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Poland, Hungary, Slovakia impose own Ukraine grain bans after EU measure is lifted

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:48 GMT

Poland, Hungary and Slovakia said they would impose their own bans on Ukrainian grain following the European Commission’s decision to lift its restrictive measure. Brussels announced on Friday that it would not extend a ban on Ukrainian grain imports that applied to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. That measure expired Friday. Imports of Ukrainian grain, including wheat and maize, were blocked from the territory of these five countries under an agreement reached with Brussels earlier this year. Only transit to other destinations was allowed. The measure was put in place to protect farmers in the five countries from an influx of cheap produce from their war-torn neighbor. “We do not agree with the decision of the European Commission and in the interest of Polish farmers and consumers, we are introducing national measures,” said Piotr Müller, spokesperson for the Polish government. Hungary imposed an import ban on 24 Ukrainian products such ...

Libya probes the collapse of two dams after flood devastated an eastern city, killing over 11,000

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:48 GMT

DERNA, Libya (AP) — Libyan authorities have opened an investigation into the collapse of two dams that caused a devastating flood in a coastal city as rescue teams searched for bodies on Saturday, nearly a week after the deluge killed more than 11,000 people.Heavy rains caused by Mediterranean storm Daniel caused deadly flooding across eastern Libya last weekend. The floods overwhelmed two dams, sending a wall of water several meters (yards) high through the center of Derna, destroying entire neighborhoods and sweeping people out to sea.More than 10,000 are missing, according to the Libyan Red Crescent. Six days on, searchers are still digging through mud and hollowed-out buildings, looking for bodies and possible survivors. The Red Crescent has confirmed 11,300 deaths so far.Claire Nicolet, who heads the emergencies department of the Doctors Without Borders aid group, said rescuers found “a lot of bodies” on Friday and were still searching. “It was a big number … the sea is s...

Bridge: Sept. 16, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:48 GMT

“Simple Saturday” columns focus on basic technique and logical thinking.“I was proud of my partner today,” a player told me in the lounge at my club. “He brought off a couple of tough finesses.”Finesses are useful — and treacherous. Take only those you must. Don’t take one just to practice your technique.In today’s deal, West led the deuce of spades against five diamonds, and East took the K-A and led a club. South finessed with the queen, and West’s king won the setting trick. South went down only one when the heart finesse won later.KING OF HEARTSSouth took a “practice finesse”: one that couldn’t gain even if it worked. To make five diamonds, South needs West to hold the king of hearts. But then South can finesse twice in hearts and discard his queen of clubs. So South should take the ace of clubs, draw trumps and lead a heart to dummy’s jack.By refusing the club finesse, South might go down an ext...

Horoscopes Sept. 16, 2023: Amy Poehler, stay on track

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:48 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Nick Jonas, 31; Alexis Bledel, 42; Amy Poehler, 52; Mickey Rourke, 71.Happy Birthday: Pay attention to money — where it comes from and where it goes. Set a budget that helps you achieve something you want to do or save for, and it will help you stay on track. A change regarding goals, how you think and where you see yourself heading this year will make life easier. Invest more time and money in yourself and expand your skills. Your numbers are 7, 15, 23, 28, 36, 40, 44.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Get into the swing of things and enjoy the moment. A social event or personal challenge will get your juices flowing. Don’t take anything for granted; see matters through from beginning to end and enjoy the ride. Enjoy downtime with someone you love. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): If you spend time planning, you’ll avoid redoing. Time is on your side, and overseeing everything you want to happen will ensure your success. Save the latter part ...

Ask Amy: She’s going to marry me, but ours is an unusual situation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:48 GMT

Dear Amy: I’m writing in reference to my recent engagement,I was alone for a long time and met a woman at work and fell deeply in love with her. Two nights a week, she comes to my place for dinner, and we are intimate. Then she leaves at 10 p.m.Two months ago, I asked her to marry me and she said yes!But our situation is very unusual.She lives with the guy she has been with for 15 years. She has two children with him. They are not married and she told me there are no feelings or intimacy between them – and I believe that. But she still sleeps in the same bed with him.I haven’t met her kids, and my place is too small to have them.When she comes to my place and we are intimate and then she goes home, I have a hard time dealing with that.I try not to think about it, but sometimes it gets the best of me.Any advice? Am I being a fool?– Foolish FianceDear Fiance: There are different categories of fools. You are in the “fool-for-love” category. Being a fool for love is nothing to be ...

Harriette Cole: How do I keep my employee from leaving?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:48 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a valued employee who has worked with me for several years. She is hitting her stride, doing very well for my small company. I fear that she is about to leave.Related ArticlesAdvice | 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? Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m forgetting chunks of time, and my husband says it’s no big deal Advice | Harriette Cole: I had an idea for a video, and it showed up under her name Advice | Harriette Cole: She should be happy about the breakup, but she’s drinking and skipping work I gave her a raise this year, which I thought was an incentive and proof that I value her, but I don’t know if it’s enough.I cannot give her another raise yet. My income is not stable enough.What can I do to let her know how much I value her and ...

Nationals look to break 4-game skid, take on the Brewers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:48 GMT

Washington Nationals (65-83, fifth in the NL East) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (83-64, first in the NL Central)Milwaukee; Saturday, 7:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: Trevor Williams (6-10, 5.44 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 106 strikeouts); Brewers: Corbin Burnes (9-8, 3.47 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 181 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Brewers -273, Nationals +223; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Washington Nationals look to end their four-game skid with a victory against the Milwaukee Brewers.Milwaukee is 83-64 overall and 44-29 at home. The Brewers have the top team ERA in the NL at 3.83.Washington has a 65-83 record overall and a 34-40 record on the road. The Nationals have gone 24-14 in games when they hit two or more home runs.Saturday’s game is the fifth time these teams meet this season. The season series is tied 2-2.TOP PERFORMERS: Christian Yelich has 31 doubles, two triples and 17 home runs for the Brewers. Tyrone Taylor is 13-for-40 with four doubles and a home run over the...

Llega la lluvia a Nueva Inglaterra y el Atlántico canadiense mientras el huracán Lee avanza hacia el norte

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:48 GMT

(CNN) — Mientras las lluvias llegan a las costas de Massachusetts y Maine el sábado, el huracán Lee también amenaza con llevar vientos dañinos a partes del sureste de Nueva Inglaterra y el Atlántico canadiense.Los impactos más significativos en EE.UU. son la posibilidad de algunas inundaciones costeras y vientos con fuerza de tormenta tropical en la costa de Nueva Inglaterra, en particular Maine, donde se ha declarado un estado de emergencia. En las costas meridionales de las provincias canadienses de Nuevo Brunswick y Nueva Escocia hay alerta de huracán.Lee es un huracán de categoría 1 con vientos máximos sostenidos de 129 km/h, dijo el Centro Nacional de Huracanes en su aviso de las 2:00 a.m. hora de Miami. Desplazándose hacia el norte a unas 35 km/h, no se espera que Lee toque tierra en Estados Unidos.A pesar de estar a cientos de kilómetros de la costa este de EE.UU., las condiciones de tormenta tropical estaban azotando las costas de Massachusetts y Nueva Escocia en la ma...

Marlins face the Braves with 1-0 series lead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:48 GMT

Atlanta Braves (96-51, first in the NL East) vs. Miami Marlins (76-72, third in the NL East)Miami; Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Jared Shuster (4-3, 5.26 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 28 strikeouts); Marlins: Bryan Hoeing (2-2, 4.04 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 49 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -136, Marlins +116; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Miami Marlins lead 1-0 in a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves.Miami is 76-72 overall and 41-32 in home games. The Marlins have the fourth-ranked team batting average in the NL at .256.Atlanta has a 96-51 record overall and a 49-26 record on the road. The Braves have a 44-15 record in games when they did not give up a home run.The matchup Saturday is the 12th time these teams square off this season. The Braves hold a 9-2 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Luis Arraez has 30 doubles, three triples and nine home runs for the Marlins. Jacob Stallings is 8-for-32 with four doubles, a home run and six RBI over th...

Moreno leads Diamondbacks against the Cubs after 4-hit outing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:48 GMT

Chicago Cubs (78-70, second in the NL Central) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (77-72, second in the NL West)Phoenix; Saturday, 8:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Kyle Hendricks (6-7, 3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 83 strikeouts); Diamondbacks: Zach Davies (2-5, 6.81 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 64 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cubs -119, Diamondbacks -100; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Arizona Diamondbacks take on the Chicago Cubs after Gabriel Moreno had four hits against the Cubs on Friday.Arizona is 77-72 overall and 39-35 at home. Diamondbacks hitters are batting a collective .251, which ranks eighth in the NL.Chicago has a 78-70 record overall and a 37-36 record on the road. The Cubs are 60-10 in games when they out-hit their opponents.The teams meet Saturday for the sixth time this season. The Diamondbacks lead the season series 4-1.TOP PERFORMERS: Christian Walker leads the Diamondbacks with 30 home runs while slugging .495. Tommy Pham is 14-for-39 with four doubles, three home runs ...