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Explosion at rally celebrating birthday of Islam’s prophet kills 6 people in southwest Pakistan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:17 GMT

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — A powerful bomb exploded at a rally celebrating the birthday of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad in southwest Pakistan on Friday, killing at least six people and wounding dozens of others, police and a government official said.The bombing occurred in Mastung, a district in Baluchistan province, said government administrator Atta Ullah. The injured people were being taken to nearby hospitals, and some of them were in critical condition, he said.Ullah provided no further details.Muslims in Pakistan and around the world celebrate the birthday of Islam’s prophet by holding public gatherings.The Associated Press

Enjoy the warmth this weekend, next weekend may be a cooler story

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:17 GMT

The temperatures this weekend are amazing, with daytime highs in the 80s—that's June and July-level temperatures. More like mid-70s at the beaches, but if you are inclined to go to the beach the lake's not cold and it will be beautiful. Look at the difference next weekend:The westernmost of the two storms—Tropical Storm Philippe—is 759 miles east of San Juan, Puerto Rico.Brian McNoldy, Senior Research Assistant at the Rosenstiel School at the University of Miami (https://twitter.com/BMcNoldy), points out Rina is the 18th named storm of the Atlantic 2023 hurricane season and notes the average number of named storms for a FULL SEASON is 14.And Dr. Phil Klotzbach, hurricane and tropical weather expert at Colorado State tweets, "If current National #Hurricane Center forecasts for #Philippe and #Rina verify, the Atlantic will officially reach NOAA's definition of an above-average Atlantic hurricane season by October 2nd." (https://twitter.com/philklotzbach)

How China can say 'No' to India

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:17 GMT

In recent years, amidst profound shifts in the global geopolitical landscape, China and India have grappled with new roles and challenges. Against the backdrop of a dynamically changing world, the relationship between these two nations is evolving significantly, writes ANBOUND Think Tank founder Kung Chan, one of China’s renowned experts in information analysis.The current status of China-India relations is characterized by a complex tapestry of contradictions and enduring disputes. These conflicts extend beyond the domains of geopolitics and diplomacy, casting a significant impact on bilateral investments and trade alliances.In the economic domain, India is known for its long-standing tradition of trade protectionism. Indian government agencies often restrict the development of foreign companies under the pretext of "tax issues" and this has disrupted Chinese companies like VIVO, OPPO, and Xiaomi, as well as South Korean giant Samsung. Xiaomi, in particular, has frequently faced in...

Diet changes boost popularity of white wine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:17 GMT

Photo credit: © Mathieu GolinvauxChanging patterns of consumption has proved an unexpected boon...for white wine production, writes Martin Banks.People are, data shows, increasingly turning away from eating red meat and that, in turn, has helped boost the popularity of white wine.So says wine expert Christophe Chateau who was speaking on Thursday (28 September) at the opening of this year’s Eat Festival at Tour & Taxis in Brussels.The popular annual event aims to showcase the best of both Brussels and Belgian cuisine and also wines from Bordeaux.The aptly-named Chateau, director of communications at the Bordeaux-based Conseil Interprofessionnel Du Vin De Bordeaux, told this website that production of white wine in Bordeaux was rising at a much faster rate than red wine, for which the region is particularly well known throughout the world.“People are eating less meat and that is having a real impact on the production and consumption of white wine,” he said.Red wine still accounts...

Azerbaijan's Perspective on Regional Stability

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:17 GMT

In a significant diplomatic move, Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, held a press conference in Brussels this week. The conference offered an invaluable opportunity for the Azerbaijani government to shed light on its perspective regarding regional stability, cooperation, and the ongoing challenges in the South Caucasus. Hajiyev's remarks resonated with clarity and pragmatism, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy and cooperation to ensure peace in the region.The South Caucasus: A Complex RegionThe South Caucasus region has long been characterized by its geopolitical complexity and historical tensions. It encompasses countries like Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and is nestled between Russia, Turkey, and Iran. This intricacy has made it a focal point for international attention and diplomacy. The recent history of the region has been marred by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which was brought to a halt in 2020 through a ceasefire ...

Privacy Concerns Surrounding the European Central Bank’s Digital Euro

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:17 GMT

The European Central Bank (ECB) is one of several central banks looking into deploying a central bank digital currency (CBDC). According to research conducted by Washington D.C.-based think tank The Atlantic Council, 130 countries, representing 98% of the world’s total GDP, are currently exploring a CBC. While 11 have launched, 21 are in their pilot phase, and 33 are still in development.The ECB first published a CBDC report in October 2020 and applied for a trademark in the same month. Since then, the EU’s apex bank has made a few strides toward a Digital Euro, from an investigation phase to a potential testing and possible 2026 launch.Several arguments favor a Digital Euro, including security of transaction data, better efficiency with intermediaries eliminated, and increased privacy. However, stakeholders have raised multiple concerns, including utility and privacy.There are several thousand cryptocurrencies currently trading on hundreds of crypto exchanges worldwide. While there...

Tips and Tricks To Make Your Videos Stand Out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:17 GMT

Sponsored ContentIf you haven’t hopped onto the video marketing bandwagon already, get this: Online videos will account for 82.5% of all web traffic in 2023, and 86% of marketers use videos as a content marketing tool. Plus, 94% of marketers say videos help them educate customers about their products or services.But with everybody producing videos, you must double down to make yours stand out and get noticed. Here are the top tips to help you create engaging video content to get views and inspire action from your audience.1. Harness the Power of Storytelling92% of consumers want brands to create ads that tell a story, and 64% have made a purchase after watching a branded social media video. Incorporating a compelling story into your videos can help captivate the audience, leave a lasting impression, and foster brand loyalty.Identify a narrative that resonates with your target audience and aligns with your brand image. The story arc should have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Als...

Dear Abby: My snappy response about my invalid wife apparently offends people

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:17 GMT

DEAR ABBY: Twenty years ago, my wife was diagnosed with a life-threatening health issue. We both rebounded from it and have had a good run. Over the last three years, though, her health has turned south again.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My husband’s young crush is back in town, and I’m not supposed to say anything Advice | Dear Abby: She caused me so much pain, and now she wants back in my life Advice | Dear Abby: He won’t buy a bed. Should I date him anyway? Advice | Dear Abby: I’m offended that my friend doesn’t want my medical advice Advice | Dear Abby: Am I right that life is too short to stay with my unpredictable husband? She has heart, lung, liver and stomach issues that prevent her from being active. Most of her time now is spent sleeping or sitting. She cannot walk farther than 20 feet without becoming exhausted, and this is with supplementary oxygen. She ha...

Week 4 high school football preview

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:17 GMT

Mike Donovan didn’t know much about the Weymouth team he was inheriting when he took over in March.It didn’t take him long to find out.The Wildcats have shown some resolve in going 3-0 heading into Friday’s Bay State Conference showdown against Milton. For Donovan, who arrived at Weymouth after a stint as assistant coach at Brown University, it was pretty much what he had hoped for.“I grew up in Stoughton and wanted to be coaching in a large public school,” Donovan said. “I saw a lot of positive characteristics in Weymouth and I could tell right away that we have great kids, kids who work really hard and it started in the summer with the workouts.”Weymouth’s quick start out of the gate has caught the eye of Milton coach Steve Dembowski. He’s been impressed with the way Weymouth has responded in close games (three wins by a combined 24 points).“I think coach Donovan has done a good job,” Dembowski said. “Their receivers can fly, they can pound the ball w...

Storm eases in Greece but flood risk remains high amid rising river levels

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:17 GMT

VOLOS, Greece (AP) — Bad weather eased in central Greece on Friday leaving widespread flooding and infrastructure damage across the farming region, which has been battered by two powerful storms in less than a month.Municipal workers were handing out bottled water in the storm-hit city of Volos, where power and water outages remained in some districts for a third day, while rescue crews used excavators to clear debris-strewn roads blocking access to remote nearby areas.The two storms, Daniel and Elias, struck central Greece and the island of Evia over three weeks in September, killing several hundred thousand farm animals and damaging highways, secondary roads and the rail network.Despite the improving weather, the risk of additional flooding remains high in several central cities and towns as river banks remain vulnerable to high water levels, authorities said.The government said more than 2 billion euros ($2.1 billion) in damages had been caused before the latest storm hit. It has...