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‘Dangerous pivot’ on overseas oil and gas deals splits Biden administration

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:02 GMT

The Biden administration is retreating from its promises to stop funding oil and gas projects overseas, triggering a split among senior officials over whether to prioritize climate change or the diplomatic alliances the White House has deemed critical to counter Russia and China.Federal agencies have approved funding for proposals like renovations to an Indonesian oil refinery and shipments of natural gas to Poland — sometimes over the objections of President Joe Biden’s special climate envoy, John Kerry, and Democratic lawmakers.The policy shift shows how the fraught global political situation caused by the war in Ukraine and Washington’s tense rivalry with Beijing is threatening environmental goals. Democratic lawmakers and environmentalists fear the change could erode U.S. climate leadership as greenhouse gas emissions rise steadily and temperatures soar.“The Biden administration continues to approve one fossil project after another, which completely undermines our international ...

‘If you go after me, I’m coming after you!’: US prosecutors flag threatening Trump post to judge

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:02 GMT

Prosecutors on Friday night called a judge’s attention to a social media post from Donald Trump — issued hours earlier — in which they say the former president appeared to declare that he’s “coming after” those he sees as responsible for the series of formidable legal challenges he is facing.Attorneys from special counsel Jack Smith’s team said the post from Trump “specifically or by implication” referenced those involved in his criminal case for seeking to subvert the 2020 election.In a court filing just before 10 p.m. Friday, Senior Assistant Special Counsels Molly Gaston and Thomas Windom alerted the judge in Trump’s latest criminal case – U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan – to a combative post Trump sent earlier in the day.“If you go after me, I’m coming after you!” Trump wrote in all caps Friday afternoon on Truth Social, which is run by a media company he co-owns.The prosecutors said Trump’s post raised concerns that he might improperly share evidence in the case on his ...

Pope visits Portuguese shrine known for apocalyptic prophesy linked to Russia as war rages on

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:02 GMT

FATIMA, Portugal (AP) — Pope Francis visited the Portuguese town of Fatima on Saturday to pray for peace at a shrine known for apocalyptic prophesies of hell, peace and Soviet communism that have found new relevance with Russia’s war in Ukraine.Francis was spending the morning in Fatima, praying with sick people and prisoners, alongside pilgrims who began filling the shrine’s central esplanade long before sunrise. As Francis prayed before a statue of the Madonna, nearby wildfires turned the sky smoky black and sent ash flittering down on the crowd.The trip was a brief excursion from Lisbon, where Francis has been presiding over World Youth Day celebrations, the big Catholic jamboree that has gathered nearly 1 million young Catholics together. He returns to the Portuguese capital for a Saturday night vigil service and then will preside over a final Mass on Sunday, where the site of the next edition of the faith festival will be announced.The Fatima story dates back to 191...

Niger’s junta isn’t backing down, and a regional force prepares to intervene. Here’s what to expect

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:02 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Regional mediation efforts to reverse the coup in Niger and restore its democracy collapsed as soon as they started. Tensions have escalated as the Sunday deadline nears for possible military intervention by other West African countries.As its meeting ended Friday in neighboring Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, the region’s defense chiefs finalized a plan to use force against the Niger junta — needing approval by their political leaders — if Mohamed Bazoum is not reinstated as Niger’s president. An Economic Community of West African States delegation to Niger, led by Nigeria’s former head of state Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, had tried unsuccessfully to meet with the coup leader, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, who later declared that any aggression against Niger “will see an immediate response and without warning.”What started as an overthrow of the president by his closest commanders in the Presidential Guard has received the support of some other s...

Pakistani police arrest former Prime Minister Imran Khan

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:02 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani police on Saturday arrested former Prime Minister Khan at his home in the eastern city of Lahore. It’s the second time the popular opposition leader has been detained this year. Earlier Saturday, a court convicted him in an asset concealment case, handing down a prison sentence that could see him barred from politics. The Islamabad court issued the arrest warrant after convicting Khan, with police in Lahore moving quickly to take him from his home to the Pakistani capital.It’s a fresh blow to Khan’s bid to return to power. Since his ouster from power in a no-confidence vote in the parliament in April 2022, Khan has been slapped with more than 150 legal cases, including several on charges of corruption, terrorism and inciting people to violence over deadly protests in May that saw his followers attack government and military property across the country.The Associated Press

Syria’s main al-Qaida-linked group denies it was behind the killing of an Islamic State leader

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:02 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s main insurgent al-Qaida-linked group denied it was behind the killing of the Islamic State group’s leader in the country’s northwest saying it would have otherwise claimed responsibility.The security arm of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, made the announcement Friday night, a day after IS blamed the Syrian insurgent group for the death of its little-known leader, Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurayshi, who headed the extremist organization since November.“We categorically deny this claim,” the spokesman of HTS, General Security Diaa al-Omar, said in a terse statement. He said HTS would continue to fight “evil acts” by IS in rebel-held parts of Syria, adding that had his group been behind al-Qurayshi’s death “we would have given the good news to Muslims and announced it directly.”Al-Qurayshi was the fourth IS leader to be killed since the group was founded by Iraqi militant Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and declared a caliphate in large parts of Syria and Iraq in Jun...

Norwegian climber retires after becoming the fastest to climb world’s highest 14 peaks in 92 days

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:02 GMT

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A Norwegian who just became the fastest climber to scale all the world’s 14 highest mountains announced she was retiring from climbing high peaks on Saturday upon her return to Nepal. Kristin Harila along with her Sherpa guide Tenjin were given a hero’s welcome at the Kathmandu airport where hundreds including mountaineers, government officials and well-wishers gathered to welcome them back with cheers and flower garlands.Harila and Tenjin scaled Mount K2 in Pakistan last week, thus concluding the climb of the 14th peak — that is more than 8000 meters (about 26,000 feet) — high in 92 days, shattering the previous record of 189 days.“I don’t think I will try any eight-thousand meters for a while.” Harila said. “I have done 28 eight-thousand meters in total so I think I have done my part.”The 37-year-old climber began the mission of setting a new record in April by scaling Mount Shishapangma followed by other peaks in China as well as Nepal, i...

Daily horoscope for August 5, 2023

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:02 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Aries.Happy Birthday for Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023:You are very good at what you do. You’re independent and like to call the shots. You’re an excellent manager and can organize the efforts of others. This year is slower-paced and more laid-back. It’s time to rejuvenate yourself and focus on relationships that make you happy.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★★Enjoy fun outings today. In fact, this is the perfect day for a vacation. Performance arts, the theater, musical concerts, sports events and playful activities with children will be fun choices. Accept invitations to socialize. Enjoy your day! Tonight: You win!TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★Get ready to entertain today, because this is a wonderful day to entertain friends and groups. You have been busy with redecorating and making things look better. Why not show off what you’ve done? (Or enlist the help of friends to do m...

Miss Manners: Should we warn our guests about our house’s acoustic anomaly?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:02 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I just moved into a new two-story home. The primary suite is on the main floor, directly under the only room that will work as a guest room.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: My co-worker said what I did was insulting, but I’ve never heard of this rule Advice | Miss Manners: We accidentally invited them to the wedding. How do we undo it? Advice | Miss Manners: Should I report my mother-in-law for her workplace crime? Advice | Miss Manners: Can we tell the in-laws what wedding gift would be appropriate? Advice | Miss Manners: Am I allowed to point out that these people are short? Unfortunately, we have discovered that when we are in our bedroom, we are able to hear every little noise made in the room above.We plan to have as many visitors, both friends and family, as will honor our home. We don’t want to create any awkwardness or discomfort for our guests ...

Dear Abby: The bride’s dramatic cousins unleashed wedding backlash

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:02 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I was recently married, and I didn’t invite several of my cousins, some of whom are quite dramatic.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: This unpleasant couple is ruining my peace and quiet Advice | Dear Abby: He put security cameras everywhere, and now he’s logging our activities Advice | Dear Abby: The photos he takes of me are threatening our marriage Advice | Dear Abby: My friends are going to be angry about what I’ve hidden from them Advice | Dear Abby: My parents took in my ex while I had to live in my car While I care about them, we aren’t close, and I rarely hear from them. I don’t regard a wedding as an excuse for a family reunion, so I chose to invite friends who are like family and who have demonstrated they wanted to be a part of my life.I’m now getting backlash from those who were not invited.Was it wrong to invite only the people I knew were genu...