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Federal officials to provide wildfire update amid devastating season

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:02:00 GMT

OTTAWA — Federal officials are set to provide an update today on the outlook for the rest of this year’s devastating wildfire season.Officials have already said Canada is experiencing its worst fire season on record, charring more than 130,000 square kilometres to date, which is more than six times the 10-year average.Hundreds of homes were destroyed by wildfires in Nova Scotia earlier this year, and about 4,000 firefighters in British Columbia are currently battling hundreds of blazes, some of which have threatened communities and forced evacuations.Natural Resources Canada said last week there were more than 650 fires burning across Canada, about two-thirds of them in B.C. Four firefighters have died this summer fighting wildfires in B.C., Alberta, and the Northwest Territories.International firefighters from the United States, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, Dominican Republic, South Korea and Colombia have been helping local firefighting crews.The fed...

Repatriation: How many migrants in the EU are sent back? 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:02:00 GMT

Discover key figures about the repatriation of migrants and proposed changes to EU law, Society.The EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum includes new rules and the revision of existing legislation, such as the Return Directive.In a draft resolution on the Return Directive adopted in December 2020, MEPs stressed the importance of protecting individual fundamental rights as well as respect for procedural safeguards.In April 2023, Parliament adopted its negotiating position on the screening regulation and asylum procedures regulation ahead of discussions with the Council.Read more about the EU's migration policy.Returning migrants: Key factsIn 2022, 141,060 people were refused entry into the EU, the main reasons being not having a valid visa or residence permit (23%) or not being able to justify the purpose and conditions of stay (23%). In 2022, EU countries issued 422,400 return decisions. However, less than a quarter of non-EU nationals were returned to a country outside the EU...

Miss Manners: My rule is no gift for a second wedding, no attendance for a third

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:02:00 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What are your thoughts on wedding gifts for second, third or fourth marriages?For a second marriage, I myself do not send a gift, just a “best wishes/congratulations” card. For a third, fourth, etc., I do not send anything or attend.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: She became irate when I corrected her statement about the moon Advice | Miss Manners: I complimented this celebrity, and his reply was insulting Advice | Miss Manners: My summer dresses make my boyfriend uncomfortable Advice | Miss Manners: My fiancee says she must have a diamond, despite my objection Advice | Miss Manners: Should we warn our guests about our house’s acoustic anomaly? GENTLE READER: Why? Are you protesting?Admittedly, it can be exhausting and expensive to support multiple attempts at marriage that you feel certain are doomed to fail. But as these matrimonial optimists are presumably f...

Dear Abby: I had to get rid of my beautiful furnishings because of guests’ stupid comments

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:02:00 GMT

DEAR ABBY: How do I deal with guests and friends who make unfortunate comments about personal belongings in my home?Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: She’s trying to one-up me by being the fun aunt Advice | Dear Abby: I’m 20, he’s 46 and married, and my family isn’t being supportive Advice | Dear Abby: I feel bad about it, but I had to squash my husband’s dream Advice | Dear Abby: We’re nervous about telling our kids this family secret Advice | Dear Abby: The children’s impersonal fundraising requests annoy me For example, I have a favorite print of a woman seated at a table. A friend commented, “Oh, we used to call her Mrs. Potato Head.” About my beautiful handwoven table runner depicting sliced fruit, a guest said, “Those look like women’s private parts!” I also display a beautiful statue of the three Graces, which I inherited fr...

Montgomery County Fair returns for 74th year in Gaithersburg

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:02:00 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews the Montgomery County Fair (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); }); }); For 74 years, it’s become a beloved summer tradition for folks in Gaithersburg, Maryland.The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair returns Friday, running Aug. 11 through Aug. 19.“The sights and sounds and smells of the fair are things that live with folks forever,” executive director Marty Svr...

Mets host the Braves in first of 4-game series

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:02:00 GMT

Atlanta Braves (72-41, first in the NL East) vs. New York Mets (52-62, fourth in the NL East)New York; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Charlie Morton (10-10, 3.86 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 132 strikeouts); Mets: Tylor Megill (6-5, 5.45 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, 61 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -175, Mets +148; over/under is 9 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets begin a four-game series at home against the Atlanta Braves on Friday.New York has a 52-62 record overall and a 28-24 record at home. The Mets have gone 23-9 in games when they did not allow a home run.Atlanta has a 72-41 record overall and a 35-21 record in road games. The Braves have a 31-13 record in games when they did not allow a home run.The teams meet Friday for the seventh time this season. The Braves lead the season series 5-1.TOP PERFORMERS: Francisco Lindor has 25 doubles, two triples, 22 home runs and 69 RBI while hitting .246 for the Mets. Pete Alonso is 12-for-37 with two doubles and five home r...

Diamondbacks host the Padres on home losing streak

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:02:00 GMT

San Diego Padres (55-60, fourth in the NL West) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (57-58, third in the NL West)Phoenix; Friday, 9:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Padres: Blake Snell (8-8, 2.69 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 164 strikeouts); Diamondbacks: Ryne Nelson (6-6, 5.16 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 80 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Padres -163, Diamondbacks +138; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Arizona Diamondbacks play the San Diego Padres looking to break a three-game home losing streak.Arizona has a 28-30 record at home and a 57-58 record overall. The Diamondbacks are 21-12 in games when they hit at least two home runs.San Diego has gone 25-32 in road games and 55-60 overall. The Padres have a 42-9 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.Friday’s game is the seventh time these teams match up this season. The Padres have a 4-2 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Christian Walker leads the Diamondbacks with 55 extra base hits (32 doubles and 23 home runs). Lourdes Gurriel...

Pirates host the Reds in first of 3-game series

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:02:00 GMT

Cincinnati Reds (60-57, second in the NL Central) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (52-63, fourth in the NL Central)Pittsburgh; Friday, 7:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Andrew Abbott (6-3, 2.93 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 74 strikeouts); Pirates: Johan Oviedo (6-11, 4.18 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 117 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Reds -119, Pirates -100; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds on Friday to open a three-game series.Pittsburgh is 52-63 overall and 28-30 in home games. The Pirates are 37-16 in games when they record eight or more hits.Cincinnati is 60-57 overall and 31-26 on the road. The Reds have a 42-25 record in games when they record at least eight hits.The matchup Friday is the eighth meeting between these teams this season. The Pirates hold a 5-2 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Andrew McCutchen has 14 doubles, 10 home runs and 30 RBI while hitting .260 for the Pirates. Bryan Reynolds is 14-for-38 with a double and three ho...

Dodgers try to keep home win streak going, host the Rockies

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:02:00 GMT

Colorado Rockies (45-70, fifth in the NL West) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (68-46, first in the NL West)Los Angeles; Friday, 10:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: Austin Gomber (9-8, 5.40 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 79 strikeouts); Dodgers: Lance Lynn (8-9, 6.11 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 157 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -327, Rockies +258; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers will try to keep their four-game home win streak intact when they face the Colorado Rockies.Los Angeles has a 35-20 record in home games and a 68-46 record overall. The Dodgers have a 56-16 record in games when they scored at least five runs.Colorado is 20-40 on the road and 45-70 overall. The Rockies have the 10th-ranked team batting average in the NL at .249.The teams meet Friday for the seventh time this season. The Dodgers lead the season series 5-1.TOP PERFORMERS: Mookie Betts leads the Dodgers with 31 home runs while slugging .576. Freddie Freeman is 21-for-41 with eight doubles, two hom...

Gunmen ambush a bus carrying Syrian soldiers, killing 20 in the country’s east

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:02:00 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Gunmen have ambushed a bus carrying Syrian soldiers in the country’s east, killing at least 20 and wounding others, opposition activists said Friday.The Thursday night attack was believed to be carried out by members of the Islamic State group whose sleeper cells in parts of Syria still carry deadly attacks despite their defeat in 2019.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 23 Syrian soldiers were killed and 10 were wounded in the attack on a desert road near the eastern town of Mayadeen in Deir el-Zour province that borders Iraq.Another activist collective that covers news in eastern Syria said 20 soldiers were killed and others were wounded.Syrian state news agency SANA quoted an unnamed military official as saying that the attack occurred Thursday night, “killing and wounding a number of soldiers.” It gave no further details, nor a breakdown in the casualty numbers.IS controlled large parts of Syria and Iraq where they declared a caliphate in Jun...