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Fusion breakthrough highlights Tri-Valley’s emergence as Bay Area tech mecca

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:58:57 GMT

For a brief moment in December, scientists inside a nondescript gray building in the Bay Area suburbs re-created the conditions of the sun.“It’s a singular moment in humanity,” said Vincent Tang, the principal deputy director for the National Ignition Facility and Photon Science Directorate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. “The first time that anyone has brought star fire to Earth.”The breakthrough — fusion ignition — was a stirring moment for the team, some of whom had been working toward this for decades. The achievement was hailed by U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm as “one of the most impressive scientific feats of the 21st century,” portending the potential for a nearly unlimited source of clean renewable energy. According to Tang, it is “one of the most important missions on earth.”Laser Bay in the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory on Wednesday, Aug 2, 2023, in Livermore, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) The Li...

The Dutch prime minister tells Zelenskyy the Netherlands and Denmark will give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:58:57 GMT

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch prime minister tells Zelenskyy the Netherlands and Denmark will give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.Source

Los ecuatorianos acuden este domingo a las urnas bajo una creciente ola de violencia

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:58:57 GMT

QUITO, Ecuador – Más de 13.4 millones de ecuatorianos están convocados este domingo a las urnas para votar en unas inéditas elecciones generales, que se celebran en medio de una escalada de violencia atribuida al crimen organizado que tuvo uno de sus episodios más recientes y trágicos en el asesinato del candidato presidencial Fernando Villavicencio.En el proceso, que comenzó el pasado jueves con el voto de los presos sin sentencia en firme, y siguió el viernes con el voto en casa para mayores de 50 años o personas con discapacidad de más del 75%, los ecuatorianos designarán al sucesor o sucesora del actual presidente, el conservador Guillermo Lasso, y a los 137 nuevos integrantes de la Asamblea Nacional (Parlamento).Ello luego de que en mayo pasado, Lasso disolviera la Asamblea, de mayoría opositora, cuando se disponía a votar una moción de censura en su contra por presunto peculado (malversación), que él negaba, y pidiera la convocatoria a elecciones, amparado en el recurso ...

As mortgage rates soar over 7%, an unaffordable housing market is becoming even more expensive

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:58:57 GMT

Washington, DC (CNN) — An already miserably unaffordable housing market is getting more expensive. As mortgage rates top 7% — the highest they’ve been in 21 years according to Freddie Mac — home buyers face ballooning costs. Some housing experts are warning that rates could keep climbing toward 8%.What does this mean for house hunters? Even ever-optimistic real estate pros say buyers and sellers must adjust their expectations.“I don’t like to be ‘doom and gloom,’ this is my book of business,” said Bess Freedman, CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, a national real estate firm. “I still say real estate is the best long-term investment. But there has been a shift. It is flawed for people to assume that just because inflation has started to move in the right direction, that mortgage rates will go down, too.” Despite recent reports that inflation is cooling, it’s still too high and the economy too hot — and for the housing market, that’s not good, said Freedman.“The fact that we are seei...

Spain wins Women’s World Cup for the first time, deservedly beating England in Sydney

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:58:57 GMT

(CNN) — History has been made. Against the odds and amid a backdrop of turmoil, Spain reached the pinnacle in Sydney on Sunday, deservedly beating England 1-0 to win the Women’s World Cup for the first time.That Spain had progressed to the final, given the tumultuous year the national team had experienced, was remarkable. That La Roja triumphed against the reigning European champion and pre-match favorite in spite of the disputes and divisions which has clouded the national team throughout the tournament makes this achievement extraordinary.Olga Carmona’s wonderful 29th-minute strike proved to be the winner. Spain could even afford to miss a second-half penalty as La Roja became only the second country, after Germany, to win both the men’s and women’s World Cups.As Spain’s players celebrated by forming a joyful heap of red on the Stadium Australia pitch, many of England’s players were in tears as hopes of becoming the country’s first senior soccer world cham...

WATCH LIVE: Hilary treks north toward San Diego

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:58:57 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Hilary's trek north toward San Diego continues Sunday morning with rain now overspreading Southern California. The National Weather Service says the forecasts for heavy rain and "catastrophic flooding" remains unchanged. MORE: Tracking Hilary California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency Saturday evening, and San Diego County officials also proclaimed a local emergency shortly after.As for the center of the storm, it's expected to hit San Diego sometime between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday. That's according to Chris Heiser, the executive director for the City of San Diego Office of Emergency.“This is a large storm with a huge footprint and unlike what we usually see in San Diego,” Heiser said during a news conference.Alex Tardy with NWS says the winds are expected to pick up as the center of Hilary gets closer Sunday afternoon.FOX 5 will be providing real-time updates (below) as Hilary makes her way to the region.Blog: Real-time updates on Hilary1:36 ...

Firefighters take stock of N.W.T. fires as cooler, wet weather expected to end

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:58:57 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE — Firefighters trying to keep wildfires at bay from the city of Yellowknife were planning to take stock of the situation this morning after cooler, damp weather gave them a break Saturday.Crews were to scan the fires with infrared sensors to better understand the condition of the fires and judge whether an attack on them would be safe and successful. The break that firefighters defending the capital of the Northwest Territories got from about four millimetres of rain is expected to end today, as temperatures are forecast to climb above 20 C.Wildfire information officer Mike Westwick told a news conference Saturday night that the “fire’s taken a nap” and it’s “going to wake up” as temperatures rise.The blaze, which prompted the evacuation of almost all 20,000 residents Yellowknife, remained about 15 kilometres from the community yesterday.Environment and Climate Change Minister Shane Thompson says that over the last week, 68 per cent of...

B.C. wildfires: no new evacuations overnight as grim battle goes on

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:58:57 GMT

British Columbia’s desperate battle against hundreds of wildfires continues on multiple fronts Sunday, but no new evacuation orders have been added overnight to the thousands already in place across the province.B.C. Premier David Eby said Saturday the situation was “grim” as he announced an emergency travel ban to fire zones to free up accommodation for 30,000 or more evacuees across the province, as well as fire crews.The last new evacuation order was issued at 1:33 p.m. Saturday for residents of the tiny lakeside community of Sorrento on Highway 1, due to the Lower East Adams Lake fire complex which has caused extensive regional destruction in the Columbia Shuswap in the southern Interior.In the central Okanagan to the south, ground zero for a massive fight against blazes on both sides of Lake Okanagan, no new orders have been issued since 9:18 p.m. Friday.Hundreds of firefighters there are engaged against fires that have been looming over Kelowna and West Kelow...

Official says wildfire on Spain’s popular tourist island of Tenerife was started deliberately

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:58:57 GMT

SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Canary Islands (AP) — Canary Islands regional President Fernando Clavijo said Sunday that police have confirmed that a wildfire raging on the Spanish tourist island of Tenerife was started deliberately. Clavijo said police had opened three lines of investigation but did not say if there had been any arrests. Improved weather conditions helped firefighters make advances overnight in their battle to tame the blaze that has raged out of control for the past five days, authorities said Sunday.“The night was very difficult but thanks to the work of the firefighters, the results have been very positive,” Tenerife governor Rosa Dávila said at a news conference.The Canary Islands have been in drought for most of the past few years, just like most of mainland Spain. The islands have recorded below-average rainfall in recent years because of changing weather patterns impacted by climate change.Although the blaze in the northeast of the island is not near the main touri...

One in custody following attack at Christie Subway Station

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:58:57 GMT

One person is in custody after an attack at Christie Subway Station on Saturday night.At approximately 7:01 p.m. police received reports of a violent person inside the subway station.The person allegedly attacked TTC staff and caused a large crowd gathering outside the station doors.Injuries are unknown and travellers were asked to stay outside for their own safety.A male left the subway station and police located him near Christie Pitts taking him into custody.VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR:Christie Subway Stn7:01 p.m.– Reports of a violent person inside the Christie Subway Station who attacked TTC Staff– Unknown injuries– Large crowd gathering outside the Station doors; they are being asked to stay outside for their own safety#GO1937529^lb— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) August 19, 2023