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Israel-Hamas war cuts deep into Germany’s soul

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

It’s as if one front in the Israel-Hamas war is playing out on the streets of Berlin.The main battleground has been an avenue lined with chicken and kebab restaurants in Neukölln, a neighborhood in the south-east of the city that’s home to many Middle Eastern immigrants. Some pro-Palestinian activists have called for demonstrators to turn out almost nightly, and, as one post put it, turn the area “into Gaza.”On October 18, hundreds of people, many of them teenagers, answered the call.“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” chanted many in the crowd as a phalanx of riot police closed in on them. Berlin public prosecutors say the slogan is a call for the erasure of Israel, and have moved to make its utterance a criminal offense.While similar scenes have played out across much of the world, for Germany’s leaders, they are profoundly embarrassing and strike at the heart of the nation’s identity, on account of the country’s Nazi past. Germany’s “history and our re...

Egypt border crossing opens, letting a trickle of desperately needed aid into besieged Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened on Saturday to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off in the wake of Hamas’ bloody rampage two weeks ago.Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, are rationing food and drinking dirty water. Hospitals say they are running low on medical supplies and fuel for emergency generators amid a territory-wide power blackout. Israel is still launching waves of airstrikes across Gaza as Palestinian militants fire rocket barrages into Israel.The opening came after more than a week of high-level diplomacy by various mediators, including visits to the region by U.S. President Joe Biden and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Israel had insisted that nothing would enter Gaza until some 200 people captured by Hamas were freed, and the Palestinian side of the crossing had been shut down by Israel...

Horoscopes Oct. 21, 2023: Glen Powell, discover what makes you happy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Blanca Suarez, 35; Glen Powell, 35; Matt Dallas, 41; Judge Judy Sheindlin, 81.Happy Birthday: Reach for what resonates with you, and distance yourself from pushy people who try to manipulate you emotionally. Focus on the changes that make you happy and go about your business behind the scenes, where you’ll experience less interference. Use your intelligence and innovative spirit to discover what makes you happy, and refuse to let anyone take liberties to disrupt your plans. Your numbers are 6, 10, 21, 27, 32, 34, 40.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Refuse to let emotions cloud your vision or lead to a misunderstanding. Pay attention, be kind and don’t start something that leads to regret. Choose your battles and your words wisely, and make your focus self-improvement instead of trying to change others. 2 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’ve got more going for you than you realize. Try something new and reach out to experts who can shorten y...

Ask Amy: The fight over laundry has undermined our marriage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

Dear Amy: For as long as I have known my wife (20 years), she has been reluctant to do the laundry.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: I’ve been told that a mad dash through the airport won’t win me a woman Advice | Ask Amy: Should I let him know I’ve been tracking the car’s mileage? Advice | Ask Amy: I can’t believe he’s still doing the thing that almost killed him Advice | Ask Amy: After the Father’s Day blow-up, must I forgive him? Advice | Ask Amy: I’m on edge about a suspicious meeting of my child’s grandmothers I politely ask her to do it, and she tells me that she will. However, two days later, dirty clothes are still piling up.To be fair, she follows through about 20 percent of the time.She works part-time outside the home, and I work full-time from home. She has plenty of time in her day to do the laundry. Instead, she chooses to watch videos o...

The U.N. Is Powerless to Help Gaza. That's How the U.S. Wants It.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, center, attends a U.N. Security Council emergency meeting in New York City on Oct. 18, 2023.Photo: Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty ImagesOn Wednesday, the United States was the only country to vote “no” on a proposed U.N. Security Council resolution authored by Brazil that called for “humanitarian pauses” in Israel’s bombing of Gaza. Twelve countries voted for the resolution, including several surprising ones, such as France and the United Arab Emirates. Two more, Russia and the U.K., abstained. But according to the Security Council’s rules, America’s sole “no” vote meant that the resolution failed.Human Rights Watch criticized America’s actions, saying, “Once again the U.S. cynically used their veto to prevent the U.N. Security Council from acting on Israel and Palestine at a time of unprecedented carnage.”The Security Council has 15 countries. Ten are rotating members, elected by the ...

England wins toss and opts to bowl against South Africa at Cricket World Cup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

Temba Bavuma was ruled out because of illness as England won the toss and opted to bowl against South Africa at the Cricket World Cup in Mumbai on Saturday.Aiden Markram leads South Africa in Bavuma’s absence. Both teams are looking to rebound after shocking upsets in their last games.England lost to Afghanistan in Delhi by 69 runs. It was the second loss in three games for the defending champions. It had previously lost to New Zealand by nine wickets but beat Bangladesh by 137 runs.South Africa went down to the Netherlands in Dharamsala by 38 runs. It had previously scored massive wins over Sri Lanka (by 102 runs) and Australia (by 134 runs).It is in a better position, placed third in the points table with four points from three games. England is sixth with two points from three games as the World Cup arrives in Mumbai for its first game.Ben Stokes, who is featuring in this tournament only as a batsman, returns after recovering from a hip problem. England has made two other changes...

Egipto abre el paso fronterizo con Gaza para la entrada de ayuda humanitaria para palestinos

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

El paso fronterizo entre Egipto y la Franja de Gaza se abrió el sábado para permitir la entrada de la ayuda humanitaria que necesitan urgentemente los palestinos, que no tienen comida, medicamentos ni agua en el territorio asediado por Israel.Más de 200 camiones cargados con unas 3,000 toneladas de ayuda pasaron días estacionados junto al puesto fronterizo a la espera de poder pasar a Gaza. Un reportero de The Associated Press vio como los vehículos entraban al enclave.Israel bloqueó el territorio y lanzó oleadas de ataques aéreos tras la incursión de insurgentes de Hamas en el sur del país el 7 de octubre.Muchos residentes en Gaza, que toman apenas una comida al día y no tienen suficiente agua potable, esperan desesperadamente la ayuda. Los hospitales necesitan de forma urgente suministros sanitarios y combustible para sus generadores ante la elevada cifra de heridos que dejan los bombardeos. Cientos de personas con pasaporte extranjero aguardaban también para cruzar desde Gaza a E...

Diamondbacks host the Phillies in NLCS Game 5 with series tied

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

Philadelphia Phillies (90-72, second in the NL East during the regular season) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (84-78, second in the NL West during the regular season)Phoenix; Saturday, 8:07 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Zack Wheeler (13-6, 3.61 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 212 strikeouts); Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen (17-9, 3.47 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 220 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Phillies -134, Diamondbacks +113; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Arizona Diamondbacks take on the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday in Game 5 of the NLCS. The series is tied 2-2.Arizona has gone 43-38 in home games and 84-78 overall. The Diamondbacks are 67-15 in games when they out-hit their opponents.Philadelphia has a 90-72 record overall and a 41-40 record on the road. The Phillies have a 70-18 record in games when they have more hits than their opponents.Saturday’s game is the 12th time these teams square off this season. The Phillies are ahead 6-5 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Corbin Carr...

Sunshine and Warmth Ahead this Weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

Following more clouds than sunshine from a developing storm system on Friday, better weather is ahead this weekend as yet another reinforcing shot of drier air behind a weak front arrives this Saturday.This will allow for lots of sunshine along with comfortable humidity levels, although temperatures will be somewhat hot for this time of the year, topping off into the mid to upper 80s both afternoons.Low temperatures will be cool-ish both mornings, ranging from the upper 60s to mid 70s at most locations, which actually is below average.Expect plenty of sunshine this Saturday with a light northwesterly breeze.Then some higher level clouds will fiter in during the day Sunday, but bright skies and nice weather conditions are stilll expected.That will remain the story on Monday as high pressure remains in control, with highs still warmer than normal in the mid to upper 80s.Then starting Tuesday and continuing into the rest of next week, our winds will veer more out of the northeast oppos...

S&P raises Greece to investment grade for first time in more than a decade

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

ATHENS — Greece’s credit rating was raised to investment grade by Standard & Poor’s in the first such move by one of the three major rating agencies since the country was shaken by the debt crisis more than a decade ago.S&P Global upgraded Greece late Friday to BBB- from BB+, citing the country’s improved budgetary position, in a move that the government hopes will boost market confidence, attract foreign investments and lower borrowing costs. S&P said the ratings outlook is stable.“Proud of the recognition of what our country has achieved,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis posted on social media. “We are determined to continue our reform agenda, a path that is attracting investment, creating jobs and achieving inclusive growth.”Securing investment grade was a key target for the conservative leader, who secured a second term with a landslide victory in June.The move back into investment grade at S&P comes more than a decade after Greece was brough...