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Russian President Putin and Chinese leader Xi meet in Beijing and call for close policy coordination

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The leaders of Russia and China met Wednesday in Beijing and called for close foreign policy coordination, as concerns grow about possible conflicts with the West over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and Beijing’s rising threats against Taiwan. At their morning meeting, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin discussed trade and the 10th anniversary of Xi’s trademark Belt and Road Initiative that has built highways, ports and power plants across Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere. The policy has left many states deep in debt to Chinese banks, and the attempt to pump new life into it comes at a time when China’s own economy has slowed considerably due to huge overinvestment in real estate. “In the current difficult conditions, close foreign policy coordination is especially required,” Putin said in his opening remarks. “So, in terms of bilateral relations, we are moving forward very confidently,” he said, noting that bilateral trade was on track to surpass...

Daily horoscope for October 18, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Sagittarius.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023:You are talented, imaginative and have a regal air about you. It’s important to believe in your potential. This year is your turn to be acknowledge for your past efforts. Expect a raise, praise, accolades, awards and kudos to come your way. You have earned this. Bravo!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★If you can travel or do something different, this will please you today. Basically, you want a change of scenery. Therefore, do what you can to break free from routine. Give yourself a break. Shake things up a little. Tonight: Rest.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★Although you feel like you should be working, it’s hard to get into it today. Fear not, because tomorrow you will have more energy and drive to accomplish what you want to do. In the meantime, coast today if possible. Take a long lunch. Tonight: Work.GEMINI(May 21-June 20) ★★...

Countering irregular migration: Better EU border management  

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

The influx of migrants and the security of external borders is a challenge for Europe. Learn more about how Parliament is addressing the situation, Society.To counter irregular migration, the EU is strengthening border controls, improving the management of new arrivals and making returns of illegal migrants more efficient. It is also working to bolster legal labour migration and deal more efficiently with asylum applications.Read more about the EU response to migration.What is irregular migration?Irregular migration is the movement of people from non-EU countries across EU borders without complying with the legal requirements for entry, stay, or residence in one or more EU countries.Number of illegal border crossings into EuropeIn 2015, there was a significant increase in the number of illegal border crossings into the EU. According to data from Frontex, the EU's border agency, there were more than 1.8 million illegal border crossings, the highest number ever recorded. Since then, t...

Harriette Cole: I asked my sister to watch my teen, and she broke my trust

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently found out that my sister let my 17-year-old daughter drink alcohol while she was staying with her.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I finally told my parents I’ll be leaving the U.S. next week, and they’re livid Advice | Harriette Cole: My co-worker cornered me about my son, and I was very uncomfortable Advice | Harriette Cole: I worry I’ll lose my friend because of this workplace issue Advice | Harriette Cole: Is it OK for me to hide my health concerns from my husband? Advice | Harriette Cole: It bothers me that there was so little reaction to my social media purge I am upset that my underage daughter was drinking, but I’m even more upset that it was done behind my back.I told my sister to clue me in on absolutely everything that happens with my daughter, and the fact that she didn’t even ask me about it is hurtful.I haven’t figured o...

Miss Manners: The bride hung up on me, and her mother was rude, too. Was I in the wrong?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My long-distance niece, whom I only see every few years, hung up on me when I called to give my regrets that I could not make it to her wedding.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: This lady at church got stuck, and I accidentally laughed out loud Advice | Miss Manners: This well-off bride’s wedding shower has me baffled Advice | Miss Manners: I’m plagued by how I mishandled this neighborly interaction Advice | Miss Manners: One guest ignored my buffet and raided the refrigerator Advice | Miss Manners: What should I do when my co-workers glare at me? I explained that we had a prepaid, nonrefundable vacation planned, and that we would like to make it up to her by taking the newlyweds out to dinner the next time we traveled there.She said, “That’s not good enough,” and hung up the phone. I haven’t spoken to her since.Is this acceptable bridal behavio...

Dear Abby: She stages these embarrassing displays, and I can’t deal with it anymore

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

DEAR ABBY: A family friend, “Simone,” makes the time we spend together unbearable.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: He’s just a little boy, but he’s already on the wrong path. What can I do? Advice | Dear Abby: I have a wedding dress and a man I love, but I’m ready to scrap everything Advice | Dear Abby: The family letter is meant to be upbeat but I can’t bring myself to read it Advice | Dear Abby: Do I need to make a formal goodbye to an unwanted friend? Advice | Dear Abby: I took in her cat and it was a big mistake. How do I get out of this? She’s married to my husband’s best friend, “Earl.” We see them often and spend many holidays together.Before Earl married Simone, we thought she was a pretty normal person and a great match for him. Over time, we have come to realize that she’s anything but.Simone is loud and dramatic, and she love...

Player of the Week: Gaithersburg’s Gideon Ituka

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

(new Image()).src = "https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384&cid=c2ffed0c-3624-46c0-b10f-97c976d290a3";cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384",mediaId: "fdb49a08-e061-4bda-a513-a8bfd45bc16d"}).render("831d10cf73e3464ba7c3ff4dc1a52f2a"); });There are not many secrets when it comes to the Gaithersburg High School football team’s offensive game plan.The Trojans have 5-foot-10, 240-pound senior running back Gideon Ituka — a powerful runner who has accepted a football scholarship offer from Wisconsin — and he is going to get the ball. A lot.While opponents know what is usually coming, stopping Ituka is another matter. This past Friday, he rushed 26 times for a career-high 304 yards and four touchdowns, carrying Gaithersburg to a 28-14 win over Seneca Valley.For his efforts, Ituka was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week.Gideon Ituka, a big, strong powerf...

Biden tells Netanyahu that explosion at Gaza hospital appears to have been done ‘by the other team, not you’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Biden tells Netanyahu that explosion at Gaza hospital appears to have been done ‘by the other team, not you.’Source

Afghanistan wins toss and opts to field against New Zealand in Cricket World Cup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

CHENNAI, India (AP) — Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won his second toss in four games and opted to bowl first against New Zealand at the Cricket World Cup on Wednesday.New Zealand, the runner-up in 2019, and India are the only unbeaten sides in the tournament.The Black Caps are second behind India in the standings. Both teams have six points from three games, with India leading on net run-rate. New Zealand has beaten England, Netherlands and Bangladesh.Skipper Kane Williamson is again unavailable, this time owing to a thumb injury sustained during the match with Bangladesh, and is replaced by Will Young. Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi misses out for a fourth successive game.Afghanistan is coming off a stunning 69-run win over England in one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history. The victory lifted the team to sixth in the standings with two points from three games. Afghanistan is unchanged and again the focus will be on its trio of spinners – Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rah...

Indonesia’s ruling party picks top security minister to run for VP in next year’s election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s ruling party on Wednesday named the nation’s top security minister as the running mate to the party’s presidential candidate in next year’s election in Southeast Asia’s largest democracy.Muhammad Mahfud will be seeking the vice presidency alongside the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle presidential hopeful Ganjar Pranowo, former Central Java governor.The announcement by PDIP chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri was attended by three leaders of PDIP’s partner parties for the February election and sets up a potential three-way race, with Pranowo expected to face former Jakarta Gov. Anies Baswedan and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.Baswedan choose his running mate as Muhaimin Iskandar, the chairman of National Awakening Party, which has strong ties to the country’s largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, which boasts over 45 million members.PDIP’s pick is considered by many as a move aimed at boosting Pranowo’s popularity in the w...