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Opening: MEPs hold minute of silence for lives lost at sea and in train crash 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:06 GMT

President Metsola led MEPs in a minute of silence in memory of the recent lives lost at sea and in the train crash in Greece, at the opening of the session in Strasbourg, Plenary session.With more lives lost at sea in the past few weeks, the president called on all those involved to match Parliament’s ambition and address this issue.Speaking of the train crash that shook Greece, President Metsola said the Parliament mourns with the people of Greece and the families of the victims. The EU stands ready to assist as required, she said.The UN Black Seas Grain Initiative, which could expire next week, has given millions access to food and basic supplies from Ukraine, said the President. The Parliament is calling for it to be renewed as quickly as possible - the situation is urgent and dire, she added.Changes to the agendaWednesdayThe title of European Council and Commission statements - Preparation of the European Council meeting of 23-24 March 2023 is changed into Conclusions of the Spe...

Bringing Human Traffickers to Justice in Sudan

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:06 GMT

In early January, notorious human trafficker Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam was arrested in Sudan – writes Carlos Uriarte Sánchez . Two years ago, Kidane was sentenced in absentia to life in prison in Ethiopia for human trafficking and extortion. Able to escape the authorities for the past two years, Interpol and police in the UAE, Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Netherlands cooperated behind the scenes to track him to Sudan where he was taken into custody and extradited to the UAE to face money laundering charges.Sudan’s participation in the international law enforcement initiative that led to the detainment of Kidane underscores Sudan’s commitment to halting human trafficking on its soil. Since 2017, Sudan has risen from a low Tier 3 – the worst rating for human trafficking – to a high Tier 2, as reported by the U.S. State Department. The United States and Sudan’s other allies and partners must continue to work with Sudan – which is critical to global anti-trafficking efforts given its...

Bridge: March 15, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:06 GMT

“I won’t say my partner is opinionated,” a club player told me, “but he dispenses advice by the bushel and takes it by the grain.”He showed me today’s deal.“I was South and opened 1NT. My partner used Stayman and raised my two spades to three. Naturally, I went on to game. West led the ten of clubs, and when I saw dummy, I was appalled.”East returned a club at Trick Two. Declarer ruffed in dummy, led a trump to his queen, returned a diamond to dummy’s king, finessed with the jack of trumps and cashed the ace.LAST TRUMP“I next led the A-K and a third heart,” South said. “East won and led another club, forcing out my last trump, and after I took my good heart, West won the last two tricks.“My partner said he made a winning bid. I think he’s nuts.”North’s two-club bid wouldn’t have occurred to me, but South could make four spades. After his second trump finesse wins, he must play three...

Harriette Cole: I’m 26. When will I stop being a teenager?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:06 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: At 26 years old, I’m finally in a position to support myself independently. Despite the tangible indicators of adulthood, I still feel like I’m not ready for it.There are times when I feel like I’m still living as an inexperienced teenager, just pretending to know what I’m doing.I keep wondering — will I ever genuinely feel like an adult? At what point does adulthood really set in?Growing UpDEAR GROWING UP: So-called “growing up” can feel like it takes a lifetime. If you listen to some people who are much older than you, you may sometimes hear them saying, “I feel like a big kid.”That can be good and bad. Having an attitude of wonder and curiosity is great. Feeling vulnerable and unprepared is not.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I accidentally sent a text to my boss, and I don’t know what to do Advice | Harriette Cole: Should I tell my hairstylist why I won’t be back...

Saudi-Iran Deal’s Key Factor: No U.S. Involvement

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:06 GMT

Ever since it pushed aside colonial Britain and France, the United States has prided itself on being the dominant outside power in the Middle East. That lofty image was shaken this past week by the surprise announcement that Saudi Arabia, a close U.S. partner, and Iran, a longtime enemy, had negotiated a normalization agreement on their own to restore diplomatic ties. The final meeting to conclude the agreement took place in the Chinese capital of Beijing.The symbolism of the signatures being put on paper with the support of the preeminent U.S. adversary China without an American presence starkly underlined the failures of an approach to the Middle East that prioritized belligerence and confrontation over cooperation and impartiality. Few can deny that U.S. policy has ended up playing a destabilizing role in regional geopolitics.For years, hawks have argued that U.S. military and political drawdowns from the Middle East risk generating a chaotic vacuum. What unfolded in Beijing appe...

3 dead, 2 injured after two-vehicle crash on Rock Creek Parkway

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:06 GMT

Three people are dead and two others hurt after a crash involving two vehicles on Rock Creek Parkway in Northwest D.C. Wednesday morning, a U.S. Park Police spokesperson tells WTOP.It happened around 1:45 a.m. in the area in the area of P Street Northwest, according to police, and the parkway remains closed in both directions as police investigate.More Local NewsMore D.C. NewsListen to WTOP Traffic on the 8sAll three people who died at the scene had been traveling in the same vehicle, the police spokesperson told WTOP.In the other vehicle, two adults were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.One of the vehicles involved in the crash had been pulled over by U.S Park Police. But police said the driver drove away, and officers didn’t pursue.It’s unclear if the people inside that vehicle were the ones killed.Northbound traffic is being diverted K street Northwest and Southbound traffic is being diverted to P Street, according to a tweet from police. WTOP ...

White House Easter Egg Roll: How to get a chance to attend this year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:06 GMT

The White House Easter Egg Roll on April 10 is one of the most beloved celebrations of spring in the District.If you and your kids want to attend this year, here’s what you need to know.More DC NewsMore Local NewsMore Lifestyle NewsDue to high demand, tickets to the annual Easter Egg Roll are given out via lottery at the recreation.gov website. The tickets are free and anyone is eligible, but families interested in attending have a week to apply after the lottery opens to enter the online lottery.Here are the dates to remember for this year’s event:Lottery Opens: March 16, 2023 (10 a.m. EST)Lottery Closes: March 23, 2023 (3 p.m. EST)Lottery Results Announced: March 27, 2023Each application must include at least one child under the age of 12. Applicants can ask for a maximum of six tickets, but only two of those can be for adults.President Biden and first lady Jill Biden are joined by a giant, farsighted bunny at 2022’s Easter Egg Roll at the White House. (Courtesy ...

Bracket Breakdown 3: Midwest region has Houston on a mission

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:06 GMT

The NCAA Committee doth protest way too much. They often say that they “don’t set up the bracket for matchups” but we know otherwise, right?The Midwest region gives us more than a few nostalgic moments as Bruce Pearl-coached Auburn draws Iowa (where Pearl was an assistant from 1986-92) in the 8-vs-9 game, former longtime conference archrivals Texas and Texas A&M are potentially matched up in the second round (both are favored to win their first games), and Xavier (coached by Sean Miller) is in the same subregional as Pitt (Miller’s alma mater).More Sports NewsMore College Basketball NewsBracket Breakdown: Maryland & Virginia head South, while Alabama gets the spotlightBracket Breakdown 2: First Four failures, plus Howard and VCU head WestHouston (31-3) takes its first No. 1 seed, it’s first since 1983 when they reached the Final Four only to lose 54-52 to NC State in the championship game. But the team is dealing with an injured Marcus Sasser wh...

Alabama’s Miller tops list of NBA prospects at March Madness

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:06 GMT

This isn’t the type of NCAA Tournament that will give NBA fans an idea of what they can expect in the upcoming draft.The likely first two picks in the draft – Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson – aren’t playing college basketball. That’s a major change from last year, when the first six picks in the draft all had played in the NCAA Tournament a few months earlier. It’s also worth noting that Villanova freshman Cam Whitmore, generally regarded as one of the top NBA prospects in the college ranks, won’t be playing in this NCAA Tournament because his Wildcats failed to qualify. But there are plenty of guys in this tournament who should have long NBA careers. A look at some of the top NBA prospects in this year’s field (listed alphabetically):ANTHONY BLACK and NICK SMITH JR., ARKANSASThese freshman teammates are regarded as potential lottery picks, though neither was an Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference selection. Black, who is 6-7, averages 12.8 points and 4.2 assists per...

Purdue’s supporting cast helps set table for March Madness

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:06 GMT

Purdue stuck to a simple game plan this season: Feed the ball to All-American Zach Edey and let the 7-foot-4 center feast in the post. The old-school philosophy defied today’s trendy, small-ball style heavy on the 3-pointer attack but it allowed the Boilermakers to ascend to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 twice this season.Coach Matt Painter’s squad needed more than just Edey to claim its first Big Ten Tournament title since 2009. If the East Region’s top seed wants to avoid another earlier-than-expected NCAA tourney exit, Purdue’s supporting cast must supplement Edey’s medley in the middle.“We have a lot of guys who could go to a different team and average a lot of points, be on all-Big Ten teams or whatever, but they’re happy we’re here,” Edey said Sunday. “We have a lot of guys who love winning. That’s what Purdue is.”The regular-season Big Ten champions are no one-man band. At No. 3 Purdue (29-5), the talent pool runs deep — and everybody has a role.F...