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Essentials for the Hajj: From sun hats to shoe bags, a guide to gear for the Muslim pilgrimage

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:29 GMT

MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Straw hats, cross-body bags, and collapsible chairs: These are just some of the essentials Muslims bring to the Hajj pilgrimage.Spiritually, the five-day Hajj is awe-inspiring for the faithful, an experience they say brings them closer to God and to the entire Muslim world.Physically, it’s grueling. Pilgrims walk outdoors for hours in broiling heat around holy sites in Mecca and the surrounding desert. They are caught in unimaginable and overwhelming crowds, all trying to get to the same place. Barriers directing the traffic mean that if you miss your turn, you might walk hours more to get where you want to be.So the more than 2 million pilgrims don’t just learn the complicated rules of how to properly perform the rituals, which began Monday. They also pick up helpful hints and tricks of the trade to get by, learned from other hajjis — as those who have completed the pilgrimage are known.Here’s a look at what they say is essential gear.WHAT TO WEARDress fo...

New Zealand leader’s plane so prone to breakdowns he takes a backup on China trip

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:29 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The United States has Air Force One, a plane that can refuel in midair and act as a presidential command center. New Zealand has Betty, an aging Boeing 757 that officials on Monday acknowledged was so prone to breakdowns they had sent an empty backup to ensure Prime Minister Chris Hipkins didn’t get stranded in China, where he is leading a trade delegation. Officials were quick to point out they had sent the plane’s twin only as far as Manila, about 80% of the distance from Wellington to Beijing.Back in New Zealand, acting Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni was left to explain.“If we didn’t have a backup plan and something did happen, and of course we hope it won’t, then not only would they be stranded in China, but the cost that that would incur — in terms of accommodation and trying to, at the last minute, organize some kind of plan to get them back — would outweigh having a backup aircraft waiting somewhere just in case,” she said.The twin R...

Lac-Mégantic urges tourists to be respectful ahead of rail disaster anniversary

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:29 GMT

LAC-MÉGANTIC, QUE — The town of Lac-Mégantic, Que. is urging tourists to be respectful after noting inappropriate behaviours in the run up to the 10-year anniversary of the rail disaster that claimed 47 lives. The municipality has asked a team of social workers to help business owners handle tourists who sometimes ask insensitive questions, and who have even occasionally tried to capture selfies with passing trains.Almost two-thirds of the victims of the 2013 train derailment and explosion were inside the popular Musi-Café restaurant, which has seen an increase in visitors since a pair of TV series about the disaster aired earlier this year.Co-owner Katie Stapels says that while the vast majority of visitors are respectful, a few have lacked judgment. Since February, she’s seen at least three people try to take selfies inside the building while the train passes by outside.Stapels also says some people have asked employees if they know people in the series “Mégantic,̶...

Sweden’s NATO membership bid on the agenda as Trudeau, Nordic leaders meet in Iceland

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:29 GMT

VESTMANNAEYJAR, ICELAND — Sweden’s bid to join the NATO military alliance will be discussed today at a meeting of Nordic leaders in Iceland, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in attendance.Trudeau is scheduled to meet privately with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on the sidelines of the annual Nordic leaders’ summit, which Canada’s leader is attending as a guest.The two-day event follows a weekend of military chaos in Russia and comes just ahead of the annual NATO leaders’ summit scheduled for mid-July in Lithuania.The Nordic nations have all backed Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s invasion.The war, which began more than 16 months ago, also prompted both Sweden and Finland to abandon their decades-long policies of neutrality and apply to join NATO.Canada was the first to back both bids and Finland was admitted in April, but Turkey and Hungary have both held out approval for Sweden’s acceptance.In addition to his bilateral mee...

Daily horoscope for June 26, 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:29 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Libra.Happy Birthday for Monday, June 26, 2023:You are multitalented. You are intelligent, creative and also interested in science. You’re a great conversationalist who is basically serious. This is a wonderful year for you with opportunities to socialize and enjoy your life! Nurture the happiness and beauty that you have within yourself. Old friends might reappear.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★Slow down and take it easy today. Because you might feel competitive in sports, do what you can to avoid sports accidents. Parents should be vigilant with their kids to avoid accidents. You might impulsively do something about a social occasion or a romance that you will regret. Caution! Tonight: Family discussions.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★Do what you can to avoid accidents and unexpected delays at home today. Definitely make an effort to keep the peace among family members. Harmony is importan...

Rebel Russian mercenaries halt advance on Moscow, Kremlin says

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:29 GMT

Heavily armed Russian mercenaries who advanced most of the way to Moscow halted their approach, de-escalating a major challenge to President Vladimir Putin's grip on power, in a move that their leader said would avoid bloodshed.Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former Putin ally and founder of the Wagner army, said his men reached within 125 miles (200 km) of the capital on Saturday (24 June). Earlier, Moscow deployed soldiers in preparation for their arrival and told residents to stay indoors.The Wagner fighters captured the city of Rostov hundreds of miles to the south before racing north in convoy, transporting tanks and armoured trucks and smashing through barricades set up to stop them, video showed.On Saturday night, they began withdrawing from the Rostov military headquarters they had seized, a witness said."In 24 hours we got to within 200 km of Moscow. In this time we did not spill a single drop of our fighters' blood," Prigozhin, dressed in full combat uniform at an undisclosed locatio...

Miss Manners: The bride isn’t that friendly, plus I know she’s already married. Must I go to her wedding?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:29 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Our niece got married secretly in another city, and still intends to have another wedding this summer.Do we have to go to the second wedding, given that they are already married, and didn’t tell us for almost 10 months; we hardly ever hear from them; and when they are in our state, they do not stop to see us?Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Am I right that it’s disgusting to put eyeglasses on a kitchen counter? Advice | Miss Manners: They got upset when I tried to step out of the photo Advice | Miss Manners: Our dinner guests said everything was fine. Obviously, it was not. Advice | Miss Manners: What I failed to teach my 5-year-old has become a problem Advice | Miss Manners: Why do they text me these boring pictures? I told my husband that we have the option not to go because it is a destination wedding, but he feels that we have to go.GENTLE READER: Does your husban...

Dear Abby: My daughters want to follow the same house rules as my son

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:29 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I have three grown children living in my house — my son, 27, and my daughters, ages 27 and 23. All three have boyfriends and girlfriends who occasionally sleep over.My son’s girlfriend sleeps in his room, while my daughters’ boyfriends sleep on the couch. The girls are now asking for their boyfriends to sleep in their bedrooms.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: He made my life miserable, and my daughter demands I socialize with him Advice | Dear Abby: How do I tell her our dinners are no longer high priority? Advice | Dear Abby: She dressed like a bride at the funeral, and things got worse from there Advice | Dear Abby: My wife demands compensation for housework and sex Advice | Dear Abby: Should I tell her she crossed a line with her behavior toward my husband? I know they are not babies, but I’m not comfortable with it. What’s your thought?UNCOMFORTABLE DAD IN ...

Monday brings thunderstorms, 70 mph winds, hail the size of ‘ping pong balls’ to DC region

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:29 GMT

To start the workweek, D.C.-area residents should brace for a chance of severe thunderstorms that could bring wind gusts up to 70 mph, large hail and possibly tornadoes on Monday.A line of showers and thunderstorms accompanied by large hail and “damaging winds,” will hit the region on Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service,“The strongest storms may produce winds up to 70 mph and hail up to the size of ping pong balls,”7News Meteorologist Mark Peña said. “An isolated tornado or two cannot be ruled out.”The storms are expected to start at around 2 p.m. and continue into the overnight hours and Tuesday.Increased confidence in severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds on Monday afternoon. Latest update from @NWSSPC has brought an Enhanced Risk for severe storms along/east of the I-95 corridor. Have multiple ways to get warning tomorrow. #DCwx #MDwx #VAwx #WVwx pic.twitter.com/L5tDWsSpTm— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NW...

Ilkay Gundogan agrees to join Spanish club Barcelona on a free transfer

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:29 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Ilkay Gundogan ended his trophy-laden seven-year stay with Manchester City by agreeing to join Barcelona on a free transfer on Monday.The Germany midfielder’s last act as a City player — and as the team’s captain — was to lift the Champions League trophy, which completed a treble of major titles for the English club.Now, he is heading to Spain on a two-year contract for a new experience, even though Pep Guardiola wanted to keep the 32-year-old Gundogan — the first signing of the City manager’s era from 2016.Having missed out on securing the return of Lionel Messi, Barcelona made the signing of Gundogan a priority to add some experience to a midfield already containing youngsters Pedri González and Gavi Páez, two of its pillars going forward, but no longer including veteran leader Sergi Busquets, who is leaving the club.Frenkie de Jong also played an important role last season for Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández, despite efforts by the club to...