BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (BN24) — A friendly soccer match between Argentina and Puerto Rico, originally scheduled for next week in Chicago, has been moved to Florida due to rising immigration tensions and low ticket sales in the city.
The match, which was set for Oct. 13 at Soldier Field, will now be played at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, home to Inter Miami and Argentina star Lionel Messi.
Luca Serra, a spokesperson for the Chicago Park District, confirmed the change to The Associated Press on Wednesday, stating that the match will not be held in Chicago.
“Yes, confirming that the Argentina against Puerto Rico match has been canceled in Chicago,” Serra said. “The promoter made the decision this morning due to low ticket sales.”
Although the event promoter has not released an official statement, an executive with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) told the AP that the ongoing immigration crackdown influenced the decision in Chicago. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, cited the deployment of National Guard troops ordered by President Donald Trump as part of a broader agenda to increase deportations.
Protests have erupted in recent weeks in Chicago following a federal immigration sweep that has led to the arrest of more than 1,000 individuals. The Trump administration has doubled down on immigration enforcement, escalating tensions in cities like Chicago, where local opposition has been vocal.
The match is part of Argentina’s preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19. Messi, who remains a key figure in Argentina’s squad, has been called up for both upcoming friendlies.
Argentina will still face Venezuela on Friday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, another high-profile fixture in the team’s World Cup warm-up schedule.
MACAU (BN24) — The NBA will return to China this week for the first time since a diplomatic firestorm in 2019 strained ties between the league and Chinese authorities, as the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns prepare to face off in two preseason games in Macau.
The fixtures, scheduled for Friday and Sunday, will be held at an arena within the Venetian resort marking the league’s first games in Macau since 2007. The games are also the first NBA-sanctioned events on Chinese soil since a 2019 controversy involving a tweet supporting Hong Kong pro-democracy protests by then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey.
That single post, “Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong,” ignited a backlash from Chinese officials and fans, prompting broadcasters and streaming services in China to pull NBA games and freeze business relations. While Morey later clarified his stance and the NBA called the reaction “regrettable,” Beijing’s response sent shockwaves through the sports world and placed the NBA at the center of global political tension.
The NBA refused to discipline Morey, a decision that further angered Chinese authorities but won praise in some quarters for defending freedom of expression. China’s state broadcaster CCTV suspended NBA broadcasts, and NBA China operations were reportedly disrupted.
Now, six years later, the league is cautiously returning to the Chinese market, which remains a cornerstone of its international business. The renewed engagement comes after the NBA signed a multi-year partnership with Chinese tech giant Alibaba in late 2023. Notably, the Brooklyn Nets are owned by Alibaba chairman Joseph Tsai, a key figure in rebuilding ties between the NBA and Chinese stakeholders.
Speaking to AFP, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said there remains “tremendous interest in the NBA throughout China.” According to 2019 estimates from the league, more than 300 million people play basketball in China, a popularity surge that began during the playing days of Chinese icon Yao Ming, who was drafted by the Houston Rockets in 2002.
An ESPN analysis in 2022 valued NBA China, the league’s business arm in the country, at around $5 billion. The league’s return comes amid a broader thaw in sports diplomacy, even as geopolitical tensions persist between Washington and Beijing over trade, human rights, and tech regulation.
The friendly games also offer the NBA a chance to re-engage with its massive Chinese fanbase. Local supporters have welcomed the return. Lyu Yizhe, a fan from Xiamen who traveled to Macau, told Reuters: “It feels extra special because we’re long-time NBA fans — we’ve been watching since 1998, back in the Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls era.”
Another fan, Mole Zeng from Hangzhou, added: “I believe that in the future, as the NBA continues to grow in China, more and more star players will come here to meet us in person.”
Though the NBA has not held regular-season games in China since the controversy, preseason events like this are being seen as a cautious step toward normalization and a strategic move to reconnect with one of the league’s most valuable international markets.
JERUSALEM (BN24) — Israel’s Cabinet ratified a ceasefire agreement with Hamas early Friday morning, clearing the way to suspend hostilities in Gaza within twenty-four hours and free Israeli hostages held in the Palestinian enclave within seventy-two hours after that, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
The Israeli government approved the deal roughly twenty-four hours after mediators announced an agreement to exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners in the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the two-year war in Gaza.
“The government has just now approved the framework for the release of all of the hostages – the living and the deceased,” Netanyahu’s English-language X account stated.
The agreement represents the most significant step yet toward ending a conflict that has killed over sixty-seven thousand Palestinians and tested the U.S.-Israeli relationship, with Trump appearing to lose patience with Netanyahu and pressuring him to reach a deal. The war has deepened Israel’s international isolation and evolved into a regional conflict drawing in Iran, Yemen and Lebanon.
An Israeli government spokesperson said the ceasefire would take effect within twenty-four hours of government approval. After that period, hostages held in Gaza would be freed within seventy-two hours.
Twenty Israeli hostages are believed to remain alive in Gaza, while twenty-six are presumed dead and the fate of two remains unknown. Hamas has indicated that recovering the bodies of deceased hostages may take longer than releasing those who are alive.
Under the terms of the deal, fighting will cease, Israel will partially withdraw from Gaza and Hamas will free all remaining hostages in exchange for hundreds of prisoners held by Israel. Fleets of trucks carrying food and medical aid would be allowed into Gaza to relieve civilians, hundreds of thousands of whom have been sheltering in tents after Israeli forces destroyed their homes and leveled entire cities.
Hamas exiled Gaza chief Khalil Al-Hayya said he had received guarantees from the United States and other mediators that the war was over.
The accord, if fully implemented, would bring the two sides closer than any previous effort to halt the war. However, significant hurdles remain. A Palestinian source said the list of Palestinians to be released was not finalized even after the deal was signed. The group is seeking freedom for some of the most prominent Palestinian convicts held in Israeli jails, as well as hundreds of people detained during Israel’s assault.
Further steps in Trump’s twenty-point plan have yet to be discussed, including how the shattered Gaza Strip is to be governed when fighting ends and the ultimate fate of Hamas, which has rejected Israel’s demands that it disarm.
Netanyahu faces skepticism from within his governing coalition. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he would vote to bring down the government if Hamas is not dismantled and would vote against the deal. Far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition have long opposed any agreement with Hamas. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Hamas must be destroyed once the hostages are returned.
Despite political opposition, the announcement was greeted with jubilation by Israelis and Palestinians alike.
“Thank God for the ceasefire, the end of bloodshed and killing,” said Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. “All of the Gaza Strip is happy, all the Arab people, all of the world is happy with the ceasefire and the end of bloodshed.”
Einav Zaugauker, whose son Matan is among the last hostages, rejoiced in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, where families of those seized in the Hamas attack that triggered the war have long assembled.
“I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, I can’t explain what I’m feeling … it’s crazy,” she said, speaking in the red glow of a celebratory flare.
In Gaza, Israeli attacks continued before the official start of the ceasefire, though there were far fewer fatalities than the scores killed daily in recent weeks. Local health authorities reported seven dead in two separate Israeli strikes.
Signs emerged of Israeli troops preparing to withdraw. An eyewitness near Nusseirat camp in central Gaza told Reuters that he had seen the Israeli army demolish an abandoned troop position and lower a crane used for surveillance. Near the Netzarim corridor, the main staging area for Israeli troops in central Gaza, the army fired dozens of smoke grenades, typically used to provide cover for troops on the move.
Trump said he would travel to the region Sunday to possibly attend a signing ceremony in Egypt. Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana invited him to address the legislative body, which would be the first such speech by a U.S. president since two thousand eight. Trump said he hoped the deal would lead to “an everlasting peace” in the region.
The deal received support from Arab and Western countries and was widely portrayed as a major diplomatic achievement for Trump, who cast it as a first step toward reconciliation in the wider Middle East. His special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem and entered the Israeli government cabinet meeting called to ratify the deal.
Successful completion of the agreement would mark a significant accomplishment for the Republican president, who has struggled to quickly deliver on promises to bring peace to the Gaza conflict and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Western and Arab countries met in Paris to discuss an international peacekeeping force and reconstruction assistance for Gaza once the fighting stops.
More than sixty-seven thousand Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza, launched after Hamas-led militants stormed through Israeli towns and a music festival on October 7, 2023, killing twelve hundred people and capturing two hundred fifty-one hostages.
While many questions remain about implementation, the sides appear closer than they have been in several months to ending a war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, destroyed most of Gaza and ignited other armed conflicts across the Middle East.
NEW YORK (BN24) — A federal judge on Thursday dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group, ruling that the explosive lyrics in Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping diss track “Not Like Us” were protected opinion and not actionable statements of fact.
U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas issued the written opinion, which opened by citing “the vitriolic war of words” that erupted in spring 2024 between Drake and Lamar. She described the legal dispute as stemming “from perhaps the most infamous rap battle in the genre’s history,” as the feud spilled from studios to courtrooms.
Drake filed the lawsuit in January, accusing UMG of intentionally publishing and promoting “Not Like Us” despite its references implying he was a pedophile. He alleged the track defamed him, encouraged vigilante behavior, damaged his reputation, and diminished the value of his brand. The cover art featured an aerial photo of his Toronto mansion, which he claims inspired attempted break-ins and a shooting at the property.
Judge Vargas rejected those claims, ruling that a reasonable listener would not view Lamar’s lyrics as stating objective facts. “Although the accusation that Plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that ‘Not Like Us’ imparts verifiable facts about Plaintiff,” Vargas wrote.
She noted that the song’s biting lyrics were part of an escalating artistic feud that dominated music headlines in 2024. Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” which became one of the year’s biggest songs, attacked Drake as “a colonizer” of rap culture, accused him of liking “’em young,” and mocked his authenticity on Lamar’s West Coast home turf. Drake fired back earlier with “Push Ups,” a track mocking Lamar’s height, shoe size, and achievements. Lamar retaliated in “Euphoria,” leading to a rapid escalation Vargas described as “vicious” and “personal.”
“Not Like Us” achieved historic cultural impact, winning record and song of the year at the Grammys, topping Apple Music’s global streaming charts, and helping make the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show the most watched in history. Vargas wrote that the track “dealt the metaphorical killing blow” in the Drake–Lamar feud, combining incendiary lyrics with a “catchy beat and propulsive bassline.”
Universal Music Group, which represents both artists, denied wrongdoing and celebrated the ruling. “From the outset, this suit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day,” UMG said in a statement. “We’re pleased with the court’s dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully promoting Drake’s music and investing in his career.”
Lamar was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Representatives for Drake did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In her conclusion, Judge Vargas emphasized that the insults in “Not Like Us” were “replete with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language,” all of which are markers of opinion. She ruled that the average listener would not interpret the track as conveying “factchecked verifiable content,” effectively ending Drake’s legal challenge.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — A federal grand jury in Virginia has indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James on one count of bank fraud, escalating a bitter legal and political feud with President Donald Trump. The indictment, confirmed Thursday by three people familiar with the case, marks a dramatic turn for James, a Democrat who pursued high-profile civil fraud charges against Trump in New York before he returned to the presidency.
The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker, a Biden appointee. According to federal officials, the bank fraud charge is tied to allegations that James made false statements on mortgage loan applications. Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte referred the matter to the Justice Department after raising concerns about alleged misrepresentations in James’ mortgage filings.
The investigation had stalled in recent months as federal agents and prosecutors questioned whether the evidence could secure a conviction. That changed after Trump appointed one of his personal attorneys, Lindsey Halligan, to serve as acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia despite her lack of prosecutorial experience. Halligan took the rare step of personally presenting the case to a grand jury, convincing a majority to indict James on the single count.
James’ indictment follows months of intensifying efforts by Trump to pursue legal action against his political rivals. Trump has repeatedly used public platforms, including Truth Social, to call for criminal charges against opponents such as James, former FBI Director James Comey, and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. “We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility,” Trump wrote on Truth Social before Comey’s recent indictment. “They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
The Justice Manual, which guides federal prosecutors, advises that charges should proceed only if there is sufficient admissible evidence to secure a conviction at trial. However, the threshold for securing a grand jury indictment is significantly lower than for a jury conviction. Former U.S. Attorney Carol Lam noted that in Comey’s case, 14 of 23 grand jurors voted for indictment. “As a prosecutor, if even one or two grand jurors express concern and don’t vote for indictment, that’s troubling,” Lam said Thursday on NBC News NOW.
James’ indictment triggered swift condemnation from Democrats, who accused the Trump administration of using the Justice Department as a political weapon. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote on X that Americans were witnessing “nothing less than the weaponization of the Justice Department to punish those who hold the powerful accountable.”
James, who has not yet entered a plea, has clashed with Trump for years, most notably leading the civil fraud case that found him liable for inflating property values and misrepresenting assets. That legal battle ended with a major judgment against Trump shortly before his return to the White House.
The full text of the indictment has not been made public. James is expected to make her initial court appearance in the Eastern District of Virginia in the coming days.
ROME (BN24) — Giacomo Tortu, brother of Olympic gold medalist Filippo Tortu, has been suspended for three years by Italy’s athletics governing body for spying on sprint star and two-time Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs.
The Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL) announced Thursday that Giacomo Tortu had received two separate suspensions totaling 36 months, stemming from an attempt to access Jacobs’s private information via a private investigation agency. According to Italian media, the goal was to uncover potential evidence of doping by Jacobs.
Tortu, a former athlete and now president of the Milan Raptors athletics club, was initially given a 30-month suspension for violating principles enshrined in the federation’s code of conduct. FIDAL cited breaches of loyalty, integrity, fairness in sport, and respect for federal regulations.
An additional six-month ban was imposed for acting with the intention of committing or concealing another offense, or for attempting to obtain personal or competitive advantage.
FIDAL emphasized that Filippo Tortu — a key member of Italy’s historic 4×100-meter relay team that won Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021 — was not involved in the incident and had no knowledge of his brother’s actions.
Jacobs made headlines at the Tokyo Olympics by winning the men’s 100-meter final in 9.80 seconds, a stunning victory that marked Italy’s first-ever title in the event. Just days later, he teamed up with Filippo Tortu and teammates to secure gold in the relay, narrowly edging Great Britain.
Jacobs has since remained a central figure in European sprinting, winning 100-meter titles at the European Championships in both 2022 and 2024. Despite battling injuries, he reached the final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, placing fifth, and finished fourth with the relay team.
At the 2023 World Championships, Jacobs and Filippo Tortu claimed silver in the 4×100-meter relay. However, his recent form dipped, with Jacobs failing to progress past the semifinals at the 2025 World Championships held in Tokyo.
The scandal surrounding Giacomo Tortu underscores the pressure and scrutiny surrounding elite athletes in the wake of Olympic success. Neither Jacobs nor his representatives have publicly commented on the attempted data breach.
Indian police have arrested the 75-year-old owner of a pharmaceutical company after a toxic cough syrup produced by his firm was linked to the deaths of 17 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
G. Ranganathan, the owner of Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, was taken into custody early Thursday from his apartment in the Kodambakkam neighborhood of Chennai. His arrest follows the deaths of multiple children in Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, who had consumed Coldrif, a locally distributed cough syrup brand manufactured by his company.
A seven-member team from Madhya Pradesh Police, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Jitendra Jaat, carried out the arrest within the Ashok Nagar police station limits. Officers said Ranganathan was taken into custody at around 12:30 a.m. and later transported to Kancheepuram district, where his company operates.
The case has prompted a wider investigation into the production and distribution of substandard medicines. Health authorities in Madhya Pradesh and other states ordered the immediate suspension of sales and distribution of Coldrif syrup after it was allegedly found to contain a poisonous chemical.
Laboratory tests from the Government Analyst at the Drug Testing Laboratory in Chennai confirmed that the Coldrif syrup contained 48.6 percent by volume of diethylene glycol, a toxic industrial solvent. The report declared the product “Not of Standard Quality,” stating it was “found to be adulterated” and contained a substance that could render the syrup injurious to health.
Authorities are investigating how the contamination occurred and whether safety protocols were bypassed during the manufacturing process. The arrest marks a significant development in a growing pharmaceutical safety scandal that has raised alarm across multiple Indian states.
The Nobel Prize in Literature will be announced Thursday, adding a new name to a distinguished list of past winners that includes literary giants Ernest Hemingway, Toni Morrison and Kazuo Ishiguro. The recipient will join a tradition that has honored authors from around the world for more than a century.
The Swedish Academy’s Nobel committee has awarded the literature prize 117 times to 121 laureates since its inception. Last year’s award went to South Korean author Han Kang, honored for a body of work that the committee said “confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.”
This year’s literature prize is the fourth Nobel to be revealed in 2025, following announcements in medicine, physics and chemistry earlier in the week. The Nobel Peace Prize winner will be named Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump is considered a long shot for the award despite his recent remarks at the United Nations claiming “everyone says that I should get the Nobel Peace Prize.”
The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences will be the final award of the season, set to be announced on Monday.
Nobel Prizes are traditionally awarded on Dec. 10 — the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896. Nobel, a Swedish industrialist and the inventor of dynamite, created the prizes to recognize groundbreaking contributions in various fields.
Each Nobel Prize carries a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor (nearly $1.2 million), along with an 18-carat gold medal and a diploma presented during the formal ceremonies in Stockholm and Oslo.
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (BN24) — Youth-led protesters in Madagascar on Wednesday rejected an offer of national dialogue from President Andry Rajoelina, denouncing the government’s approach as violent and insincere. The protesters, who have been demonstrating for over two weeks, announced plans for a nationwide strike, escalating a political confrontation that has already claimed dozens of lives and exposed deep-rooted public anger over corruption, poverty, and state repression.
In a statement posted to their official Facebook page, organisers of the movement described the president’s invitation to hold talks with religious leaders, students, and youth representatives as “a mockery of dialogue.” The statement accused the Rajoelina administration of using brutal force to silence dissent and violating the rights of young people who have taken to the streets demanding change.
“We refuse the president’s invitation to talks,” the protest leaders declared. “We will not engage in dialogue with a regime that represses, assaults, and humiliates its youth in the streets.”
The rejection came shortly after the expiration of a 48-hour ultimatum issued by protesters, during which they demanded urgent action from the government. Having received no satisfactory response, organisers have now called for a general strike, urging workers, students, and civil society groups across the country to mobilise.
The Union of Junior Doctors in Madagascar joined the protest movement on Wednesday, condemning what it called a “violent and disproportionate” police response to student-led demonstrations the day before. Medical personnel criticised the state’s handling of the protests and expressed solidarity with demonstrators, further widening the scope of opposition to the government.
Since protests erupted on September 25, the situation has rapidly deteriorated. According to figures released by the United Nations last week, at least 22 people have been killed and over 100 injured in clashes between security forces and demonstrators. The violence has drawn concern from international observers, though the government has defended its actions as necessary to maintain public order.
Initially ignited by widespread frustration over chronic shortages of water and electricity, the protests have evolved into a broader movement targeting the root causes of economic hardship and systemic corruption. Many protesters — most of them from Generation Z — now demand the resignation of President Rajoelina, accusing his administration of enriching a political elite while ignoring the worsening conditions faced by ordinary Malagasy citizens.
President Rajoelina, who returned to power in 2019 after previously leading the country from 2009 to 2014, has made several attempts in recent weeks to ease the growing unrest. In a dramatic political move, he dismissed his entire cabinet and appointed a new prime minister with a military background. However, critics see these steps as cosmetic and insufficient to address the demands of a population losing faith in traditional political institutions.
Despite mounting pressure from the streets, the president has not indicated any intention to step down. His office maintains that the offer of dialogue remains open and has urged protesters to come to the table to avoid further violence and instability.
But protesters remain defiant. Many say they will continue demonstrating until there is meaningful political change and accountability for the deaths and injuries suffered during the crackdown.
With the announcement of a nationwide strike and expanding support from professional groups, Madagascar now faces the prospect of prolonged disruption. The movement, fueled by youthful energy and a refusal to back down in the face of repression, has become the most serious challenge to Rajoelina’s leadership since his return to power.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (BN24) — The World Bank has sounded the alarm over the growing prevalence of informal and low-productivity jobs across East Asia and the Pacific, cautioning that the shift away from stable employment could erode the region’s economic resilience and threaten long-term development.
The warning came during the release of the October 2025 East Asia and Pacific Economic Update, led by Aaditya Mattoo, the World Bank’s Chief Economist for the region. At the centre of the briefing was a stark message: millions of workers are increasingly employed in insecure, low-wage positions, many within the informal service and gig economy sectors, with few social protections and limited prospects for upward mobility.
“Many people are leaving low-productivity farming, not for high-productivity industries, but for low-productivity service jobs,” Mattoo said during the October 8 press event. This trend, he warned, risks reversing decades of economic progress and expanding inequality across the region.
The report noted a major shift in employment patterns over the past decade, particularly in countries like Indonesia, where the informal labour sector has continued to expand despite the country’s economic recovery from the pandemic. Traditionally, economic development in the region has been supported by migration from low-productivity agriculture to higher-productivity sectors like manufacturing. But the latest data suggests that this structural transformation is stagnating.
In Indonesia, data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) illustrates the extent of the challenge. As of February 2025, 86.56 million Indonesians, 59.4% of the total labour force, were working in informal jobs, while formal employment stood at 59.19 million or 40.6%. This marks a rise of 0.23 percentage points in informal employment compared to the same period in 2024, mirroring a simultaneous decline in formal job numbers.
The World Bank’s report highlights that this rising informality undermines productivity, wage growth, and job security, leaving millions of workers without adequate health coverage, retirement plans, or legal protections. Mattoo emphasised that without structural reforms, the situation may deteriorate further: “A large share of people in this region work in informal or low-productivity jobs. The population at risk of falling into poverty now exceeds the size of the middle class in most countries.”
In Indonesia, economists and labour experts have raised concerns about persistent structural weaknesses in the labour market, including limited access to quality employment, over-reliance on low-skill service jobs, weak industrial diversification, and insufficient safety nets. Analysts say the growing number of informal workers is both a symptom and a driver of deeper inequality and stagnating wage growth.
The World Bank urged governments across East Asia to prioritise job creation in high-productivity sectors, invest in workforce training programs, and strengthen formal employment systems to counteract the rise of precarious work. Failing to do so, it warned, could put the region’s growing middle class at risk of sliding back into poverty, eroding the gains of the last two decades.
As East Asian economies look to maintain momentum in an increasingly uncertain global environment, the quality of employment, not just its quantity, is becoming a defining issue for policymakers, businesses, and communities alike.
