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Italian leader tones down divisive rhetoric but carries on with pursuit of far-right agenda

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:00 GMT

ROME (AP) — When Giorgia Meloni was running to become Italy’s first far-right head of government of the post-war era, she steeped her winning campaign in the sharply ideological rhetoric of national sovereignty, “traditional families” and fear of migrants.Since taking office in September, Premier Meloni has toned down the bombast reflected in the slogans she shouted last year at a rally in Spain for a far-right ally — “ Yes to natural families! No to LGBT lobbies!” But her government and her party’s lawmakers are still pursuing multiple far-right policies, including refusing to allow the names of some same-sex parents’ to be on their children’s birth records, broadening restrictions on surrogate pregnancies and even seeking to ban foreign words from government documents.Her administration’s fervor now finds expression in policies promoted by ministries and in legislation pushed by lawmakers from her Brothers of Italy party, the political group wit...

Spanish soccer president faces general assembly amid reports he will resign for kissing a player

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:00 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The president of the Spanish soccer federation faces an emergency meeting of its general assembly on Friday amid media reports that he will hand in his resignation following an uproar for kissing a Women’s World Cup champion.Luis Rubiales is expected to stand before representatives of Spain’s regional federations, clubs, players, coaches and referees in Madrid at noon local time and local media say he is stepping down.The federation has refused to comment on repeated requests from The Associated Press for confirmation of Rubiales’ decision to go that was reported late Thursday.Rubiales, 46, is under immense pressure to leave his post since he grabbed player Jenni Hermoso and kissed her on the lips without her consent during the awards ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 victory over England on Sunday in Sydney, Australia.FIFA, soccer’s global governing body and organizer of the Women’s World Cup, opened a disciplinary case against him on Thursday. Its disciplinary...

AP WAS THERE: A 1953 CIA-led coup in Iran topples prime minister, cements shah’s power

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:00 GMT

EDITOR’S NOTE — In August 1953, a CIA-backed coup toppled Iran’s prime minister, cementing the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi for over 25 years before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The coup, carried out by allied members of its military and security forces, came after then-Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh had nationalized the country’s oil industry. At the time, Iran’s Abadan refinery was the largest in the world and a key supply for Britain, which backed the coup to regain its access. For the Americans who pushed it forward with millions of dollars in bribes, weapons and other encouragement, the coup represented what Washington at the time saw as the best chance to halt any expansion by the Soviet Union into the Middle East. At the time of the coup, the public had no idea about the CIA’s role in the putsch. That changed in the years after. Kermit Roosevelt Jr., a grandson of former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, led the CIA plot from Iran and l...

A CIA-backed 1953 coup in Iran haunts the country with people still trying to make sense of it

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:00 GMT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Seventy years after a CIA-orchestrated coup toppled Iran’s prime minister, its legacy remains both contentious and complicated for the Islamic Republic as tensions stay high with the United States. While highlighted as a symbol of Western imperialism by Iran’s theocracy, the coup unseating Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh — over America’s fears about a possible tilt toward the Soviet Union and the loss of Iranian crude oil — appeared backed at the time by the country’s leading Shiite clergy. But nowadays, hard-line Iranian state television airs repeated segments describing the coup as showing how America can’t be trusted, while authorities bar the public from visiting Mossadegh’s grave in a village outside of Tehran. Such conflicts are common in Iran, where “Death to America” can still be heard at Friday prayers in Tehran while many on its streets say they’d welcome a better relationship with the U.S. But as memories of ...

Europe is cracking down on Big Tech. This is what will change when you sign on

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:00 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Starting Friday, Europeans will see their online life change.People in the 27-nation European Union can alter some of what shows up when they search, scroll and share on the biggest social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook and other tech giants like Google and Amazon.That’s because Big Tech companies, most headquartered in the U.S., are now subject to a pioneering new set of EU digital regulations. The Digital Services Act aims to protect European users when it comes to privacy, transparency and removal of harmful or illegal content. Here are five things that will change when you sign on:YOU CAN TURN OFF AI-RECOMMENDED VIDEOSAutomated recommendation systems decide, based on people’s profiles, what they see in their feeds. Those can be switched off.Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, said users can opt out of its artificial intelligence ranking and recommendation systems that determine which Instagram Reels, Facebook Stories and search r...

Triple-Digit Heat Thursday Gives Way to Cooler pattern

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:00 GMT

Arrival of Canadian High pressure to push the hot, humid air well to the south of Chicago. FORECAST temperature departures from normal through the coming weekend into early next week:Canada is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record with thousands of people being evacuated. Heat and drought conditions have contributed to the unprecedented fire season in Canada that have been burning since April.Canadian wildfire smoke drifting into the U.S. has led to a spike in asthma ER visits. CONTINUE READING

‘HERE COMES DIGGINS!’: National Bobblehead Hall of Fame releases Jessie Diggins figurine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:00 GMT

Legendary cross-country skier and Olympic champion Jessie Diggins gets her own bobblehead on Friday.In addition to a bobbling head, the figurine features Diggins, wearing a blue ski suit, sunglasses and a blue headband featuring the U.S. flag, holding her ski poles in triumph as she sprints across a finish line.The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum has unveiled the first bobblehead of Minnesota native and Olympic cross-country skier Jessie Diggins. (Courtesy of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum)The bobblehead’s base includes replicas of Diggins’ three Olympic medals and the words “HERE COMES DIGGINS!” which Olympic broadcaster Chad Salmela shouted in 2018 as Diggins came from behind to win Team USA’s first gold medal in Nordic skiing at the Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.Diggins, an Afton native and a graduate of Stillwater Area High School, won a silver medal (sprint freestyle) and bronze medal (30-kilometer mass start) at the Beijing Olymp...

LIVE: Suspect arrested for possible toilet bomb threat at Americana mall in Glendale

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:00 GMT

A suspect was arrested after shoppers were evacuated for a possible bomb threat from a toilet that was mysteriously left at the Americana at Brand shopping center in Glendale Thursday night.Police confirmed a male suspect was taken into custody although his identity was not released.The incident was first reported around 8 p.m., according to Glendale police. Officers found the painted toilet around 50-100 feet from the AMC Theater at the shopping center.A note accompanied the toilet stating that the item may be a bomb, police said. A dolly typically used for hotel luggage was also seen nearby, but it's unclear whether that was used to transport the toilet.Authorities evacuated shoppers from the scene. Sky5 video shows the toilet appears to have many images and letters scrawled all across it. The messages on the toilet remain unclear.Shoppers were evacuated for a possible bomb threat after a toilet was mysteriously left at the Americana at Brand shopping center in Glendale on August ...

‘Fight or flight was not an option’: band recalls horrifying experience during Cook’s Corner mass shooting 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:00 GMT

What was supposed to be a fun night at the bustling Cook’s Corner biker bar turned deadly on Wednesday when a former police officer targeting his estranged wife opened fire in the packed restaurant, killing three and wounding six more.  The minutes that elapsed between when former Ventura Police Department Sgt. John Snowling began his rampage and when he was killed by police felt like hours to those who were trapped inside the restaurant, according to members of the band that was performing at the establishment on Wednesday night. “Fight or flight was not an option, it was fight or hide,” said Deb Johnson, who is part of the band M Street. “And we didn’t have anything to fight with, so it was more like hide and watch.” Band members Ed Means and Dave Stretch were injured during the shooting but are set to be released from the hospital by Friday.  Witnesses describe chaos during mass shooting at Orange County biker bar According to Mark Johnson – Deb's husband and fel...

High school football: Los Gatos rolls in opener as AJ Minyard throws five TD passes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:00 GMT

LOS GATOS — Jaylen Thomas juked past a bevy of defenders for one of his two touchdowns. Henry Masters intercepted a pass and made sure he’d take it back for a pick-six. Scott Garwood found the end zone three times.And then there was quarterback AJ Minyard, who was precision-like while leading Los Gatos to a 45-14 season-opening victory at home over Soquel on Thursday.The senior completed 16 of 21 passes for 249 yards and five touchdowns as the Wildcats put the game away in the second half after a competitive opening two quarters.“I was a little nervous,” Minyard said. “But we worked all summer and I had nothing to really be nervous about. I trust my guys. I trust my receivers. I trust my coaches with the play calls. Can’t really complain.”Los Gatos scored on its opening series when Minyard threw a 10-yard pass to Garwood for a 7-0 lead.The Wildcats put themselves in position to expand the margin to two touchdowns after Nate Goldsbury scooped...