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Daily horoscope for January 4, 2024

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:02:52 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Libra.Happy Birthday for Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024:You are quick-witted and creative. Many of you are collectors. You have strong opinions and a highly individual approach to things. Simplicity is the key to life this year. This is a year to work hard and take charge of your health. Physical exercise will be important. Stay grounded and levelheaded.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★Today your ambition is aroused and your ability to communicate to others is excellent. A winning combination! Furthermore, the Sun at the top of your chart is flattering to you. With all this helping you, reach for the stars! Tonight: You look good!TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★This is a productive day for you, especially regarding discussions about shared property, taxes, debt and inheritances. You also might negotiate budgets and resources that can be allocated to you. Note: These discussions will be favorable! Meanwhil...

European Jewish leader calls on EU Parliament head to suspend Spanish MEP for ‘blatant antisemitism’

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:02:52 GMT

MEP Manu Pineda (pictured), chair of the delegation for relations with Palestine, shared an Instagram post of Hitler poster with never again written on it being torn to reveal Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu giving Nazi salute under the headline ‘again’, a clear breach of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, of which the EU Institutions are a signatory.The Chairman of the European Jewish Association has called on  European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to suspend Spanish MEP Manuel Pineda, chairman of the parliament’s delegation for relations with Palestine.The call followed Pineda’s shared of an Instagram story video showing a poster of Adolf Hitler giving a Nazi salute under a banner that reads ‘never again’. A hooded man then rips off part the poster to reveal Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu whose face and Israeli flag replace Hitler’s and the swastika, and leaving the word ‘again’ visible.In his letter to President Metsola calling for the suspension, EJA C...

New rules to combat fraud on cross-border payments in the EU in force from 1 January

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:02:52 GMT

New transparency rules came into force this 1 January that will help EU Member States to crack down on Value-Added Tax (VAT) fraud.The new rules will provide tax administration of the EU Member States with payment information allowing them to detect VAT fraud more easily, with a particular focus on e-commerce which is particularly prone to VAT non-compliance and fraud. This in turn creates holes in the tax revenues that pay for vital public services.For example, some online sellers with no physical presence in an EU Member State sell goods and services to EU consumers without registering for VAT anywhere in the EU, or by declaring less than the actual value of their online sales. Member States therefore need strengthened tools to detect and shut down this unlawful behaviour.In detailThe new system harnesses the key role played by payment service providers (PSPs) such as banks, e-money institutions, payment institutions and post office giro services, which collectively handle over 90...

Harriette Cole: I tried to avert this friend drama, and it had the opposite effect

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:02:52 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently made a mistake with my friends that had the opposite effect of what I intended.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: My boyfriend lied about work to get time to himself. How do I deal with that? Advice | Harriette Cole: I was shocked to learn what my son does at school Advice | Harriette Cole: Find the right life story to make your new year better Advice | Harriette Cole: I hurt my leg and have to stay home, and I can’t stand it Advice | Harriette Cole: College got weird, and I’m not sure I want to go back My friend group split apart last year, and two people stopped being friends with all of us except for my roommate. The two girls who stopped being friends with us had longstanding issues with one girl in our group.I heard that a confrontation of some sort was going to come about, and I talked to my friends about it so they would leave my roommate out of it.Both...

Miss Manners: She’s threatening to end our friendship over a rummage sale dispute

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:02:52 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is there really such a thing as rummage sale etiquette?Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: If party guests arrive early, can I make them wait in the car? Advice | Miss Manners: We saw what was happening and fled the New Year’s party. Was that rude? Advice | Miss Manners: Which fork should I use on rude people? Advice | Miss Manners: I’m hearing more vulgar talk from women. Have the rules changed? Advice | Miss Manners: What can I do when people refuse to hear my needs? Here is what happened: A friend told me about a church rummage sale via text, with pictures. She wrote in capital letters “I REALLY LOVE THIS” next to a picture of a quilt for sale. I said it was neat.Well, we were in line for the sale to open, and she was in front of me, but she went in a direction away from the quilt. I knew where the bedding was at this yearly sale, so I got the quilt, becau...

Things to do in the DC area: Unique trivia nights, a 2000s dance party … and more!

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:02:52 GMT

There’s much to do in the D.C. area in the coming days, and WTOP has you covered with our weekly roundup of area events worth anticipating.Check back every Thursday for a roundup of Things to do in the D.C. area.Get your thinking caps ready because this Thursday is National Trivia Day. To celebrate the occasion, WTOP spoke with two organizations that have both been a part of the local trivia community for over a decade now.Pour House Trivia, which was founded around 2010, is one of the largest team-based trivia companies in the region. According to founder Denny Grizzle, the company hosts approximately 90 to 100 games per week, with about 70 to 80 of those located across the D.C. area.Grizzle said that his company has found “that sweet spot” that both entertains and challenges the public at the same time. Also, part of his approach is to veer away from trivia apps or technology.Instead, Grizzle said, “We stare at our cellphones so much during the day. I just think ...

Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club pits famous figures in bloody tournament across DC and Baltimore

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:02:52 GMT

Elvis Presley and Kittie Glitter host the "Elvis Birthday Fight Club." (Courtesy of Astro Pop Events) Elvis Presley and Kittie Glitter host the "Elvis Birthday Fight Club." (Courtesy of Astro Pop Events) Imagine famous pop-culture figures duking it out on stage in a “life-or-death” tournament bracket.That’s what the 13th annual Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club is all about. The evening of combat returns to GALA Hispanic Theatre in D.C. on Friday, Jan. 5, and Saturday, Jan. 6, followed by a run at the Creative Alliance in Baltimore on Jan. 12 and Jan. 13.“Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club is things and/or people that you’ve always wanted to see fight each other in big, fake, glorious fa...

Coastal Carolina visits Texas State for conference matchup

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:02:52 GMT

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (3-9, 0-1 Sun Belt) at Texas State Bobcats (6-7, 0-1 Sun Belt)San Marcos, Texas; Thursday, 8 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bobcats -9.5; over/under is 141.5BOTTOM LINE: Brandon Love and the Texas State Bobcats host John Ojiako and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in Sun Belt play.The Bobcats have gone 3-0 in home games. Texas State is fifth in the Sun Belt with 10.8 offensive rebounds per game led by Tyler Morgan averaging 3.0.The Chanticleers are 0-1 against conference opponents. Coastal Carolina is 1-1 in games decided by at least 10 points.Texas State scores 69.6 points per game, 9.2 fewer points than the 78.8 Coastal Carolina gives up. Coastal Carolina has shot at a 45.9% clip from the field this season, 3.1 percentage points greater than the 42.8% shooting opponents of Texas State have averaged.The Bobcats and Chanticleers face off Thursday for the first time in conference play this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Dylan Dawson is shooting 29.2% from bey...

Youngblood leads South Florida against Temple after 26-point game

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:02:52 GMT

Temple Owls (7-6) at South Florida Bulls (7-4)Tampa, Florida; Thursday, 7 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bulls -5.5; over/under is 145.5BOTTOM LINE: South Florida hosts the Temple Owls after Chris Youngblood scored 26 points in South Florida’s 73-70 win against the Alabama State Hornets.The Bulls have gone 6-2 at home. South Florida averages 76.5 points while outscoring opponents by 6.7 points per game.The Owls are 2-1 on the road. Temple has a 2-1 record in games decided by less than 4 points.South Florida scores 76.5 points per game, 3.3 more points than the 73.2 Temple allows. Temple averages 8.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.4 more made shots on average than the 7.3 per game South Florida gives up.The Bulls and Owls meet Thursday for the first time in conference play this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Youngblood is averaging 14.7 points for the Bulls. Selton Miguel is averaging 13.9 points over the last 10 games for South Florida.Hysier Miller is scoring 17.6 points ...

EU and UK slam Israeli ministers’ call for ‘voluntary emigration’ from Gaza Strip

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:02:52 GMT

European governments hit out at statements from two far-right Israeli ministers calling for the resettlement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism Party, on Wednesday doubled down on a call for “voluntary emigration” from Gaza once the current Israel-Hamas war ends, despite criticism from the United States. And Itamar Ben-Gvir, national security minister and leader of the ultra-nationalist Otzma Yehudit party, this week issued a call “to encourage the migration of Gaza residents” as a “solution” to the humanitarian crisis.This “will allow us [Israel] to bring home the residents of the Outaf and the residents of Gush Katif,” he said, referring to former Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip.Josep Borrell, the EU’s top foreign policy official, condemned the calls to resettle Palestinians living in Gaza as “inflammatory and irresponsible” on Wednesday. “Forced displacements are strictly prohibited as a grave vio...