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Dutch plans to tackle climate change are in doubt after the election victory of a far-right party

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

AMSTERDAM (AP) — The outgoing Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, told delegates at the COP28 United Nations climate conference his country is “committed to accelerating our efforts” to tackle climate change.Whether that happens in this nation — large parts of which are under sea level and protected by dikes — depends on talks that are underway to form a new ruling coalition.Rutte’s potential successor wants to trash the country’s climate policies.One of far-right lawmaker Geert Wilders’ pledges ahead of the Nov. 22 election his PVV party won set alarm bells ringing at environmental groups.“The climate law, the climate deal and all other climate measures will go straight into the shredder,” his PVV party’s election manifesto said. “No wasting billions on useless climate hobbies, but more money for our people,” it added.“Wilders really denies climate change as something that the Netherlands should worry about. Which is interesting given that a large part of the country is b...

0% credit card offers can provide holiday relief – if used wisely

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

It’s hard to say what kills the holiday buzz more: Putting away the festive decorations or a mountain of credit card debt that swells with every interest charge.But not all credit cards charge interest, at least for a time. If you lack cash on hand to buy all the holiday things, a 0% annual percentage rate card can help you finance those purchases and motivate you to pay them off before the 0% period ends.These credit cards temporarily waive interest on purchases, some for as long as 21 months, making paying off debt more manageable. Also, some 0% APR cards have a sign-up bonus and earn rewards that can be used to pay down any holiday spending.According to a 2023 survey from NerdWallet, 20% of Americans say that introductory APR would be among one of the most important factors if they were choosing a new credit card to apply for.Here are four tips that can help you maximize the value of a 0% APR credit card and avoid a never-ending cycle of debt.MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON TIMEA credit...

2 Chicago officers among 3 seriously injured in house fire on West Side; 1 person missing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

CHICAGO — A house fire has left two Chicago police officers and one other person seriously injured on the city's West Side. One person is missing, according to authorities.The blaze started around 1:15 a.m. Wednesday on the 1200 block of South Kedvale in North Lawndale. Officials said police were in the area and responded to the scene before the fire department arrived.According to authorities, two responding officers were on the porch of the home when it collapsed. They were transported to an area hospital in serious-but-stable condition.A 75-year-old woman was critically injured and transported to Mount Sinai Hospital. Family has confirmed the woman's son is unaccounted for.The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.This is a developing story. Check back for details.

Mild midweek but quick switch for the weekend

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A nice stretch of weather will take us through the next couple of days, but brace yourself for some weather whiplash this weekend.Despite another chilly morning, today will shape up to be a gorgeous December day with afternoon highs returning to the upper 60s and low 70s under a sky of sunshine and high clouds.Wednesday afternoon forecast high temperaturesMore of the same will follow Thursday, but a noticeable jump in temperatures is expected on Friday as temperatures soar close to 80 degrees.Weekend cold frontGusty south winds will pump warmth and humidity into Central Texas through the day on Friday. A spot shower may squeeze out Friday night but a better chance for spotty to scattered showers and storms comes Saturday morning along and incoming cold front.Cold front arrives Saturday morningAlthough we don't expect much, some areas (especially along and east of I-35) could pick up a few hundredths to a couple tenths of an inch of rain.Rain is likely to clear by m...

Easy pantry meal puts creamy beans and pasta front and center

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

Whenever I decide to cook straight from the pantry, one of two things usually results: pasta or beans.No matter how fetchingly the other long-term tenants of the larder beckon (I see you, tinned fish! Hiya, eggs!), I lean on pasta and beans most for last-minute meals.They are the two ingredients that everyone in my house almost always feels like eating. They both are also incredibly versatile shape-shifters that play nicely with whatever other staples I have on hand: typically some combination of lemon, garlic, olive oil and chile flakes. Easygoing pros, pasta and beans never cause a fuss.This time, though, instead of limiting myself to one starring ingredient, I opted to mix them, letting them share the pan to create a dinner as memorable as it is convenient.Of course, pasta and beans have already co-starred in many classic dishes. There’s pasta e fagioli and pasta e ceci, both of which can be as soupy or stewlike as you prefer. And then there’s minestrone, which falls squarely int...

Updated comfort food: Lamb tagine with dates and shallots

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

Most would agree one of the best parts of being on vacation is getting to try unfamiliar foods and cuisines and realizing, with the right recipes, you can re-create those tastes at home.While my husband and I weren’t too crazy about the skewered sardines and fried cuttlefish found in seafood restaurants and in the beach bars on a recent trip to southern Spain, we couldn’t get enough of tagine, the traditional Moroccan dish we ate several times after taking the ferry from Tarifa in the province of Cádiz, Andalusia, to Tangier, Morocco, to celebrate a pretty big anniversary this fall.Tagine refers to two things in this city famous for its mosques and medinas: a slow-cooked North African stew of spiced meat and vegetables that’s communally eaten with bread to soak up the fragrant sauce, and the namesake earthenware vessel with a conical lid it’s cooked in.The perfect balance of sweet and savory, tagine is typically made on the stovetop with warm and aromatic spi...

Quilts of Valor: Retired VA nurses make quilts for veterans

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - A group of retired VA nurses are using their skills to provide comfort to the brave men and women who served our country. The six volunteer to make patriotic quilts and present them to deserving veterans. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Since 2019, this local chapter of the National Quilts of Valor organization has been making quilts for veterans. In total, they've made about 80 quilts.Since 2019, this local chapter of the National Quilts of Valor organization has been making quilts for veterans. “Awarding the quilt, that’s the best. I get emotional every time. I feel so honored to be able to do this,” said Darci Jean Sprague. A look inside the new Albany time capsule exhibit Quilts of Valor Foundation began in 2003 and is celebrating its 20th anniversary. To learn more about the history of the national program, visit their website.The local group is always looking for more volunteers, including a Lon...

A look inside the new Albany time capsule exhibit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A new exhibit at the Albany Institute of History & Art opens to the public Wednesday, featuring the items that were inside the time capsule found underneath the statue of Philip Schuyler when it was removed from in front of Albany City Hall earlier this year. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! In 1925, a copper box was laid into the foundation of the statue of Major General Philip Schuyler. The statue was a gift to Albany from George C. Hawley in memory of his wife, Theodora Amsdell Hawley. It was said at the time that George filled the box with things he felt would be interesting to people in Albany when it was opened.Curator Diane Shewchuk explains the significance of the postcards from the time capsule: The time capsule was sitting in the ground for almost a century before a Department of General Services crew found the box containing items that offer a glimpse into Al...

Forest Rangers host wildfire suppression training

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

HYDE PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers held wildfire suppression training on Monday, November 27, and again on Saturday. Mock fire scenarios were set up for volunteers to dig a fire line using several tools in the field. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Image Via DECImage via DECRoughly 25 members of the Roosevelt Fire Department were in attendance.

Teenagers rescued on McKenzie Mountain Trail

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

NORTH ELBA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A 16-year-old and 13-year-old were rescued by Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers after setting off on a run on the McKenzie Mountain Trail in North Elba in Essex County on Saturday. The DEC says dispatch received a call from the mother of the two who needed help getting out of the woods. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to the DEC, the teens lost track of time running on the flatter stretch of the McKenzie Mountain Trail. The only lights they had were their cell phones, which were running low on battery. After receiving the call at 6 p.m., a Forest Ranger met the two roughly two miles from the trailhead and gave them headlamps. They were both helped back to their mother's vehicle and all resources were cleared at 8:32 p.m.