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Lucas: Where is the US response to attacks on troops in Syria, Iraq

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:07:51 GMT

How many? The line came back to me as I watched John Kerry, Joe Biden’s climate czar, sitting across the table from Chinese President Xi Jinping at San Francisco’s summit of Asian leaders.Perhaps Kerry should have been there because Biden believes that climate change is “the ultimate threat to humanity,” and not the communist Chinese or a nuclear armed Iran or North Korea—or even Donald Trump.That remark just about lets all U.S. enemies off the hook.Speaking of remarks, Kerry’s was uttered in 1971 before a much-publicized anti-Vietnam War hearing before the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.Dressed in military fatigues Kerry, a decorated war veteran who became a leader in the anti-Vietnam War movement, took center stage during a period when the U.S. was seeking ways to get out of the unpopular war with some semblance of dignity.Then a young man, Kerry stole the show with his testimony about alleged atrocities committed by U.S. troops—most of which were imagined—and dramat...

More than 400,000 Afghans have returned home from Pakistan following crackdown on migrants

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:07:51 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — More than 400,000 Afghans returned to their home country following the ongoing crackdown on illegal foreigners in the country, Pakistani authorities said Monday.Zabihullah Mujahid, chief spokesperson of the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, confirmed the number and told The Associated Press that the majority have been using the border crossings of Torkham and Spin Boldak to return home.An estimated 1.7 million Afghans had been living in Pakistan when authorities announced its nationwide crackdown, saying that anyone without proper documents had to leave the country by October 31 or else get arrested.However, Pakistani officials said the other 1.4 million Afghans registered as refugees need not worry as only people without proper documentation were sought after.In the 1980s, millions of Afghans fled to neighboring Pakistan during the Soviet occupation of their country. The numbers witnessed a spike after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistan also...

Los Angeles freeway is fully reopened after arson fire, just in time for Monday morning’s rush hour

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:07:51 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An elevated Los Angeles freeway closed for more than a week because of an arson fire reopened ahead of Monday morning’s commute, at least a day earlier than previously announced and weeks ahead of the original estimate.“Welcome back, Los Angeles!” Mayor Karen Bass posted late Sunday on X, formerly known as Twitter.The Nov. 11 blaze, fed by flammable materials stored under the roadway in violation of a company’s lease, shut a mile-long stretch of Interstate 10 near downtown, snarling traffic as repair crews worked around the clock. Officials had said last week that all lanes were expected to reopen by Tuesday, but moved it up to Monday after significant progress. Gov. Gavin Newsom said recent safety inspections showed the span was safe to start reopening Sunday evening and that the freeway would be “fully operational” before Monday’s rush hour. “It wasn’t just speed that we were after. We wanted to make sure this thing was safe,” Newsom said at a ...

Weeklong negotiations for landmark treaty to end plastic pollution close, marred in disagreements

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:07:51 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The latest round of negotiations to craft a treaty to end global plastic pollution closed late on Sunday after strained talks in Nairobi, Kenya, where delegates failed to reach a consensus on how to advance a draft of the treaty after a week of negotiations.Environmental advocates criticized the outcome of the weeklong United Nations-led meeting on plastic pollution, saying oil-producing countries successfully employed stalling tactics designed to weaken the treaty.Delegates were expected to discuss a draft published in September that represented the views from the first two meetings. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for Plastics is mandated with creating the first international, legally binding treaty on plastic pollution in five rounds of negotiations.Member states decided to move forward with a revision of the draft, which has become longer during this third round of negotiations and will be even more difficult to advance, participants said. State...

The Albanian opposition disrupts a Parliament vote on the budget with flares and piled-up chairs

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:07:51 GMT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albanian opposition lawmakers disrupted the Parliament’s session again on Monday to protest against what they say is increasingly authoritarian rule by the governing Socialists. Democratic lawmakers lit flares and piled chairs on top of each other in the middle of the hall the minute Prime Minister Edi Rama took his seat to vote on next year’s budget. A cordon of bodyguards stopped opposition lawmakers from getting near the seats of the Cabinet.The left-wing Socialists, who hold 73 seats in the 140-seat Parliament, made a quick vote in principle and closed the session in 5 minutes. A debate on each budget item is expected later this week.One of the flares sparked a small fire, that was extinguished by opposition lawmakers.The opposition wants to create parliamentary investigative commissions to probe alleged cases of corruption involving Rama and other top government officials.The Socialists say the opposition’s requests are not in line with constitution...

Not just kid play: Toy companies aim more products at older adults

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:07:51 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Toymakers are tweaking original classic games or coming out with new ones that embrace an audience that’s been around for a while: people over 65 years old. The products are being marketed as a way for older folks to sharpen their brain skills as well as allay loneliness by helping them connect with other family members and friends, although some experts have raised doubts about toymakers’ claims. Toymaker Hasbro penned a licensing deal with Ageless Innovation — which designs toys with older people in mind — to come out with new versions of Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit and Life with a tagline “Generations” that offer bigger fonts on tiles and bigger game pieces. The new “Generations” versions of Life and Trivial Pursuit also have expanded their content to cater to younger and older people alike. For instance, the answer to a question in Trivial Pursuit about fitness can be Jack LaLanne or Zumba, depending on the player’s age. The new offerings hit stores in ...

Papua New Guinea volcano erupts and Japan says it’s assessing a possible tsunami risk to its islands

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:07:51 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — A volcano in Papua New Guinea erupted on Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, adding it was assessing a possible risk of a tsunami for Japanese coasts.Mount Ulawun on the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea erupted at around 3:30 p.m. (0630 GMT) Monday, spewing volcanic smoke as high as 15,000 meters (50,000 feet), the agency said, quoting the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Darwin, Australia, The agency said it was assessing a possible impact, including the risk of a tsunami approaching Japan later Monday. First tsunami waves could reach Izu and Ogasawara islands about three hours after the shaking caused by the eruption, JMA said.The agency has not issued any tsunami advisory or warning. It said that no notable change to sea levels has been detected at observation sites in and outside Japan. Papua New Guinea’s Geohazards Management Division, a government agency that monitors earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions, did not immediately respond to a ...

No Thanksgiving 'food orgy'? New obesity meds change thoughts of holiday meals

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:07:51 GMT

For most of her life, Claudia Stearns dreaded Thanksgiving. As a person who struggled with obesity since childhood, Stearns hated the annual turmoil of obsessing about what she ate — and the guilt of overindulging on a holiday built around food.Now, after losing nearly 100 pounds using medications including Wegovy, a powerful new anti-obesity drug, Stearns says the “food noise” in her head has gone very, very quiet.“Last year, it felt so lovely to just be able to enjoy my meal, to focus on being with friends and family, to focus on the joy of the day,” says Stearns, 65, of Somerville, Massachusetts. “That was a whole new experience.”As millions of Americans struggling with obesity gain access to a new generation of weight-loss drugs, Stearns’ experience is becoming more common — and more noticeable at the times of year when cooking, eating and a sense of abundance can define and heighten gatherings of loved ones and friends. Medical experts and consumers say the drugs are shifting n...

Nutty question: Are there an unusual number of acorns this year?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:07:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Any visitors to Zilker Park this fall may have noticed an extra CRUNCH to their step. Dozens upon dozens of acorns are littering the park. It's not just there either, backyards, lawns, sidewalks, all coated in a nice crunchy layer of nuts. So what's the deal? "Unfortunately, we don't have someone who goes around and studies all the acorns on the ground to see if we're sure enough getting, you know many more this year than other years, but it does anecdotally at least appear that there are a lot of acorns dropping right now," said John Davis, a biologist for the City of Austin.According to Davis, acorns are the seed of oak trees. They typically drop to the ground in the fall. Oaks can be found all across Central Texas, with several varieties.While we were dealing with the hottest summer on record and a severe drought, so were these oak trees. Davis says that during severe weather, many plants and wildlife take some unique actions to survive. In the case of the oak, i...

GasBuddy: Avg. Alb. prices drop 5.1 cents in last week

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:07:51 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Average gasoline prices in Albany have fallen 5.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.55/g Monday, according to GasBuddy's survey of 546 stations in Albany. Prices in Albany are 17.1 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 36.9 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has fallen 6.9 cents in the last week and stands at $4.28 per gallon. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Albany was priced at $3.25/g Sunday, while the most expensive was $3.89/g, a difference of 64.0 cents per gallon. The lowest price in the state Sunday was $2.69/g while the highest was $5.00/g, a difference of $2.31/g.The national average price of gasoline has fallen 6.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.27/g Monday. The national average is down 25.9 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 36.9 cents per...