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Beijing re-schedules Borrell visit for the autumn

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday invited EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and his delegation for a visit in the fall, after Beijing cancelled a trip initially planned for July. The visit will allow for preparations ahead of an expected EU-China summit with “extensive and in-depth exchanges,” Wang was quoted as saying in a statement published by the Chinese Foreign Ministry after the two officials spoke on the phone. The leaders’ summit will occur before the end of the year, Wang indicated in the statement.“China and the EU should carry out more institutional dialogues, make up for the missing exchange lessons between China and the EU in the three years of the epidemic, and inject new strong impetus into the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership,” Wang was cited as saying. Borrell said he looks forward to “visiting China as soon as possible,” according to the statement. The EU’s top diplomat was schedule...

US loses to Sweden on penalty kicks in its earliest Women’s World Cup exit ever

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

By ANNE M. PETERSON (AP Sports Writer)MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The United States played its best game of this Women’s World Cup and it wasn’t good enough to stop the two-time reigning champions from being eliminated in the round of 16.The Americans’ bid to win an unprecedented third consecutive title ended Sunday on penalty kicks. Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith and Kelly O’Hara missed with kicks from the penalty spot before Lina Hurtig converted to clinch the shootout 5-4 as Sweden knocked the United States out of the World Cup after a scoreless draw in regulation and extra time. The Americans controlled the shootout until the trio of misses. It is the earliest exit in tournament history for the United States, four-time winners of the World Cup.“I mean, this is like a sick joke. For me personally, this is like dark comedy that I missed a penalty,” Rapinoe said as she blinked back tears. “This is the balance to the beautiful side of the...

Maldives top court rejects jailed ex-leader’s plea for eligibility to run again for president

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

MALE, Maldives (AP) — The highest court in the Maldives on Sunday rejected a plea from the country’s jailed former president that he be made eligible to contest next month’s presidential election. Abdullah Yameen’s lawyers argued the former leader should be eligible to stand in the election because the corruption case that he was convicted of is under appeal in a higher court and there is a possibility it will be overturned. The seven-member Supreme Court bench rejected the plea.Yameen is currently serving an 11-year jail term after being convicted of money laundering and bribery.According to the Maldives constitution, a person convicted of a criminal offense and sentenced to more than 12 months in prison can’t seek elected office until after three years from the completion of the sentence.Yameen ruled the Indian Ocean archipelago state known for its high-end tourist islands from 2013 to 2018, until losing to current President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.The electi...

A deadline arrives for Niger’s junta to reinstate the president. Citizens cheer and fear what’s next

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — The deadline arrived Sunday for Niger’s military junta to reinstate the country’s ousted president, but the West Africa regional bloc that has threatened a military intervention faces prominent appeals to pursue more peaceful means. In the capital, coup leaders appeared at a stadium rally where a chicken decorated in the colors of former colonizer France was beheaded, to cheers.Neighboring Nigeria’s Senate has pushed back against the plan by the regional bloc known as ECOWAS, urging Nigeria’s president, the bloc’s current chair, on Saturday to explore options other than the use of force. ECOWAS can still move ahead, as final decisions are made by consensus by member states, but the warning on the eve of the deadline raised questions about the intervention’s fate.The July 26 coup, in which mutinous soldiers installed Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani as head of state, adds another layer of complexity to West Africa’s Sahel region that’s struggling with milita...

‘Barbie’ joins $1 billion club, breaks another record for female directors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

Greta Gerwig should be feeling closer to fine these days. In just three weeks in theaters, “Barbie” is set to sail past $1 billion in global ticket sales, breaking a record for female directors that was previously held by Patty Jenkins, who helmed “Wonder Woman.”“Barbie,” which Gerwig directed and co-wrote, added another $53 million from 4,178 North American locations this weekend according to studio estimates on Sunday. The Margot Robbie-led and produced film has been comfortably seated in first place for three weeks and it’s hardly finished yet. Warner Bros. said the film will cross $1 billion before the end of the day.In modern box office history, just 53 movies have made over $1 billion, not accounting for inflation, and “Barbie” is now the biggest to be directed by one woman, supplanting “Wonder Woman’s” $821.8 million global total. Three movies that were co-directed by women are still ahead of “Barbie,” including “Frozen” ($1.3 billion) and “Frozen 2” ($1.45 billion) both co-d...

Libyan governing body’s vote to replace its head could further fracture the country

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — One of Libya’s top governing bodies elected a new head on Sunday, in a development that could further fracture the country already split between two rival administrations. Members of the Supreme Council of State, which is separate from both of the governments and is based in the capital of Tripoli, voted for Mohamed Takala to be the body’s new leader. Takala would take over from former head Khaled el-Meshri, a powerful figure who had been key in negotiations over the country’s election laws. Both the voting and count were live-streamed on local Libyan news channels. The final count was announced in favor of Takala, 67-62. The council did not immediately issue any statements on the outcome of the election. The introduction of a new leader at the helm of a key political institution could add more uncertainly to the country’s already deeply divided politics.The international community and the United Nations have repeatedly said that nationwide elect...

Justice Fund’s Yonis Hassan & Noah “40” Shebib on making Toronto safer for youth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

TORONTO — A Toronto-based non-profit with connections to Drake’s record label is partnering with several major city organizations — including the local school board and public transit operator — to address youth safety issues.  The Justice Fund, which provides opportunities in the arts for young people experiencing poverty, announced partnerships on Friday with the Toronto Transit Commission, NBA Foundation, and the Toronto District School Board on initiatives such as promoting public art and safety on transit. Justice Fund co-founders Yonis Hassan and Noah “40” Shebib say their goal is to address root causes of poverty and violence, which have recently been top of mind in the city. “The spike of violence that we’ve seen over the last little while is the byproduct of lack of investments in our communities and a byproduct of a mental health crisis,” Hassan said in an interview at a summit promoting the new partnerships. When youth are given the opportunity to thrive in th...

'Nourishing Hope' and CFD Foundation work to help with fire safety in Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

Their mission is to educate and help serve needs of fire safety in the city of Chicago.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.

Waffle House's 1955 menu offered this ritzy dish for just $1.50

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The very first Waffle House didn’t have smothered or covered hash browns on its original menu, but at least you could get a ritzy steakhouse-style dinner for well under two bucks.In 1955, Waffle House founders Joe Rogers and Tom Forkner opened their first restaurant in Avondale Estates, Georgia, with the goal of providing customers with “quality food at a great value,” according to Waffle House’s own account. To that end, the original menu offered a variety of all-day dishes at the same (similarly) reasonable prices as today’s Waffle House restaurants.(Waffle House)An order of eggs with toast, for instance, was just 45 cents, or around five bucks in today’s money. And waffles — the “highest profit item” on the original menu, according to Forkner — started at just 40 cents, or the equivalent of about $4.50 in 2023.In fact, everything on the 1955 menu could be purchased for $21.85 — and that included a whole “take-home” pie for $1.25. Grammy-nominated singer serves coffe...

From $83 to $219, where your family will spend the most to attend an MLB game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Taking your family to the ballgame and buying them some hot dogs and sodas is a beloved summer pastime. Unfortunately, depending on the stadium, the price you pay may be a shame. MoneyGeek analyzed budget ticket options for the rest of the 2023 season, along with parking and concessions, to calculate how much it costs on average for a family of four to attend a game with all 30 MLB teams. Overall, the personal finance website found that an average trip to an MLB game for a family of four costs $140.  These are the best MLB ballparks, according to Yelp A family visiting the most expensive team on the list, the Los Angeles Dodgers would spend about $219, MoneyGeek found. If you’re looking to save a buck — or way more — you’ll need to go across the country to Miami, where a Marlins game will cost an average of $83. A combination of more affordable ticket, parking, and concession prices (four hot dogs, two beers, and two sodas) helped keep a game in Mia...