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Ethiopia and Egypt say no agreement in latest talks over a contentious dam on the Nile

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 13:34:39 GMT

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — Ethiopia and Egypt said the latest round of talks over a highly contentious hydroelectric dam Ethiopia has built on the Nile’s main tributary again ended with no deal.Both countries blamed each other after three days of discussions in Addis Ababa concluded on Tuesday.Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said the talks were unsuccessful due to Ethiopia’s “persistent refusal” to accept any compromise. The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry accused Egypt of putting up “roadblocks” in the discussions that prevented any consensus.Sudan was also a part of the negotiations.The countries have been trying to find an agreement for years over the $4 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which Ethiopia began building in 2011. The dam is on the Blue Nile near the Sudan border and Egypt fears it will have a devastating effect on its water and irrigation supply downstream unless Ethiopia takes its needs into account.The Blue Nile meets the Wh...

Former Chelsea owner Abramovich loses legal action against EU sanctions

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 13:34:39 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich lost in his legal attempt to overturn sanctions slapped by the European Union for his role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with an EU court dismissing his claim Wednesday.Abramovich had filed a lawsuit at the EU’s general court against the European Union Council, which imposed punishment on the 57-year-old oligarch in 2022 as part of measures targeting Russia and President Vladimir Putin’s close allies. “The General Court dismisses the action brought by Mr Abramovich, thereby upholding the restrictive measures taken against him,” the court said Wednesday. “The Council did not in fact err in its assessment by deciding to include then maintain Mr Abramovich’s name on the lists at issue, in the light of his role in the Evraz group and, in particular, its parent company.”When it sanctioned Abramovich, the 27-nation bloc said he “had privileged access” to Putin and “maintained very good relations with him,” allowing the tycoon ...

In Milwaukee, Biden looks to highlight progress for Black-owned small businesses

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 13:34:39 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is aiming to use a visit to the battleground state of Wisconsin on Wednesday to spotlight a surge in federal government support for Black-owned small businesses during his White House tenure and to highlight his administration’s efforts to ramp up investment in distressed communities.The Small Business Administration in the last fiscal year backed 4,700 loans valued at $1.5 billion to Black-owned businesses. Under Biden, the SBA says it has more than doubled the number and total dollar amount of loans to Black-owned small businesses.Since 2020, the share of the SBA’s loans going to minority-owned businesses has increased from 23% to over 32%. Joelle Gamble, deputy director of the White House National Economic Council, said the president’s visit to the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce will give Biden a chance to show “how Bidenomics is driving a Black small business boom.”Wisconsin was among the most competitive states in Bid...

Germany’s top prosecutor files motion for asset forfeiture of $789 million of frozen Russian money

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 13:34:39 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s federal prosecutor has filed a motion for asset forfeiture concerning more than 720 million euros ($789 million) of frozen Russian money. The prosecutor’s office said Wednesday that the aim of the motion, which was filed on July 7, is to seize the money deposited by a Russian financial institution in a Frankfurt bank account because of a suspected attempt to violate embargo regulations, which is criminalized under the German Foreign Trade and Payments Act.Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the European Union has imposed various sanctions and restrictions on Russia. The measures have targeted the energy sector, banks, companies and markets, and made more than 1,000 Russian officials subject to asset freezes and travel bans.According to a report on news site Spiegel Online, the federal prosecutor’s office wants the frozen funds to go into state coffers.In June 2022, the Council of the European Union listed the Russian fi...

Schenectady Police investigating Steuben Street shooting

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 13:34:39 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Schenectady Police Department is investigating a shooting that left one person injured and hospitalized near Lincoln Avenue and Steuben Street on Tuesday around 8:49 p.m. Police say the extent of the victim's injuries is unknown at this time. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Police say upon arrival, they found someone suffering from a gunshot wound, and several shell casings were also found. The victim was taken to Albany Medical Center for his injuries. This shooting is still under investigation. Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call the Schenectady Police Department tip line at (518) 788-6566.

Siena men struggle to defend Big Red offense

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 13:34:39 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Sean Durugordon posted a double-double while leading all players with both 23 points and a collegiate career-high 15 rebounds in his Siena Basketball debut, but it wasn’t enough as the Saints fell to Cornell 95-74 at MVP Arena. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Fourteen of 18 players who saw action scored highlighted by four in double figures for Cornell (8-2) which is off to the program’s second 8-2 start in three seasons. Isaiah Gray led the way with 16 points on 6-8 shooting to go along with four assists and four steals for the Big Red who have now won 26 consecutive non-conference non-guarantee games.Zek Tekin tallied 10 points and Michael Eley added nine points and eight rebounds for Siena (2-9, 1-1) which achieved a season-high in scoring despite shooting just 34% from the field.An early 10-2 run pulled the Saints even at 10-all early but Cornell, which entered play ranked in the top 40 nationally in scoring...

UAlbany rolls past Sacred Heart 93-79

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 13:34:39 GMT

ALBANY, NY (NEWS10) -- The UAlbany men's basketball team remained undefeated in Broadview Center, knocking off Sacred Heart 93-79 in their final home game of 2023. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Key StatsFour Great Danes finished with double-digit points in the winning effort – Jonathan Beagle (19), Amar'e Marshall (18), Sebastian Thomas (17), and Marcus Jackson (15).Beagle finished with his fourth double-double of the season (19 pts and 11 rebs) and Jackson registered his first career double-double (15 pts and 10 rebs).UAlbany outrebounded Sacred Heart, 40-22.As a team, the Great Danes shot 53.4% from the field and 47.6% from behind the arc.Sacred Heart scored 54 of its 79 points in the paint.Head Coach Dwayne Killings: "One of our team goals is to try to go undefeated at home. I thought our guys were a little frustrated after our last two losses. Sacred Heart is a good team.  The...

Green Deal implementation key to achieving EU 2030 climate and environment objectives, first progress report on 8th Environment Action Programme shows

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 13:34:39 GMT

The first progress report on the climate and environmental objectives of the 8th Environment Action Programme (8EAP) published by the European Environment Agency today highlights what needs to be done to achieve the EU's 2030 climate and environmental targets. The report underlines the need to conclude negotiations on the Green Deal proposals the Commission put forward and are still under negotiation, and to deliver systemic changes in key industrial sectors, in particular agriculture and mobility. This will be greatly helped by the effective implementation of Green Deal legislation on the ground.The assessment shows progress in areas including greenhouse gas emissions reductions, air quality, greening finances and the overall economy. However, more effort is needed to achieve systemic change across systems (food, energy, mobility, trade, buildings etc.) and ensure wellbeing for all within planetary boundaries.Some recommendations include shifting the taxation burden to those using ...

Bridge: Dec. 20, 2023

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 13:34:39 GMT

Cy the Cynic is by no means so cynical that he observes Christmas by acting like Ebenezer Scrooge. But Cy says if Dickens wrote “A Christmas Carol” today, the happy ending would be that Scrooge gets a tax break.In a penny game, Cy was declarer at 3NT, and West led a low heart although Cy had shown four hearts in response to North’s Stayman inquiry. Cy won with the eight and promptly took the A-Q of diamonds.When West discarded a club, the Cynic was in trouble. He had only eight tricks and couldn’t afford to concede a diamond to East, who would return his last heart. The contract was still makeable with best play, but Cy chose to finesse with dummy’s jack of spades. He went down when East produced the queen.NINE TRICKSCy played like Scrooge: greedily. To assure nine tricks, he leads a club to dummy at Trick Two and lets the ten of diamonds ride. Even if West had the jack, Cy would be sure of four diamonds, and his heart holding would be safe from attack.As the cards lie, ...

Horoscopes Dec. 20, 2023: Jonah Hill, change how your use your skills

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 13:34:39 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jonah Hill, 40; David Cook, 41; Nicole de Boer, 53; Joel Gretsch, 60.Happy Birthday: Pay attention to detail, set high standards and prioritize home and family. Use your imagination to change how you use your skills and handle your responsibilities and relationships. An open mind will encourage you to try something new and question what doesn’t fit your agenda. Take control instead of letting outside influences take over or lead you astray. Live in the moment; do things your way. Your numbers are 6, 17, 24, 29, 33, 37, 45.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Prepare to pivot and take advantage of an opportunity. Learn all you can and make your move. Changing how you handle or earn money will require attention to ensure you get what you want. Don’t let sentiments stand in your way. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Explore the possibilities and search for the path that leads to what you want. A financial gain, gift or intriguing opportunity will point y...