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Commission welcomes political agreement on new rules criminalizing the violation of EU sanctions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

The European Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached on 12 December between the European Parliament and the Council on the Commission's December 2022 proposal to harmonize criminal offences and penalties for the violation of EU restrictive measures.  While the Russian aggression against Ukraine is ongoing, it is paramount that EU restrictive measures are fully implemented and the violation of those measures is punished.Once adopted, the new rules will harmonize the relevant criminal offences related to violation of sanctions and penalties for those offences across the EU and make it easier to investigate and prosecute such violations in all member states in the same way. They will also establish the same level of penalties in all member states, closing existing legal loopholes and increasing the deterrent effect of violating EU sanctions in the first place.The European Parliament and the Council will now have to formally adopt the political agreement. Once fo...

Bridge: Dec. 14, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

Unlucky Louie and his wife Esther have raised nine kids.“Our two youngest mailed off their letters to Santa,” Louie told me. “I think Santa is writing back with instructions on how to keep a room clean and neat, use good table manners and unload the dishwasher.”When I watched today’s deal at my club, South played at four hearts after West bid spades and diamonds. West cashed the K-A of diamonds and exited with a trump. Declarer drew trumps with the A-J and next took the A-K of clubs hopefully. When West discarded, South shrugged and conceded a club and a spade. Down one.NOWHEREWest’s bid of two diamonds was silly; after East passed one spade, the deal belonged to North-South, and East-West were going nowhere. Moreover, West’s bid gave South some instructions on how to make four hearts.After South draws trumps, he can lead the deuce of spades to dummy’s queen. He takes the A-K of clubs and exits with the king of spades: ace, three, jack. Then West must lead a diamond, conceding a ruf...

Word Game: Dec. 14, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — HIRSUTE (HIRSUTE: HER-soot: Hairy.)Average mark 28 wordsTime limit 40 minutesCan you find 35 or more words in HIRSUTE? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — CONTENDS cent code coed cone conn consent contend cost cote once onset neon nest node noes nonce none nones nonet nose note tend tendon tenon toed tone dent docent does done dose dote scent scone second sect send sent sonde sone sonnet steno stoneTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game...

Horoscopes Dec. 14, 2023: Vanessa Hudgens, trust your emotions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Vanessa Hudgens, 35; Sophie Monk, 44; Beth Orton, 53; Dee Wallace, 75.Happy Birthday: Target your goal and dart to the finish line. Turn on the charm, rely on your finesse and upbeat persona, and be straightforward but entertaining and honest if you want everything to fall into place. Let your stamina and persistence be your calling card. Trust your emotions, and focus on saving, eliminating debt and getting back on track. Your numbers are 3, 11, 16, 22, 28, 35, 43.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t let anger or animosity weigh you down. Concentrate on taking positive action and surrounding yourself with uplifting people. Gather facts; give others the same opportunities and respect that you want in return. Choose peace over chaos. 2 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Dig deep, and you’ll get the answers you seek. Enhance your knowledge and hone your skills to ensure you have what it takes to pursue your intentions. Call on your emotions to captiva...

Ask Amy: I’m uncomfortable about my husband’s DNA test request

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

Dear Amy: I’ve been married for three years. Last year my folks gave me and my husband DNA testing kits for Christmas.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: He says I’m not small enough to marry Advice | Ask Amy: I’m a big tipper, and I want to be thanked for it Advice | Ask Amy: The teachers won’t explain why they call my son disrespectful Advice | Ask Amy: How did my adventurous life end up like this, and can I get it back? Advice | Ask Amy: My husband can’t see why these houseguests disturb me My husband participated in the process and has been very interested in the results.I have decided not to.I was adopted as a newborn and was raised in a great family. I have never known anything about my biological family, and so far I am fine with that.I am mixed-race (my husband is white), and he is pushing really hard for me to learn more about my DNA heritage. It is starting to feel uncomfo...

Harriette Cole: How far should I go with my Christmas to remember?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband has never been big on celebrating the holidays.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: He hasn’t told his therapist about this big problem Advice | Harriette Cole: My mom’s rule kept me stuck at home for the holiday break Advice | Harriette Cole: I can see myself skipping class a lot this winter Advice | Harriette Cole: I can’t get my home organized. What am I doing wrong? Advice | Harriette Cole: This person’s remarks are affecting my confidence on the court He does participate in them to appease me, but he shows little initiative or excitement when doing holiday-related tasks like decorating, wrapping gifts, choosing Christmas cards, etc.This is our first Christmas together as a married couple, and I want it to be super special, but if I am the only one in the Christmas spirit, I’d rather not force him to enjoy it.Should I try to make our first ...

Putin says 244,000 Russian troops who were called up to fight in Ukraine are on the battlefield

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation marking the national holiday celebrated on December 12 - Constitution Day, at the Novo-Ogaryovo State residence outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)(AP/Mikhail Tereshchenko) Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation marking the national holiday celebrated on December 12 - Constitution Day, at the Novo-Ogaryovo State residence outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)(AP/Mikhail Tereshchenko) ...

Putin says some 244,000 Russian troops who were called up to fight in Ukraine are on the battlefield (CORRECTS: A previous APNewsAlert erroneously reported 244,000 was the total number of Russian troops in Ukraine)

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Putin says some 244,000 Russian troops who were called up to fight in Ukraine are on the battlefield (CORRECTS: A previous APNewsAlert erroneously reported 244,000 was the total number of Russian troops in Ukraine).Source

Veteran Aubameyang in vintage form and lifting Marseille back up Ligue 1 ladder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Considered past his use by date, former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has recaptured his best form and lifted Gennaro Gattuso’s resurgent Marseille back into the French league race.Aubameyang was whistled at by Marseille fans last month when they were losing patience during a lackluster goalless draw at home. Since then, the 34-year-old Gabon striker has been scoring for fun and silenced his critics with spectacular goals.He had seven goals in four games in all competitions before Marseille’s Europa League game against Brighton late Thursday.That impressive form has driven the Mediterranean club up to sixth place in the Ligue 1, nine points behind second-placed Nice. Paris Saint-Germain has a four-point lead at the top going into this weekend’s round.Marseille is unbeaten in its last four matches, including three consecutive wins. Marseille hosts Clermont on Sunday at Stade Velodrome. PSG is at Lille, and Nice visits Le Havre.Gattuso was a ...

Wet and Windy Weather to Continue through this Weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

The wet and windy stretch kicked off on Wednesday and that will continue through this weekend as a stalled front meanders near South Florida.This stalled front will focus some moisture across the area this Thursday, fueling the possibility for passing showers throughout the day. Otherwise it will be cloudy with below average highs in the mid 70s paired with windy conditions.A Wind Advisory does remain in effect through at least Saturday morning for metro and coastal Miami-Dade and Broward Counties due to the likelihood of wind gusts up to 50 mph.Winds will remain sustained as strong as 25-40 mph over the next few days before gradually decreasing starting Sunday.As a result of the strong winds, very hazardous marine conditions remain in play with Gale Warnings in effect for the East Coast waters and Biscayne Bay, a Gale Watch for the Florida Keys and a High Surf Advisory for large breaking waves along the east coast.On Friday, some additional rounds of rain remain likely along with c...