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Zelenskyy visits area flooded by destroyed dam as five reported dead in Russian-occupied city

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:30 GMT

KHERSON, Ukraine (AP) — Five residents of a Russian-occupied city next to a breached dam have died in massive flooding triggered by the catastrophe, its Kremlin-appointed mayor said Thursday, the first official report of deaths from one of the largest environmental crises since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than 15 months ago. Vladimir Leontyev, the Russian-appointed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, told Russian state TV that two other people who had gone missing following Tuesday’s dam breach had been found, and efforts were underway to evacuate them. Officials say at least 4,000 people have been evacuated from both the Russian and Ukrainian-controlled sides of the Dnieper river, which has become part of the front line between the fighting forces.On the Ukrainian-controlled western bank, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived Thursday to evaluate the response to damage caused by the dam breach. He wrote on his Telegram account that he was helping assess efforts to evacuate civi...

Europe’s economy has shrunk. For households that are hurting, it’s just numbers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:30 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The European economy contracted slightly at the end of last year and beginning of 2023, revised figures showed Thursday, underlining the impact of the loss of Russian natural gas and high inflation on consumer spending.The economic growth figure for the 20 countries that use the euro currency was revised down from zero to minus 0.1% for the fourth quarter of 2022. The number for the first three months of this year also was downgraded from scant 0.1% growth to minus 0.1%.That means the eurozone endured two consecutive quarters of declining output, which is one definition of recession often used in political and economic discussions, dubbed a “technical” recession. However, the economists on a panel that declares eurozone recessions use a broader set of data, including unemployment figures. European labor markets have held up relatively well to recent economic shocks. Unemployment is at its lowest level since before the creation of the euro in 1999, hitting 6.5% in April...

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

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:30 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 15:55:30 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 15:55:30 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 15:55:30 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 15:55:30 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 15:55:30 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 15:55:30 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 15:55:30 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...