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Political theatrics dominate climate commissioner hearings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

If the EU was to get a conservative climate commissioner, left-wing lawmakers were going to make it hurt — for a bit, at least. On Wednesday, the EU’s new Green Deal chief Maroš Šefčovič and climate Commissioner-designate Wopke Hoekstra finally won the blessing of the European Parliament’s environment committee. A formal confirmation vote in plenary is scheduled for Thursday.The committee’s approval came only after MEPs, unsatisfied with what they had heard in hours-long hearings earlier this week, forced Šefčovič and Hoekstra to answer additional questions in writing. Green-minded MEPs in particular sought to put pressure on both candidates, demanding clarity on specific legislative files and diplomatic efforts — in particular setting the EU’s new climate goal for 2040. But as much as the lawmakers insisted that this was all about substance, they ultimately waved the candidates through despite gaining little in the way of new policy commitments. Instead, the pro...

Serious crash on I-495 northbound closes highway in Chelmsford as emergency crews respond

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

Traffic was halted for miles on Interstate 495 in Chelmsford Wednesday morning as crews responded to a serious crash that left a victim needing a medical helicopter to be flown out.Firefighters and ambulance crews could be seen surveying the scene on I-495 northbound, near the Westford Street overpass by Exit 87 where at least one person was loaded onto a helicopter around 10 a.m.According to 7NEWS sources, the crash appeared to involve a vehicle that went off I-495 south, through the median strip, and struck a vehicle head-on in the northbound side. SKY7-HD spotted at least two damaged vehicles at the scene, including a car with its top removed. Also visible were tire marks on the median grass leading up to an SUV with heavy damage to its front.Traffic was completely halted for miles on I-495 north following the crash, with MassDOT stating that the highway was closed at Exit 83 as emergency crews continued to respond. The left lane of I-495 south was also closed to traffic.In a soc...

What Patriots can expect from J.C. Jackson after trade with Chargers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

FOXBORO — The Patriots made a move Wednesday indicating that they’re not ready to give up on the 2023 season just yet, despite some horrible injury luck.Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is expected to miss the rest of the 2023 season with a separated shoulder and torn labrum, according to NFL Media. In response, the Patriots reacquired cornerback JC Jackson in a trade with the Chargers for a late-round pick swap.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez likely to miss 2023 season with shoulder injury New England Patriots | Source: Patriots reacquire CB JC Jackson via trade from Chargers New England Patriots | Source: Patriots signing veteran defensive tackle after successful workout New England Patriots | Patriots OLB Matt Judon facing season-threatening timeline with torn bicep New England Patriots | Patriots-Cowboys film review: Bill Belichick’s fingerprints all...

2030 World Cup set to be hosted by Spain-Portugal-Morocco with 3 South American countries added

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

By GRAHAM DUNBAR (AP Sports Writer)GENEVA (AP) — A unique 2030 World Cup is set to be played in Europe and Africa with the surprising addition of South America in a deal to allow the men’s soccer tournament to start with a 100th birthday party in Uruguay.FIFA reached an agreement Wednesday between soccer’s continental leaders to accept only one candidate for hosting the 2030 tournament, the sport’s governing body said.The Spain-Portugal bid grew to add Morocco this year and now also includes long-time bid rivals Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.A key lure of the unprecedented three-continent project is being able to open in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, where the Centenario Stadium hosted the inaugural 1930 World Cup final.“The centennial World Cup could not be far from South America, where everything began,” said Alejandro Dominguez, the president of South American soccer body CONMEBOL. “The 2030 World Cup will be played in three ...

Morgan State shooting: Five people wounded, none critically; no suspect in custody

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

By Dan Belson and Dillon Mullan, Baltimore SunFive young people, including four Morgan State University students, were shot Tuesday night on the institution’s campus in Northeast Baltimore, disrupting the school’s homecoming week festivities.Baltimore Police and federal agents responded to campus around 9:30 p.m. after university police officers heard gunshots. Shooting victims, who suffered injuries that are not life-threatening, were found near a campus residential building and a fine arts facility, officials said. The four men and one woman range in age from 18 to 22 years old, according to Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley.No suspect had been identified as of early Wednesday morning, Worley said at a news conference. Police believe the shooting took place outside, but have not said whether they believe there was one shooter or multiple shooters. Earlier, Baltimore City Councilman Ryan Dorsey tweeted that police told him they believed there were three shooters.The shoo...

Kaiser workers in San Diego join thousands in three-day strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Health care workers at several Kaiser Permanente locations in San Diego County are now on strike.Some 75,000 Kaiser workers are participating in the three-day strike, which began at 6 a.m. Wednesday across California and in four other states. As of 8 a.m., at least 300 workers were picketing in front of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center on Zion Avenue, one of the larger Kaiser facilities in San Diego. Unionized workers lined both sides of the street.The strike is comprised of technical workers -- positions like vocational nurses, nursing assistance, housekeeping, food services, reception and respiratory care. Thousands of US health care workers go on strike in multiple states over wages and staff shortages "I'm out here for better staffing, wages across the board that compensate me for the past three years," an X-ray technician named Robert said to FOX 5. "We all worked through COVID, we worked with N-95s for one week at a time, right before the vaccine came out. "...

Padres third baseman Manny Machado has right elbow surgery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Third baseman Manny Machado had right elbow extensor tendon repair surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles and has an estimated recovery time of four to six months, the San Diego Padres announced.That timetable should have Machado back on the field sometime during spring training.The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the team physician for the NL West rival Los Angeles Dodgers as well as the NFL's Rams.Machado was limited to designated hitter in September due to tennis elbow. He finished hitting .258 with 30 home runs and 91 RBIs.The Padres missed the playoffs despite having baseball's third-highest payroll and a lineup anchored by Machado and fellow stars Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto and Xander Bogaerts.Machado helped San Diego reach the NL Championships Series last fall and was second in NL MVP voting.

Suspect charged in rapper Tupac Shakur’s fatal shooting appeared in a court in Las Vegas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A self-described gangster who police and prosecutors say masterminded the shooting death of Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas in 1996 made his first appearance Wednesday before a Nevada judge.Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 60, was arrested last week during an early-morning walk near his home in suburban Henderson. A few hours later a grand jury indictment was unsealed in Clark County District Court charging him with murder. Grand jurors also voted to add sentencing enhancements for the use of a deadly weapon and alleged gang activity. If Davis is convicted, that could add decades to his sentence.Davis denied a request from The Associated Press for an interview from jail where he’s being held without bond. Los Angeles-based attorney Edi Faal told The Associated Press in a brief phone call that he is Davis’ longtime personal attorney and is helping him retain counsel in Las Vegas.“I have worked with him for more than two decades,” Faal said. “But at this point I do not have a c...

Opening statements set to begin at trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Opening statements were set to begin Wednesday after a jury was chosen to hear the fraud trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried in New York City.Bankman-Fried, 31, maintains he was not to blame for fraud that prosecutors allege in seven charges brought against him since his arrest last December in the Bahamas.They say the California man defrauded thousands of investors and customers in his businesses of billions of dollars by siphoning off their money for his own uses, including financing his businesses, buying real estate and making big political contributions to try to influence government regulation of cryptocurrency.Defense lawyers insist that their client had no criminal intent as he became famous in the crypto world while growing FTX and a related business, Alameda Research, into multibillion dollar heavyweights in the cryptocurrency industry.Attorneys and Judge Lewis A. Kaplan reduced a pool of 45 prospective jurors to a jury of 12 with six alternates just bef...

UK prime minister wants to raise the legal age to buy cigarettes in England so eventually no one can

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday proposed raising the legal age that people in England can buy cigarettes by one year, every year until it is eventually illegal for the whole population and smoking will hopefully be phased out among young people. Setting out his plan at the annual Conservative Party conference, Sunak said he wanted to “stop teenagers taking up cigarettes in the first place.”It is currently illegal for anyone to sell cigarettes or tobacco products to people under 18 years old throughout the U.K. Sunak’s office said the incremental changes would stop children who turn 14 this year and those younger than that now from ever legally being sold cigarettes in England.If Parliament approves the proposal, the legal change would only apply in England — not in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.“People take up cigarettes when they’re young. Four in five smokers have started by the time they’re 20,” he said. “Later, the vast majority try ...