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Air Transat Faces Flight Suspensions Amid Pilot Strike Notice

  Air Transat has announced it will gradually suspend flights starting Monday following a 72-hour strike notice issued by its pilots’ union. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), representing roughly 700 pilots, delivered the notice after nearly a year of unsuccessful negotiations with the airline’s parent company, Transat A.T. Inc. Background The union filed the strike notice on Sunday, giving pilots the legal right to walk off the job as early as Wednesday. Last week, pilots voted 99% in favor of strike action , underscoring their frustration over stalled contract talks. ALPA leaders emphasized that pilots do not want to strike but feel compelled to act after management failed to meet demands for a modernized agreement. Airline Response Air Transat confirmed it will begin suspending flights gradually between December 8 and 9 to prepare for a possible full shutdown. The company stated it is working “around the clock” to reach a deal and minimize disruption for trave...

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Sanae Takaichi Poised to Make History as Japan’s First Female Prime Minister

                                      Newly elected Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Sanae Takaichi.

Japan is on the verge of a historic political shift after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elected Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, positioning her to become the country’s first female prime minister.

Takaichi, 64, a former Economic Security Minister and longtime conservative figure within the LDP, defeated Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in a runoff vote on Saturday. Her victory comes as the party seeks to recover from recent electoral setbacks and restore public trust following corruption scandals and rising public discontent over inflation.

Although parliament must still formally confirm her appointment in mid-October, the LDP’s dominance in the lower house makes her ascension to the premiership all but certain. Takaichi will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned after the party’s poor election performance.

Known for her hawkish foreign policy views and close alignment with the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi has pledged to strengthen Japan’s defense capabilities, boost economic growth, and maintain traditional social policies. Her leadership, however, is expected to spark debate both domestically and abroad, particularly regarding gender equality and Japan’s relations with China and South Korea.

If confirmed, Takaichi will break a political glass ceiling in a country that ranks among the lowest in the G7 for gender equality, marking a symbolic milestone in Japan’s male-dominated political landscape.


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