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Voters offered a clean slate in an election to replace The Netherlands’ longest-serving leader

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:30:51 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — One thing is certain for the Dutch voters casting ballots Wednesday in a general election: Mark Rutte, the Netherlands’ longest-serving prime minister, is on the way out.His replacement after 13 years in office could be the country’s first female premier or a social democrat who left his job as the European Union’s climate czar to return to national politics. The next prime minister also might turn out to be an anti-Islam lawmaker or a centrist who created his party only three months ago.“It’s time for change in the Netherlands, and I feel there is a large momentum for change at the moment,” said Pieter Omtzigt, whose brand-new party New Social Contract, is slated to be finish among the top four in a tightly-contested race. The outcome after polls opened in the morning is hard to predict given what happened in other European elections in recent months. Populist and hard-right parties triumphed in some EU member nations and faltered in others...

Daily horoscope for November 22, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:30:51 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST today (7 a.m. to 10 a.m. PST). After that, the Moon moves from Pisces into Aries.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023:You are confident and independent. You like to do things your own way and make your own rules. This is a year of work. Simplify your life. Take charge of your health. Physical exercise will be important. Stay grounded and levelheaded. Stay organized in order to accomplish your goals.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★Travel will appeal to you in the next few weeks, no question. So, if you’re able to get outta Dodge, by all means, do so! This is because you have a strong urge now to explore your world and learn new things. You want to meet new faces and see new places! Tonight: You win!TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★You are the financial wizard of the zodiac. And for the next four weeks, your interest in financial matters, shared property, inheritances, taxes, debt and insurance mat...

Commission launches new ‘EU One Stop Shop' to boost Green Line trade in Cyprus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:30:51 GMT

The Commission has launched the new ‘EU One Stop Shop Supporting Green Line Trade and Businesses' service in Nicosia, Cyprus. It is designed to provide information and technical assistance to businesses and individuals who are, or are interested in, trading across the Green Line in Cyprus.Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira (pictured) said:“Increasing Green Line trade is one of the Commission's priorities in Cyprus. Green Line trade brings people and businesses together and offers important economic opportunities for businesses from both communities. By fostering trade, we can help to build trust and confidence among the two communities.”The ‘One Stop Shop' will provide easy access to valuable information on procedures for Green Line trade to both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot producers and traders. It will also inform on the EU standards and requirements that Turkish Cypriot products need to comply with when they are placed on the EU market. The service will employ...

Dear Abby: I’m dreading talking to this girl’s parents about the cheek situation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:30:51 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I am a fairly laid-back mom of a wonderful 13-year-old daughter.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I’m on the verge of blowing up at my boss over my unofficial duties Advice | Dear Abby: The bride has no room for all the gifts she wants Advice | Dear Abby: They dated for a month, and now she’s threatening to reveal his private business Advice | Dear Abby: I’m tired of my husband telling me that he doesn’t intend to change Advice | Dear Abby: Is it out of line to tell him I’ll help him leave his odious wife? Her friends are nice kids, but some of them dress pretty provocatively. I have seen them wear super-short shorts that are very “cheeky” and tops that really expose their assets.We have been invited to a party at a family friend’s home, and my daughter is allowed to bring a friend. The friend she has chosen to invite regularly dresses in very ...

Sale closed in Danville: $1.8 million for a four-bedroom home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:30:51 GMT

4 Sheri Court – Google Street ViewThe property located in the first block of Sheri Court in Danville was sold on Oct. 27, 2023. The $1,765,000 purchase price works out to $1,016 per square foot. The house, built in 1955, has an interior space of 1,737 square feet. This single-story house offers a capacious living environment with its four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The home’s outer structure has wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. In addition, the house features an attached two-car garage, providing ample room for vehicles and storage needs. The property’s backyard showcases a pool.Additional houses have recently changed hands nearby:A 3,446-square-foot home on the 100 block of Town and Country Drive in Danville sold in September 2023, for $3,250,000, a price per square foot of $943. The home has 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.In June 2022, a 3,366-square-foot home on Highland Drive in Danville sold for $3,150,000, a price per square foot of $...

No. 4 Marquette routs No. 1 Kansas 73-59 in Maui Invitational semifinals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:30:51 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — Oso Ighodaro had 21 points and nine rebounds as No. 4 Marquette routed No. 1 Kansas 73-59 on Tuesday night in the Maui Invitational semifinals.The early-season clash of top-5 teams with national title hopes ended up being one-sided. The Golden Eagles (5-0) led for all but 22 seconds and were up by 17 with about seven minutes to play.Marquette will take on No. 2 Purdue for the tournament championship Wednesday.Tempers flared in the first half after Kansas swingman Kevin McCullar Jr. drained a jumper in front of Marquette’s bench. McCullar appeared to be jawing in the direction of Golden Eagles coach Shaka Smart and his players as he headed back downcourt, and members of both teams had to be pulled away in the heated dustup that followed.An angry Smart and Jayhawks coach Bill Self appeared to exchange unpleasantries along the sideline at the end of the ensuing discussion with officials.Ighodaro shot 9 of 15 from the field and scored 14 points in the second half. Chase ...

U.S. fighter aircraft strike Iraqi Hezbollah targets after attacks on bases

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:30:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. fighter aircraft struck two operations centers belonging to Iraqi Hezbollah in response to attacks on U.S. bases that have escalated alongside Israel’s operations against Hamas in Gaza, two defense officials said.They said attacks on U.S. bases included the first use of a short-range ballistic missile against U.S. troops, which happened Tuesday.The U.S. fighter jets struck Kataib Hezbollah operations center and a Kataib Hezbollah Command and Control node near Al Anbar and Jurf al Saqr, south of Baghdad, on Tuesday, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to provide additional sensitive details of the attacks. There were Kataib Hezbollah personnel at both sites at the time of the strikes but the officials said they could not yet confirm whether anyone there was killed.The U.S. strike followed another immediate, unplanned retaliatory strike by an AC-130 gunship that was in the air when the Iranian-backed militants fired two short-range ballistic m...

New Mexico secures 92-84 win against Toledo at Ball Dawgs Classic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:30:51 GMT

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — JT Toppin scored 27 points as New Mexico beat Toledo 92-84 on Tuesday at the Ball Dawgs Classic.Toppin added 11 rebounds for the Lobos (3-1). Jamal Mashburn Jr. scored 27 points while going 8 of 20 from the floor, including 2 for 7 from 3-point range, and 9 for 11 from the foul line. Donovan Dent was 7-of-12 shooting and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 17 points.Dante Maddox Jr. finished with 23 points for the Rockets (3-1). Ra’Heim Moss added 22 points for Toledo. Andre Lorentsson also recorded 17 points.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

EU leaders welcome Israel-Hamas temporary truce, hostage deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:30:51 GMT

European leaders on Wednesday applauded a temporary cease-fire deal struck overnight between Israel and Hamas, which includes a prisoner exchange for the release of 50 hostages held by the Palestinian militant group.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she “wholeheartedly welcome[d]” the agreement. “I share the joy of the families who can soon embrace their loved ones again,” von der Leyen said in a statement, adding that the Commission would “upscale” aid deliveries to Gaza “as quickly as possible to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.”The European Union’s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, said the truce “must be used to provide as much urgently needed aid as possible to the civilians” in Gaza and pledged the EU would “do its part” in providing such assistance.European Council President Charles Michel, meanwhile, expressed his gratitude to Qatar and Egypt, who he said “helped broker&#...

Single-use fast-food packaging hangs in the balance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:30:51 GMT

LILLE, France — Throwaway fast food packaging is under notice in the EU. Or, at least, it was. Brussels is working on new rules to slash the amount of packaging waste mounting up across the bloc. That includes a ban on single-use packaging for customers eating in fast food restaurants, like french fry wrappers and paper cups that typically end up littering city streets.The proposed EU rules largely echo legislation already in place in France, where, since January, fast-food customers eating on-site are served french fries and fizzy drinks in reusable plastic containers, rather than single-use paper cups and cartons. Green-minded lawmakers and campaigners want to see that model expanded and applied across the bloc, arguing it will cut down on packaging waste and help the bloc achieve its circular economy goals. But that’s sparked fierce pushback from fast-food giants and paper packaging lobbyists, who have spent the past year, and a lot of money, lobbying MEPs to make sure...