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US to announce $1.3 billion in military aid for Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:49 GMT

The United States will announce a new pledge to buy $1.3 billion worth of military aid for Kyiv in its conflict with Russia in the coming days, two US officials said.The previously unreported weapons package includes air defenses, counter-drone systems, exploding drones and ammunition, one of the US officials said.The United States is using funds in its Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) program, which allow President Joe Biden's administration to buy weapons from industry rather than pull from US weapons stocks.Among the systems and ammunition the US plans to buy for Kyiv are counter-air defenses made by L3Harris Technologies (LHX.N) called the Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment or VAMPIRE, one of the officials said.Also included are two different types of loitering munitions, the Phoenix Ghost drone made by AVEVEX, a private company in California, and the Switchblade, made by AeroVironment Inc (AVAV.O).Additionally, a person briefed on the matter s...

Miss Manners: Were these women being rude in the restaurant, or did I go too far?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:49 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I went to dinner at an upscale restaurant to celebrate our 55th anniversary. I mention how long we are married so you will know we aren’t spring chickens.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Do we have to ask our neighbors before we use their trash can? Advice | Miss Manners: My husband can pull off this excuse, but it sounds shady coming from me Advice | Miss Manners: I failed the bride by not ejecting this guest on sight Advice | Miss Manners: What can I do when other people’s stuff is where I want to sit? Advice | Miss Manners: Was I wrong not to let this man have the parking space? The waitstaff at this restaurant is very conscientious: They change the silverware with each course; they refill the water if you take two sips; they refold your napkin if you leave the table.They came over many times to make sure we were OK. We were sitting next to a table w...

Dear Abby: I’m I out of line in asking my college daughter to be an RA?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:49 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My daughter is attending a pricey college. She will be taking out the maximum of student loans, and we will slowly but surely eat through our entire savings to pay for it.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My neighbor found out my income and is spreading lies about me Advice | Dear Abby: What if I don’t want to say grace? Advice | Dear Abby: Even the dogs have more say over my own life than I do Advice | Dear Abby: I can’t see them the same way after how they treated my dad Advice | Dear Abby: The bride’s father is throwing a fit about the wedding Her college hires resident assistants (RAs) to help freshmen adjust to college life. In return, the RAs receive free room and board. This would be a tremendous financial help to our family and might also allow us to pay off some of her unsubsidized loans next year.My daughter has agreed to apply to be an RA for her junior year, but...

El Mundial Femenino de Fútbol 2023 ya está en marcha en Nueva Zelandia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:49 GMT

(CNN) — La novena edición del Mundial Femenino de Fútbol 2023 comenzó este jueves con el coanfitrión Nueva Zelandia recibiendo a Noruega en Eden Park en Auckland, Nueva Zelandia.Este es el torneo más grande con un récord de 32 equipos participando en 64 partidos en Australia y Nueva Zelanda durante las próximas cuatro semanas.Los coanfitriones de Nueva Zelandia están apareciendo en su sexta Copa del Mundo y tienen el récord poco envidiable de nunca ganar un partido en los torneos anteriores.Dos muertos en un tiroteo en Auckland horas antes de que la ciudad albergue el Mundial Femenino de FútbolPara Noruega, las expectativas son altas y se espera que los ganadores de la Copa del Mundo de 1995 hagan una gran carrera en el torneo.Se observó un momento de silencio al comienzo del partido, luego de un inusual tiroteo múltiple en el centro de Auckland, pocas horas antes del partido inaugural de la Copa Mundial Femenina.La final se jugará el 20 de agosto en el Estadio Olímpico de Syd...

Live updates | Matthew Jordan off to strong start at British Open

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:49 GMT

JORDAN OFF TO A STRONG STARTHOYLAKE, England (AP) — Matthew Jordan enjoyed one thrill when he walked onto the first tee at Royal Liverpool to a rousing ovation before hitting the opening shot. It’s only getting better for the player who knows these links better than anyone.Jordan has been a Royal Liverpool member since he was a teenager. In his first Open appearance, he had three birdies on the front nine and was 2-under par to set the early target.Among early starters, Ryan Fox is the only other player to have reached 2 under before dropping back.Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth are among those playing later in the morning. Rory McIlroy plays late in the afternoon.___WHAT TO KNOW— A brown British Open turns green— Rasmus and Nicolai first set of twins playing the British Open— New hole on an old links getting all the attention at Royal Liverpool— Niemann among LIV players wondering if this major is their last___ROYAL LIVERPOOL MEMBER JORDAN GETS OPEN STARTED...

Serpiente arcoíris, mantarraya y un mensaje de unidad: las claves de la inauguración del Mundial Femenino

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:49 GMT

La tradición indígena de Australia y Nueva Zelanda, las anfitrionas del Mundial Femenino de la FIFA 2023, y un mensaje de unidad y empoderamiento se unieron en la ceremonia de inauguración del evento, que arrancó este jueves y concluye el 20 de agosto.Con una capacidad cercana a los 50,000 espectadores, el estadio Eden Park de Auckland, la ciudad más poblada de Nueva Zelanda, se vistió de gala para albergar una ceremonia de inauguración rápida, de 10 minutos, y el primer partido de la Copa del Mundo entre Nueva Zelanda y Noruega.El ambiente festivo y las ganas de fútbol se apoderaron del ambiente en una ciudad que unas horas sufrió un tiroteo que ha dejado tres muertos y seis heridos. El incidente se produjo a las 7:23 a.m. en un sitio de construcción de la zona central cuando el atacante entró en un edificio y abrió fuego, según la Policía. En vivo: Nueva Zelanda le está ganando 1-0 a Noruega en el segundo tiempo Las 10 futbolistas a seguir ...

UK government names the date for King’s Speech

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:49 GMT

LONDON — The U.K. government will set out its fresh legislative agenda on November 7, it announced Thursday.Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt told MPs that the State Opening of Parliament — which centers on the King’s Speech where the monarch reads out planned bills from the government — will take place on that date.It will mark the last program of legislation from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government before a general election, which is expected to take place next year.It will also be the first time King Charles III has delivered the King’s Speech as monarch, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, last year.

Hundreds storm Swedish embassy in Baghdad to protest Quran burning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:49 GMT

Protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Iraq’s capital city of Baghdad in the early hours of Thursday in response to a planned burning of the Quran in Sweden.Videos shared online showed protesters shouting, climbing the walls of the embassy and setting fire to the building, Reuters reported. Security forces were later deployed and were able to clear the area, as firefighters extinguished the fires.All embassy staff were safe, according to a statement by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which also condemned the attack, Reuters said. Sweden also summoned Iraq’s charge d’affaires on Thursday, newswire AFP reported.The protests came in response to the planned burning of a Quran — the second authorized by Swedish police in weeks — reportedly due to take place outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm on Thursday. The demonstration in Baghdad was called by supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr, one of Iraq’s most powerful figures.Iraq’s foreign ministry a...

Bike couriers face the heat — or risk losing income

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:49 GMT

This article is part of POLITICO’s Global Policy Lab: Living Cities, a collaborative journalism project exploring the future of cities. Sign up here.As a heat wave grips Southern Europe, people are urged to stay inside during the hottest hours of the day — but for those making food deliveries to doorsteps, that’s exactly when the orders pour in.Self-employed bike couriers in countries like Spain, Italy and Greece now face a dilemma: take on delivery work in record-breaking temperatures during the lunchtime rush, or miss out on much-needed income in exchange for staying cool.  “At midday, when it’s hottest, [it’s] when we get the first orders,” a courier told Spanish news agency Atlas late last week. Another said that “the best thing would be for us to stay home,” but added that it’s not a real option because they need the income.Such a harsh choice put the focus on these workers’ self-employed status as they do platform-based...

Training camp countdown No. 6: How will the Patriots defense replace Devin McCourty?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:49 GMT

Welcome to 7 Patriots training camp questions!Each day leading up to the start of camp, the Herald will explore one of the biggest questions facing the Pats this summer. Several pertain to the offense, which welcomed back Bill O’Brien this offseason and added JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki. Other questions cover the defense and special teams, units that might rely heavily on rookies and must overcome the loss of longtime captain Devin McCourty.Once the Patriots hit the practice field, here’s what they must learn before the season kicks off versus Philadelphia on Sept. 10.The New England Patriots understand better than anyone that there is no single replacement for retired safety and defensive captain Devin McCourty, but players seem optimistic about the team’s approach to filling the gap at free safety as they head into a season without the three-time Super Bowl champion for the first time since 2009.Amazingly, Week 1 will only be the sixth game New England has pla...