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Death toll in Pakistan suicide bombing rises to 54 as families hold funerals, police say

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:08:09 GMT

KHAR, Pakistan (AP) — The death toll from a massive suicide bombing that targeted an election rally for a pro-Taliban cleric rose to 54 Monday, as Pakistan held funerals and the government vowed to hunt down those behind the attack.No one immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday’s bombing, which also wounded nearly 200 people. Police said their initial investigation suggested that the Islamic State group’s regional affiliate could be responsible. The victims were attending a rally organized by the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, headed by hard-line cleric and politician Fazlur Rehman. He did not attend the rally, held under a large tent close to a market in Bajur, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. Rehman, who has long supported Afghanistan’s Taliban government, escaped at least two known bomb attacks in 2011 and 2014, when bombings damaged his car at rallies. Victims of the bombing were buried in Bajur on Monday.As condolences conti...

Clashes continue between factions in Palestinian camp in Lebanon as death toll climbs to 6

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:08:09 GMT

SIDON, Lebanon (AP) — Clashes continued for a third day in a Palestinian camp in Lebanon on Monday between members of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah group and Islamist factions there. A Lebanese army spokesperson said the death toll from the fighting in Ein el-Hilweh camp had reached six, although some reports have given higher figures. Two soldiers stationed outside the camp were lightly wounded, Col. Fadi Abou Eid said. Despite attempts by Lebanese parties and some of the Palestinian factions to broker a cease-fire, “the shooting and shelling have not stopped in the camp until this moment,” said Adnan Rifai, a member of the popular committee that serves as a governing body in the camp.The Lebanese army mans a checkpoint outside and typically does not enter the camp, which is under the control of the Palestinian factions.The clashes erupted on Sunday after Islamic militants shot and killed a Palestinian military general from the Fatah group, Abu Ashraf al Armoushi, and ...

UK to grant hundreds of new oil and gas licenses, ignoring calls from environmentalists

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:08:09 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain said on Monday it will grant hundreds of new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea in a bid for energy independence, ignoring calls from the environmental campaigners and the United Nations to stop the development of new fossil fuel projects.The plans announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak include a pledge to invest 20 billion pounds ($26 billion) in carbon capture and storage projects as Sunak maintained the government’s commitment to eliminate net carbon emissions by 2050.Sunak, who is traveling to Scotland to formally unveil the package, said Britain will still need fossil fuels even after the country reaches its net zero target. He said it is better to produce oil and natural gas at home rather than rely on foreign leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine sent global energy prices soaring around the globe.“We have all witnessed how Putin has manipulated and weaponized energy — disrupting supply and stalling growth in countri...

Cyprus court hands British man a 2-year prison term for killing his ailing wife to spare her pain

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:08:09 GMT

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A Cyprus court on Monday sentenced a British man who killed his ailing wife in their retirement home to two years in prison, rejecting a defense request to hand down a suspended sentence after convicting him earlier of manslaughter.State prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou said the three-judge bench imposed the prison term as a “deterrent,” although the judges had earlier ruled that David Hunter’s decision to suffocate his wife Janice in December 2021 was made on the spur of the moment because he could no longer stand seeing her weeping in pain.Hadjikyrou told The Associated Press the court took into account that Hunter, 76, acted “out of love” to save his wife, who was suffering from a blood ailment when he closed her mouth and nose with his hands as she sat in a recliner in their Paphos home.It also took into consideration Hunter’s advanced age and that he had no previous criminal record.Justice Abroad, a group that defends Britons facing legal troubles in foreign...

West African nations threaten to use force if Niger’s president isn’t reinstated within a week

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:08:09 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — West African nations have given Niger’s coup leaders one week to reinstate the country’s democratically elected president and have threatened to use force if the demands aren’t met. The announcement came at the end of an emergency meeting of West African countries Sunday in Nigeria, where the regional bloc, known as ECOWAS, convened to respond to last week’s military takeover. President Mohamed Bazoum remains under house arrest and has yet to resign.“In the event the authority’s demands are not met within one week, (the bloc will) take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. Such measures may include the use of force,” said the statement. The bloc also imposted strict sanctions, including suspending all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger and freezing of assets in regional central banks.Economic sanctions could have a deep impact on Nigeriens, who live in th...

Europe’s economy shows modest growth after months of stagnation as rate hikes weigh on businesses

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:08:09 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European economy grew modestly in the most recent quarter, breaking out of a months of stagnation or contraction as higher interest rates designed to fight inflation make it more expensive for households and businesses to borrow, invest and spend. The 20 countries that use the euro currency and their 346 million people saw 0.3% growth in the April-to-June period, the EU statistics agency Eurostat reported Monday. That’s an improvement over zero growth in the first quarter of this year and a slight decline in fourth quarter of last year, but not by much.A revision raised figures for the first quarter from a decline of 0.1%, wiping out two straight quarters of declining output. Inflation in the eurozone, meanwhile, continued its gradual decline, falling to 5.3% in July from 5.5% in June.Europe’s economic growth got a boost by 0.5% growth in France and 0.4% in Spain, where lower inflation has helped lift consumer spending power.The French figure, how...

Wes Boyea is a game-changer in senior track and field

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:08:09 GMT

PITTSBURGH, PA (NEWS10) -- Weslie Boyea is a senior track athlete that was living like a champion, but that changed eight years ago when his health took a hit. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “So, I went through a heart attack, a five-way cardio bypass surgery and then I had a major choice," Boyea said. "Do I want to come back to that and still compete or stop and lay on the couch and not do anything and I made the choice with my family urging me on as much as they possibly could both my two daughters and my wife to say let’s go you gotta get up.Boyea got up and to the surprise of many people went back to competing.“A lot of people are very surprised that I was able to come back from that," said Boyea. "As a matter of fact, I was talking with some people today I volunteer at a youth camp up north, it’s called sky farm camp and retreat center and one of the guys said, I had no idea that you had that medical problem and that you ...

Commission approves €2.36 billion Hungarian scheme for accelerated investments in strategic sectors to foster the transition to a net-zero economy

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:08:09 GMT

The European Commission has approved a €2.36 billion (approximately HUF 880bn) Hungarian scheme for accelerated investments in strategic sectors to foster the transition towards a net-zero economy, in line with the Green Deal Industrial Plan. The scheme was approved under the State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework.Under this measure, the aid will take the form of (i) direct grants; and/or (ii) tax advantages. The measure will be open to companies producing relevant equipment, namely batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, heat-pumps, electrolysers, equipment for carbon capture usage and storage, as well as key components designed and primarily used as direct input for the production of such equipment or related critical raw materials necessary for their production.The Commission concluded that the Hungarian scheme is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to accelerate the green transition and facilitate the development of certain economic activities, which are of imp...

Commission approves €246 million Dutch scheme to support renewable hydrogen production

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:08:09 GMT

The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a €246 million Dutch scheme to support the production of renewable hydrogen. The measure aims to contribute to the development of renewable hydrogen in line with the objectives of the EU Hydrogen Strategy and the European Green Deal. The scheme will also contribute to the objectives of the REPowerEU Plan to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast forward the green transition.The scheme will support the construction of at least 60 MW of electrolysis capacity. The aid will be awarded through a competitive bidding process planned to be concluded in 2023. The tender will be open to all companies established in the European Economic Area and operating, or wishing to build and operate, a hydrogen production unit in the Netherlands. The aid will take the form of a direct grant for a 7-to-15-year period.The scheme will contribute to the Netherlands's efforts to achieve 500 MW of electrolyser capacity in 2025 and 3-4 GW ...

Ask Amy: I just can’t win with my partner’s irritating college friends

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:08:09 GMT

Dear Amy: My partner of four years has a group of college friends. With every reunion, I have done my best to be kind, to participate, to be funny and inquire about their lives.It’s hard for me to engage with many of the members of his friend group. They don’t understand my humor, I am rarely asked questions about how I am doing or what I am up to, and I find that the majority of their conversations are satirical putdowns of other people from college.I’m a realistic person; I don’t need to be liked by everyone, simply because I, myself, do not like everyone.That being said, I love my partner.He makes a notable effort with my numerous friends and family, winning approvals and gaining acceptance with each encounter.I don’t understand why I haven’t had the same experience with his friends and family members.The people in his life don’t seem to reflect the man that I know, and it is upsetting to me that I may never fit into some parts of his lif...