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Francine the cat accidentally hitchhikes to another state

The cat, a staple at a Virginia Lowe’s store, was found after a two week when after she wandered onto a delivery vehicle taking a trip to North Carolina distribution center some 85 miles away.
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Antwerp City Hall awarded Grand Prix at European Heritage Awards 2025

Antwerp City Hall Wins European Heritage Award

Antwerp City Hall has been awarded the Grand Prix of the European Heritage Awards 2025, a recognition presented by the European Commission and Europa Nostra at a ceremony in Brussels., reports 24brussels.

The historic building, dating back to the 16th century, earned the award in the Conservation and Adaptive Reuse category. Regarded as “an icon of Antwerp’s Renaissance architecture,” the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site was acknowledged for successfully integrating historical authenticity with contemporary principles of sustainability and accessibility. The restoration has transformed the City Hall into a dynamic administrative hub and a gathering place for both residents and visitors.

Thirty contenders were initially shortlisted in June, which included renowned projects such as Brussels’ Solvay House and the Flemish Heritage Trees Project. The jury ultimately selected five Grand Prix winners and one Public Choice Award recipient from a total of 24 European nations. Each Grand Prix winner is granted €10,000.

Other notable winners this year included the Glacier Archaeology Programme – Secrets of the Ice (Norway), Pro Monumenta – Preventive Maintenance of Monuments (Slovakia), Hedgehog’s Home – Inventing a Better World (Serbia), and Inge Bisgaard (Greenland). The Public Choice Award was given to the restoration of Madrid’s Puerta de Alcalá, which garnered votes from more than 10,000 online voters.

The awards ceremony concluded the 2025 European Cultural Heritage Summit, which took place in Brussels from October 12 to 15, organized by Europa Nostra with backing from the EU’s Creative Europe program and Belgium’s National Lottery.

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Three Italian carabinieri killed in apparently deliberate farmhouse explosion

Three Italian carabinieri killed in apparently deliberate farmhouse explosion [deltaMinutes] mins ago Now
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Trump to welcome Argentina’s President Milei as US extends $20 billion lifeline

Trump to welcome Argentina’s President Milei as US extends $20 billion lifeline [deltaMinutes] mins ago Now
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Google Cloud to establish AI hub in Visakhapatnam with global connectivity through subsea cable

Visakhapatnam AI hub will be connected to subsea cable and serve as global connectivity center: Kurian CEO, Google Cloud

The new Visakhapatnam AI hub will connect to Google’s global network through subsea cable infrastructure, according to Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, reports 24brussels. This facility is poised to become Google’s largest AI center outside the United States, backed by a USD 15 billion investment over the next five years.

Kurian emphasized that the AI hub, referred to as the ‘Andhra Pradesh AI hub’, will function as a landing station for multiple subsea cables, establishing a vital digital backbone that connects various regions in India. “We are not just bringing AI technology, but also a digital infrastructure through our subsea cable and network connectivity hub,” he stated. This new gigawatt-scale hub will form part of a wider network of AI centers in 12 countries.

During the announcement, Kurian expressed pride in Google’s longstanding presence in India, marking its 21st year with 14,000 employees across five locations. He noted that the investment is significant, declaring, “It’s the largest AI hub that we are going to be investing in anywhere in the world, outside of the U.S.”

The Visakhapatnam hub will feature a comprehensive suite of solutions using Google’s proprietary TPUs (Tensor Processing Units), which promise enhanced energy efficiency. Data will be stored locally to comply with national AI regulations. Google plans to implement its models, including Gemini, Imagine, and Veo, at the hub. “The hub is designed to provide full AI infrastructure to serve not just our own needs but also the needs of entrepreneurs, enterprises, and commercial organizations in India,” Kurian remarked.

This announcement represents a pivotal advancement in India’s artificial intelligence sector, integrating state-of-the-art AI capabilities with essential digital infrastructure, and positioning Andhra Pradesh as a central player in the nation’s expanding technology landscape.

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Sydney nightclub named after lesbian artist’s song changes name after ‘preferred clientele’ revealed to be men

Pink Pony Club, a song by Chappell Roan inspired by The Abbey gay bar in West Hollywood, was the inspiration for new Oxford Street club

A Sydney nightclub whose name was inspired by a lesbian artist despite “predominantly” targeting gay men has been forced to change its name after attracting a swift and “passionate” backlash.

Pink Pony was set to open on Oxford Street in Sydney’s LGBTQ+ heartland in early December. Kevin Du-Val, the owner of Palms on Oxford nightclub, and its manager, Michael Lewis, announced via social media their new venture was “unashamedly inspired by its namesake song that resonates so profoundly within our community”.

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Biden, Blinken take credit for groundwork behind Trump’s Gaza ceasefire deal

The former secretary of state says Trump’s Gaza breakthrough wasn’t original, sparking debate over who deserves credit.
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Karnataka deputy chief minister meets Singapore consul-general to enhance urban development and investment cooperation

Karnataka Dy CM Shivakumar meets Singapore Consul-General to boost urban development, investment ties

Bengaluru, India — Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar met with Edgar Pang, Consul-General of Singapore, during his visit to Bengaluru on Tuesday. The leaders discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation in urban development, innovation, and investment between Karnataka and Singapore, reports 24brussels.

Shivakumar shared details of the meeting on social media, stating, “Had a warm interaction with Edgar Pang, Consul-General of Singapore, during his visit to Bengaluru today. We discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation in urban development, innovation and investment.” He emphasized that “Karnataka and Singapore share a forward-looking vision that can pave the way for stronger partnerships for growth and progress.”

This meeting follows significant diplomatic developments, including Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s official visit to India from September 2 to 4 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This visit marked a pinnacle in the strategic partnership between India and Singapore.

During their discussions on September 4 in New Delhi, the two Prime Ministers signed multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) reaffirming their commitment to deepen cooperation across key sectors. This effort aligns with previous engagements, such as Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Singapore in September 2024 and Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s State Visit to India in January 2025.

Both countries are executing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) roadmap that outlines future collaboration in eight key areas: economic cooperation, skills development, digitalization, sustainability, connectivity, healthcare, cultural exchange, and defense.

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Trump receives standing ovation at Israeli Knesset

Trump receives standing ovation at Israeli Knesset
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What the papers say: Tuesday’s front pages

The release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners on Monday night features heavily on Irish front pages on Tuesday.