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Blinken announces $150M in aid for Syria, Iraq at Saudi conference on combatting Islamic State group

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:39:08 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that the U.S. would provide nearly $150 million in aid for areas in Syria and Iraq that were liberated from the Isamic State extremist group.He spoke at a ministerial conference hosted by Saudi Arabia on combatting the group, which no longer controls any territory — but whose affiliates still carry out attacks across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS includes more than 80 countries and continues to coordinate action against the extremist group, which at its height controlled large parts of Syria and Iraq. Blinken said the U.S. pledge is part of new funding amounting to more than $600 million.“Poor security and humanitarian conditions. Lack of economic opportunity. These are the fuel for the kind of desperation on which ISIS feeds and recruits,” he said, using a common acronym for the extremist group. “So we have to stay committed to our stabilization goals.”Blinken ...

Bomb explodes in Afghanistan during a memorial ceremony for a Taliban official

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:39:08 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A bomb exploded Thursday in Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province during a memorial ceremony for a deputy governor who was killed in another blast two days earlier, a Taliban official said.The latest explosion occurred near Nabawi mosque during a funeral for Mawlavi Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi, the deputy governor of Badakhshan. He was killed by a car bomb on Tuesday alongside of his driver in Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan.Moazuddin Ahmadi, the provincial director of information and culture, confirmed the explosion but couldn’t provide other detail. He said there are casualties and an investigation is ongoing.Local sources who spoke on condition of anonymity say the blast happened inside the mosque where Taliban officials and local people attended the memorial ceremony.The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s car bombing that killed deputy governor and his driver. Ten people were also wounded in the blast.Ahmadi was wounded in the exp...

Tipping backlash: These Americans are giving the least in 2023, study finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:39:08 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – From tip screens at self-serve airport kiosks to 30% suggested amounts at coffee shops, tipping in 2023 has a majority of Americans fed up, a new survey found.A Bankrate survey of 2,437 U.S. adults, ages 18 to 77, found that people in the U.S. are, on average, tipping less for everyday services in 2023 than in years prior, with some even saying they don't tip at all when it comes to haircuts, rideshares and even sit-down restaurants.“Few topics elicit as many passionate opinions as tipping,” Bankrate Senior Industry Analyst Rossman said. “There’s so much confusion regarding who to tip, and if so, how much. A lot is changing, as technology makes it easier to tip some people and harder to tip others – as travelers who are short on cash can attest.” Why are the default tipping screens set so high? While 66% of Americans have a negative view of tipping, according to the study, some are hitting "no tip" on the swivel tablet more than others. Men, Gen Zers, and millennials a...

7-run fourth inning leads Mohawks to sixth straight win to start 2023 season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:39:08 GMT

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- After capturing a sixth Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League title in 11 years last season - capping the winningest season in organization history - the Amsterdam Mohawks haven't missed a beat in 2023. They rattled off a sixth straight win to start the season Wednesday night at Shuttleworth Park, mercy-ruling the Utica Blue Sox 12-1 in seven innings. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Amsterdam High School grad Carson Cotugno earned the start for the Mohawks, and tossed two innings of no-hit work, departing in the third inning with the game still tied at zero.Von Baker relieved Cotugno, and he too pitching two scoreless frames, while not allowing a hit. It was after Baker tossed a one, two, three top of the fourth that the Amsterdam offense finally came alive.The Mohawks loaded the bases to start the bottom of the fourth, and with one out in the inning, the Merry Go 'Round started. Center fielder...

NYSPHSAA postpones boys lacrosse semifinals to Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:39:08 GMT

LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The New York State Public High School Athletic Association postponed the boys lacrosse semifinals at UAlbany and SUNY Cortland due to the poor air quality caused by the Canadian wildfires. The eight games were supposed to be played on Wednesday, but will now be played on Friday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "We’re taking all the information, and trying to make the best decision with the understanding that student safety has to be our focus," said Dr. Robert Zayas, Executive Director of NYSPHSAA.Niskayuna is one of the teams that was set to play Wednesday. They will now take on Garden City in the Class B semifinals on Friday at 6:30 PM at Bob Ford Field. Niskayuna head coach Mike Vorgang is confident in his team's ability to adjust. "If there's any group that's prepared for something like this it's the 2023 group," Vorgang said. "They lost their season in 2020 with COVID. 2021 the state decided t...

Finland expels nine Russian diplomats over 'intelligence' work

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:39:08 GMT

Finland will expel nine diplomats at the Russian embassy in Helsinki, accusing them of working on intelligence missions, the Finnish president's office said on Tuesday (6 June)."Their actions are contrary to the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations," the president's office said in a statement, adding that it would inform the Russian ambassador of the expulsions.The decision was made at a meeting between Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and the country's ministerial committee on foreign and security policy.The Russian embassy in Helsinki did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by Reuters.Nordic neighbours Norway and Sweden have also expelled Russian diplomats in recent months over claims they were in fact intelligence officers.Moscow has denied that its diplomats engaged in improper activities, responding by expelling Norwegian and Swedish diplomats in return. Finland joined NATO in April, upsetting next-door neighbour Russia.Niinisto and Finland's mi...

Word Game: June 8, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:39:08 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — METHODS (METHODS: METH-uds: Ways, techniques or processes for doing something.)Average mark 23 wordsTime limit 35 minutesCan you find 28 or more words in METHODS? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — CAPTIVATE cape capitate captive cave caveat cavitate cite civet activate active apace attic aviate pace pact pate pattie pave peat pica pieta pita tacit tact tapa tape teat vacate vatic vice vita epact epic evictTo 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 ...

Horoscopes June 8, 2023: Maria Menounos, don’t make unnecessary waves

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:39:08 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Maria Menounos, 45; Julianna Margulies, 57; Frank Grillo, 58; Keenen Ivory Wayans, 65.Happy Birthday: Live and learn. Take in as much information as possible, and follow through with your plans. Talk is cheap, and actions speak louder than words. Make a point of living up to your promises and remaining true to yourself. Compassion, understanding and fair play will help you maintain your position and meaningful relationships. Don’t make unnecessary waves; stay calm and focused on your target. Your numbers are 2, 14, 20, 28, 31, 36, 42.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Lean into whatever you want to do with force. Make your presence felt and command attention, and you’ll enlist the help of qualified people to pitch in and turn your plan into something worthwhile. Love and romance are favored, and personal improvement is apparent. 4 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t underestimate the extent of a job or let anger set you back. The simpler your...

Detached house sells for $3 million in Los Gatos

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:39:08 GMT

209 Old Adobe Road – Google Street ViewThe property located in the 200 block of Old Adobe Road in Los Gatos was sold on May 24, 2023 for $3,015,000, or $1,513 per square foot. The house, built in 1961, has an interior space of 1,993 square feet. The property features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a garage, and two parking spaces. It sits on an 0.3-acre lot, which also has a pool.Additional houses have recently been sold nearby:In March 2023, a 2,223-square-foot home on Old Adobe Road in Los Gatos sold for $2,700,000, a price per square foot of $1,215. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Old Adobe Road, Los Gatos, in May 2023, a 2,362-square-foot home was sold for $2,770,000, a price per square foot of $1,173. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 3,038-square-foot home on the 100 block of Via de Tesoros in Los Gatos sold in December 2022, for $2,950,000, a price per square foot of $971. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. 

Ask Amy: How do I tell them their friend is skeevy?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:39:08 GMT

Dear Amy: I am in my mid-20s and have a great relationship with my parents. I live nearby and see them multiple times a week.They have a large social network of other married couples as friends, many of whom I’ve known since childhood, as they were the parents of my own friends, classmates, neighborhood kids, etc.In the past couple of years, I’ve started to feel uncomfortable around one of their male friends.He has never done or said anything specific, but I can’t help but just feel this … icky vibe when I’m around him.It’s little things, like just leaning in too close when he talks to me, holding eye contact too long, and “teasing” in a way that if it was coming from a man my age I would perceive as definite flirting.My parents are planning a weekend vacation at the end of the summer at an Airbnb. They plan to invite several of their friend-couples, including this man and his wife.I really want to go, but I can’t shake this nagging feeling that I will be spending the weekend ...