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Rights group reports allegations of dozens of abuses in critical minerals supply chains

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:53 GMT

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — A human rights advocacy group says it found allegations of dozens of labor and environmental abuses by Chinese-invested companies involved in mining or processing minerals used in renewable energy.The report released Thursday by the Business and Human Rights Resource Center in London says it found 102 cases of alleged abuses in all phases of using such minerals: from initial explorations and licensing to mining and processing.The report studied supply chains for nine minerals — cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese, nickel, zinc, aluminum, chromium and the so-called rare earth elements. All are vital for high-tech products such as solar panels and batteries for electric vehicles.Indonesia, with 27 cases, had the highest, followed by Peru with 16 and the Democratic Republic of Congo with 12, Myanmar with 11, and Zimbabwe with 7.Over two-thirds involved human rights violations, with Indigenous communities the most affected. Many projects invested in or operated by C...

Third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo held in Changsha

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:53 GMT

Fifty trucks manufactured by Hunan Jinsong Automobile are about to be shipped to Tanzania from Jiahe county, Chenzhou, central China's Hunan province, 17 May, 2022. (Photo by Huang Chuntao/People's Daily Online)The 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo kicked off in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan province on 29 June, write Yang Xun, Yan Ke and Shen Zhilin People's Daily.The four-day event, themed "Common Development for a Shared Future," is expected to draw wide participation and build new momentums for China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.At the Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Center, the main venue of the event, a number of featured commodities from Africa such as wine, coffee and handicrafts, as well as China's engineering machinery, medical equipment, consumer goods and agricultural equipment, were exhibited. The exhibition area expanded by 30,000 square meters from the last session to 100,000 square meters.The sub-venue of the event is at ...

Fourth of July mayhem swamped SoCal emergency crews

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:53 GMT

While Southern Californians watched the spectacle of explosions in the night sky on Independence Day, fireworks also caused a significant amount of mayhem across the Southland that swamped first responders until the early hours of Wednesday. On L.A.’s 6th Street Bridge, chaos and carelessness broke out as revelers shot off illegal fireworks, climbed the viaduct’s arches and drove on the wrong side of the road. One person even had what appeared to be a homemade rocket launcher he was using to fire off the explosives.  Emergency crews had their hands full, responding to thousands of calls overnight, some of which included serious injuries.  Officials with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the Adams-Normandie neighborhood after one man lost part of his right hand while lighting off fireworks.  In L.A.’s Westlake neighborhood, several cars went up in flames on North Lake Street. Authorities suspect illegal fireworks started the fires.  Over in Van Nuys, officials sa...

Vehicle crash ignites 13-acre wildfire in Ventura County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:53 GMT

A woman was hospitalized after a vehicle crash ignited a 13-acre wildfire in Ventura County on Wednesday.California Highway Patrol responded to a crash in the northbound lanes of SR-33, just north of Tico Road around 5:10 p.m.The victim was identified as Coriandra Wood, 27, from Simi Valley.Authorities believe Wood suffered from a medical issue and fainted before driving through a wood fence and crashing in a field. The exhaust from Wood's car ignited a large brush fire in the field which eventually grew to 13 acres, CHP said.Witnesses said Wood was able to self-extricate before the flames erupted and authorities arrived at the scene.Three helicopters from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department responded to the area and began dousing the flames. Multiple fire crews also arrived and were able to stop the flames' forward progression.Nearby residents were told to shelter in place and some "soft evacuations" were conducted by authorities. Highway lanes, Tico Road and Hermosa Road were ...

Threatening image diverts Maui-bound flight to Oakland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:53 GMT

OAKLAND – A Maui-bound flight was rerouted to Oakland International Airport on Monday after an ominous image appeared on passengers’ phones, authorities said.Around 11 a.m., the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office received word that someone on Southwest Airlines Flight 3316 had used the AirDrop feature on their Apple device to share a photo that suggested a bomb was on the plane, Lt. Tya Modeste said.Deputies met the plane when it touched down at 12:35 p.m. and helped passengers deplane. Modeste said bomb-sniffing dogs were then brought in to assess the passengers, the aircraft and roughly 300 pieces of luggage. No explosives were found.Around 2:30 p.m., passengers were allowed to reboard the flight, which originated from Las Vegas.A Southwest Airlines spokesperson confirmed the flight was rerouted but deferred additional questions to law enforcement.“We place no priority higher than safety and we’re grateful for patience and understanding during this delayed journey to Hawaii,” the air...

Flight diverted to Oakland after AirDropped bomb threat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:53 GMT

(KRON) -- A Southwest Airlines flight (#3316) from Las Vegas to Maui was diverted to Oakland on Monday after photos suggesting a bomb was on board were sent to a flight attendant, the Alameda County Sheriff's Department confirmed. The images were sent to the flight attendant using Apple's "AirDrop," according to ACSO. Woman, 63, dies after being pushed by unknown person in SF Oakland Airport Operations, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Airport Police Services evacuated the plane once it touched down in Oakland. All of the plane's passengers and their luggage was searched, and no explosive materials were found, per ACSO. The plane later continued to its intended destination in Hawaii. Nobody has been arrested in connection with the incident, ACSO said. The FBI has an investigation ongoing. Southwest Airlines sent the following statement regarding the diversion: "We can confirm flight 3316 on Monday afternoon diverted to Oakland from its intended path, Las Vegas to...

4th of July partiers leave tons of trash behind at Lake Tahoe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:53 GMT

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (KRON) – 2023 is being called possibly the worst year for litter at Lake Tahoe. Videos show garbage piled up on some of the beaches and under the water following 4th of July celebrations. Environmental groups were out there on Wednesday cleaning up the mess.It was an infuriating sight for volunteer clean-up groups. Video (above) shows what Zephyr Cove looked like after people partied at Lake Tahoe for the 4th of July. Now, these groups are wondering what’s going to keep this from happening year after year. More than 6,300 pounds of garbage was found at Zephyr Cove Wednesday morning. About 300-500 pounds alone was collected from the water. Nearly 5 pounds of fentanyl seized, 3 arrested in SF drug bust “There was beer cans, bottles, hair extensions, drugs. Everything under the sun. You can name it,” said Colin West, the founder and CEO of “Clean up the Lake.”   The organization launched in 2018 with a mission to keep the land and water at place...

Martinez and Peralta homer back-to-back, helping Dodgers rally to beat Pirates 6-4

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:53 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — J.D. Martinez and David Peralta homered back-to-back in the fifth inning, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers rally from a four-run deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4 on Wednesday night.Martinez connected on an 0-2 pitch from reliever Roansy Contreras (3-7) for his 20th homer, a go-ahead, three-run shot to left-center that scored Will Smith and Max Muncy, who drew consecutive walks.Peralta followed with a 406-foot solo shot to the lower right-field seats for a 6-4 lead.Contreras and Pirates starter Osvaldo Bido combined on four walks over the fourth and fifth. Both were called for pitch-clock violations: Bido in the second and Contreras in the fifth. Pittsburgh threatened in the ninth, loading the bases with no outs against Daniel Hudson. Pinch-hitter Connor Joe opened with a ground-rule double, then Hudson walked Andrew McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds back-to-back. Henry Davis struck out and Carlos Santana flied out before Jack Suwinski struck out swinging to en...

After Discord leak, Pentagon to tighten procedures for classified info

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:53 GMT

The Pentagon is tightening up the way it handles classified national security information, after a member of the Air National Guard allegedly leaked a trove of military secrets online earlier this year.A review ordered after that incident and made public Wednesday did not find systematic failures, or call for drastic changes to the way the Pentagon safeguards classified information. However, it did find areas where the Pentagon needs to improve accountability measures to prevent future leaks.Those include keeping better track of who has access to classified documents and where that information is being held, along with making sure those who can see classified information have up-to-date nondisclosure agreements.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin commissioned the review following the April arrest of National Guardsman Jack Teixeira for posting hundreds of pages of classified documents on the Discord social media platform.The massive leak revealed some of the nation’s top milita...

The big green energy skills gap

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:53 GMT

Presented by SSE By CHARLIE COOPER and RUSSELL HARGRAVE PRESENTED BY View in your browser or listen to audioSNEAK PEEK— The energy workforce has major worries about the skills-transfers required for the green transition, according to new research.— MPs and the aviation industry have mounted a last minute bid to get ‘jet zero’ at the heart of the Energy Bill.— Ed Miliband thinks Europe just needs to chill its boots over Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.Good Thursday morning. Welcome to POLITICO Pro Morning Energy and Climate UK. As always, please get in touch with your thoughts, tips and critique at [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]. Or reach us on Twitter: @hargraver; @charliecooper8; @abby_wallace3.If you are not already a Pro subscriber and would like a free trial of this newsletter, sign up here.DRIVING THE DAYTHE GREEN SKILLS GAP: You can’t have a green transition without a workf...