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Australia state visit to feature talk of submarines and tech partnerships – and a lavish dinner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is pressing forward with this week’s state visit from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, carving out time to nurture the relationship with a critical U.S. ally in the Pacific against the backdrop of escalating fighting between Israel and Hamas. The state visit, only the fourth since Biden took office, is a reminder of how he’s pursuing long-term plans to counter China’s influence even as bloody conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, where the Russian invasion continues after almost two years, remain the most immediate concerns. Senior administration officials said Biden and Albanese would be focused on innovative partnerships intended to support economic development among Pacific island nations, a key arena as the U.S. seeks the upper hand in the region. —The U.S. and Australia plan to work together on building maritime infrastructure and laying undersea cables to strengthen internet connectivity, according to the of...

Hurricane Otis weakens to Category 4 storm while heaving rains, flash floods batter southern Mexico

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Otis slammed into Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane early Wednesday, bringing dangerous winds and heavy rain to Acapulco and surrounding towns, stirring memories of a 1997 storm that killed dozens of people.Now a Category 4 storm, the hurricane was expected to continue to weaken quickly in Guerrero state’s steep mountains. But the five to 10 inches of rain forecast, with as much as 15 inches possible in some areas, raised the threat of landslides and floods. Otis was about 25 miles north northwest of Acapulco with its maximum sustained winds decreasing to 130 mph (215 km/h) and moving at 10 mph (17 km/h). The center of Otis is expected to move farther inland over southern Mexico through Wednesday night.Otis had strengthened rapidly, going from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in 12 hours Tuesday. Residents of Guerrero’s coast scrambled to prepare, but the storm’s sudden intensity appeared to catch many ...

Justin Neely sets sights high during ACL recovery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

ALBANY, NY (NEWS10) -- Justin Neely entered last season with high hopes, and high expectations. After winning the Rookie of the Year award in the America East Conference, he entered his second season as the focal point of the UAlbany basketball team. But just five games in, everything changed in an instant. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On November 12, 2022, the Albany Cup game between UAlbany and Siena returned to MVP Arena in front of nearly 10,000 fans. Just eight minutes into the game, Neely tore the ACL in his left knee. "It was just an upsetting event that happened," said Neely. "It's a part of the game unfortunately." "My heart went out to him," said head coach Dwayne Killings. "I felt really bad for Justin, not that you want it to happen to anybody in the world, but not him. I think he works the right way, he's got a great family, they all believe in him. He's had a really good story, he was the valedictorian in his ...

Familiar foes in Saratoga and Shaker set to clash for AAA boys soccer crown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

GUILDERLAND CENTER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- In the 2022 boys soccer season, Saratoga Springs and Shaker played in an epic Class AA championship game, with Shaker pulling out a 4-3 overtime victory. The two sides have risen to the top of Class AAA in 2023, and will once again square off for a section title Monday night. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! In Tuesday's AAA semi-final round at Guilderland High School, two-seeded Shaker pulled out a 1-0 victory over rival and three-seed Shenendehowa. The top-seeded Blue Streaks followed suit with a 3-1 win over the four-seed in the bracket, Christian Brothers Academy.After the Blue Bison and Plainsmen played a scoreless first 40 minutes of action, Shaker finally broke through on a corner kick from Nathanael Chung in the 46th minute. Chung put the ball on the back post, Patrick Flaherty headed the ball back across the box and Griffin Ryan finished it off for what proved to be the game-winning ...

Commission approves €742 million Czech state aid scheme to support sustainable forest management

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a €742 million (CZK 17.4 billion) Czech scheme to support sustainable forest management. The measure will contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Common agricultural policy by strengthening forest environmental protection.Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants to small, medium and large forest owners and other entities with similar rights and obligations, including State-owned entities. In particular, the direct grants will support: (i) operations designed to prevent the soil erosion on deforested stands; (ii) the protection of forest biodiversity; and (iii) the protection of the structure and composition of forest soil. Eligible beneficiaries will receive an aid amount equal to around €0.18 (CZK 4.22) per day per hectare of forest land. This amount will cover up to 100% of the eligible costs.The Commission assessed the scheme under EU state aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c...

Return of Conservatism: The possible future of the UK

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

With the heightened tensions in the Middle East due to attacks launched by Gaza-based Hamas forces on Israel, this development prompts one to reflect on unexpected changes that are reshaping the world. One such example can be found in the United Kingdom, writes Kung Chan, founder of ANBOUND think tank. As it stands, the United Kingdom is increasingly showing its diverse façade. Humza Yousaf, the First Minister of Scotland, is of Scottish-Pakistani heritage. His political journey began in 2011 when he was elected as an additional member in the Glasgow electoral region, becoming the youngest-ever elected member in the history of the Scottish Parliament at the age of 26. During his swearing-in ceremony, Yousaf wore traditional South Asian attire, a shalwar kameez, with the Scottish national emblem, the thistle. He recited his oath in both English and Urdu, signifying his heritage and identity.Rishi Sunak (pictured), the current prime minister of the United Kingdom, is widely recognized...

Israel shows foreign press footage of Hamas massacre

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

The IDF on Monday (23 October) screened for foreign press correspondents some 43 minutes of harrowing scenes of murder, torture and decapitation from Hamas’s October 7 onslaught on southern Israel, in which over 1,400 people were killed, writes Yossi Lempkowicz.In the past week, the IDF has accumulated raw body-cam footage from Hamas terrorists who took part in the massacre, and compiled it into one file. The government said it had decided to show journalists part of its collected documentation in order to to prove the Islamist terrorist group committed crimes against humanity.‘’Showcasing these materials is crucial to the documentation and reporting of what took place in Israel that day,’’ it said.Journalists were not permitted to record the screening, which took place on a closed military base.Raphaël Jerusalmy, a former senior Israeli military intelligence officer, writer and defense and security analyst for i24news channel, was among the people who saw the screening.Here is...

Word Game: Oct. 25, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — KIELBASA (KIELBASA: keel-BAH-suh: A smoked sausage of Polish origin.)Average mark 30 wordsTime limit 40 minutesCan you find 37 or more words in KIELBASA? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — ENTREAT earn eaten eater enter erne natter near neat neater netter tare tarn tart tear teat teen tenet tent tern tetra treat tree ante antre areteTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at [email protected].

Horoscopes Oct. 25, 2023: Katy Perry, don’t sit on the sideline

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Ciara, 38; Katy Perry, 39; Josh Henderson, 42; Persia White, 51.Happy Birthday: Stop hesitating; make things happen. If you believe in yourself, you can negotiate, propose and control the outcome of anything you engage in and let your skills, experience and discipline kick in and take over. The opportunities are present, and you can bring about change if you are willing to put in the time and discipline. Don’t sit on the sideline dreaming when progress is within reach. Your numbers are 5, 16, 23, 27, 35, 47, 49.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take nothing for granted. Someone will make a force play if given the chance. Hold your cards close to your chest and be ready to go the distance. Speed is your defense, but endurance is necessary to make your mark. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Claim what’s yours and keep marching. You will achieve happiness if you are diligent. Don’t downplay your creativity or fear being different. Your uniquenes...

Bridge: Oct. 25, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

“I don’t fear her,” Alice muttered at the Mad Hatter’s game. “She’s only a pasteboard card.”The Queen of Hearts, who was kibitzing, was an intimidating presence, threatening the players if they let her card be captured.“I’m the most potent card in Wonderland,” the Queen roared. “Lose a trick my card could win and lose your head.”Alice played at today’s 3NT, and West led a low heart. Alice saw ten tricks if West had the king, but if East, the Hatter, had it, Alice would be at risk of a spade shift. She needed to induce a heart continuation if East won the first trick.SORRY“Sorry, your majesty,” Alice said, and she played the queen from dummy.The Hatter took his king, returned a heart — and ran from the table.“Off with his head,” the Queen bellowed.Meanwhile, Alice took the jack — and eight more tricks.If dummy plays a low heart at Trick One, East will win and will see no ...