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Far-right EU lawmakers nominate Elon Musk for human rights award

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:39:52 GMT

STRASBOURG — The far-right political group in the European Parliament nominated tech billionaire Elon Musk for the EU’s top human rights award. The Identity and Democracy (ID) grouping, which includes members of European Parliament tied to France’s Marine Le Pen and Italy’s Matteo Salvini, put Musk’s name forward, according to a document sent to MEPs on September 14 and seen by POLITICO. An ID official confirmed to POLITICO its decision to nominate Musk. ID cited Musk’s decision to release the so-called Twitter Files, which consisted of selected internal documents over how the social media platform handled requests to remove political posts. This amounts to a defense of the principle of freedom of expression, ID argued.The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought includes a €50,000 prize. Last year, it was awarded to the Ukrainian people. Past laureates include Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai and Kofi Annan.Musk is highly unlikely to receive the...

Hungary taunts Sweden over stalled NATO bid

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:39:52 GMT

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on Thursday accused Stockholm of making “unfair and unjust” remarks on the state of democracy in Hungary, which he said were in “contradiction” to Sweden’s bid to join the NATO military alliance, which Budapest hasn’t yet ratified.“You urge our parliamentarians to ratify your accession to NATO, while you continue to accuse them as if they had destructed [sic] democracy in Hungary,” Szijjártó wrote in a letter to his Swedish counterpart Tobias Billström posted on X (formerly Twitter).“This contradiction became now even stronger and definitely does not help your continuously raised demand to be fulfilled,” the minister warned about Stockholm’s NATO aspirations.Hungary, which was one of the last countries to sign off on Finland’s accession to NATO, has dragged its feet on approving Sweden’s candidacy to join the military bloc for months because it says Stockholm...

NASA to Americans: Help us spot UFOs

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:39:52 GMT

NASA is calling for a “government-wide approach” to collect data on UFOs, and is even asking the public to use smartphone apps to help identify mysterious aerial craft.The report released Thursday morning comes a year after NASA formed a group of experts to examine how information about UFOs, which the government officially calls unidentified anomalous phenomena, is collected by the government and private sector. The study is based on unclassified reports and sightings and is separate from a Pentagon effort to collect information on UFOs.By using sensors from NASA’s Earth-observing satellites and commercial remote-sensing technology, Washington could create “a robust and systematic data acquisition strategy within the whole-of-government framework,” according to the report.https://973888d3b7e424d46f4f0ff8e01309ac.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.htmlIt also added that “artificial intelligence and machine learning are essential tools for identifying rar...

Governor’s Council Approves Four Healey Pardon Requests

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:39:52 GMT

A Governor’s Council meeting that featured approval of four new pardons took an unexpected turn Wednesday as one member persistently rebuked her colleagues, before councilors across the room successfully moved to establish a new Rules Committee for the elected panel.At the outset of the session, the Governor’s Council unanimously consented to the latest pardons recommended by Gov. Maura Healey, granting forgiveness to four individuals — Joanne Booth, Kenny Jean, Murphy Smith, and Evan Willey — for convictions ranging from drunken driving to armed robbery between 1979 and 2016.Councilor Tara Jacobs said she noticed a common thread connecting the most recent recommendations and Healey’s first round of clemency in June. They were “almost exclusively” to give a second chance to people who committed “criminal offenses occurring during teenage years, during emerging adult years,” she said during the votes.“I t...

NASA releases UFO report and says more science and less stigma are needed to understand them

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:39:52 GMT

By MARCIA DUNN (AP Aerospace Writer)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA said Thursday that the study of UFOs will require new scientific techniques, including advanced satellites as well as a shift in how unidentified flying objects are perceived. The space agency released the findings after a yearlong study into UFOs.In its 33-page report, an independent team commissioned by NASA cautioned that the negative perception surrounding UFOs poses an obstacle to collecting data. But officials said NASA’s involvement should help reduce the stigma around what it calls UAPs, or unidentified anomalous phenomena.“We want to shift the conversation about UAPs from sensationalism to science,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said. He promised an open and transparent approach.Officials stressed the panel found no evidence that UAPs had extraterrestrial origin. But Nelson acknowledged with billions of stars in billions of galaxies out there, another Earth could exist.“If yo...

Planned Parenthood to resume offering abortions next week in Wisconsin, citing court ruling

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:39:52 GMT

By SCOTT BAUER (Associated Press)MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Planned Parenthood announced Thursday that it will resume offering abortions in Wisconsin next week after a judge ruled that an 1849 law that seemingly banned the procedure actually didn’t apply to abortions.The resumption of abortions Monday at clinics in Milwaukee and Madison comes as the lawsuit challenging the state law continues in county court. It is expected to eventually reach the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which flipped to liberal control on Aug. 1.Abortion clinics across the state stopped offering abortions following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade in June 2022.Democrats in Wisconsin, including Gov. Tony Evers, used abortion access as a central focus of their reelection victories in 2022. State Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz, whose win in April gave liberals the majority for the first time in 15 years, ran as a supporter of abortion rights.Evers hailed the decision.̶...

Swimmer rescued near Ocean Beach Pier

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:39:52 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A swimmer wearing fins and a wetsuit was rescued near the Ocean Beach Pier Thursday morning, said the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. San Diego Lifeguards received a call from an individual around 5:40 a.m. who stated they were on the pier and that there was a woman in the water who needed help. Man hit by Amtrak train in San Diego dies Shortly after the call, SDFD says lifeguards responded with a rescue boat and lifeguards on land. The rescue boat located the woman and brought her to the lifeguard headquarters dock.The woman, who's described to be in her 30s, was transported by ambulance to Scripps Mercy Hospital. She reportedly told the lifeguards that she had been in the water all night.Her condition is unknown at this time.

Dump Day: How to dispose of unwanted items for free

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:39:52 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Another free Dump Day event is set to take place in San Diego County this month.For those working on end-of-summer cleaning and clearing projects, set your calendar for Saturday Sept. 23. The public is welcome to bring non-hazardous, unwanted household items to the Caltrans Santee Maintenance Facility at 8502 Railroad Ave. Designer blankets worth $10,000 stolen from Bonita home Caltrans says staff will be on-site to accept approved waste and debris free of charge from 8 a.m. to noon, or until capacity is reached at the site.San Diegans are asked not to bring hazardous waste like batteries, paint, oils or flammables. Other undesired items include e-waste like televisions, computers, microwaves, stereo equipment and electronics, or construction debris like concrete, dirt, asphalt and asbestos.More information on prohibited items can be found here.According to Caltrans, four mattresses and four tires separated from the rims will be accepted per household. Why...

Biden’s rules on clean cars face a crucial test as Republican-led challenges go to DC appeals court

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:39:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Efforts by the Biden administration to limit pollution from automobile tailpipes — a major source of planet-warming emissions — face a crucial test as legal challenges brought by Republican-led states head to a federal appeals court.The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will hear arguments Thursday and Friday on three cases challenging Biden administration rules targeting cars and trucks. Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming, and the legal cases could go all the way to the Supreme Court.Republican attorneys general say the legal challenges are needed to curtail government overreach, while environmental groups and the Democratic administration say an adverse ruling could jeopardize protections against deadly pollution that contributes to climate change.The cases before the appeals court will test a 2021 Environmental Protection Agency rule that strengthened tailpipe pollution limi...

U.S. benchmark oil price tops US$90 a barrel for first time since November 2022

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:39:52 GMT

TORONTO — The U.S. benchmark price of oil has topped US$90 per barrel for the first time since late last year.The October futures contract for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light sweet crude oil was up US$1.57 at US$90.09 in late-morning trading after going as high as US$90.26.The last time the U.S. benchmark oil price topped US$90 a barrel was in November of last year.Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed last week to extend their voluntary oil production cuts through the end of this year.The move keeps 1.3 million barrels per day of crude oil out of the global market.The rise in oil prices threatens to raise the price of gasoline for drivers and give a boost to inflation that central banks around the world have been working to bring under control.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2023.The Canadian Press