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Britain ready to fill Warsaw's air defence gaps after MiG-29 delivery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:59 GMT

Britain is ready to help Poland fill its air defence gaps caused by Warsaw sending some of its MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine but Poland has not yet made such requests, British Armed Forces Minister James Heappey (pictured) was quoted as saying on Monday (20 March).Poland last week said it would send Ukraine four MiG-29 fighter jets in coming days, making it the first of Kyiv's allies to provide such aircraft and possibly creating a need to ramp up Poland's air defence equipment.Britain would be able to help fill such gaps, as it previously did when Poland sent T-72 main battle tanks to Ukraine, providing Warsaw with Challenger 2 tanks, Heappey told German newspaper Welt."We will look very positively at a Polish request to fill in the gaps that have arisen," Heappey said.

Harriette Cole: Is this a bad way to deal with a co-worker who doesn’t like me?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:59 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: One of my male friends is close to a woman who is part of a project I just joined. I have seen them out together twice, and it’s really awkward.He and I are cool. I have considered him a friend for many years. His companion, however, has a negative attitude toward me. We don’t really know each other, but her business partners and I are friends from years back, and they don’t get along.I’m wondering if I should confide in my friend that I don’t know how to break the ice with my new colleague — or even if that’s a good idea. I can tell they are close. I don’t want to make things worse.Should I reach out to him or just keep my mouth shut?Forging a LiaisonRelated ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: When I got home, I saw he had read my journals and he was mad Advice | Harriette Cole: How can I stand up to my stony co-worker? Advice | Harriette Cole: Is this too much to ask of my ex-ad...

Miss Manners: I’m troubled that strangers assume I don’t work

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:59 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: At a social event given by an organization in which my spouse is active, a member asked me, “Do you still work?”I was somewhat taken aback by this question. I am in my late 50s, and am told that my appearance and dress match my age.This is not the first time a newly met person in a social situation has asked me this question, with emphasis on the “still.” Each time, I have tried to come up with an appropriate response, but have been somewhat tripped up.I have an advanced degree and work in a career that has taken years to build. I have no intention of retiring in the near future, and it feels quite rude when people imply that I am too old to “still” be working.Am I being too sensitive? Is there a good response to this question? I don’t wish to return rudeness for rudeness. However, I would like to have an appropriate answer that feels authentic.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: What can I do about these rud...

Dear Abby: When I have kids, I plan to push them hard. Is there anything wrong with that?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:59 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I’m a medical student. I don’t have kids or a family of my own yet, but I’d like it to happen one day.When I have kids of my own, I intend to push them to be the very best in whatever they want to do. I will ingrain in them “tough love” and demand excellence from them.My classmates, friends and I grew up similarly. We did well enough in high school to get into good colleges and have successful lives after that.My friends and I did all the same things in college we did in high school. We joined clubs, volunteered, took leadership roles, earned good grades and got good recommendation letters in order to outcompete our peers and get where we wanted to go.When I have kids, I want them to emulate what I did, achieve the same way academically, and succeed.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My daughter doesn’t know this ‘treasured heirloom’ has a painful story Advice | Dear Abby: Florida depresses me, bu...

Czech power company CEZ reports eightfold profits increase

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:59 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech power utility CEZ said on Tuesday its 2022 net profit reached 80.7 billion Czech crowns ($3.6 billion), eight times as much as the previous year, resulting in record dividends.The country’s main electricity producer said it attributed the massive increase to an “enormous rise in prices” caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and to higher profit from commodity trading on foreign markets and also high operational reliability in its power plants.Net profit in 2021 was 9.9 billion crowns.The Czech state, which has an almost 70% stake in the company, will receive in 2023 more than 100 billion Czech crowns from CEZ in dividends, income taxes and levies on production sales, including a windfall tax on profits introduced as prices for energy soared.Source

Comedian Bill Bellamy, who coined the phrase ‘booty call,’ cracks up MGM National Harbor Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:59 GMT

Hear our full conversation on my podcast “Beyond the Fame.” toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews Bill Bellamy at MGM National Harbor (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 coined the pop-culture phrase “booty call” on HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam” in the 1990s.This Saturday, comedian Bill Bellamy crack ups MGM National Harbor near the nation’s capital.More Local NewsMore Entertain...

Eastern Kentucky squares off against Southern Utah in CBI Tournament matchup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:59 GMT

Southern Utah Thunderbirds (24-12, 12-6 WAC) vs. Eastern Kentucky Colonels (22-13, 12-6 ASUN)Daytona Beach, Florida; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Eastern Kentucky Colonels play the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in the College Basketball Invitational.The Colonels have gone 12-6 against ASUN teams, with a 10-7 record in non-conference play. Eastern Kentucky ranks second in the ASUN with 15.1 assists per game led by Tayshawn Comer averaging 3.5.The Thunderbirds are 12-6 against WAC opponents. Southern Utah is second in the WAC with 26.2 defensive rebounds per game led by Harrison Butler averaging 6.0.TOP PERFORMERS: Devontae Blanton is averaging 17.2 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Colonels. Isaiah Cozart is averaging 11.6 points over the last 10 games for Eastern Kentucky.Tevian Jones is scoring 17.8 points per game with 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists for the Thunderbirds. Maizen Fausett is averaging 12.8 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 42.6% over the last 10 games for Southe...

Oklahoma State, North Texas meet in NIT

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:59 GMT

North Texas Mean Green (28-7, 16-4 C-USA) at Oklahoma State Cowboys (20-15, 8-10 Big 12)Stillwater, Oklahoma; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma State Cowboys and North Texas Mean Green play in the National Invitation Tournament.The Cowboys have gone 8-10 against Big 12 teams, with a 12-5 record in non-conference play. Oklahoma State scores 68.5 points while outscoring opponents by 2.7 points per game.The Mean Green are 16-4 in C-USA play. North Texas ranks sixth in C-USA with 9.1 offensive rebounds per game led by Abou Ousmane averaging 2.5.TOP PERFORMERS: Bryce Thompson is averaging 11.9 points for the Cowboys. Caleb Asberry is averaging 13.0 points over the last 10 games for Oklahoma State.Kai Huntsberry is averaging 12.1 points and 3.1 assists for the Mean Green. Tylor Perry is averaging 16.0 points over the last 10 games for North Texas.LAST 10 GAMES: Cowboys: 4-6, averaging 66.9 points, 33.9 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 4.8 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 40...

Utah Valley and Cincinnati square off in NIT matchup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:59 GMT

Cincinnati Bearcats (23-12, 11-7 AAC) at Utah Valley Wolverines (27-8, 15-3 WAC)Orem, Utah; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Utah Valley Wolverines and Cincinnati Bearcats play in the National Invitation Tournament.The Wolverines have gone 15-3 against WAC opponents, with a 12-5 record in non-conference play. Utah Valley averages 77.2 points while outscoring opponents by 9.1 points per game.The Bearcats are 11-7 against AAC teams. Cincinnati averages 10.2 turnovers per game and is 1-1 when committing fewer turnovers than opponents.TOP PERFORMERS: Trey Woodbury is averaging 13.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Wolverines. Le’Tre Darthard is averaging 16.4 points over the last 10 games for Utah Valley.David Dejulius is averaging 14.7 points and 5.4 assists for the Bearcats. Landers Nolley II is averaging 17.8 points over the last 10 games for Cincinnati.LAST 10 GAMES: Wolverines: 8-2, averaging 79.6 points, 37.7 rebounds, 17.1 assists, 5.7 steals and 7.2 blocks...

Vanderbilt and UAB square off in NIT matchup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:59 GMT

UAB Blazers (27-9, 14-6 C-USA) at Vanderbilt Commodores (22-14, 11-7 SEC)Nashville, Tennessee; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Vanderbilt Commodores and the UAB Blazers play in the National Invitation Tournament.The Commodores’ record in SEC games is 11-7, and their record is 11-7 in non-conference play. Vanderbilt is 1-0 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 10.1 turnovers per game.The Blazers’ record in C-USA games is 14-6. UAB ranks third in C-USA shooting 35.8% from 3-point range.TOP PERFORMERS: Liam Robbins is shooting 50.4% and averaging 15.0 points for the Commodores. Tyrin Lawrence is averaging 18.5 points over the last 10 games for Vanderbilt.Jordan Walker is shooting 39.0% from beyond the arc with 4.3 made 3-pointers per game for the Blazers, while averaging 22.5 points and 3.9 assists. KJ Buffen is shooting 49.0% and averaging 12.3 points over the last 10 games for UAB.LAST 10 GAMES: Commodores: 8-2, averaging 74.6 points, 29.7...