Canaan Inc. Signs Agreement with AGM Group Holdings Inc.WASHINGTON — 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. 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. "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. Bags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following: 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. 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. 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." 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: 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. 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!NATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russia's attack with new hypersonic missile
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Tavia Acquisition Corp. Announces Full Exercise of Underwriters’ Over-Allotment Option in Connection with its Initial Public OfferingDelta Force Hawk Ops: Players Encounter New Challenges. Can Modern Tech Solve This?The San Francisco 49ers must win against the Los Angeles Rams if they want to have a realistic chance of making the playoffs. It's as simple as that. Lose, and their playoff odds drop to under a percent, per The New York Times . It's all hands on deck then, with Dre Greenlaw returning from his Super Bowl Achilles injury and Nick Bosa reportedly likely to end his three-game absence. Those will be critical reinforcements as the 49ers look to slow down a red hot Rams offense, but there are several other factors that will have a big say in deciding a do-or-die divisional clash. Moore's biggest test The 49ers have traditionally struggled mightily to win games without Trent Williams. That has remained the case during his absence from an ankle injury as the Niners have gone 1-2. However, his deputy Jaylon Moore has played objectively well, vindicating the 49ers' faith in him as their swing tackle with a series of strong displays. Moore has allowed five pressures, per Pro Football Focus, and has five blown blocks as a pass protector, per Sports Info Solutions. Yet he has not allowed a sack and has excelled as a run blocker. The 2021 fifth-round pick does not have a blown block in the run game and, over the last three weeks, Moore ranks eighth among tackles in PFF run block grade. But a Rams defensive front that has hit its stride in recent weeks will provide a much bigger test, with the challenge primarily set to come from rookie first-round pick Jared Verse, who ranks sixth among defensive ends with at least 10 pressures in pressure rate (18.1%) and is first in the SIS points saved metric against the run among players at his position with at least five tackles. Verse has played the vast majority of his snaps on the right edge, meaning Moore can expect to see an awful lot of a dynamic young pass rusher with a powerful bull rush who also defends the run extremely well. How he handles that challenge could have an outsized impact on the outcome of the game. Defensive line depth pieces key amid Bosa's potential return Regardless of whether Bosa makes his return, there will be a huge onus on the 49er defensive line to get Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles offense out of rhythm after the Rams' incredible showing on that side of the ball in their shootout win over the Buffalo Bills. San Francisco tallied seven sacks of Caleb Williams in last week's blowout of the Chicago Bears. Three of those came from NFC Defensive Player of the Week Yetur Gross-Matos, who produced an excellent demonstration of why the Niners bet on his athleticism this past offseason. The 49ers have largely weirdly gone away from stunts or any semblance of anything creative up front this season. They were more varied against the Bears, and hey it worked. More of this with Bosa back in the mix with two other DL playing well in Floyd and Gross-Matos. pic.twitter.com/e2oE0GtcOo Two of those sacks came as a result of Gross-Matos' power and effort, but his first was the product of a well-designed stunt, the kind of which the 49ers have utilized too little this season in Nick Sorensen's first season as the defensive coordinator. With former Ram Leonard Floyd registering 5.5 sacks in the last four games and Gross-Matos impressing, the 49ers have the firepower up front to cause Los Angeles problems. Their abilities in that regard will obviously be greatly increased if Bosa is able to go, and his return would facilitate the Niners getting greater usage of Gross-Matos as an interior pass rusher to take some of the strain off a defensive tackle group that, outside of Maliek Collins, has struggled to disrupt the pocket. Gross-Matos' flexibility stood out throughout against the Bears. With the interior DL struggling to create much disruption, outside of Maliek Collins, his versatility to play inside and out will be key tonight. pic.twitter.com/OigXB7zxzj What the 49ers do have on the interior is an excellent rookie run defender. Undrafted free agent Evan Anderson ranks seven among defensive tackles with at least five tackles in points saved per play against the run, and he is fourth in run stop rate (12.8%) among interior defensive linemen with a minimum of 50 run defense snaps. Gross-Matos has also impressed in that area, consistently showcasing himself as one of the 49ers' best edge-setters. Gross-Matos is also quietly one of the 49ers' better run defenders. pic.twitter.com/OrTfMfwSqR In a matchup with a running back in Kyren Williams who ground the Niners down in the Week 3 meeting and two stellar wide receivers in Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, the 49ers' success in being able to limit the Los Angles rushing attack and key in on Stafford will be crucial. Though much of the focus is on Bosa's return, D-Line depth pieces such as Gross-Matos and Anderson figure to have huge roles to play. Can Deebo silence the doubters? Deebo Samuel may say he isn't struggling. However, when you take the step to post that on social media, it's a clear sign you're struggling. Both Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy showed support for Samuel following his hastily deleted tweet about not getting the ball, the latter expressing a desire to get him more touches. And history says that would be a wise move. In nine games against the Rams (regular season & post), he has 794 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns. He also threw a passing touchdown against Los Angeles in 2021 in a de-facto Week 18 playoff game. When the 49ers have had their backs against the wall in games with the Rams, Samuel has typically delivered. San Francisco did not have him available in their Week 3 defeat at SoFi Stadium but, with George Kittle and Jauan Jennings each performing to a standard that should see them command plenty of attention from the Los Angeles defense, the opportunities should be there for Samuel to do damage both in the underneath passing game and out of the backfield as a runner and a receiver. The stage is set for another vintage Samuel exhibition against the Rams. If he can save the 49ers' season, that would emphatically silence the doubters. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.
Vote for The Bulletin's Athletes of the Week (Dec. 16-21)WOODHAVEN, Mich. (WXYZ) — A downriver community is coming together this Christmas Eve to help lift one man's spirits and it all started with a simple post on social media. Thomas Gibbons was just asking friends and family to send him some Christmas cards at the nursing home he is living at. "Just to see if I could get the Christmas spirit going, you know," Gibbons said. The 58-year-old tells us he thought filling his door up with cards would help lift his spirits this year. "Christmas Eve was always a special time from when i was a kid, up til last year," Gibbons said. Last year is when Gibbons says he tried to take his own life. "I shot myself but it ended up giving me a stroke and now my legs don't want to work," Gibbons said. His original post got about three cards sent to him but his friend Lindsey Dyer knew she could take it up a notch, so, she brought it to the Facebook group "Downriver and Friends". "I've seen the remarkable things that Downriver and Friends can do and the power of the community and how everybody can rally up behind everybody and make anything possible," Dyer said. A few days after her post in the group the Christmas cards started flooding in. "I'm completely blown away by the response and didn't expect it to be as much as it's been," Dyer said. Gibbons received 30 cards in one day, and counting. Most of the return addresses are from complete strangers. "I don't even know but a couple people on there," Gibbons said. "It's awesome, it really is." He wants to remind people that there are so many others just like him, stuck in a nursing home for the holidays. "Let them know that you know they're still out there, you know what I mean, and I think that's important," Gibbons said. He said just one phone call, message, or Christmas card can make all the difference in someone's day.
Indiana aims to run its winning streak to five games Friday night when Nebraska welcomes the Hoosiers to Lincoln, Neb. Indiana (8-2, 1-0 Big Ten) has lost the past three meetings with Nebraska after winning seven straight. The Hoosiers are led by center Oumar Ballo, a transfer from Arizona who averages 13.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, and forward Malik Reneau (team-best 15.5 points and 6.4 rebounds). Reneau, according to Indiana, is one of five major-conference players to average at least 10 points per game with a field goal percentage of at least 60 and 80 percent from the free-throw line. Off Indiana's 82-67 home win over Minnesota on Monday, head coach Mike Woodson said there are things to work on going forward. "When you get a team down 15, 20 points, you got to remember how you got them down and continue to do the same things that got you the lead," said Woodson, "and I don't think we did that coming down the stretch." Nebraska's best win this season was over then-No. 14 Creighton in an in-state battle last month. But the Cornhuskers (6-2, 0-1) haven't played a very difficult schedule, and were blown out 89-52 by current No. 21 Michigan State on the road last weekend. The Spartans became the first team in 25 games to make more than 50 percent of their shots against Nebraska, so improved defense will be key for the Huskers. Nebraska was also outrebounded 48-19. "That hadn't been us all year, and that was the disappointing thing," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "The physicality of the game in this league ... we're going to see it every night. I've been pleased with how they've responded, but we'll see how they step up to the challenge Friday night." If Nebraska can turn things around on offense, it is 38-2 under Hoiberg when scoring at least 80 points, including 4-0 this season. Brice Williams is Nebraska's leading scorer at 17.5 points per game. Connor Essegian adds 13.0 ppg and shoots 42.6 percent from 3-point range. --Field Level MediaX alternative Bluesky reaches 24 million users - GSMArena.com news - GSMArena.comElon Musk, the world's richest person and one of Donald Trump's closest allies, met with US lawmakers Thursday on his plans for overseeing radical government spending cuts under the incoming administration. President-elect Trump rewarded the Tesla, X and SpaceX chief for his support during the White House campaign by naming him head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, along with another wealthy ally, Vivek Ramaswamy. Although the office, dubbed DOGE, has a purely advisory role, Musk's star power and intense influence in Trump's inner circle bring political clout. As Musk and Ramaswamy strode into the Capitol for meetings with lawmakers, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson touted "a new day in America." "There's an enormous amount of waste, fraud and abuse," he told reporters. "Government is too big, it does too many things, and it does almost nothing well." Musk and Ramaswamy have said they can identify billions of dollars of cuts in spending, sparking questions about whether Republicans will even try to slash politically popular social security programs. Writing in the Wall Street Journal last month, the two businessmen laid out plans for the White House to cut staff, trim government programs and reduce federal regulations, even if it means bypassing Congress, which holds budgetary power. "The entrenched and ever-growing bureaucracy represents an existential threat to our republic, and politicians have abetted it for too long," Musk and Ramaswamy wrote. "We're doing things differently. We are entrepreneurs, not politicians. During Trump's election campaign, Musk vowed to reduce federal spending by $2 trillion. This would represent cutting total US spending by a third, almost certainly meaning devastation of social support programs -- something that has never garnered strong political backing. Musk's emphasis on firing large numbers of government employees, however, echoes Republican talking points about the need to take on an overbearing state and may garner more support. Musk says he is seeking "mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy." Musk suggested banning government employees from working at home as an opening tactic. "Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome." Cuts will also target subsidies to public broadcasters and groups such as Planned Parenthood, which campaigns for abortion access and offers an array of reproductive health services. But DOGE is unlikely, at least initially, to go after welfare programs such as Social Security or health insurance for the poor and seniors, Ramaswamy said in an interview with Axios on Wednesday. Such cuts should be "a policy decision that belongs to the voters" and their representatives in Congress, Ramaswamy said. A reduction in military spending, which climbed to $820 billion in 2023, is also unlikely to be on the table. Musk's new role raises the question of potential conflicts of interest, since he could be issuing policy recommendations that impact directly on his own business empire. Underlining the close connection to DOGE, Musk's favorite cryptocurrency is called Dogecoin. rle/ev/md/sms/mdHanukkah, Judaism's eight-day Festival of Lights, begins this year on Christmas Day, which has only happened four times since 1900. For some rabbis, the intersection of the two religious holidays provides an auspicious occasion for interfaith engagement. "This can be a profound opportunity for learning and collaboration and togetherness," said Rabbi Josh Stanton, a vice president of the Jewish Federations of North America. He oversees interfaith initiatives involving the 146 local and regional Jewish federations that his organization represents. "The goal is not proselytizing; it's learning deeply from each other," he said. "It's others seeing you as you see yourself." One example of togetherness: a Chicanukah party hosted Thursday evening by several Jewish organizations in Houston, bringing together members of the city's Latino and Jewish communities for a "cross cultural holiday celebration." The venue: Houston's Holocaust museum. The food on offer was a blend of the two cultures — for example a latke bar featuring guacamole, chili con queso and pico de gallo, as well as applesauce and sour cream. The doughnut-like pastries were sufganiyot — a Hanukkah specialty — and buñuelos, And the mariachi band took a crack at playing the Jewish folk song "Hava Nagila." "What really brings us together is our shared values — our faith, our families, our heritage," said Erica Winsor, public affairs officer for the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston. Rabbi Peter Tarlow, executive director of the Houston-based Center for Latino-Jewish Relations, said the first Chicanukah event 12 years ago drew 20 people, while this year the crowd numbered about 300, and could have been larger had not attendance been capped. He said the party-goers were a roughly even mix of Latinos — some of them Jews with Latin American origins — and "Anglo" Jews. "There's too much hate, too much separation against both Jews and Latinos," Tarlow said. "This is a way we can come together and show we support each other." While Hanukkah is intended as an upbeat, celebratory holiday, rabbis note that it's taking place this year amid continuing conflicts involving Israeli forces in the Middle East, and apprehension over widespread incidents of antisemitism. Rabbi Moshe Hauer, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, acknowledged that many Jews may be feeling anxious heading into Hanukkah this year. But he voiced confidence that most would maintain the key tradition: the lighting of candles on menorah candelabras and displaying where they're visible through household windows and in public spaces. "The posture of our community — without stridency, just with determination — is that the menorah should be in our windows, in a place where the public sees it," Hauer said. "It is less for us, the Jewish community, than for the world," he added. "We have to share that light. Putting the menorah in the window is our expression of working to be a light among the nations." Hauer concurred with Stanton that this year's overlap of Hanukkah and Christmas is "an exceptional opportunity to see and experience the diversity of America and the diversity of its communities of faith." Rabbi Motti Seligson, public relations director for the Hasidic movement Chabad-Lubavitch, noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of a milestone in the public lightings of menorahs. It was on Dec. 8, 1974 — as part of an initiative launched by the Lubavitcher leader, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson — that a menorah was lit outside Philadelphia's Independence Hall, where the Liberty Bell was housed at the time. "Hanukkah is a celebration of religious liberty, so that it's not taken for granted," Seligson said. "One of the ways of doing that is by celebrating it publicly." He said Chabad was organizing about 15,000 public menorah lightings this year through its numerous branches around the world. "There certainly is some apprehension," Seligson said, referring to concerns about antisemitism and political friction. "Some people question whether Jews will be celebrating as openly as in the past." "What I'm hearing is there's no way that we can't," he added. "The only way through these difficult times is by standing stronger and prouder and shining brighter than ever." Stanton concurred. "Through our history, we've been through moments that are easy and moments that are hard," he said. "Safety for us does not come from hiding. It comes from reaching out." Why is Hanukkah so late this year? The simple answer is that the Jewish calendar is based on lunar cycles, and is not in sync with the Gregorian calendar which sets Christmas on Dec. 25. Hanukkah always begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, a date which occurs between late November and late December on the Gregorian calendar. The last time Hanukkah began on Christmas Day was in 2005. But the term "Chrismukkah" — signifying the overlap of the two holidays — had become a popular term before then. The term gained extra currency in 2003, when the character Seth Cohen on the TV drama "The O.C." embraced the fusion holiday as a tribute to his Jewish father and Protestant mother. This season, the Hallmark Channel introduced a new Christmas movie called "Leah's Perfect Gift," depicting a young Jewish woman who had admired Christmas from a distance, and gets a chance to experience it up close when her boyfriend invites her to spend the holidays with his family. Spoiler alert: All does not go smoothly. Despite such storylines suggesting a fascination with Christmas among some Jews, Stanton says research by the Jewish Federations reveals a surge in Jews seeking deeper connections to their own traditions and community, as well as a surge in Jews volunteering for charitable activities during the holidays. "The opportunity is to share with others how we celebrate Hanukkah," he said. "It's a holiday of freedom, hope, showing proudly you are Jewish." ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Get any of our free daily email newsletters — news headlines, opinion, e-edition, obituaries and more.
Andhra Pradesh: Star Health Insurance, India’s leading retail health insurance provider, has announced the launch of its innovative CSR program, "Star Arogya Digi Seva," in partnership with the Center for Chronic Disease and Control (CCDC). This initiative seeks to bridge healthcare gaps in rural communities by combining the power of telemedicine with Mobile Health Units to deliver essential medical services in remote underserved and unserved geographies. The program will initially serve 44 villages across 4 Aspirational Districts in Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam - focusing on preventive healthcare and management of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Dimple Raisurana Kapur, EVP & Head – Corporate Brand, Communications & Sustainability at Star Health Insurance, outlined the transformative nature of the project: “Star Arogya Digi Seva represents our unwavering commitment to social responsibility and sustainable community impact. We believe that quality healthcare must be accessible to everyone regardless of geography or socio-economic status. By integrating technology with mobile, on-the-ground services, we are developing a healthcare model that empowers underserved communities, promotes disease prevention, and improves overall well-being. This initiative reflects our deep commitment to preventive healthcare aligned with IRDAI’s mission of ‘Insurance for All’.” Through the “Star Arogya Digi Seva” initiative, Star Health Insurance harnesses technology to provide healthcare access. The free telemedicine service empowers individuals to connect with qualified healthcare professionals for consultations, advice, diagnostic services, and follow-up care. Additionally, the program includes educational outreach to increase awareness about diabetes and hypertension management, as well as iron nutrition to improve community health. Mobile Health Units extend this reach, ensuring that those in remote and underserved areas receive timely and vital medical attention. This effort is part of Star Health’s broader vision of delivering quality healthcare services throughout India, especially in areas with limited medical infrastructure. By addressing these gaps, Star Health not only strengthens its position as a pioneer in innovative healthcare solutions but also solidifies its role as a catalyst for positive change in society. Through this program, Star Health Insurance aims to make a tangible difference in the lives of thousands, creating a lasting impact on health equity and community resilience.Features AutoScheduler CTO and Former Dean of Business School at the University of Arkansas AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AutoScheduler.AI , an innovative Warehouse Orchestration Platform and WMS accelerator, announces that the Supply Chain Network Summit is hosting a webinar featuring AutoScheduler.AI on "Transforming Warehouse Management with Control Towers, Digital Twins, and AI,” which will take place on December 10, 2024, at 10:00 AM CT. AutoScheduler.AI's Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Gibson, and Dr. Matt Waller, renowned supply chain expert and former Dean of the Business School at the University of Arkansas, will lead the free discussion. "Traditional warehouse management methods can no longer keep up with today's fast-paced supply chain demands,” says Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler.AI. "Businesses must embrace cutting-edge technologies that drive operational excellence to succeed and thrive in this dynamic marketplace.” The free webinar on December 10, 2024, will explore: About AutoScheduler.AI AutoScheduler.AI empowers you to take full control of your warehouse with a cloud-based solution that seamlessly integrates with your existing WMS/LMS/YMS or any other solution. We automate critical tasks like labor scheduling, dock management, and task sequencing, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. You've already invested in the software to run your warehouse-what we do is provide the orchestration layer that ties it all together to make real-time data-driven decisions. With AutoScheduler.AI, you get smart orchestration for a smarter, more agile warehouse. Reach out to us at [email protected] for more information. Contact: Becky Boyd MediaFirst PR [email protected] Cell: (404) 421-8497Once upon a time, reinvention was not part of our lexicon. Life was predictable growing up in the ’50s and ’60s. Our grandparents were the fountain of wisdom and virtue, much revered in the community. No significant events, culturally and politically, were held without their blessing. We sought their foresight and judgment; they could do no wrong. But that era passed with their demise. So much has changed since. The societal changes and upheavals in the larger community were gradual and passive. The stability of the postwar decades began to unravel by the mid ’80s and early ’90s. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the rise of cable networks, and the beginnings of the internet were the political and social alterations of that decade. It was not until the rapid rise of social media, along with significant societal eruptions like same-sex marriage, that the rise of LGBTQI and the transgender phenomenon jolted us out of our laissez-faire attitude toward homosexuality and drug abuse. The Pope’s recent declaration is a testament to a major realignment of long-held views when he came full circle, and recognized that religion is the most divisive human invention that has caused much misery throughout history. The natural change process, called natural selection, is a slow adaptation mechanism. Without human intervention, coping with environmental changes like climate change could take tens of thousands of years or more. It has never been a problem in the past millennia because humanity constantly collaborated with nature in the hunting-gathering-agricultural phase of civilization. The Advent of the Enlightenment years and later, “Big Science” left us unable to change fast enough to keep up with major environmental upheavals. Today’s extinction rate is estimated to be 1,000-10,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate. Entrenched belief has held us back more often than most people realize. The wisdom of the old folks (matatanda) is highly overrated. They have no clue about the realities of today. We are saddled with slogans that ring hollow in today’s paradigm: “Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa pupuntahan. (If you don’t look back on where you came from, you won’t make it to where you’re going.)” This is one of those regressive BS that holds us back. It’s more like, “Ang hindi tumitingin sa pupuntahan ay hindi makakarating sa patutunguhan. (If you’re not looking where you’re going, you’re not going to get there.)” Filipinos are very often cultural casualties of superstitious rubbish. We have to stop passing on this nonsense to our children. Political dynasties (80 percent in the Philippines, the world’s highest) are so unrelenting that reinventing our politics is becoming a distant dream. It’s the one institution that can bring enormous changes to this country. But as long as we have foxes in the hen house, our legislators see only a trough from which they can fatten themselves. In this era of political realignment and globalization, our country’s ability to reinvent itself is hamstrung by people who are disciples of the past and who can only see through the lens of kindred souls with the same ideas and biases. The generational divide has never been so vast. Dynastic politics offers nothing but roadblocks to self-realization. Humans have been on a rush since the Enlightenment. We innovate to respond to our immediate needs, whether to increase our food supply, mitigate environmental concerns, provide cutting-edge health care, or become more responsive to socioeconomic concerns. The most innovative countries show a trajectory of progress. Based on our population and resourcefulness, the Philippines should rank much better than we do. (In the list of most innovative countries in 2024, we are No. 53, and tiny Singapore is No. 4, after the United States.) Being innovative, after all, is dependent on creativity and resourcefulness. Many countries with fewer human capital are trending higher than us. In fact, we have been victims of our early successes; we sat too long on our laurels. Our system became stale, our educational standards have gone down, our political leaders got busy enriching themselves, our people have become disillusioned, and talent started migrating elsewhere. Our creative outputs have been victims of religious subjugation; we are beset by doubt and internal fear brought on by 500 years of theological colonialism. Who is going to lead us at the turn of the century? We will be at the mercy of the descendants of today’s dynasty and the continued control of oligarchs. If the future generation of Filipinos chooses to stay put, staying engaged will prove consequential. Until our political leadership reinvents itself into a benevolent stewardship, our country’s future remains at the margins. —————- 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 . Edwin de Leon is Canada-based, and an occasional contributor to Philippine Daily Inquirer.
MAPUTO: At least 21 people, including two police officers, have been killed in Mozambique in the past 24 hours during unrest sparked after the confirmation of the ruling Frelimo party's election victory, the interior minister announced on Tuesday. The Portuguese-speaking African country’s highest court had confirmed on Monday that the Frelimo party, in power since 1975, won the October 9 presidential election that had already triggered weeks of unrest. A total of "236 acts of serious violence were reported" across the country, leaving at least 25 people wounded including 13 police officers, Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a press conference late Tuesday. "Groups of armed men using bladed weapons and firearms have carried out attacks against police stations, penitentiary establishments, and other infrastructure," Ronda said. More than 70 people have been arrested, he added. The largely deserted capital Maputo was earlier hit by skirmishes between protesters and police, AFP reporters said. Police in armoured vehicles patrolled the centre of the city, where hundreds of protesters in small, scattered groups threw objects and started fires. Makeshift roadblocks on major thoroughfares were set alight on Monday evening, covering the city with thick smoke, soon after the court confirmed the victory of Frelimo’s presidential candidate Daniel Chapo. Chapo’s main challenger, exiled opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, has claimed the election was rigged, sparking fears of violence between rival party supporters. Shops, banks, supermarkets, petrol stations and public buildings meanwhile were ransacked, with their windows smashed and contents looted. Some were set on fire and reduced to smouldering rubble. "Maputo Central Hospital is operating in critical conditions, more than 200 employees have not been able to reach the site," its director Mouzinho Saide told AFP, adding that nearly 90 people had been admitted with injuries. Forty were injured by firearms and four by knives, he added. Main roads leading to Maputo and the neighbouring city of Matola were blocked by barricades and burning tyres, while the road leading to Maputo airport was largely impassable. Most local residents stayed at home, with the few who ventured out doing so to look at the damage or do last-minute Christmas shopping. Christmas Eve is normally a busy time, with large crowds in central Maputo but shops and even small neighbourhood grocery stores were closed, making petrol and bread unavailable. Public transport was also paralysed, with only ambulances and funeral vehicles running. The unrest spread to several cities in the northern part of Mozambique, local media reported, with violence and vandalism in the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Nampula, Zambezia and Tete, where opposition support is strong. More than 100 people have already died in the unprecedented post-election violence, with fears that the toll could increase after Mondlane’s claim of victory. Mozambicans are demanding "electoral truth", he said in a Facebook post. "We must continue the fight, remain united and strong." Monday’s confirmation of the election result came despite claims of irregularities from many observers. Chapo won 65.17 percent of the vote, more than five points less than the initial results declared by the country’s electoral commission. In the National Assembly, Frelimo has a majority of 171 seats out of 250, down 24 from the announcement in October. "Venancio", as Mondlane is called on the street, repeated his assertion in a social media message on Tuesday that the constitutional court was "legalising fraud" and "the humiliation of the people". "We want to create a People’s Constitutional Court, which will confirm Venancio Mondlane as president," he said of himself. "I will be sworn in and invested," he added. Chapo, who is due to take office in mid-January, struck a conciliatory tone in his victory speech on Monday, promising to "talk to everyone", including his main opponent.
NORAD's Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kids
Mountain America Credit Union Donates $13,500 to American Red Cross of UtahThe Jets’ kicking situation is up in the air. Does that sound familiar? In the wake of Anders Carlson missing an extra point and a field goal in the 19-9 loss to the Rams , the Jets signed Greg Joseph to the practice squad. Joseph is the fourth kicker the team has employed this season since Greg Zuerlein struggled and was placed on IR with a left knee injury . Riley Patterson, Spencer Shrader and Carlson have filled in since. If Joseph kicks on Sunday, he’ll be the fifth kicker they’ve used this season. “We’re going to let these guys compete as the week goes on and see how it goes, put the best guy out there,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said. He said bringing Zuerlein off IR is “absolutely been part of the conversation.’’ Asked if Zuerlein is healthy enough to kick again, Ulbrich said, “We’re going to see how he’s doing, and if he’s feeling up to it and he’s feeling good, then we’ll open up his [practice] window.’’ The Jets’ previous game against the Bills, in Week 6 at home, was Ulbrich’s debut as the team’s interim head coach. Robert Saleh had just been fired. Tuesday, Ulbrich recalled the day of that game. “It was exciting, it was nerve-racking, it was overwhelming, it was fun, it was all of those things,” he said. “Every emotion that you could imagine I felt, and it was a blur in a lot of ways. Since then, felt like I’ve settled in and I’m getting much more comfortable in this role. But yeah, it was definitely a whirlwind that night.’’