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At U.N. climate talks, world leaders to pledge and plead on second of leaders’ summit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:50 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A critical climate conference that began with world leaders acknowledging an Earth in crisis was set for a second day of leaders’ speeches on Saturday that organizers hope will set the stage for concrete action in coming days.The annual United Nations conference, known as COP28, was dominated Friday by presidents, prime ministers and royals laying out their plans to reduce heat-trapping emissions and urging each other to come together to avert climate catastrophe that seemed to draw closer than ever in 2023.With about 150 of the planet’s top decision-makers in attendance, opening speeches spilled into Saturday where some 60 nations had yet to speak before the major work of the conference, which runs through Dec. 12, begins.Missing from the conference are the heads of the top two polluting nations — Presidents Joe Biden of the U.S. and Xi Jinping of China. Vice President Kamala Harris was set to stand in Saturday for Biden.Harris’ appear...

US Navy plans to raise jet plane off Hawaii coral reef using inflatable cylinders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:50 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. Navy plans to use inflatable cylinders to lift and roll a jet plane off a coral reef in Hawaii before removal from the ocean waters where the aircraft crashed on Nov. 20. Rear Adm. Kevin Lenox, the commander of Carrier Strike Group 3 who is leading the salvage effort, said Friday he is confident the operation can be carried out without further damaging the reef.The P-8A slammed into an environmentally sensitive bay about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Honolulu when it overshot the runway at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. None of the nine people on board at the time were injured. The Navy is investigating the mishap. The Navy released underwater video on Wednesday showing landing gear wheels resting on parts of crushed coral and much of the rest of the plane floating above the reef in Kaneohe Bay.A Navy team already has removed nearly all of the estimated 2,000 gallons (7,500 liters) of fuel that was on the aircraft. Lenox said he expected the removal operation to ...

Ronaldo walks off to chants of ‘Messi! Messi!’ as his team loses 3-0 in Riyadh derby

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:50 GMT

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo walked off the field with the gleeful chants of “Messi! Messi!” ringing in his ears from delighted Al-Hilal fans who had just watched their Saudi Pro League team beat the Portugal superstar’s Al-Nassr 3-0 in the Riyadh Derby on Friday. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner may have finished on the losing team — Aleksandar Mitrovic scored twice after fellow Serbian Sergej Milinkovic-Savic opened Al-Hilal — but Ronaldo still remains the focus of attention in Saudi Arabian soccer despite the taunts of opposition fans referencing his great rival of nearly two decades.As thousands of cars headed east out of downtown Riyadh to watch the top two league teams and bitter local rivals face off at the King Fahd International Stadium — the last to be played at the arena for three years as it is to be renovated to host games at the 2027 Asian Cup and anticipated 2034 World Cup — one Al-Nassr fan leaned out and shouted: “Are you here to see Cristiano...

A gray, damp weekend — Sporadic sprinkles or a bit of drizzle Saturday followed by the return of chilly rain Saturday night/Sunday with mixed wet snow north and west of city

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:50 GMT

WGN WEATHER HEADLINESWELCOME TO DECEMBER, 2023 — the beginning of the 3-month METEOROLOGICAL/CLIMATOLOGICAL WINTER SEASON (which includes December, January and February)!The new month arrived overnight at midnight — and it's historically been Chicago's 3rd coldest month of the year, seeing on average over the most recent 30-year period 7.6" of snow. (January is typically the coldest; February, the 2nd coldest month of the year in Chicago).We have an El Niño running in the equatorial Pacific — a warming of ocean waters which includes a decrease in easterly trade winds there. The warming of waters there have upstream and downstream impacts on global weather — so the impacts of El Niños typically reach far beyond the equatorial Pacific.In Chicago, our in-house work on past El Niños since 1950 shows something like 60% of Decembers and meteorological winter seasons end up milder and drier than other winters. This DOESN'T mean, cold surges or snowstorms will be completely absent — but it ...

AFD, ATCEMS respond to vehicle rescue in west Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person was extricated after a crash in west Austin on Friday, the Austin Fire Department said on social media.Shortly before 10 p.m., AFD and Austin-Travis County EMS responded to the vehicle rescue on West 35th Street over MoPac, according to the fire department.AFD said drivers should avoid West 35th Street westbound on the overpass. MoPac traffic is unaffected, according to officials.No other details were available Friday. We will update this article as those details come in.

Texas high school football playoff scores for Friday, Dec. 1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Liberty Hill and Wimberley clinched spots in their respective state semifinals with wins Friday night, winning regional finals in the Texas high school football playoffs.Liberty Hill took out San Antonio Pieper 28-14 at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos while the Texans went down to Von Ormy and pounded Sinton 38-13. Liberty Hill will take on Port Neches-Groves in the 5A Division II semifinals with a time and location to be announced. Wimberley will face Bellville in the 4A Division II semifinals next week. Rivals Westlake, Lake Travis face off for spot in 6A Division I semis Saturday Blanco fell to Edna in 3A Division I play at Bastrop 55-13.Dripping Springs, Lake Travis and Westlake all play their regional final games on Saturday. The Cavaliers and Chaparrals meet in the 6A Division I Region IV final at 2 p.m. from The Pfield in Pflugerville while Dripping Springs heads to the Alamodome to face Cibolo Steele in the 6A Division II Region IV final at 7 p.m.Check out the...

St. Louis families await fate of radiation compensation bill in Congress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Families impacted by the nuclear waste in St. Louis are anxiously waiting to see if Congress approves a bill that would compensate some victims.Dawn Chapman and Karen Nickel with Just Moms STL are back in St. Louis after a quick trip to the nation's capitol. While there, they shared stories of many who suffered from radioactive contamination in the St. Louis region and lobbied for legislation to fund victims with serious conditions, like genetic disorders and cancers. Karen and Dawn estimate that as many as four million families in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County could be exposed to radiation. Three men charged in St. Charles County trafficking case plead not guilty "A friend that lives across the street up from the high school, she is in her very early 20s, and she was just diagnosed with Blastoma, and they're giving her two to four months to live," said Nickel. "This is the third brain tumor in my neighborhood, where we are right now in just a...

Pests and rodents discovered at KIPP Wonder Academy, teachers call for action

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Teachers at Kipp Wonder Academy, a charter elementary school in south St. Louis, are pushing for better conditions after recent discoveries of pests and rodents on school grounds. Educators raised concerns Friday afternoon during a professional development meeting. /top Three men charged in St. Charles County trafficking case plead not guilty After the meeting, KIPP officials emailed Wonder Academy staff, informing them that inspection team would "complete comprehensive building reviews" next week, also looking to take control of the pest and rodent situations. Meanwhile, KIPP Wonder Academy students will not have school on Monday and will plan for virtual learning on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. KIPP officials say there will be another team meeting on Monday to update on conditions at the school.

Col. Jeffery A. Smith takes on new leadership role at Scott Air Force Base

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:50 GMT

SHILOH, Ill. - Colonel Jeffery A. Smith assumed his new position as the Air Force Reserve Command’s 932nd Airlift Wing Commander on Friday at Scott Air Force Base. Col. Smith was the former director of safety for the gateway wing of air mobility command at Scott Air Force Base. He also served as the director of intelligence, operations, and plans while deployed in Kuwait. Dozens gathered for an installation ceremony on Friday to recognize Col. Smith, who says he is elated to take on his new position. Three men charged in St. Charles County trafficking case plead not guilty “It's absolutely amazing to take leadership or command of a wing that has a global mission," said Smith. "We help support our congressional delegations, our first lady, and also our four-star combat commander.”With new responsibilities, Smith will lead over eleven hundred airmen who support national interests worldwide.“He’s chosen to focus on the people, the mission, and the story of the 932nd," said Gen. Meli...

Costa Rica celebra 75 años sin ejército, una hazaña que la convirtió en referente de paz

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:50 GMT

(CNN Español) — Hace 75 años, después de una guerra civil que dividió el país, Costa Rica tomó una decisión que cambió su rumbo: abolir el ejército. El antiguo Cuartel Bellavista, hoy Museo Nacional, es símbolo de ese giro histórico, que se conmemora cada 1 de diciembre.Sus paredes perforadas por balas recuerdan su pasado de fortaleza militar, pero hoy resguardan con esmero parte de la historia del país.Al frente está la Plaza de la Democracia y la Abolición del Ejército, denominada así en 2016 cuando se colocó la escultura del artífice de esa decisión, el tres veces presidente de Costa Rica, José Figueres Ferrer. El conjunto escultórico en su honor lo completa una niña que representa la cultura, un niño que simboliza la educación y un mazo como alegoría de la abolición del ejército.Ese mazo es parte de una fotografía que inmortalizó ese 1 de diciembre de 1948 cuando Figueres, en un acto simbólico para abolir el ejército, golpeó uno de los muros del cuartel, decisión de la Jun...