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ASEAN defense chiefs call for the fighting in Gaza to cease but struggle to address Myanmar violence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Southeast Asian defense ministers called Wednesday for an end to the Israel-Hamas war and for the world to collaborate on setting up humanitarian aid corridors in Gaza, but they struggled on how to address the prolonged civil strife in Myanmar.They also reiterated the significance of maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea and respecting international rules to prevent maritime clashes in the disputed waters. The 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations includes Myanmar, but its defense minister was again barred from attending this week’s meetings due to the military government’s failure to comply with a five-point peace plan drafted to ease the violence.“We are saddened with a deteriorating situation in Myanmar,” Indonesia’s Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto said in an opening speech. “Indonesia encourages other ASEAN member states to support Myanmar to find a peaceful and durable solution to the current situati...

Daily horoscope for November 15, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions after 5:30 p.m. EST today (2:30 p.m. to 11:55 p.m. PST). After that, the Moon moves from Sagittarius into Capricorn.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023:You are passionate, emotional and spontaneous. You’re also sophisticated and smooth. This is a year of service. Therefore, take care of yourself so that you can be of service to others, especially family. Perhaps it’s time for a makeover. Show support to those who give you guidance, comfort and encouragement.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★It’s another wonderful day to study or make travel plans! Discussions about legal matters or medical situations, as well as higher education, will go well. Why not explore travel ideas or ways to do something different with a spouse, partner or close friend? (Check the Moon Alert.) Tonight: You’re noticed.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★Financial discussions will continue to go well today. It’s also a good day t...

EU launches tool to help exporters seize the benefits of Mutual Recognition Agreements

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

The new Access2Conformity tool launched on 13 November will allow EU exporters large and small to reduce red tape by making better use of the EU's Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with third countries. When businesses export goods to a trade partner, said goods have to be certified by the conformity assessment bodies (CABs) in the country of destination to ensure that they comply with local rules and regulations, even when already certified for their domestic market. Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) can solve this problem. They work by allowing the exporting trade partner to designate their own CABs as capable of testing and certifying exported products to make sure that they comply with the rules and regulations of the importing trade partner.MRAs are powerful tools to help companies save time and money, and making full use of them can boost trade by up to 40%. Moreover, the reduced paperwork makes it up to 50% more likely that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will expor...

Harriette Cole: I’m arguing more and more, and I need a strategy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: My partner and I have been arguing more lately. I’m not exactly sure why this is happening, but it’s uncomfortable.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: How can I break the hold of wine and binge-watching? Advice | Harriette Cole: I don’t have rich parents, and I’m scared about graduating Advice | Harriette Cole: I asked why my boyfriend’s mom doesn’t like me, and the answer hurt Advice | Harriette Cole: Ever since I committed to being happy, my life has been a trainwreck Advice | Harriette Cole: Does my husband’s full-time job exempt him from child care? What’s the best way to resolve conflicts and maintain a healthy relationship when things get tough?— Looking for StrategiesDEAR LOOKING FOR STRATEGIES: Do a bit of reflection. When did the arguing begin? Try to pinpoint what precipitated it. Was there a change in either of your job...

Miss Manners: Was my gift to her tacky? Or was her response tacky?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is it considered tacky to give an acquaintance a handmade gift?Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Her husband got whiny, and suddenly I was on the hook for $100 Advice | Miss Manners: What do you mean what’s wrong with my arm? Advice | Miss Manners: My child was upset by this drama on the train. Who was in the wrong? Advice | Miss Manners: I was at the game, too, but I lied to my friend about it Advice | Miss Manners: My neighbor is convinced I’m making this noise. How do I get him to drop it? My daughter and I are both crafters, and we gave a hand-thrown mug and a quilted “mug rug” to a mutual acquaintance whose business we both patronize.We assumed she would use the items. But the next time I went into her store, our gifts were on a shelf, available for sale.Am I off-base to think this was an insult? It seems wrong to accept a gift and then be so obvious a...

Tracy Camilla Johns, star of Spike Lee’s ‘She’s Gotta Have It,’ presents photography exhibit in Laurel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

Hear our full chat on my podcast “Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley.”She was famously the lead actress in “She’s Gotta Have It” (1986), which launched the career of Spike Lee.Now, Tracy Camilla Johns, 60, presents her photography exhibit at the Laurel Museum, operated by the Laurel Historical Society in Maryland where she’s lived for 25 years. The exhibit runs now through Thanksgiving.“This particular exhibit is specific to Laurel,” Johns told WTOP. “It’s kind of a quiet, kept secret that I have resided in the DMV for some time … The running joke is: ‘Where is that [photo location] in Laurel?’… There’s the lake, there’s a lot of local foliage … People come and go every day and don’t pay attention to the beauty … It’s a quiet little museum in a small part of the city, but it’s a treasure. I grew up in New York, so I’m a museum junkie.”Born in 1963, Johns grew up in Hollis, Queens wat...

Union Berlin parts ways with coach Urs Fischer after 14 games without a win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Union Berlin parted ways with coach Urs Fischer on Wednesday after a 14-game winless run in all competitions.In his five years in charge, Fischer led Union from the second division to the Bundesliga for the first time and then into European competition. He took the club into the Champions League after placing fourth last season to continue its impressive rise.However, results this season have been poor and Union has just one draw and 13 losses from its last 14 games in all competitions. Its last win was Aug. 26.A 4-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday left Union last in the Bundesliga and without a goal in any of its last four games in the German top division. Its four Champions League games have brought one point.“This is a very sad moment not only for me personally, but certainly for the entire Union family,” Union president Dirk Zingler said in a statement. “It hurts that we have not managed to break the negative run of recent weeks. I am grateful and proud when loo...

100 years ago, anxiety prompted invention of yellow traffic light

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

Some aggressive driving behaviors never change — even as technology has morphed from mechanical, to electronic to computer-driven.Next week marks 100 years since Garrett Morgan was granted a patent for his improved traffic signal, the first signal that contained a step between “stop” and “go” — a cautionary period, in which traffic is stopped in all four directions.Morgan invented what has come to be known as “the yellow light.”And, in his Nov. 20, 1923, patent granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Morgan cited one reason for the invention was to alleviate a driver behavior that’s still prevalent in 2023 — drivers honking when a light turns green.“In the 1920s, vehicular traffic was just emerging as something that was achievable by middle-class Americans, not just the elite,” said Rebekah Oakes, historian for the USPTO.At the time, without standard infrastructure, traffic was often chaotic, in part because most drivers...

Seton Hall hosts Albany (NY) following Thomas’ 24-point game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

Albany (NY) Great Danes (1-1) at Seton Hall Pirates (2-0)Newark, New Jersey; Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Pirates -20.5; over/under is 141.5BOTTOM LINE: Albany (NY) takes on the Seton Hall Pirates after Sebastian Thomas scored 24 points in Albany (NY)’s 78-75 win against the Columbia Lions.Seton Hall finished 17-16 overall with a 9-6 record at home during the 2022-23 season. The Pirates allowed opponents to score 65.1 points per game and shoot 41.5% from the field last season.Albany (NY) went 2-16 on the road and 8-23 overall a season ago. The Great Danes averaged 67.3 points per game while shooting 41.4% from the field and 32.7% from 3-point distance last season.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Heavy rainfall hits South Florida, triggering flooding woes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

Tuesday night delivered a deluge across South Florida, causing traffic chaos, flooded streets, and stranded cars spanning 25 blocks from Fort Lauderdale to Pompano Beach.Officials caution that this downpour is just a prelude to a forecasted stretch of wet weather in the coming days. Meteorologists predict some areas might see up to 8 inches of rainfall. “It was insane. I was driving to my business because the water was rippling inside the front door,” Bianca Pandolfo.In Fort Lauderdale’s Edgewood neighborhood, where flooding occurred last April, Greg Brandenburg is bracing for the worst. “It’s just so much rain that we’ve had this year, it’s crazy,” he said. Authorities have strategically placed three temporary pumps in Edgewood and River Oaks to mitigate potential high water issues.Similar precautions are underway in Hollywood, where pumps are being tested following East Hollywood’s flooding in April.Miami is taking proactive measures, with crews actively clearing storm...