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Israel-Hamas war prominent topic on the agenda of EU leaders meeting in Brussels

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:56 GMT

Spain, Ireland, Belgium and Malta want EU leaders to debate the situation in Gaza and jointly call for a lasting humanitarian ceasefire that would end the conflict, they said in a letter to Charles Michel. Developments in the war between Israel and Hamas will be a prominent topic on the agenda of European Union leaders who meet Thursday and Friday in Brussels, writes Yossi Lempkowicz.In his invitation letter to the 27 leaders, European Council President Charles Michel wrote: "We must call for all hostages to be released and vigorously address the alarming humanitarian situation in Gaza."He added: "We have to be strong in supporting Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself against Hamas, as well as in unequivocally defending international law and international humanitarian law.""Our broader reflection will include working towards security and stability in the region and prospects for lasting peace based on the two-state solution," he wrote."We should also address all forms of hat...

Enjoy the gift of an easy move in

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:56 GMT

For new-home buyers moving in anytime from November through January, organization can make all the difference in the experience. So, too, can treating the move-in process as a holiday gift in itself.The upcoming move might be the perfect excuse for a minimalistic holiday season. Instead of elaborately decorating the old house like usual, save time and energy for more constructive pursuits that will simplify the move and ensure you don’t forget important tasks.To prepare, let’s review a checklist of tasks to finish in advance so there are as few surprises as possible come moving day.Plan storage systemsThere’s nothing better than a beautiful new home. Except, perhaps, a well-organized, beautiful new home.The decision to have closet and garage organization and storage systems installed before move in can save the new homeowner time. If the systems aren’t in place on moving day, you’ll either not want to unpack or you’ll have to repack and unpack again later.During the last stages of c...

Putin says there will be no peace in Ukraine until goals are achieved, while offering rare details

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:56 GMT

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation marking the national holiday celebrated on December 12 - Constitution Day, at the Novo-Ogaryovo State residence outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)(AP/Mikhail Tereshchenko) Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation marking the national holiday celebrated on December 12 - Constitution Day, at the Novo-Ogaryovo State residence outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)(AP/Mikhail Tereshchenko) ...

Orban tests the European Union’s promises to help Ukraine as he stands firm on blocking aid

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:56 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders struggled at the start of a two-day summit Thursday to keep their two most elementary promises to Ukraine at war intact — to give it the money and wherewithal to stave off the Russian invasion and maintain its hope that one day it will be able to join the wealthy bloc.And stunningly, the threat to that commitment does not come from outside, but from within, from its increasingly recalcitrant member Hungary. The vision of its prime minister, Viktor Orban, heartily shaking hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin two months ago still hung heavy over the summit.Orban came into the summit vowing to both block the plans by his 26 fellow leaders to officially declare that membership negotiations with Ukraine can start, and more pressingly, deny Kyiv 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in financial aid that the country dearly needs to stay afloat.“The European Union is about to make a terrible mistake and they must be stopped — even if 26 of them want t...

Fewer Md. schools at five-star status in state’s report card

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:56 GMT

Although the majority of Maryland’s public schools experienced no change this year in the state Department of Education’s five-star rating system, there was a statewide decrease of schools to receive top-star status.According to data released Wednesday, 85 schools received five stars during the 2022-23 school year, compared to 215 schools from the 2021-22 school year.One main reason for the difference stems from absenteeism, a measure in the rating system that wasn’t used two years ago because of chronic absenteeism related to the COVID-19 pandemic.The new report cards also include an assessment of academic growth of elementary and middle school students and eighth-grade social studies scores from the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP).“This is a new baseline year for Maryland, in terms of where we are and where we want to be,” interim State Superintendent Carey Wright said in a statement. “Due to the difference in calculating results between the two school years, we c...

Steel Connect: Fiscal Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:56 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — NEW YORK (AP) — Steel Connect, Inc (STCN) on Thursday reported earnings of $4.4 million in its fiscal first quarter.On a per-share basis, the New York-based company said it had net income of 15 cents.The supply chain business process management services company posted revenue of $41.3 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on STCN at https://www.zacks.com/ap/STCNSource

Xavi under pressure as Barcelona visits Valencia after two straight defeats

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:56 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Another poor performance by Barcelona in a defeat at modest Antwerp has increased the pressure on Xavi Hernández to turn things around.The 3-2 loss in Belgium on Wednesday didn’t mean much in practical terms. The final group game of the Champions League came with Barcelona already assured of a spot in the knockout rounds for the first time in three seasons.However, Xavi could surely have used a good result because his star-filled side had just been outplayed by Spanish league leader Girona 4-2 last weekend, a setback that dealt a blow to its domestic title defense.After falling at Antwerp, which finished the group in last place, the Barcelona-based sports papers opened fire on their team. “No Forgiveness” was Mundo Deportivo’s headline, while Sport went with “Enough Is Enough!”“The defeat that really hurt was the one against Girona,” Xavi said this week after trying to find the bright side of his side’s stumble against Antwerp that also cost the club a ...

2023: The year we played with artificial intelligence — and weren’t sure what to do about it

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:56 GMT

Artificial intelligence went mainstream in 2023 — it was a long time coming yet has a long way to go for the technology to match people’s science fiction fantasies of human-like machines.Catalyzing a year of AI fanfare was ChatGPT. The chatbot gave the world a glimpse of recent advances in computer science even if not everyone figured out quite how it works or what to do with it.“I would call this an inflection moment,” pioneering AI scientist Fei-Fei Li said. “2023 is, in history, hopefully going to be remembered for the profound changes of the technology as well as the public awakening. It also shows how messy this technology is.”It was a year for people to figure out “what this is, how to use it, what’s the impact — all the good, the bad and the ugly,” she said.PANIC OVER AIThe first AI panic of 2023 set in soon after New Year’s Day when classrooms reopened and schools from Seattle to Paris started blocking ChatGPT. Teenagers were already asking the chatbot — re...

Aurora crews battle large overnight fire at construction site

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:56 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Aurora firefighters battled a large fire that engulfed several residential buildings that were under construction early Thursday morning.At 1:50 a.m., Aurora Fire Rescue tweeted about a third-alarm fire near the 7300 block of South Addison Court. The area is next to the Red-tailed Hawk Park in the Heritage Eagle Bend neighborhood. Arson suspect wanted in large downtown Littleton fire Photos provided by Aurora Fire Rescue show the extent of the fire.Aurora Fire Rescue battled a large fire in a neighborhood under construction on Dec. 14. (Aurora Fire Rescue)Viewer photo of Aurora Fire Rescue battling a large fire on Dec. 14. (Viewer: Oscar)Aurora Fire Rescue battled a large fire in a neighborhood under construction on Dec. 14. (Aurora Fire Rescue)Aurora Fire Rescue battled a large fire in a neighborhood under construction on Dec. 14. (Aurora Fire Rescue)Since the fire started at residential buildings under construction, crews said they ran into several obstacles, inc...

Denver weather: Sun, clouds with seasonal temperatures

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:56 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Skies will continue to slowly clear Thursday, giving most of the Front Range a mix of sun and clouds with seasonal highs in the Denver weather forecast.Weather today: Partly cloudy skiesAfter a foggy start to the day, Denver will see partly cloudy skies with light winds. Broken rail caused Colorado train derailment that collapsed bridge, preliminary findings show Afternoon highs will be close to seasonal averages in the low 40s.Pinpoint Weather: Daily forecast on Dec. 14 Weather tonight: Clearing continuesThe clouds will gradually continue to clear overnight as lows dip below freezing. Denver will see lows in the middle 20s with light winds.Pinpoint Weather: Overnight forecast on Dec. 14 Looking ahead: Weekend warmingFriday is back to mainly sunny skies to round out the workweek with mild highs in the lower 50s. Denver City Council to vote on $1.15M in funding to rebrand 16th Street Mall Saturday kicks off the weekend with plenty of sunshine and warm highs in th...