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Basketball season starts with highly ranked U of L, UK teams still looking for answers

High preseason rankings for Louisville and Kentucky basketball will be tested by the realities of the regular season.

       

Open Skies, New START Pacts With Russia Face Bleak Outlook

Having already axed the INF missile control treaty with Russia, the Trump administration now has two more defense pacts in its sights: the Open Skies and New START treaties.

Louisville basketball coach Chris Mack previews Tuesday’s game at Miami

Louisville basketball coach Chris Mack talks Miami in the season opener.

       

United States begins formal withdrawal from Paris climate agreement

United States begins formal withdrawal from Paris climate agreementThe United States on Monday began the formal process of withdrawing from the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which will leave the world’s biggest historic emitter of greenhouse gases as the only major nation outside the accord. Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, said he had sent a letter to Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary General, starting a disengagement that will not become official for one year. Mr Pompeo said: “President Trump made the decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement because of the unfair economic burden imposed on American workers, businesses, and taxpayers. “The US is proud of our record as a world leader in reducing all emissions, fostering resilience, growing our economy, and ensuring energy for our citizens. Ours is a realistic and pragmatic model.” He said “innovation and open markets” would lead to “greater prosperity and fewer emissions.” Nearly 200 countries signed up to the climate deal, in which each provided its own goals to curb emissions of heat-trapping gases that lead to climate change. Mr Trump has relaxed restrictions on coal burning plants like this one in Illinois Credit: REX Under President Barack Obama the US aimed for a 26 to 28 per cent cut, from 2005 levels, by 2030. The agreement was ratified on Nov 4, 2016 and the rules prevented any nation from withdrawing for the first three years. The US pulled out on the first day it became possible, and it was the first nation to do so. Mr Trump campaigned in 2016 on a promise to terminate US involvement in the Paris deal, saying it would hurt the US economy while leaving other big polluters like China to increase emissions. Instead, he vowed to boost America’s oil, gas and coal industries, a message which found support in the US Midwest. As president he formally announced his intention to withdraw on June 1, 2017 at the White House. At the time he said the agreement “disadvantages the United States to the exclusive benefit of other countries.” Since then Mr Trump has repeatedly called the agreement a “total disaster” and blamed his predecessor, Mr Obama, for undermining US competitiveness. Allies had repeatedly urged Mr Trump to keep the US in the agreement. MR Trump announcing his decision to withdraw in 2017 Credit: AFP His decision to formally withdraw was criticised by environmental experts and activists. Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, America’s largest grassroots environmental organisation, said: “Donald Trump is the worst president in history for our climate and our clean air and water. Long after Trump is out of office, his decision will be seen as a historic error.” Following the one-year notice period the US will leave the agreement on Nov 4, 2020 – the day after next year’s presidential election. If the Democrat presidential nominee wins the White House then the US could quickly sign up to the agreement once again. All leading Democrat candidates have vowed to do so. Under the Paris agreement countries made a commitment to keep global temperatures less than 2C above pre-industrial levels. The European Union set out to cut emissions in 2030 by 40 per cent from 1990 levels. According to a recent poll eight in 10 Americans believe human activity is accelerating climate change, and two thirds said Mr Trump was doing too little to combat it. Michael Gerrard, head of Columbia Law School’s climate change legal centre, said: “The Trump Administration’s abandonment of action on climate change gives other countries an excuse not to act either.” On the day the US began the Paris withdrawal process it also relaxed several restrictions on coal-fired power plants introduced by  Mr Obama. That included loosening requirements to clean up coal ash and toxic heavy metals.

Scott Satterfield looks ahead to Louisville football taking on Miami on the road

Louisville football coach Scott Satterfield talks about his team heading to Miami Saturday.

       

Johnson and Corbyn Trade Brexit Barbs as U.K. Election Heats Up

(Bloomberg) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his main rival, Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn, traded blows over Brexit as the U.K. prepares to vote next month on which of the two men should lead it out of the European Union.Johnson wrote an open letter …

Iran Hostage Crisis Continues To Cast Shadows Over U.S.-Iran Relations 40 Years Later

The Iran hostage crisis began 40 years ago. NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Assal Rad of the National Iranian American Council about how the crisis remains important.

Some Domestic Workers Head Toward California’s Fires, Unaware Of Evacuation Orders

What happens when domestic workers don’t know the California neighborhood where they work has been evacuated? NPR’s Ailsa Chang talks with Brittny Mejia from the Los Angeles Times.

Republicans Seek to Swamp Democratic Offices With Anti-Impeachment Calls

The Republican National Committee’s effort was meant to tie up phone lines of congressional Democrats as part of a broader plan to defend the president.

"Thatcherism on steroids" – UK opposition leader says of PM Johnson’s Brexit plans

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party wants to hijack Britain’s exit from the European Union to deregulate the economy and lower standards, opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will say on Tuesday. The Conservatives will “unleash Thatche…

Unskilled Jobs Draw Migrants, Changing Face Of Small Towns Across America

A meatpacking town in the Texas panhandle is a magnet for immigrants who will do unpopular jobs. The once all-white county has adjusted its more diverse population.

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