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European Citizens' Initiative: Commission decides to register initiative on preservation and development of Ukrainian culture and heritage

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:11 GMT

The European Commission has decided to register a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) entitled ‘Preservation and development of Ukrainian culture, education, language, and traditions in EU states'.The organisers of the initiative urge the Commission to step up its actions in supporting the integration of Ukrainian refugees in the EU. They also call on the Commission to propose new legislation to preserve Ukrainian culture, language, traditions and heritage, as well as to establish a pan-European structure of integration centres.The decision to register is of a legal nature and it does not prejudge the final legal and political conclusions of the Commission on this initiative and the action it will intend to take, if any, in case the initiative obtains the necessary support.The Commission considers this European Citizens' Initiative legally admissible but has not analysed the substance of the proposal at this stage.Following today's registration, the organisers have six months to ope...

Dear Abby: Our neighbors are such narcissists. How do we deal with this?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:11 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been retired for almost 10 years. We moved to a coastal resort area we love. However, we have noticed that these retired couples/singles are extremely competitive and mostly a bunch of one-uppers.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My neighbor is too noisy but I’m the one catching flak Advice | Dear Abby: Is it weird that I think this actress could be my sister? Advice | Dear Abby: Why are people so rude to me lately? I’m a nice guy. Advice | Dear Abby: My financial adviser won’t listen to me, but he insists he’s not sexist Advice | Dear Abby: Our teen’s messy breakup has had awkward repercussions for us Is this common in all retirement communities? Does everyone need to have their last hurrah and wave the “I made it” flag? We have met only a handful of people who don’t always talk about themselves and their achievements, re...

Four-bedroom home sells for $2.1 million in San Ramon

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:11 GMT

70 Dos Rios Place – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the first block of Dos Rios Place in San Ramon was sold on July 25, 2023. The $2,100,000 purchase price works out to $945 per square foot. The house, built in 1972, has an interior space of 2,223 square feet. This two-story home presents a roomy floor plan, featuring four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The home’s exterior showcases roofing materials crafted from wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. In addition, the home includes an attached three-car garage. The property encompasses a generous 10,200 square feet of land, featuring abundant outdoor space and a pool.Additional houses have recently been purchased nearby:On Dos Rios Drive, San Ramon, in February 2023, a 2,368-square-foot home was sold for $1,590,000, a price per square foot of $671. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In September 2022, a 1,747-square-foot home on Carousel Court in San Ramon sold for $1,50...

Hilary rapidly grows to Category 4 hurricane off Mexico and could bring heavy rain to US Southwest

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:11 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Hilary grew rapidly to Category 4 strength off Mexico’s Pacific coast and could bring heavy rain to the southwestern U.S. by the weekend.The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Hilary had sustained winds near 140 mph (220 kph) at midnight and was expected to continue its rapid intensification through Friday morning. It should start to weaken Saturday.Tropical storm conditions could begin affecting the Baja California peninsula late Friday. Hilary’s projected path threatened landfall in the middle of the peninsula by Sunday, or it may stay just offshore while heading for Southern California.Hilary was centered about 425 miles (685 kilometers) south of Los Cabos on the southern tip of the Baja peninsula. It was moving west-northwest at 14 mph (22 kph), but was expected to turn gradually north through Saturday.The hurricane center posted a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning for parts of Baja California Sur state, meaning tropical storm conditi...

Canada leads Los Angeles against Las Vegas after 20-point game

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:11 GMT

Los Angeles Sparks (12-18, 6-10 Western Conference) at Las Vegas Aces (27-3, 15-1 Western Conference)Las Vegas; Saturday, 3 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles visits the Las Vegas Aces after Jordin Canada scored 20 points in the Sparks’ 85-74 win against the Atlanta Dream.The Aces are 15-1 against Western Conference opponents. Las Vegas ranks second in the WNBA averaging 9.4 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 38.9% from downtown. Jackie Young leads the team averaging 2.4 makes while shooting 47.0% from 3-point range.The Sparks’ record in Western Conference play is 6-10. Los Angeles is 2-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.The teams meet for the fourth time this season. In the last meeting on July 13 the Aces won 97-78 led by 25 points from A’ja Wilson, while Azura Stevens scored 22 points for the Sparks.TOP PERFORMERS: Wilson is averaging 21.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks for the Aces. Kelsey Plum is averaging 19.0 points over the last 10 games for La...

Is it coming home? England looks to bring Women’s World Cup trophy back to birthplace of soccer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:11 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — The rallying cry “It’s Coming Home” is one game away from reality and the end of England’s 57-year drought in global soccer.The World Cup trophy can return this Sunday to birthplace of soccer for the first time since 1966. But if it happens, the journey back to England will be with the women’s national team and not the men. The Lionesses have roared their way into their first Women’s World Cup title game, Sunday against Spain. It is the first all-European finale since 2003, when Germany beat Sweden. It has been a magical ride for both teams: England has been on top of the global game since winning the European Championship last summer, and Spain is in its first final less than a year since 15 players quit the team in protest.But England was expected to be here, and all around the world, in pubs and at viewing parties, England supporters have been singing “It’s Coming Home,” the unintentional reminder that the soccer team hasn’t won the Wor...

New York visits Phoenix after Cunningham’s 25-point game

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:11 GMT

New York Liberty (24-6, 13-3 Eastern Conference) at Phoenix Mercury (9-21, 2-13 Western Conference)Phoenix; Friday, 10 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Liberty -12.5; over/under is 164.5BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix faces the New York Liberty after Sophie Cunningham scored 25 points in the Phoenix Mercury’s 81-71 loss to the Seattle Storm.The Mercury have gone 8-7 in home games. Phoenix ranks third in the Western Conference with 19.8 assists per game led by Sug Sutton averaging 4.6.The Liberty have gone 12-3 away from home. New York is third in the Eastern Conference with 8.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Jonquel Jones averaging 2.6.The teams square off for the third time this season. In the last matchup on July 5 the Liberty won 99-95 led by 43 points from Breanna Stewart, while Diana Taurasi scored 23 points for the Mercury.TOP PERFORMERS: Taurasi is averaging 17.2 points and 4.8 assists for the Mercury. Megan Gustafson is averaging 11.8 points over the last 10 games for Ph...

Miles tratan de evacuar la capital de los Territorios del Noroeste de Canadá, mientras más de 200 incendios forestales “sin precedentes” asolan la región

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:11 GMT

(CNN) — Miles de residentes se apresuran a evacuar la capital de los Territorios del Noroeste de Canadá mientras más de 200 incendios arrasan la región, obligando a muchos a enfrentarse a peligrosas condiciones en las carreteras o a hacer cola durante horas para conseguir los tan necesarios vuelos de emergencia.Se ha ordenado la evacuación de Yellowknife, la capital, donde viven unas 20.000 personas, y de otras comunidades de los Territorios del Noroeste, mientras los equipos luchan contra 236 incendios forestales activos en la región. Se ha instado a los residentes de Yellowknife a que evacúen la ciudad antes del mediodía del viernes, mientras un enorme incendio se aproxima a la ciudad y a una importante autopista.El de los Territorios del Noroeste es uno de los más de 1.000 incendios que arden en Canadá, donde se registra la peor temporada de incendios de la historia. El primer ministro canadiense, Justin Trudeau, se reunió el jueves con un grupo de altos funcionarios del Go...

The Dutch defense minister says the US has approved the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:11 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The United States has given its approval for the Netherlands to deliver F-16s to Ukraine, the Dutch defense minister said Friday, in a major gain for Kyiv even though the fighter jets won’t have an immediate impact on the almost 18-month war“I welcome the US decision to clear the way for delivery of F-16 jets to Ukraine. It allows us to follow through on the training of Ukrainian pilots,” Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said in a message on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We remain in close contact with European partners to decide on the next steps.”Ukraine has long pleaded for the sophisticated fighter to give it a combat edge. It recently launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive against the Kremlin’s forces without air cover, placing its troops at the mercy of Russian aviation and artillery.Apart from delivering the warplanes, Ukraine’s allies also need to train its pilots. Washington says the F-16s, like the advanced U.S. Abrams...

Leading politician says victory for Niger’s coup leaders would be ‘the end of democracy’ in Africa

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:11 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — If mutinous soldiers who ousted Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum succeed, it will threaten democracy and security across the region and the continent, a high-ranking member of Bazoum’s political party warned in an interview with The Associated Press.Boubacar Sabo, deputy secretary general for the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, said Bazoum had been “kidnapped” by members of the presidential guard who overthrew him on July 26 and have since kept him under house arrest.“What is happening in Niger, if it succeeds, is the end of democracy in Africa. It’s over. … If we fight today, it is to prevent these kind of things from happening and to ensure a future for our continent,” Sabo said on Thursday. In a region rife with coups, Niger was seen as one of the last democratic countries that Western nations could partner with to beat back a growing jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. The overthrow of the president...