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LeVar Burton leads dozens of celebs in open letter against book bans

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:37 GMT

(The Hill) - A coalition of Hollywood entertainers, led by actor LeVar Burton, signed an open letter petitioning against the recent wave of book bans in the U.S. “As artists, creators, entertainers, and activists, we recognize and are horrified by the threat of censorship in the form of book bans,” the coalition wrote in its letter sent on Tuesday, adding that the latest wave of book bans “is not just antithetical to free speech and expression but has a chilling effect on the broader creative field.” LeVar Burton arrives at the premiere of "Blindspotting," Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at NeueHouse in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)It continues, “The government cannot and should not create any interference or dictate what people can produce, write, generate, read, listen to, or consume.”The coalition also warned that it won't be long until those with regressive, suppressive ideologues shift their focus to restricting the art and entertainment industry, noting those g...

Union hockey teams prepare for 2023-2024 campaign

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:37 GMT

SCHENECTADY, NY (NEWS10) -- Hockey season is approaching. Both the Union men's and women's hockey teams are getting ready for the 2023-2024 campaign. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! For the men, it will be year two under head coach Josh Hauge. The now Garnet Chargers went 14-19-2 in Hauge's first season. They fell to Princeton 6-4 in the first round of the ECAC playoffs. The Garnet Chargers are expecting to be a deep team this season with plenty of returners. Hauge and his players can now lean on the familiarity they've built heading into this season. "I definitely think there's a level of comfort now," said Hauge. "First year you kind of feel like a substitute teacher. You're trying to come in and get everybody comfortable with you but also you're trying to make everybody happy where in year two it's just 'Hey this is how it's going to be,' and we're ready to go." "Obviously last year was a bit of a learning curve," said seni...

10-Point Plan for Lampedusa

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:37 GMT

In view of the unfolding situation in Lampedusa, and while recognizing the increasing pressure along different migratory routes, European Commission President von der Leyen (pictured) laid out the following set of immediate actions to be exercised in full respect of fundamental rights and international obligations:Reinforce the support to Italy by the European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA) and the European Border and Coast Guard (Frontex) to manage the high number of migrants to ensure registration of arrivals, fingerprinting, debriefing and referral to the appropriate authorities.Support the transfer of people out of Lampedusa, including to other Member States using the voluntary solidarity mechanism and with particular attention to unaccompanied minors and women.Step up returns by undertaking a renewed, concerted outreach to the main countries of origin of the new arrivals, namely Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and Burkina Faso so as to improve cooperation and facilitate readmission;...

Uzbekistan-United States: striving to develop and strengthen bilateral and multilateral dialogue

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:37 GMT

In the framework of participation in the plenary session of the UN General Assembly in New York, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will take part in the first «C5+1» summit in New York - writes Information agency «Dunyo» of TashkentThe «C5+1» format is a regular multilateral dialog between Central Asian countries and the United States. The first meeting of the foreign ministers of the region and the United States took place in November 2015 in Samarkand, marking the beginning of this dialog.The aim of the format is to maintain a continuous exchange of views on topical issues, as well as to improve regional trade, strengthen transportation and energy ties, develop business climate, combat environmental challenges, counter extremism, and expand humanitarian ties.The first ministerial meeting of the «C5+1» resulted in the adoption of a «Joint Declaration of Partnership and Cooperation,» which notes the U.S. commitment to support the sovereignty, independence, and territorial i...

Bridge: Sept. 20, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:37 GMT

Cy the Cynic is my club’s resident procrastinator. Cy divides his obligations into three categories: things he won’t do immediately, things he won’t do later and things he won’t do ever. When Cy is declarer, his approach to drawing trumps lies in the first category — which is often a good thing.Cy played at today’s four spades. North issued a “support double” at his second turn, conventionally showing three-card spade support. (A bid of two spades would have shown four.) West led the king of clubs, and Cy took dummy’s ace; if he ducked, a heart shift might be fatal.MISSING TRUMPThe Cynic next took the Q-J of trumps but put off drawing a third round. He led the queen of diamonds: king, ace, deuce. Cy then took his ten and jack.When East, with the missing trump, had to follow, Cy led a trump to dummy’s king and pitched a club on the nine of diamonds. Making four. But unless Cy procrastinates by waiting to draw the last trump ...

Horoscopes Sept. 20, 2023: Gary Cole, step ahead of the competition

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:37 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Phillip Phillips, 33; Kristen Johnston, 56; Gary Cole, 67; Sophia Loren, 89.Happy Birthday: A positive change will help you fulfill your dreams. Get on the information highway and discover what’s possible. Add to your skills, knowledge and insight by looking into what’s trending. You’ll be a step ahead of the competition. Use this year to broaden your scope and find your niche. Participate in life instead of watching it pass you by. Make health a priority. Your numbers are 6, 10, 24, 29, 35, 41, 49.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Socializing will offer an intro to someone who can show you a diverse way to use your skills to get what you want. Get whatever you agree to in writing to avoid fighting for what you want when it’s too late. 5 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Keep busy, finish what you start and initiate a change that helps you gain momentum in your race to the top. An open mind and compassionate heart will be your passage to n...

Ask Amy: Should I tell them their grandfather isn’t who they think he is?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:37 GMT

Dear Amy: You have had a number of letters regarding disclosure of DNA results to relatives, etc.I am 84, and I have just learned through DNA testing that I am illegitimate.My biological father and brother are dead, and my biological nephew does not answer my efforts to reach out via the DNA site.Since there is no way to obtain health information, should my children be told? They loved their “grandfather” and I’d hate for them to feel “disinherited.”– DNA DudDear DNA: First of all, I think you should reconsider some of the language you are using to describe your situation. I’d love to retire the word “illegitimate” to describe people born outside of marriage. (If anything, maybe it’s the parents who are “illegitimate.”)And, yes, in my opinion you should disclose this to your children. They have as much a right to know about their DNA as you have to know about yours.I hope you will remove all the “quotation marks” from your narrative – and your beliefs – about your own life.You...

Harriette Cole: I abandoned my home, and now I’ve come back to a huge mess

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:37 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I spent the summer out of town and have just moved back home. What I am facing here is more than I can handle.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: A random man was staring in my window, and I’m upset the police let him go Advice | Harriette Cole: Her dress made me upset, and it didn’t even stick to my wedding theme Advice | Harriette Cole: How do I keep my employee from leaving? Advice | Harriette Cole: It was a bad moment on Zoom. How can I smooth things over? Advice | Harriette Cole: How can I get my co-workers to let me go out with them? I basically abandoned my home, packed up my essentials and left without tidying, organizing or anything. I have been fighting with my husband for the entire year, and my house looks like it. It’s a total mess. I don’t even know where to start.He is of no help, but I need to climb out of this mess.I don’t really want to...

UK inflation falls unexpectedly, though Bank of England still set to raise rates

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:37 GMT

LONDON (AP) — U.K. inflation has fallen unexpectedly to its lowest level since Russia invaded Ukraine, raising hopes that the Bank of England’s widely expected interest rate increase Thursday will be its last — for now. The Office for National Statistics said Wednesday that price rises, as measured by the consumer price index, moderated to 6.7% in the year to August, down from 6.8% in July. The decline took inflation to its lowest level since February 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led to soaring energy and food prices.The agency credited lower hotel and airfare costs and a moderation in food price rises for the decline. That helped offset an increase in energy costs on the back of higher crude oil prices.The decline was unexpected. Most analysts had expected inflation to increase to around 7% in light of the increase in prices at the pump.Though the surprise drop was encouraging, inflation is still way above the Bank of England’s target rate of 2% and hig...

Azerbaijan and Armenian forces reach cease-fire deal for breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh, reports say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:37 GMT

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Armenian news reports said a cease-fire agreement with Azerbaijan was reached Wednesday to end the two days of fighting in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region. Thew deal was announced by the authorities of the separatist region of Azerbaijan and would take effect at 1 p.m. local time, the reports said. The agreement was reached through negotiations with the Russian peacekeeping contingent in the region and envisages the withdrawal of Armenian military units and equipment from Nagor-Karabakh and disarming the local defense forces, the reports said.No further details were immediately available.The development came after explosions rocked parts of Nagorno-Karabakh earlier in the day, after Azerbaijani forces on Tuesday launched used heavy artillery fire on Armenian positions in the region . Local officials said scores of people were killed or wounded.Azerbaijan has called the artillery fire an “anti-terrorist operation” and said it will continue until the sep...