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South Africa intercepts buses carrying more than 400 unaccompanied children from Zimbabwe

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 18:56:45 GMT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Border officials in South Africa say they have intercepted dozens of buses carrying more than 400 young children from Zimbabwe without parents or legal guardians in an anti-trafficking operation.The officials say the children were being “trafficked” into South Africa, although an organization representing foreign nationals living in South Africa says it’s likely the children were being sent to visit their parents, who are working in South Africa, for the end of year holidays. The buses were sent back to Zimbabwe.More than 1 million Zimbabweans live in South Africa, many of them illegally, having moved to their southern neighbor over the past 15 years to escape Zimbabwe’s economic turmoil.South African Border Management Agency commissioner Mike Masiapato said Sunday that South African police stopped and searched 42 buses entering from Zimbabwe on Saturday night and found 443 children under the age of 8 traveling unaccompanied.“We denied them entry and ...

White House warns Congress the US is out of money, nearly out of time to avoid ‘kneecap’ to Ukraine

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 18:56:45 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Monday sent Congress an urgent warning about the need to approve tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance to Ukraine, saying Kyiv’s war effort to defend itself from Russia’s invasion may grind to a halt without it.In a letter to House and Senate leaders and also released publicly, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young warned the U.S. will run out of funding to send weapons and assistance to Ukraine by the end of the year, saying that would “kneecap” Ukraine on the battlefield. She added that the U.S. already has run out of money that it has used to prop up Ukraine’s economy, and “if Ukraine’s economy collapses, they will not be able to keep fighting, full stop.”“We are out of money — and nearly out of time,” she wrote.Biden has sought a nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other needs, but it has faced a difficult reception on Capitol Hill, where there is growi...

Divers have found wreckage, remains from Osprey aircraft that crashed off Japan, US Air Force says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 18:56:45 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — U.S. and Japanese divers have discovered wreckage and remains of crew members from a U.S. Air Force Osprey aircraft that crashed last week off southwestern Japan, the Air Force announced Monday. The CV-22 Osprey carrying eight American personnel crashed last Wednesday off Yakushima island during a training mission. The body of one victim was recovered and identified earlier, while seven others remained missing.The Air Force Special Operations Command said the remains were being recovered and their identities have yet to be determined.“The main priority is bringing the Airmen home and taking care of their family members. Support to, and the privacy of, the families and loved ones impacted by this incident remains AFSOC’s top priority,” it said in a statement.The U.S. military identified the one confirmed victim as Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday.On Monday, divers from the Japanese navy and U.S. military spotted what app...

Oxford names ‘rizz’ word of the year

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 18:56:45 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Oxford University Press has named “rizz″ as its word of the year, highlighting the popularity of a term used by Generation Z to describe someone’s ability to attract or seduce another person.It topped “Swiftie” (an enthusiastic fan of Taylor Swift), “situationship” (an informal romantic or sexual relationship) and “prompt” (an instruction given to an artificial intelligence program) in the annual decision by experts at the publisher of the multivolume Oxford English Dictionary.An Oxford English Dictionary is shown at the headquarters of the Associated Press in New York, Aug. 29, 2010. Oxford University Press has named “rizz″ as its word of the year, highlighting the popularity of a term used by Generation Z to describe someone’s ability to attract or seduce another person. The four finalists were selected by a public vote and the winner was announced on Monday Dec. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones, File)The four finalists were selected by a public vote and the winner was...

EU and Greenland sign strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials value chains

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 18:56:45 GMT

On 30 November in Brussels, the EU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Greenland for a strategic partnership to develop sustainable raw materials value chains.Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič signed the MoU with the Government of Greenland, Minister of Business, Trade, Mineral Resources, Justice and Gender Equality, Naaja H. Nathanielsen.Greenland's extensive natural riches are a major asset for reaping the benefits of global value chains, as it seeks to diversify its economy in a sustainable way. 25 of the 34 critical raw materials identified by the Commission as strategically important for Europe's industry and the green transition can be found in Greenland.Following the signature of the MoU, the EU and Greenland will jointly develop a roadmap with concrete actions to put the Strategic Partnership into practice.The partnership signed today offers ...

Word Game: Dec. 4, 2023

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 18:56:45 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — MESCAL (MESCAL: meh-SKAL: A Mexican liquor made from the agave plant.)Average mark 18 wordsTime limit 25 minutesCan you find 21 or more words in MESCAL? The list will be published tomorrow.SATURDAY’S WORD — TEMPLATE tale tame tamp tape teal team teat teem temp temple tempt elate male malt maple mate matte meal meat meet melt meta metal metate mete mettle pale palette palm pate peal peat peel pelt petal plat plate plea pleat lame lamp late latte leap leapt alee ampleTo 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...

Bridge: Dec. 4, 2023

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 18:56:45 GMT

“I heard that the meteorologist who invented the wind-chill factor died,” Cy the Cynic told me.“How old was he?”“He was 82,” Cy said, “but felt like he was only 74.”Cy was declarer at four hearts in a penny game, and his play got a chilly reception from his partner. When West led a diamond, Cy took the ace, unblocked his A-K of clubs and led the king of trumps: five, deuce, six.East won the next trump and led the queen of spades. Cy took dummy’s ace and discarded a spade on the queen of clubs, but West ruffed, and the defense cashed two spades. Down one.“You booted a cold game,” North said frostily.SECOND TRUMPAfter Cy takes his high clubs, he can play a low spade from both hands. Then if East leads the ace and a second trump, Cy can draw trumps, winning five trumps in his hand, a diamond, a spade and three clubs.If instead East returns a spade, Cy takes the ace, ruffs a diamond and ruffs a spade in dummy. Nor can Eas...

Sale closed in Danville: $3 million for a four-bedroom home

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 18:56:45 GMT

222 Remington Loop – Google Street ViewA 2,823-square-foot house built in 1977 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 200 block of Remington Loop in Danville was sold on Nov. 3, 2023. The $2,995,000 purchase price works out to $1,061 per square foot. This single-story home provides a generous living space with its four bedrooms and three bathrooms. On the exterior, the house is characterized by the use of wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, there is a fireplace. The property is equipped with forced air heating and central A/C. Additionally, the house is equipped with an attached two-car garage, accommodating vehicles and storage needs efficiently. The property’s backyard is further enhanced by a pool.These nearby houses have also recently been sold:A 2,431-square-foot home on the 300 block of Remington Loop in Danville sold in May 2023, for $2,495,000, a price per square foot of $1,026. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Remington Loop, Danville, in March...

Ask Amy: Now we’re feeling weird about our daughter’s favorite toy

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 18:56:45 GMT

Dear Amy: My husband and I have a daughter. She is 3. We are thoughtful and responsible parents (at least we think so …).Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: I’ll never forgive my sister-in-law for her question to my little girl Advice | Ask Amy: How can I avoid the vortex of the other grandmother? Advice | Ask Amy: He has resurrected this wedding drama and is using it against me Advice | Ask Amy: Should I tell my neighbor about her child’s bullying behavior? Advice | Ask Amy: My wife has big-league dreams for our son, but I think he should give up the sport We have a question about gift-giving.Our daughter goes to a nursery school program a couple of mornings a week, and it’s going very well.While at school, she loves to play with a miniature kitchen set. It’s got a little sink and a pretend stove with pots and pans.We are thinking about getting a version of this for our daughter for Christmas....

Harriette Cole: My boyfriend’s Instagram posts make me worried that he did something wrong

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 18:56:45 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: My boyfriend and I have been on and off for about four years. He is the first person I have ever dated, and I am completely in love with him. However, sometimes I feel like we are a lot less compatible than we try to make it seem.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: We split up a year ago, and I can’t stop thinking about him Advice | Harriette Cole: I want to shut down my friend’s snooping without a lot of drama Advice | Harriette Cole: My birthday wish list could get me in trouble with my family Advice | Harriette Cole: My two roommates are moving out, and I don’t believe their excuse Advice | Harriette Cole: My old friend is back in my life, and she has brought a lot of drama During our last break, my boyfriend dated someone else. When we got back together, he told me everything about her, and I even had a chance to talk to her and clear everything up.Right after w...