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Commission approves €100 million Italian scheme to support companies in Sardinia in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:10 GMT

The European Commission has approved a €100 million Italian scheme to support companies active in Sardinia in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies. The new Framework amends and prolongs in part the Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted on 23 March 2022 to enable Member States to support the economy in the context of the current geopolitical crisis, already amended on 20 July 2022 and on 28 October 2022.Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants, guarantees or subsidised loans. The measure will be open to companies active in many economic sectors, though with a number of exceptions, such as the primary production of agricultural products and the financial sector.The purpose of the scheme is to remedy the liquidity shortage fa...

Miss Manners: She became irate when I corrected her statement about the moon

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:10 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We were guests at a gathering when the host, during a story, stated, “I knew I was headed east because my brother told me the full moon rises in the east.”Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I complimented this celebrity, and his reply was insulting Advice | Miss Manners: My summer dresses make my boyfriend uncomfortable Advice | Miss Manners: My fiancee says she must have a diamond, despite my objection Advice | Miss Manners: Should we warn our guests about our house’s acoustic anomaly? Advice | Miss Manners: My co-worker said what I did was insulting, but I’ve never heard of this rule I commented that all phases of the moon rise in the east. She was irate and told me her sibling knew what he was talking about — he was in the Navy. She was so aggressive, I did not reply.Should I have explained that I was a science teacher and that the moon and the star...

Dear Abby: She’s trying to one-up me by being the fun aunt

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:10 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I have a sister-in-law who constantly one-ups me. Anything I mention, she has to chime in and let everyone present know how much better her trip was, or that she got a better shopping deal, etc.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I’m 20, he’s 46 and married, and my family isn’t being supportive Advice | Dear Abby: I feel bad about it, but I had to squash my husband’s dream Advice | Dear Abby: We’re nervous about telling our kids this family secret Advice | Dear Abby: The children’s impersonal fundraising requests annoy me Advice | Dear Abby: The bride’s dramatic cousins unleashed wedding backlash It has now turned to my grandchildren. For example, if I correct their table manners at a family dinner, she comes back with a smart comment like, “You can leave your elbows on the table” or “It’s OK to eat that with your fingers.”...

West African leaders meet on Niger but options are few as the military junta defies mediation

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:10 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — West African heads of state are scheduled to meet Thursday after Niger’s military junta defied their deadline to reinstate the nation’s deposed president, but analysts say the Economic Community of West African States may be running out of options as support fades for a military intervention.As Niger’s junta turns away most efforts at mediation, one analyst asserted that Russian meddling in the country has spiked in the two weeks since mutinous soldiers overthrew democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who has refused to step down and is under house arrest.Niger was seen as the last country in the Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert that Western nations could partner with to counter jihadi violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group that has killed thousands and displaced millions of people. The international community is scrambling to find a peaceful solution to the country’s leadership crisis.On Wednesday, a Nig...

At least 36 people have died in Hawaii’s Lahaina fire, Maui County reports

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:10 GMT

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — At least 36 people have died in Hawaii’s Lahaina fire, Maui County reports.Source

Rockies visit the Dodgers to begin 4-game series

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:10 GMT

Colorado Rockies (45-69, fifth in the NL West) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (67-46, first in the NL West)Los Angeles; Thursday, 10:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: Ty Blach (1-1, 4.85 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 11 strikeouts); Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -348, Rockies +273; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Colorado Rockies on Thursday to begin a four-game series.Los Angeles is 34-20 at home and 67-46 overall. The Dodgers have a 56-16 record in games when they scored five or more runs.Colorado is 45-69 overall and 20-39 on the road. Rockies hitters are batting a collective .250, which ranks 10th in the NL.The teams meet Thursday for the sixth time this season. The Dodgers are up 4-1 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Freddie Freeman has 42 doubles, two triples and 23 home runs while hitting .347 for the Dodgers. Mookie Betts is 14-for-41 with four doubles and four home runs over the last 10 games.Ryan McMahon leads ...

Phillies bring 2-1 series advantage over Nationals into game 4

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:10 GMT

Washington Nationals (50-65, fifth in the NL East) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (63-52, second in the NL East)Philadelphia; Thursday, 6:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: Patrick Corbin (7-11, 5.10 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 89 strikeouts); Phillies: Aaron Nola (9-8, 4.58 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 147 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Phillies -253, Nationals +208; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies take a 2-1 lead into the next game of the series against the Washington Nationals.Philadelphia has a 63-52 record overall and a 32-22 record at home. The Phillies have the seventh-ranked team on-base percentage in the NL at .322.Washington is 50-65 overall and 28-31 in road games. The Nationals are 37-13 in games when they out-hit their opponents.Thursday’s game is the 10th time these teams meet this season. The Phillies hold a 5-4 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Bryson Stott has 23 doubles, two triples and 10 home runs for the Phillies. Bryce Harper is ...

Braves bring 2-1 series lead over Pirates into game 4

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:10 GMT

Atlanta Braves (72-40, first in the NL East) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (51-63, fourth in the NL Central)Pittsburgh; Thursday, 12:35 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Bryce Elder (8-3, 3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 92 strikeouts); Pirates: Bailey Falter (0-7, 4.87 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 30 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -207, Pirates +172; over/under is 10 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves lead 2-1 in a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.Pittsburgh is 51-63 overall and 27-30 in home games. The Pirates are 39-5 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.Atlanta has a 72-40 record overall and a 35-20 record on the road. The Braves have the highest team on-base percentage in the NL at .342.The teams square off Thursday for the fourth time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Jack Suwinski leads the Pirates with 21 home runs while slugging .461. Bryan Reynolds is 14-for-38 with a double, four home runs and seven RBI over the past 10 games.Ronald Acuna Jr. has 29 doubles,...

At least 36 people have died on Maui as fires burn through Hawaii, county reports

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:10 GMT

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — Several thousand Hawaii residents raced to escape homes on Maui as the Lahaina fire swept across the island, killing at least 36 people and burning parts of a centuries-old town.The fire took the island of Maui by surprise, leaving behind burned-out cars on once busy streets and smoking piles of rubble where historic buildings had stood. Flames roared throughout the night, forcing adults and children to dive into the ocean for safety.Maui county announced the updated death toll on its website late Wednesday, writing that no other details were currently available on the deaths. Officials said earlier that 271 structures were damaged or destroyed and dozens of people injured.On Wednesday, Maui crews continued to battle blazes in several places on the island. Authorities urged visitors to stay away.Lahaina residents Kamuela Kawaakoa and Iiulia Yasso described a harrowing escape under smoke-filled skies Tuesday afternoon. The couple and their 6-year-old son got ba...

Mark Drakeford, Welsh first minister, to quit parliament at next election

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:10 GMT

LONDON — Mark Drakeford will leave the Senedd at the next election in 2026, the Welsh first minister has confirmed. In a question and answer session with the Welsh parliament’s presiding officer Elin Jones, Drakeford said it is “important to have a refresh” at the top of Welsh politics. Drakeford has served as the first minister of Wales’ devolved government and leader of the Welsh Labour Party since December 2018. He has previously said he would quit as first minister during the current term of parliament, but on Wednesday he confirmed his plan to quit the Welsh parliament altogether. He is yet to set a date for his resignation as first minister, though he is expected to step down next year.“I think it is difficult for those who will be doing the work in the future to have people like me sitting behind them,” Drakeford said. “I’m not going to be a member of the Senedd after 2026 but I am not going to step back from the debate or stop ...