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EU reaches deal to reduce highly polluting methane gas emissions from the energy sector

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:46 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union negotiators reached a deal on Wednesday to reduce highly polluting methane gas emissions from the energy sector across the 27-nation bloc.According to experts, one of the biggest causes of climate change is methane gas emissions — second only to carbon dioxide. The gas also causes serious health problems. Most emissions come from the energy, agriculture and waste sectors.Under the provisional agreement announced just weeks before the COP28 climate conference, the fossil gas, oil and coal industry will be forced to “properly measure, monitor, report and verify their methane emissions according to the highest monitoring standards, and take action to reduce them,” said the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm.The deal needs to be formally approved by both the European Parliament and the Council, which represents member states, before the new legislation enters into force.This came as China and the United States pledged to accelerate their eff...

Live updates | Israeli tanks enter Gaza’s Shifa Hospital compound

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:46 GMT

Two and a half weeks after sending tanks and ground troops into northern Gaza, Israeli forces entered a hospital early Wednesday that they claim Hamas operates out of. Mohammed Zaqout, the director of hospitals in Gaza, said Israeli tanks were inside the medical compound and that soldiers had entered buildings, including the emergency and surgery departments, which house intensive care units.Shifa Hospital has become a symbol of the widespread suffering of Palestinian civilians during the war between Israel and Hamas, which erupted after the militant group killed some 1,200 people and seized around 240 captives in a surprise Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel.The Israeli army claims the militant group uses hospitals as cover for its fighters, and has set up its main command center in and beneath Shifa Hospital, the largest in the besieged territory. Both Hamas and Shifa Hospital staff deny the Israeli allegations.More than 11,200 Palestinians — two-thirds of them women and minors — ...

Biden, Xi meeting is aimed at getting relationship back on better footing, but tough issues loom

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:46 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping head into their big meeting at a country estate on Wednesday hoping to stabilize U.S.-China relations after a period of tumult, but the U.S. president also is prepared to confront his counterpart on difficult issues such as trade, Beijing’s burgeoning relationship with Iran and human rights concerns.The two leaders, who will meet on the sidelines of a summit of Asian-Pacific leaders, last spoke a year ago. Since then, already fraught ties between the two economic superpowers have been further strained by the U.S. downing of a Chinese spy balloon that had traversed the continental U.S. and over differences on the self-ruled island of Taiwan, China’s hacking of a Biden official’s emails and other incidents.The two leaders are in California for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, but will hold their one-on-one talks at Filoli Estate, a country house and museum about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of San Fran...

UK government meets pledge to halve inflation this year as rate falls to 2-year low of 4.6%

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:46 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Inflation in the U.K. dropped sharply in October to its lowest level in two years, largely because last year’s steep rise in domestic energy bills following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine dropped out of the annual comparison, official figures showed Wednesday.The Office for National Statistics said consumer prices in the year to October were 4.6% higher than the year before, much lower than the 6.7% recorded in the previous month.The decline means Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s pledge to halve inflation this year has been met. Sunak made the pledge soon after becoming prime minister when inflation was more than 10%.“I did that because it is, without a doubt, the best way to ease the cost of living and give families financial security,” he said. “Today, we have delivered on that pledge.”Meeting the pledge — one of five set out by Sunak on taking office — will provide some comfort to his Conservative government, which is trailing the main opposition Labour ...

EU and Neighbourhood countries commit to enhanced fisheries management control in the Mediterranean and Black Sea

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:46 GMT

Among the main measures, the EU and neighbouring countries agreed within the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) to launch new tools to keep track of the activities of all fleets fishing in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas and sharing the various multiannual management plans (MAPs). The new mechanism will follow up on cases of non-compliance through appropriate and proportionate measures. To consolidate joint efforts in the Mediterranean and make sure the measures deliver on the ground, a European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) patrol vessel will be deployed permanently still this year.At the 46th annual meeting of the GFCM, which took place between 6-10 November in Split, the EU and neighbouring countries agreed to reinforce the level playing field in control and management of fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas. This is a key step in ensuring that all operators involved in fisheries follow the same standards, based on the principles of the ...

Dear Abby: The co-worker who was supposed to leave is still here, and things are not getting better

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:46 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I am a 20-year-old gay man. I recently started a new job in which I thought I’d be replacing an aging co-worker who is supposed to be retiring.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I don’t know what’s in my husband’s trailer, but I want it gone Advice | Dear Abby: I brought up my moral issue with the restaurant, and this man exploded at me Advice | Dear Abby: These men hijacked our sentimental lunch. Am I wrong to be upset? Advice | Dear Abby: The bride is my best friend, but I’m not comfortable with her plan Advice | Dear Abby: At 3 a.m. there were two strange girls in my house Every time I have mentioned anything to her about her retiring, she has corrected me, saying she’s only going to cut back to a day or two a week. When I was hired, I was told she’d be gone in a month.I’m uncomfortable because she is politically conservative, deeply religiou...

Single family residence in Palo Alto sells for $3 million

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:46 GMT

750 Wildwood Lane – Google Street ViewA house located in the 700 block of Wildwood Lane in Palo Alto has new owners. The 1,496-square-foot property, built in 1950, was sold on Oct. 30, 2023, for $3,000,000, or $2,005 per square foot. The layout of this single-story house consists of three bedrooms and two baths. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. Additionally, the home is equipped with a one-car garage.These nearby houses have also recently been purchased:On Channing Avenue, Palo Alto, in January 2023, a 2,468-square-foot home was sold for $3,100,000, a price per square foot of $1,256. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,779-square-foot home on the 2000 block of Channing Avenue in Palo Alto sold in August 2022, for $3,570,000, a price per square foot of $1,285. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.In July 2022, a 1,424-square-foot home on Channing Avenue in Palo Alto sold for $3,370,000, a price per square foot of $2,367. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathroo...

Dubai International Airport, world’s busiest, on track to beat 2019 figures before virus lockdowns

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:46 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Passenger numbers at Dubai International Airport this year will eclipse the passenger figures for 2019, showing the strong rebound in travel after the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns that grounded aircraft worldwide, a top official said Wednesday. The airport, the world’s busiest for international travel and home of the long-haul carrier Emirates, has had 64.5 million passengers pass through its cavernous concourses through the third quarter of this year. That puts it on track to reach 86.8 million passengers for the full year, which would exceed its 2019 figure of 86.3 million passengers. It had 66 million passengers last year.The airport’s busiest year was 2018, when it had 89.1 million passengers.“So for the end of the year, current predictions, 86.8 million, a little bit shy of the pre-pandemic numbers,” Griffiths told The Associated Press in an interview at the Dubai Air Show. “But actually, hopefully, by the end of ...

Towns scores 33, sends Timberwolves past Warriors after early ejections in tourney game

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:46 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — When the NBA created the In-Season Tournament as a way to inject playoff-level intensity into regular-season games, the scuffle between the Golden State Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves that resulted in three early ejections on Tuesday night may not have been what the league had in mind.With the game still scoreless and not yet two minutes old, Golden State’s Draymond Green was ejected after putting Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert in a headlock. Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, who got into a shoving match that resulted in Thompson’s jersey being ripped, were also tossed.Once the dust settled, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 33 points, sending Minnesota to a 104-101 tournament victory over Golden State. The Wolves have won seven straight games for their longest win streak since 2004.“We just found a way to win ugly in a game that was pretty ugly,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “All credit to (the Warriors), those guys, they wer...

McCoy helps Hawaii open season with 82-66 victory over Hawaii Hilo

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:46 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — Justin McCoy scored 15 points and Hawaii opened its season with an 82-66 victory over Hawaii Hilo on Tuesday night.McCoy made 6 of 11 shots with three 3-pointers for the Rainbow Warriors, adding six rebounds. Freshman Tom Beattie had 12 points and four rebounds off the bench. Noel Coleman scored 10.Charles Elzie III scored a career-high 23 to lead the Vulcans. He sank 8 of 15 shots with three 3-pointers. Kalique Mitchell pitched in with 15 points and nine rebounds. Amiri Crowder had 11 points off the bench on 5-for-7 shooting with a 3-pointer.___Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here___AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballSource