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Middle East

Politics
Westchester Native Tony Blinken Sworn In As Secretary Of State Westchester Native Tony Blinken Sworn In As Secretary Of State
Westchester Native Tony Blinken Sworn In As Secretary Of State A prominent politician from the Hudson Valley will serve as America’s top diplomat after being sworn in as President Joe Biden’s Secretary of State. Yonkers native Antony "Tony" Blinken, age 58, a longtime confidant and aide of the new president, was approved by the Senate with a 78-22 bipartisan vote this week and will return to the White House following time spent as a top member of the Obama administration. From 2009 to 2013, Blinken was the Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor to the Vice President, where he was tasked with helping to craft foreign policy in t…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Godiva Chocolate Closing All US Stores Godiva Chocolate Closing All US Stores
Godiva Chocolate Closing All US Stores Godiva Chocolate is closing all of its North American stores. The mass closure will affect 128 stores in the United States and Canada. Outposts in Europe, the Middle East, and China will remain open. Godiva will stay open through Valentine’s Day, but closures will be completed by March, according to CNN and other media sources. The news comes as a new Godiva CEO steps in, Nurtac Ziyal Afridi, who was appointed in mid-December 2020. Godiva said, in a press release, that its business has been shifting from in-store purchases to online orders through its own and partner websites. The near…

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by Kristin Palpini
Politics
Vote Now: Who Won First Democratic Presidential Debate? Vote Now: Who Won First Democratic Presidential Debate?
Vote Now: Who Won First Democratic Presidential Debate? The gloves finally came off on Wednesday night -- and Americans got to learn more about 10 presidential candidates -- during the first Democratic Party debate. A record field of Democrats is competing to become the party's nominee in 2020. Debates are being held on two consecutive nights in Miami this week -- with a total of 20 candidates appearing during live broadcasts. Wednesday's debate covered a wide range of topics, from health care costs, corporate greed, tensions in the Middle East and climate change to immigration, gun control and equal rights -- with some answers delivered in Spani…

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by Jon Craig
Lifestyle
Memorial Day Weekend Gas Prices Will Be Highest In Years, AAA Warns Memorial Day Weekend Gas Prices Will Be Highest In Years, AAA Warns
Memorial Day Weekend Gas Prices Will Be Highest In Years, AAA Warns Local residents planning on traveling on Memorial Day will see the highest prices at the pump in four years, according to AAA. Gas prices have jumped 12 cents in the past two weeks, leading to a national average of $2.93 per gallon, with the average price in this area well over $3 per gallon. The jump comes days after President Donald Trump decision to withdraw the United States from the Iran nuclear deal. “AAA forecasts nearly 37 million travelers will hit the road for the holiday weekend. Compared to an average of the last three Memorial Day weekends, pump prices are nearly 50 cents more …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Gasoline Demand Hits Record Highs As Pump Prices Surge Gasoline Demand Hits Record Highs As Pump Prices Surge
Gasoline Demand Hits Record Highs As Pump Prices Surge Gasoline demand has hit an all-time high, as prices at the pump continue to rise to the highest point since a peak in the summer of 2015. According to the Energy Information Administration, at month's end, gasoline demand was at 9.857 million barrels a day, the highest level ever recorded in April. This past week, Connecticut (10 cents), New Jersey (10 cents) and New York (seven cents) were among six Northeast states to have the highest increases nationally in price per gallon, with motorists now shelling out $3 or more per gallon in much of the area. The tristate area remains one of the m…

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by Zak Failla
News
Gas Prices Reach Highest Point In Nearly Three Years, AAA Reports Gas Prices Reach Highest Point In Nearly Three Years, AAA Reports
Gas Prices Reach Highest Point In Nearly Three Years, AAA Reports There is no relief in sight for area motorists at the pump, as the national gas price average has hit its highest point since the summer of 2015, with prices now topping $3 an hour in much of the area. As of this week, national gas prices reached an average of $2.71 per gallon, four cents lower than the high of $2.67 from last year, and prices are only expected to keep rising, according to the latest report from AAA. The price is up 6 cents from a week ago, 18 cents from a month ago and 31 cents from a year ago. By the end of the summer, prices are expected to reach the highest total since …

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
New Canaan's Robert Amen, 42, Remembered As Devoted Father, Husband New Canaan's Robert Amen, 42, Remembered As Devoted Father, Husband
New Canaan's Robert Amen, 42, Remembered As Devoted Father, Husband Robert M. Amen, Jr. of New Canaan died Thursday, March 15, from complications related to leukemia with his family by his side. He was 42. The eldest of five, Amen was known as a big brother to many. Whether it was the U.S. Air Force, where he served for six years with distinction, including multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, or at FactSet, where he was proud to be a team member or on his beloved tennis and paddle courts at Woodway Country Club, Rob was dedicated to the team. Those mentored by him remember Amen for his caring, his devotion, and his humanity. He was devoted to his wife K…

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by Kathy Reakes