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NextGenerationEU: Estonia submits request to modify recovery and resilience plan and add a REPowerEU chapter

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:23 GMT

On 9 March, Estonia submitted a request to the Commission to modify its recovery and resilience plan, to which it also wants to add a REPowerEU chapter. Estonia is the first country to include a REPowerEU chapter in its recovery and resilience plan.Estonia's proposed modification of the plan, which will now be assessed by the Commission, foresees five new investments. These include support to companies to increase energy security and the construction of viaducts for Rail Baltica – a greenfield rail transport infrastructure project with a goal to integrate the Baltic states in the European rail network. Estonia also submitted a dedicated chapter including two reforms and two investments to deliver on the REPowerEU objectives. At the same time, the modified plan includes the removal of four investments and themodification of 13 planned measures.Estonia's request to modify its plan is based on the need to factor in the very high inflation experienced in 2022 and the down...

Miss Manners: They billed us for eating dinner in their home

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:23 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: About once a month, we go out to dinner with another couple and always have a good time. We tend to order roughly the same things — one drink each, no desserts unless it’s a special occasion — so we just split the bill.We were surprised, but fine with it, when they suggested that we should eat at their house next time instead of going out. We’ve all been doing a lot of creative cooking during the pandemic, and I offered to host the following time.We had a nice meal — but then they told us what our share of the cost would be! I’m in shock that our friends would be so stingy as to charge us for eating at their own home. We thought they were close friends!GENTLE READER: Evidently, they are close. Or maybe just confused.There is, indeed, a huge difference between a restaurant and a home. Or rather, there should be. But the habit of eating in commercial establishments has resulted in all but obliterating the meaning of private hospit...

Dear Abby: These hotshots have spoiled our small-town bowling league

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:23 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I live in a small town with a population of about 10,000. There is almost nothing to do here. There is a skating rink, a movie theater and a bowling alley. Since bowling in a league is a weekly thing, I joined one.Our bowling center has been bought by a former professional bowler. She has formed a team consisting of herself, her fiance, her son and a friend. They are all top-notch bowlers; her son scores in the high 200s every game he bowls. Since they own the place, they get unlimited practice. The lady pro has taught them everything she knows. The rest of us don’t stand a chance of winning a game against them.Should I just not care and think of it as a night out, and accept that when we bowl against the “big guns,” as they have been referred to, we can count on losing?It’s true that it’s not about winning; it’s about having fun. But it’s disheartening that we already know the outcome before the night begins. There are other leag...

Jill On Money: The gender wage gap is stuck

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:23 GMT

The gender pay gap, which is the difference between the earnings of men and women, has been stuck for years.Related ArticlesBusiness | Don’t forget these 3 tax credits when filing this year Business | Don’t forget the finances when caring for your newborn Business | Anyone can be a victim of tax fraud and scams Business | Is the bucket investment strategy right for you? Business | 5 ways to stretch your SNAP benefits In 1982, women earned just 65 cents to each dollar earned by men. The differential narrowed, but since 2002, the numbers have barely budged. In 2022, U.S. women typically earned 82 cents for every dollar earned by men.It would be great if there were a single cause of the differential, because then policy makers and employers might be able to craft a solution.But the Department of Labor has found “that the majority of the gap between men and women’s wages cannot be explained through mea...

8 dead after smuggling boats capsize off San Diego coast

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:23 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — At least eight people were killed when two migrant smuggling boats capsized in shallow but treacherous surf amid heavy fog, authorities said Sunday, marking one of the deadliest maritime human smuggling operations ever off of U.S. shores. A Spanish-speaking woman on one of the panga-style boats called 911 Saturday night to report the other vessel overturned in waves at Black’s Beach, authorities said. She said there were 15 people on the capsized vessel and eight on hers.Coast Guard and San Diego Fire-Rescue crews pulled bodies of eight adults from the water, but fog hampered the search for additional victims. Recovery efforts resumed Sunday but no additional bodies were found. The Coast Guard announced on Twitter that the search was suspended at 3:30 p.m.Survivors may have escaped on land, including the woman who called 911. Authorities did not know her whereabouts. San Diego Lifeguard Chief James Gartland said rescuers found the two boats overturned in shall...

Inside the Dolby: What you didn’t see on TV on Oscars night

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:23 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It’s during the commercial breaks that the audience inside the Dolby Theatre really comes to life on Oscar night.The stars will gladly play for the cameras posted in their face during the global broadcast – they are actors after all – but a lot of the time it seems like most would rather just talk to their fellow artists in the room.The breaks may go on for an eternity for people watching the Oscars at home but in the Dolby, they’re never long enough as stars on the main floor abruptly end conversations and rush to take their seats again.The beginning of the show is always a scramble as security, organizers and a booming voice of god all try to coax attendees to their seats in time for the live broadcast start. Some barely made it in, like “The Last of Us” and “The Mandalorian” star Pedro Pascal, whose handler pleaded to let him in because of his appearance in host Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue, while others, like Elizabeth Banks, seem to have been shut out of the open...

Durkin helps DC United earn 1-1 draw with Orlando City

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:23 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chris Durkin scored in the 80th minute to help D.C. United gain a 1-1 draw with Orlando City on Saturday night.Neither team scored until Duncan McGuire found the net in the 53rd minute for Orlando City (1-0-2). Dagur Thórhallsson and Kyle Smith picked up assists on the goal.D.C. United (1-1-1) scored when Durkin took a pass from Pedro Santos and delivered the equalizer.United outshot Orlando City 16-9 with a 5-4 edge in shots on goal.Pedro Gallese finished with four saves for Orlando City. Tyler Miller turned away three shots for United.Orlando City was the only team that D.C. United beat twice last season. United is 5-1-3 in last nine matches against Orlando City. United ends a streak where it had both scored and conceded at least two goals in its last three home matches dating to last season.Orlando City lost its final four road matches last season after losing just three times in their first 14.Both teams next play Saturday. D.C. United travels to play NYCFC and...

Surprising Monmouth routs Towson to win CAA women’s tourney

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:23 GMT

TOWSON, Md. (AP) — Brianna Tinsley scored 18 points, Ariana Vanderhoop added 17 and seventh-seeded Monmouth rolled over No. 1 seed Towson 80-55 on Sunday in the Colonial Athletic Association championship game, giving the Hawks a long-awaited return to the women’s NCAA Tournament.Monmouth will be making its second NCAA appearance and first since 1983.After scoring 44 points and leading by 10 at halftime, the Hawks slowed down in the third quarter but got a big lift from an Elizabeth Marsicano 3-pointer that gave them a 12-point lead. The Hawks also scored the last three points of the quarter and took a 56-43 lead into the fourth.The final period was all Monmouth, particularly in the last four minutes when the Hawks went ahead by 28 points and finished with a 14-3 run.Jania Hall scored 14 points off the bench for Monmouth (18-15) and Belle Kranbuhl had 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Vanderhoop had eight rebounds and three assists.Alexia Nelson had 13 points, ...

Embiid, Harden help 76ers cruise past Wizards 112-93

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:23 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 34 points, James Harden had 18 points and 14 assists and the Philadelphia 76ers cruised to a wire-to-wire 112-93 win over the fading Washington Wizards on Sunday night.Tobias Harris added 11 points and De’Anthony Melton 10 for the 76ers (45-22), who have won five in a row to keep pressure on Milwaukee and Boston for the top two seeds in a crowded Eastern Conference. Philadelphia now plays seven of its next eight games on the road.“When you are not playing the fourth quarter, that usually means something good,” said Embiid, who was 12 for 21 from the floor in 31 minutes. “Everyone contributed for us.Washington (31-37) got a career-high 25 points from Corey Kispert and 13 from Bradley Beal, but dropped its fifth game in its last six. The Wizards also fell out of a tie for the 10th and final spot in the Eastern Conference’s play-in tournament, a half-game behind idle Chicago.“The biggest thing was that we didn’t have any pa...

AP source: Commanders, DT Payne agree on $90M, 4-year deal

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:23 GMT

The Washington Commanders are keeping Daron Payne around, thanks to the second-biggest contract for a defensive tackle behind only seven-time All-Pro Aaron Donald.The Commanders agreed to terms with Payne on a four-year contract worth $90 million, with $60 million guaranteed, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because the contract had not been announced.Donald signed a contract last year with the Los Angeles Rams that paid him $95 million, with $65 million guaranteed.Payne led Washington with a career-high 11 1/2 sacks last season. The Commanders put the franchise tag worth $18.9 million on him last month in the hopes of working out a long-term agreement.The deal was first reported by ESPN.Payne and fellow Alabama product Jonathan Allen are now each locked up on multiyear deals with Washington, which next must decide whether to exercise the fifth-year option on pass rusher Chase Young. The 2020 ...