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Researcher warns against intervention as B.C. port workers conclude contract vote

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:28 GMT

VANCOUVER — A labour researcher says he hopes the federal government doesn’t rush to intervene in British Columbia’s port dispute, even if union members reject a tentative deal with employers today.The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada concludes the two-day vote at 6 p.m., after a tumultuous period that included a 13-day shutdown of more than 30 port terminals and other sites last month.McGill University associate professor Barry Eidlin says he hopes the federal government lets the dispute be resolved at the negotiating table, regardless of the vote’s outcome.He says the prospect of federal intervention represents “backsliding to a past era” when workers’ fundamental rights weren’t respected.The tentative contract between the union and the BC Maritime Employers Association was announced on Sunday, a day after federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to impose a deal or bindi...

Statistics Canada to release July employment figures this morning

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:28 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada is set to release its July jobs report this morning.The release will provide employment figures for last month as economists watch for signs of economic weakening.Canada’s unemployment rate has been rising for the previous two months, and high interest rates are expected to have pushed unemployment up further. In June, the unemployment rate was 5.4 per cent.Wage growth also slowed in June, rising 4.2 per cent year-over-year.RBC says it expects the economy added 25,000 jobs, but that strong population growth means the unemployment rate may have still risen.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2023.The Canadian Press

Wildfire impact on B.C. tourism varies by region, proximity and visibility of flames

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:28 GMT

VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s record wildfire season has affected travel bookings in some areas, but other regions have seen continued tourism demand despite their proximity to active blazes.Jason Upton, manager of the Lac Le Jeune Nature Resort south of Kamloops, says the resort is open but remains on evacuation alert, and maintaining bookings is difficult since the Ross Moore Lake fire is burning just a few kilometres away.Upton says the resort had been close to selling out for the entire upcoming long weekend, but the threat of the nearby fire has led to cancellations by all but three guests.Brian Cant, acting president at 4VI, a travel and tourism agency on Vancouver Island, says the closure in June of Highway 4 to Tofino caused a “small dip” in overall trips to the island that month.With no fires of note currently burning on Vancouver Island, Cant says in a statement that operators have indicated the August long weekend will remain “the busiest time of ...

Two hurt in overnight stabbing in downtown Austin

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police said two people were stabbed early Friday morning in downtown Austin. Austin-Travis County EMS said paramedics responded to the scene at Rio Grande and West 6th Streets around 2:20 a.m. They took two adults to the hospital. ATCEMS said both adults had serious, potentially life-threatening injuries. Police said the stabbing may been part of a fight involving a unknown number of people. Detectives were on the scene investigating and had no one in custody. This is a breaking story. Please stay with KXAN.com and KXAN News Today for the latest.

Daily horoscope for August 4, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:28 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid spending money or making important decisions from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. EDT today (6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Pisces into Aries.Happy Birthday for Friday, Aug. 4, 2023:You are a rebellious freethinker who is intelligent and progressive. You have the ability to enlighten and inspire others. This year is the beginning of a fresh new cycle for you. It’s important to stay flexible and courageous so you can explore new opportunities and open any door!ARIES(March 21-April 19)★★★★This is a better day! It’s also an excellent day for romance, especially this evening. Enjoy diversions, social outings, sports events, fun activities with kids as well as special quiet moments with a drink or a cup of coffee in a pleasing place. You deserve it. Tonight: You win!TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★★This is a great day to schmooze. Because you feel sympathetic to the needs of others, you will feel rewarded by working with a charitable organization...

Commission approves €1.5 billion French measure to support ProLogium in researching and developing innovative batteries for electric vehicles

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:28 GMT

The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a €1.5 billion French measure to support ProLogium Technologies (‘ProLogium') in researching and developing a new generation of batteries for electric vehicles.  The measure will contribute to the achievement of the strategic objectives of the European Green Deal and the EU battery strategy.The French measureFrance notified to the Commission its plan to support ProLogium's Prometheus research and development (‘R&D') project of solid-state batteries (‘SSB') for electric vehicles. SSB technology uses solid instead of liquid electrolyte to develop batteries that have a higher energy density and are safer for consumers than conventional lithium-ion batteries.Under the measure, the aid will take the form of a direct grant of up to €1.5bn that will cover the R&D project until the end of 2029.As part of the Prometheus project, ProLogium will (i) develop  ‘first generation' SSB to overcome the limitations of the cu...

Kazakhstan and Afghanistan explore the benefits of trade cooperation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:28 GMT

The Kazakh-Afghan Business Forum in Astana has brought together more than 300 business and government representatives. Despite the upheaval of the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul, Kazakhstan is the largest supplier of food to the Afghan market and sees major potential in a proposed rail link across Afghan territory, which would greatly improve Central Asia’s access to Pakistan and its ports, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.Afghanistan not only accounts for 70% of Kazakhstan’s flour exports, it offers a market worth $500 million for Kazakh food, petrochemicals, chemicals, metallurgical products and machine-making, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Integration, Serik Zhumangarin told the forum. He said in a press release that mutual trade turnover was nearer $1 billion and he could see it reaching $3 billion in future.Beyond Afghanistan and its 40 million people are the important markets of Pakistan and India, as well as the Middle East, which are of high trad...

Europe’s ‘Gold Standard’ Insurance Regulation Badly Tarnished

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:28 GMT

Solvency II, the prudential regime for insurance and reinsurance undertakings in the EU  is portrayed as a global ‘gold standard’. An extraordinary case involving the Romanian Financial Supervisory Authority, ASF, and the insurance operator, Euroins Romania which has played out since the beginning of this year badly tarnishes the ‘gold standard’ claim – writes Dick Roche.The case also raises a red flag about the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority, EIOPA, one of the EU’s main financial regulators and questions how the Authority defines its role and whether it is fit for purpose.  The BackgroundIn 2019 Romania’s motor insurance industry was facing a major crisis.  Romania’s largest provider of motor third-party liability insurance City Insurance, with over three million policies on its books, was facing serious financial difficulties.  The Romanian Financial Supervisory Authority, ASF put pressure on Euroins Romania to take o...

Miss Manners: My co-worker called my behavior insulting, but I’ve never heard of this rule

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:28 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was scolded by a co-worker for putting trash into the trash bin!Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: We accidentally invited them to the wedding. How do we undo it? Advice | Miss Manners: Should I report my mother-in-law for her workplace crime? Advice | Miss Manners: Can we tell the in-laws what wedding gift would be appropriate? Advice | Miss Manners: Am I allowed to point out that these people are short? Advice | Miss Manners: I don’t want to give away any more avocados after what she did The bag in the bin had just been changed a few minutes before. My co-worker said I was insulting the person who changed it — that their work was “already being ruined.”I am a little embarrassed to say that although I am in my 30s, I have never encountered this etiquette rule before.What is the acceptable amount of time to wait?GENTLE READER: Zero minutes. Because such a ...

Germany, Brazil & Canada are out. Here’s why this is the most open Women’s World Cup ever

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:28 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — Change is happening fast in women’s soccer.A leveling of the playing field is being highlighted at the Women’s World Cup, which saw two-time champion Germany crash out of the tournament on Thursday.In the biggest upset of a World Cup that has been full of surprises, the second-ranked Germans, two-time World Cup winners, were eliminated in group stage for the first time in team history. Copa America champion Brazil and Olympic gold medalist Canada were also eliminated in the first round, while Morocco, South Africa and Jamaica all advanced to the knockout stage while making history along the way. “If I’m candid, I really am surprised,” said Jill Ellis, who coached America to World Cup wins in 2015 and 2019. “I think when you suddenly see a Germany or a Brazil get knocked out of a World Cup at the group stage, I don’t think any of us could have predicted that.“Am I excited by the development? Of course, for sure. But I think I was thinking that (there would be) one more ...