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Agreeing to agree: Everyone must come to consensus at COP28 climate talks, toughening the process

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:16 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — It’s the killer detail in international climate talks: Consensus.With nearly 200 nations of different sizes, economies, political systems, resources and needs, they all have to find common ground if they are going to save the one common ground they share — planet Earth.Consensus is frequently used to weaken efforts to curb climate change and experts say that’s by design, dating back to oil interests and the first United Nations climate negotiations. Some veteran politicians would like to change it, while others embrace it as the only fair way to get things done.“Whatever decision is taken can only be as strong as what the least ambitious (nations) are prepared to accept,” said climate talks historian Joanna Depledge of Cambridge University. “And we’ve seen that over the years.”U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island, said the practice of requiring near-unanimity could be fatal: “A small, self-interested minority of states cannot ...

Stock market today: Asian shares mixed after Wall Street hits 2023 high

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:16 GMT

Asian shares were mixed on Monday after Wall Street reached a 20-month high ahead of a week that includes essential U.S. inflation data and the Federal Reserve’s final rate decision of the year.U.S. futures were lower and oil prices rose to recover some of their sharp losses in recent months.Hong Kong’s Hang Seng sank 2% to 16,012.42 and the Shanghai Composite slipped 0.6% to 2,952.57. In China, leaders agreed at an annual planning meeting last week to boost spending to accelerate the world’s second-largest economy, though details of policy changes were not provided. Despite the Chinese economy expanding by around 5% this year, in line with government targets, the recovery following the lifting of strict COVID-19 restrictions was short-lived, and a slowdown is expected next year. Data released on Saturday showed China’s consumer prices in November experienced their steepest fall in three years, in another sigh of weakness.Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index gained 1.6% to 32,817.61 while...

As Ohtani fallout continues, clarity on Blue Jays’ final offer emerges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:16 GMT

A weekend that began with gleeful flight tracking ended with frustration and conspiracy theories for the many Blue Jays fans who hoped Shohei Ohtani would choose Toronto.In between, erroneous reports placed Ohtani on a plane to Toronto and had him signing with the Blue Jays, but it turned out the two-way star was at home in Southern California all along. Under those circumstances, the disappointment at seeing Ohtani choose the Los Angeles Dodgers was even greater.Every version of the story ends with Ohtani as a Dodger, so the pain will likely persist for Blue Jays fans. Yet it’s hard to fault Ohtani for choosing an iconic franchise with a loaded farm system and 11 consecutive playoff appearances, especially when the Dodgers also offered a record shattering deal: $700 million over 10 years, including heavy deferrals.As for how close the Blue Jays came to landing Ohtani, that’s a question only the two-time MVP himself can really answer, but sources familiar with the negotiation say th...

Sunday Forecast: Clearing skies, colder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:16 GMT

Sunday Night: Clearing skies and colder. WNW 5-10 mph. Low 26Monday: Mostly sunny by the afternoon & seasonal temps. High 38Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Extended outlook calls for a dry week ahead and temps stairstep back to 40 by Tuesday with partly sunny skies. Into the low 40s with mostly sunny skies on Wednesday. In the mid to upper 40s on Thu/Fri with some increasing clouds late Friday. A chance of showers is back in the forecast on Saturday with mostly cloudy skies and temps in the lower 40s. 

Theater review: Jungle Theater’s ‘Dinner for One’ a touching take on a European TV tradition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:16 GMT

It started with a skit.About a century ago, English writer Lauri Wylie crafted a comedy sketch for a stage revue. At a palatial home, a wealthy woman conducts a dinner party, assisted by her butler. No guests are present, each presumably having passed, but the butler nevertheless steps into each character as they toast their host, growing increasingly inebriated and informal.A 1963 version for German TV has become a New Year’s Eve tradition in Scandinavian and German-speaking countries, where folks have annually gathered around the tube to watch that butler stumble and slur his way through the slapsticky sketch.It may not sound like the kind of source material from which an enjoyable and ultimately touching hour of theater could emerge, but the Jungle Theater is presenting just such a show. “Dinner for One” is the brainchild of the company’s artistic director, Christina Baldwin, and she’s teamed with the production’s two actors — Sun Mee Chomet and Jim Lichtscheidl — to ...

Matt Boldy stays hot, Wild end two-game skid with 3-0 victory at Seattle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:16 GMT

The Wild learned Saturday they will be without Jonas Brodin, one of their best defensemen since he played his first full NHL seasons in 2013-14, for at least a week because of an upper body injury suffered Friday in Edmonton.It’s the latest in a series of injuries to key contributors that has included at one time or another Jared Spurgeon, Matt Boldy, Alex Goligoski and Freddy Gaudreau but the first for head coach John Hynes, who replaced Dean Evason on Nov. 28.“You’ve gotta find ways to win with the group you have,” Hynes told reporters before Sunday night’s game against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena.Against a Seattle team that had lost seven in a row before Sunday’s 8 p.m. puck drop, the Wild had just enough to make that happen.Matt Boldy scored his sixth goal in seven games, and rookie center Marco Rossi scored his ninth goal as the Wild beat the Kraken, 3-0, to end a two-game skid and finish a four-game, Pacific Division road trip 2-2.“That was a long road trip, and...

Chanukah on Jay celebrates at Proctors Theatre

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:16 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -The fourth day of Hanukkah was celebrated in Schenectady as the fourth candle on the menorah was lit. This year, Chanukah on Jay was taken inside due to the weather at Proctors Theatre, but the holiday spirit was still as strong as ever through difficult times.More than 18 local Jewish groups brought Chanukah off Jay Street. Hundreds of guests joined in the Festival of Lights in the Key Hall. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! "The message of Hanukkah is about positivity and light. But, even more so this year when we know what’s going on around the world, specifically with Israel, and also locally," described Rabbi Zalman of Bethlehem Chabad.In October, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a heightened state police presence at vulnerable sites in the state. "We’ve always had some security, but obviously there’s a heightened security now. It’s sad to have to do it, but it’s understandable," said Assemblyman Phil Steck...

Broncos, Ja’Quan McMillian dominate Chargers, author another chapter in turnaround story: “This is the best defense, by far, I’ve ever been a part of”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:16 GMT

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Ja’Quan McMillian still couldn’t believe his misfortune after the game.He thought he had a touchdown.No, not thought.“I know I did,” he said with a smile.The grin, of course, came easily despite the fact that he’ll never watch tape of this game and believe Easton Stick’s hand was moving forward when McMillian rocked him, jarred the ball loose, picked it up on his own and ran it into the end zone.The grin came easily because the Broncos’ bottle rocket of a nickelback is writing himself a starring role in this defense’s Hollywood turnaround story.Credit for another dominating outing? That’s easy. He gets plenty.Credit for helping turn the most maligned unit in the NFL into one of the most intimidating? Oh, yeah.“The guy who has that athletic ability but also is smart is the perfect combination,” defensive end Zach Allen said of McMillian after the game. “… He’s been awesome and he’s been a huge reason why we’ve been winning these games.”A 24...

Kiszla: It’s a horse race! The hot breath of the Broncos now on the neck of Patrick Mahomes in AFC West.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:16 GMT

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — With the hot breath of Blucifer on the back of his neck, Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes better not look back. The devil wears orange and blue, and he’s dangerously closer to the Chiefs than it might appear in their rearview mirror.“We’re in a horse race,” quarterback Russell Wilson said Sunday, after the Broncos dismantled those Thunderdolts from Los Angeles. Denver routed the Chargers 24-7 in a game that was no contest after a devilish Denver defense broke the spirit and stole the soul of Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert with a goal-line stand early in the first quarter.But enough of my silly football poetry. Let’s just stick to the facts, ma’am: Since the last Sunday in October, when they snapped a 16-game losing streak to Kansas City, the Broncos’ record is 6-1, while the dead Chiefs walking are 2-4.Playoffs? Playoffs! Playoffs?Yes, and a Wild Card berth is not the only prize the Broncos can aim for down the stretch of this NFL seaso...

'Booster skirt' used to steal $3K in cosmetics from Sephora in Malibu

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:16 GMT

Investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are asking for the public’s help in identifying two suspects believed to be a part of a Romanian Theft group that stole thousands in merchandise from a store in Malibu.  The incident occurred on Nov. 3 just after 12:30 p.m. at Sephora, a makeup, skin care and beauty products chain, located at 3896 Cross Creek Road in Malibu, according to a bulletin released by LASD.  Surveillance footage captured the two women enter the store and approach the cosmetics section.  Authorities said the thieves used a “booster skirt,” a garment with a loose elastic waistband that can be used to drop items into, and were able to make off with an estimated $3,600 in stolen merchandise. Two suspects believed to be tied to a Romanian theft group seen using a "booster skirt" to steal cosmetics at a Sephora in Malibu on Nov. 3, 2023. (LASD)The pair then exited the store with the hidden merchandise and left the area in a black 2011 T...