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Germany sees opportunity in nuclear fusion, but funding for research remains uncertain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:16 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — The German government announced draft plans Thursday to boost domestic research into development of nuclear fusion, a technology some hope will provide abundant clean energy in the future, but left open how those efforts will be funded.Science Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger said that under the proposal, Germany will support all promising fusion technologies now being developed, including laser-based methods that achieved recent breakthroughs in the United States but aren’t widely researched in Europe.Another method, using powerful magnets, has already received significant support from Germany at both its own Wendelstein 7-X research reactor in the northern town of Greifswald, and at the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, or ITER, in southern France.“We want to address both magnet and laser fusion,” Stark-Watzinger told reporters in Berlin, adding that the plan is to “substantially” increase the 149 million euros ($163 million) that Germany curren...

Bolsonaro’s political future hangs in the balance as Brazilian court case begins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:16 GMT

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil’s top electoral court on Thursday began hearing a case that could torpedo the political future of former President Jair Bolsonaro by rendering him ineligible for public office for eight years.Judges are evaluating a case filed by Brazil’s Democratic Labor Party, which claims the far-right leader abused his power by using government communication channels to promote his campaign and cast unfounded doubts on the country’s electronic voting system. While Bolsonaro often railed against the voting system, the suit’s focus is a meeting last year on July 18 that Bolsonaro convened at the presidential palace with foreign ambassadors, which was broadcast on state television for nearly an hour. Thursday’s session in the capital, Brasilia, began with Judge Benedito Gonçalves reading his report on the case. Already two subsequent sessions have been slated for next Tuesday and next Thursday, but the trial could extend for several months if any of the six other judg...

Stock market today: Wall Street follows global markets lower after more rate hikes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:16 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street followed global markets lower early Thursday as countries around the world cranked up interest rates one day after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told Congress he believes inflation still isn’t under control. The S&P 500 was down 0.3% shortly after the opening bell. The Nasdaq was off 0.2% and the Dow fell 91 points, or 0.3%. European markets were lower after the Bank of England raised its main interest rate by a half a percentage point to a 15-year high of 5%. Banks in Norway, Switzerland and Turkey also raised borrowing rates to combat inflation.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.Wall Street followed global markets lower early Thursday as countries around the world cranked up interest rates one day after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told Congress he believes inflation still isn’t under control. Futures for the Dow Jones industrials and the S&P 500 each slipped 0.3% before the bell.Powell told lawmakers i...

Tornadoes tear through west Texas town, killing 4 people and causing widespread damage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:16 GMT

MATADOR, Texas — A line of severe storms produced what a meteorologist calls a rare combination of multiple tornadoes, hurricane-force winds and softball-sized hail in west Texas, killing at least four people and causing significant damage around the town of Matador, a meteorologist said Thursday.A supercell developed about 8 p.m. Wednesday near Amarillo before striking the small town, said senior forecaster Matt Ziebell with the National Weather Service in Lubbock.The storm later produced 109 mph (175 kph) winds at Jayton in addition to the 4-inch (10.2-centimeter) or larger hail, according to Ziebell.“That is certainly rare to see all at the same time, killer tornadoes, hurricane-force winds and softball-sized hail,” Zeibell said.Wednesday “was definitely a rare combination of high-end wind shear and storms of extreme instability,” according to Ziebell.Search and rescue efforts continued Thursday morning, although no one is known to be missing, according to Texas Department of Pub...

Billy Crystal and Queen Latifah look marvelous as they headline this year’s Kennedy Center Honors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:16 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — You know you’ve made a cultural impact when Henry Kissinger quotes your own joke back to you. That’s what happened to Billy Crystal, one of five iconic artists selected for this year’s Kennedy Center Honors. The others selected for the lifetime artistic achievement award are rapper and actor Queen Latifah, opera singer Renée Fleming, 1970s music icon Barry Gibb and prolific hitmaker Dionne Warwick. All will be honored with the traditional gala celebration at Washington’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 3. Kennedy Center president Deborah F. Rutter called this year’s crop of inductees “an extraordinary mix of individuals who have redefined their art forms.”Crystal, 75, came to national prominence in the 1970s playing Jodie Dallas, one of the first openly gay characters on American network television, on the sitcom “Soap.” He went on to a brief but memorable one-year stint on “Saturday Night Live” before starring in ...

Search for missing Titanic submersible passes the critical 96-hour mark for oxygen supply

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:16 GMT

The search for the missing submersible on an expedition to view the wreckage of the Titanic passed the critical 96-hour mark Thursday when breathable air could have run out, a grim moment in the intense effort to save the five people aboard.The Titan submersible was estimated to have about a four-day supply of breathable air when it launched Sunday morning in the North Atlantic — but experts have emphasized that was an imprecise approximation to begin with and could be extended if passengers have taken measures to conserve breathable air. And it’s not known if they survived since the sub’s disappearance.Rescuers have rushed ships, planes and other equipment to the site of the disappearance. On Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard said an undersea robot sent by a Canadian ship had reached the sea floor, while a French research institute said a deep-diving robot with cameras, lights and arms also joined the operation.Authorities are hoping underwater sounds&nbs...

Warwick, Crystal, Queen Latifah among Kennedy Center honorees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:16 GMT

(The Hill) -- Rapper and actor Queen Latifah, comedian Billy Crystal, singer Dionne Warwick, Bee Gees member Barry Gibb and opera star Renée Fleming are joining an exclusive club: They’re this year’s Kennedy Center Honors recipients.The John F. Kennedy for the Performing Arts announced the slate of five honorees on Thursday, saying the group is being recognized for lifetime artistic achievements.The honorees represent “an extraordinary mix of individuals who have redefined their art forms and demonstrated remarkable tenacity and authenticity in becoming an original,” Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter said. “Each of them has explored new terrain, stretched artistic boundaries, and most importantly, committed to sharing their gifts with the world,” Rutter said in a statement.Gloria Estefan will host the Honors gala on Dec. 3 in Washington, which is traditionally attended by the sitting president. Cardi B criticizes stepson of billionaire on missing submersible ...

Brain health study searching for former female college athletes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Darrell K Royal Research Fund has provided a half-million-dollar grant to support a study aimed at understanding how college sports can impact brain health later in life.However, the study is still 100 women short of its goal of reaching 500 total participants — 250 men and 250 women — by September.UT Southwestern’s O’Donnell Brain Institute is conducting the study, focusing on former college athletes over the age of 50, who didn’t go on to play professional sports. Texas study delves into brain health of past college athletes, seeks participants “All of us associated with the DKR Fund believe this is something that coach Royal would really want to know,” DKR Research Fund president Debbie Hanna said. “Mrs. Royal has been very supportive of this effort from the beginning.”The College Level Aging Athlete Study, or CLEAATS, has already surveyed over 400 participants in both contact and non-contact sports.In the data collected thus far, 63% of the participants — 2...

Dinosaurs, rodeos, Longhorns highlight 2023 Texas State Fair

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:16 GMT

DALLAS (KXAN) – The State Fair of Texas Wednesday released the list of new attractions, entertainers and weekend rodeos for the 2023 State Fair.The fair will start on Friday, Sept. 29, and run through Sunday, Oct. 22. According to the announcement, fairgoers will see a "Dinosaurs at the Lagoon" exhibit with 10 life-sized dinosaurs found in Texas and a kids' play area. The fair said photo opportunities will be available with a 57-foot-tall Alamosaurus. The Fringe Stage will offer a water balloon fight with the Acrobuffos, a contortionist named Sara Twister and husband-and-wife acrobats Street Circus, the fair said. Soap Bubble Circus will perform "Guinness World Record-breaking feats of bubble-ology" at Oak Farms Theater, according to the fair.According to the fair, holiday decoration ideas will be available at the Home for Holidays Christmas decor showcase.The State Fair of Texas Rodeo happens every weekend during the fair. Here's a look at the lineup:2023 State Fair of Texas Rodeo ...

Troy leaders calling on NYS to save Burdett Birth Center

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:16 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- City leaders are now looking to the state to help stop the plan to close the Burdett Birth Center at Samaritan Hospital in Troy. Carmella Mantello, City Council President, said the city council is putting forward a resolution calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to intervene in the plan; something Mantello said Hochul has power to do. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “All of us are joining together to implore the governor to keep this birthing center open. It’s just completely outrageous that St. peter’s hasn’t come to city leaders with their plan," Mantello said. Mantello hopes the resolution will push Governor Hochul to take action, involving the state legislature if necessary. Officials with the Mayor's Office said Mayor Patrick Madden is in preliminary discussions with Saint Peter's Health Partners, Governor Hochul's Office and other representatives about possible action. The birth center is the only...