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Taliban suspend Afghan consular services in Vienna and London for lack of transparency, coordination

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:26 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban are suspending consular services at two Afghan embassies, London and Vienna, over their lack of transparency and cooperation with authorities in Kabul, a foreign ministry spokesman said Sunday.Most of Afghanistan’s embassies and consulates are staffed by people from the former Western-backed administration, with around a dozen under the Taliban administration’s full control.Some countries retain an active diplomatic mission in Afghanistan, including Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, and China, but the international community remains wary of officially recognizing the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan.The suspension of consular services at the two embassies is with immediate effect and until further notice, foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said. The services affected include the issue and extension of passports and visas.When asked if the ministry was looking at the activities of more embassies, Balkhi said yes as it was a norma...

University of St. Thomas adds modern machinery intro courses, backed by Defense Department

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:26 GMT

The University of St. Thomas will be partnering with a U.S. Department of Defense initiative to offer introductory courses in machinery.The courses specifically focus on computer numerical control machining and 3D modeling, two skills that are in high demand, said John Wentz, associate professor and chair of the university’s Mechanical Engineering Department.Wentz said the program offers St. Thomas students hands-on experience with machines.“It’s the difference between reading a manual on how to fix your brakes and fixing your brakes yourself,” Wentz said.Wentz said that jobs requiring computer numerical control skills can start at $30 per hour, and are needed in “medical device industries as well as broadly across Twin Cities industry.”Wentz also said summer “boot camps” would be offered to high school students as well as week-long courses aimed at older people, specifically military veterans and anyone else looking to “reskill.”The week-long summer courses would be more like...

Word Game: Oct. 8, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:26 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — MARSUPIAL (MARSUPIAL: mar-SOOP-ee-ul: A mammal that carries her young in a pouch on her abdomen.)Average mark 45 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 61 or more words in MARSUPIAL?TODAY’S WORD — MARSUPIAL mail marl maul mural alarm alas alias alms alum amir aria arms aura aural rail ramp rasp rump sail salami samurai sari sirup slam slap slim slip slum slump slur slurp spam spar spiral spur sump supra pail pair palm palmar pilau plasma plum plus pram prim primal prism psalm puma purism purl impala lair lama lamp liar limp lisp lumpTo 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 “bakin...

Horoscopes Oct. 8, 2023: Sigourney Weaver, take advantage of unique opportunities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:26 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Ksenia Solo, 36; Bruno Mars, 38; Sigourney Weaver, 74; Chevy Chase, 80.Happy Birthday: Decide your goal and put a long-term plan in place. You can venture down new avenues this year if you add to or use your skills, experience and connections diversely. Updating your image, qualifications and attitude to fit trends will help you see the possibilities and take advantage of unique opportunities. Make personal gain, love and saving for something special your priorities this year. Your numbers are 6, 14, 25, 29, 31, 37, 43.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Put more energy into relationships. Make contact, share thoughts and put plans in motion. How you respond to others will make a difference in what you receive. Keep your money and possessions safe and temptation at bay. Romance is in the stars. 5 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t let the little things get to you. If you think matters through, you’ll find a simple solution. Put your energy into pos...

Ask Amy: The neighbors’ girl was crying in the street, and what I saw in the house scared me

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:26 GMT

Dear Amy: I have serious concerns about new neighbors, who moved in about a year ago. They have two young daughters.I suspect the mother is an alcoholic. Her actions are putting the girls in danger.On several occasions I and other neighbors have seen her drive erratically down our street, once with a little girl on her lap holding the steering wheel.Another time she was chugging a bottle of wine outside. She was yelling about how she was free because the girls were alone inside: “Hooray, I’m free!”The latest issue was most frightening. I was walking my dog and one of the little girls was naked and standing in the street. She was crying, saying that she could not find her mommy.I took her to her house and searched the home for the mother.The house was filthy and looked like it had been ransacked. There were no sheets on the beds, and the kitchen was trashed. I was scared that something had happened.I ended up finding the mother curled in a bedroom corner with the second daughter. Aft...

National Zoo’s annual ZooLights event will cost you $6 per ticket this year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:26 GMT

The Smithsonian National Zoo says its annual ZooLights event in D.C. will return from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. starting on Nov. 24 and continuing through Dec. 30.But it won’t be free.The annual event, now in its 15th year, will cost $6 per person, and children over 2 will have to have a ticket, the National Zoo said. Additionally, people can pay a flat-rate parking fee of $30.Money from the ticket sales will go to “animal care and conservation science at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute,” the zoo said.“Paid tickets are a change from past years when this special event was free to attend,” the zoo said in a release. “The ticket fee will offset the significant increase in costs associated with running this event.”Just like in previous years, people will see LED lights, illuminations and animal lanterns. They can also see live music performances, do some holiday shopping and enjoy food favorites.“Special wint...

Los talibanes dicen que más de 2.000 personas han muerto en el terremoto que sacudió el oeste de Afganistán

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:26 GMT

(CNN) — Unas 2.053 personas han muerto después de que un poderoso terremoto sacudiera el oeste de Afganistán, dijeron los talibanes este domingo, mientras la nación se tambalea por otro desastre natural en un momento de profunda crisis económica.Los fallecidos fueron reportado en 13 aldeas de la provincia occidental de Herat. Zabiullah Mojahid, portavoz de los talibanes, dijo en una publicación en X, antes conocido como Twitter, que 1.240 personas resultaron heridas y 1.320 casas quedaron total o parcialmente destruidas.Mojahid añadió que diez equipos de rescate llegaron a la provincia de Herat y también se enviaron al lugar alimentos, agua, medicinas y ropa.El terremoto de magnitud 6,3 se produjo este sábado a 40 kilómetros al oeste de la ciudad de Herat, en la provincia de Herat, la tercera más grande de Afganistán.Previamente, Abdul Wahed Rayan, un alto funcionario talibán del Ministerio de Información y Cultura, dijo a CNN que estimaban que cerca de 2.000 personas habían m...

Wetter Weather this Week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:26 GMT

An unsettled weather pattern returns to South Florida this week as a weak front moves into the region this evening, stalling our nearby, then lifting back north as a warm front on Wednesday. With this front in the vicinity of South Florida combined with more moisture in place, rain chances will be higher this week at a 40-60% chance.As mentioned, this weakening cold front will reach the area later today. This will prompt increaing clouds throughout the day with scattered showers and thunderstorms possible at times during the afternoon and evening hours.If you have any outdoor plans and want to see the sunshine, then the morning and early afternoon will be the best time for that!Clouds will linger into our Monday with partly sunny skies and scattered, light passing showers expected. With winds more out of the north on Monday, high temperatures will be seasonable into the mid to upper 80s.That return to mild air will be short-lived, however, as winds veer more off the ocean by Tuesday...

US lawmakers want to help Israel, but political chaos spells delays

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:26 GMT

Within hours of the stunning attack by Hamas militants in Israel, U.S. lawmakers were quick to promise more aid to America’s closest ally in the Middle East.Yet those pledges come at a time of deep political dysfunction in Washington, raising questions over how quickly the money can start flowing.Despite pronouncements of support on both sides of the aisle, there will likely be no fast or easy response until the chaos surrounding the House’s empty speakership is settled. Both candidates for the gavel backed more support for Israel on Saturday, yet the House is still several days away from electing a leader, and the lower chamber remains far from unified on most issues.At the same time, Congress also has to grapple with a looming government shutdown when a funding patch expires Nov. 17.“There is nothing the House can do until they elect a speaker, and I don’t know if that happens quickly,” former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told Fox News on Saturday.A Defense Departme...

No jackpot winner in Saturday’s Powerball drawing, historic prize has now grown to an estimated $1.55 billion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:26 GMT

(CNN) — The already historic Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.55 billion after there was no big winner in Saturday night’s drawing, leaving the third largest prize in the game’s history still up for grabs.If the jackpot is won in the next drawing on Monday, a lucky player would have the option to claim a $679.8 million cash prize before tax, according to Powerball’s website.The jackpot rolled for a 34th time Saturday, with no winners for the $1.4 billion jackpot. The prize would have been the fifth largest US lottery jackpot.There have been no grand prize winners since July 19, when a single ticket sold in California nabbed a jackpot worth $1.08 billion.While no ticket matched all six numbers to claim the big prize Saturday, there were still some big winners.Multiple tickets matched five numbers to win $1 million prizes in California, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin. Another two tickets, sold in Iowa and Maine, nabbed $2 mi...