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Vatican experts uncovering gilded glory of Hercules statue struck by lightning

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:10 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Scaffolding in a niche of the Vatican Museums’ Round Hall conceal from view the work of restorers who are removing centuries of grime from the largest known bronze statue of the ancient world: the gilded Hercules Mastai Righetti.For more than 150 years, the four-meter-tall (13-foot-tall) figure of the half-human Roman god of strength has stood in that niche, barely garnering notice among other antiquities because of the dark coating it had acquired. But it was only after removing a layer of wax and other material from a 19th-century restoration that Vatican experts understood the statue’s true splendor as one of the most significant gilded statues of its time. Museum-goers will be able to see its grandeur for themselves once the restoration is finished, which is expected in December.“The original gilding is exceptionally well-preserved, especially for the consistency and homogeneity,” Vatican Museum restorer Alice Baltera said. The discovery of the colossal...

Store owner brutally beaten by thieves in downtown Los Angeles

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:10 GMT

A store owner remains in the ICU after being brutally beaten by robbers in downtown Los Angeles.Surveillance cameras captured two hooded thieves armed with a semi-automatic handgun pistol-whipping the victim before escaping with cash and jewelry.On Wednesday, police said the suspects walked into the clothing store on the 1100 block of Main Street around 4:49 p.m., according to LAPD.Video shows the two suspects strolling into Franky Salerno’s store before violently assaulting him.The thieves wanted Salerno’s gold necklace, Rolex watch and other jewelry. Although Salerno tried to fight back, he was no match for the men who kicked and punched him while he was on the ground. Salerno’s friend inside the store was also attacked.The victim’s girlfriend, Ivana Octaviani, said she was fed up with the high amount of crime in L.A. and had moved to Arizona earlier in the week.Two days later, thieves broke into her boyfriend’s shop and cleared out the merchandise. The very next day is when the a...

Southern California sea lions show off cognitive skills while playing video games

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:10 GMT

"Spike" the sea lion is making waves in the science community, learning how to play video games on the deck of a sea pen in the San Diego Bay off the coast of Point Loma. The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program cares for the branch's sea lions and dolphins, aiming to keep marine mammals happy and healthy longer."His [Spike's] ability to understand the concept of controlling a cursor on a screen, then progress through a series of more challenging games, marks the first recorded success in testing cognition of California sea lions with an animal-controlled interface," said Maison Piedfort, with the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific.Spike, who is a fan of fish, ice, and naps, participates in the Enclosure Video Enrichment (EVE) system, using his snout to press a button and maneuver a cursor through a maze while his trainers cheer him on. He is then rewarded with herring after finishing a training session.More than 750 sessions have been attempted between Spike and other sea lions in...

Championship year: San Ramon Valley’s baseball team, ignited by football hero, wins EBAL title

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:10 GMT

DANVILLE — The football championship vibes from last fall have rubbed off on San Ramon Valley’s baseball team.Of course, it helps that the quarterback who led the Danville school to North Coast Section and regional titles, Bay Area News Group player of the year Luke Baker, bats in the heart of the Wolves order.Friday, with Granada four outs from victory in the East Bay Athletic League title game, the left-handed hitting Baker hooked a two-run homer around the right-field foul pole to give SRV the lead in the bottom of the sixth.Granada evened the score in the visitor’s half of the seventh.But SRV got another opportunity in the ninth and UC Santa Barbara-bound Blake Jacobs did what he was determined to do, singling to center with none out to drive in the championship run from third.Final: SRV 3, Granada 2.San Ramon Valley’s Blake Jacobs (10) connects a walk-off hit against Granada in the EBAL title game Friday. (Photos by Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) B...

Two arrested on suspicion of stabbing others during Pacifica brawl

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:10 GMT

PACIFICA – An 18-year-old Pacifica man and a Half Moon Bay boy have been arrested in connection with stabbings that took place during a brawl last month in Pacifica, police said.On April 22, officers were called to a parking lot in the 600 block of Crespi Drive for a report of a fight involving a large number of people, according to the Pacifica Police Department.Police said a man and a boy were stabbed during the brawl. Both victims were taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where they underwent surgery for their injuries.Detectives identified multiple people who were involved in the fight. They were a mix of Pacifica and Half Moon Bay residents, and some had confirmed gang affiliations, according to police.Police said the investigation also resulted in the identification of an 18-year-old Pacifica man and a Half Moon Bay boy who used “edged weapons” to stab others during the brawl.On Friday, detectives arrested the man and the boy. The man was booked into San Mateo County jail ...

Eichel’s 3-point game helps Golden Knights beat Oilers 4-3, take 3-2 series lead

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:10 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Vegas gave up three power-play goals Friday night, but the Golden Knights are one victory from the Western Conference Final largely because of their penalty kill.Clinging to a two-goal lead and entering the third period facing 4:36 of a major penalty against the NHL’s most lethal power play, the Knights gave up just one more goal and remained in front to beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3.“That could’ve been a turning point in the game big time, and we got through it,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Even though we lost the special teams battle three goals to two, I think in our minds we won.”Jack Eichel had a goal and two assists as the Knights took a 3-2 series lead. Mark Stone, Reilly Smith and Nic Hague also scored, and Jonathan Marchessault tied a franchise playoff record with three assists for the Golden Knights. Adin Hill had 31 saves.Connor McDavid scored two power-play goals for the Oilers, Zach Hyman had a goal and an assist and Evan Bouchard and Ry...

Fletcher’s 1st MLB homer, 4 RBIs lift D-backs over Giants 7-5

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:10 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Dominic Fletcher hit his first major league homer, doubled in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and had four RBIs to help the Arizona Diamondbacks rally past the San Francisco Giants 7-5 Friday night, ending their three-game losing streak.Fletcher, a 25-year-old who made his debut on April 30, raised his batting average to .457. Hitting ninth in the order, he tied the score 3-3 with a three-run homer in the second off Ross Stripling, a 428-foot drive off the sign above the swimming pool area in right-center field.“He hung a slider a little bit,” said Fletcher, adding he got the ball as a souvenir from a fan in the pool area. “Someone said it landed in the guacamole.”Fletcher singled in the fourth and then doubled off Jakob Junis (2-2) for a 5-4 lead. With a chance to hit for the cycle, Fletcher left the bases loaded in the seventh with an inning-ending groundout.“He’s very calm in the batter’s box. He has a really good plan and he doesn’t get too overwhelmed ...

Erdoğan finds a scapegoat in Turkey’s election: LGBTQ+ people

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:10 GMT

ISTANBUL — To President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s LGBTQ+ community represents “deviant structures” and a “virus of heresy.”In the run-up to Sunday’s too-close-to-call election, he has ramped up his poisonous invective against homosexuality, as he seeks to shore up his conservative Islamist base. Almost every other speech from the campaign trail accuses the opposition of undermining family values and of being in the thrall of improbably powerful LGBTQ+ networks — sometimes with hints they are run by paymasters abroad.  “The AK Party has never been an LGBT supporter,” Erdoğan roared at a recent Istanbul rally, referring to his governing party. “We believe in the sanctity of the family. Family is sacred.”Adding a menacing note, he followed up with: “So are we ready to bury these LGBT supporters in the ballot box?”To some extent, the homophobic focus of the campaign is easily explicable. Increasingly deserted by his early supporters, Erdoğan is having to form...

Poland detects object in its airspace that flew from Belarus, likely an observation balloon

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:10 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s Defense Ministry said Saturday that it has detected an object in Polish airspace that flew in from the direction of Belarus, and that it’s probably an observation balloon.The ministry tweeted that radar contact with the object was lost near Rypin, a town in central Poland.The ministry said that the Territorial Defense Forces were deployed to search for the object.The development reported Saturday follows two other known incursions into Poland’s airspace since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which lies on Poland’s eastern border. In November, two Polish men were killed when a missile landed in eastern Poland, the result of Ukrainian air forces trying to repel a large-scale attack by Russia.Polish military and political officials are also facing questions about another object that landed on Polish territory in December, but which was only found in April.The Associated Press

Dear Abby: The wedding invitation has a coded message I find tasteless

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:10 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I was born in America to parents who emigrated from Pakistan. Over the last few years, I have noticed a trend at Pakistani weddings: The invitations clearly say “no boxed gifts,” which is obviously code for “we want money” instead.Have you or your readers ever heard of this? I think it’s in poor taste, but it’s common at our weddings. I can’t remember the last one that didn’t request “no boxed gifts” on the invitation. What do you, or your readers, think about this?JUST GIVE ME MONEYDEAR JUST GIVE ME MONEY: In some cultures, gifts of money are expected. Was it a tradition when your parents lived in Pakistan?In any case, according to the rules of etiquette, any mention of gifts on a wedding invitation is considered a social blunder.DEAR ABBY: My 23-year-old daughter and her first and only boyfriend have begun to talk marriage. Although I think he’s a wonderful, smart, compassionate young man who seems to ado...