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Labour can hit green goals by building in Tory seats, Keir Starmer told

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:52:03 GMT

LONDON — A Labour government would be “less vulnerable” to local protests against new green energy infrastructure like pylons and substations because most of it will need to be built in Conservative areas, opposition leader Keir Starmer has been told.New analysis by the Public First consultancy, shared with POLITICO, finds that the majority of planned green infrastructure projects in the U.K. — often subject to fierce local opposition — will take place in parts of the country represented by Conservative MPs. That could allow a Starmer-led government to avoid vocal “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) campaigns backed by Labour MPs which may otherwise scupper new development.Labour has set a target of decarbonizing Britain’s electricity supply by 2030, five years ahead of the government’s deadline. But achieving either goal will require a huge buildout of renewable power sources and electricity grid infrastructure, including pylons and power lines.The analysis shows that only thr...

British MPs fear backlash to Israel-Hamas war in their own backyard

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:52:03 GMT

LONDON — Britain’s two main political leaders are putting on a united front in the Israel-Hamas war. But beneath the surface, it’s a different story.In the wake of the attacks on Israel just over two weeks ago, politicians have been confronting the consequences not only in the Middle East but in their own backyards.Rishi Sunak and his Labour counterpart, Keir Starmer, struck a note of unity in parliament last week, condemning Hamas and expressing solidarity with Israel — while urging Israel to uphold international law in its response. Beneath the highest level of British politics, however, the conflict is exerting a strain on some communities — and members of parliament are nervous.“In our area, clearly there has been a rise in people’s sense of anxiety,” says David Simmonds, the Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner in north-west London. It’s a constituency with one of the highest proportions of Jewish residents in the U.K. — and for some, t...

Has Australia solved the China puzzle?  

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:52:03 GMT

SYDNEY — When Mak Sai Ying sailed into Sydney Harbor in February 1818, he wasted little time settling into Australian life. The first recorded Chinese-born settler to arrive in Australia later anglicized his name to John Shying, married an English woman and eventually turned his hand to running that most Aussie of establishments: a good boozer. After a long journey from China’s Guangdong province, the soon-to-be publican would have passed Potts Point, a stop of land jutting into Sydney’s famous harbor that today hosts a reminder of how the relationship between China and Australia is changing. Potts Point is home to the Australian Navy’s Fleet Base East — the main operational base for the navy on the country’s east coast. It was here, in July, that the U.S. Navy commissioned the USS Canberra — the first American warship to be placed into active service in an ally’s territory.The unusual deployment was part of a geopolitical balancing act being carried out by Australia’s Pri...

Quiz: AI images vs. history’s most iconic photos — can you tell the difference?

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:52:03 GMT

We’re on our way into a future where it’s no longer possible to tell what’s real and what’s fake. Earlier this year, an image of Pope Francis decked out in a white Balenciaga puffer jacket sent the internet into a spin. As did fictional images depicting former U.S. President Donald Trump’s arrest.Both were created using a new era of AI generators, like Midjourney, DALL-E 3 and Stable Diffusion, which are unleashing a flood of rapidly created fake images into the world.Where seeing was once believing, soon anybody will be able to generate photo-realistic imitations with a click of a button.We took some of history’s most iconic images and, in a matter of seconds, created new versions of them. Are you able to tell which is which? Take our quiz and see for yourself. Then read POLITICO’s story on what happens when we can no longer believe our eyes.Which is the real image of the fall of the Berlin wall? Which image is the real image of the atomic bomb d...

The longer Israel thinks, the more time Washington has to calm its wrath

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:52:03 GMT

Jamie Dettmer is opinion editor at POLITICO Europe. BEIRUT — “Once you break it, you are going to own it,” General Colin Powell warned former United States President George W. Bush when he was considering invading Iraq in the wake of 9/11.And as the invasion plan came together, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld blocked any serious postwar planning for how Iraq would be run once the country’s ruler Saddam Hussein had gone. As far as he was concerned, once “shock and awe” had smashed Iraq, others could pick up the pieces.British generals fumed at this. And General Mike Jackson, head of the British army during the invasion, later described Rumsfeld’s approach as “intellectually bankrupt.”That history is now worth recalling — and was likely on U.S. President Joe Biden’s mind when he urged the Israeli war cabinet last week not to “repeat mistakes” made by the U.S. after 9/11.Despite Biden’s prompt, however, Israel still doesn’t appear to have a definitive plan for what to do wi...

Chicago Bears CB Jaylon Johnson gets two interceptions to break 28-game streak without one: ‘I deserve to be paid’

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:52:03 GMT

Jaylon Johnson jumped in front of Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams to grab the interception, raced 39 yards for a touchdown and then made a beeline for the FOX broadcast camera.As Johnson’s teammates gathered around to celebrate his second career interception — and his first of two picks Sunday — Johnson smirked at the camera and swiped one hand up over the other, raining imaginary money over the Soldier Field end zone.Was he sending a message with that celebration in the Bears’ joy-filled 30-12 victory over the Raiders, you ask?“You damn right,” Johnson said. “100%.”Johnson’s two interceptions — one off veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer and one off rookie Aidan O’Connell — were part of a banner day for the Bears defense against a Raiders team missing starter Jimmy Garoppolo. Tremaine Edmunds also intercepted Hoyer. The Bears let the Raiders in the end zone just once, held them to 39 yards rushing and...

Child killed in shooting on South Side

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:52:03 GMT

CHICAGO — Police say a child was killed on Sunday night after suffering a gunshot wound on the city's South Side.Police say officers responded to reports of shots fired around 6:30 p.m. near 600 West Marquette in Englewood. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Chicago police say the juvenile was critically injured in the shooting and was taken to Comer Children's Hospital where he later died.Currently, the age of the child is unclear and authorities have not provided details on what led to the shooting.Anyone with information on the deadly shooting can leave a tip for police at CPDTip.com. Tips can be left anonymously. 

APD: Officer involved in North Austin shooting

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:52:03 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department said in a social media post that the agency is working an officer-involved shooting Sunday night.The scene is in the 9000 block of Northgate Blvd, according to the post. APD said in its post that there is no threat to the public, and that the scene remains active.The post did not provide details to how the officer was involved in the shooting. An APD PIO tells KXAN that they will provide a media briefing at a time to be determined.This is a developing story. Check back later for more details.

Reports: Texas QB Quinn Ewers to miss time with shoulder sprain

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:52:03 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Multiple reports Sunday night said Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers suffered a sprained shoulder in the Longhorns' 31-24 win Saturday over Houston.Rivals site Orangebloods.com and ESPN's Pete Thamel report that Ewers suffered a grade 2 sprain of the AC joint in his right shoulder, his throwing side. The injury shouldn't be season-ending but he's expected to miss some time. A timetable for his return isn't yet known, the report said. Longhorns move up one spot in AP Top 25 after Houston win Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is scheduled to have his weekly press conference with media members at 11 a.m. Monday and more information could be available then. Last season against Alabama in a 20-19 home loss, Ewers sprained his SC joint on his non-throwing side. That's where the sternum and clavicle meet. He was out for three games with that injury.Ewers was hit hard by Houston's David Ugwoegbu near the end of the third quarter after a scramble. Ewers tried to play through...

St. Louisans show support for Israel; call for peace

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:52:03 GMT

ST. LOUIS – As the war between Israel and Hamas rages on, St. Louisans again showed their support for the Jewish community on Sunday.Dozens of people gathered near Forest Park to hold a solidarity rally and silent prayer to pay tribute to the innocent people who have lost their lives. The group drew looks and honks along Skinker Boulevard as people of Christian, Jewish, and other faiths stood in solidarity.Karen Sher, vice president of community impact for the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, said it’s bigger than supporting Israel.“This is not just about the Jewish community. This is about humanity,” Sher said.Other demonstrators agreed.“This is not a protest against Palestinians,” Tami Flick said. “We love Palestinians. We pray for Jews, Palestinians. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”Dozens of people attended the rally, which Civil Righteousness and the Jewish Federation hosted in front of the former United Hebrew Congregation Synagogue late on Sunday afternoon. Their mission wa...