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Commission approves €54 million Italian scheme to support companies in the region of Abruzzo in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:28 GMT

The European Commission has approved a €54 million Italian scheme to support small and medium-sized companies (‘SMEs') active in the region of Abruzzo in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies. The new Framework amends and prolongs in part the Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted on 23 March 2022 to enable member states to support the economy in the context of the current geopolitical crisis, already amended on 20 July 2022 and on 28 October 2022.Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants up to a maximum of €600,000 per SMEs active in the region of Abruzzo and affected by the crisis due to certain circumstances, such as increases in energy costs, decreases in turnover and trade and interruption of existing contracts or projec...

Miss Manners: We accidentally invited them to the wedding. How do we undo it?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:28 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We are planning a wedding, and have far more loved ones we would like to invite than the venue (and our budget) will allow. For that reason, we reluctantly constructed “A” and “B” guest lists.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Should I report my mother-in-law for her workplace crime? Advice | Miss Manners: Can we tell the in-laws what wedding gift would be appropriate? Advice | Miss Manners: Am I allowed to point out that these people are short? Advice | Miss Manners: I don’t want to give away any more avocados after what she did Advice | Miss Manners: Am I the only one bothered by how the kids say no? The “A” list was composed primarily of local members of our two large families, plus very close friends who are members of the wedding party. The people on the “B” list are equally loved and valued friends, plus more distant relat...

Dear Abby: He put security cameras everywhere, and now he’s logging our activities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:28 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My husband is addicted to our home security cameras.He, my 19-year-old daughter and I live in a townhouse, and he has installed no fewer than 20 cameras in and around our home.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: The photos he takes of me are threatening our marriage Advice | Dear Abby: My friends are going to be angry about what I’ve hidden from them Advice | Dear Abby: My parents took in my ex while I had to live in my car Advice | Dear Abby: My friend makes silly excuses for why her husband won’t see me Advice | Dear Abby: Would it be awkward to invite her to my wedding dinner? He’s always looking at them, when I’m on my way out to run errands or to visit my older daughter and even while we are eating dinner. He has started keeping a log of my daughter’s and my activities and what our neighbors are doing.What is wrong with him?UNDER A MICROSCOPE IN CALIFORNIADEA...

Donald Trump will make his 1st court appearance in DC. Here’s what to expect

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:28 GMT

Former President Donald Trump will be in D.C. Thursday afternoon in his first court appearance over felony charges alleging that he worked to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the violent riot by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol. Here’s what you need to know.More on the latest Trump indictmentTrump indicted for efforts to overturn 2020 election and block transfer of powerTrump has now been indicted in a third case. Here’s where all the investigations standThe judge assigned to Trump’s Jan. 6 case is a tough punisher of Capitol riotersTrump will be taken by motorcade from the airport to the E. Barrett Prettyman federal courthouse on Constitution Avenue. On Wednesday night, workers put up fencing in the courthouse area.https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/WJLA_DC_COURTHOUSE_FENCING.mp4(Video courtesy 7News)The plan calls for the U.S. Secret Service to drive him down into the courthouse garage, where U.S. Marshals will take him for processing, CB...

Beyoncé fans are ‘back outside’ to see Renaissance Tour at FedEx Field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:28 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews Beyonce at FedEx Field (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); }); }); She’s the most decorated artist in Grammy history with a record 32 wins from a record 88 nominations.This Saturday and Sunday, Beyoncé brings her “Renaissance Tour” to FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.We’re getting hyped by chatting with local folks who have tickets for this weekend.WTOP&#...

Brewers host the Pirates in first of 4-game series

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:28 GMT

Pittsburgh Pirates (48-59, fourth in the NL Central) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (58-51, second in the NL Central)Milwaukee; Thursday, 7:15 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Mitch Keller (9-7, 3.97 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 145 strikeouts); Brewers: Adrian Houser (3-3, 4.43 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 52 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Brewers -131, Pirates +111; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Milwaukee Brewers host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday to open a four-game series.Milwaukee has gone 29-24 in home games and 58-51 overall. The Brewers are 39-7 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.Pittsburgh is 48-59 overall and 22-31 in road games. The Pirates have a 21-6 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.The teams meet Thursday for the seventh time this season. The Brewers are up 5-1 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Christian Yelich has 26 doubles, two triples and 16 home runs for the Brewers. William Contreras is 12-for-41 with five doubles and a home ru...

Giants face the Diamondbacks with 2-1 series lead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:28 GMT

Arizona Diamondbacks (57-52, third in the NL West) vs. San Francisco Giants (60-49, second in the NL West)San Francisco; Thursday, 3:45 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Brandon Pfaadt (0-4, 8.20 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 30 strikeouts); Giants: Scott Alexander (6-1, 3.13 ERA, .98 WHIP, 18 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Giants -179, Diamondbacks +151; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants host the Arizona Diamondbacks, leading the series 2-1.San Francisco is 60-49 overall and 32-24 at home. The Giants have gone 35-9 in games when they scored five or more runs.Arizona is 57-52 overall and 29-24 on the road. The Diamondbacks are ninth in the NL with 123 total home runs, averaging 1.1 per game.Thursday’s game is the 11th time these teams square off this season. The season series is tied 5-5.TOP PERFORMERS: J.D. Davis leads the Giants with 14 home runs while slugging .435. Wilmer Flores is 14-for-37 with four doubles, two home runs and four RBI over the ...

Phillies take on the Marlins after Bohm’s 4-hit game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:28 GMT

Philadelphia Phillies (58-50, second in the NL East) vs. Miami Marlins (58-51, third in the NL East)Miami; Thursday, 12:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Michael Lorenzen (5-7, 3.58 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 83 strikeouts); Marlins: Johnny Cueto (0-2, 5.06 ERA, .88 WHIP, 14 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Phillies -126, Marlins +106; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies take on the Miami Marlins after Alec Bohm had four hits against the Marlins on Wednesday.Miami has a 34-23 record at home and a 58-51 record overall. Marlins hitters are batting a collective .265, the third-best team batting average in MLB play.Philadelphia has a 58-50 record overall and a 30-30 record in road games. The Phillies have the fourth-ranked team ERA in the NL at 4.00.Thursday’s game is the 10th meeting between these teams this season. The Marlins hold a 5-4 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Luis Arraez has 25 doubles, two triples and three home runs while ...

Candelario leads Cubs against the Reds after 4-hit game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:28 GMT

Cincinnati Reds (59-51, first in the NL Central) vs. Chicago Cubs (55-53, third in the NL Central)Chicago; Thursday, 8:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Luke Weaver (2-3, 6.80 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 67 strikeouts); Cubs: Jameson Taillon (5-6, 5.46 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 77 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cubs -160, Reds +136; over/under is 9 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs play the Cincinnati Reds after Jeimer Candelario had four hits on Wednesday in a 16-6 win over the Reds.Chicago has gone 29-27 at home and 55-53 overall. Cubs pitchers have a collective 4.15 ERA, which ranks seventh in the NL.Cincinnati has a 59-51 record overall and a 31-25 record in road games. The Reds are 46-12 in games when they scored five or more runs.Thursday’s game is the ninth meeting between these teams this season. The Reds hold a 5-3 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Nico Hoerner has 20 doubles, four triples and eight home runs for the Cubs. Yan Gomes is 15-for-39 with seven doub...

Rishi Sunak’s home hit by Greenpeace in oil and gas protest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:28 GMT

LONDON — Greenpeace climate activists scaled Rishi Sunak’s family home and draped it in black fabric — as part of a protest against plans to issue new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea.“Climbers are on the roof of Rishi Sunak’s mansion draping it in 200 metres of oily-black fabric to drive home the dangerous consequences of a new drilling frenzy,” Greenpeace U.K. tweeted Thursday, as they shared a picture of the stunt.No. 10 Downing Street confirmed to the PA news agency that U.K. police “are in attendance” at Sunak’s home, in Kirby Sigston, Yorkshire. A No.10 spokesperson said: “We make no apology for taking the right approach to ensure our energy security, using the resources we have here at home so we are never reliant on aggressors like [Vladimir] Putin for our energy.”The British prime minister is currently on holiday in California. He has faced criticism from climate groups and activists over the announcement that hundreds of...