’s willing to invest because nobody else will do it. Why JV and not PPP? It’s because there are equipment that had already been purchased by the government that officials wish to fold into the venture. Meanwhile, Comclark’s outlays will go down a bit from the P29.82-billion estimate earlier given, because the government would have an equity contribution. However, Uy said ComClark would still get majority control. “We see that the country needs to be faster to move forward,” Uy said. “Our air traffic is totally outdated technology. Turnaround is 35 to 40 minutes so the plane is burning gases.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . “This is only technology intervention.” he said. — Doris Dumlao-AbadillaTragically, the liposuction procedure took a fatal turn, leading to complications that ultimately claimed Liu Dabeili's life. The news of her sudden demise shocked her fans and followers, sparking a wave of grief and disbelief across social media platforms. Many expressed their condolences and shared their memories of Liu Dabeili, lamenting the loss of a beloved internet celebrity.Don't Forget About Holiday Poisoning Pitfalls
The United Nations and other international organizations have called for de-escalation and a return to dialogue to resolve the underlying issues driving the conflict. The international community has expressed concern about the humanitarian impact of the violence in Syria and the potential for further destabilization in the region.Overall, the leaked images of the Nio ET9's interior have sparked a wave of anticipation and excitement among car enthusiasts. With its blend of luxurious materials, cutting-edge technology, and safety features, the ET9 promises to set a new standard for electric vehicles in the luxury segment. As we eagerly await its official debut, one thing is certain: the Nio ET9 is poised to make a lasting impression on the automotive industry and redefine what it means to drive in style and comfort.