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Bloomberg
30-05-2025
- General
- Bloomberg
Courthouse Arrests Stun Migrants Who Showed Up for Their Hearing
In courts across the US, migrants who arrive expecting a routine hearing are instead seeing judges dismiss their case and government agents waiting to arrest them. The first blitz of this controversial turn in immigration enforcement played out last week from coast to coast. In one example, almost two dozen federal agents descended on a Phoenix court and arrested more than 20 people as they left the building, including parents with their children, said Greg Chen, senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Celebrating Unity and Volunteerism on International Trails Day 2025
Trans Canada Trail partners with community groups to honour volunteers and their impact on the world's longest trail OTTAWA, ON, May 26, 2025 /CNW/ - Trans Canada Trail is excited to join communities throughout the country to celebrate International Trails Day 2025 on June 7. Events in nine provinces and two territories will highlight the dedication of volunteers and community groups in preserving the 29,000-kilometre trail system that connects Canada from coast to coast to coast. These 13 celebrations will showcase the many ways local volunteers contribute to the nationwide Trail's maintenance and improvement. Each location will offer its own unique way for the public to engage with the Trail, with activities ranging from trail clean ups and tree planting to fun runs and guided trail tours. Celebrated annually on the first Saturday in June, International Trails Day is a celebration of trails and what they mean to communities around the world. "When we come together to celebrate the Trail, we celebrate what it means to be Canadian," says Mathieu Roy, Chief Executive Officer of Trans Canada Trail. "Nature is essential to Canada's national identity and trails are a vital way for people across the country to enjoy our vast natural landscape. International Trails Day is a perfect time to recognize how our trails connect us not only to nature, but to one another as well." International Trails Day 2025 Event LocationsAll events are free and open to the public and media. Alberta: High Rockies Trail, Kananaskis British Columbia: Sea to Sky Trail, Pemberton Manitoba: Crow Wing Trail, St. Pierre-Jolys; North Whiteshell Trail, Seven Sisters Falls New Brunswick: Fundy Footpath, St. Martins Nova Scotia: Westville/Stellarton Trail, Westville; Forest of Hope Trail, Potlotek Ontario: Waterfront Trail, Thunder Bay Prince Edward Island: Confederation Trail, Morell Quebec: La Montagnarde, Eastman Saskatchewan: Wakamow Valley Trail, Moose Jaw Northwest Territories: Town of Hay River Trail, Hay River Yukon: The Carmacks Boardwalk, Carmacks These events mark the culmination of the 2025 Trail Care Grant program, which is generously supported by Athletic Brewing, Columbia Sportswear, and Toyota Canada. This annual program provides funding to local trail groups, enabling them to undertake projects that enhance trail sections and support volunteer initiatives. For more information on each event and how to participate, visit Resources Find an International Trails Day event near you Explore Trans Canada Trail's interactive map Learn more about the Trail Care Grant Program About Trans Canada Trail The Trans Canada Trail is the longest multi-use trail system in the world and it is always growing. It reaches every province and territory and connects all three of Canada's coastlines. Each section of the Trans Canada Trail is managed locally and supports different activities and community needs. Trans Canada Trail is the organization that advocates for, stewards and champions Canada's nationwide trail system. It is a registered charity that receives funding from the Government of Canada (through Parks Canada), various provincial and municipal governments, and generous donors. SOURCE Trans Canada Trail View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Globe and Mail
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Letters to the editor, May 10: ‘Western alienation … driven by frustration that most Canadians don't vote like most Westerners'
Re 'Carney is a PM governing like he's got a crisis he doesn't want to waste' (May 3): I have worked for two provincial governments and the federal government. The only time I saw government make significant decisions and change was when leadership demanded quick, decisive action during a crisis. Otherwise, it's business as usual. Patricia Bowles West Vancouver Re 'Canada's democracy had a decent day. But it can do better to reflect all Canadians in this moment of crisis' and 'Canada is not as divided as some claim – or as its electoral system makes it appear" (Opinion, May 3): I agree that Canada is more divided than polarized, but I disagree that the Liberals and Conservatives are not national parties. Both won sizable fractions of the vote across Canada. That this is not reflected in the electoral map is a result of our first-past-the-post system. We often blame FPTP for failing to represent more than two parties. But following this election, we see it may not even be very good in a two-party system, if those parties have regional strengths. Let's acknowledge that a Parliament which represents Liberal voters in the West, Conservative voters in urban centres and smaller parties everywhere would make for a healthier democracy, one harder for troublemakers to exploit as it would allow a truly national conversation. I cannot think of a better nation-building project than to upgrade our electoral system so that Parliament better represents how we vote from coast to coast to coast. Jason Scott Ottawa Two parties, the oft-mutated Grits and Tories, both with enduring brands going back to Confederation, secured 85 per cent of the vote. Are we nearly returned to a first-past-the-post system yielding majority results that Canadians had from 1867 to 1925? Yes, there were, then as now, tons of fleeting specific-issue and regional parties. The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (now NDP) and Social Credit Party emerged on the Prairies with radical responses to bad times in the 1930s. They ushered in three-way (or more) races where sometimes a small plurality of voters could elect an MP. This challenge to democracy has raised occasional calls for proportional representation, which went nowhere. The B.C. process in 2018 left many voters like me bewildered by multiple choices that few had even considered as possibilities. Canada faces more emergencies than just one. May our political leaders, however well or badly elected, be agile and lucky. Peter Richards Victoria Yes, we should have proportional representation. But to make Parliament truly representational, we should change our party system. Instead of a few big-tent parties, we should have a number of smaller but clearly focused parties. We should have a party that is fiscally and socially conservative; a party that is fiscally conservative and socially liberal; a party that is fiscally and socially liberal. Then we should have a truly left-wing democratic socialist party, a true right-wing party and, of course, a green party. In this way, voters would have to carefully decide what they believe in and vote accordingly. In this way we would have a truly representative Parliament. Bernie Koenig London, Ont. Western alienation in Canada claims to be about fairness, but I think it's largely driven by frustration that most Canadians don't vote like most Westerners. The system gives every province fair representation, but Ontario and Quebec have more people – so they often decide elections. That shouldn't be seen as a flaw in democracy; it's how majority rule works. The core grievance, then, isn't exclusion, but disagreement with the outcome, making the movement less democratic than it appears. If the West became its own country, it's unclear how committed separatists would be to democracy at home. Would they accept losing power if voters choose different leaders or policies? My fear is that the demand isn't for fair representation, but permanent control. If their own majority turns against them, they may reject the same democratic rules they once claimed to defend. Michael Hendzel Edmonton Re 'Western discontent is a growing problem after Liberal election victory' (May 3): I might have missed it, but I couldn't find a single reference to climate change. It was, after all, the main reason for all those Liberal measures that so restricted Alberta's economy. As someone who believes that such a threat to our economy and well-being should be part of political decision-making, I would like to hear how Albertans cope with their role in this looming catastrophe. I think I know the answer, but please ask the question. Please also ask why Alberta won't take the brakes off its huge potential for leading our country's future in clean energy, thereby aligning strongly with much of the rest of Canada. Peter Ladner Vancouver Re 'Businesses love to blame Ottawa for a gloomy economy. They're a big part of the problem' (Report on Business, May 3): Countries that perform much better in productivity than Canada invariably have an 'all of government' commitment to support business innovation, including effective policies and programs that encourage companies to adopt business innovation practices. In Canada, I don't see an 'all of government' commitment to nurture business innovation and competitiveness. Instead, I see non-supportive regulatory machinery and a chaotic array of programs and policies, many of which seem like a waste of taxpayer dollars. We should have a cohesive innovation strategy that creates incentives for Canadian companies to have effective innovation practices. We live in a complex world. Pointing the finger at industry without acknowledging the essential role of government does not feel helpful. Peter Morand Ottawa Re 'From $10-toothpaste squeezers to 'recession blonde' hair, women's beauty trends are a pulse on the economy. Here's what they're showing' (Report on Business, May 7): My mom was able to 'extract every last ounce' from the only makeup she wore, lipstick. Even in decline, she perched on the side of her bed, dipped her pinkie into an 'empty' tube and dabbed plummy rose onto her lips. Recently I used a toothpick to measure what remained below the rim of my own rich merlot: an extra ⅝ of an inch – enough to avoid the cosmetics counter for at least a month. A lovely memory and practical lesson as Mother's Day approaches. Marg Heidebrecht Hamilton .................................................................................................................................. Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Keep letters to 150 words or fewer. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Explore America Like Never Before—The Best Domestic Flights You Can Book With 100k Chase Points
The ever-popular Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is currently offering the best welcome bonus we've ever seen: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. There are several ways to redeem those 100,000 points for tremendous value, with some favorite redemptions including transferring points to World of Hyatt for free hotel nights or to airline partners for international flights in business class. One thing you won't hear suggested often is using Chase points to book domestic flights, but that doesn't mean there aren't worthwhile options. Here are four standout domestic flights offering premium experiences you can book with Chase Ultimate Rewards®, plus tips for finding the cheapest flights when affordability is your main concern. Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account ... More opening. Forbes Advisor Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - See Rates & Fees While upgrading to a premium cabin can make a massive difference in your flight experience on international routes, lie-flat seats and other luxury perks are rarely offered on domestic flights. However, airlines make a few exceptions for long routes that cross the continent or, in the case of Hawaii, cross an ocean. A coast-to-coast flight or a trip to Hawaii can take nearly as long or longer than a flight to Europe from the East Coast. Using the Ultimate Rewards points from your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card welcome bonus to gain a more comfortable experience during a lengthier domestic flight can be a satisfying redemption. 1. United Airlines Transcontinental Flight in Premium Plus or United Business—Starting at 30K Points United Premium Plus is an elevated cabin experience available on some international flights that falls between economy and first class. It provides an impressive number of benefits, such as: Free meals, alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, snacks and dessert Bigger seats, plus extra legroom and footrest Priority check-in, security lane and boarding Priority bag handling to get your luggage sooner after your flight As mentioned, Premium Plus isn't typically offered on domestic flights. In fact, United's own table comparing its seating options expressly says that it's only available on international flights. Screenshot of United seating options with 'United Premium Plus' listed as 'International only'. Forbes Advisor But that's not technically true. United actually offers a 'premium transatlantic experience' on two routes: New York (EWR)/Los Angeles (LAX) New York (JFK)/San Francisco (SFO) Try to book one of these flights, and you may notice that under the 'Premium Economy' column, you'll see that what you're actually getting is a 'Premium Plus' seat, as shown in the screenshot below. Screenshot of an EWR to LAX flight from United, showing United Premium Plus as a cabin option. Forbes Advisor If you really want to splurge, you can even snag a lie-flat seat in United Business on these routes. It will cost you more—in our example, the United Business seat costs 74,400 miles—but it could be worth it if you want to take a nap during your flight without getting a crick in your neck. Just make sure you confirm that the business-class ticket you're considering includes a lie-flat seat by expanding the 'Seats' box. Lie-flat seats look like a bed on the seating chart rather than the typical square. Screenshot of an American Airlines seating chart that shows the long, blue rectangle icons ... More representing lie-flat seats. Forbes Advisor 2. American Airlines Premium Economy Ticket to Hawaii—41K Points Similar to United, American Airlines generally reserves its Premium Economy cabin for international routes, but it makes an exception for some flights to Hawaii and Alaska. Up until now, most eligible flights to Hawaii have been from Dallas (DFW), but American recently added routes from Chicago (ORD). Benefits of Premium Economy include: Chef-inspired meal and complimentary beer, wine and spirits Priority privileges at security, check-in and boarding Wider seats Amenity kit and premium bedding While American Airlines isn't a direct transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards, you can still book these flights using Chase points by transferring them to American's partner airline, British Airways. That's because British Airways and American are both members of the Oneworld airline alliance. This means you can use Avios (British Airways' points currency) to book eligible American Airlines flights directly on the British Airways website. It's a handy workaround that opens up more flight options when redeeming your Chase points. Award availability can be limited, especially for these Premium Economy tickets to Hawaii. But with persistence, you can find them. For example, I was able to find two seats on a Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Honolulu (HNL) flight. Screenshot of British Airways' booking engine showing an American Airlines flight from DFW to HNL ... More with Premium Economy availability. Forbes Advisor The Premium Economy ticket above costs just 41,250 Avios plus $5.60 in taxes and fees, which is an attractive deal for the extra benefits you'd get on this eight-hour flight. Screenshot of the selected flight showing a cost of 41,250 Avios + $5.60. Forbes Advisor Note that American also offers its even more luxurious Flagship Business-cabin experience on these Hawaii routes, which includes lie-flat seats. Unfortunately, it's notoriously difficult to find award availability for these seats 3. Delta Air Lines Premium Select Flight From New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) Through Virgin Atlantic—46K Points Although Delta isn't a direct Chase transfer partner, you can still book Delta flights using Chase points by transferring them to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Like United and American, Delta typically reserves its premium cabin experience—called Premium Select—for international routes. However, in September 2024, Delta launched Premium Select service on four of its 11 daily peak-day flights between New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX). Premium Select perks include: Additional legroom, an adjustable leg rest and footrest and deeper recline Sky Priority® service, including accelerated check-in, security and baggage handling Elevated meal service with complimentary wine, beer and spirits Premium amenity kit with self-care essentials Memory-foam pillow, plush blanket and noise-canceling headphones Virgin Atlantic uses a distance-based award chart for Delta redemptions. Flights from New York to Los Angeles fall into the 2,001 to 3,000-mile range, which costs 46,000 Virgin Points in Premium Select, as you can see in the screenshot from our test search. Screenshot of Virgin Atlantic's booking engine showing a Delta Air Lines flight from JFK to LAX with ... More Premium Select availability. Forbes Advisor For comparison, that same seat is currently priced at 63,000 SkyMiles on Delta's site, making booking through Virgin the much better option for booking this Delta seat. Screenshot of Delta Air Lines' booking engine showing the identical flight and cabin for 63,000 ... More SkyMiles. Forbes Advisor It's worth noting that Virgin's award chart offers solid value across a range of Delta-operated flights. For instance, shorter Delta flights can be booked for as few as 7,500 Virgin Points in the main cabin. Screenshot of British Airways' booking engine showing a Delta Air Lines flight from ATL to MCO with ... More a price of 7,500 points. Forbes Advisor This is a smart way to stretch your Chase points for short and cheap domestic trips. It's worth noting, too, that Virgin's award chart for Delta applies to all routes outside of Europe and the U.K., so you could also find affordable prices for shorter flights to Latin America or the Caribbean. 4. JetBlue Coast-to-Coast Flight in Mint—Starting Around 75K Points JetBlue Mint is the airline's premium cabin experience, available on select routes. It offers a luxurious flying experience that rivals international business class, making it a standout option for domestic travelers looking to fly in comfort and style. A few of Mint's many benefits include: Lie-flat seats built with Tuft & Needle's T&N Adaptive® Foam cushions Small-plate dining curated by NYC restaurants Complimentary cocktails from Delicious Hospitality, shaken on board Amenity kits and plush bedding Priority boarding and security access In addition to all transatlantic flights, Mint is available on select Caribbean and coast-to-coast routes. To see if your destination is eligible, check JetBlue's Mint route map. If you have an upcoming coast-to-coast flight on one of these routes, using your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book a JetBlue Mint seat can significantly elevate your experience. Unfortunately, JetBlue's points system is closer to a fixed-value model, making it tough to find 'sweet spots' for redemptions. Mint tickets aren't cheap either. But we were able to find tickets from JFK to SFO starting at 75,400 points. Screenshot of JetBlue's booking engine showing a flight from JFK to SFO with Mint availability for ... More 75,400 points. Forbes Advisor While that's a sizable chunk of Ultimate Rewards to transfer to JetBlue, the 'Mint Experience' is hard to beat for flights between U.S. destinations. And while 75,000 points was the lowest we found, it's not a hard-and-fast floor. You may be able to score an even better deal depending on your route and travel dates. It's also worth checking Chase Travel℠'s Mint pricing. One of the lesser-appreciated benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the 25% bonus you get when redeeming points through Chase Travel—meaning each point is worth 1.25 cents. While we've found that you'll usually get a higher value than that by booking an economy seat through JetBlue, its Mint award pricing tends to have more variety. We've seen the value dip below 1.25 cents, at which point you may want to consider booking with Chase Travel instead. Just Want the Cheapest Flight? Here Are 3 Tips To Stretch Your 100K Chase Points 1. Make Comparison Shopping a Breeze With Award-Searching Tools Finding the best deal on award flights can be time-consuming, especially when you're juggling different airline partners and point transfer options. That's where award finder tools like PointsYeah, AwardTool and come in. These search engines make it easy to compare flight availability and prices across multiple programs, all in one place. I particularly like PointsYeah because it allows you to filter results by airline, cabin class and even specific bank rewards programs (in this case, Chase Ultimate Rewards). Screenshot of PointsYeah's search engine with 'Chase Ultimate Rewards' selected inside the 'Bank ... More Programs' filter. Forbes Advisor Instead of checking each airline's site individually, these tools let you quickly pinpoint which flights offer the best bang for your points. That can save you both time and points on your next redemption. 2. Use Southwest's Low Fare Calendar To Find Affordable Dates Southwest uses a fixed-value system for its Rapid Rewards points, meaning the number of points needed for a flight is directly tied to the cash price. Still, if you have flexibility in your plans, you could score a great deal by choosing a date when the fare for your desired flight is below average. An easy way to find these dates is to use Southwest's Low Fare Calendar. This tool lets you view the fares for an entire month at a glance, helping you zero in on the dates with the cheapest prices. Occasionally, Southwest runs Wanna Get Away sales. For example, Southwest was running a summer sale as I wrote this article, with prices starting at $49. Using the Low Fare Calendar, we found several of these $49 fares from Las Vegas to Los Angeles that translated to just 3,500 Rapid Rewards points (also a Chase transfer partner). Screenshot of Southwest's Low Fare Calendar for LAS to LAX for May with prices ranging from 3,500 to ... More 5,000 points. Forbes Advisor Southwest is also known for offering ultracheap interisland flights in Hawaii. We found a Wanna Get Away ticket from Honolulu (HNL) to Hawaii Island (KOA) that was also just 3,500 Rapid Rewards points. This is an excellent redemption option for travelers looking to hop between islands on a budget. Screenshot of Southwest's Low Fare Calendar for HNL to KOA for May with prices ranging from 3,500 to ... More 6,500 points. Forbes Advisor With the Low Fare Calendar and some flexibility, you can unlock serious value from your Chase Ultimate Rewards points by transferring them to Southwest Rapid Rewards. 3. Don't Forget To Crosscheck Prices and Availability on Chase Travel While many points enthusiasts prefer transferring to travel partners to maximize value, that advantage is often more pronounced on international flights in premium cabins. For domestic flights, the value gap can shrink significantly, especially when you consider that Sapphire Preferred points are always worth 1.25 cents when redeemed for Chase Travel purchases. There may be times when you'd use fewer points booking through Chase Travel than by transferring to an airline. Even if the pricing is close to par, remember that Chase Travel bookings are viewed like normal cash fares, so you won't deal with limited award availability. You can also still generally earn frequent flyer miles when you book through Chase Travel, which isn't the case when you book award flights directly with an airline. Of course, there are trade-offs. If you need to change or cancel your flight, you'll have to go through Chase Travel customer service instead of dealing directly with the airline, which can be a bit more of a hassle. But if your main goal is to stretch your Chase Ultimate Rewards balance as far as it can go, it's worth the extra step to check Chase's portal. Bottom Line With 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, your options for domestic flights are far from limited. Whether you're seeking luxury on a transcontinental route or just trying to get the best deal on a quick getaway, smart redemptions can help you maximize the value of your rewards. Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author's alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners .
