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Cleaner air: Mission (im)possible for cities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:10 GMT

This article is part of POLITICO’s Global Policy Lab: Living Cities, a collaborative journalism project exploring the future of cities. Sign up here.Europe’s battle over clean air is coming for its streets.  As the EU looks to tighten the bloc’s air quality guidelines, city leaders are bracing for even more intense backlash to measures aimed at slashing pollution and meeting the new rules.Local efforts to curb transport exhaust and lower emissions are already proving controversial. Berlin is embroiled in a major tug-of-war over whether to pedestrianize one of its most iconic boulevards. Sweden’s Moderates have hit out at plans from Stockholm’s ruling left-wing coalition to ban petrol and diesel cars in parts of the city center from 2025. And in the Spanish city of Segovia, the far right is pushing hard against plans to install a low-emission zone, arguing that these schemes “attack the right of citizens to move freely” and “harm wor...

IAEA team gathers marine samples near Fukushima as treated radioactive water is released into sea

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:10 GMT

IWAKI, Japan (AP) — A member of the International Atomic Energy Agency team visiting Fukushima for its first marine sampling since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant started releasing treated radioactive wastewater into the sea said Thursday he does not expect any rise in radiation levels in the fish caught in the regional seas.The IAEA team watched flounder and other popular kinds of fish being caught off the coast earlier Thursday and brought on boats to the Hisanohama port in southern Fukushima for an auction.“I can say that we don’t expect to see any change starting in the fish,” said Paul McGinnity, an IAEA marine radiology scientist.A small rise in the levels of tritium, which cannot be removed from the Fukushima Daiichi wastewater by the plant’s treatment system called ALPS, is possible in locations close to the discharge points, but the levels of radioactivity are expected to be similar to those measured before the discharge last year, he said. Fukushima D...

French officials suspect young people in rash of fake bomb threats, warn of heavy punishments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:10 GMT

PARIS (AP) — France’s government is threatening prison terms and heavy fines for callers who make fake bomb threats after a rash of false alarms forced the evacuation of 15 airports and cancellation of 130 flights and shut the doors of Versailles Palace three times in five days. French officials suggested young people and children may be responsible. Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti blamed “little jokers, little clowns” and vowed, “They will be found, they will be punished.”French law allows prank calls to be punished by up to 3 years’ imprisonment and fines of 45,000 euros ($47,000), the minister said. He said minors’ parents could be made to pay for damages. “We don’t need this. We don’t need troublemakers, psychosis, at this moment,” he said Wednesday. France has been on heightened alert since the fatal stabbing of a schoolteacher last week that was blamed on a suspected Islamic extremist who allegedly declared allegiance to the Islamic State gro...

Pakistan court grants protection from arrest to ex-leader Nawaz Sharif, allowing his return home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:10 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A court in Pakistan on Thursday granted several days of protection from arrest to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in graft cases, clearing the way for him to return home from self-imposed exile in London, where he went in 2019 for medical treatment.The decision by the Islamabad High Court is a major boost for Sharif and his party and comes two days before he is to return to Pakistan ahead of parliamentary elections in January as the country faces deepening political and economic turmoil.Sharif has been a fugitive from justice since failing to appear before a Pakistan court in 2019. He traveled from London to Saudi Arabia last week and is to return home on a special plane from Dubai on Saturday, according to his Pakistan Muslim League party. Sharif stepped down as prime minister in 2017 after being convicted of corruption. Two years later, facing further graft charges, he complained of chest pains and was granted permission by his successor, Imran Khan, to travel ...

Nokia plans to cut up to 14,000 jobs after sales and profits plunge in a weak market

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:10 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Telecom gear maker Nokia said Thursday that it is planning to cut up to 14,000 jobs worldwide, or 16% of its workforce, as part of a push to reduce costs following a plunge in third-quarter sales and profit.The Finnish wireless and fixed-network equipment provider said the planned measures are aimed at reducing its cost base and increasing operational efficiency “to navigate the current market uncertainty.”The company said it is aiming to lower its cost base by between 800 million euros ($843 billion) and 1.2 billion euros by the end of 2026. That was set to lead to a reduction from 86,000 employees now to between 72,000 and 77,000 during that time period.Nokia’s third-quarter sales plummeted 20%, to 4.98 billion euros from 6.24 billion, compared with the same three-month period last year. Comparable net profit plunged to 299 million euros from 551 million in the July-to-September quarter from a year earlier.The company’s biggest unit by revenue — the mobile ne...

EU seeks answers to rising security challenges as Israel-Hamas war fuels new concerns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:10 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union interior ministers on Thursday debated how to manage the impact of the war between Israel and Hamas on the bloc, amid heightened security tensions after a firebomb assault on a Berlin synagogue and killings in Belgium and France by suspected Islamist extremists.Officials from across the 27-nation EU have expressed concerns about a rise in antisemitic attacks, the radicalization of young people online, the use of encrypted messaging services by criminals or extremists, and the need to speed up the deportation of people who might pose a public danger.But calls for an increase in security across the board are also creating deep unease as the solutions being discussed could undermine free movement and the right to assemble in Europe. Italy and Germany, notably, are introducing new border checks.EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell believes that part of the solution to Europe’s security woes must involve the bloc helping diplomatically and financiall...

A first timer’s guide to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:10 GMT

Cross another item off the bucket list. For years, my friends in the theme park enthusiast community have been telling me that I HAVE to check out Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights event. But I’ve been to Halloween events and haunted houses in the past. They kept telling me how this was DIFFERENT. They were right. Last week I flew down to Orlando and checked out HHN for the first time. Over two nights, I experienced every one of the haunted houses and checked out much of what the event had to offer. HHN attracts a large crowd every night, and with so much to do, it can be kind of intimidating for a first time visitor. I thought I would answer some questions you might have about how it works, some observations I had as a newbie, and I'd share my rankings of this year’s haunted houses. First up…What is it? The Universal Orlando Resort has two theme parks - Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure. During the months of September, October and a few ...

Biden announces aid to Israel in historic visit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) -- President Biden was in Israel on Wednesday to meet with the prime minister and war cabinet. He expressed staunch support for Israel, but also concern for innocent Palestinians.Biden's visit to Tel Aviv is a historic one, as the Israeli prime minister hasn't allowed any other U.S. President to visit Israel in a time of war."Thank you for standing with Israel today, tomorrow and always," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Biden strongly condemned the Hamas terrorist attack and U.S. officials announced plans for new aid to Israel."The brutality we saw we have cut deep anywhere in the world, but it cuts deeper here in Israel," Biden said. "I'm going to ask the United States Congress for an unprecedented support package for Israel's defense.""We know that virtually every Israeli has been touched by the bloody hand of Hamas," added Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.Biden also said the U.S. is "pursuing every avenue to bring home those who are being held captiv...

Recovery efforts underway following wildfires at University of Texas lab

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:10 GMT

BASTROP COUNTY, TX (KXAN) -- University of Texas field crews are hard at work recovering over a centuries worth of data that was lost last year. The Pine Pond Fire destroyed more than 300-acres of the Stengl Lost Pines Biological Station in August of last year. READ MORE: Bastrop wildfire destroys centuries worth of data at University of Texas facility "They're really just trying to take a snapshot of what we have here," said Steven Gibson, Site Manager at the Stengl Lab.The forest provided researchers a place to study a rare mature pine forest in Central Texas. Since the 1990's, researchers have been mapping the forest, collecting data on species that live there and studying the various biomes within.Following the fire, all of that work has to be done again, but now in a new type of forest. Instead of a mature woods, scientists can study a baby forest that's been rebooted after a fire. The Stengl Lost Pines Biological Field Lab: September 2023/September 2022First, however, Gibso...

5 things to know this Thursday, October 19

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:10 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- One more day until Friday, we're almost there. Happy Thursday! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, sunshine will make its long-awaited return to the Capital Region today. After tomorrow though, unfortunately, the rest of the forecast is another story. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! New York State workers with disabilities were honored Wednesday at the Capital Region Disabilities Employment Awards. The award ceremony was part of the New York State Industries for the Disabled’s annual meeting. Meanwhile, family members of Honoree Fleming, the woman killed on a rail trail in Castleton, are speaking out. Vermont State Police are investigating several leads into her case. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Thursday morning. 1. NYS workers with disabilities honored at annual employment awards ceremonyNew York State workers with disabilities were honored Wednesday at the...