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Roma pilgrims seek just 'one glimpse' of Pope Francis in Hungary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:54 GMT

When Pope Francis visited Hungary two years ago, Roma pilgrim Csaba Kovesi, accompanied by a cross blessed by Francis and Pope John Paul II, drove around the country calling on people to travel to Budapest to see him.Now Kovesi is on a repeat mission, driving a pick-up resembling a "popemobile" with the cross on display, hoping to convince people to attend an open-air Mass led by Francis in front of parliament on Sunday."We (Roma) who live in this faith would really love to get near him, just get ... one glimpse," said Kovesi as he prepared his pick-up, emblazoned with photos of Francis, for the drive."Faith is the greatest thing in the world and we Roma people think that we can prove our belonging by getting near the greatest man on Earth."Hundreds of thousands of Roma in Hungary live in disproportionate poverty and suffer from prejudice in schools and workplaces, rights activists say. During a visit to Romania in 2019, the pope asked for forgiveness in the name of the Roman Cathol...

Time is running out for the current job-killing citrus impasse between EU and South Africa to be resolved  

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:54 GMT

As the second largest exporters of citrus in the world, South African growers have become renowned for delivering top quality fruit to markets across the globe. This has included the European Union (EU), with just over 772 000 tons of world-class citrus shipped to the region last year alone, writes Justin Chadwick.  In order to ensure that citrus exported to the European markets is of the highest quality, local growers have invested massively into research, development, phytosanitary and other quality assurance programmes, totalling R150 million a year. Growers have also invested billions of Rands in the establishment of state-of-the-art packhouses and cold storage facilities to process, pack and export citrus and keep it in top condition as it makes it way to consumers in key markets. As a result, the South African citrus industry has a proven track record in protecting European production from the threat of pest or disease, including False Coddling Moth. Our rigorous Ris...

The city of Liège, Belgium, votes a motion to boycott the state of Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:54 GMT

“The city of Liège follows the good example of cities such as Barcelona and Oslo, which had already taken this decision. Liège is taking a strong stand against Israel’s apartheid policy,” said the leader of the extreme-left party which tabled the motion. “It is regrettable to see how radical forces have managed, through lies, to influence the Liège Municipal Council so that it takes a decision so detached from reality and harmful to the economic interests of Liège, Israel and Palestinians themselves,” reacted Israel’s ambassador to Belgium, writes Yossi Lempkowicz.The city council of Liège, in Eastern Belgium, voted on Monday (24 April) to boycott the state of Israel. A motion tabled by the Party of Workers of Belgium (PTB), an extreme-left wing and Marxist party, calls for a boycott of the Israeli state, to “temporarily suspend relations with the State of Israel and Israeli complicit institutions until the Israeli authorities end the system of violations of the Palestinian people a...

“Don’t worry about it!” Armenia tries to avoid sanctions for sending EU and US chips to Russia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:54 GMT

Armenia is trying to play down the importance of a surge in its imports of semiconductor chips and other electronic components from Europe and America. It’s estimated that nearly all the shipments are sent on to Russia for use in missiles and other weapons deployed in the war in Ukraine, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.Armenia cannot deny what it’s been caught doing but it’s certainly doing its best to persuade the European Union and United States that just because it’s helping Russia to evade sanctions, it shouldn’t in turn face secondary sanctions. Information first published in the New York Times has revealed an extraordinary increase in Armenian imports of electronic components, including eight particularly sensitive categories of semiconductor chips.One document seen by the newspaper apparently came from the US Bureau of Industry and Security. It stated that between 2021 and 2022, Armenia’s imports of chips and microprocessors from the US shot up by 515%; from the EU it was...

EU holds ‘open and constructive’ talks with Uzbekistan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:54 GMT

At the 17th meeting of the EU-Uzbekistan Cooperation Council, held in Luxembourg, talks were held in an ‘open and constructive atmosphere, according to European diplomats. Ahead of Uzbekistan’s referendum on amending its constitution, the two sides discussed the country’s ambitious programme of political reforms, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.The latest EU-Uzbekistan Cooperation Council saw further progress in the increasingly positive relationship between the European Union and the Central Asian Republic. On the referendum to amend the constitution, the EU welcomed the opportunity for the people to have their say and stressed its support for meaningful consultation and public debate.The referendum asks voters if they approve of changes affecting some two thirds of the constitution. It estimated that the state’s formal obligations to its citizens will be tripled. It will also lengthen presidential terms of office, enabling President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to seek reelection.The tw...

Man Arrested After Possible Kidnapping Caught On Video

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:54 GMT

Los Angeles County Sheriffs on Wednesday arrested a suspect believed to be connected to a possible kidnapping caught on video.The suspect, described as a Hispanic male, was charged with kidnapping and abduction for an incident in the city of Commerce Monday.The surveillance video was shared by the Sheriff’s Dept. and was widely circulated over social media, showing a Hispanic woman on her phone in a residential area, before pistol whipped by a man and thrown into a silver Kia Rio.The woman appeared to be initially approaching the video and attempting to get in before the man exited the car and began the assault. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @sangabrielvalleynewsThe Kia Rio was recovered as evidence in the investigation and the woman believed to be kidnapped, was found several hours later the arrest of the suspect was made.                      ...

Kevon Looney’s big Game 5 puts him in exclusive club with Wilt Chamberlain, Nate Thurmond

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:54 GMT

SACRAMENTO — Kevon Looney, Wilt Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond are the only three Warriors to accomplish one feat.Looney’s 22 rebounds not only helped lock in the Warriors’ pivotal Game 5 win against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, but lobbed him into an exclusive club with the two Hall of Famers as the only Warriors in history to have multiple 20-plus rebound games in a single playoff series. Chamberlain did it seven times and Thurmond five times.Looney has done it once. Now, with a 20-rebound Game 3 — without Draymond Green — and Wednesday’s game.The Warriors’ big paused at his cramped locker at Golden1 Center to grin when he heard the stat.“Wow,” he said. “Now that’s something I’ll tell my grandkids about.”Looney’s Warriors career hasn’t been defined by individual numbers. His first NBA years were curtailed by hip surgeries, painstaking rehab and seasons spent collecting dust at the ...

The eight most expensive homes that reported sold in Los Gatos the week of April 17

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:54 GMT

A house in Los Gatos that sold for $3.5 million tops the list of the most expensive real estate sales in Los Gatos in the past week.In total, nine real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $2.2 million, $1,152 per square foot.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of April 17 even if the property may have been sold earlier.8. $687,000, condominium in the 400 block of Alberto WayThe 1,076 square-foot condominium in the 400 block of Alberto Way, Los Gatos, has now been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in April and the total purchase price was $687,000, $638 per square foot. The condominium was built in 1978. The condominium features 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.7. $1.4 million, condominium in the 200 block of Pine Wood LaneA sale has been finalized for the condominium in the 200 block of Pine Wood Lane in Los Gatos. The price was $1,375,000 and the new owners took ove...

Cannabis commission finale comes as recreational expansion looms on the horizon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:54 GMT

A commission that has guided the state through its first wobbly steps into legalized access to marijuana had what is likely its final meeting.Members of the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission said their goodbyes Wednesday. The panel, which has changed over the last five years, goes away as the state enters a new era of access to cannabis for recreational purposes.“I think this has been an incredible journey,” said Dr. C. Obi Onyewu, chair of the commission. “And I think the state of Maryland, the medical commission has gotten it right in terms of how we’ve done business over the last several years in bringing this to the public and to patients.”“The priority…even going forward, is always about safety first, and access to the products. And we want to keep that going in this sort of new landscape that we’re going to approach coming to summer,” he said.Maryland is the latest state to enter the era of legalized cannabis, with the first recreational sales expected on July 1.Voters last...

Reportan amenaza de tormenta fuerte para la costa del Golfo este jueves

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:54 GMT

(CNN) — El Centro de Predicción de Tormentas (SPC, por sus siglas en inglés) emitió tres riesgos ligeros de tormentas severas, nivel 2 de 5, para partes del sur y sureste de Estados Unidos para este jueves. En total, más de 40 millones de personas están amenazadas por tormentas fuertes.El primer riesgo leve es para el sur de Texas e incluye Corpus Christi y Brownsville.Las principales amenazas son el granizo de gran tamaño a muy grande y los vientos dañinos.El segundo riesgo leve es para el Panhandle de Florida y el sur de Luisiana, Alabama, Mississippi y Georgia. Las ciudades en este riesgo leve incluyen Nueva Orleans, Baton Rouge, Mobile y Tallahassee.Las amenazas en este riesgo leve incluyen tornados aislados y vientos dañinos.¿Cómo se llamarán las tormentas tropicales y huracanes de 2023?El tercer riesgo leve es para la costa este de Florida e incluye Orlando, Melbourne y Jacksonville.Las amenazas aquí son granizo grande y vientos dañinos.Un riesgo marginal de tormentas se...