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Fireworks prompt Code Purple, ‘Hazardous’ air quality alerts for part of DC region

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:00 GMT

The National Mall fireworks show attracted thousands to D.C. and lit up the Tuesday night sky in a beautiful display, but it also left lingering smoke and triggered air quality alerts.“Code Purple” air spread into Prince George’s County, Maryland, on Tuesday night. “Code Red” air stretched across more of Southern Maryland and into Fairfax and Arlington counties and the city of Alexandria in Virginia, according to AirNow.Here’s a chart explaining the Air Quality Index and its corresponding alerts:At least part of D.C. reached “Hazardous” levels of air pollution, which is the most serious alert in the Air Quality Index. (Courtesy AirNow.gov)“We’re looking at some very unhealthy levels across parts of our area. There’s no fireworks display that was bigger than what was happening over D.C., and with the winds being out of the west and southwest, we’re seeing some of the fine particle pollutants being carried into No...

Sunak hits back at net zero critics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:00 GMT

Presented by SSE By CHARLIE COOPER and RUSSELL HARGRAVE PRESENTED BY View in your browser or listen to audioSNEAK PEEK— Rishi Sunak isn’t worried about the U.K. falling behind the EU and the U.S. on green investment. So that’s fine.— The global hydrogen race is hotting up — and British businesses don’t want the U.K. to miss out.— Outgoing CCC Chair John Gummer is speaking to a Lords committee today. We have a few more choice insights from our interview with him.Good Wednesday morning and welcome to POLITICO Pro Morning Energy and Climate UK. If you are not already a Pro subscriber and would like a free trial of this newsletter, sign up here.DRIVING THE DAYWHAT RISHI DID NEXT: The PM was up before the Liaison Committee Tuesday afternoon — the so-called super group of senior MPs — where he was grilled on the U.K.’s green goals and net zero leadership. Environmental Audit Committee Chair Philip Dunne was questioner-in-...

Australian leader criticizes Hong Kong’s attempt to arrest 2 activists who now live in Australia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:00 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday criticized Hong Kong authorities over their pursuit of two pro-democracy activists who live in Australia.Hong Kong’s leader said Tuesday that eight pro-democracy activists who now live in the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia will be pursued for life for alleged national security offenses, dismissing criticism that the move to have them arrested was a dangerous precedent.Albanese said his government was concerned and disappointed by Hong Kong authorities issuing arrest warrants for Australian citizen Kevin Yam and Australian permanent resident Ted Hui.“I am of course disappointed. I’ve said we’ll cooperate with China where we can. But we will disagree where we must. And we do disagree with China with these actions,” Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corp.The U.S. and British governments also criticized the move, taking issue with the extraterritorial application of Hong Kong’s Nat...

China accuses US of turning Taiwan into a powder keg with its latest sales to self-governing island

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:00 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s Defense Ministry accused the United States of turning Taiwan into a powder keg Wednesday with its latest sales of military equipment to the self-governing island democracy worth a total of $440.2 million. The U.S. State Department approved of the sale of 30 mm ammunition and related equipment, along with spare parts for Taiwan’s vehicles, small arms, combat weapon systems, and logistical support items. Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Tan Kefei responded that “the U.S. ignores China’s core concerns, crudely interferes in China’s internal affairs, and deliberately escalates tensions across the Taiwan Strait.”China claims Taiwan as its own territory to be conquered by force if necessary and Tan said “stern representations” had been lodged with the U.S. “This is tantamount to accelerating the transformation of Taiwan into a ‘powder keg’ and pushing the Taiwanese people into the abyss of disaster,” he said in a statement carried on the mi...

Two months after Charles III’s coronation, Scotland hosts its own event to honor the new monarch

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:00 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Two months after the lavish coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey in London, Scotland is set to host its own event to mark the new monarch’s accession to the throne.While Charles and Queen Camilla won’t be crowned a second time Wednesday in Edinburgh, the festivities will include a crown, horse-drawn carriages, mounted cavalry and a flyover by the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force’s aerobatic display team, as Scotland celebrates its unique relationship with the monarchy.The focal point of the event is a service of thanksgiving at St. Giles’ Cathedral, where Charles will be presented with the Scottish Honors — the crown, scepter and sword of state once used to crown Scotland’s kings and queens. The Stone of Destiny, an important symbol of Scottish identity, will also be moved to the cathedral for the festivities.The presence of these icons of Scotland’s nationhood is a mark of respect for a country that is fiercely proud of its history and where the desire o...

US citizenship test changes are coming, raising concerns for those with low English skills

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:00 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The U.S. citizenship test is being updated, and some immigrants and advocates worry the changes will hurt test-takers with lower levels of English proficiency. The naturalization test is one of the final steps toward citizenship — a monthslong process that requires legal permanent residency for years before applying.Many are still shaken after former Republican President Donald Trump’s administration changed the test in 2020, making it longer and more difficult to pass. Within months, Democratic President Joe Biden took office and signed an executive order aimed at eliminating barriers to citizenship. In that spirit, the citizenship test was changed back to its previous version, which was last updated in 2008.In December, U.S. authorities said the test was due for an update after 15 years. The new version is expected late next year. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services proposes that the new test adds a speaking section to assess English skills. An officer...

Colorado Rapids’ game versus Portland Timbers postponed due to severe weather

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:00 GMT

COMMERCE CITY — The fireworks were readied at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Much like the soccer game, neither lit off.For the second time in the last three games, the Colorado Rapids’ game was postponed due to weather, this time, after one half of play was completed against the Portland Timbers with what was widely expected to be the largest crowd of the season inside the stadium at the team’s annual “4thFest.”A June 21 game against Vancouver was also called off and re-scheduled for Sept. 27. With another home game this Saturday, the grounds crew will be able to keep the pitch in shape thanks to modern turf and drainage system techniques.At 7:42 p.m., a severe weather warning was announced and DSGP was delayed for the first time and soon after, the stadium was battered by multiple bands of wind, rain and lightning.Hey, @BianchiWeather, is this considered a deluge? I think so. Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is absolutely getting dumped on. #Rapids96 #CO...

Poland to bolster security on border with Belarus, interior minister says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:00 GMT

Poland said on Sunday (2 July) it will send 500 police to shore up security at its border with Belarus to cope with rising numbers of migrants crossing as well as any potential threats after the Wagner group of mercenaries relocates to Belarus."Due to the tense situation on the border with Belarus I have decided to bolster our forces with 500 Polish police officers from preventive and counter-terrorism units," Minister of Interior Mariusz Kaminski wrote on his Twitter account.The police force would join 5,000 border guards and 2,000 soldiers in securing the border, he said.Poland has accused Belarus of artificially creating a migrant crisis on the border since 2021 by flying in people from the Middle East and Africa and attempting to push them across the frontier.The Polish Border Guard said on Sunday that 187 people tried to cross into Poland from Belarus illegally on Saturday (1 July), and numbers have been growing steadily in recent months, although they are well below levels see...

Papal envoy says Moscow visit focused on humanitarian issues, not peace plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:00 GMT

Papal envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi said on Sunday (2 July) his mission to Moscow on the Ukraine war was focused on humanitarian issues and had not involved any discussions of a peace plan.Pope Francis had in May asked Zuppi, head of the Italian bishops' conference, to carry out a peace mission to try to help end the war in Ukraine.Zuppi met one of President Vladimir Putin's advisers, Yuri Ushakov, and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, in Moscow this week. Earlier in June, he also visited Kyiv for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.All the meetings "were important, especially in humanitarian aspects, which are what we have focused on. There is not a peace plan, not a mediation," Zuppi told state broadcaster RAI."There is a big aspiration that the violence will end and that human life can be preserved, starting with the protection of the little ones", he said, adding he would meet with Pope Francis in coming days to discuss the outcome of the meetings he ...

Multiple people shot in Hayward on 4th of July

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:00 GMT

(KRON) -- Multiple people were shot in Hayward on Tuesday night, the Hayward Police Department confirmed to KRON4.Hayward police responded to the 400 block of Ranker Place and found multiple victims. Police could not confirm the number of victims or the severity of the injuries. As of Tuesday night, there were no fatalities and no suspects in custody. This is a developing story. Stick with KRON4 for updates.