UAE state oil firm moves up net zero climate target to 2045

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:59:41 GMT

UAE state oil firm moves up net zero climate target to 2045 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A state-run oil giant in the United Arab Emirates said Monday it has moved up its target for achieving net zero emissions in its operations to 2045, as the country prepares to host U.N. climate talks later this year.The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, known as ADNOC, said it is also committed to acheiving zero methane emissions by 2030. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term.Earlier this year, ADNOC earmarked $15 billion for an array of green initiatives, including the development of hydrogen power, carbon capture facilities and the planting of mangroves. The company had previously committed to net zero — the balancing of greenhouse gas emissions to the point that the amount removed from the atmosphere is equal to the amount emitted — by 2050.The UAE, an OPEC member that produces over 3 million barrels of crude oil a day, will host the global climate talks known as COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1...

Greek prime minister seeks improved relations with Turkey but says Ankara needs to drop aggression

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:59:41 GMT

Greek prime minister seeks improved relations with Turkey but says Ankara needs to drop aggression NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Greece’s prime minister said Monday that his government wants to take full advantage of a developing positive political climate with neighboring Turkey in order to improve bilateral relations despite a string of decades-old disputes. But Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that doesn’t mean Turkey has “substantially changed” its stance on key differences between the two countries and needs to “decisively abandon its aggressive and unlawful conduct” against Greece’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.Turkey and Greece remain at odds over maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, a dispute that affects irregular migration into the European Union, mineral rights and the projection of military power.Mitsotakis said that he agreed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12 to initiate new “lines of communication” and to maintain “a period of calm.”High-level talks between the the two co...

RFK Jr. says he’s not anti-vaccine. His record shows the opposite. It’s one of many inconsistencies

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:59:41 GMT

RFK Jr. says he’s not anti-vaccine. His record shows the opposite. It’s one of many inconsistencies Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic because of his strident opposition to vaccines. Yet, he insists he’s not anti-vaccine. He has associated with influential people on the far right – including Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon and Michael Flynn – to raise his profile. Yet, he portrays himself as a true Democrat inheriting the mantle of the Kennedy family.As he challenges President Joe Biden, the stories he tells on the campaign trail about himself, his life’s work and what he stands for are often the opposite of what his record actually shows.Though Kennedy’s primary challenge to a sitting president is widely considered a long-shot, he’s been sucking up media attention due to his famous name and the possibility that his run could weaken Biden ahead of what is expected to be a close general election in 2024. He’s drawn praise from Republican presidential candidates like Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Meanwhi...

Inside a Canadian man’s massive psychic scam

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:59:41 GMT

Inside a Canadian man’s massive psychic scam In today’s Big Story Podcast, this is the story of a scam that lasted for decades, and cost its victims over $200 million. It was run by a Canadian man, Patrice Runner, who now sits in an American prison. It sold the services of a psychic, but that wasn’t the problem with it — the issue was that the scammer used a particular psychic’s likeness without permission.Rachel Browne is an investigative journalist and documentary producer, and she wrote about Patrice Runner for The Walrus. “This whole case raises questions about the level of deceit in all advertisement, the level of deceit in the ways that things are marketed. I think this case kind of shows the importance of critical thinking and carefully examining promises that are being made wherever they’re coming from,” said Browne. How did the scheme work, and who fell for it? Can you really scam people who are already voluntarily paying for a service that promises to tell you the future or make you rich? What...

Canada eliminated from Women’s World Cup following loss to Australia

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:59:41 GMT

Canada eliminated from Women’s World Cup following loss to Australia Canada’s run at the FIFA Women’s World Cup has come to an end following a 4-0 loss to host Australia.With Nigeria playing to a 0-0 draw against Ireland, Canada was bumped down to third in Group B. Australia finishes atop the group with the win and will face the second-place team in Group D in the knockout stage.Hayley Raso scored twice in the first half to give the Matildas a commanding lead. Mary Fowler made it 3-0 in the 58th minute then Stephanie Catley scored on a penalty in stoppage time.Canada had three shots on target while Australia finished with six.Going into the tournament, the Canadians looked to build off their performance at the Tokyo Olympics where they won the gold medal in 2020. Canada was eliminated in the round of 16 in their last Women’s World Cup appearance four years ago in France.With their group stage exit, Canada is the first reigning Olympic gold medalist to be eliminated before the quarterfinal of the ensuing Women’s World Cup.

Police search for driver who intentionally hit 6 migrant workers; injuries aren’t life-threatening

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:59:41 GMT

Police search for driver who intentionally hit 6 migrant workers; injuries aren’t life-threatening LINCOLNTON, N.C. (AP) — Six migrant workers were intentionally hit by an SUV in a Walmart parking lot in North Carolina on Sunday, police said. The workers were hit at a Walmart in Lincolnton in what appears to have been an intentional assault with a vehicle, but the Lincolnton Police Department said in a statement posted on social media that the driver’s motives are still under investigation. The workers were taken to a hospital with various injuries, but police said none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening. Police are asking the public for help identifying the driver and the vehicle, described as an older model black sport utility vehicle with a luggage rack. The Associated Press

DeSantis says Trump’s 'juvenile insults' help him

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:59:41 GMT

DeSantis says Trump’s 'juvenile insults' help him (The Hill) -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), a 2024 GOP presidential candidate, said that fellow presidential candidate and rival, former President Donald Trump's, “juvenile insults” toward him have helped him.DeSantis made the remarks during a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Sunday. “First of all, I mean, I think a lot of this stuff when he hits me with it with juvenile insults, I think that helps me,” DeSantis told reporters. "I don't think voters like that. I think they look at it and they realize, like, you know what, that's not effective. And so I don't think it's effective.” DeSantis also said Trump’s insults are just another reminder that millions of voters will not vote for him during this election cycle. “So I actually don't mind that at all,” DeSantis added. “I think it's just a reminder, why there's so many millions of voters who will never vote for him going forward.” Trump tops DeSantis by 37 points in new GOP poll Trump has targeted DeSantis with a...

High school boys are trending conservative

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:59:41 GMT

High school boys are trending conservative (The Hill) -- A popular narrative suggests young people are liberal and getting more liberal. Thus, social media buzzed when a chart surfaced in spring that seemed to suggest that 12th-grade boys had become overwhelmingly conservative. As with many Reddit posts and viral tweets, the truth was more complicated. But the numbers do say this: Twelfth-grade boys are nearly twice as likely to identify as conservative versus liberal, according to a respected federal survey of American youth. In annual surveys over the last three years, roughly one-quarter of high school seniors self-identified as conservative or “very conservative” on the Monitoring the Future survey, a scholarly endeavor that dates to the 1970s. Only 13 percent of boys identified as liberal or very liberal in those years. The figures represent a striking shift in the political views of boys. As recently as the late 2000s, liberal boys occasionally outnumbered conservatives. Back in the Carter era, both boys...

Dean's A-List Interviews: Greta Gerwig, director of 'Barbie'

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:59:41 GMT

Dean's A-List Interviews: Greta Gerwig, director of 'Barbie' Dean sits down with Greta Gerwig, director of 'Barbie,' to talk more about her casting decisions of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

These are the 5 worst states to retire in, study finds

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:59:41 GMT

These are the 5 worst states to retire in, study finds (NEXSTAR) – When it comes to retirement, where you live can greatly affect just how golden your post-career years actually are.A new study from Bankrate ranks all 50 U.S. states when it comes to affordability, overall well-being, healthcare quality/cost, weather and crime. With soaring inflation and a volatile stock market, affordability was given the most statistical weight, with the others decreasing respectively.Iowa is the best state in which to retire, the study found, thanks to its affordability (3), quality/cost of health care (11) and crime (12).“Choosing where to retire is deeply personal, but Iowa’s affordable cost of living, inexpensive but high-quality health care and low crime make it a compelling option for retirees looking to stretch their retirement income in this economy,” said Bankrate analyst Alex Gailey. “In our overall ranking, the best and worst states for retirees are split geographically. The Midwest and the South claim the top five states, while the Northeas...