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Pope Francis cancels Saturday morning audiences due to mild flu, Vatican says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has canceled his audiences scheduled for Saturday morning because he has a slight fever, the Vatican said.“The Holy Father’s audiences scheduled for this morning are canceled due to a mild flu,” it said in a statement.The pope is due to travel on Friday to Dubai for the COP28 conference on climate change, a global challenge that he has deeply cared about during his papacy.Pope Francis will turn 87 next month. When asked about his health in a recent interview — after setbacks that included abdominal surgery just a few months ago to repair a hernia and remove intestinal scarring — Francis quipped in reply what has become his standard line — “Still alive, you know.”The Associated Press

Daily horoscope for November 25, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Taurus.Happy Birthday for Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023:You are willing, capable and dedicated to what you do. You have staying power, plus excellence is your goal. This is a year of learning and teaching. Take time to renew your spiritual or religious beliefs. Explore philosophies to get you closer to the true meaning of your life.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★It’s a tricky day! Trust your moneymaking ideas. They could bear fruit now or in the future. However, steer away from controversial subjects, because you will encounter opposition. Someone older or in authority might shout you down because they’re righteous. Tonight: Check your belongings.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★This can be a happy day for you, because the Full Moon is in your sign lined up with lucky Jupiter boosting your sense of optimism and joy. Having said that, you might encounter difficulties with shared property, ins...

Harriette Cole: I can no longer be silent about this messed-up family

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: With the holiday season approaching, I am struggling with how to deal with my family.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: She’s the restaurant patron from hell, and she needs to hear that Advice | Harriette Cole: How to reboot when Thanksgiving stress sets in Advice | Harriette Cole: What do I do about an ex-friend who’s trying to undermine my work? Advice | Harriette Cole: My newfound love of reading is disrupting my life Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m on the road to burnout and I can’t see a solution I come from a strict household that allows little freedom. Many of the adults are blatantly disrespectful toward me, my siblings, my cousins and each other.It is hard for me not to speak up, but I do not want to come off as disrespectful. I have tried to bring it up to my parents before, but they often find a way to shift the blame or dismiss the issue entirely.Eve...

Miss Manners: My mother-in-law tried to ban me from wearing bright colors on vacation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My mother-in-law is very concerned that my love of bright colors and patterns conveys “lower class” standards to her uppity family.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Is this lowering of office chairs a common practice? Advice | Miss Manners: How can I rein in a greedy co-worker? Advice | Miss Manners: How should I have responded to a loud comment about my makeup? Advice | Miss Manners: She was embarrassingly rude in public and then blamed it on anxiety Advice | Miss Manners: We had to give up our season tickets because of the hooters Her snobbery and striving led to our falling out when I disagreed with her dictating what her extended family would wear on a vacation that she did not pay for. She tried to insist that the entire family would wear neutrals and classic lines, which she already has plenty of.My grandma taught me to dress as I want, so I wore comfortable orig...

Gary Payton II’s block of Victor Wembanyama is more than a crazy highlight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Five NBA players total have reached stratosphere to block 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama. None smaller than 6-foot-1 Gary Payton II, who soared at least two feet in the air on a chase down to swipe away the rookie sensation’s shot at the rim.On a bum left ankle after three games out, nonetheless.The acrobatic and downright spectacular feat sent drowsy Chase Center into a frenzy, and they’d been waiting for something to get excited about.“Just trying to get back and make plays,” Payton said. “After that we kind of turned up the defensive intensity and it got us getting stops and go out and run and do what we like to do on defense.”Despite the 118-112 win on Friday night, it’s fair to harbor some concerns over how the Warriors defense came out against a San Antonio Spurs offense that ranks as one of the league’s worst. Through much of that first half, the Spurs were sinking open 3-pointers and practically getting to the...

Dear Abby: My husband says he can’t wear his wedding ring to the office

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My husband never wears his wedding ring. In fact, he wears jewelry only when going out. I’ve brought this to his attention many times over the years.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: All these women want to date me, and I don’t know what to do Advice | Dear Abby: How can I get my wife to give my car keys back? Advice | Dear Abby: I’m dreading talking to this girl’s parents about the cheek situation Advice | Dear Abby: I’m on the verge of blowing up at my boss over my unofficial duties Advice | Dear Abby: The bride has no room for all the gifts she wants Most recently, I noticed he donned all his “going-out jewelry” with another ring on his right ring finger. It’s as if he consciously chose to wear all the jewelry except the wedding ring.I have noticed this many times and have questioned it. His answer is always, “I can’t wear it wit...

Joe Biden Moves to Lift Nearly Every Restriction on Israel’s Access to U.S. Weapons Stockpile

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

The White House has requested the removal of restrictions on all categories of weapons and ammunition Israel is allowed to access from U.S. weapons stockpiles stored in Israel itself.The move to lift restrictions was included in the White House’s supplemental budget request, sent to the Senate on October 20. “This request would,” the proposed budget says, “allow for the transfer of all categories of defense articles.” The request pertains to little-known weapons stockpiles in Israel that the Pentagon established for use in regional conflicts, but which Israel has been permitted to access in limited circumstances — the very limits President Joe Biden is seeking to remove. “If enacted, the amendments would create a two-step around restrictions on U.S. weapons transfers to Israel.”“If enacted, the amendments would create a two-step around restrictions on U.S. weapons transfers to Israel,” said John Ramming Chappell, a legal fellow with the Center for Civilians in Conflict.Created in th...

DeMar DeRozan ejected over last-second 3 — ‘I don’t care about no In-Season Tournament points’ — in another Chicago Bulls loss

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

When Pascal Siakam launched a 3-pointer with three seconds left Fridayin Toronto, DeMar DeRozan had seen enough.The Raptors led by 13. The shot clock had shut off and the Bulls had sagged back to allow the final seconds to play out. But coach Darko Rajaković and the Raptors bench were still shouting: “Score, score, score.”Siakam followed orders, launching a 3-pointer with three seconds left. DeRozan erupted in immediate indignation, storming toward the Raptors bench to shout down coaches and players alike. He continued to stare down several former teammates after the referee ejected him with his second technical, hugging Raptors owner Masai Ujiri in the tunnel before ripping his jersey off in frustration on the way to the locker room.It all came from a misunderstanding. The Raptors — who seemingly forgot they already were eliminated from In-Season Tournament advancement — thought they still needed to pad their point differential. But DeRozan didn’t...

What bats could the Red Sox add this holiday season?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

Much has been said about how the Red Sox need pitching, but new chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has also gone on record as saying the club needs another bat, too.Specifically, the Red Sox could use another right-handed hitter to help balance out the lineup. The club could also use an upgrade at second base or a designated hitter who offers some degree of positional versatility.The market for position players isn’t nearly as deep as the pitching market, but there are still a number of interesting options available through trades and free agency. For the purposes of this exercise, we’re going to ignore financial considerations or what it might take to land someone in a trade and instead focus more on fit and what each player could potentially bring to the table.Shohei Ohtani, DHOn one hand Ohtani really doesn’t make a lot of sense for the Red Sox at all. He’s a left-handed bat who will exclusively DH next season, so positionally adding him would be like ja...

Hamas will release 14 Israeli hostages for Israel freeing 42 Palestinians in the second swap

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas will release 14 Israeli hostages in exchange for Israel freeing 42 Palestinian prisoners Saturday as part of an ongoing swap during a four-day cease-fire, according to a senior Egyptian official.The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to talk about details of the ongoing negotiations, said that mediators Egypt and Qatar have given Israel a list of those hostages to be released provided by Hamas. A second official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the details.The upcoming swap on day two of the cease-fire follows Hamas’ release Friday of 24 of the approximately 240 hostages it took during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war. In exchange Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison.Those freed from captivity in Gaza were 13 Israelis, 10 Thai nationals and a citizen of the Philippines.It was not immediately clear if any non-Israeli captives may also be released Saturday.THIS IS A BRE...