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Hundreds of flights grounded as Air Canada staff strike

Air travelers across Canada and beyond are facing widespread disruption after hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed on Saturday due to a nationwide strike by Air Canada staff. The labor action, which began at midnight, has left thousands of passengers stranded at airports in major cities including Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary. The strike was triggered after months of tense negotiations between Air Canada management and the union representing ground crew, maintenance workers, and customer service agents broke down late Friday. Union leaders say the walkout is a last resort, accusing the airline of failing to address long-standing concerns over wages, scheduling, and job security. “Air Canada has recorded strong profits over the past two years, yet many of our members are still struggling with stagnant wages and grueling schedules,” said union spokesperson Lisa Tremblay. “We want a fair deal that recognizes the vital role our staff play in keeping this airline running.” Air Canada, however, has defended its position, stating that it offered competitive pay increases and improved working conditions during the latest round of talks. In a press release, the airline expressed “deep disappointment” over the strike, warning that it would cause significant inconvenience for travelers at the peak of the summer travel season. The airline has advised passengers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport and, where possible, to rebook their tickets free of charge. Despite contingency plans, including bringing in management staff and contracting some third-party services, operations remain severely disrupted. Industry analysts say the Air Canada staff strike highlights broader tensions within the aviation sector, which has been struggling to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many airlines have faced staffing shortages, higher operating costs, and increased passenger demand, creating pressure on both management and workers. Transport Canada has urged both sides to return to the negotiating table, stressing the importance of restoring normal flight operations as quickly as possible. Government officials have not ruled out the possibility of mediation or intervention if talks remain stalled. For travelers, the strike has meant long queues, missed connections, and frustrated holiday plans. “I was supposed to fly to Halifax for a family wedding, but now I’m stuck here until at least tomorrow,” said passenger Michael Hughes at Toronto Pearson International Airport. “It’s a nightmare.” As the standoff enters its first full day, uncertainty looms over when flights will resume normal schedules. With both sides holding firm, passengers are being warned to brace for continued disruptions in the days ahead.

Global plastic talks collapse as countries remain deeply divided

Afham8 months ago8 months ago04 mins

After nearly three years of effort, the sixth round of UN-led negotiations aiming to forge a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution ended in failure in Geneva. Delegates from approximately 180 countries exhausted nights of talks but failed to find common ground. At the heart of the impasse lay a fundamental disagreement: Should the treaty tackle plastic pollution urgently through binding limits on production—or focus narrowly on waste management? The High Ambition Coalition—comprising the EU, many African, Latin American nations, and small island states—pushed for bold measures to cap plastic production and phase out toxic chemicals. In stark contrast, the Like-Minded Group, made up of oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, and supported by the U.S., insisted that the treaty remain limited to waste-related issues. The U.S., under the Trump administration, played a particularly obstructive role—aligning with petrostates and rejecting key provisions on production caps, additives, and chemical regulation. The Washington Times This alliance intensified criticism from environmental advocates and undercut hopes for binding commitments. Observers described the final plenary sessions as chaotic and disorganized—delegates adjourned late at night, only to reconvene at dawn with no resolution. Two draft texts were circulated, but neither was accepted, and no future dates for negotiations were finalized. Reacting to the collapse, several countries voiced disappointment, particularly small island states. Tuvalu warned of the dire consequences: “Millions of tons of plastic waste will continue to be dumped in our oceans, affecting our ecosystem, food security, livelihood and culture.” Cuba lamented a “historic opportunity” lost, while France’s environment minister denounced petrostates for prioritizing short-term financial interests over planetary wellbeing. The failure underscored the limitations of the UN’s usual consensus-based decision-making, which allowed a minority of nations to block action despite widespread support for more ambitious goals. Some groups are now advocating for alternative pathways—like voting mechanisms or coalitions of willing nations—to push the agenda forward. Wildfires rage across southern Europe as temperatures top 40C What Lies Ahead? This collapse marks a critical diplomatic setback—and a reminder that without unity and political will, the global plastics crisis will only escalate. Wabstalk

Wildfires rage across southern Europe as temperatures top 40C

Afham8 months ago8 months ago04 mins

Southern Europe is grappling with a sweeping heatwave that has pushed daytime temperatures above 40°C in many areas and helped spark a new wave of destructive wildfires across the Mediterranean. Blazes have ignited in Spain, Portugal, France, Greece and parts of the Balkans, forcing thousands of people from their homes, overwhelming local fire services and grounding some firefighting aircraft when conditions become too dangerous. In Spain, fierce fires produced rare and terrifying “fire whirls” — spinning columns of flame driven by extreme heat and turbulent winds — that forced firefighters to withdraw in several areas and prompted mass evacuations near UNESCO-listed sites and coastal resorts. Emergency services reported multiple fatalities and numerous injuries in different countries as flames raced through dry brush and forests made tinder-dry by weeks of intense heat. Wabstalk Portugal and France have been particularly hard hit: Portugal deployed thousands of firefighters and dozens of aircraft to battle large blazes in the north and centre of the country, while southern France saw one of its largest recent wildfires scorch tens of thousands of hectares and prompt long-term evacuations and state-level emergency responses. Officials warned that high winds and record-setting daytime highs — reaching into the low-to-mid 40s Celsius in some pockets — could re-ignite contained fires or drive fresh outbreaks. Greece, meanwhile, reported multiple simultaneous outbreaks across islands and coastal regions popular with tourists, heightening concerns about summer visitors’ safety and the knock-on effect for local economies. Authorities in several countries have said arson and negligent human activity appear to have played a role in some fires, compounding the natural risk from heat and drought. Cross-border mutual aid — including extra aircraft, crews and equipment — has been mobilised in an attempt to contain the worst incidents. Climate scientists and emergency planners are warning that these extreme heat episodes are becoming more frequent and severe as the atmosphere warms: hotter, drier summers increase fire risk, lengthen fire seasons and make suppression more difficult and dangerous. As firefighters battle current blazes, governments face urgent questions about land management, prevention, and long-term investments in resilience to reduce the scale and human cost of future fire seasons. Explosion reported at U.S. Steel plant, multiple people injured