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Belgian town organizes seagull imitation championship

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:49:43 GMT

The Belgian coastal city of De Panne hosted the third European Seagull Screeching Championship on Sunday (23 April), where jurors crowned the most accurate imitation of the bird’s distinctive shriek.The contest was attended by around 50 participants, including both first-timers as well as returning participants. The professional jury awarded each participant 15 points based on how well they were able to imitate the sound of the seagull and 5 points for their behavior.Yarmo won the award for the best seagull noise. She is a 21-year-old architecture student from Eindhoven in the Netherlands.The public often dislikes seagulls because of their aggressive behaviour. This contest aims to change their perception.Jan Seys (President of the Jury and Head of Communications of the Flanders Marine Institute) said that they wanted to show more sympathy because seagulls are a part of the coast. "There is no coast without them."

Ask Amy: My neighbors don’t seem to realize how much I did for them

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:49:43 GMT

Dear Amy: I have a good relationship with my neighbors, whom I would describe as “extremely quiet.” We only meet over the backyard fence, where we talk about our gardens.Recently I told them that I was hiring an arborist to trim some trees at the back of my property where it meets theirs. They pointed out two dead trees that they were eager to have removed.I offered to have my guy do it while he was handling mine and they demurred – but then said, “Oh, that would be really nice. Thank you.”The guy came, he did all the work, and I realized that their portion cost around $400. I can definitely afford it – no problem – but I’m disappointed that they haven’t really thanked me.I’m wondering what you think?Good NeighborDear Good Neighbor: I think you’re really generous. You pressed this solution upon your neighbors and they thanked you in advance. You might be “repaid” in fresh produce later in the season.Dear Amy: Growing up my childhood was not horrible – just bad.I have PTSD, dissociat...

Harriette Cole: How can I get out of paying for the car repair?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:49:43 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am in a tricky situation, and I’m not sure how to handle it.Recently, I borrowed a friend’s car for spring break and went out of my way to take good care of it, even going as far as getting the oil changed because it needed it. I left it in perfect condition, and yet when I returned the car to my friend, they tried to make me pay for damages that were already there!I feel tricked. How should I handle this?Can’t Fool MeDEAR CAN’T FOOL ME: Hopefully you kept the receipts for all of the things that you did to the car while it was in your possession. Sit with your friend and calmly list how you used and cared for their car.Point out that you were surprised that you needed to change the oil, as that should be done regularly, meaning they should have handled it. But you took it upon yourself to do it since the car indicated the need.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I act like I have the answers, but my life is a wreck Advic...

Allegion: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:49:43 GMT

DUBLIN (AP) — DUBLIN (AP) — Allegion PLC (ALLE) on Wednesday reported first-quarter earnings of $123.5 million.On a per-share basis, the Dublin-based company said it had net income of $1.40. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were $1.58 per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.35 per share.The security device maker posted revenue of $923 million in the period, which also topped Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $851 million.Allegion expects full-year earnings in the range of $6.55 to $6.75 per share.Allegion shares have fallen 3% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P’s 500 index has risen 6%. The stock has dropped 11% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ALLE at ht...

Glaxo: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:49:43 GMT

BRENTFORD, Britain (AP) — BRENTFORD, Britain (AP) — GSK plc (GSK) on Wednesday reported first-quarter net income of $1.81 billion.On a per-share basis, the Brentford, Britain-based company said it had net income of 90 cents.The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 85 cents per share.The drug developer posted revenue of $8.45 billion in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on GSK at https://www.zacks.com/ap/GSKSource

Prorrogan de nuevo el confinamiento solitario de Navalny

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:49:43 GMT

(CNN) — Kira Yarmysh, una portavoz de Alexey Navalny, dijo en Twitter que al disidente ruso se le mantendrá en régimen de aislamiento durante otros 15 días: “Es la decimocuarta vez [que vuelve al régimen de confinamiento solitario]”, dijo Yarmysh.“Ahora pasará allí un total de 158 días. Normalmente, tras cumplir una condena en el SHIZO [celda de aislamiento], un preso queda en libertad al menos una noche, pero no fue el caso de Alexey. Se le ha impuesto una nueva condena sin que se le haya liberado en absoluto de la celda de castigo”, dijo la portavoz.Navalny afirmó en citas publicadas en su cuenta oficial de Twitter: “Ayer, después de que pasaran otros 15 días [en la celda de aislamiento], me volvieron a meter inmediatamente en la misma celda SHIZO nº 11… Normalmente, después de 15 días en el SHIZO, el preso debe pasar al menos un día en una celda normal antes de pasar otros 15 días en el SHIZO. Así que he roto el sistema, aunque no de la f...

Canon: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:49:43 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — TOKYO (AP) — Canon Inc. (CAJPY) on Wednesday reported first-quarter earnings of $426.6 million.The Tokyo-based company said it had net income of 42 cents per share.The office machine company posted revenue of $7.34 billion in the period.Canon shares have increased 2.5% since the beginning of the year. The stock has declined roughly 5% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CAJPY at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CAJPYSource

Reynolds, McElhenney make audacious Wrexham offer to Bale

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:49:43 GMT

WREXHAM, Wales (AP) — Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are making an audacious — and very public — bid to entice Gareth Bale out of retirement to play a season at Wrexham.Bale, a Wales great who retired after the World Cup at age 33, offered his congratulations to Wrexham’s celebrity owners following the team’s promotion to the fourth tier of English soccer at the weekend.In a response to Bale’s video message, McElhenney wrote on Twitter: “Hey Gareth Bale let’s play golf, where I totally won’t spend 4 hours trying to convince you to un-retire for one last magical season.”Bale, a passionate golfer in his spare time, replied “Depends what course…” He also tagged in the R&A, which organizes the British Open from its base at the home of golf in St. Andrews, Scotland.Reynolds weighed in on Wednesday, tweeting: “I will shave a professional-grade golf course into Rob’s back if you’ll give Wrexham a season.”The pursuit of Bale looks a long shot, given he is three months into retir...

Long-serving New Carrollton police chief dismissed

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:49:43 GMT

The city of New Carrollton, Maryland, has fired its longtime police chief, David Rice. Rice had led the small police department for nearly 18 years as the city’s first police chief.Mayor Phelecia Nembhard confirmed with WTOP that Rice was dismissed Tuesday for personnel reasons. The mayor declined to provide details about the dismissal, saying that city attorneys advised her not to discuss the personnel matter.Problems for Rice began late last year when the chief was prohibited from entering the police department building because of a confrontation with a city employee, who filed a restraining order against him.Mayor Nembhard said that the city would immediately advertise the open position in a search for a qualified candidate to become New Carrollton’s new police chief.Source

NHL players shrug off concerns after Barron’s skate to face

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:49:43 GMT

Morgan Barron’s stitched-up face courtesy of a skate blade in an NHL playoff game sent a shudder across the league. That doesn’t mean his fellow players are ready to cover up.Barron is currently playing with a full face cage on his helmet after he needed 75 stitches in Game 1 of his Winnipeg Jets playoff series against Vegas. Golden Knights’ goalie Laurent Brossoit’s skate blade became jammed into the space between Barron’s face and his half-visor during a scramble.The stitches run from the top of Barron’s forehead to the corner of his right eye. He came back to play in that game and has played in the three since then, too.While many players use cut-resistance socks and wristbands, they have historically met any changes to head gear with resistance. “Freak accident” was a common refrain from players when asked about Barron’s face.“Super-unfortunate event and glad the guy’s OK because that was really scary,” Edmonton captain Connor McDavid told The Canadian Press. “Any ti...