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Ukraine needs Europe’s support - Don't give in to Orbán's blackmail

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:20 GMT

The EU must increase its support for Ukraine, and move ahead swiftly on its integration into the EU. The European leaders should not give in to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's blackmail, the European Green Party comments on the historic EU leaders' summit in Brussels. The attempts by the Hungarian prime minister to blackmail the European Union, and block aid to Ukraine and its accession to the EU, are deplorable. These cynical machinations undermine the trust of European citizens in the EU institutions.  European Green co-presidents Thomas Waitz and Mélanie Vogel comment: “This case, where a single leader can act as a Trojan horse for Putin, and block the whole process of helping Ukraine, shows once again that the need for unanimity among European member states on foreign policy issues prevents the EU from taking the right decisions”, Waitz and Vogel say. At the Conference on the Future of Europe, European citizens gave a clear message that they want more power for the Europ...

PM reaffirms Pakistan's support to Kashmiris - rejects Indian SC verdict as politically motivated

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:20 GMT

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday (14 December) reaffirmed Pakistan's moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir, and rejected the recent verdict of the Indian Supreme Court calling it a politically motivated and a tool to consolidate Indian illegal occupation.The prime minister, in his address at the special session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly (AJK LA), called for India to desist from consolidating its occupation, revoke the illegal unilateral actions of August 5, 2019 and not change the demography of the disputed territory.Chaired by AJK LA Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar, the session was attended by AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq and Assembly members.PM Kakar also stressed upon India to halt the human rights abuses in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), repeal emergency laws, withdraw heavy military presence and provide unhindered access to the United Nations bodies and the internatio...

Horoscopes Dec. 15, 2023: Maude Apatow, take nothing for granted

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:20 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Maude Apatow, 26; Adam Brody, 44; Julie Taymor, 71; Don Johnson, 74.Happy Birthday: Take responsibilities seriously, and handle your finances with care. Don’t rely on others to offer sound advice or live up to impossible promises. Being ready, willing and able to get things done physically will put your mind at rest and encourage you to be fully responsible for your achievements and happiness. Trust yourself and take nothing for granted; you won’t be disappointed in your returns. Your numbers are 4, 15, 23, 31, 35, 39, 44.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Learn from your mistakes. Take a reserved approach to sensitive situations. Direct your energy wisely and map out your plan before you head out to shop or attend festivities. Don’t feel inclined to take on or deny yourself something to appease others. 4 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Say no to temptation. It’s the festive season, and getting caught up in the hustle and bustle and spend...

Bridge: Dec. 15, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:20 GMT

Test your defensive skill in today’s deal. Cover the West and South cards. Try to beat four hearts as East.South’s jump to three hearts suggests a good six-card suit and about 16 points. West leads the nine of spades, and you take the ace. South follows with the jack, wins your spade return with the queen and leads the queen of diamonds. West signals with the deuce.How do you defend?At the table, East took the ace and led the jack of clubs. Declarer won in dummy, pitched his king of spades on a high diamond and next let the nine of trumps ride. West took the queen and led another club. South won in dummy and took the rest.SPADE RUFFSouth’s bidding marks him with the ace of clubs, so the defenders need to win two trump tricks. If at Trick Four East leads the three of trumps, declarer is stuck: If he plays low, West wins and gives East a spade ruff; if declarer puts up the ace, he loses two trump tricks.North-South would have done well to find a route to 3NT.DAILY QU...

Ask Amy: I was surprised by my brother’s advice about my girlfriend. Was he right?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:20 GMT

Dear Amy: I’ve been with my girlfriend for about five years. We’ve broken up a few times, mainly for short periods.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: I’m uncomfortable about my husband’s DNA test request Advice | Ask Amy: He says I’m not small enough to marry Advice | Ask Amy: I’m a big tipper, and I want to be thanked for it Advice | Ask Amy: The teachers won’t explain why they call my son disrespectful Advice | Ask Amy: How did my adventurous life end up like this, and can I get it back? Currently we are taking a longer break while we each figure out if we want to move forward toward marriage. She says she can’t decide. Honestly, I feel like I can’t decide, either.During the times when we’re together, I feel like I do most of the emotional “work” in the relationship, while she is more focused on her job, family, and friends.My brother recently pulled me aside and said, basi...

Harriette Cole: How do I tell this nice girl I sent the text by mistake?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:20 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I sent the wrong text to a gym buddy, and now I am sure that she thinks I like her more than I do.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: How far should I go with my Christmas to remember? Advice | Harriette Cole: He hasn’t told his therapist about this big problem Advice | Harriette Cole: My mom’s rule kept me stuck at home for the holiday break Advice | Harriette Cole: I can see myself skipping class a lot this winter Advice | Harriette Cole: I can’t get my home organized. What am I doing wrong? She’s a really nice girl that I met at the gym. We have not gone on a formal date, though we have grabbed a bite to eat together after working out. We flirt a lot.At the same time, I have an old classmate that I see more often. We do fun things together like going to the movies, bowling and horseback riding.I am the worst multitasker ever, and in my attempt to do too muc...

Ex-employee of San Carlos nonprofit agency accused of embezzling $700,000

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:20 GMT

SAN CARLOS — A former employee of a San Carlos-based nonprofit organization is accused of embezzling roughly $700,000 over a 13-year period, according to prosecutors.On Thursday, Clarise Ann Blanchard, 76, of Foster City, pleaded not guilty to charges including embezzlement, forgery and identity theft, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Police say ‘armed’ man whose presence forced Palo Alto school lockdown only carried phone Crime and Public Safety | Man allegedly attacks Millbrae convenience store clerk during robbery attempt while on bail Crime and Public Safety | ‘Criticizing a judge is not illegal’: Charges dropped against San Mateo County man accused of threatening jurist Crime and Public Safety | Road-rage incident ends in Peninsula man’s arrest on gun-related charges Crime and Public Safety | Prominent Daly City musi...

“The Squad,” Part 3: The Last Gaza War

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:20 GMT

More than 18,600 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel’s latest wave of attacks began just over two months ago, following the October 7 Hamas attack that killed some 1,200 Israelis. While the Biden administration continues to support Israel in its devastation, politicians and heads of state around the world are calling for a ceasefire. The last extended war on Gaza, in 2021, would reshape the Democratic Party’s posture toward Israel and Palestine. On this episode of Deconstructed, Ryan Grim brings us another audio documentary, adapted from an excerpt of his new book, “The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution.” In this episode, Grim revisits the 2021 Gaza war. When members of the Squad and their allies began speaking out about the U.S. government’s support for Israel, the debates in Washington grew extremely messy. The Squad’s opposition led to a political showdown, with special interest groups and other politicians applying pressure on those critical of I...

Mourinho gets away without a touchline ban and is only fined for labeling a referee unstable

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:20 GMT

ROME (AP) — Roma coach Jose Mourinho escaped a touchline ban after cooperating with the Italian soccer federation’s disciplinary prosecutor and was instead only fined 20,000 euros ($22,000) on Friday for labeling a referee unstable.Before a recent match with Sassuolo, Mourinho questioned the abilities of referee Matteo Marcenaro.“We had him three times as a fourth official and I don’t think he has the emotional stability for games of this level,” Mourinho said.During the same news conference, Mourinho attacked Sassuolo forward Domenico Berardi, saying the player “exaggerates fouls to draw yellow cards.”Mourinho later said his Italian wasn’t proficient enough to explain certain concepts.Roma was also ordered to pay a fine of 20,000 euros ($22,000), with the money from both the club and Mourinho going toward medical research.Mourinho was suspended for two matches at the start of this campaign for comments about a referee at the end of last season. He was also banned for four matches b...

Jurors deciding how much Giuliani must pay for lies in a Georgia election workers’ case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jurors began deliberating Thursday to decide how much Rudy Giuliani must pay two former Georgia election workers for spreading lies about them that led to a barrage of racist threats and upended their lives.The jury left for the day without announcing a decision and were expected to resume deliberations at Washington’s federal courthouse Friday morning. Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, are seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages over Giuliani’s false claims accusing them of ballot fraud while the former New York City mayor was fighting to keep Republican Donald Trump in the White House after the November 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden.The potential hefty damages come at the same time Giuliani is gearing up to defend himself against criminal charges stemming from his legal representation of Trump. Giuliani’s lawyer told jurors the damages the women are seeking “would be the end of Mr. Giuliani.” In his closing argument, an att...