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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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Trump and Japan’s First Female Prime Minister Seal Strategic Trade and Minerals Pact

President Donald Trump, and Sanae Takaichi during the signing ceremony for a document on the implementation of the US Japan trade deal at Akasaka Palace state guest house in Tokyo.

In a landmark meeting in Tokyo, U.S. President Donald Trump praised Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, calling her a “great leader” as the two nations deepened their economic and security ties. The summit, held at the Akasaka Palace on October 28, 2025, focused on trade agreements and securing critical minerals, a sector vital for advanced technologies and defense industries.

Takaichi, who assumed office just a week earlier, pledged to accelerate Japan’s military buildup while reinforcing the U.S.-Japan alliance. She is a close ally of the late Shinzo Abe, Trump’s longtime friend, and invoked his legacy during the talks. In a symbolic gesture of goodwill, Takaichi also announced her intention to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, according to White House officials.

The agreements signed include measures to strengthen supply chains for rare earths and critical minerals, reducing reliance on China’s market dominance. Japan also committed to a $550 billion investment package that will expand cooperation in shipbuilding, energy, and increased purchases of U.S. soybeans, natural gas, and pickup trucks.

Trump hailed the deals as a “new golden age” for the U.S.-Japan partnership, emphasizing that Washington would stand firmly by Tokyo in both economic and security matters. The meeting underscored the strategic importance of rare earths—essential for semiconductors, renewable energy, and defense systems—at a time of heightened global competition.

For Takaichi, the summit marked a powerful debut on the world stage, positioning her as a leader intent on strengthening Japan’s role in global security and trade. For Trump, it was another opportunity to showcase his administration’s push for resilient supply chains and closer ties with key allies in Asia.

This historic meeting not only highlighted the first female leadership in Japan’s history but also signaled a renewed era of cooperation between two of the world’s largest economies.

In short: Trump and Takaichi’s summit produced major trade and minerals agreements, reinforced military cooperation, and symbolized a new chapter in U.S.-Japan relations.


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