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The fault lines of the European project deepen

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:00 GMT

Far-right politicians across European countries have a knack for not letting a good crisis go to waste, writes CFACT Policy Analyst Duggan Flanakin.While the revival of sovereignty is at the fore in a Europe torn by tensions at the very foundations of its solidarity, the instrumentalization of extreme politics undermines the European project and deepens the fault lines even further.Take, for example, Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer (pictured) wielding his nation's veto power to block Romania and Bulgaria accession to the Schengen Area, despite both countries meeting the necessary criteria for accession.His sole vote against each country’s accession (and in support of Croatia’s accession) to the Schengen Area has not only disturbed the good relations between Vienna, Bucharest, and Sofia but also drained Nehammer’s credibility across Europe.Nehammer used invented and self-serving statistics, then recycled his predecessor, Sebastian Kurz’ migrant crisis rhetoric with far less effect...

Bridge: Dec. 8, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:00 GMT

Test your dummy play in today’s deal. Cover the East-West cards. You’re declarer at a modest contract of 1NT. West leads the ten of diamonds, and East takes the ace and returns the queen — a propitious start for you, it seems.How do you play to win seven tricks (before the defenders win seven)?In real life, South took the king of diamonds and started the clubs. West grabbed the ace and led a third diamond. When South took the jack and led another club, East won and led a heart. West took the ace, cashed two diamonds and led a heart to East’s king. Down one.WINNERSSouth must lose the lead twice in clubs to set up seven winners, so he is at risk of losing three diamonds plus four top tricks in clubs and hearts. Since no shift will help the defense, South loses nothing by letting East’s queen of diamonds win the second trick. When East must shift, South has time to get the club trick he needs.Did you find the correct and winning play at the second trick?DA...

Word Game: Dec. 8, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:00 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — YEARNING (YEARNING: YERN-ing: A tender or urgent longing.)Average mark 32 wordsTime limit 40 minutesCan you find 41 or more words in YEARNING? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — SAUCIER sari sauce saucer scar scare sear sire suer sure acre arise auric urea uric user care case cause cries cruise cruse cure curse icer ecru race raise rice rise ruseTo 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 creator Kathleen Saxe at [email protected].

Horoscopes Dec. 8, 2023: Teri Hatcher, your enthusiasm will create a stir

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:00 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Ian Somerhalder, 45; Dominic Monaghan, 47; Teri Hatcher, 59; James Galway, 84.Happy Birthday: Use your resources to get ahead and your energy to finish what you start. Your enthusiasm will create a stir and encourage those with something to offer to join your team. Be cautious regarding home, finances and investments. Look for alternative means to launch what you want to pursue. A passionate but intelligent approach to life will drum up interest and positive input. Your numbers are 5, 16, 24, 30, 34, 41, 45.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Make better decisions. Don’t let your ego or emotions cause a conflict between doing what’s right or doing what’s wrong. Do what you can to make a difference, and you’ll positively impact others. Choose your words wisely, and be willing to compromise. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take advantage of an opportunity to try something new. Let your ambition lead the way, and success will follow. A chan...

Ask Amy: My neighbors want money because leaves fall in their yard

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:00 GMT

Dear Amy: I’ve lived in my home for five years. There is a very large tree in the backyard. At this time of year, the leaves obviously fall to the ground in both my yard and my neighbor’s yard.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: My wife objects to my strategy for mellow shopping with our 3-year-olds Advice | Ask Amy: After this man’s behavior at my wedding, I want my best friend to dump him Advice | Ask Amy: Now I realize what stay-at-home spouses are complaining about Advice | Ask Amy: Now we’re feeling weird about our daughter’s favorite toy Advice | Ask Amy: I’ll never forgive my sister-in-law for her question to my little girl My neighbors have asked me to give them money to clean the leaves from their yard.We are both homeowners, and in my opinion, homeowners sign up for the responsibility of maintaining the home and yard when we buy the home.My neighbors on the oth...

Sale closed in Danville: $1.6 million for a three-bedroom home

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:00 GMT

2112 Vista Grande Street – Google Street ViewA 2,010-square-foot house built in 1946 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 2100 block of Vista Grande Street in Danville was sold on Nov. 6, 2023, for $1,580,000, or $786 per square foot. The layout of this single-story house consists of three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Additionally, the house is equipped with an attached one-car garage, offering a designated parking space and extra storage capacity.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:In July 2022, a 2,778-square-foot home on Casita Court in Danville sold for $2,200,000, a price per square foot of $792. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Diablo Road, Danville, in October 2023, a 2,098-square-foot home was sold for $1,550,000, a price per square foot of $739. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 1,870-square-foot home on the first block of Vista Drive in Danville sold in May 2023, for $1,635,000, a price per square foot of $874. The hom...

“The Squad,” Part 2: From Obama to Bernie, a Crisis and a Crossroads

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:00 GMT

The 2008 economic crisis changed the world. In the United States, the meager response by Barack Obama and the Democratic Party produced a recovery that was far too slow, drove an eviction crisis, and fueled a populist backlash. On the left, it took the form of Occupy Wall Street, which put the problem of wealth and income inequality — the 99 percent versus the 1 percent — into the national political conversation for the first time since the Great Depression. Followed a few years later by the Movement for Black Lives and an upsurge of climate activism, the new radical energy among young people prepped the ground for the first Bernie Sanders campaign. In 2016, the Vermont senator came shockingly close to the presidential nomination, but as he faded, a chunk of his staff that focused on organizing grassroots supporters decided to quit and try something new: They would recruit and support Bernie-style populists and take over the House. On this episode of Deconstructed, Ryan Grim bring...

WTOP’s Beer of the Week: Skookum Asesinato De Cuervos Imperial Stout

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:00 GMT

#tnvbNcaMHUrl {margin-bottom: 30px;padding: 20px 10px;background: #D30000;text-align: center;font-weight: bold;color: #fff;border-radius: 5px;}This page contains a video which is being blocked by your ad blocker.In order to view the video you must disable your ad blocker.(new Image()).src = "https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384&cid=c2ffed0c-3624-46c0-b10f-97c976d290a3";cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384",mediaId: "36192e71-b20d-485f-bdb2-4f7f2cd761cd"}).render("0bd2b5fc5feb4960bf92282def296f58"); });Don’t hurt the crows!WTOP’s Brennan Haselton is joined by Neighborhood Restaurant Group Beer Director and Food and Wine Sommelier of the Year Greg Engert to talk about Skookum Asesinato De Cuervos Imperial Stout for the latest edition of WTOP’s Beer of the Week.Brewery: Skookum Brewery, Arlington, WashingtonDescription: An imperial stout aged 22 months in bourbon barrels and finished o...

After day of rest at climate summit, COP28 negotiators turn back to addressing fossil fuels

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:00 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Nations climate conference on Friday began its final week with negotiators expected to zoom in on the future of fossil fuels on a dangerously warming planet.“It’s go-time for governments at COP28 this week,” U.N. Climate Chief Simon Stiell said at a press event Friday.Discussions after a first week of pageantry and official visits now become more difficult, particularly when it comes to language calling for the potential phase-out of the use of emission-spewing fossil fuels. Any language along those lines likely will draw the ire of Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer just next door to the United Arab Emirates. The UAE itself also is planning to boost its oil production from 4 million to 5 million barrels of crude oil a day to take advantage of the fossil fuel market before countries potentially shift away from its use.Stiell underlined the challenge ahead if the world doesn’t limit emissions, describing ice shelves melting causing ...

Street closures for Jingle All the Way race this Sunday in DC

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:00 GMT

The Jingle All the Way 5K/15K race is coming to the District this Sunday.That means there will be road closures, per D.C. police and U.S. Park Police.These streets will be closed to vehicle traffic by D.C. police from around 6 a.m. to noon:1200 block of Maine Avenue SWMaine Avenue from Interstate 395 westbound to Independence Avenue SWNinth Street Tunnel ramp to Maine Avenue SWSouthbound Potomac River Freeway Split to Route 66 NWTheodore Roosevelt Bridge Ramp to Ohio Drive NWWestbound E Street Expressway ramp to Southbound Potomac River Freeway NWThese streets will be closed to vehicle traffic by U.S. Park Police from around 6 a.m. to noon:15th Street from Constitution Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW17th Street from Constitution Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SWDaniel Chester French Drive from Independence Avenue to Lincoln Memorial Circle SWEast Basin Drive SWEast and West Potomac parksHomefront Drive SWIndependence Avenue from 14th Street to 23rd Street SWJefferson Drive fro...