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Ask Amy: A toy kitchen brings up stereotype questions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:10 GMT

Dear Amy: My husband and I have a daughter, “Emma.” She is three.We are thoughtful and responsible parents (at least we think so…).We have a question about gift-giving.Our daughter goes to a nursery school program a couple of mornings a week, and it’s going very well.While at school, she loves to play with a miniature kitchen set. It’s got a little sink and a pretend stove with pots and pans.We told my sister that we are thinking about getting a version of this for our daughter for Christmas (my sister also has children), but she is strongly disapproving because, as she says, this sort of toy “reinforces gender stereotypes.”Now we feel weird about it and decided to seek your take.— Wondering ParentsDear Wondering: Many parents are concerned about reinforcing gender stereotypes … right up until that moment when their toddler son really loves to play with his cousin’s toy bulldozer, or their daughter falls in love with a Tiny Tammy doll.Are you willing to deny your child the joy...

Commissioners Reynders and Johansson to attend the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 4 and 5 December

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:10 GMT

Today (4 December) and tomorrow (5 December), Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders (pictured) and Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson will attend the Justice and Home Affairs Council, which will take place in Brussels.Today, Commissioner Reynders will participate in the meeting of Justice Ministers, where the focus will be set on reaching a general approach on a new EU law on the transfer of proceedings in criminal matters, approve the Council position on the application of the GDPR, and adopt the European e-Justice Strategy 2024-2028. Ministers will discuss the proposed revision of the Directive on victims' rights and exchange their views on the ongoing fight against impunity in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, EU's accession to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) and the functioning of the European Public Prosecutor's Office.Commissioner Reynders will provide an update on the EU-US negotiations o...

Ukraine must be supported until victory -or we will all pay the price, warns Nobel laureate

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:10 GMT

The joint winner of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, the Ukrainian human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk (picture - credit EP/Alain Rolland) , has been in Brussels to address the International Conference on Accountability and Justice for Ukraine. She also took part in a High-Level Conference on Human Rights at the European Parliament, where she was interviewed by our Political Editor Nick Powell.Oleksandra Matviichuk with Nick PoweWhen Russia launched its full invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, Oleksandra Matviichuk had already been documenting war crimes for eight years. As she reminded me, Russia started the war in 2013 with its illegal annexation of Crimea and by arming a rebellion in Donbas. It was a response to how protests in Kyiv’s Independence Square, the Maidan, ended the corrupt rule of the pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.“Ukraine obtained the chance of a free democratic transition, after the collapse of the authoritarian regime during the Revolution of Digni...

France’s Erratic Policy Threatens Stability 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:10 GMT

France sending weapons to the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia creates an unstable landscape in these regions, while losing every bit of political influence in North and West Africa, writes James Wilson. According to Sébastien Lecornu, French Minister of the Armed Forces, there is "a slow, progressive, but unfortunately certain increase in pressure" in Lebanon because of Iran’s terrorist proxy, Hezbollah, firing missiles and mortars into Israel. And this could escalate and open a second front while Israel is fighting another Iranian proxy, Hamas in Gaza. “In the Near and Middle East, we are dancing on a volcano,” Lecornu added in an interview with Europe 1-CNews.Why, then, did Paris decide to provide the Lebanese army with dozens of VAB armoured personnel carriers (APC)? Lecornu claimed that these vehicles will “assist the Lebanese military in their patrol missions within the country”, so that “it could coordinate well with the UNIFIL”. It is common knowledge that Hez...

Turkeys voting for Christmas: who votes for the end of oil derogation in Bulgaria?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:10 GMT

In the multi-season series “Bulgarian politicians against the Lukoil oil refinery in Burgas,” an interesting plot twist has emerged. It turned out that the INSA Oil company, which is associated with the main opponent of the refinery, Bulgarian MP Delyan Peevski, is actively increasing the supply of petroleum products from Russia throughout 2023.Under PressureThe oil refinery in the eastern Bulgarian resort of Burgas celebrated its 60th anniversary this year but appears to have received more media attention in the past year than in the past 59 years. Here is a brief overview of events. In February 2023, the EU embargo on the supply of oil and petroleum products from Russia finally came into force, but an exception was made for Bulgaria until the end of 2024. The country's authorities then justified this decision by difficulties in finding alternative oil suppliers. A few months later, deputies of the GERB and DPS parties - Delyan Dobrev and Delyan Peevski - initiated an attack on the...

Horoscopes Dec. 4, 2023: Marisa Tomei, make this a year to remember

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:10 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Tyra Banks, 50; Jay-Z, 54; Marisa Tomei, 59; Jeff Bridges, 74.Happy Birthday: Channel your energy, take control and make your way to the finish line. Be quick to stop anyone who interferes or tries to take advantage of you. Plan your actions carefully, and the experience you have will be educational and successful. An open mind will encourage positive change and a prosperous future. Forward-thinking will help you become a pioneer and trendsetter. Make this a year to remember. Your numbers are 3, 12, 17, 24, 31, 35, 44.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Stick to the facts. Pay attention to the projects that bring the highest returns. Refuse to let your emotions stand between you and what you are trying to achieve. A rational outlook and the will to do things will play in your favor. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Emphasize what’s important to you. A trendy new look, adding to your skills or knowledge, or applying for a new position are potential game cha...

Israel orders evacuations as it widens offensive but Palestinians are running out of places to go

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:10 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel’s military renewed calls Monday for mass evacuations from the southern town of Khan Younis, where tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in recent weeks, as it widened its ground offensive and bombarded targets across the Gaza Strip.The expanded operations, following the expiration of a weeklong cease-fire, are aimed at eliminating Gaza’s Hamas rulers, whose Oct. 7 attack into Israel triggered the deadliest Israeli-Palestinian violence in decades. The war has already killed thousands of Palestinians and displaced over three-fourths of the territory’s population of 2.3 million people, who are running out of safe places to go.Already under mounting pressure from its top ally, the United States, Israel appears to be racing to strike a death blow against Hamas — if that’s possible, given the group’s deep roots in Palestinian society — before any new cease-fire. But the mounting toll of the fighting, which ...

There’s a lot of money at stake in the NBA In-Season Tournament. For 2-way players, it’s a whole lot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:10 GMT

At stake over the next week in the NBA: a trip to Las Vegas for four teams, a chance to be the first team to hoist the league’s newest trophy, along with bragging rights for winning the inaugural in-season tournament.And money. A lot of money. In a few cases, what some guys win on Saturday will be about half of what they’ll make all season.There are cash prizes for reaching the knockout round in the tournament, and the prizes will keep growing as a team advances. Each player gets $500,000 for winning the title, $200,000 for making the final, $100,000 for reaching the semifinals and $50,000 for making the quarterfinals. There is one caveat: two-way players on those rosters only get half as much as those on standard contracts.Boston two-way player Neemias Queta doesn’t mind. To him, whatever he gets will be appreciated.“Obviously, it’s some extra money, something to help your family, whatever it is,” Queta said. “But at the end of the day, it’s not the money that makes us want t...

Analysis: With expansion coming, good riddance to the 4-team playoff after unprecedented snub of FSU

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:10 GMT

There will be plenty to miss when college football undergoes myriad changes next season.A traditional Pac-12. Regional conferences and rivalries. The Rose Bowl kicking off on New Year’s Day, just about the time the New Year’s Eve hangover fades away.A College Football Playoff with not enough spots to accommodate deserving teams? Good riddance.“I hear a lot of the controversy about who should have been in and who shouldn’t have been in it,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said on ESPN. “It’s going to be fortunate that next year there will be an expanded playoff and a true champion. It’s just going to be better,” The final version of the four-team playoff produced a truly unsatisfying outcome Sunday when unbeaten Florida State was left out because, essentially, its starting quarterback got hurt.Top-ranked Michigan will face Alabama at the Rose Bowl in one Jan. 1 semifinal and Washington meets Texas in the other at the Sugar Bowl.Florida State was ...

Analysis: Patriots’ problems are bigger than quarterback, blame starts with Bill Belichick

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:10 GMT

On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here.___The Patriot Way has lost its direction.Robert Kraft’s once-proud franchise is a disaster and Bill Belichick can’t fix it because he contributed to the mess.The New England Patriots fell to 2-10 following a 6-0 loss Sunday to the Los Angeles Chargers that saw their offensive futility sink to historic levels.They couldn’t score with Bailey Zappe at quarterback just like they couldn’t do much with Mac Jones.The Patriots have now lost three straight games in which the opponent scored 10, 10 and 6 points. It’s been 85 years since a team lost three straight games in which it allowed fewer than 26 points combined. The Chicago Cardinals gave up 20 points during a three-game losing streak in 1938.Football is the ultimate team sport but quarterbacks can make all the difference. Teams that find the right guy can become instant playoff contenders. See what C.J. Stroud is doing for t...