World pauses to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — People across Europe and beyond commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Monday. They paused to reflect on the killing of millions of lives and attempts to wipe out Jewish life in Europe more than eight decades ago. International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed on Jan. 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the most notorious of the Nazi German death camps. The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2005 establishing the day as an annual commemoration. This year’s observances fell on the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet forces.

Judge rules halted Massachusetts offshore wind project can continue

BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge said Tuesday that a nearly completed Massachusetts offshore wind project can continue, as the industry successfully challenges the Trump administration in court. At U.S. District Court in Boston, Judge Brian Murphy halted the administration’s stop work order for Vineyard Wind, citing the potential economic losses from the delays and the developers’ likelihood of success on their claims. Vineyard Wind is one of five big offshore wind projects on the East Coast that the Trump administration froze days before Christmas, citing national security concerns– and the fourth that has since been allowed to go forward. Developers and states sued seeking to block the administration’s order.

Tourism in Cuba plummets as tensions with US increase and Venezuela oil shipments drop

HAVANA (AP) — Tourism in Cuba is plummeting at a time when the island desperately needs that revenue. For almost two decades, a steady trickle of visitors led to a boom in tourism, only for the pandemic and severe blackouts to hit, coupled with a radical increase in U.S. sanctions. Now, Cubans whose livelihood depends on tourism are among those suffering the most as the island braces for what experts say could be a catastrophic economic crisis following a disruption in oil shipments from Venezuela.

Neil Young’s gift to Greenland: Free access to his entire music catalog

NEW YORK (AP) — Neil Young is offering free access to his entire music catalog to residents of Greenland. He announced this on his blog on Tuesday in a bid to ease stress amid tensions involving the U.S. and NATO. Young’s offer lasts a year with possible renewal and requires a Greenland-based cellphone. This gesture contrasts with his recent decision to remove his music from Amazon Music. Young criticized its founder Jeff Bezos for supporting U.S. President Donald Trump. Young has a history of clashing with streaming platforms including Spotify over issues like misinformation and audio quality. His hits include “Rockin’ in the Free World” and “Heart of Gold.”

Vermont government failing to meet energy reduction targets

Vermont’s state government is struggling to meet its energy reduction goals, according to a recent report from the State Auditor’s Office. The report highlights failures in two key initiatives: the State Agency Energy Plan and the State Energy Management Program. The Department of Buildings and General Services has not been tracking progress as required. The auditor found instances where energy projects lost money instead of saving it. Staffing shortages may be affecting the program’s effectiveness. The auditor recommends better reporting, more projects, and coordination with Efficiency Vermont. The department agrees with the findings and plans to implement changes.