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Live updates | Austria suspects 3 of its dual citizens are among those kidnapped by Hamas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

VIENNA — The Austrian government says three Austrian-Israeli dual citizens may be among the people kidnapped by Hamas during its attack on Israel.The Foreign Ministry in Vienna said on Tuesday that the three were in southern Israel independently of each other. It said that there is no official confirmation that they were abducted and noted that the situation on the ground is still very unclear.Several countries have said their citizens were killed or apparently abducted in the attack.AID AGENCIES TALK TO EGYPT ABOUT WAYS TO SECURE HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORSCAIRO — The United Nations and other aid agencies were talking with Egypt to send humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza through the Rafah crossing point between the strip and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, an Egyptian official and aid worker said Tuesday. They said Egyptian authorities have contacted Israel and the United States to secure humanitarian corridors in Gaza amid Israel’s unrelenting bombardment of the strip.Both the official and...

Afghans still hope to find survivors from quake that killed over 2,000 in western Herat province

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

ZINDA JAN, Afghanistan (AP) — Clinging to hope that finding survivors was still possible, Afghan rescuers and villagers kept digging through rubble on Tuesday in western Herat province, three days after one of the deadliest earthquakes in the region left more than 2,000 dead. Elsewhere in Herat, people were digging graves for their loved ones killed in Saturday’s 6.3 magnitude quake. On a barren field in the district of Zinda Jan, a bulldozer removed mounds of earth to clear space for a long row of graves.The epicenter was about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of the city of Herat, the provincial capital, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Several of the aftershocks have been strong, including one on Monday that again caused residents of the city to rush out of their homes.“It is very difficult to find a family member from a destroyed house and a few minutes to later bury him or her in a nearby grave, again under the ground,” said Mir Agha, from the city of Herat who had joined hun...

Auto workers begin strike at GM plants in Canada, as talks continue

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Auto workers walked off the job at three General Motors facilities in Canada early Tuesday after failing to reach agreement with the automaker. Their union, Unifor, represents more than 4,200 workers at the plants. They had warned they would begin a strike if no agreement was struck with GM by midnight local time. “We made some progress throughout the day, but sadly not enough,” Unifor President Lana Payne told reporters. She said the union was still speaking with the company, but there was “a lot of ground that needed to be covered to reach a tentative agreement.” The action came after Unifor workers ratified a new three-year labor contract with Ford late last month. They are seeking a similar agreement with GM. “This strike is about General Motors stubbornly refusing to meet the pattern agreement. The company knows our members will never let GM break our pattern — not today — not ever,” Payne said. She said GM was not meeting the union’s demands for pensions, ...

Publishing executive found guilty in Tokyo Olympics bribery scandal, but avoids jail time

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — An executive at Japanese publishing house Kadokawa was found guilty Tuesday of bribing a former Tokyo Olympics organizing committee member.Toshiyuki Yoshihara, charged with paying 69 million yen ($463,000) to Haruyuki Takahashi, was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for four years. That means he avoids prison, as long as he doesn’t break the law in the next four years. Tokyo District Court Presiding Judge Yoshihisa Nakao said Yoshihara wanted Kadokawa to have an edge in becoming a sponsor, which he believed would enhance its brand power. “The belief in the fairness of the Games has been damaged,” Nakao said, stressing Yoshihara knew the payments were illegal and sought to disguise them as consulting fees.The punishment was suspended because Yoshihara had expressed remorse, and his wife had promised to watch over him, Nakao said.Yoshihara said, “Yes,” once, in accepting the verdict, but otherwise said nothing, and bowed repeatedly as he left the courtroom. The ...

Philippine diplomat witnessed Chinese ships’ aggressive actions in disputed South China Sea

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A senior Filipino diplomat known for his past expletive-laced tirade against China joined a coast guard trip to the disputed South China Sea last week and saw Beijing’s ships block and nearly collide with Philippine vessels, including one he was on.Teodoro Locsin Jr. was on one of two Philippine coast guard vessels that escorted two Philippine boats to deliver food and other supplies to a Filipino marine territorial outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal on Oct. 4, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear why the public disclosure of his participation in the trip was delayed.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Locsin, 74, as a special envoy to China in August, in addition to his role as the Philippine ambassador to the United Kingdom based in London.“As special envoy, he is expected to be up to date on the matters that he will discuss with China and there is no better way to understand the West Philipp...

Daily horoscope for October 10, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 5:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. EDT today (2:30 a.m. to 5:15 a.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Leo into Virgo.Happy Birthday for Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023:You are proudly independent. You are well organized, commanding and can take charge in times of chaos. You are reliable. This year is the final year of a nine-year cycle for you, which means it’s time to let go of what no longer supports and helps you. Clear the decks!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★This week got off to a shaky start. Even today, issues with co-workers are a bit dicey. Someone will definitely be supportive of you; nevertheless, someone older or in a position of authority might squelch your day. Make the best of this, because tomorrow looks waaaay better! Tonight: Friends and partners.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★Romantic relationships are sober in tone today because of duties, restrictions or obligations. Nevertheless, there is a soft, supportive element ...

Vice-President Jourová in Japan to attend the 18th Internet Governance Forum and launch stakeholder consultation on the G7 Code of Conduct for Generative AI

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

On 8 and 9 October, the Vice-President for Values and Transparency Věra Jourová (pictured) attended the 18th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, organised by the United Nations. The government of Japan will host this year's edition from 8 to 12 October 2023 in Kyoto.Together with government, media, and civil society representatives, the vice president discussed current issues and challenges in the area of open Internet, human rights, the fight against disinformation, but also data governance, virtual worlds, cybersecurity, digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence, with a particular focus on generative AI.During the visit, together with Japanese Minister Suzuki, the Vice-President launched a stakeholder consultation on the G7 Code of Conduct for generative AI, under the G7 Hiroshima AI Process. The feedback received will be taken into account to finalise the Code by G7 leaders before end of year.Jourová said: “It is time to pull weight of global democracies and...

Taiwan plays a 'critical role in global trade', event told

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

Taiwan's Representative to the EU and Belgium has voiced concern about the latest bloody unrest in the Middle East.Speaking on Monday (9 October), Alexander Tah-ray Yui described Israel as “another democracy under threat”.His comments came in the wake of the deadly outbreak of violence in the region at the weekend.He told an audience of EU and Belgian policymakers he wanted to express “our condemnation in the strongest terms against the terrorist acts perpetrated by Hamas against the State of Israel and its people, and our deepest condolences to the Israeli families who have lost dear ones during these senseless attacks.”He added: “It is during these moments when you realize who really are your friends and we stand beside Israel during these difficult times.”He added: “Likewise, Taiwan has supported Ukraine’s resistance against Russia’s invasion since the beginning and continues to do so, as it is also a democracy under threat. We do what we can in the relief of humanitarian assista...

European Forum on Refugee Issues and Forced Expulsion

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

The European Forum on Refugee Issues and Forced Expulsion, which emphasized the rights of women during deportation processes, took place successfully in Madrid on October 9th, 2023. The event extensively examined Azerbaijan's case, where the country accommodated one million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) during its independence restoration in the early 1990s.The forum served as a crucial platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing, bringing together academia, media, civil society, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), embassies, and other institutions dedicated to refugee issues.The inauguration ceremony was graced by Mrs. Tanzila Rustamkhanli, Chairwoman of the Azerbaijani-Turkish Women Society, and H.E. Mr. Ramiz Hasanov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan. A notable highlight was a video message from Mr. Ryszard Czarnecki, a member of the European Parliament from Poland. Key participants included Mr. Samuel Doveri Vesterbye, Director General of the E...

Dear Abby: I’m afraid she’ll get us kicked out of the restaurant. Any advice?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My friend dresses like a slob. We were on a cruise and went to dine in one of the upscale restaurants on the ship. Because she was wearing jean shorts and an old, faded T-shirt, we were asked to leave.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: All these years later, I freak out when I hear her name Advice | Dear Abby: My wife now ‘doesn’t remember’ our crucial conversation Advice | Dear Abby: What I said about his girlfriend got back to her Advice | Dear Abby: The holiday dinner came with an unpleasant surprise Advice | Dear Abby: This family constantly breaks the rules of our potluck We will be going on another cruise soon, and I’m concerned she will do this again. Any advice for our next cruise so this won’t happen?— EMBARRASSED IN ALABAMADEAR EMBARRASSED: Before the next cruise, ask your friend what she plans to bring with her. Remind her that you had to leave t...