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WASHINGTON — Drivers and airline passengers without reindeer and sleighs better make a dash for it: it's beginning to look like another record for holiday travel in the U.S. The auto club AAA predicts that more than 119 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between Saturday and New Year’s Day, which would top the previous holiday-season high set in 2019. The two weekends on either side of Christmas look to be some of the most crowded times on the road and at airports. Trade group Airlines for America also foresees record travel , saying it expected U.S. airlines to carry 54 million passengers during a 19-day period that started Thursday and ends Monday, Jan. 6. The number would represent a 6% increase over last year. A government shutdown that could start as soon as Saturday would likely be too close to the holidays to immediately affect flights and airport operations, but that might change if a shutdown dragged on. What will be the busiest travel days? Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Friday and Sunday, and on Dec. 26, Dec. 27 and Dec. 29. Flight traffic is expected to be light on both Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The slowest U.S. air-travel day this year — by a wide margin — was Thanksgiving Day. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers over the holidays and through January 2. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. “Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.05 a gallon, down from $3.08 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation’s highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington, D.C., are the metropolitan areas primed for the greatest delays, according to the company. Weather and other wildcards 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 an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. 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 yourself tends to be very expensive. “When they rebook you, they will pay for the fare difference. If my flight to visit grandma that I booked six months ago for $200 gets canceled, and I turn around and book a flight four hours from now for $400, I have to pay that difference,” said Sally French, a travel expert at consumer-affairs company Nerdwallet. People traveling on budget airlines with fewer flights and no partnerships with other carriers may face a difficult choice in the event of a canceled flight . “They will put you on the next outgoing Spirit or Frontier flight, but that could be a while from now. Sometimes waiting three days for that next flight is not going to work for you," and paying more to rebook on a big airline might be worthwhile, French said. Some airlines are taking advantage of a provision in the new Transportation Department rule that defined a significant delay as three hours for a domestic flight and six hours for an international flight. According to Brett Snyder, who runs the Cranky Flyer website, airlines that previously issued refunds for shorter delays — Delta, United and JetBlue, for example — are now using the government standard. Delayed flights increase the risk that bags will get lost. Passengers who get separated from their bags should report it to the airline and ask what the airline will cover. Links to the customer-service plans of major U.S. airlines are at the bottom of this page . Would a government shutdown affect flights and airports? A government shutdown could occur if Congress doesn’t pass a funding bill with a midnight Friday deadline . Most TSA workers at airports, air traffic controllers and customs agents are considered essential and would be required to work without pay in the event of a shutdown. More uncompensated workers might call out sick the longer a shutdown lasts, which could lead to longer security lines and other delays. That appeared to be the case several weeks into a government shutdown that started in December 2019. "While our personnel have prepared to handle high volumes of travelers and ensure safe travel, an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports,” TSA spokesman Carter Langston said in a statement. AAA advises travelers to “continue with their holiday plans, even if the shutdown materializes,” spokesperson Diaz said. “Airport operations will continue as normal, but perhaps run a bit slower than usual, so travelers should be aware of that.” Planning ahead for 2025 Airline fares were up 4.7% in November, compared with a year earlier, according to U.S. government figures. But early 2025 is a good time to start planning next year's trips, including for spring breaks and summer vacations. “Because travel is so popular, you're not going to find anything that feels very rock-bottom, but January and February are great times to plan for March, April and May,” Laura Motta, an editor at travel-guide publisher Lonely Planet, said. “If you want to go to Paris in the spring, you need to be thinking about that in January." ___ AP Reporters Mae Anderson in Nashville, Tennessee, and Mike Pesoli in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.
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A NEW skin clinic founded by a beauty specialist who has worked in Harley Street clinics has opened in Ilkley . Ilkley Skin Clinic, which opened this month, offers a range of advanced skin treatments and aesthetic procedures. It was founded by Dr Ellie Jolly, an aesthetician who has spent years refining her skills at clinics on London’s famous Harley Street and across the North West. Offering a variety of skin treatments, including anti-wrinkle injections and laser treatments, the clinic is a welcoming environment “where everyone can feel empowered and confident in their skin”. As well as skin boosters and medical grade skincare, it offers IPL treatments for pigmentation, acne and rosacea. Dr Ellie Jolly opened the clinic in Ilkley this month (Image: Ilkley Skin Clinic) Dr Ellie tells us more: I founded my company in 2017 and over the last seven years I’ve been based out of different locations across the UK, including Harley Street, Manchester, Leeds and Preston. The Ilkley Skin Clinic is a consolidation of these locations. The clinic is owned and run by myself and my fiancé, Tom. I work as the Clinical Director, treating my own patients and overseeing the treatments provided by our highly trained Skin Therapist, Georgia. The clinic offers a range of treatments (Image: Ilkley Skin Clinic) This is a doctor-led skin clinic that provides medical aesthetic treatments, including anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers and skin boosters including the A-List adored polynucleotides. I am a huge advocate that aesthetic treatments should enhance and refresh but not be obvious. Natural results are achieved through the techniques I use and my choice of the highest quality products on the market. In addition to the aesthetic treatments, the clinic also offers an extensive range of skin treatments. From medical grade skincare products and facials that help with a myriad of skin concerns, to the latest skincare technology that aims to improve pigmentation, vascular lesions and smooths the surface of the skin. It's a place where people can feel empowered and confident in their own skin (Image: Ilkley Skin Clinic) We also offer skin tightening procedures and hydrafacials, which can be customised to combat any skin concerns. We’ll be launching new treatments in the new year. We’re a close-knit team - currently there are three of us working on different areas of the business and we really enjoy the family feel. * Do you see your business as part of the local community? Absolutely! Our ethos is to ensure the very best in patient care and experience as well as results. We are active advocates of the great people of Ilkley and love to be involved with charity fundraisers, including donating treatments when possible. I also provide pro bono lip augmentations for those with a cleft lip and other congenital facial malformations. I have run the pro bono side of my business since I started and it brings me immense joy to help build confidence in these patients. I’m so excited to be here. Feel free to pop in and have a look around. * Ilkley Skin Clinic, 1 Victorian Mews, Ilkley. Email: info@theilkleyskinclinic.com, call (01943) 725816 or visit theilkleyskinclinic.comTORONTO — Jakob Poeltl, Kelly Olynyk and Davion Mitchell will all return to the Toronto Raptors lineup tonight against the Dallas Mavericks. Poeltl missed Toronto's 129-92 loss to the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday due to illness. Mitchell was listed as questionable with right hip stiffness after that loss, but Raptors head coach Dakro Rajakovic says he's available against Dallas. It will be Olynyk's first time playing in the 2024-25 season after missing the entire pre-season and first 23 games of the campaign with back spasms. Olynyk, who was born in Toronto but grew up in Kamloops, B.C., will add significant depth to the Raptors' rotation. He averaged 12.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in 28 games for Toronto last season after he was traded to the Raptors by the Utah Jazz on Feb. 8. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 7, 2024. Follow @jchidleyhill.bsky.social on Bluesky John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian PressPresident Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday insisted at a meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump that any settlement with Russia after its invasion of Ukraine had to be "just", as fears grow in Kyiv on the position of the incoming administration. President Emmanuel Macron hosted three-way talks with Zelensky and Trump at the Elysee Palace, discussing what the incoming American president had termed a world that was a "little crazy". Hours after their meeting, the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden announced a new $988 million military assistance package for Ukraine. The package features drones, ammunition for precision HIMARS rocket launchers, and equipment and spare parts for artillery systems, tanks and armoured vehicles, the Pentagon said in a statement. Zelensky's meeting with Trump just before the three men headed to Notre Dame for the re-opening ceremony of the great Paris cathedral was his first face-to-face encounter with tycoon-turned-politician since his election victory. The meeting was of huge importance to Zelensky, given fears in Kyiv that Trump, who once boasted he could end Russia's war on Ukraine in 24 hours, may urge Ukraine to make concessions to Moscow. It also offered a unique chance for Macron to gain insights into how a second Trump presidency will look when he takes office in January. The trip to Paris is Trump's first international visit since his November 5 election win. "We all want peace. But it is very important for us... that the peace is just for all of us and that Russia, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin or any other aggressor has no possibility of ever returning," Zelensky said according to the presidential website. "And this is the most important thing -- a just peace and security guarantees, strong security guarantees for Ukraine," he added. Trump has scoffed at the billions of dollars in US military assistance to Ukraine and has spoken of forcing a quick settlement. But Zelensky also thanked Trump for his "unwavering resolve" describing the talks as "good and productive". Trump and Macron embraced and shook hands several times on the steps of the French presidential palace, with Trump given a full guard of honour despite not yet being in office. Sign up to get our free daily email of the biggest stories! "It seems like the world is going a little crazy right now and we will be talking about that," Trump told reporters as he prepared to sit down for the talks with Macron. Despite tensions between the two men during his first term, Trump hailed his ties with the centrist French leader, saying: "We had a great relationship as everyone knows. We accomplished a lot." Macron told Trump it was "a great honour for French people to welcome you" for the re-opening ceremony at Notre Dame, which was devastated by a blaze in 2019 during Trump's first term. "You were president at that time and I remember the solidarity and the immediate reaction," Macron added, speaking in English. When he first took office in 2017, Trump's ties with Macron -- then also a fresh face on the world stage -- began warmly despite their obvious political differences. Their long and muscular handshakes -- which saw each man seek to assert his superiority -- became a light-hearted focus of attention before ties cooled, then soured, following disputes about climate change, trade and defence. Trump earlier wrote on his Truth Social platform that the United States should "not get involved" in the situation in Syria, where fast-moving rebel forces say they have begun to encircle the capital Damascus. The Republican's return to power has rung alarms in Paris and many European capitals after his promises on the campaign trail to force an end to fighting in Ukraine and levy tariffs on trading partners. In his own reaction to the discussions, Macron wrote on social media: "Let us continue our joint efforts for peace and security." European allies have largely enjoyed a close working relationship with Biden on the crisis in the Middle East, but Trump is likely to distance himself and ally the United States even more closely with Israel. In a sign of the importance of Trump's one-day trip to Paris, he was accompanied by his pick for White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, as well as his Near East and Middle East advisors, Steve Witkoff and Massad Boulos, according to a guest list issued by the Elysee Palace. Tesla tycoon and Trump advisor Elon Musk, who was also on the line during a phone call between the incoming president and Zelensky last month, also flew into the French capital was present at the Notre Dame ceremony. sjw/adp/jj
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For almost half a century, Kwok Hoi-yin's humble cottage on Hong Kong's border with mainland China was surrounded by leagues of fishponds and green fields, buffering the modern highrises of megacity Shenzhen to the north. In recent years his village has shrunk, nibbled away by roads and bridges as the government claims land for cross-border infrastructure and its Northern Metropolis project, an ambitious plan to urbanise the border area that has proceeded despite concerns from locals and environmentalists. Kwok's bucolic idyll, near the city's largest and most important wetlands, is long gone. Instead the view from his window is a grey stone wall, while an army of mosquitoes rises from the dead water remaining under his hut. "To put it politely we are sacrificing for the greater good, but to put it less politely, we have been sliced off, piece by piece," Kwok, 69, told AFP. His 100-year-old village, Ha Wan Tsuen, might now be wiped out entirely. In September the government approved a plan to create an enormous new tech zone that will eventually swallow it up. "We hope they won't tear down our village -- that's our most genuine but also most impossible wish," Kwok, who has served as Ha Wan Tsuen's elected chief for a decade, said. "Because it's impossible for us to resist the government -- it would be like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot." Commonly known as the San Tin Technopole, the planned tech zone is the cherry on top of the Northern Metropolis. It will be the "core of industry development", according to the government, providing a third of the Metropolis' promised 500,000 new jobs. The wider project -- which aims to deepen integration with mainland China -- is set to transform 30,000 hectares of land along the border, about a third of Hong Kong's territory. The Metropolis will house 2.5 million people, the government says. But those who already call the area home, like Kwok, had little chance to put their concerns about the development directly to the government. The last chance for ordinary people to speak out was a four-day hearing held by the Town Planning Board in the summer. A two-month consultation period before the hearing had resulted in a 90 percent opposition rate from about 1,600 submissions -- but the board still gave the project a green light. An evacuation date for Ha Wan Tsuen has not yet been set, nor has compensation. The government has also dismissed concerns over the project's environmental impact. The Technopole will push up against a large protected wetland area, which has been UNESCO-recognised since 1995. The area around those wetlands -- around 2,600 hectares of fishponds, rivers and marshes -- had been designated by the Hong Kong government as a conservation and buffer zone, to limit development and preserve a complete eco-system. The Technopole will take over 240 hectares of those zones, the government has admitted. "Over the past 30 years Hong Kong never had a development plan that would cause wetland damages in such a scale," Wong Suet-mei, a conservation officer of the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, told AFP. The government says most of the wetlands that will be affected have already changed beyond recognition. It says it will establish a wetland conservation park as "compensation", along with other measures such as keeping a 300-metre flight path for birds. "Based on the previous experience in ecological compensation in other development projects, we are confident that the number of bird numbers will be maintained at the current level or even increase," the Development Bureau told AFP. Chan Kwok-sun, an aquafarmer whose almost 40-year-old ponds are set to be filled in for the Technopole, remained doubtful. "No one can farm fish when the ponds are taken, no bird will come when there is no fish for them," Chan told AFP. The 74-year-old farmer said he welcomed the government's development plan though, as he has witnessed the rise of Shenzhen from "pure darkness like in primitive times" to "a mountain of skyscrapers". However, he said he would stay among his ponds until the last day possible. "I live an unfettered life here," Chan said. "It's hard to find it elsewhere."
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