«SFGate» (sfgate.com)

The incoming archbishop of New York says he plans to emphasize the importance of evangelizing as he takes charge of one of the biggest U.S. archdioceses. Ronald Hicks made his priorities clear Thursday during a news conference at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where his installation ceremony will be held Friday. Hicks has been the bishop of Joliet, Illinois, and was chosen by Pope Leo XIV in December to replace Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Dolan is retiring after serving as a prominent conservative figure in... Читать дальше...

Argentina and the United States have reached an expansive trade deal, a win for Argentine President Javier Milei as he moves to open up the South American nation’s notoriously protectionist economy and a reflection of the close alliance between the radical libertarian and U.S. President Donald Trump. Argentina’s foreign minister, Pablo Quirno, announced the deal's signing on social media on Thursday. The countries reached a framework for the agreement last November, saying Argentina would ease restrictions on a range of American imports... Читать дальше...

Democrats are threatening to block funding for the Homeland Security Department when it expires in two weeks unless there are “dramatic changes” and “real accountability” for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other law enforcement agencies who are carrying out President Donald Trump’s campaign of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota and across the country. It’s unclear if the president or enough congressional Republicans will agree to any of the Democrats’ larger demands that the officers unmask and identify themselves... Читать дальше...

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He lived there while we wrote some of the world's most beloved children's books.

A new experiment hints that an ape may be able to play pretend like humans do. Scientists studied a bonobo named Kanzi who was raised in captivity and became a whiz at communicating with humans using graphic symbols. They found he was able to track the locations of imaginary juice poured into separate cups and could also tell the difference between real and imagined juice. But not all scientists are convinced that Kanzi is maintaining false pretenses like humans do. They say his abilities may be because of his special upbringing. Читать дальше...

The fallout has spread beyond the United States. A top official in Slovakia resigned after photos and emails revealed he had met with Epstein.

Pizza Hut plans to close 250 U.S. restaurants in the first half of this year as its parent company considers a sale of the chain. Yum Brands said Wednesday it’s targeting underperforming Pizza Hut restaurants in its system. Pizza Hut has more than 6,000 U.S. locations. Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum Brands said in November it was conducting a formal review of options for Pizza Hut, which has struggled with outdated stores and growing competition. The chain’s U.S. same-store sales fell 5% last year. Читать дальше...

Investigators believe the missing mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie is “still out there,” but they have not identified any suspects. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos also said Thursday that DNA tests showed blood found on Nancy Guthrie’s porch came back to her. He said: “Right now, we believe Nancy is still out there. We want her home.” Nanos spoke at a news conference five days after she was reported missing.

A growing number of Republican-led states are seeking to revive the death penalty for child rape. Alabama lawmakers approved legislation that would allow child rapists to be sentenced to death. The measure comes as some Republican-led states hope to entice the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit the decision banning capital punishment for such crimes. The bill would allow prosecutors to pursue the death penalty when an adult is convicted of rape or sodomy of a child under 12. Such sentences are now considered unconstitutional.