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Scientists pry a secret from the `Mona Lisa’ about how Leonardo painted the masterpiece

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:13 GMT

PARIS (AP) — The “Mona Lisa” has given up another secret.Using X-rays to peer into the chemical structure of a tiny speck of the celebrated work of art, scientists have gained new insight into the techniques that Leonardo da Vinci used to paint his groundbreaking portrait of the woman with the exquisitely enigmatic smile.The research, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, suggests that the famously curious, learned and inventive Italian Renaissance master may have been in a particularly experimental mood when he set to work on the “Mona Lisa” early in the 16th century. The oil-paint recipe that Leonardo used as his base layer to prepare the panel of poplar wood appears to have been different for the “Mona Lisa,” with its own distinctive chemical signature, the team of scientists and art historians in France and Britain discovered.“He was someone who loved to experiment, and each of his paintings is completely different technically,” said Victor G...

Exxon Mobil doubles down on fossil fuels with $59.5 billion deal for Pioneer Natural as prices surge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:13 GMT

Exxon Mobil is buying Pioneer Natural Resources in an all-stock deal valued at $59.5 billion, its largest buyout since acquiring Mobil two decades ago, creating a colossal fracking operator in West Texas. Including debt, Exxon is committing about $64.5 billion to the acquisition, leaving no doubt of the Texas energy company’s commitment to fossil fuels as energy prices surge. Pioneer shareholders will receive 2.32 shares of Exxon for each Pioneer share they own.“I think fossil fuels, as the world looks to transition and find lower sources of affordable energy with lower emissions, fossil fuels oil and gas are going to continue to play a role over time,” Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods said during an interview with CNBC. “ That may diminish with time. The rate of that is, I think, not very clear at this stage. But it will be around for a long time.” Woods explained that Exxon and Pioneer will be able to use their combined capabilities to drive down emissions and produce lower carb...

Dominican Republic has partially reopened its border with Haiti. But a diplomatic crisis persists

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:13 GMT

DAJABON, Dominican Republic (AP) — The Dominican Republic partially reopened its border with Haiti on Wednesday to limited commercial activity nearly a month after shuttering the frontier amid an ongoing spat over construction of a canal targeting water from a shared river.Vendors in Dominican border cities are allowed to sell basic goods like food and medicine, but exporting electronic products and construction materials, including cement and metal rods, is prohibited.Wednesday marked the first time since Sept. 15 that the border partially reopened, although Dominican President Luis Abinader maintained a ban on issuing visas to Haitian citizens that he implemented last month and will keep the border closed to all migrants, regardless of whether they’re seeking entry for work, tourism, health or education purposes.While the gates at the northern Dominican border city of Dajabon opened late Wednesday morning, the gates on the Haitian side remained closed, and it wasn’t immediat...

Iraqi man arrested in Germany over alleged involvement in war crimes as a member of IS

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:13 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German authorities on Wednesday arrested an Iraqi man accused of involvement in the killing of prisoners and the amputation of a person’s hand in his homeland as a member of the Islamic State group.The suspect, identified only as Abdel J.S. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested in the western city of Wuppertal, federal prosecutors said. He is accused of membership in a foreign terrorist organization and participation in war crimes.Prosecutors said in a statement that he joined IS by June 2014 and in the following months participated twice in the extremist group’s “draconian public punishments.” In one case, they said, he was involved in the execution of at least six prisoners. In another, he is accused of providing security while the hand of an alleged thief was amputated.He and other IS fighters also allegedly took a person prisoner and beat and kicked the captive to extract information, the German authorities said. A judge on Wednesday ordered t...

New Hampshire’s presidential primary filing period opens with candidates critical of Biden and Trump

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:13 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — In a ritual unruffled by either a changing of the guard or changes to the nominating calendar elsewhere, the filing period for the New Hampshire presidential primary started Wednesday with a Democratic candidate who criticized President Joe Biden and paid a chunk of his filing fee in $2 bills. For the first time in more than four decades, candidates are filing paperwork with a new secretary of state thanks to the retirement last year of longtime elections chief Bill Gardner. But his successor, David Scanlan, is carrying on the tradition of ensuring New Hampshire remains first, waiting for the dust to settle in other states before scheduling the 2024 contest.“I’m really in no hurry,” he said in an interview Tuesday.In contrast, the candidates themselves — particularly the long shots — often are in a race to sign up first in hopes that a bit of media attention will boost their campaigns. In 1991, a writer from New York drove 11 hours in a snowstorm only to find an...

Statistics Canada reports value of building permits up 3.4% in August

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:13 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the total monthly value of building permits in Canada rose 3.4 per cent in August to $11.9 billion, as gains in the non-residential sector offset modest declines in residential construction plans.The agency says the total monthly value of non-residential permits rose 14.8 per cent to $5.0 billion in August.The increase came as permits were issued for hospital renovations in Toronto and North Vancouver, B.C., a new university building in Kelowna, B.C., a new correctional facility in Thunder Bay, Ont., and a new arena in Whitby, Ont.On the residential side, the total monthly value of permits issued fell 3.7 per cent to $6.8 billion in August as the value for permits for multi-unit construction intentions fell 9.5 per cent to $3.9 billion. However, the value of single-family home permits rose 5.5 per cent to $2.9 billion in August, marking the fourth consecutive monthly increase.The indicator comes as politicians across the country look for ways to incre...

Man from Las Vegas charged after climbing Accenture Tower in Chicago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:13 GMT

CHICAGO — A 24-year-old man from Las Vegas has been charged after climbing the Accenture Tower in the city’s West Loop on Tuesday.Maison Des Champs faces one misdemeanor count of reckless conduct and one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass to land.Des Champs climbed the building, located at 500 West Madison Street, around 9 a.m. Tuesday. The 42-story tower houses the Consul General of Israel.Des Champs reached the rooftop and was immediately taken into police custody.He has been identified as an alleged anti-abortion activist who goes by the name “Pro-life Spider-Man” on social media. A video of him climbing the Accenture Tower was livestreamed on his Instagram account. Man arrested after climbing Accenture Tower in Chicago Des Champs was reportedly calling attention to a non-profit called Let Them Live.This is the eighth time he has climbed a high-rise.

Vanna White says she knows a 'good replacement' for herself

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:13 GMT

(WJW) —Vanna White and Pat Sajak are back together for one final season of the long-running game show "Wheel of Fortune."Come next season, the longtime host is giving over the helm to Ryan Seacrest, but questions have swirled around what is to come for the show's puzzle board handler. Thankfully, we now know that White is in until the 2025-2026 season, with a reported contract extension through that time. TV personality quits after alleged murder plot However, like when White, 66, was out sick last week, it's important to have a backup, and that's where Sajak's 28-year-old daughter Maggie comes in. Vanna White, Maggie Sajack and Pat Sajack. (Christopher Willard/ABC via Getty Images)"I think she's a good replacement if I can't be there for some reason," White recently told E! News. "She's been around it her whole life, so I think she can fill in for me for sure." Get a free ’emergency’ pizza! Maggie has previously filled in for White's role when the letter-turner was a contestan...

Skokie man charged after several alleged bomb threats targeting schools

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:13 GMT

SKOKIE, Ill. — A man has been charged with conducting alleged bomb threats targeting schools in the area.Jacob Spiro, 23, of Skokie, is facing two counts of falsely making a terrorist threat and one count of disorderly conduct.Skokie police said they have received 16 bomb and violence threats from September into October.Throughout the area this year, several schools and libraries have been the targets of phony bomb threat calls.Skokie police told WGN News the charges are connected to schools an additional charges for "other locations" are pending. Niles police said 11 of the incidents took place in their community. Northwest Indiana Hardee’s employees accused of stealing credit card numbers to bond inmates out Spiro was taken into custody Monday in the 8300 block of West Golf Road in Niles.

Dean cooks Texas-style beef chili with butternut squash & beans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:13 GMT

Dean Richards shares his recipes for Texas-style beef chili with butternut squash & beans Ingredients3 lbs. chuck roast, cut in 1/2 inch cubes1 - 14.5 oz. can pinto beans1 medium butternut squash (about 2 cups) , peeled, seeded and cut in 1/2 cubes. (buying it pre-peeled and pre-diced will save a lot of time)1 - 14.5 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes1 - 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes1 - 8oz. can roasted garlic tomato sauce2 tbsp. tomato paste1 chipotle pepper (from a can of chipotle in adobo), chopped fine. (Add more if you like it hotter.)1 dried ancho chili pod, chopped fine or 1 tsp. ground.10 oz. whole kernel corn (or the corn from 2 cobs)1 - 15.5 oz. can dark red kidney beans1 - 2.25 oz. can sliced black olives12 oz of your favorite dark beer4-6 oz. chicken stock or water.1/4 cup red chili powder2 tbsp garlic powder1 onion, chopped fine1 green pepper,  chopped fine.1 1/2 tsp dried Mexican oregano1/2 tsp. paprika1 1/2 tsp cumin, ground2 tbsp corn masa flour (Masa Ferina)...