US unions flexed their muscles last year, but membership rates fall to all-time low

US unions flexed their muscles last year, but membership rates fall to all-time low

Unions commanded big headlines last year, but that didn’t translate into higher membership rates, according to government data released Tuesday. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said 10% of hourly and salaried workers were members of unions in 2023, or around 14.4 million people. That is an all-time low, down from 10.1% of workers in…

Biden vetoes GOP measure that aimed to block White House policy on foreign content in EV chargers

Biden vetoes GOP measure that aimed to block White House policy on foreign content in EV chargers

WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday vetoed a Republican measure that would have blocked a White House waiver that allows some foreign-made content in federally funded chargers for electric vehicles. The White House said the GOP plan would actually block made-in-America requirements, since it would revert U.S. policy to a 1980s…

Hungary is the last holdout for Sweden’s NATO membership. So when will Orbán follow Turkey’s lead?

Hungary is the last holdout for Sweden’s NATO membership. So when will Orbán follow Turkey’s lead?

BUDAPEST, Hungary — With Turkey completing its ratification of Sweden’s bid to join NATO, Hungary is the last member of the military alliance not to have given its approval. After more than a year of delays, and consistent urging from its Western partners to move forward with Sweden’s application, the Central European country and its…

Fox News allowed to pursue claims that voting firm’s defamation suit is anti-free speech

Fox News allowed to pursue claims that voting firm’s defamation suit is anti-free speech

NEW YORK — A judge refused this week to toss out Fox News’ claims that voting technology company Smartmatic is suing the network to suppress free speech. The ruling means that both Smartmatic’s multibillion-dollar defamation lawsuit and the network’s counterclaims can continue toward an eventual trial. Smartmatic says Fox News spread ruinous lies that the…

TurboTax maker Intuit barred from advertising ‘free’ tax services without disclosing who’s eligible

TurboTax maker Intuit barred from advertising ‘free’ tax services without disclosing who’s eligible

NEW YORK — U.S. regulators have barred TurboTax maker Intuit Inc. from advertising its services as “free” unless they are free for all customers, or if eligibility is clearly disclosed. In an opinion and final order issued Monday, the Federal Trade Commission ruled that Intuit engaged in deceptive practices by running ads claiming consumers could…

Los Angeles Times to lay off 20% of newsroom, one of the largest staff reductions in paper’s history

Los Angeles Times to lay off 20% of newsroom, one of the largest staff reductions in paper’s history

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Times said it planned to lay off at least 115 employees — more than 20% of the newsroom — starting Tuesday, one of the largest staff cuts in the newspaper’s 143-year history. The announcement came after the LA Times Guild walked off the job last Friday to protest the…

16 million people live in neighborhoods Brazil calls ‘subnormal.’ It’s finally changing the name

16 million people live in neighborhoods Brazil calls ‘subnormal.’ It’s finally changing the name

RIO DE JANEIRO — After decades of delay and pressure, Brazil announced Tuesday that it will henceforth use “favelas and urban communities” to categorize thousands of poor, urban neighborhoods, instead of the previous term “subnormal agglomerates” that was widely viewed as stigmatizing. Starting in the 1990s, the national statistics and geography institute, known by its…

EU Parliament’s environmental committee supports relaxing rules on genetically modified plants

EU Parliament’s environmental committee supports relaxing rules on genetically modified plants

BRUSSELS — Lawmakers on the European Parliament’s environment committee on Wednesday backed a proposal to relax rules on genetically modified plants produced using so-called new genomic techniques, prompting strong criticism from environmental groups. The issue of genetically modified organisms divided the European Union for a generation before the bloc adopted legislation in 2001. The Committee…

Netflix, Progressive rise; Texas Instruments, Kimberly-Clark fall, Wednesday, 1/24/2024

Netflix, Progressive rise; Texas Instruments, Kimberly-Clark fall, Wednesday, 1/24/2024

NEW YORK — Stocks that are trading heavily or have substantial price changes on Wednesday: Netflix Inc. (NFLX), up $58.32 to $550.51. The streaming entertainment giant gave investors a strong earnings forecast for its current quarter. ASML Holding NV (ASML), up $70.74 to $849.13. The equipment supplier to semiconductor makers beat analysts’ fourth-quarter earnings and…

North Carolina authorizes online sports betting to begin on eve of men’s ACC basketball tournament

North Carolina authorizes online sports betting to begin on eve of men’s ACC basketball tournament

RALEIGH, N.C. — RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Legal online sports betting in North Carolina is poised to begin in March, state gambling regulators decided Wednesday, setting the start date for the eve of the region’s beloved Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball tournament. Members of the state lottery commission, which was tasked by the General Assembly…

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