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Canada set to end domestic subsidies for unabated fossil-fuel production

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:50 GMT

OTTAWA — The Liberal government is expected next week to finally fulfil a promise Canada made 14 years ago to end federal subsidies that aid in the production of fossil fuels.Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the policy directive will be similar to the one last year ending most of Canada’s public financing for international fossil-fuel projects.That means going forward, fossil-fuel projects could only receive federal funding if the government could square them with Canada’s climate commitments.Guilbeault says he won’t end subsidies for clean technology, such as carbon capture and storage systems, that help reduce or eliminate emissions from fossil-fuel production.G20 nations collectively promised in 2009 to start removing government dollars from projects that pull oil, gas and coal out of the ground.The Liberals at first promised to do it by 2025 but then moved the deadline up to the end of this year.This report by The Canadian Press was first published J...

Canadian Rangers to help evacuate Quebec Cree communities threatened by wildfires

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:50 GMT

MONTREAL — Ottawa is deploying Canadian Rangers to help evacuate northern Quebec communities threatened by wildfires.Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said today the government will also help fly people to safety.Quebec’s forest fire agency says there are 134 wildfires burning in the province, including 93 in the zone that includes several Cree communities. Canadian Rangers are part of the Canadian Army Reserve who live in remote, isolated and coastal regions of the country.The Grand Council of the Crees said Thursday that several coastal communities in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory were in pre-evacuation mode due to fires that were causing poor air quality and cutting off road access.The Cree nation of Eastmain, on the east coast of James Bay, declared a state of emergency late Thursday due to the fires and urged all residents to prepare for a full evacuation. The Cree Health Board reported that the communities of Nemaska, Waskaganish and Wemindji had also st...

Mexican president continues attacking opposition candidate, despite electoral agency’s order to stop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:50 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president plowed ahead with attacks against the opposition front-runner for the 2024 presidential elections Friday, despite a ruling by electoral authorities that he has been violating equity and neutrality rules with such comments.President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has spent weeks using his morning press briefing to criticize Xóchitl Gálvez, a plain-talking senator and former indigenous affairs official. López Obrador is barred from running again after the end of his six-year term, and Gálvez hasn’t been nominated yet by opposition parties, but she has been gaining momentum.The complaints commission of the National Electoral Institute ruled late Thursday that López Obrador’s remarks “apparently violated the principles of equity, neutrality impartiality,” and ordered the president to “avoid commenting on electoral matters.”López Obrador claimed Friday that electoral authorities “are trying to silence me” and violate his freedom of exp...

Haiti human rights group warns kidnappings and killings are on the rise after a brief respite

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:50 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A leading human rights group in Haiti warned about an upsurge in killings and kidnappings as the U.N. Security Council met Friday to discuss the country’s worsening violence.In a report issued Thursday, the National Human Rights Defense Network also condemned what it called the government’s inaction.It noted that from May 1 to July 12, at least 75 people were killed and another 40 abducted. Among those killed are an attorney, a schoolboy, two morticians and at least six police officers. Those kidnapped include a female journalist from Radio Vision 2000 who was later released. Her husband, the former president of Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council, was abducted in mid-June and is still being held by gang members.Gangs are also accused of breaking into a hospital in the community of Canaan in the northern part of the capital, Port-au-Prince, stealing medical supplies and abducting at least six security guards. In addition, armed criminals last month set...

Capitol riot suspect arrested near Barack Obama’s home indicted on firearms charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:50 GMT

A Capitol riot suspect who had guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in his van when he was arrested near former President Barack Obama’s Washington home has been indicted on federal firearms charges, authorities said Friday. Taylor Taranto, 37, was already facing misdemeanor charges stemming from his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, and a grand jury indicted him on additional felony charges alleging he illegally carried a firearm without a license and unlawfully possessed a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, prosecutors said. A magistrate judge earlier this week ruled that Taranto, of Pasco, Washington, must remain behind bars while he awaits trial because he would pose a danger to the community if released. Taranto’s attorney has said she will appeal that decision. Taranto’s attorney, Kathryn Guevara, didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment Friday on the indictment. Guevara has said that her client had been receiving mental...

Police: Six Flags Great America worker who 'accidentally bumped' ride passenger attacked

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:50 GMT

GURNEE, Ill.  — Three people attacked a Six Flags in Gurnee worker after the ride operator accidentally bumped one of the roller coaster passengers, police say. The incident occurred on Saturday, July 8, around 9:50 p.m. on a roller coaster ride platform. SEE ALSO: NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race cleanup scheduled to end this weekendAccording to police, upon the accidental contact, the passenger and their friends became irate and angrily charged toward the ride operator, hitting and throwing objects at him.The group then left the park when security and Gurnee officers were notified of the incident.As a result of the incident, 18-year-old Adrian Ortiz, of Chicago, was taken into custody and charged with mob action and battery. 6 teens arrested after fight outside Six Flags Great America A 14-year-old girl from Chicago and a 17-year-old girl from Skokie were also taken into custody. Each was referred to juvenile court for mob action and battery.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesT...

Summer of climate catastrophes brings risks for workers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:50 GMT

(The Hill) - In a summer filled with heat waves, fires, smoke and floods, workers face the brunt of climate-related catastrophes. Many workers have worked inside or outside in scorching heat or while breathing in smoke, putting them as risk for illness or even death. Heat deaths have killed dozens of workers each year, a total of more than 400 between 2011 and 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.And as climate change is expected to worsen, so too may these impacts. While heat risk isn’t new, “it’s certainly getting worse with climate change and as temperature and other factors really have exacerbated the issue,” said Rebecca Reindel, director of occupational safety and health at the AFL-CIO, the largest federation labor unions.For weeks, the southern and western U.S has sweltered under brutal heat from the combination of human-caused climate change and an unusually stable heat dome hovering above the Texas-Mexico borderlands.Those conditions have pushed ...

Bulls get some good news from the NBA this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:50 GMT

CHICAGO — It may not make a massive impact on a team looking to take a step forward with essentially the same core in 2023-2024, but it will allow them to make an addition to their roster.This is thanks to a move concerning a Bulls' point guard who isn't expected to play this fall and winter.This week, the NBA granted the designated player exception for Lonzo Ball after it was approved by the league's "Fitness to Play" panel. So what does this mean for the Bulls? They can add another player to their roster ahead of the 2023-2024 season without it impacting their salary cap. There are some restrictions, however, as they look to add this person only for this season due to the designated player exception rules.The Bulls can sign a free agent for one season at 50 percent of Ball's salary ($10.2 million).They could also trade for or claim a player in the final year of his contract should that person's salary be at or under $10.2 million plus 100,000, per the rules of the NBA Collective B...

Extreme heat drives MLS to change games; how it impacts Austin FC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- With extreme heat dominating most of the nation this summer, Major League Soccer is taking steps to protect players, staff and fans. In June, the League announced that Austin FC's July 21 game would get pushed back from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. due to the heat.This summer has been one of the hottest summers on record. The City of Austin began deploying "cooling tents" this week to help people. The electric grid has been put at risk, with ERCOT issuing warnings to conserve energy.While Q2 stadium is designed to keep visitors cool, this heat wave means more steps need to be taken.KXAN News Meteorologist Nick Bannin sat down with Major League Soccer's VP of Operations and Team Administration, Brent Delgado, to discuss how they adjust games to ensure safety on the pitch. This interview has been edited for clarity.NICK BANNIN, KXAN NEWS: First of all, describe the overarching concept of player protection during hot weather.BRENT DELGADO, MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER: Obviously, th...

LIVE BLOG: 539 fans donated, $94K raised so far for Family Eldercare Summer Fan Drive

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — For more than 30 years, Family Eldercare has been running a Summer Fan Drive to keep people cool amid Texas' summer heat.This year's drive comes on a week with multiple days in a row topping out over 100°. KXAN meteorologists forecast the excessive heat will continue for the next one to two weeks. On Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., people can drop off their fans at KXAN, Roger Beasley Mazda locations and Whittlesey Landscape Supplies. They can also donate online. KXAN will be tracking the number of fans collected and money raised and will share updates in this story. How to donate to the 33rd Family Eldercare Summer Fan Drive Fan donations trackerMonetary donations trackerLive blog12 p.m.As of noon, there were 539 fans and $94,794 donated. Reporter Grace Reader with two Texas men's basketball players at the 2023 Summer Fan Drive (KXAN Photo)Amy McHenry and her dog, Gabby, made a 2023 Summer Fan Drive donation in memory of Kaxan. (KXAN Photo)2023 Summer Fan Drive at W...