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Arajet latest entrant to Canada’s crowded budget airline market

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:48 GMT

MONTREAL — Arajet, a discount airline based in the Dominican Republic, is set to launch flights between that country and Toronto and Montreal this fall.The announcement by the year-old carrier marks the latest entrant to an already crowded field of low-cost airlines, and comes two weeks after U.S. budget carrier Breeze Airways made a pitch to Quebecers bound for Florida.Unlike many low-price players, Arajet CEO Victor Pacheco said his strategy will bank on a hub-and-spoke model that connects passengers from far-flung airports via the airline’s hub of Santo Domingo, his home country’s capital.As proof, he said well over half of the 10,000-plus Arajet tickets sold to Canadians so far are for other destinations in the Caribbean and Central and South America, to be reached via connecting flights from the Dominican Republic.“The ULCCs (ultra-low-cost carriers) are mainly point-to-point airlines,” Pacheco said in an interview. “We’re bidding on connections. A...

Europe Union’s top diplomat dismisses concern about bloc’s long-term support for Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:48 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The European Union’s foreign policy chief on Monday led a delegation of top diplomats on an unannounced visit to Kyiv and dismissed concerns about political tension in the bloc over its long-term support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia.Though largely symbolic, the informal meeting between EU and Ukrainian diplomats demonstrated the EU’s “clear commitment” to Ukraine in its 19-month-long war, Josep Borrell said.“The EU remains united in its support to Ukraine … I don’t see any member state folding on their engagement,” Borrell told a news conference in the Ukrainian capital.The gathering was the first time EU foreign ministers have met outside the bloc — and in a war zone, according to Borrell.The talks took place after the weekend election victory in EU member Slovakia of former Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose pro-Russian agenda has increased the question marks about the EU’s continued support for Kyiv.The small eastern European country could bring mo...

Black man’s 1845 lynching in downtown Indianapolis recounted with historical marker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:48 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The story of a Black man beaten to death in Indianapolis in a racist 1845 lynching is now part of the city’s cultural trail in the form of a historical marker.The marker describing John Tucker’s slaying was unveiled Saturday by state and local leaders and members of the Indiana Remembrance Coalition, The Indianapolis Star reported. It was placed along downtown Indianapolis’ cultural trail close to where Tucker was killed nearly 180 years ago.“Uncovering and documenting uncomfortable history is an obligation that we all must share. We must always seek to tell the full story of our history,” Eunice Trotter, director of Indiana Landmark’s Black Heritage Preservation Program, said at the unveiling.Tucker was born into slavery in Kentucky around 1800 and later obtained his freedom. He moved to Indianapolis in the mid-1830s and was a father to a boy and a girl.On July 4, 1845, Tucker was assaulted by a white laborer, Nicholas Wood, as Tucker walked along Washingt...

Gunfire erupts amid alleged armored car robbery near Walmart in Country Club Hills

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:48 GMT

COUNTRY CLUBS HILLS, Ill. — Police have responded to a Walmart parking lot in Country Clubs Hills following a possible armored car robbery that allegedly resulted in an exchange of gunfire. SkyCam9 flew above the scene at 167th Street and Pulaski, where evidence markers were visible near the front entrance of the department store. SkyCam9 captured the aftermath of an apparent collision involving the armored car and another vehicle, possibly an SUV, mere feet away from the entrance to Walmart. SEE ALSO: 5 years later, pregnant Chicago postal worker Kierra Coles still missingA witness who did not wish to be identified told WGN News that the alleged armed robbers targeted the armored car security. Amid the robbery, however, witnesses say a shootout ensued, resulting in the shock and dismay of shoppers nearby."It's heartwrenching. It really is," one woman told WGN News. "I don't know what this world is coming to at this point, but this world is crazy." No one is in custody. According to...

Man, 19, denied pre-trial after allegedly having machine gun at Topgolf in Naperville: Docs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:48 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — An Indiana man was denied pre-trial after he was charged for allegedly bringing a machine gun to a Topgolf location in Naperville, the state's attorney office said. A DuPage County judge charged 19-year-old Jalen Littleton, from Hammond, Indiana, with a felony of unlawful use of machine gun. On Saturday around 9:51 p.m., police were doing routine check at TopGolf when they observed a gun in plain sight on the driver's side floorboard of a black Chevy. 5 years later, pregnant Chicago postal worker Kierra Coles still missing Police said Littleton returned to the car with another individual and got in the driver's seat. Officers then boxed in his vehicle and enacted a search of his car, finding a fully loaded handgun with an extended magazine, a laser sign and an auto switch that fires fully automatic when engaged. According to the police report, Littleton did not possess a valid FOID or CCL card when he was taken into custody. Littleton's next court appearance wi...

Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour heads to theaters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:48 GMT

(KTLA) - Please do not be alarmed, remain calm.For Beyhive members who have felt a bit melancholy since the end of the Renaissance World Tour, Beyonce has something significant in store.Late Sunday night Queen Bey revealed "Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé" presented by her own production company Parkwood Entertainment.FILE - Beyoncé performs at a Get Out the Vote concert for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 4, 2016. Beyoncé shined the brightest in a city full of Hollywood stars during the second night of her epic Renaissance Tour show on Saturday night, Sept 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)The global superstar announced the film moments after the curtain closed on her final tour show in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday night. She posted a teaser trailer for the film on Instagram."Be careful what you ask for, 'cause I just might comply," her caption read, a lyric from her song "All Up In Your Mind."The trailer begi...

Person missing after possible shark attack at California beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:48 GMT

(KRON) — A person is missing off the California coast after what witnesses say may have been a shark attack.Rescue crews responded to the area of Wildcat Beach at Point Reyes National Seashore, roughly 40 miles north of San Francisco, on Sunday after receiving a missing person report, according to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.Friends of the missing person reported to authorities they had seen a shark and blood in the water in the area where they last spotted their friend. At this time, officials have not confirmed a shark attack occurred.Point Reyes NPS first reported the active search on X at noon on Oct. 1. Personnel from the National Park Service, as well as jet skis, helicopters, and fire engines from surrounding agencies, responded to the search.The U.S. Coast Guard reportedly called off the search early Monday morning, but no additional information has been released.

Mariah Carey announces holiday concert in Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:48 GMT

CHICAGO — The Queen of Christmas music is hitting the road for the holidays!Mariah Carey announced Monday the return of her "Merry Christmas One and All!" tour. The 13-date event will kick off Nov. 15 in California — and will include a stop at Chicago's United Center on Dec. 3.The tour will end in New York.Her announcement on social media reads, "Yes, the actual defrosting has begun! Announcing the MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL Tour! On sale 10/6." Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour heads to theaters Tickets for presales will begin Wednesday at 10 a.m. and general public tickets go onsale Friday at LiveNation.com. 

300,000 electric skateboards recalled after multiple deaths reported

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:48 GMT

(WHTM) - Three hundred thousand self-balancing electric skateboards have been recalled due to a crash hazard and four reported deaths.According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the reason for the recall is that the skateboards can stop balancing the rider if the board's limits are exceeded, which poses a crash hazard that can cause serious injuries or death. Courtesy of USCPSCCourtesy of USCPSCThe CPSC says the manufacturer Future Motion has received dozens of reports of incidents involving the recalled skateboards, including four deaths that were reported between 2019 and 2021. The deaths were a result of head trauma — three of the riders were not wearing helmets.Injuries such as traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis, upper body fractures, lower body fractures, and ligament damage have also been reported.The recalled Onewheel Electric Skateboards were sold online at www.onewheel.com, other websites, and at independent shops nationwide from Jan...

Virginia mother killed by tire while driving with husband, 5 children

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:48 GMT

YORK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) -- Virginia State Police say a Williamsburg woman died in a crash on Sunday in York County when a tire hit the car she was driving.It happened around 12:22 p.m. on I-64 eastbound at mile marker 241 near the Camp Perry exit. Police say the driver of a Jeep Renegade was heading west on I-64 when one of her vehicle's tires dislodged and traveled into the eastbound lanes. Woman on lawn mower hit and killed by plane in Oklahoma The tire hit the driver's side of a Ford Explorer, fatally wounding the driver, 53-year-old Tammy M. Parsons. Parsons was traveling with her husband and five children at the time. Police say the others were not injured. A photo of Parsons' vehicle shared by VSP shows the driver's side windshield and the roof concaved in. The vehicle appears to have collided with a highway barrier but was otherwise undamaged.(Virginia State Police)Police say the investigation is ongoing and charges are pending, though alcohol and speed are not considered ...