The 10-Point: Canada Shooting, Air Bag Recall, Flight Deals and More

Terror Comes to Canada

Yesterday’s fatal shooting of a soldier at Ottawa’s National War Memorial was a tragic glimpse for Canadians of the global reach of terrorism. The assailant was eventually killed inside the Parliament building. Our story details the day’s horrific events, noting that the attack stands to change the way Canada protects its people. Experts described the incident as a major security failure, in which up to 30 shots were fired within Parliament’s main building. The shooting also intensified unease around Western capitals over their citizens’ vulnerability at home—a day after Ottawa dispatched warplanes to the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State militants. It is still unclear, however, if there is any link. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a televised address that “in the days to come we will learn more about the terrorist and any accomplices he may have had.” Meanwhile, we also look at how the deaths of two soldiers in the past three days in separate attacks has fueled fears of terrorism in Canada.

Air-Bag Alarms

A new safety crisis might be emerging for the auto industry. We find that the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office is investigating whether Takata Corp. 7312.TO -6.17% mademisleading statements about the safety of its air bags after regulators expanded a recall of the company’s products, affecting 7.8 million vehicles. Regulators have said the air bags could explode with too much force during a collision, spraying drivers and passengers with shrapnel. Our story examines the implications of the expanded recall, detailing the events that contributed to heightened safety concerns. We note that U.S. auto makers have recalled more than 50 million vehicles this year, a record. Click here to see if your car is included in the air-bag recall.

Blue Chips Feeling Blue

Blue-chip companies are going through a rough patch. Our story looks at how their once-reliable formulas for success have perhaps left them too big to adapt to the changing conditions of the market. We find that a third of the companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average have posted shrinking or flat revenue over the past 12 months. The list of stumbling stars includes AT&T, which on Wednesday lowered its revenue forecast; Coca-Cola, which posted flat sales; International Business Machines, IBM -0.03% which threw out its profit forecast; Wal-Mart, whose same-store sales haven’t increased in the U.S. since 2012; and General Electric, whose stock price hasn’t topped $30 since the financial crisis. We note, however, that each company has its own idiosyncratic problems, from changing consumer tastes at Coke to technology-industry shifts at IBM.

Tuesday’s Dead

The prime time to find airfares has changed. Our Middle Seat columnist Scott McCartney looks at when to make a purchase and how early the lowest prices pop up. A new examination into airline fares shows Sunday is the best day to find low fares—a departure from the conventional wisdom that Tuesday is the best bet. Scott notes, however, that Tuesday is still the day with the most frequent price drops, opening the door for good deals. And it turns out to be the busiest day for domestic ticket sales and the cheapest of the workweek. He also takes a look at how the cost of domestic and international flights changes by the day, noting one study that showed the cheapest time to buy domestic trips in the U.S. was 57 days before departure. For more insight about fare changes and other ways to save on air tickets, check out Scott’s column.