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Saudi Arabia extends cut in oil it sends to the world in bid to boost prices

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:50 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Saudi Arabia will extend a cut in the amount of oil it sends to the world after a series of previous reductions by members of the OPEC+ alliance of major producing countries failed to prop up prices.That’s been a good thing for U.S. drivers, who have been able to fill their gas tanks for less money in recent months. But it’s bad news for OPEC+ countries whose oil income bolsters their economies and who have faced setbacks in pushing prices higher despite initial fears that the Israel-Hamas war could affect oil flows.The Saudi Energy Ministry said in a statement on its website that its voluntary cut of 1 million barrels per day will stay in place through the first three months of next year. It had been due to expire after the end of the year and comes on top of other sweeping cuts made by OPEC+ and individual countries.The reductions have not made lasting changes to oil prices because of concerns about oversupply in a weakening global economy, which could weigh on the t...

La frenética temporada de huracanes llega a su fin y los expertos vislumbran el potencial del próximo año

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:50 GMT

(CNN) — La temporada de huracanes del Atlántico de 2023 termina este jueves como una de las más activas registradas, con un giro: la mayoría de sus tormentas se desviaron hacia el medio del océano Atlántico.Pero como se espera que El Niño termine el próximo año y las temperaturas globales aumenten, los meteorólogos dicen que existe un “alto potencial” para una temporada de huracanes aún más activa en 2024 y hay incertidumbre sobre lo que eso podría significar para Estados Unidos.Las temperaturas oceánicas récord esta temporada dieron paso a una actividad tropical superior a la media y neutralizaron la eficacia de un fortalecimiento de El Niño, que normalmente inhibe el desarrollo de tormentas en el Atlántico al destrozarlas con vientos hostiles en los niveles superiores.¿Qué tipos de huracanes hay y qué significan las categorías 1, 2, 3, 4 y 5?Al final de la temporada, cobraron vida 20 tormentas con nombre, incluidos siete huracanes. Afortunadamente, sólo una fracc...

Inspector general launches probe into Biden administration’s decision to build new FBI headquarters in Maryland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Inspector general launches probe into Biden administration’s decision to build new FBI headquarters in Maryland.Source

Federal grand jury indicts 2 women in $14M fraud scheme

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:50 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced Wednesday that two women were indicted by a federal grand jury in a multi-million dollar fraud scheme.Chrisheena Shante McGee, 47, also known as Christina Marius; and Sandra Pierce Bacon, 71, were indicted on 12 counts of wire fraud and aiding and abetting wire fraud, according to a release. Arrest warrant issued for Von Miller over alleged assault in Texas The fraud took place in Colorado and elsewhere from May 2019 to March 2021, according to the indictment. During that time, McGee, Bacon and others were part of a "scheme to defraud and to obtain money and property from victims," the release read.McGee falsely represented that she had access to large amounts of money to fund loans of up to $150 million to others. She allegedly represented that she would get the loan money if victims would pay a fee in advance, which was often 10% of the total loan amount. Those fees were paid to an account managed...

Former Colorado players were told they weren't ready for Prime Time. They moved on but won't forget

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:50 GMT

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Luke Eckardt recalled the excitement of finding out that Deion Sanders would be his new head coach at Colorado.After all, who wouldn't want to play for the charismatic Pro Football Hall of Fame member and ex-major leaguer known as “Prime Time” during his playing days and now just “Coach Prime?”“It was a feeling of awe because it’s Deion Sanders, and you play video games like ‘Madden’ and he's on there,” Eckardt said in an interview with The Associated Press. “You’re playing with a controller. Now it's different. It's a real dude. That's what I thought at first. But then it was like a seeping feeling of fear.” Sanders wins Sportsperson of Year award from Sports Illustrated for starting turnaround at Colorado At his first meeting with his new charges, Sanders told them no job was safe and there were transfers on the way. Video of his talk went viral. Eckardt chose to take it as a challenge and work even harder during winter conditioning and spring practic...

Mary Cleave, the first woman to fly on NASA’s space shuttle after Challenger disaster, dies at 76

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:50 GMT

(CNN) — Mary Cleave, the NASA astronaut who in 1989 became the first woman to fly on a space shuttle mission after the Challenger disaster, has died at the age of 76, the space agency announced on Wednesday.NASA did not give a cause of death.“I’m sad we’ve lost trail blazer Dr. Mary Cleave, shuttle astronaut, veteran of two spaceflights, and first woman to lead the Science Mission Directorate as associate administrator,” said NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana in a statement. “Mary was a force of nature with a passion for science, exploration, and caring for our home planet. She will be missed.”Cleave — who died Monday, according to the statement — was a native of Great Neck, New York. She studied biological sciences at Colorado State University before going on to earn her master’s in microbial ecology and a doctorate in civil and environmental engineering from Utah State University.From air to spaceShe told NASA’s Oral History Project in 2002 that...

Palestinian student knocked on a neighbor’s door to get help for his friends before realizing he had also been shot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:50 GMT

(CNN) — A Palestinian college student described how his trainingas an emergency medical technician helped him respond when he and his friends were shot in Vermont over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.Kinnan Abdalhamid spoke to CNN by phone Wednesday night, detailing a harrowing account of being shot with his friends Hisham Awartani and Tahseen Ali Ahmad. A gunman is accused of shooting the trio while they were taking a walk in a Burlington neighborhood after spending time with family and friends last Saturday night.“On the way back, we see this man on his porch essentially looking away from us. He turns around, looks at us, and without saying a word — it was almost surreal — he went down the steps, pulled out a pistol and shot my friend.“I heard the thud on the ground, and then he started screaming,” Abdalhamid recounted. “A split second later he shot my other friend, and I hear this thud on the ground.”The shooting came as Muslims, Palestinians, Jews and other communities in the U...

Eye-catching climate donations put spotlight on China at COP climate talks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:50 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The U.N. climate summit kicked off Thursday with a parade of wealthy nations offering big-money pledges to help poorer countries cope with the ravages of a warming world — a surprise that turns up the pressure on countries like China to open their checkbooks.Leading the charge was the summit’s oil-rich host, the United Arab Emirates, whose $100 million (€92 million) vow seemed designed to defuse months of criticism about whether it can serve as an honest broker in talks about ending the world’s fossil fuel dependence. Its offer matched one from Germany.The maneuver certainly turned heads — and kicked off a cascade of contributions, making for a remarkable opening day at the 28th annual COP conference. The European Union said it would give at least €225 million for the fund (including Germany’s pledge). The United Kingdom tossed in £40 million, or approximately €46 million.Trailing far behind: the United States, at $17.5 million, or roughly €16 million.S...

Peeing in cups and smoking in carriages: On board the Eurostar from hell

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:50 GMT

ABOARD THE EUROSTAR, OUTSIDE THE CHANNEL TUNNEL, England — It’s been more than eight hours since our Eurostar train departed London St. Pancras on a journey that was abruptly halted outside the Channel Tunnel amidst sparks and bangs.  It’s a trip I’ve taken many times as head of POLITICO’s office in Brussels. But this one isn’t going to plan.Shortly before 9 a.m. local time, an electrical cable snaps and falls on the train, which had been heading to Amsterdam via Brussels. Passengers are initially phlegmatic at their predicament, but the ensuing hours quickly change that.With toilets overflowing, people increasingly hungry and thirsty, and minimal communication from train staff, goodwill soon evaporates. At first, passengers are told over the speakers that a rescue train is on its way. Shortly after, however, the lack of electricity kiboshes the announcement system. After that, rare updates are provided by increasingly scarce staff. ...

German government’s meeting with Iranian dissident ends in acrimony

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:50 GMT

A planned meeting between prominent Iranian dissident, Masih Alinejad, and senior German officials collapsed in acrimony on Thursday over the government’s alleged insistence that the meeting be kept confidential.Alinejad, an exiled campaigner for democracy and women’s rights in Iran, said she confronted German officials over the condition that the meeting be kept secret.“The German government publicly and openly meets with our oppressors, but they want to hide us?” Alinejad said in an interview with POLITICO. “I have nothing to shy away from. I have to stand by my people because I am proud of them. I can’t have a meeting behind closed doors. If German policy is all about feminism, then I want to see actions.”Alinejad appeared to be referring to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s “feminist foreign policy,” a set of guidelines her ministry says are aimed at achieving equality for women worldwide.“We integrate the perspectives of women and margina...