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US, partners stage military drills amid Japan-S. Korea talks

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:59:45 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — The United States, Canada, India, Japan and South Korea are staging joint anti-submarine warfare drills amid talks between Japanese and South Korean leaders aimed at strengthening their alliance with Washington against threats from China and North Korea. The Sea Dragon 23 exercises that started on Wednesday will culminate in more than 270 hours of in-flight training “ranging from tracking simulated targets to the final problem of tracking a U.S. Navy submarine,” the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a news release. Pilots and flight officers from all participating countries will also hold classroom training sessions to “build plans and discuss tactics incorporating the capabilities and equipment of their respective nations,” The 7th Fleet said. The drills are being held as a competition, with the country winning the most points taking home the “Dragon Belt.” The U.S. Navy is being represented by two P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft, currently based in Guam...

‘Star Trek’, swear words and TV characters’ changing mores

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:59:45 GMT

For nearly four decades, Jean-Luc Picard of “Star Trek” has largely been presented as genteel, erudite and — at times — quite buttoned up. Yes, he loses his temper. Yes, he was reckless as a callow cadet many years ago. Yes, he occasionally gets his hands dirty or falls apart.But the Enterprise captain-turned-admiral stepped into a different place in last week’s episode of the streaming drama “Star Trek: Picard.” Now, he’s someone who — to the shock of some and the delight of others — has uttered a profanity that never would have come from his mouth in the 1990s: “Ten f—-ing grueling hours,” Patrick Stewart’s character says at one point during an intense conversation in which he expects everyone will die shortly. The whole thing was in keeping with the more complex, nuanced aesthetic of this decade’s “Star Trek” installments. And the online conversation that ensued illustrates the journey undertaken when a fictional character voyages from the strictures of network and syndicat...

Scientists: Largest US reservoirs moving in right direction

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:59:45 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Parts of California are under water, the Rocky Mountains are bracing for more snow, flood warnings are in place in Nevada, and water is being released from some Arizona reservoirs to make room for an expected bountiful spring runoff. All the moisture has helped alleviate dry conditions in many parts of the western U.S. Even major reservoirs on the Colorado River are trending in the right direction. But climate experts caution that the favorable drought maps represent only a blip on the radar as the long-term effects of a stubborn drought persist.Groundwater and reservoir storage levels — which take much longer to bounce back — remain at historic lows. It could be more than a year before the extra moisture has an effect on the shoreline at Lake Mead that straddles Arizona and Nevada. And it’s unlikely that water managers will have enough wiggle room to wind back the clock on proposals for limiting water use. That’s because water release and retent...

Major oil project approval intensifies Alaska Natives’ rift

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:59:45 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Biden administration’s approval this week of the biggest oil drilling project in Alaska in decades promises to widen a rift among Alaska Natives, with some saying that oil money can’t counter the damages caused by climate change and others defending the project as economically vital.Two lawsuits filed almost immediately by environmentalists and one Alaska Native group are likely to exacerbate tensions that have built up over years of debate about ConocoPhillips Alaska’s Willow project.Many communities on Alaska’s North Slope celebrated the project’s approval, citing new jobs and the influx of money that will help support schools, other public services and infrastructure investments in their isolated villages. Just a few decades ago, many villages had no running water, said Doreen Leavitt, director of natural resources for the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope. Housing shortages continues to be a problem, with multiple generations of...

Silvera Enterprises is now Strive Enterprise: A new name and a new era for the web design and digital marketing industry in The US

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:59:45 GMT

Commission proposes reform of the EU electricity market design to boost renewables, better protect consumers and enhance industrial competitiveness

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:59:45 GMT

On 14 March, the Commission proposed to reform the EU's electricity market design to accelerate a surge in renewables and the phase-out of gas, make consumer bills less dependent on volatile fossil fuel prices, better protect consumers from future price spikes and potential market manipulation, and make the EU's industry clean and more competitive.The EU has had an efficient, well-integrated electricity market for over twenty years, allowing consumers to reap the economic benefits of a single energy market, ensuring security of supply and stimulating the decarbonisation process. The energy crisis spurred by Russia's invasion of Ukraine has underlined the need to quickly adapt the electricity market to better support the green transition and offer energy consumers, both households and businesses, widespread access to affordable renewable and non-fossil electricity. The proposed reform foresees revisions to several pieces of EU legislation – notably the Electricity Regulation, th...

Unionized LAUSD School Workers Announce 3-Day Strike

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:59:45 GMT

After a massive protest at Los Angeles City Hall Wednesday, the union representing nearly 30,000 Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) employees announced a three-day strike, from March 23 to 25.Service Employees International United, Local 99 (SEIU-99), who represents custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and paraprofessionals working in the school district, have asked for higher wages, deeper staffing and greater equity in its new working contract.“As LAUSD parents and workers, SEIU Local 99 members know a strike will be a sacrifice but the school district has pushed workers to take this action,” SEIU-99 Executive Director Max Arias said in a statement Wednesday. “Families have been sacrificing for far too long on poverty wages. Students have been sacrificing for too long in school environments that are not clean, safe or supportive for all. Too many workers have been subjected to harassment simply for demanding change.”THIS IS HISTORIC. A SEA OF PURPLE AND RED. All uni...

Clippers beat Warriors 134-126 despite 50 points from Curry

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:59:45 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Even in the midst of Stephen Curry putting on a shooting clinic during the third quarter, Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers didn’t get rattled. They were able to weather Curry’s best punches, kept their lead and then pulled away from the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter.Leonard continued his hot play with 30 points, Paul George had 24 and the Clippers overcame Curry’s 50-point night to beat the Warriors 134-126 on Wednesday night.“You know they are going to make big runs, but we kept our composure, stayed steady and executed on the offensive end,” said Leonard, who had his fourth 30-point effort in the last eight games. He was 10 of 19 from the field and had eight rebounds and five assists.The Clippers (37-33) have won four straight to move into fifth place in the Western Conference. The defending NBA champion Warriors (36-34) are a game back as the teams split the four-game season series.“We didn’t get stagnant. We exec...

Hartman scores twice in Wild win; Blues’ Binnington ejected

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:59:45 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ryan Hartman had two goals and an assist and the surging Minnesota Wild beat St. Louis 8-5 on Wednesday night in a game in which Blues goalie Jordan Binnington was ejected for throwing a punch.Binnington was whistled for a match penalty with 7:35 left in the second period. After giving up a goal — the Wild’s fifth — to Hartman, Binnington left the crease and went after Hartman, swinging his blocker glove at the forward’s face.Minnesota goalie Marc-Andre Fleury skated the length of the ice to confront the unmasked Binnington, but the two were separated by officials and Binnington was sent off the ice. “I mean, those blockers aren’t soft,” Hartman said. “We don’t have much protection on our face. I’d say so (it was a cheap shot). It’s nothing new from him. He’s been doing stuff like this for a while.”Binnington said he has no grudge against Hartman.“We know the type of player he is. I actually like his game, to be honest,” Binnington said. “I’ve played against him sin...

Residents voice safety concerns about Frederick Co. highway after deadly tanker explosion

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:59:45 GMT

Just a little over a week after a deadly tanker truck explosion on U.S. Route 15 in Frederick County, Maryland, sparked a fire that spread to nearby homes, members of the community came together Wednesday evening to share their concerns about the highway and the response to what took place with state and local officials.At the Frederick County High School auditorium, residents stepped up one by one to the microphone to speak about the March 4 incident.During a gathering Frederick County High School auditorium regarding a recent fiery crash, a man behind a microphone and speaks to the panel on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.One resident said the tree that stopped the tanker truck from going into the nearby neighborhood is now gone, which she claims leaves residents vulnerable to another crash.She called for officials to lower the speed limit on the road until protective barriers can be put in place. Others seemed skeptical that safety improvements would ever come.“Traffic safety alo...