Union Pacific railroad's quarterly profit falls 19% as volumes slow and costs remain high
Union Pacific's third-quarter profit fell 19% as the railroad hauled about 3% fewer shipments and costs remained high, but the average speed of its trains improved 5% as new CEO Jim Vena began to tweak the operations.
Bosnia: Protest over draft law to recriminalize defamation
Dozens of journalists and rights activists have protested outside parliament in Bosniaโs Serb-run part as lawmakers debated whether to advance a contested law which critics say would restrict freedom of expression and silence critical media.
Germany sees calls for quick decisions on new government
Pressure is growing for a quick start to talks on Germanyโs next government as newly elected lawmakers hold their first meetings and tensions simmer in outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkelโs bloc, which declined to its worst-ever result in the country's election.
Uncertain start to post-Merkel era after close German vote
The party that narrowly beat outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkelโs bloc is pushing for a quick agreement on a coalition government, but Europeโs biggest economy could still be in for weeks of uncertainty after an election that failed to set a clear direction.
Locked out stagehands protest outside Metropolitan Opera
Locked out stagehands of the Metropolitan Opera protested the company amid a crowd of about 1,000 that rallied outside Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, criticizing the company for constructing sets for three of next seasonโs new productions at nonunion shops.
Flying the flag: UK govt tells ministries to wave Union Jack
FILE - In this file photo dated Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, a British Union flag flies atop the Houses of Parliament in London, on the morning after the U.K. fully left the European Union. The British government said Wednesday March 24, 2021, the national flag should be flown every day on all public buildings, the latest move in an increasing embrace of the Union flag. Flying the national flag is less common in the United Kingdom than in some other countries, such as the United States. The red, white and blue Union flag combines the emblems of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which make up the United Kingdom along with Wales. Under the new rules, any government building wishing to fly the European Union flag will need special permission.
Uber to give UK drivers minimum wage, pension, holiday pay
Uber is giving its U.K. drivers the minimum wage, pensions and holiday pay, following a recent court ruling that said they should be classified as workers and entitled to such benefits, the company announced Tuesday, March 16, 2021. And they said the company can't decide by itself the expense base for calculating the minimum wage, which should be based on a collective agreement. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)LONDON โ Uber is giving its U.K. drivers the minimum wage, pensions and holiday pay, following a recent court ruling that said they should be classified as workers and entitled to such benefits. The ride hailing giant's announcement Tuesday comes after it lost an appeal last month at the U.K. Supreme Court following a yearslong court battle. And they said the company can't decide by itself the expense base for calculating the minimum wage, which should be based on a collective agreement.
Judge says railroad talks should be included in lawsuits
FILE- In this July 31, 2018, file photo a Union Pacific train travels through Union, Neb. โ A federal judge has ruled that the details of conversations between the nation's four largest railroads should be included in lawsuits challenging billions of dollars of charges the railroads imposed in the past. The lawsuits say the railroads conspired to boost prices starting in 2003 by imposing coordinated fuel surcharges and pocketing billions of dollars in profits. In the lawsuits, the railroads have argued that their fuel surcharges were legal and were simply designed to recover the skyrocketing cost of fuel at the time. Union Pacific, which is based in Omaha, Nebraska, plans to continue โvigorously defending itself against the allegations in these lawsuits,โ spokeswoman Elizabeth Graham said.
Breakthrough: UK and EU reach post-Brexit trade agreement
It took more than three years of wrangling before Britain left the blocโs political structures last January. If Britain were to quit the EU with no agreement governing trade, the two sides would reinstate tariffs on each other's goods. Even with a trade deal, goods and people will no longer be able to move freely between the U.K. and its continental neighbors without border restrictions. โโAnd the difference that a trade deal makes is not going to be obvious to most people from that,โ he said. ___Follow all AP stories on the Brexit trade talks at https://apnews.com/Brexit
Philly claims Supporters' Shield on final day of MLS season
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)The path to the MLS Cup will go through Philadelphia after the Union wrapped up the Supportersโ Shield and top seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs on the final day of the MLS regular season on Sunday. The snowy victory for Kansas City was part of a wild final day in the Western Conference, with late goals in Los Angeles and Houston shuffling the playoff bracket. LAFC's reward is a trip to defending MLS Cup champion Seattle in a rematch of last year's Western Conference final won by the Sounders on the road. Only Philadelphia and Toronto had a chance to lay claim to the regular-season title entering the final day of the season. The Eastern Conference had a logjam at the bottom of the standings, and the final day ended with both expansion teams claiming playoff spots.
UK, EU inch toward more Brexit talks but hurdles remain
Britains foreign minister says there are only narrow differences remaining in trade talks between the U.K. and the European Union. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)LONDON โ Britain and the European Union edged toward resuming their troubled trade talks on Monday, after the bloc's chief negotiator said he was ready to โintensifyโ negotiations on the legal text of an agreement. Britain and the EU have been attempting to strike a new trade deal since the U.K. left the bloc on Jan. 31. He told British businesses to prepare for a no-deal economic break with the EU at the end of the year. The bill soured talks aimed at securing a new trade deal between Britain and the EU.
UK minister: Door 'still ajar' for post-Brexit talks with EU
Britains foreign minister says there are only narrow differences remaining in trade talks between the U.K. and the European Union. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)LONDON โ A senior British official said Sunday the door is โstill ajarโ for post-Brexit talks to continue with the European Union if officials in the bloc change their position on key points. Michael Gove's comments came after Prime Minister Boris Johnsonโs spokesman said Friday that the trade talks are โoverโ unless there is a โfundamentalโ change of position from the EU. With just weeks to go until the end-of-year deadline, Johnson said the U.K. needed to get ready for leaving the EU with no trade deal. โWeโre certainly not saying that if they do change their position we canโt talk to them,โ he told the BBC.
NFLPA asking teams to change all fields to natural grass
The NFL Players Association president cited the leagueโs official injury reports from 2012-2018 to state his case that natural grass fields provide a much lower risk for injuries, compared to artificial surfaces, during practices and games. โAnecdotally, I know how my body responds playing on turf versus grass,โ said Tretter, who graduated from Cornell University. Seventeen NFL teams play their home games on grass, while 15 franchises do so on artificial turf. In his new role, Tretter says lobbying for grass fields will be a key talking point in any labor negotiations with the league. โIf we know grass is significantly more safe than synthetic turf, itโs about continuing to push forward and making it a priority,โ Tretter said.
Gabrielle Union, NBC settle dispute over racism allegations
LOS ANGELES โ Gabrielle Union and NBC said Tuesday that they have settled their differences in their dispute over her firing as a judge on โAmerica's Got Talent,โ which she said was retaliation for her complaints that the show tolerated racism on the set. โWeโve reached an amicable resolution," Union and the network said in a joint statement. "NBC Entertainment appreciates the important concerns raised by Gabrielle Union and remains committed to ensuring an inclusive and supportive working environment where people of all backgrounds are treated with respect.โBoth sides declined further comment, and would not give further details. Variety reported soon after that Union, who is Black, believed she was fired because she had asked NBC and the showโs producers to respond to an environment that tolerated racist jokes and remarks from judges and producers. NBC said the investigation "found an overarching culture of diversity on the show.โ___Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton.
Fortunes of Berlin clubs changed by Bundesliga's virus break
Hertha BSC's Krzysztof Piatek celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha Berlin and Augsburg at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, May 30, 2020. (Hannibal Hanschke/pool photo via AP)BERLIN The Bundesligas coronavirus-induced break has changed the fortunes of the Berlin clubs. The German soccer leagues unprecedented two-month suspension came at the right time for Hertha Berlin and the wrong time for city rival Union Berlin. The former Stuttgart and Hamburger SV coach is coaching his eighth Bundesliga team. When you see our remaining games, you can see how important these (10) points were, Labbadia said.