Latest news with #LABOR
Boston Globe
21-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Bitcoin hits new price highs as crypto industry scores wins
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up LABOR Advertisement Judge vacates federal rules requiring employers to provide accommodations for abortions The emblem of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is shown on a podium in Vail, Colo. David Zalubowski/Associated Press A federal judge on Wednesday struck down regulations requiring most US employers to provide workers with time off and other accommodations for abortions. The ruling by US District Judge David Joseph of the Western District of Louisiana was a victory for conservative lawmakers and religious groups who decried the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's decision to include abortion among pregnancy-related conditions in regulations on how to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which passed in December 2022. The EEOC's decision swiftly prompted several lawsuits and eroded what had been strong bipartisan support for the law designed to strengthen the rights of pregnant workers. Joseph, who was appointed by President Trump during his first term, ruled that the EEOC exceeded its authority by including abortion in its regulations. His ruling came in two consolidated lawsuits brought by the attorneys general of Louisiana and Mississippi, and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic University, and two Catholic dioceses. Joseph sided with the plaintiffs' argument that if Congress had intended for abortion to be covered by the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, 'it would have spoken clearly when enacting the statute, particularly given the enormous social, religious, and political importance of the abortion issue in our nation at this time.' — ASSOCIATED PRESS Advertisement RETAIL Target sees sales falling this year as turnaround falters A Target store in Pleasant Hill, Calif. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg Target's woes continue. The underperforming retailer has struggled with tariff-fueled anxiety among shoppers and protests in response to its retreat from diversity policies. On Wednesday, it again fell short of expectations for quarterly sales and slashed its full-year financial forecast. Target now expects a 'low-single digit decline' in sales this year, down from a projection a few months ago of a small gain. The gloomy forecast set Target apart from some of its competitors that have in recent days maintained their outlooks, even while warning of the risks and uncertainty generated by President Trump's tariffs. Comparable sales at Target last quarter, which ended May 3, fell 3.8 percent from a year earlier, reflecting both lower foot traffic and less spent per visit. The retailer's stock fell roughly 6 percent in early trading as investors digested the weaker-than-expected report. 'We're not satisfied with this performance,' Brian Cornell, Target's CEO, said on a call with analysts. — NEW YORK TIMES Advertisement REGULATION US takes another step toward opening the seabed for mining Commercial mining on the miles-deep Pacific Ocean floor came one step closer to reality with an announcement late Tuesday by the US Interior Department that it would evaluate a request from a California-based company to extract metals off the coast of American Samoa. The move follows an executive order last month that urged government agencies to expedite permits for seabed mining in US territorial waters as well as international waters. Most other nations argue that the United States does not have the legal right to mine the seabed beyond its own territorial waters. Parts of the ocean floor are blanketed by potato-size nodules containing valuable minerals like nickel, cobalt, and manganese that are essential to advanced technologies that the United States considers critical to its economic and military security. Supply chains of many of these valuable minerals are increasingly controlled by China. No commercial-scale mining of the seabed has ever taken place. The technological hurdles to seabed mining are high, and there have been serious concerns about the environmental consequences. Yet many countries have been impatient to get started as demand grows for the metals found there. — NEW YORK TIMES TECH OpenAI unites with Jony Ive in $6.5 billion deal to create AI devices Jony Ive. David Paul Morris/Photographer: David Paul Morris/ AI largely remains the domain of an app on phones, despite efforts by startups and others to move it into devices. Now OpenAI, the world's leading AI lab, is taking a crack at that riddle. On Wednesday, Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, said the company was paying $6.5 billion to buy io, a 1-year-old startup created by Jony Ive, a former top Apple executive who designed the iPhone. The deal, which effectively unites Silicon Valley royalty, is intended to usher in what the two men call 'a new family of products' for the age of artificial general intelligence, or AGI, which is shorthand for a future technology that achieves human-level intelligence. The deal, which is OpenAI's biggest acquisition, will bring in Ive and his team of about 55 engineers, designers, and researchers. They will assume creative and design responsibilities across OpenAI and build hardware that helps people better interact with the technology. — NEW YORK TIMES Advertisement TECH Nvidia's chief says US chip controls on China have backfired Jensen Huang, cofounder and CEO of Nvidia Corp., at a news conference in Taipei on Wednesday. I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images Lawmakers in Washington have worked for years to limit China's access to the cutting-edge computer chips needed for advanced artificial intelligence, particularly those made by Nvidia, America's leading chipmaker. But according to Nvidia's chief executive, Jensen Huang, those regulations, driven by economic and security concerns, have only made Chinese tech companies stronger. The export controls on chips forced Nvidia to forfeit its dominant position in China while domestic companies like Huawei, the telecommunications giant, filled the gap, Huang said at a news conference in Taipei, Taiwan's capital, on Wednesday. Washington's efforts gave Chinese companies 'the spirit, the energy and the government support to accelerate their development,' said Huang, who attended a tech conference in Taipei this week. 'All in all, the export control was a failure.' — NEW YORK TIMES MEDIA Major newspapers ran a summer reading list. AI made up its book titles. The Chicago Sun-Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer find themselves at the center of an AI-related gaffe after they published syndicated content packed with unidentifiable quotes from fake experts and imaginary book titles created using generative artificial intelligence. The articles were published in the papers' 'Heat Index' special sections — a multipage insert filled with tips, advice, and articles on summertime activities. The insert, which was published by the Sun-Times on Sunday and by the Inquirer on Thursday, was syndicated by King Features, a service from the Hearst media company that produces comics, puzzles, and supplemental material. (King Features did not respond to a request for comment.) 'It is unacceptable for any content we provide to our readers to be inaccurate. We value our readers' trust in our reporting and take this very seriously,' Victor Lim, senior director of audience development for Chicago Public Media, said in a statement. 'We've historically relied on content partners for this information, but given recent developments, it's clear we must actively evaluate new processes and partnerships to ensure we continue meeting the full range of our readers' needs,' he added. Lisa Hughes, the publisher and CEO of the Philadelphia Inquirer, said the special section was removed from the e-edition after the discovery was made. 'Using artificial intelligence to produce content, as was apparently the case with some of the Heat Index material, is a violation of our own internal policies and a serious breach,' she said in a statement to The Washington Post. Much of the content for the section was written by Marco Buscaglia, a Chicago-based freelance writer who used AI chatbots during the writing process, he told The Post in an interview Tuesday. Buscaglia said there was 'no excuse' for not double-checking his work. — WASHINGTON POST Advertisement
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dutton dumped in Dickson as Labor cruises to landslide
LIBERAL LOSSES MOUNT IN LABOR LANDSLIDE * Dickson, QLD - after a nearly 25-year stranglehold, opposition leader Peter Dutton has been ousted from parliament with a spectacular loss to Labor's Ali France who is leading by more than 10,000 votes. * Hughes, NSW - the southern Sydney seat taking in large swathes of populous suburbs such as Liverpool and Sutherland and in Liberal hands since 1996 has fallen to 29-year-old Labor candidate David Moncrieff. * Banks, NSW - another important southwestern Sydney electorate has been clinched by Labor's Zhi Soon kicking out the coalition's foreign affairs spokesperson David Coleman. * Petrie, QLD - the northern Brisbane seat close to Mr Dutton's electorate has also slipped from Liberal hands with Labor's Emma Comer capitalising on a 7 per cent swing in her favour. * Bonner, QLD - the marginal eastern suburbs Brisbane electorate fell victim to Labor's surge with Kara Cook joining a class of newly minted Queensland female Labor MPs in parliament. * Leichhardt, QLD - northern Queensland also joined in the coalition's rout with former professional basketball player Matt Smith benefiting from Anthony Albanese taking his campaign to the seat not held by Labor since 2010. SOME OF THE TOP PENDING SEATS TO WATCH AS COUNT CONTINUES: * Bean, ACT - the once safe seat is in doubt with independent Jessie Price surging against Labor's David Smith as it comes down to the wire with more than 80 per cent of votes tallied. * Bullwinkel, WA - the razor-thin margin between Labor's Trish Cook and the Liberal's Matt Moran is reflected in a 50-50 split of the votes with nearly 70 per cent of the count completed. * Forrest, WA - Labor is hoping to add to its tally by stealing the seat from the Liberals who hold it with a 4.2 per cent margin. * Goldstein, VIC - after nabbing it from Liberal Tim Wilson in the 2022 election as part of the Teal wave, Zoe Daniel is hoping to retain the crucial Melbourne seat with a slim lead of 1780 votes. * Wills, VIC - the Greens' Samantha Ratnam is neck and neck with Labor's Peter Khalil, the government's special envoy for social cohesion, where he leads by more than 940 votes in a campaign where Gaza featured heavily.
Deccan Herald
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
What are the potential outcomes of Australia's election?
Australia will hold a general election on Saturday, with polls indicating Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's ruling centre-left Labor is ahead of opposition leader Peter Dutton's conservative Liberal-National polls predict Labor may need to form a minority government, the first in more than a decade. Australians are increasingly voting for independents and outside the main parties, expanding the ranks of such cross-benchers to 19 after the 2022 election, out of 150 are the potential outcomes of the vote and what they would mean:.MAJORITY LABOR GOVERNMENTAlbanese would continue as prime minister, naming a new Cabinet from among elected Labor parliamentarians. He has said he would travel to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump "very early on" if re-elected as Prime Minister in the May 3 LABOR GOVERNMENTThis is likely, according to is on a notional 78 seats, just two more than the minimum for a majority, and could lose outer metropolitan seats in the biggest states where cost-of-living pressures are a major concern for voters, analysts a member of the cross-bench is appointed as speaker, Labor could govern with 75 an election, the prime minister remains in the role until they resign, which means the incumbent holds the advantage in negotiations over a hung parliament, said Anne Twomey, a constitutional law expert at the University of the campaign, Albanese said he would not do a deal to form a government with the Greens party, which held four seats in the previous parliament, or with independents. Seven "Teal" independents won seats from the Liberals in 2022 by supporting climate change and gender equality, positions also supported by centre-left could reach agreements with cross-benchers for "confidence and supply" without policy strings attached, Twomey said. This is a guarantee from enough independents or minor parties who hold the balance of power that they will support the government if there is a vote of no confidence, and will vote to pass appropriation spending bills so the government can provide services and pay public added that the Greens are unlikely to support a conservative Dutton government on ideological and policy grounds, while the Teals could could give Labor an upper hand in negotiations for a minority government if it is only a few seats short of a 76-seat | What you need to know about Australia's upcoming PARLIAMENTIn this scenario, independents and minor parties would be the the last hung parliament in 2010, the major parties were tied on 72 seats. The Labor and Liberal-National leaders courted a handful of independents and a Green, striking policy deals in exchange for support, during negotiations that stretched on for won more support and its minority government lasted three years. But there was acrimony over broken deals and Tasmanian independent and anti-gambling campaigner Andrew Wilkie, who entered parliament in 2010, has said he will not enter another such agreement between the prime minister and a cross-bench member for support is only a political agreement and is not legally binding, said Twomey."A member of parliament cannot contract away their vote," she said, citing court decisions on the LIBERAL-NATIONAL GOVERNMENTThe Liberal-National coalition would have to make a large gain, from 53 seats in the previous parliament, to be within striking range of 76 seats, and polling shows this is most likely cross-bench partners for the Liberal-Nationals would be Teals in wealthy urban seats, and maverick 79-year-old Queensland independent Bob Katter, a former conservative who has represented a vast rural electorate for three decades. Katter refused to support the Labor minority government in LIBERAL-NATIONAL GOVERNMENTA Liberal-National coalition ruled for nine years before its 2022 election loss, so if the polling is wrong, cost-of-living pressures could drive voters to return a conservative government.
Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
What are the potential outcomes of Australia's election?
FILE PHOTO: Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to the media during a press conference with New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, August 16, 2024. REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy What are the potential outcomes of Australia's election? SYDNEY - Australia will hold a general election on Saturday, with polls indicating Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's ruling centre-left Labor is ahead of opposition leader Peter Dutton's conservative Liberal-National coalition. Several polls predict Labor may need to form a minority government, the first in more than a decade. Australians are increasingly voting for independents and outside the main parties, expanding the ranks of such cross-benchers to 19 after the 2022 election, out of 150 seats. Here are the potential outcomes of the vote and what they would mean: MAJORITY LABOR GOVERNMENT Albanese would continue as prime minister, naming a new Cabinet from among elected Labor parliamentarians. He has said he would travel to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump "very early on" if re-elected as Prime Minister in the May 3 election. MINORITY LABOR GOVERNMENT This is likely, according to polls. Labor is on a notional 78 seats, just two more than the minimum for a majority, and could lose outer metropolitan seats in the biggest states where cost-of-living pressures are a major concern for voters, analysts said. If a member of the cross-bench is appointed as speaker, Labor could govern with 75 seats. After an election, the prime minister remains in the role until they resign, which means the incumbent holds the advantage in negotiations over a hung parliament, said Anne Twomey, a constitutional law expert at the University of Sydney. During the campaign, Albanese said he would not do a deal to form a government with the Greens party, which held four seats in the previous parliament, or with independents. Seven "Teal" independents won seats from the Liberals in 2022 by supporting climate change and gender equality, positions also supported by centre-left Labor. Albanese could reach agreements with cross-benchers for "confidence and supply" without policy strings attached, Twomey said. This is a guarantee from enough independents or minor parties who hold the balance of power that they will support the government if there is a vote of no confidence, and will vote to pass appropriation spending bills so the government can provide services and pay public servants. She added that the Greens are unlikely to support a conservative Dutton government on ideological and policy grounds, while the Teals could split. This could give Labor an upper hand in negotiations for a minority government if it is only a few seats short of a 76-seat majority. HUNG PARLIAMENT In this scenario, independents and minor parties would be the kingmakers. In the last hung parliament in 2010, the major parties were tied on 72 seats. The Labor and Liberal-National leaders courted a handful of independents and a Green, striking policy deals in exchange for support, during negotiations that stretched on for weeks. Labor won more support and its minority government lasted three years. But there was acrimony over broken deals and Tasmanian independent and anti-gambling campaigner Andrew Wilkie, who entered parliament in 2010, has said he will not enter another such deal. Any agreement between the prime minister and a cross-bench member for support is only a political agreement and is not legally binding, said Twomey. "A member of parliament cannot contract away their vote," she said, citing court decisions on the matter. MINORITY LIBERAL-NATIONAL GOVERNMENT The Liberal-National coalition would have to make a large gain, from 53 seats in the previous parliament, to be within striking range of 76 seats, and polling shows this is unlikely. The most likely cross-bench partners for the Liberal-Nationals would be Teals in wealthy urban seats, and maverick 79-year-old Queensland independent Bob Katter, a former conservative who has represented a vast rural electorate for three decades. Katter refused to support the Labor minority government in 2010. MAJORITY LIBERAL-NATIONAL GOVERNMENT A Liberal-National coalition ruled for nine years before its 2022 election loss, so if the polling is wrong, cost-of-living pressures could drive voters to return a conservative government. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Factbox-What are the potential outcomes of Australia's election?
By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will hold a general election on Saturday, with polls indicating Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's ruling centre-left Labor is ahead of opposition leader Peter Dutton's conservative Liberal-National coalition. Several polls predict Labor may need to form a minority government, the first in more than a decade. Australians are increasingly voting for independents and outside the main parties, expanding the ranks of such cross-benchers to 19 after the 2022 election, out of 150 seats. Here are the potential outcomes of the vote and what they would mean: MAJORITY LABOR GOVERNMENT Albanese would continue as prime minister, naming a new Cabinet from among elected Labor parliamentarians. He has said he would travel to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump "very early on" if re-elected as Prime Minister in the May 3 election. MINORITY LABOR GOVERNMENT This is likely, according to polls. Labor is on a notional 78 seats, just two more than the minimum for a majority, and could lose outer metropolitan seats in the biggest states where cost-of-living pressures are a major concern for voters, analysts said. If a member of the cross-bench is appointed as speaker, Labor could govern with 75 seats. After an election, the prime minister remains in the role until they resign, which means the incumbent holds the advantage in negotiations over a hung parliament, said Anne Twomey, a constitutional law expert at the University of Sydney. During the campaign, Albanese said he would not do a deal to form a government with the Greens party, which held four seats in the previous parliament, or with independents. Seven "Teal" independents won seats from the Liberals in 2022 by supporting climate change and gender equality, positions also supported by centre-left Labor. Albanese could reach agreements with cross-benchers for "confidence and supply" without policy strings attached, Twomey said. This is a guarantee from enough independents or minor parties who hold the balance of power that they will support the government if there is a vote of no confidence, and will vote to pass appropriation spending bills so the government can provide services and pay public servants. She added that the Greens are unlikely to support a conservative Dutton government on ideological and policy grounds, while the Teals could split. This could give Labor an upper hand in negotiations for a minority government if it is only a few seats short of a 76-seat majority. HUNG PARLIAMENT In this scenario, independents and minor parties would be the kingmakers. In the last hung parliament in 2010, the major parties were tied on 72 seats. The Labor and Liberal-National leaders courted a handful of independents and a Green, striking policy deals in exchange for support, during negotiations that stretched on for weeks. Labor won more support and its minority government lasted three years. But there was acrimony over broken deals and Tasmanian independent and anti-gambling campaigner Andrew Wilkie, who entered parliament in 2010, has said he will not enter another such deal. Any agreement between the prime minister and a cross-bench member for support is only a political agreement and is not legally binding, said Twomey. "A member of parliament cannot contract away their vote," she said, citing court decisions on the matter. MINORITY LIBERAL-NATIONAL GOVERNMENT The Liberal-National coalition would have to make a large gain, from 53 seats in the previous parliament, to be within striking range of 76 seats, and polling shows this is unlikely. The most likely cross-bench partners for the Liberal-Nationals would be Teals in wealthy urban seats, and maverick 79-year-old Queensland independent Bob Katter, a former conservative who has represented a vast rural electorate for three decades. Katter refused to support the Labor minority government in 2010. MAJORITY LIBERAL-NATIONAL GOVERNMENT A Liberal-National coalition ruled for nine years before its 2022 election loss, so if the polling is wrong, cost-of-living pressures could drive voters to return a conservative government.
