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Commission approves amendment to 2022-2027 regional state aid map for Belgium

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:55 GMT

The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, an amendment to Belgium's map for granting regional aid until 31 December 2027, within the framework of the regional aid guidelines.On 18 July 2022, the Commission approved the 2022-2027 regional aid map for Belgium. On 30 May 2023, the Commission adopted a Communication regarding a possible mid-term review of the regional aid maps, taking into account updated statistics.In this context, the amendment to Belgium's regional aid map approved today adds the entire Hainaut Province to the list of areas eligible for regional investment aid under the derogation of Article 107(3), point (a), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (“‘a' areas”). The gross domestic product per capita of Hainaut Province has fallen below 75% of the EU average, which is the threshold at which a region can be considered among the most disadvantaged regions in the EU.The maximum amount of aid for large enterprises in Hainaut Province...

Horoscopes Dec. 11, 2023: Gary Dourdan, do what makes you happy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:55 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Mo’Nique, 56; Gary Dourdan, 57; Jermaine Jackson, 69; Bess Armstrong, 70.Happy Birthday: Choose to take responsibility for your happiness, and get your facts straight before you share your thoughts. Pay attention to what others expect or require before committing to something time-consuming or costly. Don’t let change dictate your next move. Do what makes you happy, and don’t let anyone make you feel guilty about following your heart or your dreams. Your numbers are 8, 14, 19, 24, 32, 36, 45.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Show discipline when spending and handling contractual or medical issues. Knowing and doing what’s best for you and following through will make a difference. Be open to suggestions, learning and accepting last-minute changes. You will reach your goal. 5 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take charge, and don’t stop until you are happy with the results. When in doubt, ask an expert and learn as you go. Your success...

Bridge: Dec. 11, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:55 GMT

“Got your Christmas decorations done?” I asked Unlucky Louie. “Lights put up outside, and so on?”“We’re not doing much this year,” Louie said. “Lights should be festive, but my neighbor has gone overboard. He’s encouraging aircraft to land in his front yard.”When I watched today’s deal at the club, East-West had a difficult signaling problem. South played at three hearts after a competitive auction. West led the king of diamonds, and East encouraged with the eight. West duly continued with the ace and a third diamond for East to ruff.SPADE SHIFTEast then led a trump. West took the ace and shifted to the nine of spades, but declarer judged correctly to take the ace, draw trumps and attack the clubs. When West’s queen appeared, declarer claimed, making three.West’s defense would have been right if East had held the ace of clubs instead of the king of spades, but then South wouldn’t have much of an opening bid. East prevails by signaling with the deuce on the first diamond. If West shi...

Ask Amy: The teachers won’t explain why they call my son disrespectful

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:55 GMT

Dear Amy: My son is 8 years old and is very talkative and inquisitive. He asks lots of “why” questions that don’t always coincide with the current conversation but are about a previous topic.Related ArticlesAdvice | 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 Advice | Ask Amy: After this man’s behavior at my wedding, I want my best friend to dump him His two reading teachers have said that he is disrespectful and does not participate enough in class.We have talked about this – both with the teachers and with him.He comes home with complete papers, does well on spelling tests and is above grade level on reading asses...

Harriette Cole: I can see myself skipping class a lot this winter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:55 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am about to register for classes for next semester. A week ago, I began my search for ones that interested me and saved multiple schedules that worked for me. However, I checked again today, and most of the classes are at full capacity.Related ArticlesAdvice | 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 Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m in college, and I need my mom to stop with the panicky phone calls I intentionally saved classes with many available seats, but since my registration date is so late, I did not get most of them.Now I am stuck between filling...

TikTok Influencer Recruiting for Secret U.S. Bases in Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:55 GMT

Twenty-six-year-old U.S. Army infantry veteran Thomas Latham is one of countless young people on TikTok, but he’s used it for a different purpose than most: recruiting veterans to staff secret U.S. military bases in Israel. “Being a contractor is lit, in America this view would be $4,000 a month,” says the superimposed text on a TikTok post by Latham. His phone camera pans across the view from a high-rise in the Israeli town of Beersheba. In 2017, the Israeli military celebrated the construction of a U.S. military base in the town — a presence the Pentagon tried to downplay. The video is one among many on Latham’s feed, where he frequently extolls life as a military contractor. Latham regularly posts job opportunities to help veterans trying to find work after the military, he said in an interview with The Intercept. At first, the TikTok posts came as part of his work as a recruiter for the private security contractor Triple Canopy. Since leaving Triple Canopy, he’s recrui...

Twickenham to host Women’s Rugby World Cup final in 2025. Sunderland to stage opening game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:55 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025 will be staged at Twickenham, setting up the opportunity for a world-record crowd for a women’s international.World Rugby made the announcement on Monday, saying the Stadium of Light — the home of English soccer club Sunderland — will host the opening game of the tournament on Aug. 22 that will feature England.Eight stadiums will be used for the 16-team tournament, which concludes on Sept. 27.The record attendance for a women’s rugby international is 58,498 spectators for England’s victory over France at Twickenham this year.World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont says the tournament will be a “generational moment for rugby.”___AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugbySource

Biden goes into 2024 with the economy getting stronger, but voters feel horrible about it

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden goes into next year’s election with a vexing challenge: Just as the U.S. economy is getting stronger, people are still feeling horrible about it.Pollsters and economists say there has never been as wide a gap between the underlying health of the economy and public perception. The divergence could be a decisive factor in whether the Democrat secures a second term next year. Republicans are seizing on the dissatisfaction to skewer Biden, while the White House is finding less success as it tries to highlight economic progress.“Things are getting better and people think things are going to get worse — and that’s the most dangerous piece of this,” said Democratic pollster Celinda Lake, who has worked with Biden. Lake said voters no longer want to just see inflation rates fall — rather, they want an outright decline in prices, something that last happened on a large scale during the Great Depression. “Honestly, I’m kind of mystified by it,...

Husband-wife team aims for victory at Pegasus World Cup and Florida Derby

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:55 GMT

In the world of horse racing, the spotlight is usually reserved for the jockey in the saddle, but for Brittany Vanden Burg and her husband, Chris Emigh, the roles have intertwined in a unique partnership that has set them on a path to conquer some of the most prestigious races in the sport.“We’ve always thought the same,” shared Vanden Burg, now a horse trainer, reflecting on their shared vision for each of the 24 horses under their care. Her husband, Chris Emigh, a luminary jockey with over 4,400 career wins, mainly takes the reins in the races.“She doesn’t like to lose, so every time I know we don’t win, you can tell she’s not happy,” Emigh remarked, shedding light on their competitive drive. “You’ll know she’s upset, but she calms down.”The union of Vanden Burg, a former barrel racer on the pro rodeo circuit, and Emigh, once a professional bull rider, initially faced challenges when they transitioned to worki...

Elite French university boss steps down amid domestic violence allegations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:55 GMT

The director of a top French university, Mathias Vicherat from Paris’ Sciences Po, stepped down from his post Monday amid domestic violence allegations against him.In a message addressed to all students, Vicherat “proposed” his “temporary withdrawal” from his duties to the president of the National Foundation of Political Science (FNSP).“I proposed to […] Laurence Bertrand Dorléac to temporarily remove me from my duties according to the modalities, a timetable and a duration that it is up to her to define and that she will present to the various bodies this week,” he wrote.Police detained Vicherat and his partner, Anissa Bonnefont, earlier this month after they each accused the other of domestic violence. Vicherat contested the allegations in Monday’s letter.“I have never, under any circumstances, committed such acts. I would like to emphasize that at the end of our police custody, no complaint was filed, and no judicial oversight or removal order was issued,...