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A troubled new power plant leaves Jordan in debt to China, raising concerns over Beijing’s influence

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:32:15 GMT

ATTARAT, Jordan (AP) — Jordan’s Attarat power plant was envisioned as a landmark project promising to provide the desert kingdom with a major source of energy while solidifying its relations with China.But weeks after its official opening, the site, a sea of black, crumbly rock in the barren desert south of Jordan’s capital, is instead a source of heated controversy. Deals surrounding the plant put Jordan on the hook for billions of dollars in debt to China — all for a plant that is no longer needed for its energy, because of other agreements made since the project’s conception.The result is fueling tensions between China and Jordan and causing grief for the Jordanian government as it tries to contest the deal in an international legal battle. As Chinese influence grows in the Middle East and America withdraws, the $2.1 billion shale oil station has come to characterize China’s wider model that has burdened many Asian and African states with crippling debt and served as a cautionary...

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar faces crucial test of support in state polls next month

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:32:15 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Less than a year after taking office, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim faces a critical first test in state elections next month that pits his government against a powerful Islamic opposition. Election Commission chief Abdul Ghani Salleh said Wednesday that over 9.7 million voters will head to the ballot box on Aug. 12 to elect 245 assembly members for six states. While state elections generally do not affect the federal government, it will be closely watched as a gauge of support for Anwar’s unity government that was f ormed after a divisive general election in November. Anwar’s multiethnic Pakatan Harapan (PH) alliance won the most seats in November polls but fell short of a majority after many ethnic Malays threw their support behind the Perikatan Nasional (PN) bloc led by former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. The PN bloc includes the conservative Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), that unexpectedly rose to become the single largest party in ...

Stock market today: Asia sinks after a survey shows China’s industrial activity is weakening

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:32:15 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets sank Wednesday after a measure of Chinese service industry activity fell to its lowest level this year.Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney retreated. Oil prices were mixed.U.S. markets were closed Tuesday for a holiday.A service industry index by a leading Chinese business magazine, Caixin, weakened sharply in June, adding to signs China’s recovery following the end of anti-virus controls is cooling. Growth in factory activity also slowed.“Without policy support, there’s a risk that weakening growth expectations could become self-fulfilling,” said Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management in a report.The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.6% to 3,225.68 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong sank 1.4% to 19,147.37.Caixin’s purchasing managers’ index for services fell to 53.9 from May’s 57.1 on a 100-point scale on which numbers above 50 show activity increasing.Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 lost 0.4% to 33,277.33 and the Kospi in Seoul retrea...

Huntington Beach Fourth of July celebrations draw thousands

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:32:15 GMT

Thousands gathered in Huntington Beach for one of the largest Fourth of July celebrations in California Tuesday night. Over one of the hottest holiday weekends, many people opted to keep things cool by heading to the beach, and in Orange County, four days of Independence Day festivities attracted close to 500,000 people.  Organizers of the Huntington Beach celebration say it’s the largest Fourth of July celebration west of the Mississippi, and for many people, attending is a family affair.  “We’ve been coming here since I was little,” Jose Montenegro told KTLA. “I grew up in Santa Ana, so when [my daughter] was born, we just started bringing her and it became tradition.”  Jasmine, Montenegro’s daughter, was quick to explain her favorite part of the fireworks show.  “It’s because I love them popping out of the sky,” she said.  Adam Ligorria and his extended family drove two hours from Riverside specifically for the show’s finale fireworks by the pier with a front-row o...

WATCH: Mayor Breed lights up Sutro Tower from KRON4 deck

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:32:15 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed appeared live on KRON4's 4th of July special to light up the Sutro Tower on its 50th birthday. You can watch the moment using the video player above. Corpse flower blooms at SF Conservatory of Flowers Multi-colored lasers at the base of the iconic San Francisco television and radio tower spawned a "sea of lights" from Twin Peaks. The installation, called “loveAbove,” was created by Illuminate.The lights will be visible in San Francisco from Tuesday through Saturday. The idea for Sutro Tower was conceived in the mid-1960s. Local television stations created the 977-foot tower to improve reception throughout the Bay Area. It stands southeast of San Francisco's Mount Sutro.KRON ON is streaming news live now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; wi...

3-acre grass fire burns in Walnut Creek

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:32:15 GMT

(KRON) -- The Contra Costa Fire Protection District responded to a three-acre grass fire Tuesday night. The fire is in the area of 1900 Whitecliff Way in Walnut Creek. Officials believe it was started by fireworks. At 10:18 p.m., officials tweeted that forward progress on the fire had been stopped. There were no evacuations necessary and no structures were threatened. The public is asked to avoid the area to allow access to fire crews.

Autoridades mexicanas realizan otro arresto en el secuestro de estadounidenses en Matamoros

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:32:15 GMT

(CNN) — Las autoridades mexicanas detuvieron a una persona más en relación con el secuestro de cuatro estadounidenses en Matamoros, México, a principios de este año.La Procuraduría General de Justicia del estado mexicano de Tamaulipas anunció este lunes en Twitter la detención de José Ángel “H”.#FGJT_Informa El Agente del Ministerio Público, adscrito a la #UECS, obtuvo vinculación a proceso en contra de José Ángel “H” por el delito de Secuestro Agravado, registrado el 03 de marzo de 2023, en la colonia Modelo en #Matamoros, #Tamaulipas. #NoImpunidad pic.twitter.com/7dhQP7vtNf— Fiscalía General de Justicia de Tamaulipas (@FGJ_Tam) July 4, 2023Cuatro estadounidenses fueron secuestrados en Matamoros el 3 de marzo. LaTavia Washington McGee y Eric Williams sobrevivieron al secuestro, mientras que Shaeed Woodard y Zindell Brown fueron asesinados.Antes de esta última detención, las autoridades mexicanas habían arrestado al menos a seis personas en el caso del ...

MLS record crowd of 82,110 at the Rose Bowl sees Riqui Puig lead Galaxy to 2-1 win over LAFC

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:32:15 GMT

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Riqui Puig had a goal and an assist as the LA Galaxy defeated Los Angeles Football Club 2-1 Tuesday night before an MLS single-game record crowd 82,110 at the Rose Bowl.The 18th edition of the LA rivalry known as El Trafico broke the previous record of 74,479, which was set last year when Charlotte FC played its first home game against the Galaxy. It was originally scheduled for Feb. 25 as the showcase game on the first day of the MLS regular season. It was postponed though due to heavy rain and wind in Southern California. Puig assisted on Tyler Boyd’s goal in the 26th minute and then had the go-ahead score in the 73rd minute for the Galaxy, who are unbeaten in their last six matches with two wins and four ties.LAFC’s goal came from Ilie Sanchez in the 57th minute. The defending MLS Cup champions have dropped three straight and five of their last seven.Douglas Costa was near midfield when he sent a pass up the left side, where Boyd chased it down...

Fireworks prompt Code Purple, ‘Hazardous’ air quality alerts for part of DC region

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:32:15 GMT

The National Mall fireworks show attracted thousands to D.C. and lit up the Tuesday night sky in a beautiful display, but it also left lingering smoke and triggered air quality alerts.“Code Purple” air spread into Prince George’s County, Maryland, on Tuesday night. “Code Red” air stretched across more of Southern Maryland and into Fairfax and Arlington counties and the city of Alexandria in Virginia, according to AirNow.Here’s a chart explaining the Air Quality Index and its corresponding alerts:At least part of D.C. reached “Hazardous” levels of air pollution, which is the most serious alert in the Air Quality Index. (Courtesy AirNow.gov)“We’re looking at some very unhealthy levels across parts of our area. There’s no fireworks display that was bigger than what was happening over D.C., and with the winds being out of the west and southwest, we’re seeing some of the fine particle pollutants being carried into No...

Sunak hits back at net zero critics

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:32:15 GMT

Presented by SSE By CHARLIE COOPER and RUSSELL HARGRAVE PRESENTED BY View in your browser or listen to audioSNEAK PEEK— Rishi Sunak isn’t worried about the U.K. falling behind the EU and the U.S. on green investment. So that’s fine.— The global hydrogen race is hotting up — and British businesses don’t want the U.K. to miss out.— Outgoing CCC Chair John Gummer is speaking to a Lords committee today. We have a few more choice insights from our interview with him.Good Wednesday morning and welcome to POLITICO Pro Morning Energy and Climate UK. If you are not already a Pro subscriber and would like a free trial of this newsletter, sign up here.DRIVING THE DAYWHAT RISHI DID NEXT: The PM was up before the Liaison Committee Tuesday afternoon — the so-called super group of senior MPs — where he was grilled on the U.K.’s green goals and net zero leadership. Environmental Audit Committee Chair Philip Dunne was questioner-in-...