California

USA: New report confirms record-high greenhouse gases, global sea level, ocean heat in 2022

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea level and ocean heat content reached record highs in 2022, according to an annual review of the global climate published online on Wednesday.

The State of the Climate report, the 33rd annual assessment compiled by the National Centers for Environmental Information at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is based on contributions from more than 570 scientists in over 60 countries.

USA: Felony convictions vacated for 4 former Navy officers in sprawling ‘Fat Leonard’ bribery scandal

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The felony convictions of four former Navy officers in one of the worst bribery cases in the maritime branch’s history were vacated Wednesday due to questions about prosecutorial misconduct, the latest setback to the government’s yearslong efforts in going after dozens of military officials tied to a defense contractor nicknamed Fat Leonard.

U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino called the misconduct “outrageous” and agreed to allow the four men to plead guilty to a misdemeanor and pay a $100 fine each.

USA: Shooting In Washington State Left One Dead, Two Injured

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 6 (NNN-XINHUA) – A shooting at a park in Lynnwood, north-western U.S. state of Washington, late Monday night, left one person dead and two others injured, police said.

The Lynnwood Police Department said, four people were involved in the shooting, which occurred at Lynndale Park, the city’s largest park.

In a statement, the department said, there’s no danger to the public and that officials believe the shooting “is an isolated incident.”

USA: Reshaped Death Valley park could take months to reopen after damage from Hilary

DEATH VALLEY JUNCTION, Calif. (AP) — It’s unclear when Death Valley National Park will reopen to visitors after heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hilary forged new gullies and crumbled roadways at the site of one of the hottest places in the world, officials said.

The storm dumped a furious 2.2 inches (6 centimeters) of rain Aug. 20, roughly the amount of rainfall the park usually receives in a year. This year’s rainfall broke its previous record of 1.7 inches (4 centimeters) in one day, set in August of last year.

385 people remain missing in U.S. Maui island wildfires disaster

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- The number of people missing in the wildfires on the U.S. Hawaiian island of Maui decreased slightly to 385, authorities said on Friday.

This update is down from 388 on the first list of missing people, which was released on Aug. 24, said the Maui Police Department and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation in a news release.

Officials said over 3,000 individuals had been found safe, who were previously reported unaccounted for, with their names provided to the public.

White men overrepresented in California's highest-paid jobs: report

SACRAMENTO, the United States, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- A new report adds to evidence of racial and gender inequality in California's economy, with white men taking the lion's share of the highest-paid jobs, while women and communities of color are overrepresented among the lowest-paid workers.

A statewide 2021 annual pay data report released by the California Civil Rights Department on Thursday showed that people of color and women were making less money for similar jobs compared to white men.

USA: Elon Musk says X, formerly Twitter, will have voice and video calls, updates privacy policy

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk said Thursday that his social network X, formerly known as Twitter, will give users the ability to make voice and video calls on the platform. Musk, who has a history of making proclamations about coming features and policies that have not always come to fruition, did not say when the features would be available to users.

The company also updated its privacy policies that will allow for the collection of biometric data and employment history, among other information.

USA: Broadband subsidy program that millions use will expire next year if Congress doesn’t act

LOS ANGELES (AP) — One of the features that President Joe Biden cited in his plan to bring internet to every home and business in the United States by 2030 was affordability. But an important federal program established to keep broadband costs down for low-income households is set to expire next year.

USA: Trump's debate counter-programming draws millions of views on X

LOS ANGELES, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Former President Donald Trump, who opted out of a Republican primary debate on Fox News (FOXA.O) on Wednesday, attracted millions of viewers who watched - or at least scrolled by - a rival interview on social media platform X.

The 46-minute conversation with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson drew more than 74 million views, according to statistics on the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Nvidia’s rising star gets even brighter with another stellar quarter propelled by sales of AI chips

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Computer chip maker Nvidia has rocketed into the constellation of Big Tech’s brightest stars while riding the artificial intelligence craze that’s fueling red-hot demand for its technology.

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