Ash Wednesday

Mar. 8 — THE MANCHESTER Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will be held Sunday, March 24, a week later than the actual Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17 — but a week earlier than it’s usually held, because Easter falls on Sunday, March 31. As always, the Queen City’s holiday parades march to the beat of a different drummer. Meanwhile, Manchester aldermen have voted to receive and file a request for an all-way stop with flashing lights at a busy Ward 1 intersection, effectively killing the idea. City traffic engineer Kristen Clarke said the public works department received a request from Ward 1 Alderman Chris Morgan for an all-way stop with vehicle-activated flashing stop signs at the intersection of Campbell Street…

LONDON (AP) – She´s one of the most photographed women in the world. But attention on Kate, the Princess of Wales, hasn´t reached this level since she married Prince William in a fairy-tale wedding in 2011. An announcement from palace officials that Kate, 42, had unspecified abdominal surgery and would be out of sight for weeks triggered huge speculation and gossip about her health. But an admission from Kate that she altered an official family photo – one that’s supposed to reassure the public that she is doing well – made things even worse. It´s a rare misstep for the princess, who has hardly put a foot wrong in her journey from William´s shy “commoner” girlfriend to the glamorous young…

It was Manchester or bust for Love Island: All Stars winner Molly Smith as she ventured out with friends on Wednesday evening. The TV personality almost suffered a wardrobe malfunction while celebrating the launch of her new collaboration with online retailer Boohoo at local nightspot Fenix. Molly, 29, struggled to contain her assets in a canary yellow minidress as she let her hair down at the popular Greek bar-restaurant. The blonde reality star was joined by boyfriend Tom Clare and fellow veteran islanders Hannah Elizabeth, Sophie Piper, Jess Wynter, Demi Jones and Arabella Chi for the official launch of her forthcoming collection. New Real Housewives Of Cheshire cast-member Eleanor Egar also joined the raucous party as it wore on late…

Boston (61-16) improved its home record to 34-3 with a 101-100 win against Sacramento on Friday. The Celtics, who have clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, rested their starters in the fourth quarter and had their reserves on the court in the final minutes. “All those guys have played a significant role in winning games the entire season,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “When guys have been injured, they’ve stepped up. Everybody on the floor (at the end) has started a game for us this year, I think, or have played significant minutes. It’s just a testament to them. Whoever’s on the floor, I feel we always have a chance to win. “You have to be able to win games…

SPARTANBURG — Three seconds before the fatal crash, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Deputy Lt. Robert Taylor was headed east, going full throttle at 117 mph, more than double the posted speed on U.S. 176 with two other deputies behind him. Two seconds before impact, Taylor hit the brakes. He was too late. His sheriff’s office Tahoe smashed into Ricky Graham’s white Ford F-150 as Graham was turning onto the highway from Brown Road. Graham had stopped at the intersection before continuing. He never saw it coming. Nor could he have, according to a South Carolina Highway Patrol investigation of the crash. Graham died at the hospital. He was 63 years old and left behind a wife, a father, three children, three…

KARACHI – As the Last Ashra of the Holy Month of Ramadan 2024 continues, excitement mounts for the upcoming Eidul Fitr celebrations, and all eyes are on the government’s announcement on holidays. Amid the anticipation, a fake notification was shared on social sites and in WhatsApp Groups, suggesting four holidays for federal employees on the occasion of Eid ul Fitr. The Ministry of Information cleared the air on it and urged masses not to share the fake notification. Pakistanis are hoping for an extended Eid-ul-Fitr holiday this year, as the Holy Month is expected to last 29 days, with the first official holiday falling on Tuesday, April 9 2024. Eid holidays are likely to be from April 9th to 12th,…

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina said Wednesday that it had cut 15,000 state jobs as part of President Javier Milei’s aggressive campaign to slash spending, the latest in a series of painful economic measures that have put the libertarian government on a collision course with angry protesters and powerful trade unions. Presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni announced the job cuts in a news conference, portraying them as key to Milei’s promised shake-up of Argentina’s bloated public sector. DIPLOMATIC CRISIS AVERTED AFTER ARGENTINA’S MILEI TRADES JABS WITH LEFTIST COLOMBIAN COUNTERPART “It’s part of the work we are doing to reduce state expenses,” he told reporters, describing the dismissed workers as a drag on taxpayers. “They perhaps did not have a very…

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Like other states around the nation, Florida is home to tens of thousands of people who live on the street — a fact of life that has vexed city and county leaders for decades. Now, state legislators are swooping in with what some are calling a cutting-edge solution to the homeless crisis they say will make streets both safer and cleaner in the Sunshine State. The new law would force counties and cities in Florida to ban the homeless from sleeping in public places but allow local governments to set up designated camps with running water, toilets, security and access to mental health services. Critics say the proposed state law stands in stark contrast to current…

PATNA: A teacher walked into a school in dry Bihar allegedly drunk, announced a holiday and asked all students to go home, sparking a fury later that saw angry villagers tie him up, drag him to a police station and set him up for possible suspension. Ravi Shankar Bharti’s antics unfolded Wednesday at the Upgraded Middle School at Korhas, located atop a hill in Rohtas district’s Nauhatta area. Though four teachers are posted in the school with 185 students, Bharti was the first to walk in that morning. Surprised to see their children return home early, many parents and villagers trooped to the school and found Bharti drunk. The backlash followed. “The teacher was drunk when brought to the police…

New Delhi: West Bengal has been in the headlines because of the TMC vs BJP battle in the Sandeshkhali Row. However, in another news development, the Mamata Banerjee-led government of West Bengal has made a major, rather historic announcement, one that has never been made before. An official order has been issued by the West Bengal Government, announcing a Public Holiday in the state, on the occasion of Ram Navami this year, which will fall in April, 2024. When is Ram Navami this year, what does the order of the state government say and why is it being considered historic, read to know… As mentioned earlier, the government of West Bengal has issued a public holiday on the occasion of…

BOSTON — Doc Rivers inherited a pressure-filled position when joining the Milwaukee Bucks after Adrian Griffin surrendered head-coaching duties with the team sitting 30-13 as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee entered the campaign in need of a response. The Bucks had squandered a favorable playoff matchup with last season’s No. 8-seeded Miami Heat, and questions surrounding franchise star Giannis Antetokounmpo reached the surface when the two-time league MVP threatened to bolt on Milwaukee. With the organization’s hand forced, evident in the offseason acquisition of Damian Lillard, the Bucks had — and still have — little room for error to keep Antetokounmpo satisfied before his current contract reaches its expiration in 2025. In simpler terms, anything short…

CHICAGO (CBS) — A new proposed Chicago ordinance would rename Columbus Drive downtown to honor former President Barack Obama. Ald. Lamont Robinson (4th) introduced the ordinance to the City Council Committee on Transportation and Public Way Wednesday. It would name the entirety of Columbus Drive – which changes names from Fairbanks Court at Grand Avenue in Streeterville, and runs south across a Chicago River bridge and down through the middle of Grant Park. Columbus Drive ends at a merge with DuSable Lake Shore Drive at William L. McFetridge Drive, just west of the Field Museum of Natural History. The new name would be Barack Obama Drive. Robinson said Chicago needs more tributes to Black men and Black history. “We need…

Suwannee Spring Reunion: All day Friday-Sunday, Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, 3076 95th Drive, Live Oak. Tickets: Prices vary. See website for information. (suwanneespringreunion.com) This year’s celebrated artists include Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Jim Lauderdale, Donna the Buffalo, Verlon Thompson, Shawn Camp, Hatti and Joe Craven Trio, The Grass is Dead, Habanero Honeys and more. Live and Local Concert Series: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Bo Diddley Plaza, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (tinyurl.com/livelocal24) Live performances by Half Gone, Earworms and Boat Stuff. Playlist at the Pointe: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Avenue. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) Jamie Davis will perform. Food will be available from area restaurants. Saxsquatch with DJ Em of Future Joy, and Knob Ross: 7:30-11 p.m. Friday,…

SYDNEY, Feb 28 (Reuters) – The New Zealand dollar slid on Wednesday after the country’s central bank held rates steady and trimmed its projected path for future policy, sparking a rally in bonds as markets sharply scaled back the risk of further hikes. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) kept its official cash rate at 5.5% as most analysts had expected and reiterated policy would have to remain restrictive. However, the RBNZ also noted risks to the inflation outlook had become more balanced and lowered its forecast peak for rates to 5.60%, from 5.70%. “The surprise came from its OCR forecast track. The whole track out to Q1 2027 was lowered by around 8bp, and guidance was clearly less…

SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Asian shares got off to a slow start on Monday as fading chances for early rate cuts globally soured the mood, though investors are hoping China markets return from holiday with a spring in their step. A holiday for U.S. markets also made for thin trading, while the latest surge in tech stocks is set to be tested by results from AI diva NvidiaNVDA.O on Wednesday. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS edged up 0.2%, after bouncing 2% last week. Japan’s Nikkei .N225 was flat, having surged more than 4% last week to stop just short of its all-time high. .T There was promising news from China where tourism revenues during the Lunar New…

SYDNEY, Feb 28 (Reuters) – Australian consumer price inflation held at a two-year low in January, dashing forecasts for a tick higher and reinforcing market expectations interest rates would not need to increase any further. There has been limited market reaction as the January release is heavily weighted toward goods prices that have been falling faster than services, and thus suggest some scope for a downside surprise. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday showed its monthly consumer price index (CPI) rose at an annual pace of 3.4% in January, unchanged from December and under market forecasts of 3.6%. A closely watched measure of core inflation, the trimmed mean, rose an annual 3.8%, down from 4.0% in December.…

SYDNEY – Australian consumer price inflation held at a two-year low in January, dashing forecasts for a tick higher and reinforcing market expectations interest rates would not need to increase any further. There has been limited market reaction as the January release is heavily weighted toward goods prices that have been falling faster than services, and thus suggest some scope for a downside surprise. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday showed its monthly consumer price index (CPI) rose at an annual pace of 3.4 percent in January, unchanged from December and under market forecasts of 3.6percent. READ: Australia inflation cools, confidence of ‘soft landing’ grows A closely watched measure of core inflation, the trimmed mean, rose an…

LOS ANGELES — Lincoln Riley’s third spring practice as the head coach at USC begins in three weeks. On Wednesday, we took a look at the offensive players who are on the roster this spring. Today, it’s time for one thought on the defensive players and special teamers. Note: Only scholarship players on the roster in the spring are included. Solomon Tuliaupupu (R-Sr.): This will be Tuliaupupu’s seventh season with the program. He’s missed five of the previous six because of injuries, including last season when he suffered a knee injury during training camp. It’s unclear if the veteran defensive lineman will be ready for spring practice. Jamil Muhammad (R-Sr.): Muhammad, who posted 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks…

BEIJING, March 6 (TMTPost)– The American depositary receipts (ADRs) of JD.com, Inc. soared as much as 19.7% and settled 16.2% higher to US$24.91, the highest since January 11. Shares rallied after China’s second largest Business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce marketplace in China by sales posted stronger-than-expected earnings and an expanded buyback program. In a financial report on Wednesday, JD said its board of directors approved the existing share repurchase program in March 2020, under which it has bought back a total of 55.5 million Class A ordinary shares for a total about US$1.5 billion as of December 31, 2023. The board also green-lit a new share repurchase program, effective upon the expiry of the existing repurchase program on March 17, 2024. Pursuant…

MANILA, Philippines — Globally, February 14 shines as a day for love and all its myths and facts, but for many Catholics this year, it also marks a time for reflection and penance as Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday fell on the same day. The coincidence for a time of love and start of Lent is not common. Six years have passed since these two significant observances last shared the same date. The year 2018 was notable, marking the first occasion in 73 years that Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day aligned. However, when Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday converge, an intriguing irony emerges between the materialistic fervor of love and the austere reflection of Lent. On the one hand, February…