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Blinken will enter diplomatic maelstrom over Gaza war on new Mideast trip

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just weeks after a frenzied trip to the Middle East, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is returning to the region with a somewhat more nuanced message than he offered in the immediate aftermath of Hamas’ bloody Oct. 7 attack on Israel and Israel’s military response.As he did last month, Blinken will stress U.S. support for Israel and try to prevent a wider Mideast war as he visits Israel and Jordan starting on Friday. But Blinken’s agenda this time is more crowded and more complex as the conflict intensifies and the Biden administration grapples with competing domestic and international interests and anger.He’ll push for the evacuation of more foreigners from Gaza and more humanitarian aid for the territory. He’ll press Israel to rein in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank committed by Jewish settlers. And, he’ll stress the importance of protecting civilians — even though the administration has yet to offer any criticism of Isr...

Daily horoscope for November 2, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:53 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Cancer.Happy Birthday for Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023:You are creative, spontaneous and talented. You love the excitement of change and new beginnings in your own life and in the lives of others. This is a slower paced year for you. Rest and rejuvenate yourself. Concentrate on your needs and what brings you happiness, especially in relationships.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★Today you want to make changes at home or within the family. You also might have clever ideas about a family business. You certainly have the energy to make things happen; however, when it comes to getting funds and assistance from others, double-check everything. Tonight: Cocoon.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★This is a vibrant and optimistic day for you. In fact, you will attract people to you who are energetic and upbeat! You can expect to be successful in dealing with members of the general public. However, be leery of anyone...

Commission approves €61.5 million Italian state aid scheme to support private employers in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:53 GMT

The European Commission has approved a €61.5 million Italian scheme to support private employers in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 for State Aid measures to support the economy following the aggression against Ukraine by Russia. The new Framework amends and prolongs in part the Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted on 23 March 2022 to enable member states to support the economy in the context of the current geopolitical crisis, already amended on 20 July 2022 and on 28 October 2022.Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants. The purpose of the scheme is to support private employers in Italy by exempting the payment of their social security contributions for the hiring of particularly disadvantaged workers, up to a maximum of €8000 per hiring contract. The eligible beneficiaries must hire workers during the period between 1 January 2023...

Dear Abby: I just learned my brother knew a secret that would have changed my life

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:53 GMT

DEAR ABBY: Recently, my current husband went on a fishing trip with my brother. My brother was drinking and confided that my ex-husband had cheated on me and that he (my brother) was present when it happened.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My sister says this skeevy man needs to be part of our family Advice | Dear Abby: I was blindsided by my fiance’s threat over this business deal Advice | Dear Abby: The groom’s father refuses to attend the wedding if heavy-drinking kin are excluded Advice | Dear Abby: Everything was great until my girlfriend came back from her weekend trip with this crazy story Advice | Dear Abby: An unmade quilt has undercut our friendship. Am I being unreasonable? I was shocked, to say the least. I felt so betrayed by both. I can’t believe my brother would keep this secret from me, but my ex-husband has some dirt on my brother as well.I sent my brother a text te...

Detached house sells in Pleasanton for $1.8 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:53 GMT

4716 Woodthrush Court – Google Street ViewA 1,909-square-foot house built in 1971 has changed hands. The property located in the 4700 block of Woodthrush Court in Pleasanton was sold on Sept. 25, 2023. The $1,841,000 purchase price works out to $964 per square foot. This single-story house provides a generous living space with its four bedrooms and two baths. On the exterior, the house is characterized by the use of wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. The property is equipped with forced air heating and central A/C. In addition, the house is equipped with a garage. The property’s backyard also boasts a pool.Additional houses have recently been sold nearby:In August 2022, a 2,103-square-foot home on Ross Gate Way in Pleasanton sold for $1,720,000, a price per square foot of $818. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Ross Gate Way, Pleasanton, in March 2023, a 1,825-square-foot home was sold for $1,716,000, a price per square foot of $9...

Stock market today: Asian shares surge on hopes the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes are done

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:53 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve indicated it may not need to pump the brakes any harder on Wall Street and the economy. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 1.1% in afternoon trading to 31,950.61. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 jumped 0.9% to 6,899.70. South Korea’s Kospi surged 1.8% to 2,341.96.Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.9% to 17,246.87, while the Shanghai Composite edged 0.3% lower to 3,015.33. “It’s no surprise that Asian markets are responding positively to the gains in U.S. stocks and bonds after the Federal Reserve suggested its policy tightening cycle may be reaching the end of the runway. So maybe it is time to start engineering that elusive soft landing officially,” Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, said in a commentary.In Japan, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced an economic stimulus package worth about $113 billion that is meant to cushion the blow to household budgets f...

Mientras el conflicto en Gaza se intensifica, a los mapas en línea de algunas empresas chinas les falta el nombre de Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:53 GMT

(CNN) — Beijing aclaró que Israel sigue marcado en los mapas oficiales emitidos por las autoridades chinas después de que surgieran preguntas sobre por qué el nombre del país no era visible en los mapas en línea proporcionados por dos importantes empresas chinas.El nombre del país “Israel” no aparece actualmente en mapas de aplicaciones móviles populares de la principal plataforma de búsqueda Baidu o Amap, respaldada por Alibaba, a pesar de que su territorio y los nombres de los países vecinos se muestran claramente en una vista de la región.En la misma vista se pueden ver, por ejemplo, países de tamaño similar o menor que Israel, como Chipre, Líbano y Kuwait.Los mapas tampoco incluyen un marcador con el nombre del país “Palestina”, que China reconoció como Estado en 1988 y figura en sus mapas oficiales junto con Israel. Ambos nombres aparecen en las búsquedas de palabras en las versiones móviles de las plataformas, que no son de propiedad estatal pero operan en el...

Brazil to militarize key airports, ports and borders in a crackdown on organized crime

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:53 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Wednesday he is sending the armed forces to boost security at some of the country’s most important airports, ports and international borders as part of a renewed effort to tackle organized crime in Latin America’s largest nation.The decision comes days after members of a criminal gang set fire to dozens of buses in Rio de Janeiro, apparently in retaliation for the police slaying their leader’s nephew.“We have reached a very serious situation,” Lula said at a news conference in Brasilia after signing the decree. “So we have made the decision to have the federal government participate actively, with all its potential, to help state governments, and Brazil itself, to get rid of organized crime.”Brazil will mobilize 3,600 members of the army, navy and air force to increase patrols and monitor the international airports in Rio and Sao Paulo, as well as two maritime ports in Rio and...

TOTO Japan Classic Scores

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:53 GMT

ThursdayAt Minori CourseOmitama, JapanPurse: $2 millionYardage: 6,598; Par: 72First RoundAkie Iwai33-30—63Nasa Hataoka33-31—64Mone Inami33-31—64Yuna Nishimura33-31—64Shiho Kuwaki32-33—65Yu Liu33-32—65Sora Kamiya34-32—66Xiyu Lin32-34—66Hikaru Yoshimoto32-34—66Seon Woo Bae32-35—67Gemma Dryburgh33-34—67Ayaka Furue34-33—67Fumika Kawagishi35-32—67Mi Hyang Lee36-31—67Yan Liu34-33—67Shoko Sasaki33-34—67Jenny Shin32-35—67Ai Suzuki32-35—67Rio Takeda35-32—67Albane Valenzuela33-34—67Miyuu Abe36-32—68Lauren Coughlin34-34—68Mami Fukuda35-33—68Erika Hara35-33—68Eun-Hee Ji36-32—68Hana Lee35-33—68Saki Nagamine34-34—68Yuka Nii36-32—68Mao Saigo36-32—68Jiyai Shin34-34—68Linnea Strom33-35—68Jasmine Suwannapura33-35—68Momoko Ueda34-34—68Yuri Yoshida36-32—68Rose Zhang33-35—68Na Rin An36-33—69Lindy Duncan37-32—69Minami Katsu35-34—69Erika Kikuchi36-33—69Nanna Koerstz Madsen35-34—69Sakura Koiwai36-33—69Paula Reto34-35—69Yuka Saso34-35—69Miyo Sato35-34—69Chanettee Wannasaen34-35—69Lala Anai35-35—70Pajaree An...

TOTO Japan Classic Par Scores

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:53 GMT

ThursdayAt Minori CourseOmitama, JapanPurse: $2 millionYardage: 6,598; Par: 72First RoundAkie Iwai33-30—63-9Nasa Hataoka33-31—64-8Mone Inami33-31—64-8Yuna Nishimura33-31—64-8Shiho Kuwaki32-33—65-7Yu Liu33-32—65-7Sora Kamiya34-32—66-6Xiyu Lin32-34—66-6Hikaru Yoshimoto32-34—66-6Seon Woo Bae32-35—67-5Gemma Dryburgh33-34—67-5Ayaka Furue34-33—67-5Fumika Kawagishi35-32—67-5Mi Hyang Lee36-31—67-5Yan Liu34-33—67-5Shoko Sasaki33-34—67-5Jenny Shin32-35—67-5Ai Suzuki32-35—67-5Rio Takeda35-32—67-5Albane Valenzuela33-34—67-5Miyuu Abe36-32—68-4Lauren Coughlin34-34—68-4Mami Fukuda35-33—68-4Erika Hara35-33—68-4Eun-Hee Ji36-32—68-4Hana Lee35-33—68-4Saki Nagamine34-34—68-4Yuka Nii36-32—68-4Mao Saigo36-32—68-4Jiyai Shin34-34—68-4Linnea Strom33-35—68-4Jasmine Suwannapura33-35—68-4Momoko Ueda34-34—68-4Yuri Yoshida36-32—68-4Rose Zhang33-35—68-4Na Rin An36-33—69-3Lindy Duncan37-32—69-3Minami Katsu35-34—69-3Erika Kikuchi36-33—69-3Nanna Koerstz Madsen35-34—69-3Sakura Koiwai36-33—69-3Paula Reto34-35—69-3Yuka...