Clinton, Blair marking Northern Ireland peace milestone

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:30:59 GMT

Clinton, Blair marking Northern Ireland peace milestone BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland gathered in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord.They met to remember a moment, said former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, “when history opened itself to hope,” in a Northern Ireland that has changed dramatically since 1998 — and where some wonder if the accord that created peace is still capable of sustaining it.“Twenty-five years ago the people of Northern Ireland and their leaders changed the course of history,” said Mitchell, 89, who chaired two arduous years of peace negotiations that led to the accord.A quarter-century on, “the people of Northern Ireland continue to wrestle with their doubts, their differences, their disagreements,” he said. But, he added: “The people of Northern Ireland don’t want to return to violence — not now and not ever.”A young peacetime gene...

Putin hails Russian navy’s performance in Pacific drills

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:30:59 GMT

Putin hails Russian navy’s performance in Pacific drills MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday hailed the military’s performance during massive naval drills that have involved the entire Russian Pacific Fleet — a show of force amid the tensions with the West over the fighting in Ukraine.Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Putin that the exercise that began Friday involves 167 warships, including 12 submarines, 89 aircraft and 25,000 troops.As part of the drills, Russia’s nuclear-capable long-range strategic bombers will “fly over the central part of the Pacific Ocean to imitate strikes against groups of enemy ships,” Shoigu said. Speaking during Monday’s meeting with Shoigu, Putin praised the navy’s “high level” performance and said that similar drills should be held in other areas.The Defense Ministry has declared that sectors in the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk, the Peter the Great Bay of the Sea of Japan and the Avacha Bay on the southeastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula woul...

Slovakia gives Ukraine remaining 9 of 13 promised warplanes

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:30:59 GMT

Slovakia gives Ukraine remaining 9 of 13 promised warplanes BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia has delivered the remaining nine of the 13 Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets that it promised to Ukraine, the Slovak Defense Ministry said on Monday.The ministry said the warplanes were transported overland for security reasons in a “complicated logistics operation.” The first four were flown from Slovakia to Ukraine by Ukrainian pilots on March 23.“We are doing the right thing,” Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said in a statement On March 17, the Slovak government approved a plan to give Ukraine its entire fleet of Soviet-era MiG-29 planes, becoming the second NATO member to answer Ukraine’s plea for warplanes to help defend against Russia’s invasion.Slovakia grounded its MiGs in the summer due to a lack of spare parts and maintenance expertise. Neighboring Poland and the Czech Republic, both NATO members, stepped in to monitor Slovak air space.Replacements for the MiG-29s are unlikely to arrive for another year. Slovakia previously...

Global shares rise despite economic growth, rate worries

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:30:59 GMT

Global shares rise despite economic growth, rate worries TOKYO (AP) — Global markets rose moderately Monday, although worries continued about economic growth and inflationary pressures.France’s CAC 40 rose less than 0.1% in early trading to 7,522.58. Germany’s DAX gained 0.2% to 15,830.74. Britain’s FTSE 100 added 0.5% to 7,911.91. U.S. shares were set to drift higher with Dow futures up less than 0.1% at 34,059.00. S&P 500 futures rose 0.1% to 4,168.75. Traders are focused on companies’ upcoming earnings reports and worry about how inflation might affect moves by the Federal Reserve and the world’s other central banks on interest rates.“Earnings expectations for this quarter are not brilliant,” said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank. “But the good news is, the expectations are driven by conversations with corporate executives which love sounding pessimistic, so that when the results come in better than expected, the market reaction could be positive despite soft results.” Japan’s...

Russian opposition activist given 25-year prison sentence

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:30:59 GMT

Russian opposition activist given 25-year prison sentence MOSCOW (AP) — A top Kremlin foe was convicted Monday on charges of treason and denigrating the Russian military and sentenced him to 25 years in prison after a trial that marked the latest move in a relentless crackdown on the opposition amid the fighting in Ukraine.Vladimir Kara-Murza, Jr., a prominent opposition activist who twice survived poisonings he blamed on the Kremlin, has been behind bars since his arrest a year ago. He has rejected the charges against him as political and likened the judicial proceedings against him to the show trials during the rule of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.In his final statement last week, Kara-Murza said that he remains proud of standing up to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “dictatorship” and his decision to send troops into Ukraine.“I know that the day will come when the darkness engulfing our country will clear,” Kara-Murza said in remarks last week that were posted on social networks and Russian opposition media. “And then our society wil...

Volunteers speak on why they serve and why more people don’t

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:30:59 GMT

Volunteers speak on why they serve and why more people don’t Every day, Americans donate their time, skills and energy to their communities by volunteering with nonprofit organizations. The Associated Press interviewed five volunteers about what motivated them to get involved and why they think more people don’t give their time. Recently released data from the U.S. Census and AmeriCorps showed that volunteer participation fell 7% between 2019 and 2021, part of a long trend in declining volunteerism. These interviews have been edited for length and clarity: SAN FRANCISCO — For 16 years, Troy Brunet has volunteered with Project Homeless Connect in San Francisco and leads their initiative to give eyeglasses to those who need them. The 58-year-old passes out cards with information about the organization’s events wherever he goes and describes the joy he gets from bringing volunteers together. He tells them to talk with the people who come in for help, to really connect with them. Q: Why do you volunteer? A: I’m HIV positive and it hit...

Deputies investigating fatal Hebron shooting

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:30:59 GMT

Deputies investigating fatal Hebron shooting HEBRON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- One person is in custody following a shooting in the Town of Hebron that killed a 20-year-old female. According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, one person is in custody connected to the fatal shooting. Deputies have not released the name of the victim or the suspect. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Deputies say the shooting took place around 9:58 p.m. on Saturday. Deputies say more information on the shooting will be available during the day on Monday. Stick with News10 as more information regarding this shooting becomes available.

Empire take down Predators in week one opener

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:30:59 GMT

Empire take down Predators in week one opener ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Empire kicked off the 2023 season with a big week one 70-33 win over the Orlando Predators. The offense showed its potency scoring 47 first-half points that proved to be too much for the Predators to overcome. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! 2022 league MVP Darius Prince led the team in receiving with nine catches for 151 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Quarterback Sam Castronova went 16 of 25 for 229 yards passing, with four touchdown passes, and rushed for two.The Empire's defense held the Predators to just 13 second-half points, which helped them seal the week one victory. The Empire will be back at MVP Arena on Saturday, April 22, at 7 PM against the San Antonio Gunslingers.

Adirondack Thunder clinch playoff berth with 4-3 win

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:30:59 GMT

Adirondack Thunder clinch playoff berth with 4-3 win GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Matt Stief scored on the power play in the third period as the Adirondack Thunder defeated the Worcester Railers and clinched a spot in the North Division Semifinal against the Newfoundland Growlers on Sunday in front of 4,754 at Cool Insuring Arena. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Glens Falls native Shawn Weller opened the scoring just 2:39 into the game to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead. Ryan Smith’s shot deflected out to Weller, and he sent a wrist shot by goaltender Ken Appleby. The goal was Weller’s 14th of the year from Smith.Worcester came back to take a 2-1 lead as Nick Fea tapped in a loose puck to tie the game at 9:48 of the first frame. Myles McGurty and Anthony Callin were given the assists. On the power play, Trevor Cosgrove sent a wrist shot over the shoulder of goaltender Mike Robinson at 12:25 and the Thunder trailed 2-1 after 20 minutes.Anthony Repaci fired in a power-play goal in...

Moldova needs €250 million to modernize armed forces - defence official

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:30:59 GMT

Moldova needs €250 million to modernize armed forces - defence official Moldova requires €250 million to modernize its armed forces after Russia invaded Ukraine last year. This was according to a top defense official in the pro-Western nation on Wednesday (12 April).Valeriu Mija, Secretary for State for Defence Policy, National Army Reform, in the defense ministry, said that the February 2022 shock was the starting point for public opinion changes towards the development and improvement of the defence sector. He spoke at a forum about national security in Chisinau.He stated that the romanticism associated with eternal peace is over and that a new approach was needed."We believe that €250m is needed to modernize the armed forces."Ex-Soviet Moldova, one of Europe's most impoverished countries, is seeking EU membership but is prevented from NATO membership due to the principle of neutrality in its constitution.The war in Ukraine has been denounced by the Moldovan President Maia Sandu, who has sent missiles to the conflict at the border with her country.Sin...