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The top US economist under fire for taking an EU job

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:49 GMT

She’s described as one of the “best economists in the world” for her area with “excellent credentials” as an academic and a record of public service. Yet Fiona Scott Morton’s appointment as the European Commission’s chief competition economist has unleashed a wave of protest, largely from French politicians. The Commission’s decision to pluck Scott Morton from her life as a professor at Yale University has pulled her into a row over her passport and her past: She’s a U.S. citizen and she’s the first non-EU person to take such a senior Commission post. She has also consulted regularly for Big Tech firms — most recently for Microsoft on its Activision deal — as she takes a job advising on investigations and regulation against many U.S. tech giants.Scott Morton is not just any economist; she’s also a former U.S. antitrust regulator and an influential academic who has stoked the U.S.’s renewed interest in tackling the ma...

The battle for UK Labour’s tech crown

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:49 GMT

LONDON — It could soon be one of the most powerful roles in U.K. tech. But who does Keir Starmer want in charge of Labour’s tech plans?Rumors of an opposition reshuffle are swirling in Westminster, and the Labour leader — on course to become Britain’s next prime minister — may soon have to assemble his A-team for government. There’s already jostling at the top of the party for the coveted tech and innovation gig.Starmer is notoriously taciturn when it comes to moving around his top team. “He hates the build up to it, he hates the self-promotion and the briefings, he hates doing it, and then he hates the fallout at the end of it,” said Chris Ward, former deputy chief of staff to the Labour leader.But a reshuffle would offer Starmer the chance for one more rethink in the run-up to next year’s expected general election.The two frontrunners for the tech crown — Lucy Powell and Darren Jones — are self-described techno-optimists, but the similarities end there.When Prime...

Climate envoy John Kerry in Beijing talks as US seeks to raise China relations from historic low

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:49 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — U.S. climate envoy John Kerry was holding talks Monday with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing as the U.S. seeks to restore contacts amid disputes over trade, Taiwan, human rights and territorial claims. China’s official Xinhua News Agency said Kerry was meeting Monday with Xie Zhenhua for the first extensive face-to-face climate discussions between representatives of the world’s two worst climate polluters after a nearly yearlong hiatus. China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of coal and has proceeded with building new plants, while at the same time forging ahead with renewables such as solar and wind power. Yet, Congressional Republicans questioning of Kerry ahead of his trip at times broke down into challenging the existence of the scientifically established fact of climate change. But with Republicans as well as Democrats overall accepting the science underlying the warming climate, much of the criticism from GOP committee members zeroed in on the appr...

French tourism businesses are wary of customers drying up as droughts worsen

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:49 GMT

SAINTE-CROIX du VERDON, France (AP) — At the pristine southern French lake of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, tourists in pedal boats and on white water rafts — and the businesses that welcome them — have been buoyed by generous rainfall and good water management this spring.After a prolonged drought last summer, then another in the winter that followed, the once cracked lakebeds are now abundantly watered. Dams are releasing water into reservoirs on a consistent schedule for activities in the lake. But tour operators are still wary.“Rafting and kayaking is great, but if tomorrow there is not enough water in the river, we will have to reinvent ourselves,” said Antoine Coudray of Secret River Tours, that operates in the gorges of Verdon.The artificial lake of Sainte-Croix, a bustling tourist attraction, is one of three reservoirs in the area built for 16 hydroelectric dams. The dams supply the southeastern region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur with 35% of its electricity needs. Human-caused c...

Suburban grandparents charged with murder in death of 5-year-old granddaughter

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:49 GMT

PARK FOREST, Ill. — A grandmother and grandfather have both been charged with first degree murder after their 5-year-old granddaughter was found unresponsive, and later died at Comer Children's Hospital, according to the Park Forest Police Department.Klent Elwoods, 62, and Lisa Jones, 57, who were both charged with 1st degree murder Sunday in the investigation into the death of their five-year-old granddaughter, Jada Moore.Police said Klent Elwoods, 62, and Lisa Jones, 57, were both charged with first degree murder Sunday in the death of 5-year-old Jada Moore, after investigative evidence was presented to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office by Park Forest detectives.According to Park Forest PD, officers were called to a home in the 300 block of Osage Street for an unresponsive five-year-old girl around 10:50 p.m. Friday. Elwoods called 911 and admitted to abusing Jada, and told dispatchers she was unresponsive.First responders administered CPR on arrival before taking Jada to ...

APD: 1 dead after 'verbal altercation' near abandoned building in east Austin

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After responding to a homicide in southeast Austin on Sunday, Austin police officers were dispatched to another homicide around 8:30 p.m. in east Austin.APD Cpl. Jose Mendez said a Hispanic man in his 40s was found dead near an abandoned building "with obvious trauma to his body," near the intersection of East 52nd Street and Cameron Road. APD responded to the call at 8:28 p.m.First responders attempted lifesaving measures when they found the man, but he was pronounced dead at 8:53 p.m., Mendez said. The intersection is just east of Interstate 35.Mendez said two people were involved in a "verbal altercation that led one subject to shoot the other," and investigators think the two people knew each other. APD doesn't have anyone in custody, but there's a person of interest and Mendez said APD is "doing everything we can to locate the individual to determine what took place this evening.The department sent a tweet about the investigation at 9:18 p.m. Mendez said this is...

APD investigating homicide on Airport Boulevard

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police is investigating its third homicide Sunday night. Police investigate double homicide in southeast Austin It occurred at a gas station in the 1100 block of Airport Blvd., near Gunter Street and Goodwin Avenue.A vehicle at the scene with damage from bullets. (KXAN Photos/Jake Sykes)Anyone with information is asked to call APD’s homicide tip line at 512-477-3588, or APD Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477 or by visiting austincrimestoppers.org.This is a developing story. Check back to KXAN for updates.

Troy Pig Out sizzling up summer food

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:49 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -When it comes to summer, barbeques are at the top of the list for things to do. Troy Pig Out makes its return to the Collar City with vendors and live music all over downtown. The event is one of many run by the business improvement district to show off what Troy has to offer.Executive Director of the Downtown Troy Business Association, Olivia Clemente, says Troy has been missing out on the fun for a while. “This is the first time the event’s come on since COVID-19. I believe the last cookout was in 2019. We’ve completely revamped and focused on our businesses.”A mix of businesses on the street and in their buildings makes for a quick walk of what the area has to offer. Clemente explaining the added visibility helps everyone make some more money. “It’s around a 15-20% increase from a regular Friday or Saturday.”After one year of business in Troy, Tatu Tacos & Tequila owners say they are thankful to be apart of events like these. “The crowd, the community; th...

Alderwoman says ARPA funds should be used to help Pine Lawn woman, other seniors

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:49 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A Pine Lawn city official agrees the city should help a senior citizen get her air conditioner fixed to help keep her cool in the searing heat.Resident Dana Woods had asked the city to use $2,000 in ARPA funds to solve her problem, and provide some of those funds for other senior citizens in need.Mayor Terry Epps said the funds were restricted and couldn’t be used that way, but now, a Pine Lawn aldermen who saw our first report disagrees with that.Alderwoman Dionne Jones says a program should have been set up with the ARPA funds to help seniors.“A resident she sent me the story that you did, and I was sad,” she said. “We just had a meeting about how we might use our ARPA funds, and I made a motion that we use a portion of our funds to start a home repair programs, which would have helped the resident that was in your story.” Messi jerseys not allowed in St. Louis CITY SC supporter section this weekend Jones said Pine Lawn would not be the first to use ARPA ...

Gardener loses hand after discarded firework explodes in Torrance

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:49 GMT

Home surveillance cameras captured the moment an illegal firework exploded in a Torrance neighborhood, causing severe injury to a gardener that was working in the yard.  Hector Mayoral and his brother were working on July 8 when he noticed what he thought looked like a golf ball near his work truck, which was parked on the street. When Mayoral picked the object up, thinking it was trash, it immediately exploded.  The blast took off most of his left hand, burned much of his face and affected his sight.  “It was gruesome,” Ken Lucas, whose home surveillance cameras captured the explosion. “There were fingers in the street and a lot of flesh parts in the street.”  Lucas, who lives across the street, heard the explosion from his backyard and ran out to help the gardener.  “I ran into the garage; I grabbed a strap, and I ran across the street and wrapped it around the gardener’s arm,” he explained.  It now appears that what looked like a small ball surrounde...