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Air Canada plans to bar carry-on bags and impose a seat selection fee for its lowest-fare customers in the new year, as discount carrier tactics increasingly enter the mainstream. Starting Jan. 3, basic fare passengers on trips within North America and to sun destinations will have to check duffel bags, rolling suitcases and large backpacks for a fee — $35 for the first, $50 for the second. A small personal item such as a purse or laptop bag will be allowed on board for free, as will strollers, mobility aids and medical devices. The country’s largest airline also said that as of Jan. 21, lower-tier customers will have to pay if they want to change the seat assigned to them at check-in — a policy it had suspended just two days after implementation earlier this year amid backlash from travellers. The moves mark a shift toward a budget airline-style offering from Canada’s flag carrier, which along with rivals has relied increasingly on ancillary fees for formerly bundled services that range from checked bags to on-board snacks and Wi-Fi access. Air Canada says the changes align its fare structure with similar ticket options from other Canadian carriers and “better distinguish its fare brands.” In June, WestJet rolled out its “UltraBasic” fare. The ticket tier allows no more than a personal item on board — stored under the seat — and charges a fee for seat selection, including after check-in, whether online or in-person. Discount carrier Flair Airlines always charges for a carry-on, which costs between $29 and $74 depending on its size. No-frills fares carry growing appeal for big airlines seeking to capture cost-conscious travellers as budgets tighten after inflation and interest rate hikes. “They’re competing with these low-cost carriers on various routes,” said Richard Vanderlubbe, founder of Hamilton, Ont.-based travel agency Tripcentral.ca. “This is what wins in the price-sensitive area of the market.” Criticism of bare-bones ticket offerings is “easy,” Vanderlubbe said, but the fare tiers — up to seven at Air Canada — give travellers choice. U.S. carriers such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines have similar categories, though American and Delta still allow basic economy travellers to bring a bag onto the plane at no cost. “It’s a market solution to kind of an ugly problem,” Vanderlubbe said. “If you’re paying the lowest of the low, then who should get the middle seat at the back?” He added that customers need to be aware that what they see as the lowest fare on a price comparison search may not wind up being the cheapest option once the fees are tallied. “It’s not transparent until you’ve gotten a certain depth into the booking: ‘Oh, here’s the seat selection fee. Oh, here’s the baggage fee. Oh, here’s the carry-on fee.’ And watch out if you don’t check in online, there’s a massive penalty if you don’t,” Vanderlubbe said. “It’s kind of drip, drip, drip, drip. And it works,” he said, calling the trend “troublesome.” Transport Minister Anita Anand agreed. “I was just made aware of a decision by Air Canada to introduce new carry-on baggage fees. I am extremely concerned. Canadians work hard and save up to travel. They rightly expect excellent service, not extra fees,” she said Wednesday in a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Some competitors sought to seize on Air Canada’s announcement to highlight their own offerings. “Now the choice should be clear,” Flair said in a post on X. “The products are the same, one just costs way less.” That’s not always true. Some Toronto-Vancouver tickets in March start at $129 for Flair and $135 for Air Canada and WestJet. Other routes see a bigger difference, with Calgary-Toronto priced at $139 for Flair, $209 for Air Canada, $175 for WestJet and $198 for Porter. Air Canada noted that basic fare passengers who arrive at the boarding gate with ineligible bags will be charged $65 per item to check them. It also announced that customers on its “comfort economy” fare — the middle of the seven tiers — can check two bags for free starting Jan. 3, rather than one. Air Canada took in nearly US$2 billion in so-called ancillary revenue in 2022, up by nearly 50 per cent from five years earlier, according to airline consulting firm IdeaWorksCompany. The category’s share of total revenue for the company grew to more than 15 per cent from below 11 per cent in the same five-year period.Targeting Accuracy And Precision Will Remain A Key Focus As Adsgram Evolves, Says Vadim Sterlin

( MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) KUWAIT, Dec 22 (KUNA) -- Kuwait and India have agreed on raising their bilateral ties to a "strategic partnership", based on the deep-rooted and cordial relations between the two countries. They affirmed desire to boost cooperation in all fields, and that the partnership enhances mutual interest of the two states, said a joint statement by the two sides on Sunday. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kuwait on December 21-22, in his first one, upon His Highness the Amir sheikh Meshal Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's invitation. Modi attended the opening ceremony of the Arabian Gulf Cup for football, 'Khaleeji Zain', as a guest of honor of His Highness the Amir, on Saturday. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received the Indian premier at Bayan Palace on Sunday. Modi expressed his deepest gratitude to His Highness the Amir for granting him the "Mubarak Al-Kabeer Order". An official meeting was held during which views on multilateral international and regional issues of common concern were discussed. Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah held official talks with his Indian peer, within the framework of new strategic partnership. Both sides renewed their commitment to boosting bilateral ties through comprehensive and organized cooperation in political, trade, investment, defense, security, energy, culture, education and technology fields. They recalled the decades-long historic bonds between the two peoples that have common history and rapprochement of cultures, voicing satisfaction about organized interactions on different levels that helped enhancing momentum in bilateral collaboration. The two sides welcomed the establishment of the joint cooperation committee (JCC) between Kuwait and India that will work as a constitutional mechanism to review and follow all aspects of bilateral relations, the statement noted. The committee will be co-chaired by Kuwait and India's Foreign Ministers, and a joint action group will be stablished to cover the domains of trade, investments, education, skills development, sciences, technology, security, agriculture, combating terror, culture, in addition to standing fields in health, manpower and others, it stated. Furthermore, the two sides affirmed the pivotal role of trade as a link between the two countries, and big capabilities for further growth and trade diversification, it said. Due to India's economic growth and Kuwait's investment capacity, the two countries discussed different investment opportunities in India. Kuwait expressed interest in exploring investment opportunities in technology, tourism, healthcare, food security, logistic services and others. The Kuwaiti side welcomed steps made by India in creating an appropriate investment environment in several fields like technology, tourism, health and others. They emphasized the need of bolstering communication between Kuwait's investment institutions, and India's funds, companies and corporations. They encouraged investment and participation in infrastructure projects, and directed concerned bodies in the two countries to speed up ending the ongoing talks on bilateral investments. Additionally, they focused on strengthening cooperation and partnership in energy, oil, gas and renewable energy. They welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in defense that will provide the required framework of boosting ties on joint military exercises, maritime defense and others. The two sides categorically condemned terrorism in its forms and crossing-border terror, calling for drying up the sources of terror funding and dismantling its infrastructure, according to the statement. They expressed appreciation to the current bilateral collaboration in security, and agreed on boosting this cooperation in anti-terror operations, information exchange, intelligence, the best technology and building capacity, as well as combating money laundering, drug smuggling and crossing-border crimes. They further discussed means of boosting cooperation in cybersecurity, and preventing e-space from being used for terrorism and extremism. The Indian side lauded the final session of the High-Level International Conference on "Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms - The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process" hosted by Kuwait on November 4-5. Both sides affirmed that cooperation in the health field constitutes a key pillar of bilateral ties, voicing commitment to enhancing this sector. They expressed appreciation to mutual cooperation during the Covid-19, and discussed the possibility of setting up an Indian factory to manufacture medicine in Kuwait. Moreover, they showed their interest in deepening and boosting cooperation in technology, including artificial intelligence, e-methods and emerging technologies. The two sides dealt with enhancing collaboration among companies, and e-governance, and sharing the best practices to facilitate firms action and industry in both countries. The Kuwaiti side expressed its attention to cooperate with India to ensure food security, and discussed varied means of collaboration, including Kuwaiti companies' investments in India. The Indian side welcomed Kuwait's decision to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA), which represents an important step towards cooperation towards adopting low-carbon paths and promoting sustainable energy. India expressed its aspiration to work closely with Kuwait to increase solar energy deployment globally within the ISA's framework. The two sides referred to the recent civil aviation authorities' meetings of both countries, with Kuwait expressing its keenness to consider increasing passenger capacity of flights, India expressed its readiness to reach a mutually satisfactory solution. Both Kuwait and India approved of the renewal of the Cultural Exchange Program (CEP) for 2025-2029, which will facilitate the promotion of cultural exchange in art, music, and literature festivals, and affirmed commitment to strengthening cooperation and ties between people of both countries. Kuwait and India signed the Executive Program for Sports Cooperation for 2025-2028, which will enhance mutual exchanges and visits of athletes, organization of workshops, seminars, conferences, and sport publication exchanges. The two sides stressed the importance of education as an important area of cooperation, including strengthening ties and exchanges between higher education institutions, and expressing interest in cooperating in the field of educational technology to modernize educational infrastructure. As part of the MoU between the Kuwaiti Sheikh Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah Diplomatic Institute and the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), the two sides welcomed the proposal to organize a special course for Kuwaiti diplomats and officers at the SSIFS institute in New Delhi. Kuwait and India acknowledged the centuries old people ties that are crucial for the historical relations, with Kuwait expressing its appreciation and high respect of the Indian community and citizens in Kuwait that promote development efforts, and for their peaceful and hardworking nature. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his appreciation to Kuwait's leadership for its interest in the care and welfare of the Indian community in Kuwait. The two sides stressed the importance of historic cooperation in the field of work force mobility and human resources, and agreed to hold regular meetings to address issues related to expatriates, labor mobility, and matters of common interest. Both sides commended the coordination between them at the UN and other multilateral organizations, with India welcoming Kuwait as a dialogue partner at the Shan MENAFN22122024000071011013ID1109021977 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.DANVILLE — Danville Fire Chief John Buckenberger will finish his term leading the department at the end of the year, but that doesn't mean he's leaving. Buckenberger said he plans to continue volunteering with the department. "Danville has a great department," Buckenberger said. "I think I made it better, and hopefully Joe Miller will continue to build on that. I'm sure he will." Miller, Continental Fire Company chief, will take over for Buckenberger in January. Buckenberger has 56 years of volunteer firefighting under his belt, eight of which were spent as assistant chief of the Danville department and the most recent five as chief, he said. "When I took over, there was a lot that needed done in the department," Buckenberger said. Arguably, the chief's most noteworthy accomplishment was the purchase of a $1.5 million ladder truck. "I put together a committee and spearheaded the drive to purchase a ladder truck," Buckenberger said. Danville Borough Council approved Buckenberger's request to purchase the truck in April 2021. Additionally, Buckenberger helped secure a new rescue truck for Washies Fire Company, rehab tent and trailer for Continental Fire Company and more. "With our budget, most of the equipment is bought from the borough budget instead of tapping from firemans' relief," Buckenberger said. Montour County Commissioner and volunteer firefighter Trevor Finn said he enjoyed working with Buckenberger throughout his years of leadership. "It was a pleasure to serve with Danville Borough Chief John Buckenberger. His decades of experience as a line officer, firefighter, State Fire Academy instructor and mentor was invaluable to our community," Finn said. "I wish him well and look forward to going to the scene with him as a fellow engineer." Buckenberger obtained his state fire certification in 1982 from the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy in Lewistown. He went on to receive an associate's degree in fire science technology. The chief's pro board accredited certifications include firefighter one, firefighter 2, fire company officer four, hazmat technician, pump operator, aerial operator, fire inspector 2, incident safety officer, confined space rescue technician and high angle rope rescue.

( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) How a proactive approach, a compliance-focused culture and compliance technology can help businesses navigate an increasingly complex F&B landscape Business Reporter Press + +44 20 8349 6488 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. MENAFN22122024003118003196ID1109022038 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

Chinese toy stories deliver the goodsThe trio of blue bald men was instantly recognizable even to someone who had never seen one of their Avant Garde shows combining drumming, physical comedy, social commentary and a whimsical sense of play. They were plastered on billboards, city buses and trains and often splashed across arts sections in local newspapers. But now the Blue Man Group is ending its longtime run at the Briar Street Theater at 3313 N. Halstead Street in Chicago's north side Lakeview neighborhood after 27 years. It launched its longtime residency in the former Marshall Field and Company field house, where it was the only show performed, back in 1997. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack “I am honored and humbled to be part of the historic evolution of Blue Man Group, which started in New York back in 1991, and so it is with deepest gratitude to announce the final performances in Chicago,” Blue Man Group Managing Director Jack Kenn said in a news release. “Blue Man Group is unlike anything else in the world and is undeniably one of the most recognized and successful entertainment productions because of the hardworking cast, crew and creative team. It was because of them that these shows captured millions of hearts night after night, and we give our utmost thanks.” The Blue Man Group consists of three mute blue-painted men who drum, splash paint, throw marshmallows into each other's mounts, create Jackson Pollak-style paintings, bang on PVC pipe and engage in other eccentric antics. The show is so messy the first several rows of theater-goers are given ponchos to keep paint from getting on their clothes. Emerging during the 1990s along with other unique stage performances like Stomp or Riverdance, it's been a pop culture phenomenon that for instance was featured on "Arrested Development." The psychiatrist and would-be actor Tobias Fünke attempted to audition for the group, which he initially thought was a support group for depressed men, and then was slapped with a cease-and-desist letter after he attempting to do his own one-man shows while covered in blue paint, running newspaper ads that promised a "blue man for less green." The Blue Man Group show also is coming to an end in New York City, where it first started in 1991. The final Chicago performance is currently slated for Jan. 5 but could be extended if demand warrants. The Blue Man Group is now owned by the Montreal-based avant-garde circus giant Cirque du Soleil. It will carry on with shows in Boston, Las Vegas, Orlando and Berlin, as well as a tour.

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Fairfax Car Accident Attorney Jennifer Porter Releases Article on Critical Steps for Hit-and-Run Victims to TakeCerity Partners LLC Buys 18,132 Shares of Service Co. International (NYSE:SCI)Tweet Facebook Mail Victoria and South Australia are set to swelter from today as a heatwave brings soaring temperatures and dangerous fire conditions. The mercury will soar to 34 degrees in Melbourne in the coming hours before spiking at 36 degrees tomorrow, then cooling to a far pleasanter 23 degrees on Sunday. Adelaide residents can expect a scorching maximum temperature of 36 degrees today. Conditions will then cool tomorrow to 29 degrees and 25 degrees on Sunday. READ MORE: Stowaway snake causes panic on Australian flight The heat across southern states is forecast to peak late this afternoon. (Windy.com) (Supplied) Today, there are high fire danger warnings for western and central parts of Victoria, while East Gippsland has severe heatwave conditions. The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts overnight minimum temperatures will peak about 20 degrees for some areas tonight into tomorrow morning. "Severe heatwave conditions easing from Sunday following a cool change from the west over the weekend and into early next week," it said. The South Australian Country Fire Service today declared a total fire ban for the state's West Coast, Eastern Eyre Peninsula and Lower Eyre Peninsula, where conditions are rated as extreme. The bureau says the state can expect hot and dry gusty north-to-north-westerly winds ahead of a cooler, west-to-south-westerly change from the west from this afternoon. "Showers and isolated thunderstorms developing from the west. A severe thunderstorm warning is possible in the far west in the afternoon and evening." Meanwhile, South Australian residents can receive more warnings and emergency information through the state government's updated Alert SA app. Previously dedicated to bushfires, it now includes warnings for severe weather, heatwaves, urban fires, floods and hazardous materials. DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .Blum Holdings CEO Sabas Carrillo acquires $7,992 in stock