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Rebuttal against the resolution in the European Parliament titled "Human rights situation in Bangladesh, notably the case of Odhikar"

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:15 GMT

A group of Europe’s most eminent scientists, lawyers, businesspeople, cultural figures and other highly successful individuals in their chosen fields have signed a letter to High Representative Josep Borrell, to 14 other vice presidents and representative MEPs of The Left, Verts/ALE, Renew, S&D, PPE and ECR groups in the European Parliament. They are all outraged by a recent resolution on the human rights situation in Bangladesh, notably the case of Odhikar.They have expressed great concern regarding the resolution's statement urging the Bangladesh government to "immediately and unconditionally quash this sentence and reinstate the registration of Odhikar" which they think as direct interference with the domestic legal affairs of a sovereign nation. The rebuttal was prepared and signed by expatriate Bangladeshis, such as the world-renowned scientist from the UK Dr Mazharul Islam, prominent journalist Sharaf Ahmed from Germany, senior citizen Mr. Sultan Shariff from the UK, Frenc...

Word Game: Oct. 12, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:15 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — ERUDITE (ERUDITE: ER-yuh-dite: Having knowledge gained by studying.)Average mark 21 wordsTime limit 30 minutesCan you find 26 or more words in ERUDITE? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — ANALOGOUS alas alga along also analog nasal lagan lagoon loan logo long loon lung onus gala goal goon ulna saga salon saloon sang sauna slag slang slog slogan slug slung snag snug solo song soon soul sungTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator K...

Bridge: Oct. 12, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:15 GMT

“Don’t you think men have any redeeming qualities at all?” I asked Wendy, my club’s ardent feminist.“Men are like copiers,” Wendy said tersely, “good for reproduction and little else.”I know that Wendy has no respect for Cy the Cynic. The two are adversaries even when they cut as partners in penny games. Wendy and Cy were today’s East-West, and against six hearts, Cy led the nine of diamonds. Dummy played the jack, Wendy’s queen covered and South took the ace.South next cashed the A-K of trumps. He led to the king of diamonds, ruffed dummy’s last diamond, took his club winners and exited with a trump.RUFF-SLUFFCy won and had to break the spades to avoid conceding a ruff-sluff. When he led the deuce, dummy played low. Wendy had to put up her jack, and South won and returned a spade to the ten, making the slam.“Thank you, partner,” Wendy growled. “I wouldn’t expect a man to know enough to get a w...

Horoscopes Oct. 12, 2023: Josh Hutcherson, everything will fall into place

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:15 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Josh Hutcherson, 31; Tyler Blackburn, 37; Bode Miller, 46; Hugh Jackman, 55.Happy Birthday: Make yourself heard. Say what’s on your mind and command attention precisely, calmly and quietly, and you will find your way to victory. Make decisiveness and mastering the art of communication your priorities. Getting along is half the battle. Know who you are dealing with, what you want and what you are willing to give in return, and everything will fall into place. Your numbers are 7, 18, 23, 25, 36, 39, 42.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Speak the truth, do your own thing and don’t make waves. Sticking to your game plan and finishing what you start will help you alleviate interference. Update your skills to avoid falling behind or missing out on a chance to advance. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Be receptive to what others are doing and decide on your version. Your insight will give you the edge to build worthwhile connections. Your discipline and i...

The 10 most expensive homes reported sold in San Jose in the week of Sep. 25

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:15 GMT

A house that sold for $3.3 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in San Jose in the past week.In total, 40 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $2 million. The average price per square foot was $1,056.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Sep. 25 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $2.3 million, single-family residence in the 5200 block of Taft DriveThe 1,975 square-foot detached house in the 5200 block of Taft Drive in San Jose has been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in September and the total purchase price was $2,290,000, $1,159 per square foot. The house was built in 1957. The house features four bedrooms and three bathrooms.Taft Drive9. $2.3 million, single-family house in the 6800 block of Glenview DriveThe property in the 6800 block of Glenview Drive in San Jose has new owners. The p...

Ask Amy: I just found out that a famous entertainer is my brother

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:15 GMT

Dear Amy: I am a 68-year-old professional woman with advanced degrees. I have a very successful career, a loving husband, and great family and friends.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: I know my friend took a photo without my permission, but she won’t hand it over Advice | Ask Amy: Am I wrong to display photos where he is she? Advice | Ask Amy: These are the five reasons I don’t want to go to Paris with my wife Advice | Ask Amy: The neighbors’ girl was crying in the street, and what I saw in the house scared me Advice | Ask Amy: They kept talking during the minute of silence. What should I have done? I was adopted at birth by my biological mother’s older sister and her husband. My parents gave me an amazing life full of love and opportunities.I grew up knowing my biological mom and spent some time with her over the years.Once, when I was a teenager, she asked me if I wanted to meet my b...

Harriette Cole: It bothers me that there was so little reaction to my social media purge

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:15 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I deleted all of my social media accounts a month ago.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: Should I tell my friend I’m worried about her boy? Advice | Harriette Cole: My husband berates me because he forgets what I tell him Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m tired of hearing about her kids’ private school Advice | Harriette Cole: I outed a cheating husband, and I didn’t expect the repercussions Advice | Harriette Cole: It’s hard to resist getting even with my no-show friend I thought that I would get a lot of text messages from my friends asking what was going on or why I deleted everything. To my surprise, only a few of my close friends seemed to have noticed, and nobody else reached out to me at all.I have some friends I spoke to only through social media, but now I haven’t heard from them in weeks.Does this mean that those people aren’t really my...

Former agent of East Germany’s secret police is charged over the 1974 border killing of a Polish man

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:15 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A former member of communist East Germany’s secret police has been charged with murder over the killing of a Polish national at a border crossing in divided Berlin in 1974, prosecutors said Thursday.The indictment against the 79-year-old man, whose name wasn’t released, was filed at the state court in the German capital.It relates to an incident on March 29, 1974, in which a 38-year-old Polish man took a fake bomb to the Polish Embassy to try to force an unhindered exit to West Berlin, prosecutors said in a statement.East Germany’s secret police, the Stasi, allegedly decided to feign authorizing the man’s exit. Its employees provided him with exit documents and accompanied him to a border crossing at the Friedrichstrasse railway station in East Berlin, prosecutors said.They said that the suspect, age 31 at the time, was tasked with rendering the Polish man “harmless.” After the Pole had passed the final checkpoint, the suspect allegedly shot him...

‘Long live’ the Eras Tour — Taylor Swift’s concert film hits DC-area theaters Thursday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:15 GMT

“Long live” the Eras Tour — direct message WTOP photos of your moviegoing experience this weekend on our Facebook or Instagram and mention where the pictures were taken.Are you ready for it? Taylor Swift may not have performed in the D.C. region during the first leg of her Eras Tour, but the concert is coming to a theater near you starting Thursday, with a surprise early release announced on her Instagram Wednesday night.Fans are swiftly heading to theaters around the D.C. area this weekend for the film’s opening — let the games begin.A lot going on at the momentSwift’s film comes out on Friday, Oct. 13, and though the date may spook some — 13 is her lucky number (in correspondence to her birthday: Dec. 13, 1989). It will play in theaters for 13 weeks, which is far longer than most concert movies.The singer is known for “Easter eggs” with clues to future projects hidden throughout her social media posts and music videos.The film isn’t the on...

The US is moving quickly to boost Israel’s military. A look at what assistance it’s providing

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Within hours of the horrific attack by Hamas, the U.S. began moving warships and aircraft to the region to be ready to provide Israel with whatever it needs to respond. A second U.S. carrier strike group departs from Norfolk, Virginia, on Friday. Scores of aircraft are heading to U.S. military bases around the Middle East. And special operations forces are now assisting Israel’s military in planning and intelligence. The buildup reflects U.S. concern that the deadly fighting between Hamas and Israel could escalate into a more dangerous regional conflict. So the primary mission for those ships and warplanes for now is to establish a force presence that deters Hezbollah, Iran or others from taking advantage of the situation. But the forces the U.S. sent are capable of more than that.The U.S. is also expediting the shipment of munitions and interceptors for Israel’s fight against Hamas.A look at what weapons and options the U.S. military could provide: WEA...