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Ken Paxton’s defense is set to begin in the Texas Attorney General’s impeachment trial

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:42:58 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Lawyers for impeached Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton were set to begin presenting their defense Thursday as the trial that will determine whether the Republican is removed from office winds down.Attorneys for the bipartisan group of lawmakers prosecuting Paxton’s impeachment rested their case Wednesday after a woman who was expected to testify about an extramarital affair with Paxton made a sudden appearance at the trial, but never took the stand. The affair is central to the historic proceedings and accusations that Paxton misused his power to help Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, who was under FBI investigation and employed the woman, Laura Olson. One of the 16 articles of impeachment against Paxton alleges that Paul’s hiring of Olson amounted to a bribe. Olson was called to the stand Wednesday morning in the Texas Senate and waited outside the chamber. But her testimony was delayed for hours before Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is acting as the...

Firefighters fear the toxic industrial PFAS in the gear could be contributing to rising cancer cases

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:42:58 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Boston firefighter Daniel Ranahan had heard about colleagues getting cancer but he was stunned when doctors discovered a large tumor in his chest.He was only 30 and had been in the Boston Fire Department less than a decade. But as he investigated his diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma in October 2020 and sought successful treatment, he learned he and others wore gear that contained the toxic industrial compound PFAS.“You always hear about the dangers. You just never think it’s going be you,” said Ranahan, who stopped working due to the cancer and is among thousands of firefighters nationwide who sued PFAS manufacturers and companies that make firefighting gear and foam, seeking damages for their exposure.“These guys put this on day in and day out to protect neighborhoods and wherever they are working,” he said. The multi-layered coats and pants worn by firefighters have become the latest battleground over PFAS, or per- and polyfluorinated substances. It’...

Stock market today: World shares mixed after US inflation data ease rate hike worries

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:42:58 GMT

Shares opened mixed in Europe on Thursday after a day of gains in Asia following a highly anticipated report that showed a modest increase in inflation across the U.S. in AugustThe subdued increase in prices eased worries over the likelihood of another interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve, but overall market reaction was muted. Germany’s DAX was down 0.2% at 15,626.43 and the CAC 40 in Paris lost 0.2% to 7,206.57. In London, the FTSE 100 gained 0.4% to 7,558.88. The future for the S&P 500 edged 0.2% higher while that for the Dow industrials was up 0.1%. In Asian trading, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 surged 1.4% to 33,168.10. In Seoul, the Kospi jumped 1.5%, to 2,572.89.Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rebounded from earlier losses to pick up 0.2%, closing at 18,047.92. However, major Chinese real estate developer Country Garden’s Hong Kong-traded shares sank 4.6% ahead of a deadline for a bond repayment. The Shanghai Composite index added 0.1% to 3,114.38, while in Australia, ...

China says EU probe into Chinese electric vehicle exports, subsidies is protectionist

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:42:58 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — China’s Commerce Ministry has protested a decision by the European Union to investigate exports of Chinese electric vehicles, saying Thursday that it is a “protectionist” act aimed at distorting the supply chain. The EU announced Wednesday it will probe government subsidies provided to Chinese automakers that the EU contends keep EV prices artificially low. China has become the biggest market for electric vehicles after investing billions in subsidies to gain an edge. Automakers like BYD and Geely have quickly gained market share after launching sales of EVs to Japan and Europe.“What I want to emphasize is that the investigation measure that the European Union plans to take is to protect its own industry in the name of fair competition,” Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong said at a briefing in Beijing.“It’s naked protectionist behavior that will seriously disrupt and distort the global automotive industrial chain and supply chain including the Euro...

Libyan city buries thousands in mass graves after flood, while mayor says death toll could triple

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:42:58 GMT

DERNA, Libya (AP) — The city of Derna has buried thousands of people in mass graves, Libyan officials said Thursday, as search teams scoured ruins left by devastating floods and the city’s mayor said that the death toll could triple or more.The deluge swept away entire families on Sunday night and exposed vulnerabilities in the oil-rich country that has been mired in conflict since its 2011 uprising. Health officials have confirmed 5,100 deaths and say 9,000 people are still missing.Here’s a look at the latest developments.WHAT HAPPENED IN LIBYA? Daniel, an unusually strong Mediterranean storm, caused deadly flooding in towns across eastern Libya, but the worst-hit was Derna. As the storm pounded the coast Sunday night, residents said they heard loud explosions when the dams outside the city collapsed. Floodwaters washed down Wadi Derna, a valley that cuts through the city, crashing through buildings and washing people out to sea.The startling devastation reflected the storm’s...

Feds spread $1 billion for tree plantings among US cities to reduce extreme heat and benefit health

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:42:58 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hundreds of communities around the country will share more than $1 billion in federal money to help them plant and maintain trees under a federal program that is intended to reduce extreme heat, benefit health and improve access to nature.U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will announce the $1.13 billion in funding for 385 projects at an event Thursday morning in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The tree plantings efforts will be focused on marginalized areas in all 50 states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and some tribal nations.“We believe we can create more resilient communities in terms of the impacts of climate,” Vilsack told reporters in previewing his announcement. “We think we can mitigate extreme heat incidents and events in many of the cities.”In announcing the grants in Cedar Rapids, Vilsack will spotlight the eastern Iowa city of 135,000 people that lost thousands of trees during an extreme windstorm during the s...

NASA to release report on what it needs to better understand UFOs

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:42:58 GMT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — After a yearlong study into UFOs, NASA is releasing a report Thursday on what it needs to better identify unidentified flying objects from a scientific point of view. Don’t get your hopes up. At the one and only public meeting earlier this year, the independent team selected by the space agency insisted there is no conclusive evidence of extraterrestrial life associated with UFOs. No top-secret files were accessed by the scientists, aviation and artificial intelligence experts, and retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, the first American to spend nearly a year in space. Instead, the 16-member group relied on unclassified data in an attempt to better understand unexplained sightings in the sky. NASA said there are so few high-quality observations that no scientific conclusions can be drawn.The government refers to unexplained sightings as UAPs, or unidentified aerial phenomena. NASA defines them as observations in the sky that cannot be readily identified or...

Union football ready for first major test in Springfield

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:42:58 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Talk about making a statement to open the season. Union football has roared out to a 2-0 start under first-year head coach Jon Poppe. The combined score of those two games: 128-0. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! In fact, even the Garnet Chargers defense has outscored the two opposing offenses 11-0 on two safeties and a Spencer Goldstein pick six.There's no denying competition ramps up this week, though. Union welcomes in a Springfield College team Friday night that's undefeated as well, and has reached the NCAA Playoffs in back-to-back seasons. It's also the program where Poppe served as a graduate assistant coach for two years (2008-'09).He and the team know they're in for a true test with the Pride."We're telling our team this is a much different opponent than our first two weeks," said Poppe. "This is a proud program, a playoff program and a place I hold dear to my heart. This is obviously an awesome game, a ...

La Salle anticipating a battle with Burnt Hills as early-season gauntlet continues

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:42:58 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The last time the La Salle Cadets and Burnt Hills Spartans squared off on the gridiron, the two Class A foes played in an epic sectional semifinal, as Burnt Hills eked out a 21-20 overtime win. Now they'll run that matchup back Friday in the NEWS10 Sports "Game of the Week." Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! For La Salle, its' Week 2 opponent poses yet another daunting challenge in what has been an early-season gauntlet. John Audino's squad managed to escape Camillus in their season opener with a 13-7 overtime win against Section III's West Genesee, which reached the Class A state playoffs a year ago. But that was followed by a grueling road tilt at CBA, where the Brothers handed La Salle a 42-6 defeat.On the other side, Burnt Hills is riding high from a wild win over Class AA foe Saratoga Springs - the first victory under new head coach Kevin DeBonis. That 2021 sectional game is certainly still on the mind of the Cadets...

Cyprus: Commission allocates €31.7 million to the Turkish Cypriot community under the 2023 Aid Programme

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:42:58 GMT

The Commission has adopted the 2023 Annual Action Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, allocating €31.7 million to the community, aiming to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus.The Programme offers wide-ranging EU support, including tailored measures to help Turkish Cypriots meet the standards under the Halloumi/Hellim package before the end of 2024. In 2021, the Commission registered Halloumi/Hellim as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and issued a Decision under which Turkish Cypriot producers will be able to sell PDO-compliant Halloumi/Hellim across the Green Line, thus placing it on the EU market, once the relevant EU food safety and animal health standards are met. The EU will continue to support the Turkish Cypriot community in producing PDO-compliant Halloumi/Hellim.The Programme will also continue to support trade across the Green Line and ensure compliance with EU product and production standards, including in the area of product safety. Specialised testing ...