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A century after her birth, opera great Maria Callas is honored with a new museum in Greece

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:32 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Finishing her class at The Julliard School of the arts in New York, Greek opera great Maria Callas gave her students a final word of advice.“Keep on going the proper way: Not with fireworks, not with easy applause, but with the expression of the words, the diction, and to really feel what you feel. That’s what I want. I’m not good at words, so that’s that.”The March 1972 speech was a detail little known to her admiring public, along with letters, jewellery and countless honors that include a postage stamp series from Kyrgyzstan and Congo.Now they are on display. The City of Athens inaugurated the Maria Callas Museum in the center of the Greek capital Wednesday, marking a century since the birth to Greek parents of the legendary soprano in New York.The museum, next to the city’s cathedral and with a view of the Acropolis, opens to the public Thursday, with sections of the museum connected by a red carpet.The top floors offer a recreated room of her Paris apartme...

Pickering councillor has pay suspended for motions deemed homophobic and transphobic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:32 GMT

A city councillor in Durham Region has seen her pay temporarily suspended over comments she made earlier this year regarding the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.Coun. Lisa Robinson, representing Pickering Ward 1, has had her pay docked for 60 days after that city’s integrity commissioner deemed three motions she promoted to be transphobic and homophobic. It’s the second time in a month that Robinson has seen her pay docked following an investigation into her conduct.Pickering Integrity Commissioner Janice Atwood’s recent report addressed complaints against Robinson over comments she made earlier this year on universal washrooms and changerooms for City of Pickering facilities, specifically at the Chestnut Hills Recreation Centre.Robinson discussed the motion at length outside the Durham District School Board (DDSB) back in May. She wanted to see the recreation centre alter its policy so members could only use the changeroom corresponding to their sex assigned at birth, or the...

A battle of wreaths erupts in the Arctic when Russian envoy puts his garland over Norway’s wreath

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:32 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A battle of wreaths erupted Wednesday when a Russian diplomat in the Arctic town of Kirkenes in northern Norway reportedly put his garland on top of Norway’s at a monument for the 1944 liberation of the region by Soviet troops.Magnus Mæland, the municipality mayor, then angrily removed the Russian wreath — only to have a woman, described by Norwegian public broadcaster NRK as being Russian, put it back. ”You don’t behave like that here,” Mæland told NRK. “One should be able to lay flowers at a monument, but not over the municipality’s official wreath.” Several local people in the border town only 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the Russian border, had called on Russian officials to stay away from the ceremony.In an op-ed published last week, local historians Marit Bjerkeng and Harald Sunde wrote that “official representatives of Russia should not hold any commemoration or appear at memorials on Norwegian soil,” saying it will be seen “as an insult to N...

Israel accuses UN chief of justifying terrorism for saying Hamas attack ‘didn’t happen in a vacuum’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:32 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli officials were outraged Wednesday over U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ comment that the deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel “did not happen in a vacuum,” calling it justification for terrorism. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen canceled a scheduled meeting with Guterres while Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial, said the U.N. chief “failed the test.” “I will not meet with the UN secretary-general. After the October 7 massacre, there is no place for a balanced approach. Hamas must be erased off the face of the planet!” Cohen posted Tuesday on social platform X, formerly known as Twitter.Israel’s envoy to the U.N. Gilad Erdan called for his resignation, saying Israel must rethink its relations with the world body. “We will refuse to grant visas to U.N. representatives. We have already refused to give one to Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths,” Erdan told Army Radio, accusing Guterres of justifying a slaughter...

Sri Lanka allows a Chinese research ship to dock as neighboring India’s security concerns grow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:32 GMT

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — A Chinese research ship docked at a Sri Lankan port on Wednesday, likely adding to neighboring India’s concerns about China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean.The arrival of the Shi Yan 6 follows last year’s visit by a Chinese naval vessel.The latest ship was given permission to dock for replenishment at the port of Colombo, the Indian Ocean island’s main port, from Wednesday until Oct. 28, said foreign ministry spokesman Kapila Fonseka.The vessel had been expected to conduct research with Sri Lankan state institutions, but Fonseka said permission was granted only for replenishment and no research work would be carried out.“The particular permission is very clear,” he said.According to Chinese television network CGTN, Shi Yan 6 is a geophysical scientific research vessel on an expeditionary voyage in the eastern area of the Indian Ocean.Organized by the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the vesse...

New report from PEN America documents vast book bannings in US prisons

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Tens of thousands of books are being banned or restricted by U.S. prisons, according to a new report from PEN America. The list includes everything from self-help books to an Elmore Leonard novel.“The common concept underpinning the censorship we’re seeing is that certain ideas and information are a threat,” says the report’s co-author, Moira Marquis, senior manager in the prison and justice writing department at PEN, the literary and free expression organization.Timed to the start Wednesday of Prison Banned Books Week, “Reading Between the Bars” draws upon public record requests, calls from PEN to prison mailrooms, dozens of accounts from inmates and PEN’s struggles to distribute its guide for prison writing, “The Sentences That Create Us: Crafting A Writer’s Life in Prison,” which came out last year.Marquis said that the most common official reasons for bans are security and sexual content, terms that can apply to a very wide range of titles...

California home with meth lab goes on market for $1.5 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:32 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — A California home that was busted as a meth lab seven months ago is now up for sale for more than $1.5 million.What's more, the San Jose home at 668 Potomac Court is being sold as-is.Surrounded by chain link fencing and warning signs reading "condemned," the home has been deemed unsafe to occupy. Keller Williams Reality's website lists the 2,743-square-foot home for $1,550,000 and states, "Great opportunity to own large home. Great location to freeway and expressway. Home has inactive meth lab and meth."The homeowner, 35-year-old Peter Karasev, was arrested in March for keeping explosive materials, guns and narcotics inside. FBI agents said Karasev stockpiled highly explosive bomb-making chemicals while he lived at the home with his wife and three young children.Police found chemicals drugs, and firearms "within easy reach of children. It was not a safe environment for children, or for anyone," San Jose Police Department Assistant Chief Paul Joseph previous...

Dean's Home Video: 'Pain Hustlers,' 'American Horror Stories,' and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:32 GMT

CHICAGO — There's a little bit of everything for everyone in this edition of streaming picks from WGN's Dean Richards this week. There's a new crime drama featuring Emily Blunt and Chris Evans on Netflix while the other continues a horror anthology that began in 2011."Pain Hustlers" and "American Horror Stories" are among the selections in "Dean's Home Video" as he looks at some of the offerings for shows, movies, documentaries, and comedies That included "If You Were The Last," "Fellow Travelers," "Get Gotti," "The Enfield Poltergeist," "Life On Planet," and more.You can watch this edition of "Dean's Home Video" from the October 25 show in the video above.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Inside the Investigations: Graffiti & new resources for assault victims

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Each week the in-depth reporting from the KXAN Investigates team will get a spotlight on KXAN Live.A conversation will happen Wednesday morning with investigative reporter Kelly Wiley and KXAN Live anchor Will DuPree to break down one of this week’s top stories. People can watch the live stream in this story and on the station's Facebook page. Inside the Investigations: ACC student pandemic aid The story they'll discuss this week is:KXAN investigator Matt Grant heard from someone claiming to be behind more than 60 spray-painted tags across Austin that read, "even though I was raped, I am OK." While KXAN is unable to verify a connection for sure, Matt will explain why the meaning that person says is behind the messages is worth sharing at a time when new resources are being made available in Texas to help sexual assault victims.Join Kelly Wiley and Will DuPree every Wednesday morning for a live recap of the latest headlines and in-depth reporting from the...

Tipsy Taco Cantina opens in Latham

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:32 GMT

LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A new taco eatery has opened in Latham. Tipsy Taco Cantina officially opened on October 24 at 704 New Loudon Road. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Tipsy Taco Cantina is owned by Brendan Brader and Robert Tario, who are the co-owners of Tipsy Moose Tap and Tavern. Tipsy Moose has locations in Latham, Albany, and Troy. “Every Tuesday, each of the three Tipsy Moose locations features a unique taco selection, which is wildly popular with customers,” said Tario. “Their enthusiasm inspired Tipsy Taco.” New Japanese restaurant opens in Wilton The Tipsy Taco menu features different types of tacos including Nashville Hot Chicken, Short Rib, Shrimp, Chorizo, vegetarian options, and more. The menu also includes salads, empanadas, taquitos, nachos, salsas, guacs, and more.The restaurant has some dessert options and an extensive tequila selection. Tipsy Taco Cantina is open every day from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.