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US given OK to enforce maritime law around Palau as Washington vies with China for Pacific influence

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:31 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — The United States has signed a new agreement with Palau, which gives American ships the authorization to unilaterally enforce maritime regulations in the tiny Pacific island nation’s exclusive economic zone, the U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday.The agreement comes as both the U.S. and China are seeking to expand their influence in the Pacific, and follows pleas from Palau’s president for Washington’s help to deter Beijing’s “unwanted activities” in its coastal waters. In the agreement, concluded a week ago, U.S. Coast Guard ships can enforce regulations inside Palau’s exclusive economic zone on behalf of the nation without a Palauan officer present, the Coast Guard said in a statement.“This agreement helps Palau monitor our exclusive economic zone, protect against Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and deter uninvited vessels from conducting questionable maneuvers within our waters,” Palau’s president, Surangel S. Whipps Jr....

Australian prime minister will set a referendum date for Indigenous Voice to Parliament

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:31 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday he expects public support for creating a so-called Indigenous Voice to Parliament will grow after he focuses the nation’s minds on the issue by setting a date for Australia’s first referendum in a generation.Albanese will announce on Wednesday a date for a referendum that would enshrine in the constitution an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, a collection of advocates aimed at giving the nation’s most disadvantaged ethnic minority more say on government policy.Media speculation favors Oct. 14 as the most likely date for Australia’s first referendum since 1999.Albanese has long maintained confidence that the referendum would succeed despite opinion polls showing marginal majority support for the Voice waning in recent months as the public debate has become more heated and divisive.“I think people will begin to focus more. I expect that many Australians won’t focus until the last few weeks,” Albanese told repor...

Vatican seeks to tamp down outrage over pope’s words of praise for Russian imperial past

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:31 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican on Tuesday sought to tamp down an uproar that erupted after Pope Francis praised Russia’s imperialist past during a video conference with Russian Catholic youths, insisting that he never intended to encourage modern-day Russian aggression in Ukraine.The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, said Francis merely wanted to praise the positive aspects of Russia’s spiritual and cultural history when he praised Russia’s imperial rulers Peter and Catherine the Great, encouraged young people to remember that past and praised their way of “being Russian.”Francis “certainly didn’t want to exalt imperialistic logic or government personalities, who were cited to indicate certain historic periods of reference,” Bruni said in a statement.The Vatican, and before it the Holy See’s embassy in Ukraine, spoke out after Ukraine’s Greek Catholic leader, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, bitterly complained about Francis’ remarks. The Vatican never published the comments, but ...

Brampton crash involving police cruiser sends officer, woman to hospital

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:31 GMT

Peel police are investigating a two-vehicle crash in Brampton that sent an officer and another driver to hospital with injuries.Investigators say a police cruiser and a second vehicle collided at Dixie Road and Bovaird Drive around 9:30 p.m. Monday.Paramedics say an officer and a woman were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.The intersection remains closed while police investigate.

Hot (but not as humid!) finish to August

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A quiet finish to August as mainly sunny skies take over the 7-day forecast.Afternoon highs will warm well into the 90s today but will likely fall short of the century mark in most areas. Sunshine, a few scattered clouds and manageable humidity will make for a normal August day... but be mindful of the fire danger as recent lack of rainfall and ongoing drought as left our wildfire risk in a bad place.Tuesday's wildfire riskMore of the same is expected midweek, the only difference being a slight 1°-2° increase in temperatures each day. BLOG: Could PDO mess with our wet El Niño? Tracking the TropicsHurricane Idalia is expected to rapidly intensify to major hurricane status and make landfall on the Nature Coast of Florida between Tampa and Panama City Wednesday morning. This storm will bring dangerous impacts to some of the same areas that dealt with powerful Hurricane Ian last year.Hurricane Idalia forecast to strengthen into a major Category 3 hurricane by landfall...

Neighbors worry of flooding even with project designed to reduce the risk

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin started construction of the Little Walnut Creek flood risk reduction project over the weekend, but neighbors in the area who were negatively impacted by a flood in April think the project would not have kept their homes safe four months ago. Ryan Albright's home is almost completely back to normal. He and his wife spent thousands of dollars to work on cleaning up their home after massive flood damage. Their house was one of 60 that were damaged in the April 20 flood. PREVIOUS: Homeowners frustrated with city after flood waters damage properties Albright said he was happy to have the flood risk reduction project begin to help when there are massive floods in the future, but he thinks it too would have failed in April. That's because the flood in April was exacerbated by a massive clog of tree debris in the drainage system. Dead tree limbs and branches that were not properly cleared after the winter storm earlier this year. Problems with tree deb...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Should You Tell Your Spouse What To Buy You For Your Birthday?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:31 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Carolyn, and it's about birthdays and gifts. Here's her email.Hi Jaime. Here's an issue I've had for years, and I'm hoping to change things this year. My birthday is coming up in a few weeks and typically my very sweet husband does his best to get a thoughtful gift for me, but it’s rarely what I really want or would buy for myself. So, I'm thinking this year, I should just be proactive and tell him exactly what to get me. Do you think it's okay to do that or do you think it would hurt his feelings? I know he tries to do his best, but a lot of the times I have to pretend to like something I don't. What do you think? Tell him or just leave the situation alone? Thanks so much.CarolynI don't think there's anything wrong with telling someone what you would like for your birthday. Doesn't mean you'll necessarily get it, but we've all dropped hints about things we would like. I think it's okay for Carolyn to do the same. Wh...

Virginia man arrested in Bethlehem domestic incident

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:31 GMT

BETHLEHEM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Virginia man, considered a fugitive from justice, was arrested in Virginia regarding a local domestic incident. Steven Miccuci, 60, faces multiple charges. Bethlehem Police say Miccuci was arrested by the Chesterfield County Police Department in Virginia as a fugitive from justice, stemming from an arrest warrant filed by the Bethlehem Police. He was taken back to New York where he was processed.Charges:First-degree criminal contempt (two counts)Second-degree harassment (two counts)He was taken and is held at the Albany County Correctional Facility in lieu of $7,000 cash or $10,000 bond. He is set to return to the Town of Bethlehem Court on September 19.

Report filed regarding unconsented filming in Saratoga Springs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:31 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Saratoga Springs Police Department (SSPD) has released an advisory making people, specifically women in the area, aware of a report filed regarding frequent unwanted or unconsented filming and photography. The SSPD is working with the New York State Police to investigate the report. The SSPD says the incidents are happening more frequently in Saratoga Spa State Park. Police say there is no current threat to the public. Anyone who sees suspicious activity or has any additional information regarding the case is asked to contact the SSPD at (518) 584-1800 or 911 if it is an emergency.

Schuylerville Black Horses galloping into 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:31 GMT

SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The 2022 season was an exciting run for Schuylerville that led to a class C Super Bowl appearance, but this season head coach John Bowen and company are rewriting their own narrative.“Every year’s got its own group of characters and they really kind of establish themselves and write that narrative each season,” Bowen said.Offensively for the black horses this season, the narrative will be ground and pound and it starts with returning dual-threat quarterback, Lukas Sherman who’s still stinging from the Super Bowl loss but has used that as motivation heading into his senior year.“That wasn't easy for us," Sherman said. "Our goal was to win the section that’s our first part that we want to do so after we lost that one it’s kind of been in my head since that day so I’m excited to be out here again. Sherman has led the way for the Black Horses the last two seasons. His explosive style of play is something Bowen believes opposing teams will be on the lookou...