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Group of 20 countries agree to increase clean energy but reach no deal on phasing out fossil fuels

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — Group of 20 leaders agreed Saturday to triple renewable energy and try to increase the funds for climate change-related disasters but maintained the status quo with regards to phasing out carbon spewing coal. At a news conference shortly after the G20 leaders — whose countries also emit 80% of all planet-warming gases — announced the agreement, Amitabh Kant, a senior Indian government official leading some of the G20 negotiations, called it “probably the most vibrant, dynamic and ambitious document on climate action.”While most climate and energy experts were not as ebullient, they agreed that the G20 leaders had put out a strong message on climate action, even as the world is seeing increasingly frequent natural disasters such as extreme heat.Even at the last meeting of the G20 climate ministers before the summit, disagreements had remained. Global leaders and climate experts say the declaration had largely taken the conversation forward, setting the stage fo...

Poland’s political parties reveal campaign programs before the Oct 15 general election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s conservative governing party and the opposition showered potential voters with promises on Saturday as the country’s political parties revealed their campaign programs before the Oct. 15 parliamentary election. The nationalist ruling Law and Justice party, which took power in 2015, wants to win an unprecedented third term. The government’s tenure, however, has been marred with bitter clashes with the European Union over the government’s rule of law record and democratic backsliding. At a party convention, leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is Poland’s most powerful politician, made promises of new spending on social and military causes for the nation living in the shadow of Russia’s full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The government has already largely increased the state budget deficit with spending on benefits for large families and retirees, its own voter base as well as on purchasing armament.The main opposition Ci...

UN atomic watchdog warns of threat to nuclear safety as fighting spikes near a plant in Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The United Nations atomic watchdog warned of a potential threat to nuclear safety from a spike in fighting near Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine, whose forces continued pressing their counteroffensive on Saturday.The International Atomic Energy Agency said its experts deployed at the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant reported hearing numerous explosions over the past week, in a possible indication of increased military activity in the region. There was no damage to the plant.“I remain deeply concerned about the possible dangers facing the plant at this time of heightened military tension in the region,” IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi warned in a statement issued late Friday. He noted that the IAEA team was informed that staff at the nuclear power plant had been reduced temporarily to minimum levels due to concerns of more military activity in the area.“Whatever happens in a conflict zone, wherever it may be, everybody w...

Prominent activist’s son convicted of storming Capitol and invading Senate floor in Jan. 6 riot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

The son of a prominent conservative activist has been convicted of charges that he stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, bashed in a window, chased a police officer, invaded the Senate floor and helped a mob disrupt the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential election victory.Leo Brent Bozell IV, 44, of Palmyra, Pennsylvania, was found guilty Friday of 10 charges, including five felony offenses, after a trial decided by a federal judge, according to the Justice Department.Bozell’s father is Brent Bozell III, who founded the Media Research Center, Parents Television Council and other conservative media organizations.U.S. District Judge John Bates heard testimony without a jury before convicting Bozell of charges including obstructing the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress convened to certify the Electoral College vote that Biden won over then-President Donald Trump, a Republican.Bozell was “a major contributor to the chaos, the destruction, and the obstruction at t...

Police seeking suspect in assault in Dundas Street West and Augusta Avenue area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

Toronto police are seeking the public’s help locating a man wanted in an assault investigation.On July 6, police responded to reports at approximately 3:32 a.m. for an assault in the Dundas Street West and Augusta Avenue area.A man allegedly got into an altercation with a woman, and the man threatened a woman with a knife, pinned her down and started hitting her in the face.When the woman tried to fight back, he allegedly grabbed her neck and began choking her.The man has been identified as Mason Groskopf, 34, of no fixed address. A warrant for his arrest has been issued.Groskopf is described as having a slim build, short red hair and possibly a short beard.

Residents and authorities in Somalia say airstrike caused several casualties including children

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — An airstrike in a town in Somalia caused several casualties, including children, residents and authorities said, while three members of an al-Qaida-linked extremist group were killed.The U.S. military in a statement Friday said “unfortunately, civilians were injured and killed” in the vicinity of a military operation by Somali forces in El-Lahelay village on Wednesday.The U.S. said it evacuated injured civilians at the Somali government’s request but but that American forces had not conducted airstrikes or been at the scene of the operation.The U.S. Africa Command did not respond to questions including the number of civilians killed and injured. The U.S. for years has conducted airstrikes in support of Somali forces combating the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab group.“The claim being spread by al-Shabab that U.S. forces caused the unfortunate harm to civilians is false,” the statement said. The U.S. in the past has acknowledged killing civilians with airstrikes.A...

Can spicy foods kill you?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — A teenager in Massachusetts died suddenly last week after allegedly eating an extremely spicy tortilla chip — and his family is convinced the chip contributed to his death.Harris Wolobah, 14, had reportedly eaten the chip — which is sold individually and comes in a box shaped like a coffin — during the school day on Sept. 1, according to his mother. After becoming ill with a stomach ache, he was sent to the school nurse’s office, and then home, where he began to feel better, she told Boston’s WBTS.That afternoon, however, Wolobah lost consciousness. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital shortly afterward.Paqui, the company that makes the chip, has since decided to pull the product from store shelves. But the brand noted in an online statement that its spiciest chip — marketed as a "One Chip Challenge" for daring consumers — is not intended for children or people with sensitivities to spicy foods.“The Paqui One Chip Challenge is intended for adults only, with clear ...

PHOTOS: Brookfield Zoo animals rep Chicago Bears ahead of first game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

CHICAGO -- Brookfield Zoo animals are reppin' the Chicago Bears sprit. 28-year-old brown bear, AxhiAxhi, a 28-year-old d brown bear, Carolyn, one of the sealions and Nigerian swarf goats showed up for their home team. Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Home where Marilyn Monroe lived, died, has been saved from demolition — for now

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

(KTLA) – A home in Los Angeles once occupied by Marilyn Monroe has temporarily been saved from demolition after the city council passed a motion Friday to designate it a historic site. The motion, introduced by Councilwoman Traci Park, recommends that the city's Cultural Heritage Commission or the director of planning review the 2,900-square-foot Spanish colonial-style home, located in Brentwood, to determine if can be listed among the city’s historic cultural monuments.Monroe purchased the estate in 1962 for $77,500, according to Architectural Digest. Her body was discovered in the home in August of that year following a fatal overdose. Ted Cruz gets fooled by fake photo of shark swimming on LA freeway “It is imperative that the City’s historic-cultural treasures be celebrated, and foremost, that its historical sites be preserved for future generations," reads the motion introduced by Councilwoman Park. "As such, the historic-cultural merits of this property need to be assessed."...

Fall arts guide: 20 family-friendly festivals and fun to add creativity to your season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

Make room on your calendars, because there’s plenty to fill up the weekends this fall. From free art festivals and street food fairs to all-ages Halloween haunts — it’s all happening.Here’s a selection of fun stuff worth checking out over the next few months.Now through Oct. 1 — Minnesota Renaissance Festival, Shakopee: One of the nation’s largest, the Minnesota Renaissance Festival takes us back to 16th century Europe — entertainment, artists, characters, jousting. It’s a good time. Fridays through Sundays till Oct. 1; adult tickets are $26.95, kids are $17.95 and seniors are $24.95. Specific dates at renaissancefest.com/tickets.html.Now through Oct. 8 — Take Me To The River, St. Croix Valley: Check out the annual art crawl and open studios throughout the valley on Saturdays and Sundays. Find specific dates and locations online at takemetotheriver.info.Muralist Jordan Hamilton painting at Urban Growler Brewing Company, 2325 Endicott St., St. Paul, during the Chroma Zone 2021 kickof...