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Former allies Serbia and Montenegro agree to patch up strained relations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — The presidents of Serbia and Montenegro agreed Monday to try to patch up strained relations between the historic Balkan allies. The two countries had formed a joint state until Montenegro split in 2006 following a referendum on independence. The former allies grew further apart after Montenegro recognized the 2008 declaration of independence by Serbia’s former province of Kosovo. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Montenegro’s new President Jakov Milatovic said after a meeting in Belgrade that they will work to improve political ties to match their countries’ economic cooperation. Milatovic’s visit to Belgrade was the first by a Montenegrin president in years. Naming new ambassadors to Belgrade and Podgorica following a diplomatic row in 2020 will be among the first moves, the two officials said.“It is our responsibility to truly improve relations and not to disturb them, as has been the case often in the past,” said Milatovic. “We...

Ruling expected Tuesday in runner Caster Semenya’s human rights appeal against sex eligibility rules

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

The European Court of Human Rights is expected to deliver what could be the final word Tuesday in Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya’s yearslong legal challenge against rules that force her and other female athletes to lower their natural hormone levels through medical intervention to be allowed to compete in women’s track and field races.The testosterone limits have effectively put a stop to Semenya’s career by barring her from running in her favored 800 meters event — where she is a two-time Olympic champion and three-time world champion — since 2019.The South African athlete has refused to follow the rules and take medication to artificially lower her testosterone. She says the regulations enforced by the sport’s governing body, World Athletics, are discriminatory and violate her right to freely compete in women’s sports despite her being legally identified as female at birth and identifying as female her entire life.Semenya has also pointed out ...

New York Times shutters its sports desk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

(The Hill) -- The New York Times is shutting down its sports desk, the newspaper's leadership informed staffers on Monday. In a memo to the outlet's journalists, Times Chief Executive Meredith Kopit Levien said the newspaper will "no longer have a freestanding sports desk," and current sports staff will transition to other desks around its newsroom."Many of these colleagues will continue on their new desks to produce the signature general interest journalism about sports — exploring the business, culture and power structures of sports, particularly through enterprising reporting and investigations — for which they are so well known," Kopit Levien said. Threads hits 100 million sign-ups within first week There are no plans for layoffs, she noted in her memo, adding newsroom leadership will "actively work with all our sports colleagues to ensure they land in the right roles." The shuttering of the Times sports desk comes less than two years after the newspaper purchased "The Athle...

Not all repellents are equal – here’s how to avoid mosquito bites this summer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

(The Conversation) - Now that summer is in full swing, mosquitoes have come out across the United States. The use of mosquito repellents can protect both your health and sanity this summer.While mosquitoes leave bothersome, itchy bites on your skin, they can also pose a serious and sometimes deadly risk to your health. When a mosquito bites you, it may transmit harmful pathogens that cause dangerous diseases like malaria, Dengue fever, Zika and West Nile.Avoiding mosquito bitesMosquito females bite people to get vital nutrients from our blood. They then use these nutrients to make their eggs. One single blood meal can give rise to about 100 mosquito eggs that hatch into wiggling larvae.There are several ways to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes, from wearing long, loose clothing and limiting time outside to placing screens over your windows and getting rid of standing water that mosquitoes might use to breed.However, one of the best ways to protect you...

Message in a bottle washes ashore in Florida: 'Cancer had other plans'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA) — A message in a bottle was found on a beach in Bradenton, Florida, on Friday.Brent Coleman of Georgia was on vacation when his son, 13-year-old Garrison, and his friend, 13-year-old Lane McCall, stumbled upon the bottle while walking along Bradenton Beach's shoreline. Coleman told WFLA that the boys found the bottle on Anna Maria Island.One of the items in the bottle was a handwritten note by a man named Howard Brown. The note told of how he dreamed of living a life in Florida with his wife of 57 years. Brown went on to say how “cancer had other plans,” and by the time the note would have been found, he would have passed. "I am now gone," it read.A note written by Howard Brown, found in the bottle. The contents of the bottle were posted on a local Facebook page in hopes of reuniting the bottle with the owner's family members. Coleman was able to get in contact with Brown's immediate family members and shipped the contents to them the same day."I wanted t...

$18 billion deal reached: Texans to get biggest property tax cut in state's history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After months of trying to reach a deal, leaders of the Texas Senate and House announced proposed legislation for property tax relief on Monday. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker Dade Phelan released a joint statement detailing the following proposed legislation: Over $12 billion will be spent on reducing the school property tax rate for all homeowners and business properties.Every homeowner who homesteads their home (about 5.7 million homeowners) will get a $100,000 homestead exemption.Non-homesteaded properties, valued at $5 million and under, including residential and commercial properties, will receive a 20% circuit breaker on appraised values as a three-year pilot project.The legislation will also include savings on the franchise tax for small businesses and create newly elected positions on local appraisal boards."Negotiations with the Lieutenant Governor have been extremely productive, and by coming together and finding common ground, the House and Senate a...

Report: Downtown Austin on the precipice of a 'major transformation'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The 600 acres encompassing downtown Austin are not just seeing a post-pandemic new normal. Instead, leaders describe a significant overhaul in the way the space is used, leading to what they call a "major transformation."While the days of large skyscrapers filled with a single major employer are waning, more and more developments are filling with smaller tenants from a diverse variety of industries. "What we're seeing is that merging in downtown after the pandemic, or during this current period, is just the growth and entertainment sector," said Jenell Moffett, chief impact officer of the Downtown Austin Alliance. "Growth in restaurants, growth in pedestrian activity, nights and weekends." After 17 new major buildings were added in 2022, another 22 projects are under construction now, with an additional 34 planned.The growth is happening outside of the office as well. Roughly 3,000 additional hotel rooms are planned in the coming years, as well as 11,200 residential...

Rainfall knocks out Warren County phone lines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - From Sunday night through Monday, it's a rainy start to the week in the Capital Region and North Country. While the worst of the rain is expected to move northeast of Albany across Vermont, little of the region is staying dry. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! To that end, Warren County put out a notice on Monday morning that its phone lines were having issues as rain continues to fall. County spokesman Don Lehman said that storm-related damage has cut off communication to some offices."Callers are not able to reach some county offices, and some county employees can not call out. Warren County staff can be reached via email or cellphone, and the Warren County Administrator’s Office can receive landline calls at 518-761-6539 to get messages where they are needed. Verizon staff are on hand to repair the damage. We thank you for your patience.” Queensbury brings STEM to Hovey Pond Park Warren County...

Inaugural Thirsty Cat Festival set for the Berkshires

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

HILLSDALE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The inaugural Thirsty Cat Festival is coming to Catamount Mountain Resort on July 22 and 23. The resort is located on Route 23 on the border of Hillsdale and South Egremont, Massachusetts. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The festival is set for 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. It features local craft beers, ciders, wines, food, live music, craft vendors, and kids' activities.The chairlift rides, zip tours, and Aerial Adventure Park will also be open. Craft vendors include Rolling Rock Farm, Cats' View Farm, Bakin Bakery, Myztik Treasure, VineGate Lavender Farm, Entwines Stone & Clay, and Pampered Chef. Catskills music festival headlined by Weezer canceled Music lineupJuly 22Rebel Alliance from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Radio Riot from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.Rev Tor Band from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.July 23Dave Keller Band from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.Professor Louie and the Crowmati...

Jay Pharoah performing at Albany Funny Bone

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Comedian and actor Jay Pharoah will be performing at the Albany Funny Bone. The show is scheduled for September 24. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Pharaoh was a cast member of "Saturday Night Live" from 2010 to 2016. He is best known for his spot-on celebrity impressions, including former President Barack Obama, Jay-Z, Denzel Washington, and Stephen A. Smith. You can purchase Jay Pharoah tickets online by visiting the Funny Bone's website. The show is set to begin at 6 p.m.