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What, no nuclear? Vestager promotes hydrogen in race to head EU’s bank

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:21 GMT

Top EU official Margrethe Vestager name-checked wind, solar and hydrogen as forms of renewable energy that should get funding from the European Investment Bank, which she hopes to lead after stepping down from her role as Europe’s top antitrust enforcer.But the Danish politician made no mention of nuclear energy in an interview with the Center for Global Development, being published on Tuesday — and seen by POLITICO prior to publication — an omission that’s likely to be noted in Paris where officials are leaning toward backing a rival candidate for the EIB job. Asked what kind of energy forms a future EIB chief should support, Vestager — who is on unpaid leave from the Commission while she campaigns for the EIB job — told the Washington-based non-profit: “We have all the known technologies of solar, wind and water. We have the emergent technologies of hydrogen, a new kind of battery, wave energy — and we need to figure out how to combine [these forms of energy...

Chicago Cubs rally for 5-4 win over the Colorado Rockies behind Yan Gomes’ two-run single in ninth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:21 GMT

Yan Gomes’ singular focus centered on hitting the ball in the air.A double steal by Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ put runners on second and third for Gomes in the top of the ninth inning Monday night at Coors Field with the Chicago Cubs trying to erase the Colorado Rockies’ one-run lead.Gomes saw three straight low sliders from the Rockies’ newly appointed closer Tyler Kinley before smacking a high fastball into center field for the go-ahead two-run single. The Cubs survived an adventurous outing in the bottom of the ninth from Michael Fulmer, who recovered from a one-out walk and hit batter to strike out the next two batters to secure the 5-4 victory.“You try to simplify it as much as you can,” Gomes said. “I thought I took a good swing at the (1-1) slider, realized I was on it and then after that you’re just trying to not do too much, just try to put the ball into the outfield and at least score one.”Nick Madrigal’s RBI single in...

Point Loma middle school parents continue to raise concerns over safety on campus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:21 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Parents at a Point Loma middle school are fighting for a safe environment for their kids after they feel allegations of a gun threat and sexual harassment were not taken seriously. Correia Middle School and San Diego Unified School District leaders held a meeting to communicate with those concerned parents Monday evening. Local news outlets including FOX 5 were told it was a private meeting and were not allowed inside. Parents who exited the meeting later in the evening like Jenny Palmiotto told FOX 5 how they felt it went. “I feel like they did a lot to make us feel worse. I have less hope in this particular culture of this school,” Palmiotto said. The signs hanging outside the Correia Middle School auditorium said “let’s commit to a safe school” and “a safe learning environment,” but dozens of parents said they did not feel confident after attending the meeting. “A lot of kind of contradicting information that left me feeling frustrated and like I don’t know...

In Iran, snap checkpoints and university purges mark the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini protests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:21 GMT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Snap checkpoints. Internet disruptions. University purges. Iran’s theocracy is trying hard to both ignore the upcoming anniversary of nationwide protests over the country’s mandatory headscarf law and tamp down on any possibility of more unrest.Yet the Sept. 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini still reverberates across Iran. Some women are choosing to go without the headscarf, or hijab, despite an increasing crackdown by authorities. Graffiti, likely against Iran’s government, is rapidly painted over in black by Tehran’s municipal workers. University professors have been fired over their apparent support for demonstrators. International pressure remains high on Iran, even as the administration tries to deescalate tensions with other nations in the region and the West after years of confrontation. “The weaponization of ‘public morals’ to deny women and girls their freedom of expression is deeply disempowering and will entrench and expand ge...

How an extramarital affair factors into Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:21 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — How much does an extramarital affair matter to whether Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton keeps his job? An answer may arrive soon.The question hangs over the Republican’s impeachment trial that resumes Tuesday and is approaching the final stretch of testimony before a jury of state senators decides whether Paxton should be removed from office on charges of corruption and bribery. Most of the senators are Republicans and one is his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, although she will not have a vote in the verdict. But she has attended the entire trial so far, including Monday, when she sat in the Senate chamber as one of her husband’s former employees gave an account of the affair in the most public detail to date: How the relationship took a toll on staffers, how she urged Paxton to consider the risks and how she asked him to tell his wife about the woman.“Just because somebody has an affair doesn’t mean they’re a — quote — ‘criminal’ does ...

Malaysia’s Appeals Court upholds Najib’s acquittal in one of his 1MDB trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:21 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s Court of Appeal on Tuesday upheld the acquittal of former Prime Minister Najib Razak of audit tampering in relation to the multibillion dollar looting of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad state fund, though he remains in prison for other graft charges.The court struck out the appeal after prosecutors failed to meet deadlines in filing documents to support their bid, Najib’s lawyer Mohamed Shafee Abdullah told a news conference. Najib, 70, was acquitted in March after the High Court ruled prosecutors failed to show that he abused his position to order amendments to a 1MDB audit report in 2016 to coverup wrongdoings before it was presented in Parliament.“The acquittal is upheld without any further process,” Shafee said, adding that prosecutors are unlikely to appeal to the top court.The audit tampering is one of Najib’s several corruption trials. He is currently serving a 12-year jail term after losing his final appeal last year in his first of sev...

Shaker ignites in second half to fend off upset-minded Averill Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:21 GMT

LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- It was a tale of two halves between the Averill Park and Shaker football teams Saturday morning in Latham. After the two sides combined to score nine points through the first two quarters, they erupted for 37 over the final 24 minutes of game action. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! The Blue Bison finished strong, though, in their home opener, scoring 18 unanswered points to close the game and fend off the upset-minded Warriors, winning 30-16.A defensive battle broke out in the opening frame; the score remained 0-0 at the conclusion of the quarter, but Shaker was set up with favorable field position to start the second stanza after a fumble recovery by Rhys Lewis deep in A-P territory.Blue Bison quarterback Marcus Snipes turned that into six points, connecting with Matt Bennett on a fourth down and long situation for a 15-yard TD strike. Bennett managed to just get his foot down in the back of the end zone for an acro...

Foreign Minister Tajani: 'Italy wants to be key partner for Kazakhstan'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:21 GMT

Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani (pictured) paid an official visit to Kazakhstan on 5 September. In an interview with The Astana Times, Minister Tajani spoke about co-operation between Kazakhstan and Italy, as well as some of the key partnership projects. Minister Tajani, welcome to Astana. Your visit to Kazakhstan is eagerly awaited. Could you please share some thoughts on its main goals? I have been looking forward to visiting your beautiful country for so long. Since its independence in 1991, Kazakhstan has always been a key partner for Italy in the region. This visit is to confirm the Italian government’s attention to Central Asia and to Kazakhstan in particular. It is to confirm our friendship, the quality of our relations, and also to reaffirm that we want to strengthen our political, economic and cultural co-operation. Bilateral as well as multilateral cooperation between countries is crucial for global...

Brazen thief breaks-into Beverly Grove home while family slept inside

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:21 GMT

A Beverly Grove family is concerned for their safety after home surveillance cameras captured a brazen burglar who broke into their home while they were asleep and swiped cash and the family car. The incident occurred on Sept. 10 around 3:30 a.m. with the thief jumping a locked gate and wandering around the backyard before slipping inside the home.  Rabbi Moshe Nourollah, the homeowner, examined the damage where the thief broke in and said he still can’t believe that someone would do that.  “Coming in the middle of the night, bombarding somebody’s house, stealing, that’s insane, you know what I mean?” he told KTLA.  The security cameras on the home did not deter the crook, and the family’s alarm system was not activated.  “He came in from the back door,” Batya Nourollah said. “Police said he pried open the door, he came inside, took the wallet. He came upstairs where I was sleeping in my bedroom. It's mortifying."It wasn’t until the next day that the Nourollah’s ...

Families, loved ones across the U.S. honor 9/11 victims

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:21 GMT

Families, loved ones, and supporters in Southern California and all over the world are remembering a somber anniversary as Monday marks 22 years since the deadliest terror attack in the United States on September 11, 2001. From coast to coast, it was a day of remembrance to honor the nearly 3,000 lives that were lost and the bravery that saved the lives of countless others. The deadly attack brought the nation together and Southern California residents continue to honor the promise to never forget and remember the victims. "Now more than ever, it is essential for communities like ours in Beverly Hills to foster a spirit of unity, vigilance, and strength,” said Chief Mark Stainbrook of the Beverly Hills Police Department during a memorial to honor the victims. “Let us ensure the legacy of 9/11 is not one of sorrow, but also strength in the face of evil."Ceremony honoring 9/11 victims (KTLA)Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Robert Cordobes was at Ground Zero 22 years ago o...