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A guide to how Paris will welcome fans and stage 32 sports at the first post-pandemic Olympics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:16 GMT

PARIS (AP) — The Olympics is on track to be back in business with millions of visitors coming to Paris for the 2024 Games.The French capital has the expert experience to stage the event and welcome guests for the first Olympics of the post-pandemic era.That should be a relief after a chaotic lead-in to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and uncertainty from postponing the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 with no guarantee it would eventually happen one year later. It did, but in almost entirely empty venues.Organizers, athletes and fans preparing for competitions in Paris — and regional French cities like Lille and Marseille, plus the far-away surfing venue of Tahiti in the South Pacific — can be confident the show will go on.Here’s a look at what we can expect from the 2024 Paris Olympics:WHAT ABOUT TICKETS?About 10 million tickets were made available for the Paris Olympics with 329 medal events in 32 different sports spread across 18 different days of competition.Close to 7 million have alrea...

New Zealand’s anti-nuclear stance means it won’t play a role in Australia’s submarine plans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:16 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s longstanding commitment to remaining nuclear-free means it won’t play a role in Australia’s plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, the leaders from both countries said after meeting Wednesday. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made his first official visit to New Zealand since becoming leader last year and emphasized the growing closeness between the neighboring countries, including plans to make travel easier at the border. But that closeness and alignment on many geopolitical issues won’t extend to the so-called AUKUS deal for the submarines that was brokered by Australia, the United States and Britain. Some observers worry that New Zealand’s defense efforts risk becoming marginalized by the nation being left out of the deal. “I think there is no question that we have a different position around nuclear, in terms of nuclear propulsion is also covered by New Zealand’s nuclear-free arrangements...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau set to make major changes to cabinet Wednesday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:16 GMT

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is getting ready to shuffle his cabinet today as he readies the team that will likely lead the Liberals into the next election.A swearing-in ceremony will take place at Rideau Hall this morning for what is expected to be the most significant change since 2021. Jeni Armstrong, a political instructor at Carleton University, says the shakeup will likely focus on critical issues including housing and the rising cost of living. She says Trudeau will be looking for good communicators who can resonate with Canadians on those files.Four ministers have announced they won’t be seeking re-election, including Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, who is stepping down from cabinet. The others are Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray, Public Services and Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek and Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett.Murray’s announcement is a reversal from last month, when she told reporters that she would be the Liberal cand...

B.C. firefighters bolstered by international help work to tame dozens of wildfires

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:16 GMT

Wildfire crews in B.C. have tamed a pair of wildfires in the province’s Cariboo region, but continue to grapple with stubborn blazes burning out of control elsewhere. The BC Wildfire Service says firefighters aided by heavy equipment and aerial support tamed the Branch Road wildfire, which is now considered “being held” at under 14 square kilometres. The service also says it doesn’t expect the Townsend Creek wildfire to grow any more, held at about 27 square kilometres, a blaze that spurred an evacuation alert on July 8 that remains in place. The Cariboo Regional District issued a new evacuation alert on Tuesday covering a 320-square-kilometre area around Anahim Peak, northwest of Williams Lake, B.C. The alert concerns 30 parcels of land, but the regional district did not specify how many residents the alert may affect. More than 450 active fires are burning across B.C., most caused by lightning, and this year’s wildfire season has burned almost 15,000 ...

‘Old boys’ club’: Employees question how Regina rebrand was approved

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:16 GMT

REGINA — Federal government employees expressed relief that Prairies Economic Development Canada was not involved in a disastrous rebrand that saw Saskatchewan’s capital city criticized for sexualized slogans.Messages in a group chat obtained under freedom of information laws show federal employees were shocked by Tourism Regina’s campaign. All names of employees have been redacted.“There were so many people involved in choosing that. How did no one stop it? Oh my,” one person wrote in a message.Experience Regina was launched in March with the agency posting phrases on social media that seemed to make light of the Saskatchewan capital’s name rhyming with female anatomy. The tourism agency posted an array of slogans on its social media accounts, including “We are the city that rhymes with fun.” Its website also had “show us your Regina” written above a block of Instagram posts.The backlash was swift and immediate. It made news around the world.“You know it is bad when it is in a New ...

Daily horoscope for July 26, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:16 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Scorpio.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, July 26, 2023:You are a confident, passionate person who enjoys the good things in life. You’re insightful and humorous. Others enjoy your company. Simplicity is the key to your life this year. Work to create a solid foundation. Take charge of your health, especially with exercise. Stay grounded.ARIES(March 21-April 19)★★★★This is an excellent day to discuss how to divide or share something, perhaps an inheritance or something to do with jointly-held property. You have the mental energy to make this happen, in addition to which, you will treat all sides fairly. Tonight: Discussions.TAURUS(April 20-May 20)★★★★This is a lively, energetic day! Enjoy dynamic discussions with partners and close friends, as well as members of the general public. It’s a great day to schmooze! Accept invitations to party, as well as to enjoy the arts, the entertain...

Italian court drops COVID case against Lombardy president and others

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:16 GMT

An Italian court on Monday (24 July) dropped a case against the president of the northern region of Lombardy, Attilio Fontana, and 11 other people over their initial handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, a court document showed.On 7 June, another court dropped the same case against former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and former Health Minister Roberto Speranza.Prosecutors in the northern city of Bergamo, the epicentre of the 2020 outbreak of COVID in Italy, had placed Conte, Speranza and 17 others under investigation for manslaughter and mishandling the epidemic.On Monday, the three judges of the court in the city of Brescia also referred the case back to the public prosecutor's office for the remaining five persons charged with refusing to carry out official acts.The court wrote in its ruling that the accusations brought against Fontana and the others were "unfounded" because governments all over the world, including in Lombardy, were dealing with a new and exceptional epidemiologica...

Miss Manners: In a moment of forgetfulness, I made a mortifying offer to a friend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:16 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have two dogs I adore. All of my friends know this, and I often receive gifts that are dog-oriented.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: This shopper was rude to the cashier. Should I have scolded her? Advice | Miss Manners: Must I tip a server who irritates me? Advice | Miss Manners: Should I reveal my suspicions about how my ex died? Advice | Miss Manners: I was appalled by her request for her daughter’s birthday Advice | Miss Manners: Were these women being rude in the restaurant, or did I go too far? A friend gave me a product for my dogs that I don’t use. It was still very thoughtful, and I thanked her profusely. I then set the gift aside and planned to give it to another friend on a later occasion.Several months passed, and the same friend who had given me the gift was at my home. I noticed her looking at the unused item and, in a moment of forgetfulness, I asked ...

El Mega Millions sube a $910 millones. Mira cuándo es el próximo sorteo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:16 GMT

El premio mayor del Mega Millions subió a $910 millones este miércoles después de que nadie acertará todos los números del sorteo del martes.Los números ganadores del martes fueron: 3, 5, 6, 44, 61, la mega bola 25 y el Megaplier 4x.Si quiere participar en los sorteos del Mega Millions, estos se llevan a cabo los martes y viernes a las 11 p.m. ET. ¿Qué debes hacer si ganas la lotería? Lo que recomienda el multimillonario Mark Cuban, según CNBC Mega Millions: estos son los números que más veces salen ganadores QUÉ OPCIONES TIENE EL GANADOR Cuando alguien gana un premio mayor de lotería en juegos como Powerball o Mega Millions, tiene dos opciones: una anualidad que se distribuye durante 29 años o un pago en efectivo (significativamente menor).Los impuestos federales y estatales también reducirán el dinero que llevas a casa, con deducciones según el estado donde vives.En cuanto a los impuestos federales, el ganador verá una retenció...

Rose Lavelle returns to Women’s World Cup a smarter player than her 2019 breakout debut

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:16 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Rose Lavelle believes she’s developed into a smarter player in the four years since becoming a breakout star for the United States in the 2019 Women’s World Cup final against the Netherlands. The midfielder was 24 and one of the Americans’ younger players when she scored in the 69th minute of the title game in Lyon, France. Megan Rapinoe also scored in the 2-0 victory that earned the United States its second straight World Cup trophy, and fourth overall. The United States meets the Netherlands again on Thursday, this time in the group stage of the tournament. Both teams have a win in Group E headed into the match in New Zealand’s capital of Wellington. Lavelle, now a veteran on an American team that has 14 players making their World Cup debuts, reflected on the past four years on the eve of the rematch. “I feel like obviously I have a lot more experience, so I think just my mentality is a bit is a bit different. Four years ago I...