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Farmers protest against a German government plan to cut tax breaks for diesel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:44 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German farmers gathered in Berlin on Monday to protest against planned cuts to tax breaks for diesel used in agriculture, part of a deal reached by the government to plug a hole in the country’s budget.Leaders of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition last week agreed on measures to fill a 17 billion-euro ($18.5 billion) hole in next year’s budget, saying they would achieve that by reducing climate-damaging subsidies and slightly reducing some ministries’ spending, among other measures. That was necessary after Germany’s highest court annulled an earlier decision to repurpose 60 billion euros originally meant to cushion the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic for measures to help combat climate change and modernize the country. The maneuver fell foul of Germany’s strict self-imposed limits on running up debt.As more details of the deal have emerged, so has discontent, notably over a plan to cut tax breaks for agricultural diesel and scrap...

Taiwan reports 2 Chinese balloons near its territory as China steps up pressure ahead of elections

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:44 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Two Chinese balloons flew north of Taiwan, the island’s Defense Ministry said Monday, as China increases pressure on the self-ruled territory it claims as its own ahead of a presidential election in January.The balloons crossed the sensitive Taiwan Strait separating the island from China and were detected about 110 nautical miles (204 kilometers) northwest of the northern port city of Keelung on Sunday, the ministry said. It was the second time this month Taiwan reported a Chinese balloon near its territory, after one crossed southwest of Keelung on Dec. 7.China’s potential for using weather balloons to spy on other governments came into focus earlier this year, when the United States shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic Ocean, drawing China’s ire.Taiwan’s Defense Ministry did not say whether it suspected the balloon could have been used for spying.China’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately comment.Beijing has increased pressure o...

Love it or hate it, self-checkout is here to stay. But it’s going through a reckoning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:44 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The promise of self-checkout was alluring: Customers could avoid long lines by scanning and bagging their own items, workers could be freed of doing those monotonous tasks themselves and retailers could save on labor costs. All that has happened since the rollout of self-checkout but so has this: Customers griping about clunky technology that spits out mysterious error codes, workers having to stand around and monitor both humans and machines, and retailers contending with theft. “Going to the grocery store used to be simple, and now it’s frustrating,” said Cindy Whittington, 66, of Fairfax, Virginia. “You’re paying more. You’re working harder to pay for merchandise at their store. And it’s become an ordeal to check out. I should get a 5% discount.”In 2021, self-checkout usage represented 30% of transactions, almost double from 2018, according to a survey of retailers by FMI, an industry group. And 96% of retailers surveyed offer self-checkout.But t...

Austin heads to Israel as US urges transition to a more targeted approach in Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:44 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was expected to press Israel to wind down major combat operations in Gaza on a visit Monday, in the latest test of whether the U.S. can leverage its unwavering support for the offensive to blunt its devastating impact on Palestinian civilians.France, the U.K. and Germany, some of Israel’s closest allies, joined global calls for a cease-fire over the weekend, and Israeli protesters have demanded the government relaunch talks with the militant group on releasing more hostages after three were mistakenly killed by Israeli troops while waving a white flag.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israel will keep fighting until it removes Hamas from power, crushes its still-formidable military capabilities and returns the roughly 129 hostages still held by the group after its Oct. 7 attack, which ignited the war. The U.S. has vetoed international calls for a cease-fire and rushed munitions to its close ally while pressing i...

Daily horoscope for December 18, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:44 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Pisces.Happy Birthday for Monday, Dec. 18, 2023:You are a quick learner and have a strong imagination. You make plans far into the future. This year is the beginning of a nine-year cycle for you — a time for new beginnings, adventures and major changes. Set some goals. You might take on a leadership role.ARIES(March 21-April 19)★★★It’s a pleasant day to begin your week. Conversations with bosses and parents might boost your wealth or earnings. This will work if you’re trying to get back wages or something that was owed to you from the past. It’s a good day to ask for a loan or a mortgage. Tonight: Avoid arguments.TAURUS(April 20-May 20)★★★★This is an excellent day to learn something or study anything that interests you. You also will make headway on working on a manuscript or a special paper. Legal and medical matters are favored. You might want to make travel plans...

Commission sends request for information to Apple and Google under the Digital Services Act

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:44 GMT

On 14 December, the European Commission formally sent requests for information under the Digital Services Act (DSA) to Apple and Google. The Commission is requesting the providers of these services to provide more information on how they have diligently identified any systemic risks concerning the App Store and Google Play. In order to ensure more safety for users, the Commission also seeks more information from the App Store and Google Play on their compliance with the rules applicable to online marketplaces and to transparency related to recommender systems and online advertisements.The requested information regarding the App Store and Google Play must be provided to the Commission by 15 January 2024. Based on the assessment of the replies, the Commission will assess next steps. This could entail the formal opening of proceedings pursuant to Article 66 of the DSA.Pursuant to Article 74(2) of the DSA, the Commission can impose fines for incorrect, incomplete, or misleading informat...

Kazakhstan’s results in PISA 2022 reviewed at OECD Eurasian week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:44 GMT

Kazakhstan’s positive experience in the implementation of the OECD’s Program for International Student Assessment was noted at the round table titled “Lessons from PISA 2022 for Eurasia”.The event took place in Paris in the framework of the OECD Eurasian Week – an annual high-level meeting of countries participating in the Eurasian Competitiveness Program of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.The lessons of the country’s participation in the PISA 2022 study were discussed in the report of the Minister of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Gani Beisembayev, which was presented to the participants of the meeting by the Permanent Delegate of Kazakhstan to International Organizations in Paris Askar Abdrakhmanov.It was noted that Kazakhstan’s progress in PISA was influenced by the introduction of relevant educational initiatives implemented with the support of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Consolidating the status of teacher, introduction of updated curric...

Elections in Serbia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:44 GMT

The Serbian government has been accused of a series of misdoings during yesterday’s elections: from buying in thousands of voters from Republika Srpska and other neighbouring states (Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo) who have fake residency in Belgrade to an attack on CRTA observer mission (poll observers) where their vehicle has been completely destroyed and they have been threatened when indicating on infractions, the situation is hectic regarding the elections procedure.Other accusations, such as the so-called “Bulgarian train” method where votes are bought on the spot with the voter receiving outside the polling station a filled out ballot with the governing party already circled or when impoverished minority groups (like Roma) who are in worse socio-economic living conditions are asked to take a picture of their ballot and ID card - they are then assured they will continue to get social assistance or receive bonuses, are two of other irregularities being seen.The opposition and ci...

A foe turned friend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:44 GMT

On the face of it, he is a perfect opposition politician - all righteous anger and condemnation when you browse through his social networks or listen to him speaking in front of a rally with his supporters.Igor Dodon, an ex-President of Moldova and one of the country’s most prominent politicians, does not mince words when it comes to bashing the incumbent Maia Sandu or her ruling PAS party whom he accuses of having turned Moldova into a dictatorship. Switching fluently between Russian and Romanian, he tours Moldova calling on his supporters to “send a clear message to the authorities that they are no longer legitimate.” His anti-Western stance has even earned him a reputation as the most pro-Russian politician in Moldova who once came to power by capitalizing on a photograph with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and was Putin’s only foreign guest of honour at a military parade in Moscow in 2017.Mr. Dodon lost to Sandu in a 2020 run-off and has been at the helm of the largest opposition Socia...

Dear Abby: My sister doesn’t know it, but my husband’s demand is non-negotiable

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:44 GMT

DEAR ABBY: For years, my sister has been planning to retire and move in with my husband and me.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I’m not sure I can spend the rest of my life with babyman in tow Advice | Dear Abby: I can’t believe my wife thinks it’s normal how she lives Advice | Dear Abby: My wife’s snubbing of my parents could cost me a lot of money Advice | Dear Abby: This is my family’s pronunciation, and the correction is hurtful Advice | Dear Abby: If my daughter’s not good enough for his son, what does that mean for us? She lives out of state, so this is a major move for her. It was never a problem — until now.She is a strong anti-vax advocate and refuses to get vaccinated for COVID. My husband said she can’t move in with us unless she is.How can I tell her diplomatically that she’s no longer welcome to live with us? This is really upsetting f...