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Iran-Saudi Arabia deal casts China in unfamiliar global role

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:24 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — An agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to re-establish diplomatic relations has cast China in a leading role in Middle Eastern politics — a part previously reserved for longtime global heavyweights like the U.S. and Russia. It’s another sign that China’s diplomatic clout is growing to match its economic footprint.Under strongman leader Xi Jinping, Chinese diplomacy has become known for angry outbursts against the West, threats against Taiwan, aggressive moves in the South China Sea and a refusal to condemn Russia over Ukraine. The deal reached in Beijing Friday, under which the sides agreed to re-open their embassies and exchange ambassadors after seven years of tensions, shows a different side of Chinese diplomacy. Xi appears to have played a direct part in the talks by hosting Iran’s president in Beijing last month. He also visited the Saudi capital Riyadh in December for meetings with oil-rich Gulf Arab nations crucial to China’s energy supplies.The...

US government ponders the meaning of race and ethnicity

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:24 GMT

Nyhiem Way is weary of people conflating African American and Black. Shalini Parekh wants a way for South Asian people to identify themselves differently than East Asians with roots in places like China or Japan. And Byron Haskins wants the U.S. to toss racial and ethnic labels altogether.“When you set up categories that are used to place people in boxes, sometime you miss the truth of them,” said Haskins, who describes himself as African American.Way, Parekh and Haskins’ voices are among more than 4,300 comments pending before the Biden administration as it contemplates updating the nation’s racial and ethnic categories for the first time since 1997. There’s a lot to consider. Some Black Americans want their ancestors’ enslavement recognized in how they are identified. Some Jewish people believe their identity should be seen as its own ethnic category and not only a religion. The idea of revising categories for ethnic and racial identities, both in the censu...

GasBuddy: Albany gas prices see slight uptick

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:24 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — On Monday, March 13, GasBuddy gave a weekly update on Albany gas prices. The Albany-based data comes from GasBuddy’s daily survey of 546 stations in Albany. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Average gasoline prices in Albany have risen 1.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.49/g today, according to GasBuddy's survey of 546 stations in Albany. Prices in Albany are 5.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 93.0 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has fallen 4.1 cents in the last week and stands at $4.30 per gallon.According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Albany was priced at $3.11/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.79/g, a difference of 68.0 cents per gallon. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.79/g while the highest was $4.49/g, a difference of $1.70/g. New York declares March Colorectal Cance...

Second half gets away at Vermont

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:24 GMT

BURLINGTON, VT (NEWS10) -- After taking an early lead and being within striking distance at halftime, it got away from Siena Women’s Lacrosse as the Saints were outscored 12-1 in the second half en route to a 20-6 defeat at Vermont on Sunday afternoon. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Siena (4-3) played on their heels as the Saints were outshot 35-20 including 29-14 for shots on target as Vermont won 20 of 29 draw controls to take the possession advantage. It appeared to be a different game from the first to second half.  The Saints even took an early 2-1 lead when Grace Dobrzynski and Mary Soures got Siena on the board in the opening five minutes.  But, the Catamounts responded by reeling off four consecutive goals before Rebecca Gilhooley struck back with a nifty behind-the-back shot that found the back of the net to cut the deficit to 5-3 early in the second quarter. Vermont answered with three str...

Larson and Smith lead Women's Lax past MSMC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:24 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Juniors Audrey Larson and Anna Smith netted a game-high four goals apiece to lead the Union College women's lacrosse team to a dominating 18-2 victory over Mount St. Mary College in the team's 2023 home opener on Sunday afternoon at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Larson and Smith both had big games to lead the Union offense, with Smith scoring four goals on four shots and Larson needing only six shots to record the highest-scoring output of her career. Senior Katie Julien led all players with a career-high five points on a goal and four helpers, while senior Dana Truini added four points thanks to two goals and two assists. Union (2-1) had complete control of the game from the opening draw, with senior Sydney McPartlon opening the scoring 2:08 into the contest. Smith and junior Dana Nelson followed soon after off feeds from Julien to tr...

EU releases €1 million in emergency aid for people affected by fire in Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:24 GMT

Following the fire outbreak in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar on 5 March, and its devastating consequences on people living in the most affected areas, the EU has released €1 million in emergency humanitarian assistance.The funding will focus on shelter and stabilization of slopes, repair of damaged water and sanitation facilities, emergency health interventions and prevention of disease outbreaks in the camp. Thanks to its already ongoing EU-funded disaster preparedness programme, the International Organisation for Migration was able to immediately deploy response teams at the outbreak of the fire, to support the affected communities and prevent further damage.Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič (pictured) explained: “EU support has been essential to the immediate response to the widespread fire in the Cox's Bazar refugee camp. Right after the outbreak, EU-supported emergency units and volunteers were deployed on the ground to contain the fire and prevent even mor...

Ask Amy: How blunt should I be about my secret crush?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:24 GMT

Dear Amy: About four days a week, I hang at a wonderful local coffee spot. I bring my laptop and have my regular spot.There is one worker, “Clara,” I’ve developed a crush on. She’s … well, a ray of sunshine.I’d like to express my interest in her, but I have two issues: I’m a woman (I don’t know if she’s into women), and I don’t know anything about her own dating status.I don’t want to mess up my morning routine by overstepping, but I’m wondering if I should do more to express my interest in her, other than smile, chit-chat and leave a 20 percent tip?Going to DecafDear Decaf: Clara might be receiving multiple expressions of interest from multiple sources each day. Servers sometimes report that customer come-ons are a significant problem.Clara has frequent exposure to you. She should be the first to express interest. She can do this in a number of ways, including the now-cliché expression of writing her number or handle on the outside of your coffee cup or on your receipt.In the...

Harriette Cole: Should I tell my hairstylist why I won’t be back?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:24 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I feel like I’m betraying my hairstylist.I had been going to the same person for a few years. A girlfriend of mine told me about a stylist she has been using, and I tried her out. She is amazing and has given me a fresh look that I like — but I feel guilty. I was loyal to this other woman for years.I think I want to continue going to this new stylist. Should I say something to my longtime stylist?Saying GoodbyeDEAR SAYING GOODBYE: While you do not have to say anything, it would be kind of you to reach out to her to say something out of respect. You can call her or send her a note to thank her for taking care of you for so many years.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: Her demands make me worried about sharing an apartment Advice | Harriette Cole: Can a bride tell her fiance to skip the bachelor party? Advice | Harriette Cole: What’s a non-tacky way to say I won’t be paying for dinner? Advice...

BBC impartiality row: Gary Lineker is back, after broadcaster caves

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:24 GMT

LONDON — The BBC apologized for the row over sports presenter Gary Lineker’s tweets and indicated he can return to hosting duties, following a days-long impartiality battle that disrupted the corporation’s flagship sporting coverage and incensed MPs.In a statement Monday, Director General Tim Davie said the BBC looks “forward to [Lineker] presenting our coverage this coming weekend” and announced an independent review into its social media guidance. Already some Conservative MPs are unhappy with the outcome — while the opposition Labour Party are cheering it.The BBC has spent much of the past week under fire over Lineker’s tweets and its response to them. The footballer-turned-presenter — one of its most recognizable stars — used Twitter to attack Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s immigration clampdown, likening the language used to sell it to “1930’s Germany.”A host of Conservative MPs — including serving ministers — laid into Lineke...

Nasty Nor’easter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:24 GMT

Alright we’re about 24 hours out from the bigger impacts developing with this storm. A few rain and snow showers will start this evening, but it’s really going to ramp up overnight tonight and it will stay with us through Wednesday morning. It’s a long duration, high impact storm setting its eyes on New England. So brew an extra cup of coffee and settle in, we’ll go pretty in depth with this blog and try to give you as many details as possible.Breaking this apart could go many ways. I could break it apart by location, by time of day, or impact. There are so many different things coming our way over different time periods for different locations that it’s hard to paint a broad brush picture that applies to everyone here, but I’ll try my best! I think the best way is to start is with a broader picture and fine tune it as we go. As I mentioned, this storm is high impact and multifaceted — snow, rain, wind, and coastal flooding. And with that wi...