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EU auditors fears reaching ambitious climate targets will run into financial problems

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:57 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s auditing agency warned Monday that there might not be sufficient financing available to meet the bloc’s ambitious climate targets. The warning from the Court of Auditors comes as the 27-nation bloc is already struggling to live up to image as the global leader in working toward climate neutrality because of a political fight in the EU legislature to push through environmental protection measures. In a 63-page report, the court also noted that the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, did not include all greenhouse gas emissions in its tallies, which might lead to overly optimistic statistics. The report’s authors also found some of the commission’s accounting too opaque. Regarding its finding on financing, the court said that 30% of the 2021-2027 budget was to be spent on climate action, or about 87 billion euros ($95 billion) a year. “This amount is less than 10% of the total investment needed to reach the 20...

Trudeau notes concern over effects of Russia’s ‘internal challenges’ while in Iceland

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:57 GMT

VESTMANNAEYJAR, ICELAND — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined the leaders of Nordic countries on Monday in expressing concern over the potential effects of this weekend’s short-lived uprising in Russia, while stressing that their support for Ukraine remains steadfast.“We had obviously very serious conversations about possible implications of the internal challenges that Russia is facing,” Trudeau said at a joint news conference with Nordic prime ministers in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, where he was a special guest at their annual meeting.“It is their internal challenges,” he said. “But our strength in continuing to stand for Ukraine … to defend the values of democracy and openness and territorial integrity and sovereignty that define not just our approaches, but the United Nations’ approach to the rules-based order, remains consistent.”A brief armed revolt in Russia over the weekend by Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the mercenary paramilit...

Calgary-based Suncor Energy says it suffered a cybersecurity incident

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:57 GMT

CALGARY — Canadian oil company Suncor Energy Inc. has confirmed it has been the victim of a cyberattack.The Calgary-based energy giant said in a news release late Sunday that it has “experienced a cyber-security incident.” The company said it is working with third-party experts to investigate and resolve the situation, and has notified appropriate authorities.Suncor provided no further details about the type of attack, or which parts of its operations were affected.However, over the weekend, social media users complained about an inability to use credit or debit cards at the company’s chain of Petro-Canada gas stations, as well as difficulties accessing car wash services.Petro-Canada’s official Twitter account sent a tweet Saturday saying that the company’s Petro-Points app and website were temporarily unavailable.On Monday, Suncor said “some transactions with customers and suppliers” may be impacted as the company works to resolve the situa...

Bicyclist, 67, dead after being hit by vehicle on Southwest Side

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:57 GMT

CHICAGO — A 67-year-old man was struck by a vehicle while riding a bicycle in the city's Garfield Ridge neighborhood Saturday night.According to police, a 32-year-old man was making a left turn in a car near the 6500 block of South Natchez Avenue around 9:30 p.m. when he struck the bicyclist. Woman, 26, stabbed in chest in Loop: Police The man was transported to Christ Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Police are investigating the incident and citations are pending.

Canceled flight? Here's what you're entitled to

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid peak summer travel, thousands of air travelers faced flight cancellations and delays this weekend as thunderstorms rolled in across the U.S. East Coast and Midwest.In addition to bad weather, a technology failure also contributed to airline disruptions. The Federal Aviation Administration briefly paused operations at Washington, D.C.-area airports Sunday evening due to a problem with the communications system at a major air traffic control facility. Departures resumed after repairs were completed.Beyond D.C., a chain of flights was also delayed or halted at other major travel hubs — including New York, Chicago and Atlanta — as thunderstorms moved across the country.Nearly 2,000 U.S. flights were canceled on Saturday and Sunday combined, according to flight tracking service FlightAware, and more than 850 U.S. flights had been canceled as of 11:15 a.m. ET Monday. Thousands of additional travelers experienced delays.Staying calm — and knowing your ...

Fox News overhauls primetime lineup

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:57 GMT

(The Hill) -- Fox News has announced major changes to its weekday primetime lineup beginning next month. Jesse Watters' 7 p.m. program will move to 8 p.m. and take the slot previously held by former host Tucker Carlson, while Laura Ingraham will have her program moved into Watters' 7 p.m. hour.Longtime host Sean Hannity's show will remain at 9 p.m. and Late Night host and comedian Greg Gutfeld will host a show at 10 p.m. DEVELOPING

YouTuber 'MrBeast' says he was invited to go on Titan submersible before deadly trip

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:57 GMT

(WFLA) — YouTuber MrBeast said he declined a spot on the Titan submersible before the tragic trip that killed five people, according to a Sunday tweet.The YouTuber and philanthropist, whose legal name is James Stephen "Jimmy" Donaldson, revealed he was invited earlier in the month, but he said no.In the tweet, Donaldson posted a text message from an unknown sender saying, "The team would be stoked to have [him] along.""Kind of scary that I could have been on it," Donaldson wrote. US Navy: Hefty salvage system not required in probe of fatal Titan implosion Officials said OceanGate's Titan submersible imploded while visiting the wreckage of the Titanic, resulting in the deaths of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush and four other people.Donaldson isn't the only one who declined a spot on the submersible. Las Vegas businessman Jay Bloom said he and his son were offered seats at a discount but refused to go after expressing concerns over the vessel's safety.Instead, his tickets went to Pakist...

Chicago businessman James Crown killed in Colorado car crash

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:57 GMT

Chicago businessman James Crown has died.Crown died in a single vehicle accident at the Aspen Motorsports Park in Colorado, according to the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office.Crown collided with an impact barrier.The official cause of death is pending an autopsy, but the coroner's office said multiple blunt force trauma was evident.Crown was part of the billionaire Crown family and president of Henry Crown & Company and owned Aspen Skiing company.Crown was 70 years old.His bio on the JP Morgan Chase website notes that Crown was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Aspen Institute, a Trustee of the Museum of Science and Industry and of the University of Chicago and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and was formerly a member of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board. 3 dead, 5 injured after shooting in Kansas City Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson released a statement Monday that read, “I was devastated to hear of Jim Crown’s tragic passing this weekend...

Austin leaders warn of 'dangerous heat conditions' this week

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin city leaders will hold a press conference Monday morning to share "important health and safety information" as temperatures are expected to climb well past 100° again today.A Heat Advisory has been issued for Travis County Monday, and the KXAN First Warning Weather Team forecasts excessive heat to last at least until the end of the month.Mayor Kirk Watson will lead the 10 a.m. press conference. He'll be joined by Ken Snipes, director of Austin Homeland Security and Emergency Management; Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority; Stuart Reilly, interim general manager of Austin Energy, and Austin-Travis County EMS Asst. Chief Wesley Hopkins.Speakers will share efforts to help residents keep cool, as well as energy conservation information.KXAN will stream this morning's press conference in this story at 10 a.m.

UT professor John Goodenough, world's oldest Nobel Prize recipient, dies at 100

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:57 GMT

The video above is from October 2019, when Goodenough was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.AUSTIN (KXAN) — University of Texas professor John Goodenough, known as the inventor of the lithium-ion battery, has died at the age of 100, the university announced Monday."Goodenough was a dedicated public servant, a sought-after mentor and a brilliant yet humble inventor," a release from the university said.In 2019, at the age of 97, Goodenough became the world's oldest Nobel Prize recipient, having won the prestigious award for chemistry for his battery work."My share of the Nobel prize will go to my University [of Texas at Austin] to support the people who work there," Goodenough said at the time. He shared the award with M. Stanley Whittingham of the State University of New York at Binghamton and Akira Yoshino of Meijo University in Japan. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 97-year-old UT professor says his Nobel Prize money will go to the university "John’s legacy as a brilliant scientist is imme...