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European leaders commit to more wind energy production

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:24:25 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — A group of Western European nations led by Germany and France on Monday committed to massively ramp up the production of clean energy from wind turbines in the North Sea, to both meet climate targets and reduce their strategic energy dependence on Russia.Their leaders also vowed to improve security around the growing underwater electricity grid so it cannot fall victim to hybrid threats. Fears of such attacks have increased since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year.“The offshore windmills, but also the cables and the pipes on the ground, are prone to sabotage or espionage,” Belgian Prime Minister and summit host Alexander De Croo said.Energy independence was also high on the leaders’ priorities.“We’ve seen over the past months what the impact is if you are too dependent on outsiders for the supply of energy,” De Croo said, referring to the energy supply crunch over the winter when EU nations decided to start sidestepping Russian fossil fuels followi...

Head of Alberta Energy Regulator declines to say when province told of oilsands leak

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:24:25 GMT

OTTAWA — The head of the Alberta Energy Regulator has declined to tell a parliamentary committee when the provincial government was informed of releases from an oilsands tailings pond.Laurie Pushor told the environment and sustainable development committee he doesn’t want to jeopardize a probe by a third-party contractor hired by the regulator’s board.Pushor was facing questions from Edmonton New Democrat MP Heather McPherson.Before Pushor spoke, McPherson requested that he testify under oath, the only witness to do so in three days of hearings.The committee is looking into why governments and area First Nations weren’t kept updated on seepage from a tailings pond at Imperial Oil’s Kearl oilsands mine.Pushor has apologized for that delay and pledged improvement. Representatives from two of those First Nations told the committee they don’t trust the Alberta regulator and called for a stronger role in managing the industry’s environmental impacts. T...

Pakistani police say 2 blasts at facility in NW kill 7

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:24:25 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Two explosions Monday at a counterterrorism police facility in northwest Pakistan killed at least seven people and wounded 45, police said.Senior police officer Ataullah Khan said an initial blast at the facility in the Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was followed by a larger, more intense one.No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but in recent months, the Pakistani Taliban have claimed similar attacks after ending a cease-fire with the government.Khan said part of the building collapsed and rescue workers retrieved three bodies and the 30 wounded people. He said the death toll could increase.The police complex also houses the Kabal district police station and headquarters of a reserve police force but the main damage was done at the counterterrorism department building. The picturesque Swat valley once had been the stronghold of Islamic militants who imposed strict Sharia rule there until the army carried out a massive operati...

Israeli police: 5 wounded in ramming near Jerusalem market

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:24:25 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — A car ramming attack Monday near a popular Jerusalem market wounded five people and the Palestinian driver was shot and killed, Israeli police said, as the country memorialized its fallen soldiers. The statement said the driver of the car was shot and killed at the scene near the bustling, open-air Mahane Yehuda market. A 70-year-old man was in serious condition, police said. It was the latest bloodshed in a yearlong wave of near-daily violence that has gripped the region.The Magen David Adom medical service said five injured people in Jerusalem were transferred from the scene of the car ramming to a hospital. Israeli media identified the attacker as Hatem Nejima, 39, a married father of five from a Palestinian section of east Jerusalem, who may have suffered from mental illness.Police said the attacker “deliberately hit several pedestrians, some of whom were crossing the road,” and attempted to drive backwards before a bystander shot and killed him. The police stat...

Toronto dog left abandoned with note from owner gets adopted by new family

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:24:25 GMT

Max, a three-year-old dog that was abandoned and left with a note from his owner pleading to help him find a good home, was adopted last week, the Toronto Humane Society says.Max, described in the note as a “very smart” dog who is “good with kids,” was found at the Primrose Avenue Parkette near an off-leash dog park on Monday, April 3.The note revealed that the owner lost their job and apartment and couldn’t afford to care for Max.“He’s a good boy,” the note concluded.A handwritten note was left with four-year-old pet dog Max, found abandoned on Monday. Credit: Toronto Humane Society.Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. The Toronto Humane Society confirmed that Max was adopted on Friday, April 21.“His new family already loves him so much, and he has a new dog sibling too!” the humane society mentioned in a news release.Toronto Humane Society offers urgent care program for familiesBefore Max’s adoption, staff at...

Judge: No contempt of court for St. Louis prosecutor

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:24:25 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The city’s elected prosecutor was not in contempt of court as a result of her office’s failure to have a prosecutor present when a murder trial was due to begin, a St. Louis judge ruled Monday.Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s office let “fall through the cracks” the fact that the prosecutor for the case, Alex Polta, was out on medical leave and no replacement was assigned, Judge Scott A. Millikan determined after a 45-minute hearing. But Millikan said the mistake didn’t rise to the level of contempt of court.The ruling comes amid efforts by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey to remove Gardner from office. A hearing is scheduled for September. Bailey alleges that too many cases, including homicides, have gone unpunished under Gardner’s watch, that victims and their families are left uninformed, and that the prosecutor’s office is too slow to take on cases brought by police.For her part, Gardner alleges that the Republican attorn...

Mob in Haiti capital burns to death 13 suspected gangsters

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:24:25 GMT

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A mob in the Haitian capital beat and burned 13 suspected gang members to death with gasoline-soaked tires Monday after pulling the men from police custody at a traffic stop, police and witnesses said.The horrific violence underlined the increasingly lawless situation in Port-au-Prince where criminal gangs have taken control over an estimated 60% of the city since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.Haiti National Police said in a brief statement that officers in the city’s Canape Vert section stopped and searched a minibus for contraband, and had confiscated weapons from suspects before they were “unfortunately lynched by members of the population.” The statement did not elaborate on how members of the crowd were able to take control of the suspects.A witness who gave his name as Edner Samuel told The Associated Press that members of the crowd took the suspected gangsters away from police, beat them and stoned them before puttin...

Closing arguments Monday in 'ComEd Four' bribery trial

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:24:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Closing arguments are underway Monday in the ComEd bribery trial.The defense rested its case Friday after just two of the four defendants chose to testify.ComEd lobbyist, John Hooker, admitted Wednesday to hiring allies of then-House speaker Michael Madigan. He claimed they were just political referrals and not part of a bribery scheme. Defense rests in ‘ComEd Four’ bribery trial Prosecutors said the "ComEd Four" funneled jobs and cash to associates of Madigan, to curry his favor on legislation important to utility.The “ComEd Four” are former Madigan confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and former ComEd consultant Jay Doherty. All have pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including bribery conspiracy.

'Large rock' used in string of business burglaries on Northwest Side

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:24:25 GMT

CHICAGO — A large rock was used in several business burglaries to smash the door open on the Northwest Side.Chicago police issued a community alert and a timeline of the incidents is below.4200 block of North Central Ave. April 15 between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m.4600 block of North Central Ave. April 15 at 5:03 a.m.4300 block of West Irving Park Rd. April 17 at 1:06 a.m.1800 block of North Milwaukee Ave. April 17, 2023 at 1:39 a.m.4700 block of West Foster Ave. April 23, 2023 at 12:54 a.m.4700 block of West Foster Ave. April 22 at 9:30 p.m., April 23 at 4:36 a.m.4700 block of West Foster Ave. April 23 at 4:30 a.m.3200 block of North Pulaski Rd. April 24th at 2:23 a.m.In the incidents, police believe a group of four males, wearing black face masks and dark clothes, used a large rock to get into each business. Once inside, cash from the registers and bottles of alcohol were taken.The group was driving a dark-colored SUV, police said.No one is in custody. Anyone with information can leave an ...

Monday Forecast: Temps in low 50s with increasing clouds

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:24:25 GMT

CHICAGO — A Freeze Warning is in effect until 8 a.m. Monday with increasing clouds. Winds: W 5-10 G15. High: 52. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Mostly cloudy tonight with slight early morning rain chance. Winds: SSW 5-10. Low: 39.Tuesday Forecast: Mostly cloudy with 40% chance of scattered rain chance, cooler lakeside. Winds: N 5-10 G15. High: 48/45.Full forecast details at the WGN Weather Center