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Australia progresses to Women’s World Cup semifinals after dramatic penalty shootout win over France

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:35 GMT

(CNN) — Australia reached the Women’s World Cup semifinals for the first time, sending a sell-out crowd in Brisbane into ecstasy, with an incredible penalty shootout victory over France.The co-host had played in the quarterfinals on three previous occasions but had never made it beyond the last eight. On home soil, the Matildas’ fortunes changed and history was made in a thrilling conclusion to the match.Cortnee Vine, the 20th penalty taker in the shootout, sealed victory, securing a 7-6 win on penalties and a tie against England.France had a goal rightly disallowed in extra-time, and with neither side able to break the deadlock over 120 minutes this entertaining quarterfinal had to be decided on penalties.Both teams missed from the spot in the shootout – but it was France’s four misses which proved the most costly, giving Vine the chance to end a tense shootout and spark wild celebrations among the Australian players in front of nearly 50,000 equally jubilant fa...

Researchers have identified a new pack of endangered gray wolves in California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:35 GMT

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — A new pack of gray wolves has shown up in California’s Sierra Nevada, several hundred miles away from any other known population of the endangered species, wildlife officials announced Friday.It’s a discovery to make researchers howl with delight, given that the native species was hunted to extinction in California in the 1920s. Only in the past decade or so have a few gray wolves wandered back into the state from out-of-state packs.A report of a wolf seen last month in Sequoia National Forest in Tulare County led researchers to spot tracks, and collect DNA samples from fur and droppings, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Researchers concluded that there is a new pack of at least five wolves that weren’t previously known to live in California: an adult female and her four offspring.The pack is at least 200 miles (321.8 kilometers) from the next-nearest pack, which is in Lassen Park in northeastern Cali...

Pierre Poilievre wants to rebuild a ‘broken’ Canada but first must fix his own image

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:35 GMT

A pile of puzzle pieces spills onto a table.“Everything feels broken,” Pierre Poilievre says in a voice-over as the shot tightens in on the federal Conservative leader’s face as he appears to be concentrating on sorting the pieces in his palm.He has repeated that line countless times in speeches, on social media and at rallies, but now he is doing so in a slick 29-second advertisement. It is one of several the party rolled out this week as part of a campaign, worth more than $3 million, throughout the rest of the summer and into the fall.The ad seeks to sell a hopeful message: Canada can be fixed — and Poilievre is the leader to do it.But first Canadians need to trust him.All prime ministerial hopefuls need to convince voters they are worth their time, but Poilievre faces a different challenge. He rubs too many people the wrong way, although recent polling has some in the party optimistic.The ads are an attempt to boost his image at a time when Poilievre approaches...

Look way up tonight: Annual Perseid meteor shower reaching its peak

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:35 GMT

The annual Perseid meteor shower is reaching its peak this weekend.The American Meteor Society says the best time to see these speedy streaks of light is after midnight and preferably close to dawn.Those in outside locations where the sky is clear and free of light pollution might be lucky enough to see a meteor per minute.They should be fairly easy to see because there will be only a sliver of a moon to contend with in the night sky.The Perseids, one of the biggest meteor showers of the year, is the result of the Earth colliding with dusty debris left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle.You don’t need a telescope or binoculars to see the meteors as they burn up in the atmosphere, and they can appear just about anywhere in the sky.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 12, 2023.The Canadian Press<!– Photo: 2023081213080-64d7bb114d8d8b717ace3ef2jpeg.jpg, Caption: The annual Perseid meteor shower is reaching its peak this weekend. In this 30 second came...

At least 10 killed in southwest Congo as intercommunal violence worsens over land rights and taxes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:35 GMT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — A militia group armed with guns and machetes killed at least 10 people in intercommunal violence in southwestern Congo, local authorities said Saturday. The attack is the latest episode in a deepening crisis that has been overshadowed by conflict on the other side of the vast Central African nation.According to provincial government spokesperson Adelard Nkisi, a militia group known as the Mobondo attacked civilians and burned down several houses in the village of Ipongi, just over 230 miles (370 kilometers) south of the capital Kinshasa, on Friday.An unknown number of people were tied up and kidnapped by the militia members, who fled into the bush, Nkisi said. The provincial government sent defense and security forces to restore security in the area.Tensions flared in June 2022 over land rights and customary taxes in Congo’s southwest, between the Teke, historical inhabitants of the region, and farmers from various other ethnic groups including the Yaka, who s...

Montreal Pride parade to go on as planned Sunday after 2022 cancellation: director

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:35 GMT

MONTREAL — The head of the organization behind Montreal’s LGBTQ+ pride festival says the city’s pride parade will go on as planned Sunday after its abrupt cancellation last year.The 2022 edition of the parade was cancelled just hours before it was supposed to begin in downtown Montreal.An independent report later found the incident was due to a misunderstanding among Montreal Pride festival personnel after they discovered 96 of the 200 volunteers needed to work security for the parade were never recruited.The report identified systemic communications and governance issues within the festival organization and recommended 13 reforms to address them.Montreal Pride Executive Director Simon Gamache says the organization has since fixed all of the problems that scuttled last year’s parade. He says Montreal Pride has all of the staff members and volunteers it needs for this year and Sunday’s event will go ahead on schedule.This report by The Canadian Press was first...

94th annual Bud Billiken Parade returns, inspiring Black youth

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:35 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Bud Billiken Parade returns to Chicago for its 94th year to kick off a new school year, celebrating African American culture and the talents of the youth. This year's theme is 'Parading in Peace Block by Block, sending positive vibes to youth going back to school. Founder of the Chicago Defender, Robert Sengstacke Abbott created the parade in 1924 which simply started as a picnic, then turned to festival in 1929. Kittens thriving after spending 5 days in shipping container from Georgia Generations of families lined the streets to watch marching bands, tumblers and the beloved South Shore drill team. Grammy winner and Chicago native J. Ivy will serve as Grand Marshal.'Bud Billiken' stands as a fictious character, or mascot of the Chicago Defender, made to protect and inspire the youth. The parade has now become the nation's second largest next to the Rose Parade. The three-mile-long parade kicked off Saturday morning and ends with a festival and picnic in Washington...

Weekend Break: Paranormal Cirque

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:35 GMT

ORLAND PARK, Ill. — A unique show is bringing mind-blowing stunts, thrilling magic tricks and horrors to Orland Park.Paranormal Cirque, which kicked off Friday, features some of the best acrobats from around the world as they put on a show packed with horror, cabaret, blood and eerie elements.“Every second is filled with something. You know, after five minutes, there’s something new, something new, something new,” Ben Holland, General Manager and Paranormal Cirque Contortionist said. Cirque show returns to ChicagolandOrganizers say those who dare to enter should be prepared to catch their breath or stop their hearts from racing as the thrills are so wild, even those who see it likely won’t believe it.“We have people suspended up 30 feet in the air, we have a lady that swings by her hair and is hanging around all up by the top of the tent,” Holland said. For information on showtimes or to purchase tickets visit the Paranormal Cirque websiteShows are taking place in the parking lot of...

Weekend Gardening with Tim Joyce: Mushroom Trees, American pokeweed and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:35 GMT

Check out Weekend Gardening with Tim Joyce for more on mushroom trees, American pokeweed 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.

Bestselling crime novelist thwarts California home invasion: 'Very unsettling'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:35 GMT

(KTLA) – A California homeowner and crime novelist thwarted a home invasion Thursday night thanks to the surveillance cameras in his yard.Lee Goldberg, the author of dozens of crime thrillers including "Lost Hills" and "True Fiction," was home with his wife and daughter at their Calabasas residence when they received a notification from the home's motion sensor a little after 9 p.m.It wasn’t the occasional bobcat or coyote that Goldberg expected, but rather four masked men climbing up a steep hillside into his backyard.They were dressed in hoodies and gloves, the bestselling author told Nexstar's KTLA.“They looked organized," he said. "They looked professional."Video provided by Lee Goldberg shows would-be theives crawl out of bushes in Calabasas on Aug. 10, 2023. (Lee Goldberg)Goldberg picked up the phone to alert the authorities. That's when the would-be thieves turned around and went right back down the hill they came from.Goldberg said he thinks they saw him calling police.“It’s...