Young activists organize revolution in Belarus via social networking
MINSK, Belarus (AP) — For the third Wednesday in a row, thousands of young social media activists chose the offline approach by holding banned rallies in cities across their ex-Soviet country.
Two previous rallies have been halted and many were interrogated, said human rights group Vyasna. Agents of KGB, as Belarus’ security agency is still known, detained hundreds during the protests, though participants didn’t shout or display any banners.
 
 
Italian entrepreneur donates $36 million for Colosseum renovation
ROME (AP) — Visitors will soon have access to a quarter more of Rome’s Colosseum after restoration, according to Diego Della Valle, who has pledged to foot the $36 million bill to restore the ancient arena.
The Colosseum has been blackened by pollution and rocked by vibrations from a nearby subway line.
Della Valle is urging entrepreneurs to step up and help fix ailing Italian landmarks, including Pompeii and Venice. Italy chronically lacks funding necessary to maintain, protect and clean examples of artistic and archaeological heritage.
 
 
Afghan troops prepare to take over, American forces to leave country
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan’s NATO-trained military is ready to take responsibility for fighting Taliban insurgents in anticipation of the U.S. troop drawdown scheduled for July, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
Afghans are eager for American departure nearly 10 years after U.S. forces invaded to oust al-Qaida’s Taliban hosts from power, and President Barack Obama is expected to announce plans to bring 10,000 troops home in less than a year.
 
 
Fried Kool-Aid dough snack gains popularity at San Diego County Fair
DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) — Move over funnel cakes and corn dogs, fried Kool-Aid is here.
“Oh, the moment of truth,” said Joe Cocoba, 31-year-old nursing student, before biting into the brown dough ball with a pink fluffy interior. “It’s good.”
San Diego County fair visitors can’t seem to get enough of the newest oily treat that debuted at “Chicken Charlie’s” food stand about two weeks ago.
 
 
Michele Bachmann starts pres. race late, opposition gains momentum
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Michele Bachmann formally kicked off her bid for the White House on Monday in Iowa after allowing precious weeks to pass without having wooed GOP activists considered key to winning leadoff caucuses.
Bachmann’s slow open has left political players wondering if the Republican congresswoman from Minnesota has the commitment to build a campaign and win voters. Her absence has allowed Texas Gov. Rick Perry, whose no-nonsense style attracts conservatives who might support Bachmann, to creep into the Iowa discussion.
 
 
Former Louisiana mayors and police chief found guildty of racketeering
(AP) — A federal jury has found former New Roads Mayor Tommy Nelson guilty of racketeering. The jury began deliberations Wednesday and returned a verdict less than two hours later. Nelson was found guilty of seven counts of racketeering, wire fraud, lying to federal agents and other charges.
Prosecutors said Nelson accepted more than $22,000 in bribes from undercover agents promoting a fictitious business. He lost his re-election bid last year after he was indicted in the case.
Nelson is the second official found guilty in the case. In March, jurors convicted former White Castle Mayor Maurice Brown of corruption charges but acquitted his brother, Mario, the town’s police chief.
 
 
Abortion restriction bill passes Legislature on Wednesday
(AP) — A requirement to add to the information that abortion providers must give women before they can have the procedure received final approval Wednesday from lawmakers.
The rewritten measure (House Bill 636) by Rep. Frank Hoffmann, R-West Monroe, heads next to Gov. Bobby Jindal, who supports it.
 
 
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