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Wopke Hoekstra hearing: Live updates as incoming EU climate chief faces grilling in European Parliament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:47 GMT

Wopke Hoekstra, the former Dutch foreign minister nominated to be the EU’s commissioner for climate action, faces tough questioning at a hearing on Monday in the European Parliament, where left-leaning MEPs have raised major reservations on his candidacy. Hoekstra, who has little experience in green policymaking, was put forward by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to take over the climate portfolio after Frans Timmermans stepped down from the EU executive to run in the Dutch election set for November.While EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius told POLITICO that Hoekstra is “definitely” suited for the job, Mohammed Chahim, vice president of the center-left Socialists & Democrats in the Parliament, said: “We’re not very keen on him.”Timmermans, an S&D member, resigned as executive vice president responsible for the European Green Deal in August. Von der Leyen decided to split off the climate-action portion ...

A populist, pro-Russia ex-premier leads a leftist party to win in Slovakia’s parliamentary elections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:47 GMT

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — A populist former prime minister and his leftist party won parliamentary elections in Slovakia, staging a political comeback after campaigning on a pro-Russian and anti-American message, according to almost complete results.Former Prime Minister Robert Fico and the leftist Smer, or Direction, party led with 22.9%, the Slovak Statistics Office said early Sunday after completing the count of 99.98% of the votes from some 6,000 polling stations. The election Saturday was a test for the small eastern European country’s support for neighboring Ukraine in its war with Russia, and the win by Fico could strain a fragile unity in the European Union and NATO.Fico, 59, vowed to withdraw Slovakia’s military support for Ukraine in Russia’s war if his attempt to return to power succeeded.The country of 5.5 million people created in 1993 following the breakup of Czechoslovakia has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia invaded last February, donating arms and ...

A suicide bomber detonates a device in the Turkish capital, a second assailant killed in a shootout

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:47 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s interior affairs minister says a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device near his ministry on Sunday while a second assailant was killed in a shootout with police.Ali Yerlikaya said two police officers were slightly injured during the attack in the Turkish capital, Ankara. The attack occurred hours before Parliament was scheduled to reopen following a summer recess.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A loud explosion was heard was heard Sunday in the heart of the Turkish capital, Ankara, Turkish media reports said. Some reports said the explosion was followed by gunfire. The cause of the explosion in an area near the Parliament and Ministry of Interior Affairs was not immediately known. There was no immediate reports of any casualties.Parliament is scheduled to reopen on Sunday following a summer recess. Security forces have set up barriers in the area.Television footage showed bomb squads working...

Dear Abby: I believed my dad’s version of why he got fired. Then I was blindsided by the truth.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:47 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My dad is the breadwinner in our family. A few years ago, he got fired for looking at “inappropriate” material at work. When he told us what happened, he described it as a raunchy comedy special.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My friend was upset by this playdate incident involving his son. Was I wrong? Advice | Dear Abby: My snappy response about my invalid wife apparently offends people Advice | Dear Abby: My husband’s young crush is back in town, and I’m not supposed to say anything Advice | Dear Abby: She caused me so much pain, and now she wants back in my life Advice | Dear Abby: He won’t buy a bed. Should I date him anyway? So, being a good son and thinking Dad was wrongfully terminated, I started calling law firms to see if he had a case. That’s when the truth came out.Not only had he lied, but he also stabbed me in the back when I went to bat fo...

Saturday Night Five: USC’s offensive defense, UW’s desert escape, Cal’s big win and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:47 GMT

Instant reaction to Pac-12 on-field developments …1. Seen this show beforeUSC survived its biggest test of the season thus far, outlasting Colorado 48-41 in rowdy Folsom Field and with the massive ‘Big Noon’ audience watching on Fox.Then again, that’s not saying much.We’re fast approaching the midway point of the season, yet the best team the Trojans have faced thus far, Colorado, lost to Oregon 42-6.The second-best team they have faced, Stanford, lost to Oregon 42-6.The third-best team they have faced, Arizona State, lost to Fresno State 29-0.But despite the weak competition, USC has been anything but dominant in recent weeks. The Trojans struggled to put away ASU, a 34-point underdog with a backup quarterback, then nearly blew a massive lead in Boulder as the defense wilted in the second half.Which brings us to the central point of this item: USC’s defense looks no better than last year’s version.Yes, the Trojans have more quality linemen....

Turkish media report an explosion has been heard in Ankara on the day the Parliament reconvenes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:47 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish media reports say a loud explosion was heard in the heart of the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Sunday.The cause of the explosion in an area near the Parliament and Ministry of Interior Affairs was no immediately known.Parliament is scheduled to reopen on Sunday following a summer recess.Source

An explosion has been heard in the heart of the Turkish capital, Ankara, Turkish media report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:47 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — An explosion has been heard in the heart of the Turkish capital, Ankara, Turkish media report.Source

Moussa throws 2 TD passes to help Florida A&M beat Mississippi Valley State 31-7

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:47 GMT

ITTA BENA, Miss. (AP) — Jeremy Moussa threw two second-half touchdown passes, Terrell Jennings scored on a 5-yard run and Florida A&M beat Mississippi Valley State 31-7 Saturday night. Allen Smith Jr. recovered a fumble in the end zone to give Florida A&M (4-1, 3-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) a 7-0 lead with 11:19 to play. Jennings’ touchdown run gave the Rattlers a 17-7 lead late in the third quarter and Moussa threw TD passes of 7 yards to Koby Gross and 35 yards to Marcus Riley in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring. ___AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollSource

Penix picks apart Arizona’s defense in No. 7 Washington’s 31-24 victory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:47 GMT

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Washington’s big-play offense had few deep options with Arizona sitting back on defense.Forced to adapt, Michael Penix Jr. went to his checkdowns, his receivers turned short passes into chunk plays and the Huskies’ run game finished it off with touchdowns.Penix Jr. threw for 363 yards, Dillon Johnson ran for two touchdowns and No. 7 Washington picked apart Arizona in a 31-24 victory Saturday night.“They were playing it safe and making us earn it, so naturally we hit the checkdowns,” Washington coach Kalen DeBoer said. “We know that’s our style (big plays), but it’s not always going to work out that way.”The Huskies (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) arrived in the desert with more big plays than any other team in the country. With the Wildcats sitting back, Penix turned to underneath throws, giving his receivers opportunities to make plays after the catch.They did, following downfield blocking and breaking tackles to turn short throws into chunk plays. Wa...

Kudermetova wins Toray Pan Pacific Open for second career title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:47 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Veronika Kudermetova upset second-seeded Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-1 to claim the Toray Pan Pacific Open and a second career title on Sunday.The Russian’s triumph in Tokyo ends a four-match losing streak in finals since her maiden title on clay at Charlestown in 2021. It was also her second win over a top-five opponent this week, after beating second-ranked Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals. “I’m really happy because before, it was not an easy time for me, it was really tough moments,” said Kudermetova, who will next compete at the China Open. “Now I’m really happy and I have a lot of motivation for the next weeks.”The eighth-seeded Kudermetova had a fast start Sunday racing to a 3-0 lead on the back of winning ten consecutive points. Pegula, who had dropped only nine games in three matches coming into the final, fought her way back on serve. But the American undid the rally by making back-to-back double faults to give up the first set.“Jessica is a great player, she’s...