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Major Conference in Banja Luka Supports the Position of the Republika Srpska

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:42 GMT

A major international conference was convened in Banja Luka, the capital of the Republic of Srpska, last Saturday, December 9. Held under the title “Respect for Sovereignty of the Republic of Srpska and the Dayton Agreement,” it was attended by politicians, experts and academics from several Western countries to discuss the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.The President of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, gave the keynote speech at the conference, reaffirming the right to sovereignty of the Serbian people and the need for everyone to respect the Dayton agreements.Željko Budimir, Minister of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska, said that the most important thing is to respect international agreements and documents in general, and the Dayton agreement in particular, as it has ended the war and provided constitutional structure:“Our friends from different political parties in Western Europe, Russia and the USA know what we are ...

Ask Amy: I’m a big tipper, and I want to be thanked for it

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:42 GMT

Dear Amy: My wife and I eat out at restaurants frequently.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: The teachers won’t explain why they call my son disrespectful Advice | Ask Amy: How did my adventurous life end up like this, and can I get it back? Advice | Ask Amy: My husband can’t see why these houseguests disturb me Advice | Ask Amy: My neighbors want money because the leaves fall in their yard Advice | Ask Amy: My wife objects to my strategy for mellow shopping with our 3-year-olds I know the waitstaff rely on tips as part of their compensation. I often tip between 30 percent and 50 percent of the bill.I think this is generous and should be acknowledged by the server. Just a simple “thank you” would suffice.My wife says it is my choice to tip generously and I should not expect a thank you.With all the discussions on tipping lately, I think it’s a two-way street, and a good tip d...

Harriette Cole: My mom’s rule kept me stuck at home for the holiday break

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:42 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently went home for a holiday break to visit my parents.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I can see myself skipping class a lot this winter Advice | Harriette Cole: I can’t get my home organized. What am I doing wrong? Advice | Harriette Cole: This person’s remarks are affecting my confidence on the court Advice | Harriette Cole: I’d rather not get a new boyfriend if I can improve my current one Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m nervous about the impression I’ll make on my boyfriend’s family I don’t really enjoy my time at home much because my mom is very controlling. She doesn’t let my sister or me drive her car to explore our hometown and what it has to offer since she is scared we will crash it. My dad is gone all the time, so we can’t use his car either. As a result, we are stuck in the house all break with nothing to do.It&...

No. 11 Utah looks to recover from loss of 2nd leading scorer Gianna Kneepkens

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:42 GMT

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Utah is still reeling from the loss of Gianna Kneepkens to a season-ending foot injury. The 11th-ranked Utes are trying to figure out how to adapt to the loss of the team’s second-leading scorer.“It was an emotional blow. It’s obviously a blow to our team and how we play,” Utah coach Lynne Roberts said. “It wasn’t just like, oh no, what does this mean on the court? But it was, you know, it was just challenging. I think the team has done a good job of coming together and playing a little bit harder for her.”Roberts said that Kneepkens, who injured the foot against BYU on Dec. 5, had successful surgery last Thursday and that the guard has been “blowing up the team’s phones.”“She wants to be here so badly, she’s such a competitor,” Roberts said of playing in Connecticut against South Carolina. “I think it gives us just a little more emphasis to player hard for her.”Star forward Alissa Pili has raised her level of play lately, avera...

COP28 climate talks enter last day with no agreement in sight on fossil fuels

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:42 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A stark standoff between countries that want a dramatic phase-out to fossil fuels causing damaging warming and those that don’t crushed hopes for an on-time finish to a critical climate summit Tuesday.The United Nations-led summit known as COP28 was scheduled to end around midday after nearly two weeks of speeches, demonstrations and negotiations. But the climate talks almost always run long, and Monday’s release of a draft agreement angered countries that insist on a commitment for rapid phase-out of coal, oil and gas.Instead, the draft called for countries to reduce “consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner.” Majid al-Suwaidi, COP28 Director-General, said Monday night’s draft was meant to get countries to start talking and presenting what are deal-killers for them, which are called “red lines.”“The text we released was a starting point for discussions,” he said at a news conference midd...

New Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says his government will mobilize to keep the world committed to helping Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:42 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — New Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says his government will mobilize to keep the world committed to helping Ukraine.Source

A missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels strikes a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:42 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen near a key maritime chokepoint, the rebels and authorities said Tuesday.The assault on the oil and chemical tanker Strinda expands a campaign by the Iranian-backed rebels targeting ships close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into apparently now striking those that have no clear ties to Israel. That potentially imperils cargo and energy shipments coming through the Suez Canal and further widens the international impact of the Israel-Hamas war now raging in the Gaza Strip. Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree issued a video statement saying the rebels only fired on the vessel when it “rejected all warning calls.”The U.S. military’s Central Command issued a statement Tuesday saying an anti-ship cruise missile “launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen” hit the Strinda. “There were no U.S. ships in the vici...

Air Force disciplines 15 as IG finds that security failures led to massive classified documents leak

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force has disciplined 15 personnel in connection with the massive classified documents leak by an airman earlier this year, concluding that multiple officials intentionally failed to take required action on his suspicious behavior, the Air Force inspector general reported Monday.Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira is accused of leaking highly classified military from the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts where he worked.The punitive actions range from relieving personnel from their positions, including command positions, to non-judicial punishment under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.Teixeira, who’s 21, has been behind bars since his April arrest on charges stemming from the most consequential intelligence leak in years. He is charged under the Espionage Act with unauthorized retention and transmission of classified national defense information. He has pleaded not guilty, and no tr...

Exclusive: Former Mar-a-Lago employee-turned-witness repeatedly contacted by Trump and associates before documents charges

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:42 GMT

West Palm Beach, FL (CNN) — Three months after the FBI seized classified records from Mar-a-Lago last August, a longtime employee of Donald Trump’s private club quit his job.Within days, the former president did something he rarely did – Trump called the former employee on his cell phone to ask why he was leaving after two decades of working at the resort, according to two sources and material seen by CNN.The employee told the former president he had another business opportunity he wanted to pursue. The message later got back to the former employee that Trump thought he was a “good man.”But he wasn’t just any staffer at the club – the former employee was a witness to several episodes special counsel Jack Smith included in his federal criminal indictment charging the former president with mishandling classified documents.He had moved several boxes for Trump and was also privy to conversations referenced in the indictment between Trump and his two co-defendants, Mar-a-Lago proper...

Asylum seeker aboard UK’s Bibby Stockholm barge dies

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:42 GMT

A person has died aboard the Bibby Stockholm barge, used by the British government to house asylum seekers.Two care groups working to support migrants on the vessel — moored in Portland, Dorset — confirmed to POLITICO Tuesday that one of the people aboard had died. The U.K.’s Home Office said: “We are aware of reporting of an incident involving an asylum seeker on the Bibby Stockholm.  “It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”Steve Smith, CEO of refugee charity Care4Calais, said the group’s “thoughts are with the person who has lost their life, their family and their friends. It is also with all those stuck on board the Bibby Stockholm who will be experiencing a deep feeling of grief and worry today.”The U.K. government deployed the Bibby Stockholm over the summer amid deep controversy.It argued the use of the barge would cut the mounting cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels while their claims are processed, and would deter people from making dange...