28 Feb 2019; DW: There are 25 million visitors to the city of Venice in northern Italy each year. Of these about 14 million stay just for a day, and often bring their own picnics.

With no visible benefit for local restaurants and bars, and costs of cleaning up after the visitors growing every year, councilors have decided to put a price on entry.

Barmer, Feb 27 (PTI) People in two villages in this border area in Rajasthan saw cylindrical wreckage of metal objects falling from sky on Wednesday evening, with some claiming to have heard even explosions, leading to a panic situation in the wake of the ongoing confrontation between India and Pakistan, officials said.

Administrative officials said they have informed security agencies to investigate the matter, while defence spokesperson said the incidents in Poshal and Ratasar villages were yet to be ascertained.

DETROIT (AP) — The number of pedestrians killed on U.S. roads last year was the highest in 28 years, according to a report from a safety organization.

Using data reported by states, the Governors Highway Safety Association estimates that 6,227 pedestrians were killed last year. That’s up 4 percent from 2017 and 35 percent since 2008.

The association blames the increase on factors that include distracted or impaired drivers, more people walking to work, and more SUVs on the road, which cause more severe injuries in collisions with people on foot.

Palghar, Feb 27 (PTI) A 28-year-old man was arrested for allegedly killing his father in Palghar district of Maharashtra, police said on Wednesday.

Mavin D'Souza hit his father Wilson D'Souza (51) with a hard object at their home in Vasai area on Tuesday evening, killing him on the spot, Arnala Sagri police station's sub-inspector Ramesh Gaikwad said.

MOSCOW, February 27. /TASS/. The Indian Air Force on Wednesday shot down Pakistan’s multi-role F-16 fighter jet, which allegedly intruded India’s airspace, the Firstpost Internet portal reported.

India’s Asian News International (ANI) agency notes that the pilot ejected and opened his parachute. No data on his condition and location has been revealed. The plane reportedly crashed on the Pakistani territory.

GUERNEVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Floodwaters that turned two Northern California communities into islands were expected to begin receding Thursday as a rain-engorged river finally peaked after swamping thousands of homes, businesses and other buildings.

The Russian River in the wine country north of San Francisco crested at more than 46 feet (14 meters) Wednesday night, Sonoma County officials said.

The river frequently floods in rainy weather but it hadn’t reached that level for 25 years and wasn’t expected to recede again until late Thursday night.

GABORONE, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Wednesday blasted Western countries for their outburst over Botswana's plan to lift a hunting ban and allow an elephant cull.

Botswana is "a sovereign state and do not have to be arm twisted by the western countries," said Masisi in an interview with Xinhua during his stopover at the Francistown International Airport in Botswana's second largest city on transit to Zimbabwe.

Ghaziabad (UP), Feb 27 (PTI) Security has been beefed up at the Hindon Air Force station area in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district, police said.

Police are having extra vigil outside the airbase (outer cordon), while the Air Force police is responsible for the security within the station (inner cordon), Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Upendra Agarwal said.

New Delhi, Feb 27 (PTI) A red alert was sounded for the entire Delhi Metro network on Wednesday by the DMRC, in view of hightened tensions between India and Pakistan.

"As advised by security agencies, a red alert has been imposed on the entire DMRC network from 6 pm onwards," a senior DMRC official said.

New Delhi, Feb 28 (PTI) The Congress on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "misplaced priorities" and that he was "desperate only for re-election".

The party's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, in a tweet, alleged that the prime minister was "hell-bent on creating a video conference record" when the entire country was praying for return of its braveheart pilot.

BANGKOK (AP) — A temporary closure of air space over Pakistan snarled air traffic Thursday, especially between Asia and Europe, though some airlines adjusted by rerouting their flights.

In Bangkok, an important and busy hub for transcontinental flights, thousands of travelers were stranded.

Bangkok airport officials said over 4,000 travelers were affected. Those needing help were getting access to accommodations and alternative travel arrangements, they said, though some of those stranded complained they were getting no help at all.

Nagpur, Feb 27 (PTI) Two minor girls were allegedly raped by a man at knife point in Lakadganj area here in Maharashtra, police said Wednesday.

The incident occurred Tuesday night when an unidentified man lured the girls, aged 6 and 4, into accompanying him under some pretext, when they were playing near their houses, an official release said.