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Uber and unions face off over EU gig work law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:16 GMT

BRUSSELS — Brussels’ European Quarter is the epicenter this week of a lobbying fight between ride-sharing platform Uber and the drivers that do its legwork.Groups from Belgium, Spain, France and Austria that say they represent drivers and riders are amassing on the doorsteps of the European institutions at Schuman at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening. One hour later, top negotiators will kick off critical negotiations nearby to hash out key details of a law that could end up determining Uber’s future across the Continent.The European Union is finalizing a law on gig work aimed at ensuring delivery drivers and on-demand chauffeurs get better social protections against the power of the online platforms they work for. At the heart of the political fight is the question of whether Uber’s drivers and riders should be considered employees or freelance contractors — a decision that could weaken Uber’s business model in Europe after it has largely dodged labor rights that ...

Shakespeare portrait sent to edge of space to celebrate 400 years since ‘First Folio’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:16 GMT

(CNN) — William Shakespeare’s influence over the world remains unwavering more than four centuries after the renowned dramatist began his career.To mark the continued resonance of the famed playwright’s words 400 years after the publication of his “First Folio” on November 8, 1623, British filmmaker Jack Jewers has sent a portrait of Shakespeare along with a speech from one of his best-known works to the edge of space.Around 1,000 copies of the folio, originally published as “Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies,” were printed seven years after his death. The volume of more than 900 pages included a collection of 36 plays. Without it, 18 plays, including “Macbeth,” would have been lost, according to Reuters.Attached to a weather balloon, with a camera and GPS tracker, the portrait, accompanied by a speech from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” was taken to Earth’s upper atmosphere, according to a press release from inVerse Films. A team from aerospace co...

Why the Chicago Bulls don’t start Alex Caruso, despite the veteran guard’s stabilizing effect when he’s on the court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:16 GMT

Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan already shook up his starting lineup this season when he replaced Patrick Williams with Torrey Craig after only five games.As the Bulls attempt to claw out of a 3-5 hole, Donovan has considered another personnel question: Should Alex Caruso be starting as well?Caruso has been one of the Bulls’ most consistent players since he signed with them in 2021. He’s a first-team All-Defensive selection, a poised offensive distributor and a vocal leader who offers as much instruction as any coach.This has been a particularly strong start to the season for Caruso, who’s averaging 6.4 points on 54.3% shooting — including 80% inside the 3-point arc. He’s averaging 1.4 steals despite playing only 22.6 minutes per game. And when he checks into the game, the Bulls visibly settle down, a reflection of both his poise as a leader and his nullifying effect as a defender.So why does he come off the bench?For Caruso, the question isn’t ...

Israel pressured by allies over plight of civilians in Gaza as thousands flee enclave’s north

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:16 GMT

By NAJIB JOBAIN and SAMY MAGDY (Associated Press)KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel faced pressure from some of its closest allies Wednesday over the plight of civilians in Gaza, where thousands streamed on foot out of the enclave’s north because of dwindling food and water and fear of approaching Israeli forces.Over 70% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million have already left their homes, but the number making their way south has quickened recently as Israeli troops battle Hamas inside Gaza City and the humanitarian situation grows increasingly dire. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union.The Group of Seven wealthy nations announced a unified stance on the Israel-Hamas war after intensive meetings in Tokyo, condemning Hamas and supporting Israel’s right to self-defense. But the group also called Wednesday for the “unimpeded” delivery of food, water, medicine and fuel, and for “humanitarian pauses” in the fighting.Is...

Democrats won big on abortion rights Tuesday. Here’s what the results say for the US going into 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:16 GMT

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats had plenty of good news to celebrate in Tuesday’s off-year elections and more evidence that they can win races centered on the national debate over abortion.Abortion rights supporters won an Ohio ballot measure and the Democratic governor of beet-red Kentucky held onto his office by campaigning on reproductive rights and painting his opponent as extremist. A Democrat won an open seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court after campaigning on his pledge to uphold abortion rights. And Democrats took full control of the Virginia statehouse, blocking Republicans from being able to pass new abortion restrictions and delivering a defeat to Gov. Glenn Youngkin that may douse any buzz about a late entry into the GOP presidential primary.The victories won’t be enough to make Democrats feel secure heading into next year’s presidential election. The off-year elections have major implications in all of those ...

Parents of a terminally ill baby lose UK legal battle to bring her home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:16 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A judge at Britain’s High Court ruled Wednesday that life support for a terminally ill 8-month-old baby should be withdrawn in a hospice or hospital, despite efforts by the infant’s parents and the Italian government to transport her to Italy for further treatment.The parents of baby Indi Gregory, who has a rare metabolic disorder known as mitochondrial disease, have fought legal battles in a bid to continue life support for their child. But a judge has ruled that doctors can lawfully limit life-supporting invasive treatment, because continuing with the treatment would not be in the child’s best interests.The legal tussle is the latest in a series of similar cases in Britain that saw doctors and parents spar over the treatment of terminally ill children and the respective rights and responsibilities of parents and medical professionals.In a written ruling, Justice Robert Peel said he accepted the evidence of medical specialists at the Queen’s Me...

Woman part of first cohort of Canadian evacuees describes journey from Gaza to Egypt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:16 GMT

A woman who was part of the first group of Canadians evacuated from Gaza  amid the Israel-Hamas war says she is incredibly relieved to have made it out of the besieged Palestinian enclave with her two children. Rana Nassrawi, who is currently at a hotel in Cairo, says she and her kids will be flying home to Mississauga, Ont., in a day. Nassrawi was among the 75 people connected to Canada who were able to leave Gaza through the southern Rafah crossing with Egypt — the only way out for foreign nationals — on Tuesday as the war entered its second month.She says Canadian officials were on the Egyptian side of the border to welcome her and her kids and facilitated their eight-hour bus ride to Cairo from the Rafah crossing.Nassrawi says they arrived at their Cairo hotel early this morning and she immediately burst into tears as she became overwhelmed with thoughts of what she had witnessed in Gaza. The 43-year-old had been in Gaza to visit her elderly parents for the first time in two dec...

‘I’m on the verge of losing my house’: Man’s attempt to earn extra income leads to financial ruin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:16 GMT

A Brampton, Ont., man answered a job ad that he hoped would earn him some extra cash, but instead, he ended up losing nearly $20,000.He’s the latest victim of suspected job scams sweeping across Canada right now.“Times are tough and I was looking for some part-time work to earn some extra cash on the side,” the man said. He asked only to be identified as “Peter.”It all started after he received a WhatsApp message from a person offering part-time work.“The person said I could earn thousands of dollars per week,” Peter says.He responded and was put in touch with a team member who explained the process.“The man explained everything, had me download an app and provided training on the work I would be doing.”That work involved so-called tasks where Peter would be rating hotels using a phone software application set up by this company.But to get started, he had to deposit funds, in the form of cryptocurrency to a wallet.“You had to have a balance of crypto de...

Candidate who wouldn’t denounce Moms for Liberty chapter after Hitler quote wins Indiana mayor race

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:16 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (AP) — A Republican candidate who refused to denounce a local chapter of Moms for Liberty that used a quote by Adolf Hitler in a newsletter has won her election as mayor of Carmel, Indiana, a wealthy suburb of Indianapolis.City Councilwoman Sue Finkam defeated Democratic candidate and fellow city councilman Miles Nelson in Tuesday’s municipal election, according to unofficial returns from the Hamilton County election office. The election closed a contentious and at times bitter race to lead the city of about 102,000 people and succeed its longtime mayor.The race received widespread attention after Nelson called on Finkam to denounce the Hamilton County chapter of Moms for Liberty, the conservative group that used a quote from Adolf Hitler in its inaugural newsletter earlier this year. Moms for Liberty, a group classified as an “anti-government extremist group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, is a national organization that champions “parental rights” and...

S&P/TSX composite down as energy and base metals lead the way, U.S. stocks also lower

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:16 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was down in late-morning trading with base metal and energy stocks helping to lead the way lower as prices for oil and other commodities fell. The S&P/TSX composite index was down 27.27 points at 19,548.32.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 24.90 points at 34,127.70. The S&P 500 index was down 3.49 points at 4,374.89, while the Nasdaq composite was down 23.73 points at 13,616.13.The Canadian dollar traded for 72.48 cents US compared with 72.67 cents US on Tuesday.The December crude contract was down US$1.63 at US$75.74 per barrel and the December natural gas contract was down three cents at US$3.11 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was down US$14.50 at US$1,959.00 an ounce and the December copper contract was down three cents at US$3.65 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian Press