climaco In an electrifying finale, the dynamic duo of Shashank and Kavya emerged victorious in this season's Dance Karnataka Dance (DKD), lifting the coveted trophy and took home cash prize of 15 lakh rupees. Their exceptional performances throughout the competition earned them the top spot amidst tough contenders. Meanwhile, Srivalli and Nitin secured the first runner-up position, receiving a cash prize of ₹10 lakh for their outstanding effort and impressive display of talent. DKD, a widely celebrated dance reality show, has successfully captivated its audience throughout the season. From its grand launch to the thrilling finale, the show entertained viewers with diverse dance forms and innovative performances. Contestants showcased their versatility, combining adventurous stunts, graceful moves, and light-hearted acts, which earned them admiration and applause from fans across the region. The grand finale, packed with energy and entertainment, took the excitement to a whole new level. Social media platforms have been abuzz with praises for the winners, with fans celebrating Shashank and Kavya’s well-deserved triumph. Adding to the grandeur of the finale was the presence of Kannada cinema legend Dr. Shiva Rajkumar, whose support and encouragement inspired the contestants. Popular stars such as Crazy Queen Rakshita, renowned choreographer Chinni Prakash, and actor Vijay Raghavendra further elevated the event's charm. The show’s host, Anushree, skillfully kept the audience engaged, ensuring a seamless and entertaining experience. The final face-off witnessed a tough competition between some of the season’s strongest pairs, including Shashank-Kavya, Gilli actor-Haneesh, Sumukh-Sihi, Shashank-Priya, Ujwal-Gagan, Jahnavi-Kanthi, Srivalli-Nitin, and Yashaswini-Cheri. With each team giving their best in a thrilling showdown, Shashank and Kavya emerged as the champions, leaving a lasting impact on judges and audiences alike. What set this season apart was its unique approach to showcasing dance talent, offering fresh concepts that resonated with viewers. The grand finale on December 8th marked a spectacular conclusion to a season filled with breathtaking performances, emotional moments, and exceptional artistry. Shashank and Kavya’s win not only celebrates their talent but also raises the bar for future seasons. Their journey, along with the efforts of all the participants, has been widely appreciated, proving once again why DKD remains a beloved platform for dance enthusiasts.Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights

Spain's monarch pays tribute to the victims of Valencia floods in his Christmas Eve speech

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MADRID (AP) — Spanish King Felipe VI used his traditional Christmas Eve speech to remember the victims of the catastrophic Valencia flash floods, and urged the country to remain calm despite public debates around hot-button issues such as immigration and housing affordability. In a pre-recorded speech that usually reviews the year’s most relevant issues, Felipe said Spain “must never forget the pain and sadness” the flood have caused. The Oct. 29 floods killed more than 225 people in eastern Spain, damaging countless homes and leaving graveyards of cars piled on top of each other. In some towns, the heavy downpours that caused the floods dropped as much as a year’s worth of rain in just eight hours. In early November, as Spaniards’ shock at the wreckage turned into frustration, a political blame game began, directed especially at regional authorities who failed to send timely emergency alerts to cell phones on the day of the floods. The frustration of residents in hard-hit Paiporta near Valencia was on display when people tossed mud and shouted insults at the king and government officials in early November when they made their first visit to the town. “We have seen — and understood — the frustration, the pain, the impatience, the demands for greater and more effective coordination,” Felipe said about how the disaster was managed, adding that he had asked that aid be sent to everyone who needed it. He also addressed the country’s housing crunch and high rents, which have become a leading concern in this European Union country that is the eurozone’s fourth-largest economy. Fast-rising rents are especially acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid, where incomes have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Felipe urged that “all the actors involved reflect” and “listen to each other” so that they facilitate bringing access to housing under “affordable conditions.” Spain’s immigration debate should keep in mind the country’s European partners and immigrants’ countries of origin, Felipe said, warning that “the way in which we are able to address immigration ... will say a lot in the future about our principles and the quality of our democracy.” Felipe said Spain need to remain calm in the public sphere, even in the face of a “sometimes thunderous” contest in its politics.The Boston Red Sox continued to rebuild their pitching staff, acquiring left-hander Jovani Morán on Tuesday from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for catcher and infielder Mickey Gasper. The 27-year-old Morán appeared in 79 games as a reliever for the Twins from 2021 to 2023, posting a 4.15 ERA, striking out 112 with 52 walks and holding opponents to a .208 batting average. He missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He originally was chosen in the seventh round of the 2015 draft. In Gasper, the Twins are getting a 29-year-old who made his major league debut last season and appeared in 13 games with Boston. The switch-hitter was selected by the New York Yankees in the 27th round of the 2018 draft. He was picked by Boston in the minor league portion of the 2023 Rule 5 Draft. The Red Sox and Twins both currently have 39 players on their 40-man rosters. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise prices, won't rule out revenge prosecutions

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By KATE BRUMBACK ATLANTA (AP) — A judge is weighing whether a Georgia state Senate committee has the right to subpoena testimony and documents from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as it looks into whether she has engaged in misconduct during her prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump. The Republican-led committee sent subpoenas to Willis in August seeking to compel her to testify at its September meeting and to produce scores of documents. The committee was formed earlier this year to examine allegations of “various forms of misconduct” by Willis, an elected Democrat, during her prosecution of Trump and others over their efforts to overturn the former president’s 2020 election loss in Georgia. Willis’ attorney, former Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes, told Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram during a hearing Tuesday that although the Georgia General Assembly has subpoena power, that power is not automatically conferred on a single legislative chamber or its committees. Even if the committee did have such power, he argued, the subpoenas in question are overly broad and not related to a legitimate legislative need. Barnes said the focus on Willis and her investigation into Trump shows that the committee was politically motivated and not a legitimate inquiry into the practices of district attorneys’ offices: “What they were trying to do is chill the prosecution of Donald Trump and find out what they had.” Josh Belinfante, a lawyer representing the lawmakers, said there is nothing in the Georgia Constitution that prohibits the Senate from issuing a subpoena. The duly formed interim committee is looking into whether new legislation is needed to regulate the practices of district attorneys’ offices in the state, he argued. “They are investigating and making an inquiry into these allegations that may show that existing state laws, including those establishing the processes for selecting, hiring and compensating special assistant district attorneys, are inadequate,” Belinfante said. The resolution creating the committee focused in particular on Willis’ hiring of special prosecutor Nathan Wade , with whom she had a romantic relationship , to lead the prosecution against Trump and others. It says the relationship amounted to a “clear conflict of interest and a fraud upon the taxpayers” of the county and state. One of the committee’s subpoenas orders Wills to produce documents related to Wade, including documents related to his hiring and payment, documents related to money or items of value that Wade and Willis may have exchanged, text messages and emails between the two, and their phone records. The committee also requested any documents her office sent in response to requests from the U.S. House, as well as communications Willis and her office had with the White House, the U.S. Justice Department and the House relating to the 2020 presidential election. And they asked for documents related to federal grant money Willis’ office has received. Before the deadlines in the subpoenas, Willis challenged them in court. Willis’ challenge was pending in mid-September when she skipped a hearing during which the committee members had hoped to question her. In October, the committee asked Ingram to require Willis to comply with the subpoenas. The committee’s lawyers wrote in a court filing that Willis’ failure to do so had delayed its ability to finish its inquiry and to provide recommendations for any legislation or changes in appropriations that might result. Barnes also argued that once the regular legislative session has adjourned, which happened in March this year, legislative committees can meet to study issues and come up with recommendations but do not have the power to compel someone to appear or produce documents. Belinfante rejected that, saying the state Constitution expressly permits the creation of interim committees and allows them to make their rules. Even if these subpoenas were validly issued, Barnes argued, they ask for too much, including private and personal information that is not a legitimate target of a legislative subpoena. Related Articles National News | Eminem’s mother Debbie Nelson, whose rocky relationship fueled the rapper’s lyrics, dies at age 69 National News | Founder of failed crypto lending platform Celsius Network pleads guilty to fraud charges National News | FACT FOCUS: Vermont ruling does not say schools can vaccinate children without parental consent National News | Are you a former SmileDirectClub customer? You might be eligible for a refund National News | Justice Department announces sweeping reforms to curb suicides in federal prisons and jails Belinfante said the lawmakers are simply trying to do their jobs. He asked that Willis be ordered to appear before the committee in early January. He also asked that she be ordered to provide the requested documents and explain what privilege justifies any that are excluded. With a glaring lack of state case law on the issue of the General Assembly’s subpoena power, that’s one issue Ingram will have to address. She said she will consider the arguments and release her order as soon as she can. Willis and Wade have acknowledged that they had a relationship but have said it began after he was hired and ended before the indictment against Trump was filed. Trump and other defendants argued that the relationship created a conflict of interest that should disqualify Willis and her office from continuing with her prosecution of the case. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that Willis’ actions showed a “tremendous lapse in judgment,” but he did not find a conflict of interest that would disqualify Willis. He said she could continue her prosecution as long as Wade stepped aside, which he did. Trump and others have appealed that ruling to the Georgia Court of Appeals, and that appeal remains pending.

Bank of America became FIFA’s first global banking partner in August and sealed a separate deal for a second event also being played in the United States, two days before the group-stage draw in Miami for the revamped 32-team club event . It features recent European champions Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea. “FIFA is going to take America by storm and we’re going to be right at their side,” the bank’s head of marketing, David Tyrie, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. Bank of America joins 2026 World Cup sponsors Hisense and Budweiser brewer AB InBev in separately also backing the club event, and more deals are expected after Saudi Arabia is confirmed next week as the 2034 World Cup host. While games at the next World Cup, co-hosted with Canada and Mexico, will be watched by hundreds of millions globally mostly on free-to-air public networks, the Club World Cup broadcast picture is unclear. FIFA has promised hundreds of millions of dollars in prize money for the 32 clubs to share but is yet to announce any broadcast deals for the month-long tournament. It is expected to land on a streaming service. “You have to think about how you are going to connect with these fans,” Tyrie told the Associated Press from Boston. “TV is one, sure, social media is a big avenue. “The smart marketing capabilities are able to say ‘Hey, we need to tilt this one a little bit more away from TV-type marketing into social-type marketing.’ We have got a pretty decent strategy that we’re putting in place to do activation.” Engaging Bank of America’s customers and 250,000 employees are key to that strategy, Tyrie said. “It’s going to be for our clients, and entertainment, it’s going to be for our employees in creating excitement. All of the above.” The Club World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums across 11 cities, including Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C, and Lumen Field where the hometown Seattle Sounders play three group-stage games. European powers Madrid, Man City and Bayern Munich lead a 12-strong European challenge. Teams qualified by winning continental titles or posting consistently good results across four years of those competitions. The exception is Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, who FIFA gave the entry reserved for a host nation team in October based on regular season record without waiting for the MLS Cup final. LA Galaxy hosts New York Red Bulls playing for that national title Saturday. Messi’s team opens the FIFA tournament June 15 in the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium and will play its three group games in Florida. “The more brand players you bring in, the bigger the following you have got,” Tyrie acknowledged, though adding Messi being involved was “not a make or break for the event.” The Club World Cup final is July 13 at Met Life Stadium near New York, which also will host the World Cup final one year later. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer(All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Saturday, Nov. 23 AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL (WOMEN’S) 3:30 a.m. FS2 — AFL Playoffs: Adelaide at Brisbane, Preliminary Final AUTO RACING 12:55 a.m. (Sunday) ESPN — Formula 1: The Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix, Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) Noon FS2 — St. Francis (Pa.) at Georgetown 5 p.m. FS2 — N. Illinois at DePaul COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S) 4 p.m. NBC — Notre Dame at Southern Cal PEACOCK — Notre Dame at Southern Cal COLLEGE CROSS COUNTRY (MEN’S and WOMEN’S) 9:30 a.m. ESPNU — NCAA Championships: From Verona, Wis. COLLEGE FOOTBALL Noon ABC — Mississippi at Florida ACCN — UConn at Syracuse BTN — Iowa at Maryland CBSSN — Sam Houston St. at Jacksonville St. CW — North Carolina at Boston College ESPN — Wake Forest at Miami ESPN2 — SMU at Virginia ESPNU — Yale at Harvard FOX — Indiana at Ohio St. PEACOCK — Illinois at Rutgers 12:45 p.m. SECN — UMass at Georgia 3:30 p.m. ABC — Kentucky at Texas ACCN — Stanford at California BTN — Wisconsin at Nebraska CBS — Penn St. at Minnesota CBSSN — San Diego St. at Utah St. CW — The Citadel at Clemson ESPN — BYU at Arizona St. ESPNU — UCF at West Virginia FOX — Colorado at Kansas FS1 — Northwestern at Michigan 4 p.m. ESPN2 — Pittsburgh at Louisville 4:15 p.m. SECN — Missouri at Mississippi St. 7 p.m. CBSSN — Boise St. at Wyoming CW — Washington St. at Oregon St. FS1 — Baylor at Houston NBC — Army vs. Notre Dame, New York PEACOCK — Army vs. Notre Dame, New York 7:30 p.m. ABC — Alabama at Oklahoma ESPN — Texas A&M at Auburn ESPNU — Marshall at Old Dominion FOX — Iowa St. at Utah 7:45 p.m. SECN — Vanderbilt at LSU 8 p.m. ACCN — Virginia Tech at Duke ESPN2 — Cincinnati at Kansas St. 10:15 p.m. NBC — Southern Cal at UCLA 10:30 p.m. CBSSN — Colorado St. at Fresno St. FS1 — Air Force at Nevada 11 p.m. ESPNU — Florida A&M at Bethune-Cookman (Taped) COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S) 8 p.m. BTN — Wisconsin at Nebraska GOLF 1 p.m. GOLF — PGA Tour: The RSM Classic, Third Round, Sea Island Golf Club - Seaside Course, Sea Island, Ga. 4 p.m. GOLF — LPGA Tour: The CME Group Tour Championship, Third Round, Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Fla. (Taped) 9:30 p.m. GOLF — DP World Tour: The BMW Australian PGA Championship, Final Round, Royal Queensland Golf Club, Brisbane, Australia 1 a.m. (Saturday) GOLF — Asian Tour: The LINK Hong Kong Open, Final Round, Hong Kong Golf Club, Hong Kong HORSE RACING 11:30 a.m. FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races 3:30 p.m. FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races 1 a.m. (Sunday) FS2 — The Japan Cup: From Tokyo Racecourse, Tokyo NBA BASKETBALL 5 p.m. NBATV — New York at Utah 8 p.m. NBATV — Memphis at Chicago 10:30 p.m. NBATV — Denver at L.A. Lakers NHL HOCKEY 1 p.m. NHLN — Chicago at Philadelphia 7 p.m. NHLN — Vegas at Montreal SAILING 5 a.m. CBSSN — Sail GP: The Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix - Day 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 5 a.m. (Sunday) CBSSN — Sail GP: The Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix - Day 2, Dubai, United Arab Emirates SOCCER (MEN’S) 7:30 a.m. USA — Premier League: Chelsea at Leicester City 9 a.m. CBSSN — Serie A: Inter Milan at Hellas Verona 10 a.m. USA — Premier League: Brighton & Hove Albion at Bournemouth Noon CBS — USL Championship: Rhode Island at Colorado Springs, Final 12:30 p.m. NBC — Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur at Manchester City 7 p.m. FS2 — Saudi Pro League: Al Hilal at Al Khaleej (Taped) SOCCER (WOMEN’S) 8 p.m. CBS — NWSL Playoffs: Orlando vs. Washington, Final, Kansas City, Mo. TENNIS 7 a.m. TENNIS — Davis Cup Finals Semifinal The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV . (All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Sunday, Nov. 24 COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) 10:30 a.m. ESPNU — ESPN2 — Myrtle Beach Invitational: TBD, Seventh-Place Game, Conway, S.C. 11 a.m. CBSSN — St. John’s vs. Georgia, Nassau, Bahamas 1 p.m. CBSSN — Rutgers at Kennesaw St. ESPN — Villanova vs. Maryland, Newark, N.J. ESPN2 — Myrtle Beach Invitational: TBD, Third-Place Game, Conway, S.C. 3 p.m. CBSSN — Greenbrier Tip-Off: TBD, Third-Place Game, West White Sulphur Springs, W.V. ESPN — Charleston Classic: TBD, Third-Place Game, Charleston, S.C. 3:30 p.m. ESPN2 — Florida St. vs. UMass, Uncasville, Conn. 5:30 p.m. CBSSN — Greenbrier Tip-Off: TBD, Championship, West White Sulphur Springs, W.V. ESPN — Myrtle Beach Invitational: TBD, Championship, Conway, S.C. 6 p.m. ESPN2 — Charleston Classic: TBD, Fifth-Place Game, Charleston, S.C. ESPNU — Yale vs. Delaware, Uncasville, Conn. 8 p.m. ESPN2 — Myrtle Beach Invitational: TBD, Fifth-Place Game, Conway, S.C. 8:30 p.m. ESPN — Charleston Classic: TBD, Championship, Charleston, S.C. COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S) 1 p.m. PEACOCK — South Florida vs. Louisville, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. 4 p.m. ACCN — Bethune-Cookman at Virginia BTN — Washington St. at Iowa FS1 — South Carolina at UCLA COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY 1:30 p.m. ESPNU — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Championship, Ann Arbor, Mich. COLLEGE FOOTBALL 12:30 p.m. ESPNU — FCS Football Selection Show COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S) Noon ACCN — Stanford at North Carolina 2 p.m. ACCN — California at Duke SECN — South Carolina at Tennessee 3:30 p.m. ESPNU — Southwestern Athletic Tournament: TBD, Championship, Grambling, La. 4 p.m. SECN — Arkansas at Kentucky 6 p.m. SECN — Auburn vs. Oklahoma 7:30 p.m. BTN — Indiana at Ohio St. 8:30 p.m. ESPNU — Mid-Eastern Athletic Tournament: TBD, Championship, Dover, Del. FIGURE SKATING 4 p.m. NBC — ISU: The 2024 Cup of China, Chongqing, China GOLF 1 p.m. GOLF — PGA Tour: The RSM Classic, Final Round, Sea Island Golf Club - Seaside Course, Sea Island, Ga. NBC — LPGA Tour: The CME Group Tour Championship, Final Round, Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Fla. HORSE RACING Noon FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races 4 p.m. FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races NBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL 1 p.m. NBATV — Capital City at Maine NFL FOOTBALL 1 p.m. CBS — Regional Coverage: New England at Miami, Tampa Bay at N.Y. Giants, Kansas City at Carolina, Tennessee at Houston FOX — Regional Coverage: Minnesota at Chicago, Detroit at Indianapolis, Dallas at Washington 4:05 p.m. CBS — Denver at Las Vegas 4:25 p.m. FOX — Regional Coverage: San Francisco at Green Bay, Arizona at Seattle 8:20 p.m. NBC — Philadelphia at L.A. Rams PEACOCK — Philadelphia at L.A. Rams NHL HOCKEY 7 p.m. NHLN — Utah at Toronto SAILING 5 a.m. CBSSN — Sail GP: The Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix - Day 2, Dubai, United Arab Emirates SOCCER (MEN’S) 9 a.m. USA — Premier League: Liverpool at Southampton 11:30 a.m. USA — Premier League: Manchester United at Ipswich Town 11:45 a.m. FS2 — Saudi Pro League: Al Fateh at Al Ittihad Noon ABC — Spanish Primera Division: Real Madrid at CD Leganés 6 p.m. FS1 — MLS Cup Western Conference Semifinal: Minnesota at L.A. Galaxy TENNIS 10 a.m. TENNIS — Davis Cup Finals Championship The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV .

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 after it experienced trouble with its flight operating system, or FOS. The airline blamed technology from one of its vendors. As a result, flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 36% of the airline's 3,901 domestic and international flights leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company; 51 flights were canceled. 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 FOS system. 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 went down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Hours after the ground stop was lifted, Tajer said the union had not heard about "chaos out there beyond just the normal heavy travel day." He said officials were watching for cascading effects, such as staffing problems. On social media, however, customers expressed frustration with delays that caused them or their family members to miss connecting flights. One person asked if American planned to hold flights for passengers to make connections, while others complained about the lack of assistance they said they received from the airline or gate agents. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Bobby Tighe, a real estate agent from Florida, said he would miss a family Christmas Eve party in New York because his American flight was repeatedly delayed. The delays made him miss a connecting flight, leaving him the choice of going to his destination — Westchester, N.Y. — on Christmas Day or taking another flight to Newark, N.J., scheduled to land Tuesday evening. He chose the latter. "I'm just going to take an Uber or Lyft to the airport I was originally supposed to go to, pick up my rental car and kind of restart everything tomorrow," Tighe said. He said his girlfriend was "going through the same exact situation" on her way from Dallas to New York. Cirium noted the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 39% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays, Cirium said. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 4,058 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed, with 76 flights canceled. The site did not post any American Airlines flights Tuesday morning, but it showed in the afternoon that 961 American flights were delayed. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms were developing in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. 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. And 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. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers automatic cash refunds for canceled or significantly delayed flights. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. That's because finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. 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 it had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The Transportation Security Administration said it expected to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. 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. "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!Best Buy Canada's epic Boxing Day sale arrived early — 13 best deals on laptops, TVs, vacuums & more up to $600 offTrump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise prices, won't rule out revenge prosecutions

Schwarzenegger wore 'McFelon' T-shirt mocking Trump? No, image is altered | Fact check

Train commuters are being urged to reconsider their travel plans on Monday due to major cancellations and reduced services following industrial action by rail unions. The New South Wales government and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union's (RTBU) discussions over a pay deal have broken down after two weeks of intense negotiations. Premier Chris Minns has refused to back down on the 32 per cent pay rise demand by the union, offering instead 9.5 per cent over three years and an extra 0.5 per cent in the first year if both parties can come to an agreement in a "timely manner". More strikes were planned, however, the state government on Sunday night sought an injunction to ban planned industrial action in the Federal Court. It was successful, but commuters are set to be impacted on Monday. Sydney Trains said on X there will be "major service reductions and cancellations" following industrial action, meaning more headaches and disruptions on the network. "Many inner Sydney suburban passengers will see a reduction in service, with delays and cancellations throughout the day on the T1 #NorthShoreLine and #WesternLine, T2 Leppington & Inner West, T3 Liverpool & Inner West and T8 Airport & South lines," it said. Buses will also replace trains on the T6 Lidcombe and Bankstown Line. Passengers travelling on the Blue Mountains Line and South Coast Line on Monday will only have one train per hour in each direction. The Central Coast-Newcastle Line will have two trains per hour in each direction. Intercity services are set to be impacted the most, Sydney Trains warned. Commuters are being encouraged to take alternate transport or work from home. "Sydney Trains apologises to our passengers for the disruption, and thanks commuters for their understanding as staff work to minimise the impacts of this protected industrial action," the statement on X stated on Sunday night. Mr Minns said the government and RTBU had not been able to "come to a fair deal", stating he "can't say yes" after saying "no to the nurses' union". "Daily exhaustive negotiations have not resulted in a breakthrough despite the government's best efforts. I'm disappointed and I'm very sorry about it, but unfortunately that's where we are," the NSW Premier said in a statement. The government's lawyer told the Federal Court on Sunday night that the impact of the disruptions "far outweighed" the effect on the union delaying its protest. The union's lawyer argued the network is not "shutting down... by any rational view of the world" and that there would be "some disruption".