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The Netherlands’ longtime ruling party says it won’t join a new government following far-right’s win

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The process of forming a new Dutch government in the aftermath of far-right firebrand Geert Wilders’ stunning election victory got underway Friday as leaders of political parties met with the chair of parliament’s lower house to appoint a “scout” to investigate possible coalitions.Wilders’ anti-Islam Party for Freedom, known by its Dutch acronym PVV, won 37 seats in the 150-seat lower house, indicating a seismic shift to the right for the Netherlands. The party of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte won 24, 10 fewer than in the previous election, according to a near complete count of Wednesday’s votes.The new leader of Rutte’s People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, said ahead of Friday’s meeting that the party known as VVD would not formally join a new coalition but might support one in parliament.Yeşilgöz-Zegerius told Dutch broadcaster NOS said that after 13 years of Rutte as prime m...

Weekend need-to-know: Santa’s coming to town and more holiday events

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

Holiday festivities are in full swing this weekend in Toronto and the GTA as the first snowfall is expected to hit the area on Sunday.There are no major TTC or GO Transit closures to impede your holiday spirit this weekend as well.Top eventsToronto’s Santa Claus ParadeThe Original Santa Claus Parade returns to Toronto streets this Sunday with hundreds of floats and Santa Claus in his sleigh, of course. If you want to catch a glimpse, the parade starts at Christie Pits Park at 12:30 p.m. and ends at St. Lawrence Market.The new route of the Santa Claus Parade in Toronto. (Photo via: The Original Santa Claus Parade website)And just prior to the parade, you can catch Santa’s running in the Holly Jolly Fun Run for the most festive five-kilometre run in the city, kicking off at 11:45 a.m. The run is held along the parade route. If you are interested in running yourself, registration is still open.Road closures will be in effect for the parade and run. As well, the TTC says it ...

Nissan will invest over $1 billion to make EV versions of its best-selling cars in the UK

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Nissan will invest more than 1 billion pounds ($1.3 billion) to update its factory in northeast England to make electric versions of its two best-selling cars, a boost for the British government as it tries to revive the country’s ailing economy. The Japanese automaker manufactures the gasoline-powered Qashqai and smaller Juke crossover vehicles at the factory in Sunderland, which employs 6,000 workers. The company said it’s directly investing up to 1.12 billion pounds to produce electric successors to the two models. The money also will enable “wider investment in infrastructure projects and the supply chain, including a new gigafactory” at the site, the government said in a separate press release. “Nissan’s investment is a massive vote of confidence in the U.K.’s automotive industry,” which contributes 71 billion pounds a year to the economy, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said. The Qashqai is the U.K.’s second most popular vehicle this year, while the ...

Indian authorities release Kashmiri journalist Fahad Shah after 21 months in prison

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Indian authorities have released a prominent Kashmir journalist on bail nearly two years after he was arrested on accusations of publishing “anti-national content” and “glorifying terrorism” in the disputed Himalayan region.Fahad Shah, founder and editor of news portal The Kashmir Walla, was arrested in February 2022 under India’s sedition and anti-terror laws. He was released on Thursday after a court last week granted him bail, saying there was not enough evidence to try him for terrorism and quashed some of the charges.The 21 months’ confinement of Shah, who is also a correspondent for U.S. newspaper Christian Science Monitor and other international outlets, highlighted the widening crackdown against journalists and freedom of expression in the contested region. The Indian government banned The Kashmir Walla earlier this year for undeclared reasons.“What he and his colleagues at The Kashmir Walla actually did was to report widely and honestly about ev...

Clive Crook: Democrats empower Trump by ignoring the collapse of trust

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

If polls are to be believed, the U.S. is seriously thinking about putting Donald Trump back in the White House. To those not steeped in politics, that prospect might seem astounding. Naïve observers will ask, first, how Republicans can possibly believe that he’s the right man to lead the country. Next, they will ask why Democrats can’t summon the wit to wreck his chances.The country should be terrified by this looming absurdity, as well as deeply perplexed. Trump’s critics are surely right that his second term would be more dangerous than the first — though they’re right for the wrong reasons. Support for Trump is not just a vote of confidence in a leader with nakedly authoritarian appetites. Second time around, it’s also a conscious and deliberate vote of no confidence in the country’s most vital institutions.To be sure, Trump was elected in 2016 as an outsider who would dare to bend a few norms and break a few things. But in 2024 he’...

EU received over 91,700 asylum applications in August 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

In August 2023, 91,735 first-time asylum applicants (non-EU citizens) applied for international protection in EU countries, a 19% increase compared with August 2022 (77,145). There were also 5,660 subsequent applicants, representing an 8% decrease compared with August 2022 (6 165).This information comes from the monthly asylum data published by Eurostat. The article presents a handful of findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained article on monthly asylum statistics. Source dataset: migr_asyappctzm Syrian nationals remain the largest group of asylum-seekersAs in previous months, in August 2023, Syrians continued to be the largest group of people seeking asylum (18,170 first-time applicants). They were followed by Afghans (9,785), ahead of Turks (7,970), Venezuelans (4,805) and Colombians (4,665). Germany, Spain, France and Italy received 68% of all first-time asylum applicantsSimilarly to previous months, in August 2023, Germany (29,110), Spain (12,075), France (11,495) an...

Word Game: Nov. 24, 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — VORTEXES (VORTEXES: VOR-tex-ez: Masses of fluid in a whirlpool.)Average mark 31 wordsTime limit 45 minutesCan you find 39 or more words in VORTEXES? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — IMPLANT inapt mail main malt mint pail pain paint palm pant pima pint pita plain plaint plait plan plant plat pliant lain lamp lapin limn limp lint alit anti nail tail tampTo 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 [email protected].

Bridge: Nov. 24, 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

Besides The Bridge World, which enjoys a sterling reputation, two other magazines have excellent content. The Bridge Bulletin, the monthly publication of the American Contract Bridge League, has great features, news and a host of instructional columns. (I have contributed since 1981.) It’s more than worth the annual dues. See acbl.org.The colorful Better Bridge magazine, published six times a year, has instruction and quizzes for advancing players. See baronbarclay.com.August Boehm, an expert who is also a noted concert pianist, offered today’s deal in The Bridge Bulletin. At four spades, suppose South takes the ace of hearts and leads a club to dummy to finesse in trumps.DOWN ONEWest wins, cashes a heart and leads a club, forcing out dummy’s last honor. When he takes the ace of diamonds, the defenders cash a club.Boehm notes that South should count losers. He can afford to lose a trump but not a club. South should lead the ace and a second trump, avoiding a finesse that may lose ti...

Ask Amy: I heard my teen bragging about her bad behavior. I’m furious; my husband thinks it’s cute.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

Dear Amy: My husband and I have a bright, high-functioning 16-year-old daughter.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: My boyfriend said his public insult was just a joke. Should I let it go? Advice | Ask Amy: This odd comment makes me wonder if my empty-nest parents are off the rails Advice | Ask Amy: Everyone was stunned when the other grandmother lashed out at me Advice | Ask Amy: We’re baffled by our sister’s behavior. Is a surprise visit in order? Advice | Ask Amy: After 25 years with my fiancé, I’m apparently not family yet I have been teaching her how to perform basic household chores (I do the same with our 12-year-old son) and some basic cooking and cleaning skills — partly to have some help at home, but mainly so that our kids will understand that everyone in the family pitches in and that it’s important to have some life skills.I am a stay-at-home parent and a busy volunteer...

The 10 most expensive homes reported sold in San Jose in the week of Nov. 13

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

A house that sold for $2.9 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in San Jose in the past week.In total, 10 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $1.8 million. The average price per square foot was $1,087.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Nov. 13 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $1.5 million, single-family home in the 5800 block of Pontius CourtThe 1,342 square-foot single-family house in the 5800 block of Pontius Court in San Jose has been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in October and the total purchase price was $1,450,000, $1,080 per square foot. The house was built in 1971. The house features four bedrooms and two bathrooms.9. $1.5 million, single-family residence in the 400 block of South Genevieve LaneThe property in the 400 block of South Genevieve Lane in San Jose has new owner...