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Erdoğan finds a scapegoat in Turkey’s election: LGBTQ+ people

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:44 GMT

ISTANBUL — To President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s LGBTQ+ community represents “deviant structures” and a “virus of heresy.”In the run-up to Sunday’s too-close-to-call election, he has ramped up his poisonous invective against homosexuality, as he seeks to shore up his conservative Islamist base. Almost every other speech from the campaign trail accuses the opposition of undermining family values and of being in the thrall of improbably powerful LGBTQ+ networks — sometimes with hints they are run by paymasters abroad.  “The AK Party has never been an LGBT supporter,” Erdoğan roared at a recent Istanbul rally, referring to his governing party. “We believe in the sanctity of the family. Family is sacred.”Adding a menacing note, he followed up with: “So are we ready to bury these LGBT supporters in the ballot box?”To some extent, the homophobic focus of the campaign is easily explicable. Increasingly deserted by his early supporters, Erdoğan is having to form...

Poland detects object in its airspace that flew from Belarus, likely an observation balloon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:44 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s Defense Ministry said Saturday that it has detected an object in Polish airspace that flew in from the direction of Belarus, and that it’s probably an observation balloon.The ministry tweeted that radar contact with the object was lost near Rypin, a town in central Poland.The ministry said that the Territorial Defense Forces were deployed to search for the object.The development reported Saturday follows two other known incursions into Poland’s airspace since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which lies on Poland’s eastern border. In November, two Polish men were killed when a missile landed in eastern Poland, the result of Ukrainian air forces trying to repel a large-scale attack by Russia.Polish military and political officials are also facing questions about another object that landed on Polish territory in December, but which was only found in April.The Associated Press

Dear Abby: The wedding invitation has a coded message I find tasteless

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:44 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I was born in America to parents who emigrated from Pakistan. Over the last few years, I have noticed a trend at Pakistani weddings: The invitations clearly say “no boxed gifts,” which is obviously code for “we want money” instead.Have you or your readers ever heard of this? I think it’s in poor taste, but it’s common at our weddings. I can’t remember the last one that didn’t request “no boxed gifts” on the invitation. What do you, or your readers, think about this?JUST GIVE ME MONEYDEAR JUST GIVE ME MONEY: In some cultures, gifts of money are expected. Was it a tradition when your parents lived in Pakistan?In any case, according to the rules of etiquette, any mention of gifts on a wedding invitation is considered a social blunder.DEAR ABBY: My 23-year-old daughter and her first and only boyfriend have begun to talk marriage. Although I think he’s a wonderful, smart, compassionate young man who seems to ado...

Curry, Thompson’s struggles from long distance means rare early playoff exit for Warriors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:44 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have dominated opposing teams by burying 3-pointers when left wide open or getting clean looks.However, in the final chapter of what was an arduous season, the defending NBA champions couldn’t get the big shots when they needed them.Curry and Thompson were a combined 6 of 26 from beyond the arc in Friday night’s 122-101 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of their second-round series.The Lakers are moving on to the Western Conference finals, while the Warriors have been eliminated in a playoff series in May for the first time since 2014.It’s also the first time since the 2014 Golden State’s core three of Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green are not advancing to the NBA Finals when the trio is healthy.“We came up short, which is rare for us,” Green said. “At the end of the day, they (Curry and Thompson) missed some shots. They’re human. If they can get the looks that they got and if our season ends ea...

¿Quieres renovar tu casa? Te contamos quiénes califican para recibir hasta $3,200 del IRS

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:44 GMT

Si bien la temporada de impuestos ya ha acabado, el Servicio de Impuestos Internos (IRS por sus siglas en inglés) señaló que los contribuyentes aún pueden aprovecharse de varios créditos fiscales.Entre ellos radica el Crédito Por Las Mejoras de Eficiencia Energética de la Vivienda, el cual fue aprobado por el presidente Biden mediante la Ley de Reducción de la Inflación del 2022.El principal beneficio del crédito es que otorga hasta $3,200 para cubrir ciertas renovaciones ecológicas a viviendas a partir del primero de enero del 2023.Si bien el crédito está dirigido principalmente a los dueños de viviendas, el IRS señala que los inquilinos y propietarios de segundas viviendas también pueden parovechar el beneficio.¿Qué renovaciones califican? Según la agencia, estas son las renovaciones que califican para el beneficio:reemplazo de puertas exteriores, ventanas y tragaluces.Materiales o sistemas de aislamiento y sellado de aire.Aires acondicionados centrales ahorradores de energía...

Modi’s Hindu nationalist party set to lose India’s Karnataka state in polls ahead of national vote

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:44 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party was set to lose Karnataka, the only southern India state it governs, according to an early vote count Saturday that showed opposition Congress party leading in the crucial state polls.With vote counting continuing, India’s Election Commission said the Congress was leading in 127 out of the 224 seats in the state assembly. Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was leading in 62 constituencies, while another regional party, the Janata Dal (Secular), was ahead in 22 seats. Karnataka, one of the wealthiest states in India, voted on Wednesday and full results are expected later Saturday. A party needs 113 seats to win a simple majority.The results are expected to give a major boost to the opposition parties that are banking on forming a united front to challenge Modi in next year’s general election. They will also help prospects of the Congress party, which was routed by the BJP in the last two national polls an...

Zelenskyy arrives in Rome for meetings with Pope Francis, Italian leaders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:44 GMT

ROME (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy arrived in Rome on Saturday for meetings with Pope Francis and Italian leaders, Italian state media reported.Zelenskyy arrived at Rome’s Ciampino airport, with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on hand to greet him, the ANSA news agency said. Zelenskyy will hold midday meetings with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who staunchly backs military and other aid for Ukraine, and with President Sergio Mattarella.Zelenskyy’s exact schedule wasn’t being publicly announced because of security concerns, and the Vatican only confirmed a papal meeting shortly before the Ukrainian president’s expected arrival in Rome.Italian state television reported that as part of protective measures, a no-fly zone was ordered for Rome skies and police sharpshooters were strategically placed on high buildings. Meloni met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, shortly before the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.Francis, who is eage...

Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza trade fire; 2 Palestinians killed in West Bank raid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:44 GMT

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel and Palestinian militants unleashed salvos of fire for a fourth day on Saturday, with the Islamic Jihad militant group launching over a thousand rockets and the Israeli military pounding targets inside the Gaza Strip. There were no immediate reports of casualties in Gaza or Israel on Saturday. But in a reminder of the combustible situation in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military raided the Balata refugee camp in the northern city of Nablus, killing two Palestinians. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the two as 32-year-old Said Mesha and 19-year-old Adnan Araj. At least three other Palestinians were wounded in the raid, the latest of near-daily Israeli arrest operations against suspected militants in the territory. Meanwhile, hopes for an imminent cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad were fading as the Israeli military early Saturday bombed an apartment belonging to Islamic Jihad commander Mohammed Abu Al Att...

Daily horoscope for May 13, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:44 GMT

Moon Alert: After 1 a.m. EDT today, there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The Moon is in Pisces.Happy Birthday for Saturday, May 13, 2023:You have energy, willpower and imagination, which is a wonderful combination for success. You are also disciplined and reliable. This is a year of learning and perhaps teaching. Explore philosophies and belief systems that will get you closer to the true meaning of your life.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★You’ll be happy to do something to make your home more attractive today, because this will please you. This might even spur you to invite the gang over for good food and drink so you can show off your efforts. Let’s face it, you’re great with your hands. Tonight: Peaceful solitude.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★This is a fantastic day to schmooze with others, because you are friendly, affectionate and genuinely interested in what others are doing, especially neighbors, siblings and relatives. Because you show t...

Miss Manners: My girlfriend is too excited about ‘business trips,’ and I’m getting suspicious

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:44 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have been in a relationship with a woman for six months now. Things have been really great; we get along well, make each other laugh a lot and are mutually supportive.The thing is, she goes on business trips once or twice a month that range from a couple of days to a full week. Don’t get me wrong — it’s kind of nice because I get to do things I’m not normally allowed to, like go out for wings with the boys or sit on the couch in my underwear and watch the shows I want to.But lately, I’ve started to wonder if the trips are really for business, like she says, or if they might be short getaways.She gets really excited leading up to these trips, and when she gets back, she always seems a little disappointed.That sounds a lot like vacation to me, and I am not OK with her taking vacations without me.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I don’t know how to navigate my rom-com life Advice | Miss Manners: A...