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Thousands fall ill in eastern Pakistan due to heavy smog, forcing closure of schools, markets, parks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Toxic gray smog has sickened tens of thousands of people in Pakistan’s cultural capital of Lahore, forcing authorities to shut schools, markets and parks for four days, officials said Thursday.The decision came after the country’s second-largest city was repeatedly ranked the world’s most polluted city. Doctors advised people to wear face masks and stay at home. Residents said many people were coughing and having breathing problems.“Wearing of marks and staying at home are the two easiest solutions to avoid getting rushed to hospitals with respiratory-related diseases, infections in eyes and skin diseases,” said Salman Kazmi, a doctor at Lahore’s main Mayo Hospital, where thousands of people were treated for such ailments this week.On Thursday, the concentration of PM 2.5, or tiny particulate matter, in the air approached 450, considered hazardous. Experts say the burning of crop residue at the start of the winter wheat-planting season is a key ca...

Biden goes to Illinois auto plant saved by union agreement, a sign his policies are helping workers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden went to Chicago on June 28 to give a landmark speech on “Bidenomics, ” only to learn in private during the trip about a soon-to-close auto factory, news that was a challenge to his vision for the country.The prospect of a shuttered Stellantis plant in the small city of Belvidere became an immediate priority for Biden. He ordered up an economic analysis and spoke to company officials about the plant, according to White House officials. The president wanted to show that his policies could deliver for workers, rather than repeat the decades of factory closures that had gutted parts of the Midwest and fed into a deep political divide.On Thursday, Biden will visit Belvidere to showcase that same auto plant, which has reopened as part of the settlement of a targeted strike by the United Auto Workers union. The reopening “goes to the heart of who he is, the heart of his vision for the country and how he’s led,” said Jen O’Malley Dillon, White Hou...

Holiday job postings down from last year amid slowing economy: Indeed

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

TORONTO — Canadian postings for seasonal holiday jobs are down 30 per cent from a year ago so far, according to Indeed, amid a softening economy and cooling labour market.“There’s been an overall cooling of employer hiring appetite over the past year. And it’s pretty similar in seasonal work and other areas of the economy as well, said Indeed senior economist Brendon Bernard.Overall Canadian job postings are also down 30 per cent from last year, though they’re up 18 per cent from pre-pandemic, Indeed said in a report released Thursday. “Seasonal recruitment started slow in September this year, and while it picked up in October, it wasn’t enough to close the gap,” the hiring site said.Meanwhile, holiday postings were around the same level as pre-pandemic. As a result, Indeed said holiday postings represent a smaller share of overall postings than they did in 2019. While the slowing macroeconomic environment is likely to blame for overall lower postings, the slowdown in ho...

MoPac shut down after rollover crash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin-Travis County EMS said the southbound lanes of MoPac in North Austin were shutdown Thursday morning after a rollover crash. According to ATCEMS, the single-vehicle crash happened on MoPac just north of the Highway 183 intersection around 1:50 a.m. ATCEMS said one adult was taken to the hospital with critical life-threatening injuries. The adult was the only person in the car and the only patient, according to ATCEMS.Austin Police shut down MoPac after Nov. 9 crash. (Photo courtesy: Antonio Perez)Austin Police shut down MoPac after Nov. 9 crash. (KXAN: Lauren Ryan)Drivers should expect southbound lanes to closed and chose other routes, ATCEMS said.A witness told KXAN they saw the car flip several times after it hit a median.

First look at UAlbany's renovated Broadview Center

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

ALBANY, NY (NEWS10) -- The UAlbany men's and women's basketball teams spent last season as nomads. They played home games off campus, and practiced on what used to be a pool, as they waited for the renovations to the new Broadview Center to be complete. Wednesday, they were rewarded for their patience. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The women's team practiced on the Broadview Center court for the first time, while both teams got their first looks at their new locker-rooms. The men's team will practice in the Broadview Center next week. The arena underwent $12 million worth of upgrades, and it shows. It features seating upgrades, a new video board, and a lot more space. The Danes are blown away by the additions. "We've been allowed to come in here as the process has been going on but I specifically said I don't want to see it until it's fully done," said senior guard Kayla Cooper. "When I came in here this morning I was so hap...

13 athletes sign NLI at Shenendehowa High School

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, NY (NEWS10) -- Many high schools in the Capital Region held signing days for athletes on Wednesday. At Shenendehowa High School, 13 athletes signed their national letters of intent to take their talents to the collegiate level. The list of athletes, and where they are headed, can be found below. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! First NameLast NameSportCollege or UniversityKasiaBarlettaGirls VolleyballUAlbanySabrinaKinkaidGirls VolleyballUAlbanyEmilyBaumesSoftballUmass LowellNataliaColoneSoftballLongwood UniversityBreHayesSoftballSt. Thomas AquinasJosieBullockGirls LacrosseUniversity of TampaCarrieBennettGirls LacrosseLemoyneEvaPflommGirls LacrosseSienaTaylorTallmadgeGirls LacrosseRhode Island CollegeFreddyHicksBoys LacrosseU of AlbanyTaylorJourdanaisGirls SoccerLaSalle UniversityEllaMcDonaldGirls SoccerUniveristy at BuffaloBriannaBoomhowerField HockeyWingate University

Trade of electric and hybrid cars continues to rise in 2022

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

Between 2017 and 2022, the trade of electric and hybrid cars in the EU registered a staggering increase. In 2022, 42% of the total number of cars imported were electric or hybrid, indicating an increase of 35 percentage points (pp) compared with 2017. The change in exports was also clear with a 24 pp increase in 2022 (26% of the total number of cars exported) from 2017 (2% of the total).Non-plug-in hybrid cars went from 6% of total car imports and 0.4% of car exports in 2017 to 21% and 13%, respectively, in 2022. Full electric cars represented 15% (+14 pp compared with 2017) of car imports and 9% of exports (+8 pp) in 2022, plug-in hybrid cars represented 7% (+6 pp) of car imports and 4% of exports (+3 pp). In terms of value, in 2022, the EU spent a total of €37.0 billion on imports from extra-EU countries on hybrid and electric cars, an increase of 27%, compared with 2021 (€29.1 billion). Imports of non-plug-in hybrid cars were worth €16.0 billion, followed by full electric ca...

Europe can combat antisemitism without weakening free speech

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

European governments must resist the urge to react to the conflict in Gaza by cracking down on freedom of speech and on the right to demonstrate peacefully, writes Juan García-Nieto. Recently, the French government attempted to implement a blanket ban on all demonstrations in support of Palestine and against Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. Other countries in Europe, like Germany, Hungary and the United Kingdom have regretfully followed in France’s footsteps and curtailed the right to free speech and the right to peaceful assembly. Standing up against antisemitism and hate speech is vital, but it should not lead European countries to clamp down on civil rights affecting all citizens. Since the tragic terror attacks perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October and the brutal siege to which the Israeli Defence Forces have subjected the Gaza Strip, European governments have been divided on how to react to this latest iteration of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. EU states are in agreement, ho...

Bridge: Nov. 9, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

With four deals to go in the 60-deal final of the prestigious Spingold Knockout Teams at the ACBL Summer Championships, Leif Bremark’s mostly Swedish squad led Marty Fleisher’s team by just 2 IMPs – the equivalent of an extra point in football. Both teams, as has become the norm, were “sponsored” and contained professional players, often from outside the U.S.When FLEISHER’s pair sat North-South, they played at 3NT on the auction below. West led the ten of diamonds, dummy threw a heart, East played the queen and declarer won. He had only eight tricks, but after he cashed six rounds of clubs, he found East with the king of spades. South had pitched a spade, so he took only 10 tricks, plus 430.OTHER TABLEAt the other table, the auction started the same way, but South bid three spades at his second turn, and North tried 3NT. Then Antonio Sementa, East for FLEISHER, boldly bid four diamonds.South doubled, all passed. The defenders found they could beat the contract only one trick – they ...

Word Game: Nov. 9, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — REVERING (REVERING: rih-VERE-ing: Showing deferential honor to.)Average mark 22 wordsTime limit 30 minutesCan you find 29 or more words in REVERING? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — BELATED bade bald bale bate bead beat beet belt beta betel blade blat bleat bled bleed elate lade late lead abed abet able alee table tale teal teed dale date deal dealt debate debt dele deltaTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at...