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Business travel for Indonesians to Australia will be made easier in a deal between national leaders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:52 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Business travel for Indonesians to Australia will be made easier in a bid to boost the economic partnership between the two countries following a deal struck on Tuesday between their leaders. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Joko Widodo agreed on visa changes, climate initiative funding and education partnerships during talks at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. Albanese announced Indonesians will be able to access extended business visas for Australia, increasing from three to five years, while Indonesian e-passport holders will be prioritised. Indonesians will also be able to access a frequent traveler visa.“This offers a 10-year visa validity making an enormous difference and removing bureaucratic impediments to our closer relationship,” Albanese said. “Today our relationship shifts up another gear, our countries continue to choose to draw closer together.”Albanese said Indonesia would play a critical role in boosting the su...

France returns 35 citizens from camp in Syria housing thousands linked to Islamic State extremists

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:52 GMT

PARIS (AP) — France has returned 35 people — 10 women and 25 minors — from a sprawling camp in northeast Syria housing thousands of people linked to Islamic State extremists. Al-Hol Camp — named after a town near the Iraqi border — holds about 51,000 people, including many widows, wives and children of Islamic State fighters. Iraqis make up nearly half the population, but a sizeable minority are from outside the Middle East. Part of the camp called the Annex holds around 8,000 women and children from 60 nationalities who are considered the most die-hard among the residents, and experts have warned for years that the camp’s wretched conditions and confined spaces risk creating another generation of Islamic State fighters. French citizens made up the largest European contingent of people who joined the Islamic State at the height of the extremist group’s reach. With its territorial defeat in 2019, France has brought home women and children in successive waves. All 10 of the adul...

Japan court finds consultant guilty of taking bribes in sprawling Tokyo Olympics trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:52 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — One of several Japanese officials charged in a widespread bribery scandal involving Tokyo Olympic organizers was found guilty Tuesday but avoided jail time.The verdict in Tokyo District Court for Joji Matsui, the former head of Amuse consulting company, was the first for someone on the receiving end of the bribes from companies seeking sponsorships and licensing for the 2020 Games.Matsui was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for four years. Presiding Judge Kenji Yasunaga said the facts showed Matsui had allowed his company bank account to be used to disguise the transfer of funds to Haruyuki Takahashi, who, as an executive on the Japanese Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee, wielded considerable influence in selecting sponsors. Yasunaga said the bribes involved, totaling about 27 million yen ($186,000), were significant and “the damage to public trust has been great.”Matsui, who acknowledged guilt during the trial, remained silent and nodded.His defens...

Dear Abby: His first wife was a ‘fox,’ and I am apparently not

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:52 GMT

DEAR ABBY: On my first date with my husband, he told me his first wife was a “fox.” I thought, “How would I compete?”Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My husband does whatever he wants and lies all the time. Should I stay? Advice | Dear Abby: I’m mortified that my husband hung a Green Book by our phone Advice | Dear Abby: I just found out what happens at home when I’m on the night shift Advice | Dear Abby: I can’t even play with cats correctly Advice | Dear Abby: I prevailed in the dispute but it split our friend group We are married now, but he has never told me I was pretty or anything close. He’s a great husband, but these things are not in his wheelhouse.Tonight, I was watching a game show and the winner introduced his “beautiful wife.” The woman had a facial deformity, but you could tell he meant what he said. It is hurtful that my husban...

Nearly 1 in 4 girls and young women have iron deficiency, study shows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:52 GMT

Iron deficiency is a relatively common problem, but a new study suggests it may be particularly common for girls and young women in the United States.New research from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at the iron levels of about 3,500 females aged 12 to 21, who were part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.The survey was carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor the health status of adults and children across the country through interviews and physical exams.Researchers discovered that nearly 40% of participants in that group were deficient in iron, according to the study.The problem is detected through a simple blood test, but it can be overlooked as doctors often test only for anemia, a group of conditions impacting red blood cells or their ability to carry oxygen throughout the body.Iron is a critical mineral that helps red blood...

Francia suma siete noches con disturbios: baja la violencia y solo detienen a 72 personas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:52 GMT

PARÍS – Al menos 72 personas fueron detenidas en la séptima noche consecutiva de disturbios en Francia, que registró menos episodios de violencia, en una tendencia que viene confirmándose desde el fin de semana.Las cifras de arrestos de la noche del lunes al martes comunicadas por el gobierno, que no ha señalado por el momento incidentes de gravedad, son netamente inferiores a los 157 de la precedente y a los 400 en la del sábado al domingo.También se contabilizaron 159 coches incendiados, 24 edificios públicos dañados por ataques de alborotadores, así como cuatro comisarías o cuarteles de las fuerzas del orden, que siguieron al mismo nivel de movilización, con 45,000 policías y gendarmes desplegados.El presidente Emmanuel Macron recibe esta mañana en el Palacio del Elíseo a más de 200 alcaldes de localidades que han registrado disturbios que, según la patronal Medef, ya han tenido un coste estimado en más de 1,000 millones de euros, con más de 200 comercios totalmente saquead...

Stewart leads New York against Phoenix after 20-point performance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:52 GMT

Phoenix Mercury (3-12, 1-9 Western Conference) at New York Liberty (11-4, 7-3 Eastern Conference)New York; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: New York plays the Phoenix Mercury after Breanna Stewart scored 20 points in the New York Liberty’s 81-66 win over the Seattle Storm.The Liberty have gone 5-2 in home games. New York ranks seventh in the WNBA with 36.3 points in the paint led by Stewart averaging 8.3.The Mercury are 1-6 on the road. Phoenix is sixth in the Western Conference scoring 76.6 points per game and is shooting 44.9%.The teams square off for the second time this season. The Liberty won 89-71 in the last meeting on June 18. Stewart led the Liberty with 28 points, and Sophie Cunningham led the Mercury with 27 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Stewart is averaging 22 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.5 blocks for the Liberty.Brittney Griner is scoring 19.8 points per game and averaging 6.1 rebounds for the Mercury.LAST 10 GAMES: Liberty: 7-3, averaging 90.8 po...

Howard leads Atlanta against Los Angeles after 43-point showing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:52 GMT

Atlanta Dream (7-8, 5-5 Eastern Conference) at Los Angeles Sparks (7-10, 6-6 Western Conference)Los Angeles; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Atlanta visits the Los Angeles Sparks after Rhyne Howard scored 43 points in the Dream’s 112-84 win against the Los Angeles Sparks.The Sparks have gone 5-4 at home. Los Angeles is 1-1 in games decided by less than 4 points.The Dream are 4-3 on the road. Atlanta averages 15.1 turnovers per game and is 2- when turning the ball over less than opponents.The teams play for the second time this season. In the last meeting on July 2 the Dream won 112-84 led by 43 points from Howard, while Nneka Ogwumike scored 25 points for the Sparks.TOP PERFORMERS: Ogwumike is averaging 19.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.8 steals for the Sparks.Howard is averaging 18.2 points and 3.3 assists for the Dream.LAST 10 GAMES: Sparks: 3-7, averaging 76.6 points, 31.5 rebounds, 18.3 assists, 7.7 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 42.3% from the...

Dallas plays Las Vegas following Sabally’s 27-point outing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:52 GMT

Dallas Wings (8-8, 5-4 Western Conference) at Las Vegas Aces (15-1, 7-0 Western Conference)Las Vegas; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Dallas visits the Las Vegas Aces after Satou Sabally scored 27 points in the Wings’ 89-72 victory against the Washington Mystics.The Aces’ record in Western Conference games is 7-0. Las Vegas averages 22.7 assists per game to lead the Western Conference, paced by Chelsea Gray with 6.4.The Wings are 5-4 in Western Conference play. Dallas is second in the Western Conference scoring 84.3 points per game and is shooting 41.3%.The teams square off Wednesday for the first time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: A’ja Wilson is averaging 19.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and two blocks for the Aces.Arike Ogunbowale is averaging 22.1 points, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals for the Wings.LAST 10 GAMES: Aces: 9-1, averaging 93.7 points, 33.7 rebounds, 23.5 assists, 7.6 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 51.6% from the field. Their opponents have aver...

Indiana faces Minnesota on 4-game skid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:52 GMT

Indiana Fever (5-11, 3-6 Eastern Conference) at Minnesota Lynx (7-9, 6-4 Western Conference)Minneapolis; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Indiana is looking to break its four-game slide with a win against Minnesota.The Lynx have gone 2-5 in home games. Minnesota is 3-6 against opponents with a winning record.The Fever are 4-6 in road games. Indiana is fifth in the Eastern Conference with 26.4 defensive rebounds per game led by NaLyssa Smith averaging 7.8.The teams play for the second time this season. The Fever won the last matchup 71-69 on June 10, with Kelsey Mitchell scoring 22 points in the win.TOP PERFORMERS: Napheesa Collier is averaging 22 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals for the Lynx.Smith is averaging 15.2 points and 10.1 rebounds for the Fever.LAST 10 GAMES: Lynx: 7-3, averaging 80.3 points, 36.2 rebounds, 19.2 assists, 6.8 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 42.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 81.6 points per game.Fever: 4-6, averaging 82.4 p...