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China keeps up military pressure on Taiwan, sending 43 planes and 7 ships near self-governing island

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:21 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan said Wednesday that China sent 43 military aircraft and seven ships near the self-ruled island, the latest sign that Beijing plans no let-up in its campaign of harassment, threats and intimidation.Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the figure was current for the 24 hours up to 6:00 a.m. Wednesday and that 37 of the aircraft had crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait, which China no longer recognizes as an informal divider between the sides. It said Taiwan had monitored the situation, scrambled jet fighters, dispatched ships and activated land-based missile systems, all standard responses to Chinese military activities, which include crossing into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone but not into its actual airspace.Such Chinese maneuvers have become frequent and aggressive since then- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022. China suspended military communication with the U.S. to show its displeasure over her trip ...

EU air bridge flight for Afghanistan brings aid in response to earthquakes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:21 GMT

Following the series of earthquakes that hit western Afghanistan earlier this month, an EU Humanitarian Air Bridge to Herat has landed today, bringing 92 tonnes of essential supplies to help the affected population. Of the total cargo, the EU has donated 57 tonnes from its own stocks in Dubai, consisting of blankets and winterisation kits for tents. Another 20 tonnes of medicines were transported for the World Health Organization, and 15 tonnes of food were delivered for the World Food Programme.A second and third flight are planned to follow shortly from Brindisi and Dubai to Herat and Kabul. They will be gathering in-kind contributions from Ireland, Italy and EU Humanitarian Partners' relief items. France is also reinforcing the transport and warehousing capacity of the aid.Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič said: “In the aftermath of the recent devastating series of earthquakes in Afghanistan, the EU stands resolute in extending our assistance and support to the Afghan...

Dear Abby: My sister says this skeevy man needs to be part of our family

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:21 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My sister, who is quite a bit older than me, was married to a man for more than 20 years. He was a part of my family from the time I was 3.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I was blindsided by my fiance’s threat over this business deal Advice | Dear Abby: The groom’s father refuses to attend the wedding if heavy-drinking kin are excluded Advice | Dear Abby: Everything was great until my girlfriend came back from her weekend trip with this crazy story Advice | Dear Abby: An unmade quilt has undercut our friendship. Am I being unreasonable? Advice | Dear Abby: Am I being selfish to think he needs to get over his grief? When I was a teenager, he made a “move” on me, which was disgusting because I trusted him. My family swept it under the rug and downplays it to this day. If that wasn’t enough, I twice caught him cheating on my sister. They eventually divorced.As an...

2023’s Best Crypto Casinos – Top Bitcoin Casino Sites in the World for BIG Wins

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:21 GMT

 Sponsored ContentLooking to raise the stakes? There’s no better to do that than to play at Bitcoin casinos with the highest-quality games, instant payouts, and huge withdrawal limits.With that in mind, we picked out the 8 best crypto casinos around right now – all of which excel when it comes to things that matter to gamblers the most. The site that came out on top overall was MyStake, but only by a very narrow margin.Make sure to stay with us as we reveal how we came to that decision and which Bitcoin casinos were closest in the competition.Best Crypto CasinosMyStake: Best overallMBit: 4 BTC and 325 free spins welcome bonus7Bit: Over 7000 crypto casino gamesJackbit: Best for online slotsWild.io: 130+ live casino gamesAvantgarde: Top choice for table gamesTrue Fortune: Exciting casino tournamentsBitFiring: Free spins every dayThese crypto casinos have all got exciting and unique benefits, so let’s take a closer look at them and help you find the perfect one for your needs.1. M...

El uso elevado del móvil puede afectar el recuento de espermatozoides, según un estudio

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:21 GMT

(CNN) — En los últimos 50 años, el número de espermatozoides en hombres ha disminuido más de un 50% en todo el mundo, lo que ha llevado a los investigadores a preguntarse por qué. ¿Podrían ser responsables la contaminación, las PFAS (ciertas sustancias químicas en el ambiente) y otras posibles toxinas presentes en los alimentos y el agua, el aumento de la obesidad y las enfermedades crónicas, o incluso el omnipresente teléfono móvil?Un nuevo estudio ha analizado el papel de los teléfonos móviles y ha descubierto que los hombres de entre 18 y 22 años que afirmaban utilizar el móvil más de 20 veces al día tenían un riesgo un 21% mayor de presentar un recuento global de espermatozoides bajo. Los hombres también tenían un 30% más de riesgo de una baja concentración de espermatozoides, una medida menos importante del recuento de espermatozoides en un mililitro de semen. El estudio no especificaba si los hombres llamaban o enviaban mensajes de texto, o si utilizaban sus teléfonos pa...

Same countries, same venue: India against Sri Lanka in a rematch of the 2011 Cricket World Cup final

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:21 GMT

MUMBAI, India (AP) — A heavy bout of nostalgia will descend upon the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday when India plays Sri Lanka at the Cricket World Cup.It will be a rematch of the 2011 final, when India won by six wickets and the venue became hallowed turf for the cricket crazed nation. A sea of blue had poured out onto the streets of Mumbai that night after MS Dhoni lifted India’s second World Cup trophy.Dhoni’s winning shot – a six over long on – was immortalized and two seats at the Wankhede are permanently decorated as that spot where the ball landed. All of it adds to the aura of this magnificent cricket venue by the seaside, where India is aiming to continue its unbeaten run in this tournament.Much has changed since 2011, of course. The great Sachin Tendulkar is long retired, although his name is stamped on the stands at the Wankhede. Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan – all of vital contributors to India’s second World Cup title — are also retired. Virat Kohli and spinner Ravi...

Stock market today: Asian shares track Wall Street gains ahead of Fed decision on interest rates

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:21 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher Wednesday after Wall Street advanced to claim back some of the ground it gave up in another losing month. Investors are awaiting a decision later Wednesday by the Federal Reserve on interest rates and updates on the state of the U.S. economy. The overwhelming expectation is that the Fed will keep its overnight interest rate steady. The bigger question is how long it will keep that main rate high. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index added 2.4% to 31,601.65 a day after the Bank of Japan held back from any major changes to its near-zero interest rate policy, though it adjusted its controls on government bond yields.The dollar weakened against the Japanese yen, trading at 151.28 yen. It jumped on Tuesday after the Japanese central bank’s decision. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng edged less than 0.1% higher, to 17,126.70. The Shanghai Composite index gained 0.1% to 3,023.08. South Korea’s Kospi advanced 1% to 2,301.56 and the S&P/ASX ...

Israel dice que frustró ataques aéreos de los hutíes de Yemen cerca del mar Rojo

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:21 GMT

(CNN) — El ejército israelí dijo este martes que había frustrado un ataque aéreo de los rebeldes hutíes respaldados por Irán en Yemen, mientras aumentan en toda la región los temores de que la guerra entre Israel y Hamas pueda ampliarse.El general de brigada Yahya Saree, portavoz de las fuerzas hutíes, dijo a Al-Masirah TV, propiedad de los hutíes, que se habían lanzado misiles balísticos y drones contra objetivos en Israel en lo que, según dijo, era la tercera operación en apoyo al pueblo palestino.Añadió que había planes para más ataques hasta que cesara la “agresión israelí”.“Nuestras fuerzas armadas lanzaron una gran cantidad de misiles balísticos y alados y una gran cantidad de drones contra varios objetivos del enemigo israelí”, dijo, refiriéndose a todo Israel como “territorios ocupados”.Los hutíes son una organización política y militar chiíta en Yemen que ha estado librando una guerra civil en el país contra una coalición respaldada por Arabia ...

“Él me comprendía”: la muerte de un ex primer ministro chino desata el luto… y una forma de expresar la frustración con la era de Xi Jinping

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:21 GMT

(CNN) — La repentina muerte del ex primer ministro chino Li Keqiang desató una oleada de dolor y luto en todo el país. Sin embargo, para muchos también parece ofrecer una oportunidad excepcional para expresar el descontento acumulado con el líder Xi Jinping y la dirección que ha tomado el país.Li Keqiang, que fue el segundo al mando nominal de Xi durante una década hasta marzo de 2023, murió de un repentino ataque al corazón el 27 de octubre en Shanghai, según los medios de comunicación estatales. Tenía 68 años.Su muerte, apenas unos meses después de su jubilación, conmocionó a la opinión pública china. Los homenajes han inundado la Internet del país, fuertemente controlada, mientras que un mar de ramos de flores amarillas y blancas en memoriales improvisados han aparecido fuera de su residencia de la infancia y otros lugares relacionados con su pasado.En los mensajes de redes sociales y en las notas manuscritas entre los homenajes florales, muchos recordaban a Li por sus aspi...

St. Anthony Shrine jumps in to Mass and Cass mess

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:21 GMT

St. Anthony Shrine is part of the solution to today’s tent ban along the long-neglected Mass and Cass encampment.“We’re going to get people into programs and change their lives,” said Fr. Thomas Conway, executive director of St. Anthony Shrine. “They just need a trained social worker to give them a little push.”That’s where the Shrine’s Mary Ann Ponti, director of outreach programs at St. Anthony Shrine, goes to work.“God bless Mary Ann,” said Conway. “She’s working on the mayor’s teams and is spending part of the week over on Mass and Cass.”The Shrine, located in Downtown Crossing on Arch Street, has been a respite for the soul and for the hungry for decades. The friars and staff hold their annual fundraising gala tonight and donations go to missions like the one along Mass and Cass.Conway said there’s no one answer to the opioid epidemic — seen in its raw reality in the encampment ̵...