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G7 vows more effort on renewables but sets no coal phaseout deadline

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:11:30 GMT

The Group of Seven richest countries set higher 2030 targets for generating renewable energy, amid an energy crisis provoked by Russia’s war on Ukraine, but they set no deadline to phase out coal-fired power plants. At a meeting hosted by Japan, ministers from Japan, the U.S., Canada, Italy, France, Germany and the U.K. reaffirmed their commitment to reach zero carbon emissions by the middle of the century, and said they aimed to collectively increase solar power capacity by 1 terawatt and offshore wind by 150 gigawatts by the end of this decade. “The G7 contributes to expanding renewable energy globally and bringing down costs by strengthening capacity including through a collective increase in offshore wind capacity … and a collective increase of solar …,” the energy and environment ministers said in a 36-page communiqué issued after the two-day meeting.“In the midst of an unprecedented energy crisis, it’s important to come up with measure...

Local high school robotics team goes global, competes internationally

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:11:30 GMT

Westwood High School’s robotics team is headed to Houston, Texas after qualifying for the robotics world championship. Wolverine Robotics qualified for the FIRST Championship for the first time in its 18-year history.Excitement is mounting for the competition April 19 through 22. The team will be showing off their latest invention, a robot named Luxo. The program helps students hone their team skills and connect with mentors who work in robotics. The team is proud to be recognized among the best in the world and excited for a chance to win it all.“We went to New England Championship where we won our division and then went on to beat the winner of the other division to be crowned the number one winners of all of New England,” Team Mentor Steven Harrington said.For the leaders of Wolverine Robotics, this is the cherry on top of a strong season. To compete at the global level, the teams will design a robot from scratch to do a series of tasks in a creative and efficient way....

Shooting at Alabama birthday party kills 4; ‘multitude’ hurt

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:11:30 GMT

By The Associated PressDADEVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Four people have been killed and multiple people injured during a shooting at a birthday party Saturday night in Dadeville, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said.The shooting happened at the birthday party around 10:30 p.m., Sgt. Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said. There was no initial confirmation about what led to the shooting. It was not immediately known if a suspect was in custody.“There were four lives tragically lost in this incident and there’s been a multitude of injuries,” Burkett said during a news conference Sunday morning.The shootings rocked the small city of 3,200. Dadeville Chief Jonathan L. Floyd paused to regain his composure before speaking at the news conference.“What we’ve dealt with is something that no community should have to endure. I just ask for your patience. It’s going to be a long process, but I do earnestly solicit your prayers,” Floyd...

Raising Cane’s 'most craveable chicken fingers' coming to East County

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:11:30 GMT

EL CAJON, Calif. -- Raising Cane’s, a southern fried chicken chain, is set to open a brand new location in East County this summer.The Rancho San Diego Towne Center, located at 2891 Jamacha Rd. in El Cajon, will house "the nation's fastest-growing chicken finger concept" in a 3,267-square-foot space adjacent to Neighborhood National Bank, a spokesperson for the shopping center explained. Graze Craze: Charcuterie board utopia opens first San Diego location Chicken finger fanatics will have a chance to indulge in Raising Cane’s “Bird Specialists” hand battered premium chicken that the company says is marinated for 24-hours before being cooked to order. Guests can expect "chicken fingers that are hot and tender down to the last bite."“The incredible taste and made-to-order quality of Raising Cane’s meals is something we expect our guests will enjoy tremendously,” said Dana Duncan, Senior Property Manager of Rancho San Diego Towne Center. “Just as we have done with other top-name add...

‘Mario’ tops charts again; ‘Beau is Afraid’ wins in limited

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:11:30 GMT

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” scored the best second weekend ever for an animated movie in North American theaters with $87 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. The family-friendly Universal release dropped a slim 41% from its record-making opening weekend. With $94 million from international showings, “Mario’s” global total now stands at a staggering $678 million, surpassing “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” to become biggest film of 2023 in just two weekends.“Mario” faced little major competition this weekend even with a slew of new national releases including “ Renfield,” “The Pope’s Exorcist,” “ Mafia Mamma ” and the animated “ Suzume.” It still has two weekends before “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” flies into theaters to jumpstart the summer moviegoing season.Sony and Screen Gem’s R-rated “The Pope’s Exorcist” starring Russell Crowe as the late Father Gabriele Amorth — the chief exorcist of the Diocese of Rome from 1986 to his dea...

Deepfake porn could be a growing problem amid AI race

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:11:30 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Artificial intelligence imaging can be used to create art, try on clothes in virtual fitting rooms or help design advertising campaigns.But experts fear the darker side of the easily accessible tools could worsen something that primarily harms women: nonconsensual deepfake pornography. Deepfakes are videos and images that have been digitally created or altered with artificial intelligence or machine learning. Porn created using the technology first began spreading across the internet several years ago when a Reddit user shared clips that placed the faces of female celebrities on the shoulders of porn actors.Since then, deepfake creators have disseminated similar videos and images targeting online influencers, journalists and others with a public profile. Thousands of videos exist across a plethora of websites. And some have been offering users the opportunity to create their own images — essentially allowing anyone to turn whoever they wish into sexual fantasies with...

Sheriff’s deputy and suspect killed in Minnesota shootout

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:11:30 GMT

CYRUS, Minn. (AP) — One sheriff’s deputy died and two other law enforcement officers were injured after a shootout in west-central Minnesota that also killed the suspect in a domestic disturbance call Saturday night.The Pope County Sheriff’s office said one deputy died at the hospital after the shooting that happened around 7:30 p.m. at an apartment in Cyrus. Another deputy was treated for his injuries at the hospital and released. An officer from Starbuck, Minnesota, was also injured but did not need treatment at the hospital.The sheriff’s office said the man officers exchanged gunfire with also died. Authorities said there is no threat to the public.The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting with the investigation. Authorities planned to release more details Sunday afternoon.Cyrus is a town of about 300 people located 140 miles (225 kilometers) northwest of Minneapolis.The Associated Press

‘Ramadan Camp’ reaches Muslim children across the globe

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:11:30 GMT

Amin Aaser remembers as a child growing up in Minnesota that his Muslim faith often made him feel like an outsider, and being required to follow its practices and tenets “sometimes felt like going to the dentist.”Those memories are part of what spurred Aaser, now a married man with a 5-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son, to spend Ramadan producing an online, interactive “Ramadan Camp” for Muslim children ages 5-12 throughout the world.The Noor Kids Ramadan Camp started two years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, about 90,000 families have signed up, and about 3,000 families join live every night, he said.The camp is streamed from a warehouse in Brooklyn Park that is designed to resemble a treehouse. Children spend between 30 minutes and an hour hearing stories, playing games, making projects, listening to guest speakers and sharing prayers.It’s all intended to find fun ways to help the children learn and discuss the tenets of their faith while meeting other Muslim...

Red Cross: Yemen’s warring sides wrap up major prisoner swap

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:11:30 GMT

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Yemen’s warring sides on Sunday wrapped up a major exchange of prisoners linked to the country’s long-running conflict, according to the International Committee for the Red Cross.The three-day operation, which started Friday, was the most significant prisoner exchange in Yemen since the Saudi-led coalition and their rivals, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, released more than 1,000 detainees in October 2020.The U.N.-brokered deal involved the release of over 700 detained Houthis, and more than 180 other prisoners, including Saudi and Sudanese troops fighting with the Saudi-led coalition.The Red Cross said it “worked tirelessly to reunite about 900 former detainees with their families,” describing the prisoner exchange as a “positive step toward peace and reconciliation in Yemen.”Yemen was plunged into devastating conflict when the Iranian-backed Houthis descended from their northern stronghold in 2014, seizing the capital of Sanaa and much of northern Yemen and f...

COVID-19 pandemic stalled progress on eliminating tuberculosis among Inuit: officials

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:11:30 GMT

Nunavut’s health minister says the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted efforts to eliminate tuberculosis in Inuit communities, and questions remain over whether targets to stamp out the disease can be met.“COVID has had a huge impact on every area of health care, and that includes TB,” said John Main. “While we were putting so much effort toward dealing with COVID, we did have to slow the pace of work on other areas.”Five years ago, Ottawa and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, a national advocacy group, announced plans to reduce active tuberculosis across Inuit Nunangat by at least half to no more than 100 cases per 100,000 people by 2025, and eliminate it entirely by 2030. Inuit Nunangat, or Inuit homeland in Canada, is made up of more than 50 communities in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Quebec and Labrador.Public Health Agency of Canada data indicates reported rates of active tuberculosis dropped significantly among Inuit between 2019 and 2020 from 188.7 cases p...