đź”— Articles: Mon 19.Feb.2024
Globe: How Canadian hospitals grew dependent on expensive out-of-town nurses
During the pandemic, governments turned to private firms who sent staff from across the country at higher hourly rates. A Globe investigation focusing on one such nursing agency shows those weren’t the only costs borne by taxpayers.
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But this help came at a heavy cost. CHL, part of a burgeoning for-profit health care staffing industry that began expanding aggressively during the pandemic, demanded payments that in some cases worked out to hourly rates of more than $300 for each nurse, or roughly six times what a nurse on staff at a hospital in Atlantic Canada typically earns. The company’s highest rates were more than double even those charged by its private-sector competitors. CHL nevertheless inked tens of millions of dollars in contracts with health authorities in Newfoundland, and later New Brunswick.
Shortly before she was to join her team in its defence of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts title this weekend, lead Briane Harris was ruled ineligible to compete.
Why? This is Canada. None of your business why.
NewsNation: Truckers boycott NYC after Trump’s $355M fraud ruling: Reports
A group of truckers, supporters of former President Donald Trump, are boycotting deliveries to New York City following the $355 million fine levied against him in a fraud case, according to a report by the New York Post.
The move, initiated by trucker Chicago Ray, gained traction after he posted a video on social media declaring that some truckers are refusing to transport goods to the city. In the video, Ray stated that numerous drivers he had spoken to were planning to halt deliveries to protest the ruling issued in Manhattan Supreme Court last Friday.
MacRumors: Gurman: Apple Vision Pro 2 at Least 18 Months Away
In the latest edition of his “Power On” newsletter, Gurman said that Apple is likely at least a year and a half away from the release of the second-generation Vision Pro headset, placing launch in late August 2025 at the earliest. Gurman noted that Apple is keenly interested in the reasons why customers who choose to return the first-generation Vision Pro headset do so, ultimately passing feedback from retail stores to the company’s headquarters to help perfect the next version of the device.
The tidbit effectively rules out the idea of the Vision Pro receiving annual updates like the iPhone or Apple Watch, suggesting that it is likely to follow a longer refresh cycle that could even surpass that of the iPad.
UPI: Historians rank Trump worst president in history, Lincoln the best
Trump has touted his poll numbers against President Joe Biden ahead of a potential rematch in November. However, the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey, conducted by Qualtrics, has Biden significantly ahead of the former president.
The survey was conducted online among more than 500 members of the American Political Science Association, an organization of professionals in the field. Respondents rated Biden at 62.66 on a scale of 100 for overall greatness, good for 14th out of 45 presidents.
Abraham Lincoln scored the highest rating at 93.87, followed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt at 90.83 and George Washington at 90.32.
Trump scored 10.92. Fifteenth President James Buchanan, the second-worst rated president, scored 16.71.
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Republicans and conservatives notably rank Trump worse than Biden, as well. Trump ranked 41st and 43rd by Republicans and conservatives, respectively. Meanwhile, Biden was ranked 30th by both.
NYT: For Michigan’s Economy, Electric Vehicles Are Promising and Scary
But autoworkers fixate on the assumption that electric cars — simpler machines than their gas-powered forebears — will require fewer hands to build. They accuse Mr. Biden of jeopardizing their livelihoods.
“I was disappointed,” Ms. Simmons said of the president. “We trust you to make sure that Americans are employed.”
Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers such as BYD are exporting electric cars in increasing volumes (primarily to Europe). Reportedly they’ve greatly increased the build quality and sophistication. That seems like a greater threat, even with duties.
NYT: Adelle Waldman: It’s Not Just Wages. Retailers Are Mistreating Workers in a More Insidious Way.
Many people choose to work part time for better work-life balance or to attend school or to care for children or other family members. But many don’t. In recent years, part-time work has become the default at many large chain employers, an involuntary status imposed on large numbers of their lowest-level employees. As of December, almost four and a half million American workers reported working part time but said they would prefer full-time jobs.
Guardian: US urges Israel to drop plans for Rafah ground offensive
The US has proposed a UN security council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire and for Israel not to go ahead with a planned offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza.
The draft text marks the first time the US has explicitly backed a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, though it adds that the temporary truce should be begun “as soon as practicable”, leaving some room for manoeuvre by the Israeli military.
The text is being offered by the Biden administration as an alternative to an Algerian draft resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that is due to be debated on Tuesday.
The US appeal over Rafah, where about half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population have sought refuge, echoes comments made by Joe Biden in recent days. But the significance of the draft resolution is as a signal that Washington is willing to go through the UN to put pressure on Israel and not rely solely on bilateral messages.
via pratik on micro.blog
Updated: 19.Feb.2024 19:36 EST