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Pakistan showcases rich cultural heritage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:28:33 GMT

The Embassy of Pakistan in Brussels showcased Pakistan's rich cultural heritage at the Annual Heritage Day event in Belgium today.The Ambassador of Pakistan to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union Amna Baloch, inaugurated the day-long activities at the Embassy premises.The Embassy displayed an array of cultural exhibits such as handicrafts, scenic photographs, traditional costumes, and top export products portraying the country's rich heritage and cultural diversity.Visitors expressed their keen interest in various distinctive aspects of Pakistani culture reflected in documentaries, books, and cultural displays.The traditional Pakistani and Kashmiri food stalls attracted many visitors who liked the unique taste of the Pakistani cuisine.The Heritage Days have been one of Brussels' highly anticipated annual cultural events.

Water main breaks cause multiple different road closures in Santa Monica 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:28:33 GMT

Public works crews in Santa Monica are having to clean up multiple water main breaks in at least two different locations early Saturday morning.According to a social media post from the City of Santa Monica's official account, Ocean Avenue between Pacific Street and Strand Street is closed, as is Olympic Boulevard east of 11th Street.  Hawaii officials say death toll from Lahaina fire has dropped from 115 to 97: Here’s why Repairs are estimated to take several hours.Additional street closures should also be expected this afternoon, the city said. 

Review: Alt-rock heavyweights deliver one of year’s best doubleheaders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:28:33 GMT

The Pixies had just opened their set on Friday night with a powerful version of “Gouge Away” when — I kid you not — a train hooks its horn, pulls right in behind the stage and then just sits there for a few minutes.Definitely not something you see at every concert, right? But it one of the many cool things that does indeed happen at the extraordinary Wine Country venue known as Oxbow RiverStage in Napa.It’s a great place to see a show — a roughly 4,800-capacity outdoor venue located in Oxbow Commons park, attractively nestled between downtown Napa and the winding Napa River. It’s right next to Oxbow Public Market, which means concert-goers have a ton of great dining options before heading into the show — including those famed English muffins, an Oprah Winfrey fave, at the Model Bakery.And, most dramatically, there’s the Napa Valley Wine Train that runs on elevated rails right behind the stage, adding a fun “special effect&#...

Gavin Newsom’s mental health plan is going to voters. Here’s what you need to know

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:28:33 GMT

By Kristen Hwang | CalMattersCalifornia voters next spring will get to decide on a ballot measure to create housing and treatment options for homeless individuals with serious mental illness. If it passes, the measure championed by Gov. Gavin Newsom would mark the first major overhaul of the state’s community mental health system in 20 years.The two-pronged proposition on the March primary election ballot includes a nearly $6.4 billion bond to build 10,000 psychiatric treatment units. It also asks voters to redefine how counties spend money collected from a special “millionaire’s tax” to allocate a share of it for housing.Newsom and supporters have promoted Proposition 1 as a way to help address the state’s deteriorating homelessness and addiction crises. They contend increased investment and an update to the state’s Mental Health Services Act is “long overdue”.The Legislature on Thursday overwhelmingly backed his proposal, with lopsided votes to place it on the 2024 ballot. Newsom ...

Roy Hodgson taken unwell and misses Crystal Palace game against Aston Villa

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:28:33 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson missed his team’s Premier League game against Aston Villa on Saturday because he was unwell, the club said. The 76-year-old Hodgson did not travel to the 3-1 loss at Villa Park, his assistant Paddy McCarthy taking charge in his absence. “Unfortunately Roy Hodgson was taken unwell earlier today and is not at Villa Park,” Palace said. “Roy sent his best wishes to the team ahead of the match. We send our very best wishes to Roy.”Hodgson has twice come out of retirement since leaving his role as Palace manager in 2021.He had a brief spell at Watford between January and May last year, and was then called up to help Palace avoid relegation from the Premier League last season.Hodgson managed to steer the team to safety before being handed a one-year contract in the off-season. ___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerSource

Mavericks re-sign Markieff Morris, who was the other piece in Kyrie Irving trade

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:28:33 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — Markieff Morris, the other piece of the trade that brought Kyrie Irving to Dallas from Brooklyn, is re-signing with the Mavericks.The return of Morris was announced Saturday, a little more than two months after Irving agreed to stay with Dallas on a $120 million, three-year contract. Irving and Morris were traded in February.The 34-year-old Morris played sparingly after the trade, averaging 4.5 points in almost nine minutes per game with Dallas. The forward has career averages of 10.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 12 seasons with eight teams.Whether Morris sees more playing time will depend on the roles of trade acquisitions Grant Williams and Richaun Holmes. Another factor will be the development of rookie first-round picks Dereck Lively II and Olivier Maxence-Prosper.Morris was with the Los Angeles Lakers when they won the championship in the 2020 playoff “bubble” in Florida. ___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBASource

How to retire on $100,000

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:28:33 GMT

Saving for retirement is a lifelong project, and experts’ recommended savings goals can be daunting. Bank of America recommends you have more than nine times your current salary stashed away in savings by the time you reach age 61. Even then, the bank says your savings will only replace about 40% of your pretax income.By this rule of thumb, if you make $50,000 a year, you should have $450,000 in the bank. Those making $100,000 should aim for savings of at least $900,000. However, those amounts are far out of reach for some pre-retirees.“Some people get bad breaks,” says Steve Azoury, owner of Azoury Financial in Troy, Michigan. They may encounter illness, unemployment or other events out of their control that make it difficult to save. “It’s not their fault,” he notes.Perhaps you find yourself in this situation and only have $100,000 saved by the time you reach retirement age. In that case, use these tips to make the most of the money you have:...

Richarlison comes off bench and scores to help Tottenham beat Sheffield United 2-1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:28:33 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Brazil striker Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski scored in stoppage time as Tottenham rallied to beat Sheffield United 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday. Richarlison headed home fellow substitute Ivan Perisic’s corner and Kulusevski fired the winner to spark wild celebrations from the home crowd.Spurs had looked set for its first league defeat of the season when trailing to Gustavo Hamer’s 73rd-minute goal. But the London club secured its fourth win of the season to stay second, behind leader Manchester City. Richarlison struck in the eighth minute of stoppage time and Kulusevski hit the winner two minutes later to maintain coach Ange Postecoglou’s impressive start at the club, which saw him win manager of the month for August.Sheffield’s Oli McBurnie was sent off for a second yellow card in the 14th minute of stoppages.The Blades remain winless after five matches. The visitors were in front when Spurs failed to deal with Jack Robinson’s long throw...

Alexandria speed camera program kicks off in 3 school zones Monday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:28:33 GMT

The City of Alexandria’s new school zone speed camera program launches Monday, with cameras placed in three locations.Speed cameras will be located in the following places:Francis Hammond Middle School (Seminary Road, between Kenmore Avenue and North Jordan Street)John Adams Elementary School and Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School (North Beauregard Street, between North Highview Lane and Reading Avenue)George Washington Middle School (Mount Vernon Avenue, between Braddock Road and Luray Avenue)The speed cameras will only be active when school speed limit signs are flashing, according to a news release from the Virginia city. Each school zone is about a quarter mile long and has a 15 mph speed limit.Signs will be posted to let drivers know when they are entering a speed camera zone. Tickets for violations will be $100.The official kickoff of the program comes after the city conducted two warning periods, one in the spring of 2022 and one this year from Aug. 21 to Sept. 15.Durin...

Veterans Reus and Hummels rescue Borussia Dortmund with 4-2 win at Freiburg in Bundesliga

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:28:33 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Borussia Dortmund veterans Marco Reus and Mats Hummels scored late to earn a 4-2 win at Freiburg on Saturday and reduce talk of a crisis at the club after its poor start to the Bundesliga.Reus went on as a substitute and delivered a free kick that fell to Hummels – who’s also 34 – to squeeze over the line from close range in the 88th minute, then sealed the win himself in the third minute of injury time.It meant Dortmund ended a two-game winless run ahead of its visit to Paris Saint-Germain for their Champions League opener on Tuesday.Hummels opened the scoring with a header off Julian Brandt’s corner in the 11th. He has now scored a goal in 16 consecutive Bundesliga seasons, becoming only the sixth player to do so.But the team has been struggling this season and its problems did not disappear over the international break.“It’s not just this season,” Hummels said. “Playing against defensive opponents and finding solutions with this class and calmness on the ball,...