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Mother of Canadian man detained in Syria ‘overjoyed’ to get word of son

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:44 GMT

OTTAWA — Sally Lane says she is “overjoyed” to hear news of her son Jack — even if he’s barely hanging on in a Syrian prison — after years of silence.Lane says a civil society delegation messaged her from northeastern Syria to report that members had met with Jack after authorities managed to locate him within the prison system.Jack Letts, a Canadian citizen, is among the many foreign nationals in ramshackle Syrian camps and jails run by Kurdish forces that reclaimed the war-ravaged region from militant group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.More details about Letts and other detained Canadians are expected to emerge today when members of the delegation discuss their recent five-day visit at a news conference in Ottawa.The four-person delegation says it held meetings with officials and saw a number of Canadian men, women and children, as well as non-Canadian mothers of Canadian children, held in camps and detention centres.Delegation members, including Sen. Kim Pate, said ...

Daily horoscope for August 31, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:44 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Pisces.Happy Birthday for Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023:You are energetic, enthusiastic and fun! You have a knack of making things look easy. This year is the beginning of a nine-year cycle, which means it’s time to be courageous and flexible so you can entertain new directions and new ideas. Be ready to open any door!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★Be open to new and different opportunities to boost your earnings today, because they exist. It might be something different from what you had anticipated, but hey, you are the pioneer of the zodiac, and you love to tackle something new. Do your homework, but wait until October to act. Tonight: Restless feelings.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★This is a fortunate day for you. In particular, you will enjoy touching base with friends and interacting with members of clubs, groups and organizations. Someone unusual might entertain you. Or perhaps, they wil...

Peer review report on Italy now online

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:44 GMT

Eurostat is pleased to announce that another peer review report within the third round of European Statistical System (ESS) peer reviews — the peer review report on Italy — is now publicly available on Eurostat’s dedicated web page and on the web page of the Italian National Insitute of Statistics.The report was produced following the peer review visit to Italy by a dedicated team of four experts, including one from Eurostat. The visit took place from 28 November to 2 December 2022 in a face-to-face format.The peer reviews of national statistical systems are conducted by external experts (from both inside and outside the ESS) and follow the same methodology. This includes the completion of self-assessment questionnaires by several statistical authorities followed by a peer review visit. The results are a peer review report containing expert recommendations for improvement, and an action plan to address these recommendations that is developed by the national statistical institute of ...

FinTech innovations to improve security and data protection in online casinos – Bet B2B

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:44 GMT

Fintech plays a key role in many sectors of the economy today, and online casinos are no exception. “Security and data protection are priority issues for casino operators and players, and the use of FinTech innovations can significantly improve the situation,” says Bet B2B fintech expert.Let's take a look at some high-impact FinTech innovations that help keep online casinos safe and secure.Biometric authenticationBiometric authentication is a technology that uses the physical or behavioural characteristics of users to identify themselves.In an online casino, this can be used to verify the identity of players and keep their data safe. Examples of biometric authentication are fingerprint scanners, face or voice recognition. These methods provide a high level of security, as biometric data is difficult to fake or steal.Multi-factor authenticationMulti-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a process in which a user must provide several independent factors to verify their identity. In an online...

Miss Manners: How should I warn my neighbors about months of noise?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:44 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We will be moving out of our house for 10 months during a major renovation. Although we will escape the noise and the chaos, our neighbors will not. There will be the usual trucks, mess and noise that go with any construction project.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I cringe when I picture my dear friend in our house Advice | Miss Manners: Is the fundraising tactic of my child’s school tacky or smart? Advice | Miss Manners: Will foreigners just assume I’m a nuisance? Advice | Miss Manners: I won’t be going on the cruise. How do I explain my absence? Advice | Miss Manners: Can I poke them if they sleep during my son’s performance? We’re going to follow all the legal guidelines for the project (permits, neighborhood notifications, etc.). But in the interest of being a courteous neighbor, what other things should we do? Drop off earplugs? Send apologies...

Dear Abby: My friend’s personality changed, and now she’s stalking me

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:44 GMT

DEAR ABBY: “Stacy” and I have been friends for more than 20 years.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: Should I consider this my husband’s strike three? Advice | Dear Abby: I want to leave my wife but I’m afraid she’ll hurt somebody if I do Advice | Dear Abby: I’m sick of explaining I have a plain phone, not an expensive toy Advice | Dear Abby: She sat in our backyard and refused to join us for dinner Advice | Dear Abby: I never thought the driver would be so stupid, but I was stuck with him Ten years ago my husband, children and I moved back to our hometown. At that time, I was afforded the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom. Stacy has one child and never married, so she had to work.A few years ago, she was in a terrible auto accident. I took care of her afterward and drove her to her medical appointments for six months.When Stacy was released to return to work, she ...

Braves take win streak into matchup with the Dodgers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:44 GMT

Atlanta Braves (87-45, first in the NL East) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (83-49, first in the NL West)Los Angeles; Thursday, 10:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Spencer Strider (15-4, 3.52 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 236 strikeouts); Dodgers: Lance Lynn (10-9, 5.56 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 170 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -135, Dodgers +114; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves will try to keep their three-game win streak alive when they visit the Los Angeles Dodgers.Los Angeles has an 83-49 record overall and a 46-21 record at home. The Dodgers are 65-8 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.Atlanta is 43-23 on the road and 87-45 overall. The Braves have the top team slugging percentage in the NL at .502.The teams play Thursday for the fourth time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Freddie Freeman leads the Dodgers with a .342 batting average, and has 52 doubles, two triples, 25 home runs, 59 walks and 90 RBI. Mookie Betts is 22-for-41 with four home runs and...

Giants visit the Padres to start 4-game series

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:44 GMT

San Francisco Giants (69-64, second in the NL West) vs. San Diego Padres (62-72, fourth in the NL West)San Diego; Thursday, 9:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: TBD; Padres: Pedro Avila (0-1, 2.63 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 32 strikeouts)BOTTOM LINE: The San Diego Padres host the San Francisco Giants to start a four-game series.San Diego has a 62-72 record overall and a 35-33 record in home games. The Padres have the second-ranked team ERA in the NL at 3.90.San Francisco has a 69-64 record overall and a 31-33 record in road games. The Giants are 42-8 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.The teams square off Thursday for the seventh time this season. The season series is tied 3-3.TOP PERFORMERS: Juan Soto has 25 home runs, 111 walks and 80 RBI while hitting .262 for the Padres. Garrett Cooper is 11-for-35 with a double and three RBI over the past 10 games.Thairo Estrada has 24 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs and 41 RBI for the Giants. Wilmer Flores is 9-for-38 with a doubl...

Nationals play the Marlins in first of 4-game series

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:44 GMT

Miami Marlins (66-67, third in the NL East) vs. Washington Nationals (62-72, fourth in the NL East)Washington; Thursday, 7:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Marlins: Braxton Garrett (7-5, 3.96 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 135 strikeouts); Nationals: Joan Adon (2-0, 5.25 ERA, .92 WHIP, 20 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Marlins -162, Nationals +138; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Washington Nationals host the Miami Marlins on Thursday to begin a four-game series.Washington has a 62-72 record overall and a 29-36 record at home. The Nationals are 45-15 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.Miami has gone 28-36 on the road and 66-67 overall. The Marlins have the eighth-best team batting average in MLB play at .257.The matchup Thursday is the 10th meeting between these teams this season. The Marlins hold a 7-2 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Lane Thomas has 32 doubles, three triples, 20 home runs and 69 RBI for the Nationals. Carter Kieboom is 7-for-26 w...

UK defense secretary is resigning after 4 years in the job

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:44 GMT

LONDON (AP) — U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace formally submitted his resignation on Thursday amid speculation that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will name his successor later in the day.Wallace, who said last month he would resign before the next Cabinet reshuffle, ended four years in the post in which he oversaw the military response to the war in Ukraine.He used his resignation letter to press for increased funding for the military, long his primary issue.“I genuinely believe that over the next decade the world will get more insecure and more unstable,’’ Wallace wrote in his letter to Sunak. “We both share the belief that now is the time to invest. Ever since I joined the Army I have dedicated myself to serving my country. That dedication, however, comes at a personal toll to me and my family.”Source