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Brazil’s Lula takes heat on oil plans at UN climate talks, a turnaround after hero status last year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:22 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Fresh off election victory, a year ago Brazilian President-elect Inacio Lula da Silva was the star of the annual U.N. climate talks.Lula promised to crack down on deforestation and turn Brazil into an environmental leader, a complete turnaround after President Jair Bolsonaro rolled back regulations and encouraged land-grabbing in the Amazon.“Lula! Lula! Lula!” many onlookers screamed during Lula’s many events at COP27 in Egypt.What a difference a year makes.Just as Lula addressed world leaders at COP28 in Dubai, it was announced that Brazil would join OPEC+, a group of big oil-exporting countries, including Russia. At one event during the conference, Lula tried to explain the decision by saying that, once on the inside, the South American nation would push other oil-producing countries to transition to green energy—a curious explanation given that state-run oil company Petrobras is focused on further oil exploration. Lula later clarified that Brazi...

A Soviet-era statue of a Red Army commander taken down in Kyiv

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:22 GMT

KYIV (AP) — City workers in Kyiv on Saturday dismantled an equestrian statue of a Red Army commander, the latest Soviet monument to be removed in the Ukrainian capital since Russia launched its full-scale invasion last year.The statue of Mykola Shchors on horseback, erected in the 1950s, was taken down from a pedestal in downtown Kyiv to the applause of a small group of onlookers. City officials said it will be stored in the State Aviation Museum.“Derussification and decommunization are continuing. We have already dismantled more than 60 monuments related to the history and culture of Russia and the Soviet Union,” Mykhailo Budilov, director of the city’s Department of Territorial Control, said in a statement.An effort to remove symbols of the Soviet era, which many Ukrainians equate with Russian imperialism, accelerated after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022.In August of this year, officials removed a hammer-and-sickle symbol from the Mother Ukraine statue in Kyiv — o...

Organizers of COP28 want an inclusive summit. But just how diverse is the negotiating table?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:22 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Climate activist Lisa NoBaya sat in a room filled with stakeholders at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai and asked the delegates what inclusivity looks like at COP28: does it mean diverse voices are simply present, or actively participating in what the outcome of the talks will look like?The 28-year-old’s question received affirmative nods from across the room. Many women, young people and Indigenous voices say they feel they’re relegated to mere attendance, with limited opportunities to contribute substantially to the decisive meetings, despite promises to make the talks more inclusive. Even attendance at the talks is lopsided, making meaningful inclusion even more difficult, they say.“If by inclusivity they mean that the women, youth and Indigenous community is just to be present here and not speak then this is not inclusive, but ridiculous,” NoBaya said.COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber previously promised to ensure that this year’s...

Eagles security DiSandro banned from sideline for Sunday Night Football vs Cowboys

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:22 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Eagles security chief who was ejected in last week’s game for his role in a scuffle with 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw is barred by the NFL from the sideline for Sunday night’s game against the Cowboys, the team announced Saturday.Dom DiSandro is allowed to travel with the team and perform all other work duties when Philadelphia (10-2) plays at Dallas (9-3). But he is not allowed on the sideline.“This is an ongoing conversation with the NFL, and we are going to respect the restriction that is currently in place,” the Eagles said in a statement.DiSandro pulled Greenlaw off Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith and shouted at him after a reception in the third quarter. Greenlaw, who was penalized for unnecessary roughness on the play, popped up and reached over two officials to put his hand in DiSandro’s face.Greenlaw was ejected. DiSandro also was told to leave and walked to the locker room to a roaring ovation from Eagles fans.“I know in Dom’s heart, he tr...

Federal investigators say pilot disorientation led to 2021 plane crash that killed 3 in west metro

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:22 GMT

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — Federal investigators have identified pilot spatial disorientation as the likely cause of the August 2021 plane crash that killed three people west of the Twin Cities.The National Transportation Safety Board has released its final report on the plane that took off from Alexandria and crashed near Victoria on Aug. 7, 2021. Dr. James Edney of Omaha, Neb., died in the crash, along with his 42-year-old stepson, Jacob Mertes, and Mertes’ 37-year-old wife, Dr. Sara Mertes. Edney, who owned a cottage on Lake Miltona near Alexandria, was piloting the plane.According to the report, the plane made several directional changes as it approached descent before entering a left-turning spiral. The plane crashed into the ground roughly eight miles west of its destination, Eden Prairie’s Flying Cloud Airport, and breaking up just before impact, the report states. No one on the ground was injured.“The airplane debris on the ground … showed that an in-flight breakup occurred d...

The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 14: Could Jaguars’ Lawrence return?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:22 GMT

UPDATE: 11:27 a.m. SaturdayWe’re not quite buying it, but there are reports out of Duval County this morning that Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence could actually play tomorrow, just six days after spraining his ankle quite painfully against Cincinnati. That puts him at least one step ahead of teammate Christian Kirk. The receiver has been ruled out after pulling his groin.Seattle’s situation is particularly dicey this morning, as QB Geno Smith and RBs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet are all considered game-time decisions. Since the Seahawks are playing the mighty 49ers, you might want replacements for all three.Players who have been ruled out for Week 14 include Indy RB Jonathan Taylor, Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco, New Orleans wideout Rashid Shaheed and Houston tight end Dalton Schultz.ORIGINAL POST: 11:59 a.m. WednesdayWhile the NFL season still has a full month of merriment to go, Crunch Time for fantasy mavens is now.Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison (2...

Colorado snow totals for December 9, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:22 GMT

The following Colorado snow totals have been reported by the National Weather Service for Dec. 9, 2023, as of 10:24 a.m. Saturday:Air Force Academy, CO — 5 inches at 8:29 a.m.Allenspark, CO — 7.3 inches at 7 a.m.Arapahoe Park, CO — 1 inch at 7 a.m.Arvada, CO — 5.8 inches at 5:30 a.m.Aspen Park, CO — 12.2 inches at 7:30 a.m.Aspen Springs, CO — 9 inches at 7 a.m.Aurora, CO — 2 inches at 8:33 a.m.Bailey, CO — 5.6 inches at 8:08 a.m.Berthoud, CO — 1.5 inches at 7 a.m.Beulah, CO — 9 inches at 7:28 a.m.Black Forest, CO — 7.3 inches at 7 a.m.Blende, CO — 6.6 inches at 6 a.m.Boulder, CO — 8.3 inches at 8:15 a.m.Breckenridge, CO — 7 inches at 6:37 p.m. – 12/8/2023Brighton, CO — 0.5 inch at 7 a.m.Brookvale, CO — 8.2 inches at 7 a.m.Broomfield, CO — 3.3 inches at 5:30 a.m.Buckhorn Mountain, CO — 1.7 inches at 8 a.m.Buckley Afb, CO — 1.5 inches at 7:55 a.m.Buffalo Creek, CO &#...

Gearing up for a top festive treat

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:22 GMT

A top Brussels museum is gearing up for its biggest event of the year.For the next three months, the city’s Autoworld is hosting an exhibition of Porsche cars. But these are not just any ordinary Porsche cars - but some never exhibited in public before.The event is timely as the famous German car company this year marks its 75th anniversary and some of the vehicles on display at the museum are sure to attract interest from far and wide.As Leo Van Hoorick, the museum’s head of museology (curator),said, “This truly is a world class collection of Porsche cars. This is our eighth temporary exhibition of the year and our biggest yet.”The expo, called “Driven By Dreams”, opened on 8 December, features 64 cars, including 22 which have come specially from the company’s own museum in Germany on temporary loan.In no particular order, this website has selected a “Top 5” of some cars to look out for. They are:a Porsche 917 which many collectors one of the best race cards ever. In 1970/71 it won...

El Niño predicted to flood both coasts: Here's where risk is highest

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:22 GMT

As El Niño reaches its peak this winter, it's expected to bring heavy snow to some states, unseasonably warm temperatures to others, and flooding to the coasts. There's actually an elevated risk of flooding along the West and East Coasts this winter, but for different reasons, according to NASA scientists. On the West Coast, it's because a strong El Niño would bring more high tide flooding. This year, there is a greater than 55% chance of a “strong” El Niño. There’s even a chance — about 35% — it ends up being one of the strongest ever, like the one we saw 2015-2016 or 1997-1998. Strong winds trigger Red Flag Warning for parts of SoCal Unusually high tides, nicknamed "king tides," don't normally hit the West Coast outside of El Niño years, according to NASA's sea level change science team. But this winter, cities like Seattle and San Diego could experience as many as five "10-year flood events" in a single season. FILE - Vehicles cross over a flood control basin that has almost re...

Transfer portal costs San Jose State two starters in advance of Hawaii Bowl appearance

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:22 GMT

SAN JOSE —  Two of San Jose State’s starters on offense were among the more than 1,500 Division I college football players who entered the transfer portal this week.When the Spartans play in the Hawaii Bowl later this month, they’ll be without sophomore left tackle Fernando Carmona Jr. and junior tight end Dominick Mazotti, two of the key pieces that helped SJSU rebound from a 1-5 start and secure its second straight postseason appearance.In all, six Spartans entered the transfer portal: sophomore wide receiver Branden Alvarez, linebackers Elijah Wood (sophomore) and Anthony Madrigal (junior), and junior defensive lineman Charlie Leota were the others.The Spartans did get a win, as wide receiver Nick Nash confirmed Wednesday he will not enter the portal and stay at SJSU for his senior season.“My future is San Jose,” Nash said. “They’ve stuck with me through my hard times. This is where I want to finish out my career in college, and hopefully move on to the next level. But righ...