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Are European officials working at the direction of a criminal fugitive?

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:11:44 GMT

Human rights is the noblest concept and a core pillar of our modern societies, including within the European Union (EU). Chipping away at its legitimacy and sanctity shakes the very foundation of democracy. Sadly, criminals and corrupt officials have learned that they can gain political leverage over governments by misrepresenting domestic legal due processes as human rights violations. Making matters worse, the EU’s recent Qatargate scandal has revealed the role of NGOs, even those seemingly promoting human rights, in facilitating collusion between controversial outside actors and European officials, including MEPs, writes Lukasz Michalski (Poland), international ​relations expert.A persistent example of this situation in the EU is the case of Mukhtar Ablyazov and his criminal network. It was discovered in 2009 that Ablyazov and his cohorts stole over $5 billion from Kazakhstan’s BTA Bank. They have since argued that the charges brought against him by Kazakhstani authorities a...

Miss Manners: The host seemed put out by their sober dress. Were these guests rude?

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:11:44 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was invited to a Halloween costume party, so I put together a costume and attended.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Should I have done something about this shopper’s bad behavior? Advice | Miss Manners: How do I keep my wife’s art off our walls without a blowup? Advice | Miss Manners: Three years after disappearing, she sent me a rude email Advice | Miss Manners: Must I tell these nosy people about the tragedy of my fiance? Advice | Miss Manners: They’re demanding we vacation every year in the back of beyond When I arrived at the hosts’ home, they were both dressed in costumes, and it was clear they had spent a lot of time and money decorating and providing quite a spread of music, food and cocktails for their guests.It was a large group, about 60 guests, and I was very surprised to see that the majority of them, probably about 40, didn’t dress in ...

Georgetown Men’s Basketball Preview: Hoyas begin the road to respectability

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:11:44 GMT

Georgetown NCAA college basketball head coach Ed Cooley, left, yells while players run through drills during team practice, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)(AP/Stephanie Scarbrough) Georgetown NCAA college basketball head coach Ed Cooley, left, yells while players run through drills during team practice, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)(AP/Stephanie Scarbrough) Things have been percolating since March, and on Tuesday evening a new era will officially start its first season for Georgetown Men’s Basketball.Coach Ed Cooley’s Hoyas welcome Le Moyne for the opener, with many wondering what sort of play they’ll see on the flo...

Iowa hosts North Dakota to begin season

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:11:44 GMT

North Dakota Fightin’ Hawks at Iowa HawkeyesIowa City, Iowa; Tuesday, 8 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Hawkeyes -19; over/under is 154BOTTOM LINE: The Iowa Hawkeyes host the North Dakota Fightin’ Hawks in the season opener.Iowa finished 19-14 overall with a 14-3 record at home during the 2022-23 season. The Hawkeyes shot 45.3% from the field and 34.0% from 3-point range last season.North Dakota finished 13-20 overall with a 4-11 record on the road a season ago. The Fightin’ Hawks averaged 72.1 points per game last season, 10.9 on free throws and 27.6 from deep.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

San Diego begins season at home against Jackson State

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:11:44 GMT

Jackson State Tigers at San Diego TorerosSan Diego; Wednesday, 10 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: The San Diego Toreros open the season at home against the Jackson State Tigers.San Diego finished 11-20 overall with an 8-9 record at home during the 2022-23 season. The Toreros allowed opponents to score 80.5 points per game and shoot 49.3% from the field last season.Jackson State finished 14-19 overall with a 6-14 record on the road a season ago. The Tigers averaged 12.2 assists per game on 24.2 made field goals last season.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

DePaul hosts Purdue Fort Wayne in season opener

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:11:44 GMT

Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons at DePaul Blue DemonsChicago; Tuesday, 9 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blue Demons -11.5; over/under is 143.5BOTTOM LINE: The DePaul Blue Demons start the season at home against the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons.DePaul finished 10-23 overall with a 7-8 record at home during the 2022-23 season. The Blue Demons averaged 71.2 points per game last season, 12.1 from the free throw line and 24.9 from 3-point range.Purdue Fort Wayne went 17-15 overall with a 7-8 record on the road last season. The Mastodons allowed opponents to score 69.8 points per game and shot 44.4% from the field last season.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

UNLV begins season at home against Southern

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:11:44 GMT

Southern Jaguars at UNLV RebelsLas Vegas; Wednesday, 10 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: The UNLV Rebels host the Southern Jaguars in the season opener.UNLV finished 19-13 overall a season ago while going 9-7 at home. The Rebels gave up 70.0 points per game while committing 17.6 fouls last season.Southern finished 15-17 overall a season ago while going 5-12 on the road. The Jaguars shot 42.9% from the field and 33.1% from 3-point range last season.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Drake tips off season at home against Lipscomb

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:11:44 GMT

Lipscomb Bisons at Drake BulldogsDes Moines, Iowa; Wednesday, 8 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: The Drake Bulldogs open the season at home against the Lipscomb Bisons.Drake went 27-8 overall a season ago while going 14-1 at home. The Bulldogs averaged 5.3 steals, 2.6 blocks and 9.8 turnovers per game last season.Lipscomb finished 20-13 overall a season ago while going 7-11 on the road. The Bisons averaged 76.4 points per game last season, 11.2 from the free-throw line and 24.3 from beyond the arc.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Nevada hosts Sacramento State in season opener

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:11:44 GMT

Sacramento State Hornets at Nevada Wolf PackReno, Nevada; Tuesday, 10 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Wolf Pack -12; over/under is 136BOTTOM LINE: The Nevada Wolf Pack open the season at home against the Sacramento State Hornets.Nevada went 14-1 at home last season while going 22-11 overall. The Wolf Pack averaged 72.6 points per game while shooting 44.5% from the field and 35.1% from 3-point distance last season.Sacramento State went 7-12 in Big Sky games and 5-10 on the road a season ago. The Hornets shot 44.4% from the field and 34.5% from 3-point range last season.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Protests turn ugly as pressure mounts on Spain’s acting government for amnesty talks with Catalans

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:11:44 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Three people were arrested late on Monday in a protest against negotiations between Spain’s acting government and Catalan separatist parties over a possible amnesty for thousands involved in Catalonia’s independence movement.Government authorities said that the arrests took place during a gathering by over 3,000 people in front of the national headquarters of Spain’s Socialist Party in Madrid. Two men were arrested for violent behavior against police, and one woman for disobedience, the representative of Spain’s national government in the Madrid region said. The leader of the far-right Vox party, which holds the third-most seats in the national Parliament, was at the rally. Several protestors waved Spanish flags and pushed back against police in riot gear. There were other similar protests in other Spanish cities, but no additional arrests were reported.Spain’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the Socialists’ leader, blasted the protests, saying the...