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The world isn’t on track to meet Paris Agreement goals, says UN climate review

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

Almost eight years after the Paris climate agreement was signed, the world isn’t on track to meet its target of limiting global warming, warned a comprehensive report issued by the U.N.’s climate body on Friday.That leaves countries less than three months to come up with a response before the COP28 climate conference begins.“I urge governments to carefully study the findings of the report and ultimately understand what it means for them and the ambitious action they must take next. It’s the same for businesses, communities and other key stakeholders,” said Simon Stiell, executive secretary of UN Climate Change.As the world battles droughts, fires, melting ice caps and fierce tropical storms that scientists say are a consequence of temperatures already rising by more than 1 degree Celsius above preindustrial levels thanks to over a century of greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution, the report warned of a “rapidly narrowing window to raise ambition and implement existing comm...

The IRS plans to crack down on 1,600 millionaires to collect millions of dollars in back taxes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS announced on Friday it is launching an effort to aggressively pursue 1,600 millionaires and 75 large business partnerships that owe hundreds of millions of dollars in past due taxes.IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel said that with a boost in federal funding and the help of artificial intelligence tools, the agency has new means of targeting wealthy people who have “cut corners” on their taxes.“If you pay your taxes on time it should be particularly frustrating when you see that wealthy filers are not,” Werfel told reporters in a call previewing the announcement. He said 1,600 millionaires who owe at least $250,000 each in back taxes and 75 large business partnerships that have assets of roughly $10 billion on average are targeted for the new “compliance efforts.”Werfel said a massive hiring effort and AI research tools developed by IRS employees and contractors are playing a big role in identifying wealthy tax dodgers. The agency is makin...

Apple could be about to make the biggest change to the iPhone in 11 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

(CNN) — Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 15 in just a few days, and it’s widely expected to come with a significant change.The iPhone 15 is heavily rumored to ditch Apple’s proprietary Lightning charger in favor of USB-C charging, marking a milestone for the company by adopting universal charging. The change could ultimately streamline the charging process across various devices — and brands.The switch would come less than a year after the European Union voted to approve legislation to require smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, portable speakers and other small devices to support USB-C charging by 2024. The first-of-its-kind law aims to pare down the number of chargers and cables consumers must contend with when they purchase a new device, and to allow users to mix and match devices and chargers even if they were produced by different manufacturers.“This is arguably the biggest disruption to iPhone design for several years, but in reality, it is ha...

Team USA shocked by Germany in Basketball World Cup semifinal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

(CNN) — Team USA has crashed out of the FIBA Basketball World Cup with a shock 113-111 loss in the semifinals against Germany.The US was considered an overwhelming favorite to win the World Cup and took a strong team to the Philippines. However, following a disappointing performance, the US was the victim of a huge upset.As expected, the semifinal match-up got off to a tight start. Neither team was able to take control throughout the opening two quarters with the US taking a slight 60-59 lead into halftime.However, the third quarter saw the tide change and Germany seized its opportunity, catching the US sleeping following the break.Germany outscored the US 35-24 in the third quarter and took a crucial 10-point lead into the final 10 minutes of the semifinal clash.Led by Anthony Edwards and Austin Reaves, Team USA rallied in the fourth and a final quarter comeback looked to be on, but it proved to be too little, too late.Germany held on resolutely, makin...

Rhamondre Stevenson, backup QB among 3 Patriots missing to start practice Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

FOXBORO — Uh oh.Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson, cornerback Jack Jones and backup quarterback Matt Corral were all missing at the start of Friday’s non-padded practice.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Robert Kraft ‘sort of likes’ Patriots being underdogs in 2023 New England Patriots | Patriots name Mac Jones, first-time veteran among 6 captains New England Patriots | Patriots see prospective rookie Week 1 contributors ‘performing at a high level’ New England Patriots | Patriots mailbag: Predicting Pats’ top receiver in 2023 New England Patriots | Callahan: Bill O’Brien’s honeymoon phase will be over soon — and that’s a good thing Stevenson appears to have missed his first practice of the week. He was not listed on either of the team’s injury reports released Wednesday and Thursday. The Patriots will release their final report Friday ev...

Hurricane Lee barrels through open Atlantic waters after becoming season’s first Category 5 storm

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hurricane Lee charged through warm Atlantic waters on Friday and threatened to unleash heavy swells across the northeast Caribbean. It became the season’s first Category 5 storm before weakening slightly.Currently a Category 4 hurricane, it is not expected to make landfall, but meteorologists warned it would generate dangerous waves of up to 15 feet (5 meters) across the northern coast of Puerto Rico and other nearby islands. While Lee is on a path that would take it a couple hundred miles (kilometers) northeast of the Caribbean, tropical storm conditions are not forecast for the region.“Although the hurricane is incredibly powerful, its wind field is not particularly large,” the National Hurricane Center said.The hurricane was located about 565 miles (910 kilometers) east of the northern Leeward Islands. It had winds of up to 155 miles per hour (250 kilometers per hour) and was moving west-northwest at 13 mph (20 kph).“Fluc...

Robert Kraft ‘sort of likes’ Patriots being underdogs in 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

Patriots owner Robert Kraft expressed tepid optimism about his team days away from their season opener against the Eagles on Sunday.Kraft spoke to reporters Thursday after a ceremonial ribbon cutting in from of Gillette Stadium’s renovated north entrance which includes a new lighthouse.“I sort of like that people are picking us to come in fourth in the division,” Kraft said. “I think there’s a great chemistry. This is a young team, too. This might be one of the youngest teams, I think. Coach has done a good job overall. I think having Bill O’Brien come here and work with Mac — they seem to have great chemistry. I’m actually excited about the team.”Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots name Mac Jones, first-time veteran among 6 captains New England Patriots | Patriots see prospective rookie Week 1 contributors ‘performing at a high level’ New England Patriots | Patriots mailbag: Predicting Pats’ top receiver in 20...

Patriots name Mac Jones, first-time veteran among 6 captains

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

The Patriots announced their six captains for the 2023 season Friday.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Robert Kraft ‘sort of likes’ Patriots being underdogs in 2023 New England Patriots | Patriots see prospective rookie Week 1 contributors ‘performing at a high level’ New England Patriots | Patriots mailbag: Predicting Pats’ top receiver in 2023 New England Patriots | Callahan: Bill O’Brien’s honeymoon phase will be over soon — and that’s a good thing New England Patriots | NFL breaks silence on Patriots cornerback Jack Jones’ arrest Quarterback Mac Jones, center David Andrews, tight end Hunter Henry, defensive lineman Deatrich Wise, linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley and special teamer Matthew Slater have been elected by their teammates.Henry is a first-time captain in his third season with the Patriots. Jones and Wise were named for the second time in their...

Judge rejects Connecticut troopers’ union request bar release of names in fake ticket probe, for now

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (AP) — A judge has rejected a bid by the Connecticut State Police Union to temporarily keep secret the names of 130 state police troopers under investigation for allegedly recording bogus traffic stops, but says it will get another chance.The troopers are under investigation after an audit identified thousands of traffic stops that may have never happened, making it appear they were stopping and citing more drivers than they actually were.Superior Court Judge Rupal Shah in Middletown denied the union’s request on technical grounds Thursday. Shah ruled the union’s request for an injunction was premature because the state Freedom of Information Commission has not yet decided whether the names should be publicly released.Media organizations including The Associated Press have requested the troopers’ names. State public safety officials denied a request for the names by The Connecticut Mirror, which has a pending appeal before the Freedom of Informati...

Quebec man facing arson charges in northern wildfires detained ahead of bail hearing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

A Quebec man facing arson charges in connection with forest fires in the province’s north during the spring and summer will remain detained ahead of a bail hearing on Monday.Quebec provincial police say 37-year-old Brian Paré of Chibougamau, Que., was charged with two counts of arson on Thursday.Prosecutors say the charges are in connection with a fire that was allegedly ignited deliberately in a forest between July 8 and Tuesday, and a second blaze at a fishing cabin around May 31.Sgt. Hugues Beaulieu says police were assisted by behaviour analysis experts, criminal profilers, and forensic psychologists in their investigation.The major crimes unit is trying to determine whether the alleged arsons are connected to the forced evacuations in June of residents of Chibougamau, about 450 kilometres northwest of Quebec City.Chibougamau’s 7,500 residents were forced from their homes on June 6 for about one week because of wildfires and poor air quality.This report by The Canadi...