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The Afghan questions: What do Afghans think about past, present, and future?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:24 GMT

Recent reports indicate that Afghanistan is confronting its vilest humanitarian predicament since the Taliban captured power last year. Several recent reports indicate that poverty and unemployment are at unprecedentedly high level. Furthermore, The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has recently stated that more than fifty percent of Afghanistan's population is reliant on humanitarian aid. Natural calamities have further accentuated the situation. In addition, the rights of women are being further taken away. The Taliban were reasserting that women will have virtually no rights. Also, the humanitarian aid provided finds it difficult to reach the needy thereby exacerbating the already critical situation, write Professor Dheeraj Sharma, Director, Indian Institute of Management-Rohtak, India, Nargis Nehan, former minister of Mines, Petroleum and Industries, Afghanistan and Shahmahmood Miakhel, Former Governor of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. Hence, in order to gain...

Miss Manners: What’s a polite way to make sure I get the painting when she dies?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:24 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Several years ago, I admired a painting in the home of some friends several years my senior. They appreciated my interest, and told me I could have it when they moved to a smaller home.After the husband in this couple passed away, his widow asked me what I would like from their home when she moved to a smaller place. I reminded her of my affection for the painting and also asked about a particular chair.She decided to take both with her to her new home, but said I could have them when she was ready to give them up.At 95 years of age, my friend may soon not be in a position to remember her offers and may not have discussed them with her two children, both of whom I know. Do good manners provide a polite way to remind my friend or her children of her earlier intentions?GENTLE READER: No.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Why is it rude to wash your hands in the kitchen? Advice | Miss Manners: Can I dance in the aisle while my husband s...

Dear Abby: The man I was cheating with won’t apologize for cheating on me

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:24 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I started having sex with a married co-worker.He cheated on me with other women. When I found out, I told him to tell me he was sorry because I didn’t deserve it. He could have just left me alone.He won’t apologize. What do I do? I’m really upset about it. He’s married, living a single life.NOT THE ONLY ONE IN GEORGIADEAR NOT THE ONLY ONE: You knew this co-worker was married, and yet you helped him cheat. Why are you surprised that you are not the only other woman in his life?You are hardly the wronged woman; his wife is.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: Is it wrong to get married when I’m hung up on a dead man? Advice | Dear Abby: I’ve retired from cheating. Why does my wife still have me on a tight leash? Advice | Dear Abby: My husband’s mandatory family events cut into my hobby time Advice | Dear Abby: The wedding invitation has a coded message I find tasteless A...

Four Evenepoel teammates leave Giro after testing positive for COVID

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:24 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Four teammates of world champion Remco Evenepoel tested positive for the coronavirus and followed the Soudal Quick-Step leader by pulling out of the three-week Giro d’Italia, their team said Wednesday.Evenepoel had won Sunday’s individual time trial to reclaim the leader’s pink jersey, but his team later announced that he tested positive for COVID-19.“Following the positive test of maglia rosa Remco Evenepoel on Sunday, a further round of tests were made on the riders and staff that remained in Italy, with Jan Hirt, Josef Cerny, Louis Vervaeke and Mattia Cattaneo unfortunately unable to continue,” the Belgian team said in a statement before Wednesday’s Stage 11.Team doctor Toon Cruyt said that after Evenepoel tested positive two more riders started to feel unwell Monday, but their antigen tests returned negative.“Therefore a PCR test was carried out on the seven remaining riders, the results of which showed that the four guys were positive,” he said. R...

Hopes for historic Pacific visit dashed after Biden cancels trip to Papua New Guinea

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:24 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Papua New Guinea had declared next Monday a public holiday in anticipation of an historic visit by U.S. President Joe Biden and other leaders from the region.Police were tightening security, billboards were going up, and people were getting ready to sing and dance in the streets. Expectations were high for what would have been the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to any Pacific Island nation.“I am very honored that he has fulfilled his promise to me to visit our country,” Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape had written on Facebook.Those expectations were dashed Wednesday when Biden canceled the visit to focus on debt limit talks at home. To be sure, many of the festivities will still be going ahead. Biden’s planned three-hour stopover — sandwiched between the Group of Seven meeting of wealthy democracies in Japan and a now-scrapped trip to Australia — was timed to coincide with a trip by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wi...

Cardinals and Brewers play with series tied 1-1

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:24 GMT

Milwaukee Brewers (24-18, first in the NL Central) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (17-26, fifth in the NL Central)St. Louis; Wednesday, 7:45 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Brewers: Corbin Burnes (4-2, 3.35 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 39 strikeouts); Cardinals: Matthew Liberatore (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Brewers -116, Cardinals -104; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers play on Wednesday with the three-game series tied 1-1.St. Louis has a 17-26 record overall and a 7-14 record in home games. The Cardinals have the seventh-best team slugging percentage in MLB play at .435.Milwaukee is 24-18 overall and 11-10 on the road. The Brewers have a 17-5 record in games when they record eight or more hits.Wednesday’s game is the sixth time these teams meet this season. The Brewers are ahead 3-2 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Nolan Gorman has eight doubles, 10 home runs and 33 RBI while hitting .285 for the Cardinals. Nolan Arenado is 15-for-44 with a tri...

Yogi Berra documentary ‘It Ain’t Over’ opens in DC, celebrating baseball legend of Yankee ‘Yogi-isms’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:24 GMT

Hear our full chat on my podcast “Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley.” toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews the Yogi Berra documentary 'It Ain't Over' (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); He won 10 World Series rings and caught the only perfect game in World Series history in 1956, and yet, New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra is best remembered for the countless “Yogi-isms” we still quote today.His ...

Phillies look to stop 3-game road losing streak, play the Giants

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:24 GMT

Philadelphia Phillies (20-22, third in the NL East) vs. San Francisco Giants (19-23, fourth in the NL West)San Francisco; Wednesday, 3:45 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Taijuan Walker (3-2, 5.75 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 38 strikeouts); Giants: Ross Stripling (0-2, 7.14 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 24 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Phillies -114, Giants -105; over/under is 7 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies hit the road against the San Francisco Giants looking to end a three-game road slide.San Francisco is 12-10 in home games and 19-23 overall. The Giants have the 10th-ranked team batting average in the NL at .242.Philadelphia is 9-15 in road games and 20-22 overall. The Phillies have a 9-2 record in games when they hit at least two home runs.The teams play Wednesday for the third time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: LaMonte Wade Jr has four doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 15 RBI while hitting .278 for the Giants. Casey Schmitt is 14-for-32 with four doubles and two home ...

Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals meet in game 2 of series

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:24 GMT

Washington Nationals (18-24, fifth in the NL East) vs. Miami Marlins (21-21, second in the NL East)Miami; Wednesday, 6:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: MacKenzie Gore (3-2, 3.29 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 51 strikeouts); Marlins: Edward Cabrera (2-3, 5.35 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 49 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Marlins -130, Nationals +110; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Miami Marlins bring a 1-0 lead into the next game of the series against the Washington Nationals.Miami is 21-21 overall and 12-11 at home. The Marlins have the 10th-ranked team ERA in the NL at 4.57.Washington has a 10-10 record on the road and an 18-24 record overall. Nationals hitters are batting a collective .259, the ninth-best team batting average in MLB play.Wednesday’s game is the second time these teams meet this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Jorge Soler has nine doubles, 10 home runs and 22 RBI while hitting .238 for the Marlins. Bryan De La Cruz is 15-for-40 with three doubles and a home run over the ...

Rockies and Reds meet with series tied 1-1

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:24 GMT

Cincinnati Reds (19-23, fourth in the NL Central) vs. Colorado Rockies (18-25, fifth in the NL West)Denver; Wednesday, 3:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Graham Ashcraft (2-1, 3.95 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 33 strikeouts); Rockies: Austin Gomber (3-4, 6.30 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 28 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Rockies -119, Reds -100; over/under is 11 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds play on Wednesday with the three-game series tied 1-1.Colorado has a 9-12 record in home games and an 18-25 record overall. The Rockies are 7-1 in games when they hit two or more home runs.Cincinnati has gone 7-14 in road games and 19-23 overall. Reds hitters are batting a collective .246, which ranks ninth in the NL.The teams square off Wednesday for the third time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Elias Diaz has seven doubles and three home runs for the Rockies. Brenton Doyle is 9-for-34 with a double and four home runs over the last 10 games.Jonathan India has three home runs, 19...