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EU Enlargement - The Road Ahead

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:21:45 GMT

On Friday October 6th, EU leaders declared their support for a new engagement towards an enlargement of the Union. In total, nine potential candidates are waiting for their accession procedure to start or completion. This constitutes a severe predicament for the EU and, more importantly, for its locus of power – writes Leander Papagianneas, MSc in Conflict and Development & MA in Southeast Europe StudiesIt seems that Europe faces a similar conundrum as in 1989. Russian aggression and the rise of the extreme right have instigated crucial responses from both the EU and NATO. The resemblance with the end of the Cold War is two-folded.In the first place, Brussels has to face a situation of expansion. Countries in the East face serious existential threat from Russia. Both the EU and NATO are enlarging. More countries want to join these organizations, mainly for external security reasons. The juxtaposition of East and West has become unsurmountable.Furthermore, enlargement shifts the ...

Bridge: Oct. 20, 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:21:45 GMT

“A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.” — movie mogul Samuel Goldwyn, known for perplexing remarks.You will hear all sorts of wisdom at the bridge table, some sounder than others. A club player brought me today’s deal; he had been East.“My partner led a low spade against 3NT. Someone told me you should play the queen in this situation. If your partner has the king, you can play the queen or ace, but if declarer has the king, he must take it, and you keep communication with your partner.”South took his king and led the king of hearts.OVERTRICK“My partner won,” East told me, “and thought his only chance was to find me with the ace of diamonds. He shifted to a low diamond, and South made an overtrick.”East must play the ace on the first spade, then lead the queen. The bidding marks West with five spades, so East need not keep a link. East might do best to play the queen if he had the ace of heart...

Word Game: Oct. 20, 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:21:45 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — DECISION (DECISION: dih-SIH-zhen: A determination arrived at after consideration.)Average mark 28 wordsTime limit 40 minutesCan you find 38 or more words in DECISION? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — CHAPLAIN caliph canal chai chain chap chia chin china chip clan clap clip hail alpha apian pail pain panic pica pinch plain plan laic lain lanai lapin inch nailTo 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 explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at kzsaxe@gmail....

Horoscopes Oct. 20, 2023: John Krasinski, take care of what’s important to you

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:21:45 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Alona Tal, 40; John Krasinski, 44; Snoop Dogg, 52; Viggo Mortensen, 65.Happy Birthday: Keep an open mind and heart when dealing with loved ones, but don’t let anyone take advantage of you this year. Pay attention to detail and timelines, and take care of what’s important to you before taking on someone else’s tasks. A domestic change will alleviate some of your hardships and shine a light on something that will make your life easier. Your numbers are 5, 12, 22, 28, 31, 40, 43.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Put emotions aside and focus on what others expect of you. The hard work you put in early will pave the path to a celebratory evening. Precision, detail and preparation will keep you out of trouble and on the way to victory professionally and financially. 2 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Put your energy where it counts and don’t stop until you are happy with the results. A passionate approach to your pursuits will give you an advan...

Sale closed in San Jose: $1.8 million for a three-bedroom home

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:21:45 GMT

2558 Aragon Way – Google Street ViewA 1,584-square-foot house built in 1961 has changed hands. The property located in the 2500 block of Aragon Way in San Jose was sold on Sept. 25, 2023, for $1,765,000, or $1,114 per square foot. This single-story house has three bedrooms and three baths. Inside, there is a fireplace. Additionally, the house features a two-car garage.Additional houses that have recently changed hands close by include:On Andalusia Way, San Jose, in June 2023, a 1,471-square-foot home was sold for $1,760,000, a price per square foot of $1,196. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In September 2023, a 1,584-square-foot home on Andalusia Way in San Jose sold for $1,835,000, a price per square foot of $1,158. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 1,678-square-foot home on the 2400 block of Cordoba Way in San Jose sold in April 2023, for $1,790,000, a price per square foot of $1,067. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. 

Ask Amy: I’ve been told that a mad dash through the airport won’t win me a woman

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:21:45 GMT

Dear Amy: I am an almost 70-year-old widower (politically liberal and atheist) who wants to meet new people. Especially female people.Related ArticlesAdvice | 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 Advice | Ask Amy: If I were a mouse, I’d be applauding my husband. I am not a mouse. Unfortunately, I have almost no experience.I had a total of two dates in high school, both of which went nowhere. I became very good friends with my best friend’s wife (friend-in-law?), and when they divorced, she and I got married.So when it comes to wooing and flirting, I’ve got nothing.It’s been four y...

Harriette Cole: She came to my photoshoot, and I’m sure she made a bad impression

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:21:45 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been going to the same hair stylist for over a year. She does amazing work on my hair, and I have no interest in finding a new stylist anytime soon. However, every time I am around her, I cannot help but notice her bad body odor.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: My boyfriend freaked out in the haunted house. Am I dating a coward? Advice | Harriette Cole: I asked my sister to watch my teen, and she broke my trust Advice | Harriette Cole: I finally told my parents I’ll be leaving the U.S. next week, and they’re livid Advice | Harriette Cole: My co-worker cornered me about my son, and I was very uncomfortable Advice | Harriette Cole: I worry I’ll lose my friend because of this workplace issue It has become so bad that I find myself holding my breath at certain points during the session. She had to be on set with me for a photoshoot recently, and I know the oth...

Unraveling Democracy: The Corporate Takeover

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:21:45 GMT

The new book “Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy” by investigative journalists Claire Provost and Matt Kennard reveals how the world actually works: the international structures and laws that preempt most attempts at any kind of economic democracy in most of the countries around the world. This week on Deconstructed, Provost and Kennard join Jon Schwarz to discuss this “silent coup” by powerful multinational companies.Transcript coming soon.The post Unraveling Democracy: The Corporate Takeover appeared first on The Intercept.

Beau Hossler beats gusting winds in Japan to lead the Zozo Championship by 1 after second round

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:21:45 GMT

INZAI CITY, Japan (AP) — Beau Hossler shot a 5-under 65 to grab a one-shot lead after Friday’s second round of the Zozo Championship, beating wind gusts that reached 37 mph (60 kph) and drying conditions at the Narashino Country Club on the outskirts of Tokyo.Hossler, looking for his first PGA Tour victory, surprised himself and the rest of the 78-player, no-cut field where only 13 broke par. Half did in Thursday’s opening round under calmer conditions.“I’d say anything under par was a really quality score,” Hossler said. “So to shoot 5-under par was incredible.”Hossler was one stroke ahead of fellow American Justin Suh, who shot a 4-under 66, and two in front of Japanese Satoshi Kodaira, who shot 68. Four more were three back including Americans Eric Cole and Xander Schauffele.Collin Morikawa, after a 64 to lead the first round, slipped to four strokes off the pace with a wind-blown 3-over 73.“It (the wind) makes every shot significantly more difficult, from a 3-f...

Marlon Wayans says he is being unfairly prosecuted after being racially targeted by gate agent

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:21:45 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Actor and comedian Marlon Wayans says he is being unfairly prosecuted for disturbing the peace over a dispute with an airline employee who he alleges targeted him because of his race. Attorneys for Wayans, who is Black, made the allegations in a court filing Thursday that asked for dismissal of the case stemming from a luggage dispute at Denver’s airport.Wayans was cited for disturbing the peace, a municipal violation, in June, police said. According to the court filing, a United Airlines gate agent told him he could not get on a flight to Kansas City with three bags. The gate agent apparently tried to physically block Wayans from getting on the flight after he consolidated his luggage into two bags to conform with airline policy, the filing said. He boarded anyway and was later asked to get off the plane before it departed.While Wayans worked to rearrange his luggage, the gate agent kept allowing white passengers with three bags to board the flight, according to...