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Syria, Tunisia reestablish diplomatic relations

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:37 GMT

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Syria’s chief diplomat is on a three-day official visit to Tunisia meant to restore diplomatic relations that have been cut off since 2012 during the civil war that followed President Bashar Assad’s brutal crackdown on mass protests against his rule. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad had a meeting with Tunisian counterpart Nabil Ammar shortly after his arrival on Monday evening. No details were disclosed about the talks and Mikdad’s schedule for Tuesday or Wednesday.The visit is meant to help restore bilateral relations, the Tunisian Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.The move is a glaring example of how things have changed in the region over the past decade: Tunisia was the birthplace of the Arab Spring pro-democracy movements that spread as far as Syria in 2011, and was long among Assad’s strongest critics. But today, Tunisia’s leadership is swinging back toward authoritarianism, and is allying anew with Assad’s Syria.Earlier this month, Tu...

UN says leaving Afghanistan would be ‘heartbreaking’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:37 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations is ready to take the “heartbreaking” decision to pull out of Afghanistan in May if it can’t persuade the Taliban to let local women work for the organization, the head of the U.N. Development Program said.U.N. officials are negotiating with the Islamist government in the hope that it will make exceptions to an edict this month barring local women from working for the organization, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner told The Associated Press.“It is fair to say that where we are right now is the entire United Nations system having to take a step back and reevaluating its ability to operate there,” Steiner said. “But it’s not about negotiating fundamental principles, human rights.” The Taliban have allowed Afghan women to engage in some work, Steiner said, and a U.N. report released Tuesday shows that the country desperately needs more women working, with its economy flailing.The Taliban takeover has been accompanied by some very modest sign...

Stock market today: Shares mixed following China growth data

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:37 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares were mixed Tuesday as pessimism over economic and political uncertainties remained even as China reported better-than-expected growth data.France’s CAC 40 added 0.3% in early trading to 7,517.90. Germany’s DAX rose nearly 0.1% to 15,804.68. Britain’s FTSE 100 added 0.2% to 7,897.45. U.S. shares were set to drift higher with Dow futures up almost 0.1% at 34,160.00. S&P 500 futures rose 0.1% to 4,181.75. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.5% to finish at 28,658.83. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.3% to 7,360.20. South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.2% to 2,571.09. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 0.6% to 20,650.51, while the Shanghai Composite rose 0.2% to 3,393.33. Oil prices fell.Traders have been focused on data out of China as the region’s chief engine for growth, and trading was muted until the release of its gross domestic product figures. China’s 2023 growth target is 5%. China’s first-quarter GDP, which measures the value of ...

Lebanon’s parliament votes to postpone municipal elections

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:37 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s parliament on Tuesday postponed municipal elections for up to a year for a second time amid concerns the government would not be able to secure the needed funding in time for the polling.The delay comes as Lebanon’s economy and infrastructure continue to crumble, with legislators in the deeply divided parliament unable to reach a settlement to end a presidential vacuum for almost six months. Lebanon has also been without a fully functioning government for nearly a year as Prime Minister Najib Mikati is heading a caretaker Cabinet with limited functions. The country has also been in a severe economic crisis since late 2019, with three-quarters of the population now living in poverty.Lebanon’s municipality elections were originally slated for May 2022 but were postponed for a year because they coincided with parliamentary elections, which brought in a dozen reformist lawmakers running on anti-establishment platforms.Earlier this month, caretaker Interior Minist...

Gun buyback day April 29 in Kingston

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:37 GMT

KINGSTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A gun buyback day will be held on Saturday, April 29, at the American Legion Post at 18 West O'Reilly Street in Kingston, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is hosted by New York Attorney General Letitia James, the Kingston Police Department, and the Ulster County Sheriff's Office. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will accept working and non-working unloaded firearms for compensation on site, no questions asked. The OAG will provide money in the form of prepaid gift cards when a gun is received and secured by law enforcement officers on site, according to the OAG. There is no limit to the number of firearms someone can turn in. The guns must be unloaded and placed in a bag or box. This is an amnesty program, meaning no questions will be asked about the person dropping off the gun. Schenectady County hosting free E-Waste event Compensation rate:$500 per ass...

Schenectady County hosting free E-Waste event

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:37 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Schenectady County will host a free electronics recycling event for residents on Saturday, April 29, at SUNY Schenectady from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is required. Residents looking to attend can register online or by calling (518) 388-4775. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The e-waste event will look to keep waste out of landfills and harmful metals and chemicals from leeching into the environment, according to Schenectady County. Items will be cleaned and sorted, some being reused if possible. Accepted items will include:MonitorsMP3 PlayersNetworking gearPhone systems/Cell phonesPower suppliesPrinters/plotters (ink, toner, cartridges)Routers & switchesStereo equipmentStorage devices (external hard drives, SD/memory cards, etc.)TabletsTelevisions (all sizes/types)Video and audio equipmentBatteriesCables/IT accessoriesCamerasCDs and DVDsComputers and computer accessories (mice, keyboa...

Play of the Week winner - Shenendehowa's Mason Carroll

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:37 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Congratulations to this week’s winner of our Play of the Week poll, Shenendehowa's Mason Carroll! Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Carroll tallied a slick behind the back goal in the Shenendehowa boys lacrosse team's loss to Niskayuna. Vote here for this week’s Play of the Week poll!

Queensbury downs Scotia-Glenville to stay undefeated

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:37 GMT

SCOTIA-GLENVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Queensbury Spartans dominated Scotia-Glenville to stay unbeaten (5-0) on the season. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Tartans jumped out to an early 2-1 lead, but the Spartan's offense woke up and took flight afterwards. Mer Montgomery had a one-on-one opportunity with the goalie and shot down low to help give Queensbury a 3-2 lead. That momentum shifted to Kaitlyn Barten, who scored after going top shelf extending the Spartan's lead to 6-2.Barten finished with five goals on the day and scored another one minutes later, giving Queensbury a six-point cushion. Then with under a minute to go in the half, Kendal Kelsey showed great patience waiting behind the cage and took her opportunity to strike, giving the Spartans an 11-3 lead at halftime.Queensbury scored 12 goals in the second half to secure the 23-5 win.

Ukrainian pianist seeks victory on cultural front at contest in Geneva

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:37 GMT

Before arriving in Geneva for a renowned piano competition, Ukrainian pianist Roman Lopatynskyi (pictured) rehearsed in the dark and played concerts by candlelight as air raid sirens resounded across his native Kyiv.The 29-year-old is participating in the International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz, which is being held outside Ukraine for the first time since its inception in 1995 due to the Russian invasion.In his fourth appearance at the competition, which concludes on 21 April, Lopatynskyi hopes to give his nation a reason to be proud."If everything works out...it will be a definite victory for Ukraine on the cultural front," he said as he rehearsed in the basement of the Geneva Conservatory on Friday.As a male of military age, Lopatynskyi requires permission to leave the country for competitions and concerts abroad. But after he performs, he always returns to Ukraine, despite having received numerous offers to relocate."If everyone leaves, what wi...

Ask Amy: Do I have to accept my wife’s secrecy about her past?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:37 GMT

Dear Amy: My wife of 57 years had a lover in her youth.I have asked her for some details about that affair, but she refuses to disclose anything.Should I accept that stance on her part or should she comply with my request?Just the Facts!Dear Just the Facts! You don’t say why you are so curious about this very long-ago love affair – at this stage in your own life.My reaction is that your wife is her own person. She has the right to disclose – or withhold – anything from her own past that precedes your relationship, unless this has a direct bearing on your own family (for instance, if she had a child by that relationship). This also applies to your own past, by the way.In my opinion, your curiosity doesn’t qualify as a “need-to-know.”If this has become a sticking point in your own relationship, then you will both have to reckon with it, thoughtfully talk it through, and make a conscious choice to move forward.Dear Amy: I have a beautiful, smart and wonderful 16-year-old granddaughter ...