Airline faces record penalty after mask rules incident stirs backlash

The U.S. Department of Transportation has slapped Lufthansa with a record $4 million fine after Jewish passengers were denied boarding on a flight in 2022.

Lufthansa has denied any discrimination, blaming the incident on communication failures, but has agreed to the penalty.

The passengers, many wearing traditional Orthodox Jewish clothing, were travelling from New York to Budapest via Frankfurt.

Lufthansa says it remains committed to promoting diversity and tolerance following the backlash.

The U.S. says it’s the largest penalty issued for civil rights violations against an airline.

Economic outreach and celebrity appeal take the spotlight

Vice President Kamala Harris is stepping up efforts to win over Black male voters, just weeks before the election.

She’s crisscrossing key battleground states, from Pennsylvania to Michigan, promoting her economic plan for Black entrepreneurs.

Alongside Harris, actor Don Cheadle and NFL star Thomas Booker are getting in on the action, hosting events like a “Monday Night Football” watch party in Detroit.

But there’s tension after former President Barack Obama’s remarks urging Black men to back Harris, comments some worry may backfire.

Harris’s team is counting on a mix of policy and engagement, with polling showing early signs of a tough battle ahead.

As early voting starts, Harris is pushing for more Black male turnout in cities like Detroit, Philadelphia, and Atlanta.