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Valentin Yudashkin, Russian designer of dresses and uniforms dies at 59

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:11 GMT

Valentin Yudashkin, a Russian fashion designer known not only for flamboyant evening gowns but also for redesigning Russia's military uniforms, has died at the age of 59, Russian news agencies reported on Tuesday (2 May).Yudashkin, whose often theatrical designs are exhibited in museums in France and the United States, first made his mark by dressing Raisa Gorbacheva, the wife of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, in the late 1980s.In the 1990s, after the break-up of the Soviet Union, he became a Russian icon, styling national Olympic and soccer teams before, in 2008, redesigning 85 parade uniforms for all the branches of Russia's armed forces, together with Igor Chapurin."The most difficult thing was to make sure the uniforms, like any other uniform, were functional," he said in an interview. "I spent a lot of time talking to people who are serving in the army now to understand what works for them, what doesn't, what's comfortable and what isn't."Yudashkin said he had been influenced...

Miss Manners: I’m bitter about my co-worker’s slacking, and I think I’m going to snub her

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:11 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I recently had an issue with my co-worker/friend. She was given her assignment at 7 a.m., and I reminded her about it two more times. At the end of her shift, she told me she had been too busy to complete her assignment.She definitely was not too busy to perform her tasks that day, which was confirmed by another worker in her department. I now see I should have followed up more closely, but I didn’t feel I needed to micromanage her. I am still a little bitter about her lack of ownership.I will soon be having a holiday get-together at my home. This co-worker/friend has attended in the past, and another friend is pushing me to invite her again this year. How should I handle this?GENTLE READER: The advantage of labels like “friend” and “co-worker” is that they describe an expected set of behaviors — an advantage that is lost when they are all applied at once.Unless your co-worker/friend is also your “/employee,” Miss Ma...

Dear Abby: His menu angered me, so I’ve stopped hosting family dinners

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:11 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I used to have a good relationship with my brother-in-law “Anthony.” I hosted his birthdays and invited him for dinners on a regular basis. I would make sure to prepare his favorite dishes and pack him doggie bags for lunch the next day.When the other siblings visit, I host dinner for everyone.Recently, Anthony sent a dinner invitation and said he will be serving only one dish, with no other options. Then he added that since I’m allergic to this dish, perhaps I would prefer to bring my own food.I was so put off that I have stopped hosting dinners at my home. Am I right to feel this way?SEETHING IN CALIFORNIADEAR SEETHING: You are entitled to your feelings, but if you enjoy hosting dinners for your relatives, I would hate to see you cut off your nose to spite your face.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My wife is furious that I kept a secret about our grandchild. Was I wrong? Advice | Dear Abby: Can I tell my son-in-law’...

Go fly a kite: Japanese kite master on what makes a good-flying kite

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:11 GMT

(new Image()).src = "https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384&cid=c2ffed0c-3624-46c0-b10f-97c976d290a3";cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384",mediaId: "e05e2b40-74fc-4aca-9b73-1bb1674eec98"}).render("af8a1506b4ab4305bea67d90c732ab44"); });On a breezy day in March, hundreds of bright kites swayed gracefully above D.C. against the backdrop of blue skies and the Washington Monument.The Blossom Kite Festival in D.C. is a signature event that has, for years, been part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which commemorates Tokyo’s gift of 3,000 cherry trees to D.C. and celebrates the “enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan,” the festival’s website said.This year’s kite festival welcomed back Mikio Toki, a native of Japan and a master of traditional Edo-style kites, a distinctive style of kite first developed in Edo, which is present-day Tokyo.In honor of Asian American...

Israel afirma que los asesinos de la madre y las hijas británico-israelíes murieron tiroteados en Nablús

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:11 GMT

(CNN) — Las fuerzas israelíes confirmaron la muerte de los presuntos pistoleros que asesinaron a tiros a una madre británica-israelí y a dos de sus hijas el mes pasado, informó este jueves a CNN el portavoz de las Fuerzas de Defensa de Israel, Richard Hecht.Se encontraban entre los al menos tres hombres palestinos muertos este jueves en la ciudad de Nablus, en la Cisjordania ocupada, según las autoridades.El movimiento político islamista Hamas dio el nombre de los operativos abatidos este jueves en Nablus y confirmó que eran los asesinos de los colonos británico-israelíes Lucy, Maia y Rina Dee.La Brigada Al Qassam, brazo militante de Hamas, dijo que los hombres muertos este jueves eran Hassan Qatanani, Muath al-Masri e Ibrahim Jaber, y los calificó de “héroes de la operación del valle del Jordán llevada a cabo hace aproximadamente un mes, en la que murieron tres colonos, en respuesta a los crímenes de la ocupación contra la mezquita de Al-Aqsa y la agresión a mujeres mus...

Culture on display: Dozens of embassies to open their doors to visitors this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:11 GMT

This weekend, over 60 of Washington’s more than 175 embassies will welcome visitors inside during the annual Passport DC Around the World Embassy Tour.Passport DC includes a host of events this month, including the Saturday, May 6, embassy tour that’s curated by Events DC to encourage and inspire residents to learn about the District’s diplomatic community.“I love the cultural diversity and the inclusiveness,” Events DC President and CEO Angie M. Gates said. “This gives us an opportunity and the embassies an opportunity to just share their culture and what their country has to offer.”Participants can expect to learn about cultural traditions through food, fashion, art and music. In previous years, embassies have held karate demonstrations, K-pop dance competitions and sari wrapping lessons.There is also a physical souvenir passport that participants are encouraged to use as they tour the embassies. An interactive map is also available to help visitors navigate the embass...

Brewers look to break 3-game slide, take on the Rockies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:11 GMT

Milwaukee Brewers (18-12, second in the NL Central) vs. Colorado Rockies (11-20, fifth in the NL West)Denver; Thursday, 3:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Brewers: Wade Miley (3-1, 1.86 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 19 strikeouts); Rockies: Connor Seabold (0-0, 5.27 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 13 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Brewers -144, Rockies +123; over/under is 12 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Milwaukee Brewers enter the matchup with the Colorado Rockies as losers of three straight games.Colorado has an 11-20 record overall and a 6-9 record at home. The Rockies have the eighth-ranked team batting average in the NL at .252.Milwaukee has a 9-6 record in road games and an 18-12 record overall. The Brewers have a 9-1 record in games when they did not allow a home run.Thursday’s game is the third meeting between these teams this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Kris Bryant has four doubles, four home runs and 10 RBI while hitting .299 for the Rockies. Elias Diaz is 12-for-37 with a double and a home run over the...

Nationals face the Cubs with 2-1 series lead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:11 GMT

Chicago Cubs (15-15, third in the NL Central) vs. Washington Nationals (12-18, fifth in the NL East)Washington; Thursday, 1:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Jameson Taillon (0-0); Nationals: Patrick Corbin (1-4, 5.74 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 21 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cubs -219, Nationals +181; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Washington Nationals host the Chicago Cubs with a 2-1 series lead.Washington has gone 5-12 at home and 12-18 overall. The Nationals are 10-3 in games when they out-hit their opponents.Chicago has a 7-7 record on the road and a 15-15 record overall. The Cubs rank eighth in the majors with 40 total home runs, averaging 1.3 per game.The teams match up Thursday for the fourth time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Jeimer Candelario leads Washington with four home runs while slugging .388. Dominic Smith is 11-for-39 with a home run and an RBI over the past 10 games.Nico Hoerner has five doubles, a triple, two home runs and 17 RBI for the Cubs. Cody Belling...

Braves play the Marlins after Albies’ 4-hit game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:11 GMT

Atlanta Braves (21-10, first in the NL East) vs. Miami Marlins (16-15, second in the NL East)Miami; Thursday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Dylan Dodd (0-0); Marlins: Jesus Luzardo (2-1, 3.48 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 38 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Marlins -115, Braves -105; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves play the Miami Marlins after Ozzie Albies’ four-hit game on Wednesday.Miami is 16-15 overall and 10-8 in home games. The Marlins have a 10-1 record in games when they did not give up a home run.Atlanta has a 14-3 record in road games and a 21-10 record overall. Braves hitters have a collective .343 on-base percentage, the third-best percentage in the majors.Thursday’s game is the seventh time these teams square off this season. The Braves hold a 5-1 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Luis Arraez has six doubles, a triple and a home run for the Marlins. Jazz Chisholm is 11-for-38 with a double and two home runs over the l...

How to watch England’s local elections like a pro

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:11 GMT

LONDON — Parts of England head to the polls Thursday, with local democracy — not to mention the reputations of Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives and Keir Starmer’s Labour — at stake.Voters will choose councillors in more than 8,000 seats on 230 local councils across England Thursday.As they prepare for damaging results amid poor national polling, Sunak — facing his first electoral test as PM — said Wednesday evening the elections were “going to be hard for us.” Labour officials insist that 400 gains would be a good night, though experts reckon the opposition is likely on course to win more. In their efforts to manage expectations, the Conservative Party top brass has stuck rigidly to a warning by the Oxford academics Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher that 1,000 council seats could be lost — and that losing anything less than 500 seats would actually represent a good night. Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats hope to make gains in so-called ‘blue wall’ ar...