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No atmosphere found at faraway Earth-sized world, study says

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 20:00:31 GMT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The Webb Space Telescope has found no evidence of an atmosphere at one of the seven rocky, Earth-sized planets orbiting a nearby star. Scientists said Monday that doesn’t bode well for the rest of the planets in this solar system, some of which are in the sweet spot for harboring water and potentially life. The NASA-led team reported little if no atmosphere exists at the innermost planet in the Trappist system, 40 light-years away. The researchers used a special technique geared toward a warm planet like this one. Results were published Monday in the journal Nature. The lack of an atmosphere would mean no water and no protection from cosmic rays, said NASA’s Thomas Greene, the lead researcher. As for the other planets orbiting the small, feeble Trappist star, “I would have been more optimistic about the others” having atmospheres if this one had, Greene said in an email.Because this innermost planet is bombarded by solar radiation — four times as mu...

Poland, EU seek to boost munitions production

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 20:00:31 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Officials from Poland and the European Union on Monday discussed artillery munitions manufacturing as part of a new, 2 billion euro ($2.2 billion) program to supply Ukraine in its war against invading Russian forces and to replenish Europe’s dwindling stocks. EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton visited DEZAMET S.A. munition plant in Nowa Deba, in southeast Poland, accompanied by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak. The visit came just days after Brussels announced a program to reimburse countries offering artillery ammunition to Ukraine from a 1 billion euro ($1.1 billion) fund. The program also aims to spend an equal amount on increasing production in 11 countries with such manufacturing capacity.Breton said the EU is “determined” to quickly do what is needed in light of a conflict that’s expected to drag on. He also encouraged other EU countries to transfer ammunition to Ukraine as soon as possible....

In Trump probe, Manhattan grand jury is back at work

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 20:00:31 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Manhattan grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump over hush money payments returned on Monday to hear more evidence, with still no word on when it might be asked to vote on a possible indictment.It was the first time the panel was hearing testimony in the Trump probe since last Monday, when a witness favorable to the ex-president appeared before the grand jury. The jurors did not meet at all on Wednesday, one of the days when they ordinarily convene, and heard other matters on Thursday.The grand jury is now back on Trump, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss secretive proceedings. It was not immediately clear whether an additional witness might be called before the panel.Trump raised anticipation that criminal charges were imminent with a March 18 post on his social media platform in which he said he expected to be arrested last Tuesday. He has since used the absence of an indictment to claim...

Ottawa’s slow rollout of internet to First Nations creating economic rift: audit

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 20:00:31 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal government’s slow rollout of high-speed internet to rural areas is putting First Nations at an economic disadvantage while billions of dollars earmarked to fix the issue remains untouched, says Canada’s auditor general.The lack of internet access continues to exclude First Nation reserves from accessing education, work and medical or government services online, Karen Hogan says in a report released Monday — despite there being billions of dollars in last year’s budget to address their needs.“Internet and mobile services is not equal for all Canadians,” reads the audit report, which covered the period from July 2018 to January.On First Nations, about 43 per cent of households have high-speed internet, while 91 per cent of households across Canada do. In rural and remote areas, about 60 per cent have access to high-speed internet.The audit found that the federal government is failing to account for affordability, because it is only &#...

MP Han Dong suing Global News over ‘false’ reporting on Chinese interference

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 20:00:31 GMT

MP Han Dong says he is suing Global News and Corus Entertainment over their reporting that he advised a Chinese diplomat on the detentions of the Two Michaels in 2021.Dong released a statement on Monday saying he has retained a lawyer and is ready to “begin legal action to its fullest extent.”“I voted in support of a public inquiry on foreign interference to demonstrate to my family, colleagues and constituents that I have nothing to hide and to remind my false accusers and Global News that the truth will always come out in the end,” reads the statement from Dong.Please see my statement below. pic.twitter.com/7NgcDKSaXy— Han Dong (@handongontario) March 27, 2023The Toronto MP for Don Valley North announced he would resign from the Liberal caucus last week and sit as an Independent. Dong told the House of Commons that he would defend himself against “absolutely untrue claims” regarding his alleged involvement in Chinese interference.Global Ne...

Congress ponders TikTok ban after CEO's grilling

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 20:00:31 GMT

(The Hill) -- Discussions of a potential ban on TikTok in the United States are expected to heat up this week after the CEO of the social media app was grilled by House members during a blockbuster hearing last week.Congressional leaders from both chambers and parties have backed bills that could lead to the Chinese-owned app being banned, while Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has explicitly said he would support a national ban on TikTok. “The House will be moving forward with legislation to protect Americans from the technological tentacles of the Chinese Communist Party,” McCarthy said in a tweet Sunday.What that legislation will look like remains unclear, but will likely be a topic of conversation among lawmakers this week.Also this week, House and Senate committees are slated to hold hearings on recent bank failures, after Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank were seized by regulators earlier this month. The collapses spooked markets and raised concerns about future bank run...

In The Month Of Ramadan, We Honour Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 20:00:31 GMT

Threat at Jarrell Middle School over the weekend prompts investigation

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 20:00:31 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for March 27, 2023.JARRELL, Texas (KXAN) -- A threat made toward Jarrell Middle School over the weekend has prompted an investigation and an additional presence of law enforcement at the school this week. The Jarrell Independent School District made several posts about the threat over the weekend. The first one was made on Saturday, alerting families that there was a threat made against the middle school over social media, and the ISD would work with law enforcement agencies to address it and bring additional security measures to the campus and other campuses within the district throughout the week. On Sunday, the district posted again, updating families on the status of the investigation and addressing what the district said were "rumors and misinformation" about a separate incident that happened Friday at the middle school. According to the Sunday post, the "rumors" that circulated were that a student had a gun o...

Speaker McCarthy says House 'will be moving forward' with TikTok legislation

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 20:00:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Sunday House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tweeted “The House will be moving forward with legislation to protect Americans from the technological tentacles of the Chinese Communist Party."The statement comes after a week where congress grilled TikTok's CEO with a series of questions and statements regarding national security, data privacy, the spread of misinformation and safety for minors.McCarthy told reporters last week that he supported Congress moving to ban the app, but said he wanted to “make sure we get it right,” according to reporting from The Hill. This comes as the Wall Street Journal reports a potential ban on Tik Tok could be just the tip of the iceberg regarding the economic battle between China and the U.S.Former State Department Special Agent Ron Holloway talked with KXAN about the future of TikTok and what U.S. - China relations could look like moving forward. Q&A on the future of TikTokTom Miller: Why is it that America would consider b...

Troubled Silicon Valley Bank acquired by North Carolina bank

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 20:00:31 GMT

First Citizens will acquire much of Silicon Valley Bank, the tech-focused financial institution that collapsed this month, setting off a chain reaction that caused a second bank to fail and tested faith in the global banking sector.The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and other regulators had already taken extraordinary steps to head off a wider banking crisis by guaranteeing that depositors in SVB and failed Signature Bank would be able to access all of their money.While more than half of Silicon Valley’s assets will remain in U.S. receivership, the First Citizens deal announced late Sunday, at least initially, seemed to achieve what regulators have sought: a shoring up of trust in U.S. regional banks.At the opening bell Monday, shares of midsized banks like Keycorp, Zions and First Horizon rose 8%. First Republic Bank, which received a $30 billion rescue package from 11 of the biggest banks in the country as it teetered in the wake of the Silicon Valley collapse, jumped 23%.Custome...