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‘We’re at your side’: Italian president tells Zelenskyy in Rome before he meets pope

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:39 GMT

ROME (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Rome ahead of talks on Saturday with Pope Francis at the Vatican, received assurances from Italian leaders of continued military and other aid as his country fights to liberate itself from Russia’s military invasion launched last year.Francis recently said that the Vatican has launched a behind-the-scenes initiative to try to end the war launched last year by Russia.In a tweet, sent shortly after his arrival in the Italian capital late Saturday morning, Zelenskyy cited his schedule of meetings with Francis, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. ” An important visit for approaching victory of Ukraine! ” Zelenskyy tweeted. When Zelenskyy arrived at a military airfield at Rome’s Ciampino airport, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani was on hand to greet him. Tajani told reporters that Italy will continue to support Ukraine “360 degrees” and press for a just peace, one that saf...

Before Musk picked Yaccarino as Twitter CEO, she challenged him on policies, and his own tweets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:39 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — On Friday, Elon Musk announced that NBC Universal’s Linda Yaccarino will serve as the new CEO of Twitter. Yaccarino is a longtime advertising executive credited with integrating and digitizing ad sales at NBCU. Her challenge now will be to woo back advertisers that have fled Twitter since Musk acquired it last year for $44 billion.Since taking ownership, Musk has fired thousands of Twitter employees, largely scrapped the trust-and-safety team responsible for keeping the site free of hate speech, harassment and misinformation, and blamed others — particularly mainstream media organizations, which he views as untrustworthy “competitors” to Twitter for ad dollars — for exaggerating Twitter’s problems.In April, the two met for an on-stage conversation at a marketing convention in Miami Beach, Florida. Here are some highlights of their conversation:MUSK AND YACCARINO SPAR OVER CONTENT MODERATIONThe Miami discussion was cordial, although both participants ...

Modi’s Hindu nationalist party loses India’s Karnataka state in crucial polls ahead of national vote

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:39 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s main opposition Congress party wrested control of the crucial southern Karnataka state from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party, according to a near complete vote count Saturday that boosted its prospects ahead of national elections due next year.The poll results are expected to energize the largely divided opposition that is banking on forming a united front to challenge Modi in next year’s general election in which he will seek to extend his prime ministership for a third consecutive term. They will also help prospects of the Congress party, which was routed by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in the last two national polls and is striving to regain its political prominence nationwide.The defeat in Karnataka means Modi’s party, which was banking on his popularity, has lost the only southern state it has ever controlled and where its strident Hindu nationalist politics has found relatively slower reception than the rest of the co...

Census rejecting some big-city complaints of 2020 undercounts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:39 GMT

Some of the largest U.S. cities challenging their 2020 census numbers aren’t getting the results they hoped for from the U.S. Census Bureau — an effort by Memphis to increase its official population resulted in three people being subtracted from its count during an initial appeal.Some successes have come from challenges to totals of “group quarters” — dorms, jails and nursing homes. They were among the most difficult to count as campuses closed and prisons and nursing homes were locked down at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Census Bureau created a separate program to handle these challenges. The Census Bureau has received more than 100 submissions in total for its two challenge programs from cities, towns and villages of all sizes across the U.S.The challenges won’t affect how many congressional seats each state got during the apportionment process, or the more detailed numbers used for redrawing political boundaries. But new numbers could shape how ...

Disneyland announces re-opening dates for classic rides scheduled to close in June

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:39 GMT

(KTLA) – Disneyland has announced re-opening dates for several classic rides scheduled to undergo refurbishments in June.Beginning June 5, Peter Pan’s Flight, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Alice in Wonderland and The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure will be closed.Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and Alice in Wonderland will reopen on June 16, and The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, will reopen only a few days after its closure, on June 8, according to the Disneyland calendar.A reopening date for Peter Pan’s Flight has not yet been announced. Disneyland extends pause on ‘Fantasmic!’ performances after fire Peter Pan’s Flight, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and Alice in Wonderland are all located in Fantasyland in Disneyland.The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure attraction is located in the Paradise Gardens Park area at Disney California Adventure, directly across from the Paradise Bay lagoon, where the World of Color shows occur. Disneyland guests can soon meet live-action Arie...

Weekend Gardening with Tim Joyce: Jumping worms, blossom end rot and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:39 GMT

WGN's "Plant Daddy," Tim Joyce, is back with his weekend gardening to share tips on how to combat jumping worms, blossom end rot and more.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

St. Paul police investigating homicide overnight Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:39 GMT

Homicide detectives are investigating the shooting death of a man early Saturday morning in the 1000 block of Pacific Street in St. Paul.Multiple people called 911 at about 2:30 a.m. to report shots fired and that someone had been shot. When officers arrived, they found a chaotic scene and a man who had been shot multiple times, according to a press release.Officers secured the scene in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood and called for St. Paul fire medics who took the man to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.Police ask anyone with information to call 651-266-5650.The Ramsey County medical examiner’s office will identify the victim and his cause of death.This death marks the 14th homicide in the city this year.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | After St. Paul mosque vandalized, Islamic group asks for investigation into potential bias motivation Crime & Public Safety | St. Paul men indicted for pulling handgun on undercover nar...

Tickets on sale now for Minnesota Monthly’s GrillFest at CHS Field

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:39 GMT

One of the best summer parties in St. Paul is happening again this year.Minnesota Monthly’s GrillFest will take place on June 3-4 at CHS Field. The packed festival includes burger, bloody Mary and margarita battles, a “99 Bottles of Beer” raffle, outdoor games and more than 100 local and national food, beer, wine, and spirits vendors offering samples.Among the highlights:• Traeger will demonstrate how to use its award-winning pellet grills, and will offer samples of the finished goods• The latest grills and patio entertainment accessories from Gertens will be on display• Visit the Kowalski’s Joy of Good Food Truck• Grilled chicken samples from Bell & Evans• Outdoor games, including giant Jenga, bags and giant chess, at the Patron Game ZoneTickets are $65 in advance; $75 at the door, subject to availability. All attendees must be 21 or older to enter. Ticket includes entrance to the event, a tasting glass, and food and beverage sampling.For more information or to buy ticket...

I-64 open after massive flooding from a main break

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:39 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- This morning, cars are moving again in both directions on I-64 near Hampton after a massive water main break. It happened under the Tamm Avenue overpass during the Friday afternoon rush. It first impacted the eastbound lanes and eventually shut down both directions of I-64.St. Louis firefighters saved a family, who were stuck in the flood, in the nick of time. They got trapped temporarily in their minivan after the interstate quickly flooded. Thankfully, everyone made it out safely. The city of St. Louis confirms that a 30-inch water main was the source of the flooding. Police, firefighters, the water division, and Mo-Dot all responded to this as crews worked to shut off the water and drain it. The eastbound lanes of I-64 in the Dogtown area near the zoo were closed for hours. The cause of the water main break is still not clear this morning. But a state audit last year recommended the city increase revenue for the water division. It found that St. Louis did not have su...

Man who shot WeHo neighbor through wall arrested weeks after escaping standoff: LASD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:39 GMT

A man who had escaped after allegedly shooting his neighbor through a West Hollywood apartment wall in April was arrested on Tuesday.The person of interest was identified as Joshua Findley, 31, by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.On April 7, Findley was wanted in connection to a shooting at The Dylan Apartments on the 7100 block of Santa Monica Boulevard.When deputies arrived, they found a woman in her 50s with two gunshot wounds — one to her neck and one to her leg inside her apartment. The woman was believed to be alone in her kitchen when the bullets went through the wall and struck her, officials said. Authorities do not believe the woman was targeted, but were still investigating the cause.A day-long standoff ensued as authorities tried contacting Findley who was believed to be holed up inside his apartment, but to no avail.Joshua Findley in photos from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Nearby residents were evacuated and a SWAT helicopter arrived at ...