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Kosovo mourns a slain police officer, some Serb gunmen remain at large after a siege at a monastery

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:52:06 GMT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo on Monday was observing a day of mourning for the Kosovar Albanian police officer killed by Serb gunmen who then barricaded themselves in an Orthodox monastery in an attack that left three assailants dead and further raised tensions between the two former wartime foes as they seek to normalize ties. Flags were at half mast on all public buildings in the capital Pristina to mourn Afrim Bunjaku. In the north, where most of Kosovo’s ethnic Serb minority lives in four municipalities around Mitrovica, police were patrolling in search of the armed assailants after they left the monastery.About 30 gunmen dressed in combat uniforms were involved in the attack, but it is not clear who they are or who is supporting them. Pristina accuses Belgrade of backing the “terrorists,” an accusation Serbia denies, saying they are Serbs from Kosovo protesting the government there.On Sunday the masked gunmen opened fire on a police patrol at about 3 a.m. (01:00 GMT) in Banjs...

Widely scattered showers Monday; showers likely Tuesday/Wednesday with possible thunderstorms. October looks to open warmer than normal

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:52:06 GMT

WGN weekly climate report: On Saturday we managed 81 degrees at O'Hare. It was second stretch of above normal weather this month. The first peaked on the 3rd, 4th and 5th with temps in the mid 90s.  This particular streak had four days of 80 degrees or warmer. Normal high temp is in the low 80s for the last half of September. As of Friday we've only seen about 53% of possible September sunshine. Normal for the entire month is 65% of possible sunshine-- so we've been cloudier than normal this month. And we've also been a little bit soggier than normal. As of Sunday morning, we've seen 2.86" of rainfall at O'Hare—and had 12 days with measurable precipitation. The rainfall has done some good things when for our drought conditions across Chicagoland. Though some areas near the Wisconsin state line is dealing with some areas of severe to extreme drought conditions. Drought conditions are much worse though out on the Great Plains. Our chilliest afternoon so far this month was the 64 ...

Daily horoscope for September 25, 2023

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:52:06 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Aquarius.Happy Birthday for Monday, Sept. 25, 2023:You are complex. You are empathetic with others, and yet you are fiercely independent. You achieve your success through hard work. This year is a time of exciting change for you. Expect increased personal freedom. You might travel. You might meet new friends. Stay flexible.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★This is a great day to begin your week. You will be dazzling in your dealings with work colleagues, friends plus groups and organizations! Your enthusiasm will be contagious. You also might see ways to boost your income. Be open to exploring work-related travel. Tonight: Friendships.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★★You’re high-viz today, which means people notice you more than usual. Meanwhile, you’re happy to schmooze and socialize! (Lucky Taurus natives are on vacation.) Sports events, the arts, the entertainment world and interacti...

NextGenerationEU: Commission receives Italy's fourth payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:52:06 GMT

Italy's fourth payment request, which is worth €16.5 billion, relates to 21 milestones and seven targets covering several reforms in the areas of social inclusion, public procurement, as well as follow-up measures to continue the implementation of the already adopted justice and public employment reforms. The main investments covered by this payment request are related to digitalisation, particularly concerning the transition of local public administrations' data to the cloud, the development of the space industry, green hydrogen, transport, research, education and social policies.Italy's overall recovery and resilience plan is financed by €69bn in grants and €122.6bn in loans. Payments under the Recovery and Resilience Facility are performance-based and contingent on Italy implementing the investments and reforms outlined in its recovery and resilience plan.The Commission will now assess the request and will then send its preliminary assessment of Italy's fulfilment of the mileston...

Miss Manners: My husband doesn’t understand why I was so mad at his friend

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:52:06 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I invited four couples to be our guests for dinner at one of the nicer restaurants in town. I wanted to use proper place cards, but my husband didn’t want to appear “stuffy.”Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Did I deserve this treatment for being a few minutes late? Advice | Miss Manners: If I’m in the aisle seat, do I have any say over the window blind? Advice | Miss Manners: She claimed she was just kidding. How do I make her see it wasn’t funny? Advice | Miss Manners: My friend claims not to have heard these insulting comments Advice | Miss Manners: We’d go to the wedding but we’re obviously on the bride’s B-list We greeted our guests near the entrance to our private dining room, which was close to the head of the table. One of our guests made a beeline to the other end of the table and sat at what should have been ...

Dear Abby: I’m offended that my friend doesn’t want my medical advice

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:52:06 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I’m part of a group chat with two dear old friends. We are attorneys with lengthy and distinguished careers.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: Am I right that life is too short to stay with my unpredictable husband? Advice | Dear Abby: My husband ruins every vacation. Can I leave him home? Advice | Dear Abby: Why do they think I should give up my barstool for them? Advice | Dear Abby: I shouldn’t have to compete with my son’s clingy girlfriends Advice | Dear Abby: Everyone heard him call his co-worker baby, and I was humiliated Like so many, we started the chat during the pandemic, when I was living abroad and unable to get back to the U.S. We have continued the chat as we live in different states now. We use it to check in with each other daily or share frustrations, opinions and thoughts on current events and life’s challenges.Recently, one of the women wrote that du...

Giants take on the Padres in first of 3-game series

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:52:06 GMT

San Diego Padres (77-79, third in the NL West) vs. San Francisco Giants (77-79, fourth in the NL West)San Francisco; Monday, 9:45 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Padres: Blake Snell (14-9, 2.38 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 227 strikeouts); Giants: Logan Webb (10-13, 3.48 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 187 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Padres -117, Giants -102; over/under is 7 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants host the San Diego Padres to open a three-game series.San Francisco is 43-32 at home and 77-79 overall. The Giants have a 37-62 record in games when they have allowed a home run.San Diego has a 77-79 record overall and a 33-42 record on the road. The Padres have a 39-21 record in games when they hit at least two home runs.Monday’s game is the 11th meeting between these teams this season. The Padres hold a 6-4 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Wilmer Flores has 22 doubles and 22 home runs while hitting .285 for the Giants. LaMonte Wade Jr is 9-for-28 with a triple and three...

El premio mayor del Powerball llega a los US$ 785 millones, el cuarto mayor premio de la historia de esta lotería

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:52:06 GMT

(CNN) — Un bote récord de US$ 785 millones del Powerball está en juego en el sorteo de este lunes por la noche, el cuarto mayor premio de la historia del juego, según Powerball.El afortunado ganador del gran premio podrá elegir entre un premio anual por un valor estimado de US$ 785 millones o un pago único estimado en US$ 367 millones. Ambos antes de impuestos, según Powerball.El gigantesco premio sólo ha sido superado por tres botes anteriores de más de US$ 1.000 millones, según la Asociación de Loterías Multiestatal.Powerball: estos son los números ganadores del premio mayor de US$ 1.080 millones vendido en CaliforniaEl cuarto mayor premio de la historia de Powerball está en juego en el sorteo del 25 de septiembre de 2023: un impresionante bote de US$ 785 millones. (Crédito: Giorgio Vera/AFP/Getty Images)Ha habido 28 sorteos consecutivos sin un ganador del gran premio desde que se ganó un bote de Powerball el 19 de julio, cuando un boleto vendido en California ganó un premio...

Dallas Wings to play the Las Vegas Aces on the road

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:52:06 GMT

Dallas Wings (22-18, 11-9 Western Conference) at Las Vegas Aces (34-6, 18-2 Western Conference)Las Vegas; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Aces -10.5; over/under is 175.5WNBA PLAYOFFS SEMIFINALS:BOTTOM LINE: The Las Vegas Aces play the Dallas Wings.The Aces have gone 18-2 against Western Conference teams. Las Vegas has a 26-3 record in games decided by 10 or more points.The Wings have gone 11-9 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas is the Western leader with 38.7 rebounds per game led by Natasha Howard averaging 8.0.TOP PERFORMERS: Chelsea Gray is averaging 15.3 points and 7.3 assists for the Aces. A’ja Wilson is averaging 28.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals and four blocks over the past 10 games for Las Vegas.Satou Sabally is averaging 18.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.8 steals for the Wings. Arike Ogunbowale is averaging 21.2 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 40.3% over the last 10 games for Dallas.LAST 10 GAMES: Aces: 8-2, averagin...

This week in business: consumer confidence, inflation updates

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:52:06 GMT

Checking confidence?The Conference Board on Tuesday releases its gauge of consumer confidence for September.Economists project that confidence fell slightly this month. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index surged in July to 114, its highest level in 24 months and has generally been strong since late in 2022. A reading of 90 or better reflects a healthy economy.Consumer confidence, by month:April 103.7May: 102.5June: 110.1July: 114.0Aug.: 106.1Sept. (est): 105.4Source: FactSetMeasuring inflationThe Commerce Department releases its August snapshot of U.S. consumer spending and inflation on Friday.The personal consumption expenditure price index, a gauge of inflation that’s closely monitored by the Federal Reserve, ticked higher in July and is expected to have edged higher again last month. The Fed has been raising interest rates in a bid to bring inflation back down to 2%.PCE Deflator, annual percent change, seasonally adjusted:March 4.17April 4.29May 3.77June: 2.96J...