China’s Chongqing East becomes world’s largest railway station

The industrial action carried out by WestJet flight attendants concluded following overnight negotiations that yielded a provisional contract between the Canadian airline and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 8125. The resolution arrived early Monday morning after a brief strike that disrupted travel plans nationwide over the weekend. Union leadership confirmed that the consensus marks progress regarding operational credit structures, ensuring better recognition and wage distribution for duties performed on the ground prior to takeoff, including passenger boarding and delay management. Management at the carrier expressed satisfaction with the outcome, highlighting the dedication of the workforce. Unofficial terms indicate the proposal includes an immediate pay raise retroactive to the start of the year, alongside adjusted duty allocations. While flight operations are slated to rebuild gradually pending safety verifications and roster adjustments, the negotiated terms remain subject to formal ratification by the union membership.

Questions have been raised regarding Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg after his $300 million vessel reportedly ignored a call to assist a stranded boat off the coast of south-east Alaska. The 387-foot luxury yacht, named Launchpad, was positioned closer to the helpless 21-foot skiff than the commercial cruise vessel that ultimately stepped in to provide aid. According to an eyewitness account shared on Bluesky by a traveler on the Wilderness Legacy (operated by UnCruise Adventures), the captain informed guests that maritime authorities had tried reaching the billionaire’s vessel first. The passenger noted that their vessel performed the rescue after the US Coast Guard tried contacting Mark Zuckerberg’s yacht, which sat at a shorter distance, and reported that the crew repeatedly ignored the radio broadcasts. Representatives for Zuckerberg and his partner, Priscilla Chan, have strongly disputed the claim that the crew knowingly ignored a distress signal. Spokesperson Brian Baker clarified to Forbes that neither Zuckerberg nor Chan were present on Launchpad during the incident. He further stated that the crew was monitoring a different radio frequency at the time and maintained that rescue operations were already under way by the time the message was reviewed. The small skiff had been left immobilised after running out of fuel while traveling between Petersburg and Juneau. Zuckerberg, who heads Meta Platforms, has not issued any personal statement concerning the event.

Todd Blanche, a former personal attorney to US President Donald Trump, has been confirmed as the country’s attorney general after a closely contested Senate vote. Blanche secured confirmation by 50 votes to 49, with Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joining Democrats in opposing his nomination. Senator Bill Cassidy provided the crucial Republican vote in Blanche’s favour after saying he believed Blanche was the strongest candidate Trump was likely to nominate. The vote ended a prolonged dispute between the Trump administration and Senate Republicans over Blanche’s appointment. He had been serving as acting attorney general since April, after Pam Bondi was removed from the position. All Senate Democrats voted against Blanche’s confirmation. Several Republican lawmakers had questioned Blanche’s record and raised concerns about his involvement in a number of controversial matters. Among them was his handling of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his role in developing Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. The proposed fund was intended to compensate people who claimed they had been politically targeted or persecuted by the government. However, critics, including Murkowski, warned that the scheme could potentially benefit people prosecuted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. During his confirmation process, Blanche promised to abandon the proposed fund following opposition from Republican senators. Questions remain over whether that commitment would prevent the administration from introducing a similar programme under a different structure in the future. Murkowski said she opposed Blanche because she lacked confidence that he would be willing to challenge what she described as the administration’s worst impulses. She also expressed concern about the increasing politicisation of the Justice Department. Collins raised separate concerns over Blanche’s involvement in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. Despite those reservations, she ultimately did not support his confirmation. Cassidy, meanwhile, said he trusted Blanche to provide Trump with independent and candid legal advice. He acknowledged that the president ultimately determines the direction of the Justice Department but argued that Senate confirmation would give Blanche greater authority to advise the administration and push back when necessary. Cassidy also said he did not want political disagreements to prevent the Justice Department from carrying out its responsibilities, particularly in combating violent crime. Blanche’s confirmation marks a significant development for the Trump administration, given his previous role as Trump’s personal lawyer. He was serving as deputy attorney general when he assumed the department’s temporary leadership in April.