MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 3, 2025--
As spring blooms appear and longer, sunnier days lie ahead, American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ) is starting off the season sweeter than ever. On March 20, the first day of spring, participating DQ® locations nationwide will celebrate the sweetest holiday of the year – Free Cone Day.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250303154123/en/
As part of the annual fan-favorite day, treat lovers can enjoy a free small vanilla soft-serve cone* featuring the iconic DQ curl on top. Over the years, Free Cone Day has become a beloved tradition that brings fans together to welcome the changing season, while enjoying a delicious treat with family and friends.
"Free Cone Day is by far one of our favorite days of the year,” said Maria Hokanson, Executive Vice President of Marketing at ADQ. “There’s nothing sweeter than enjoying a tasty cone – on DQ – to kick off a season full of reasons to celebrate.”
No holiday is complete without a special treat and DQ is helping fans countdown to Free Cone Day in a big way. Now through March 19, fans can download the DQ® App and sign up for DQ Rewards to enter for a chance to win Free Cones for a Year!** From celebrating Free Cone Day to enjoying the iconic curl whenever the craving hits, DQ is bringing happy to the new season. To view the complete sweepstakes rules, visit the following link.
Fans can visit DairyQueen.com or download the DQ® App to find a local DQ restaurant on March 20. Fans can also share their Free Cone Day celebrations on social media tagging @DairyQueen and using #FreeConeDay.
*Free small vanilla cone at participating US non-mall locations, and at participating mall locations with purchase. All day, limit one per person. While supplies last. Not valid on delivery or mobile orders.
**NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends 3/19/2025. Open only to residents of the US (Excluding Texas). For details and Terms and Conditions, visithttps://www.quikly.com/q/RKyhZpA/terms.
About International Dairy Queen
International Dairy Queen, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation and Dairy Queen Canada, Inc. Through its subsidiaries, IDQ develops, licenses and services a system of more than 7,500 DQ restaurants in 20 countries. IDQ is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. (Berkshire), which is led by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire. For more information, visit DairyQueen.com.
IDQUS for Food, Treats & Beverages – US
DQ wishes fans a Happy Free Cone Day at participating DQ® restaurants nationwide on March 20 (Photo: Business Wire)
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian drone strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, wounded 47 people, officials said, and prompted another appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for more decisive support from the country’s allies.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said drones hit 12 locations across the city late Friday. Residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and vehicles were damaged in the assault, according to Kharkiv regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov.
The Kharkiv Prosecutor’s Office said Saturday that Russian forces used drones with thermobaric warheads. In a statement on Telegram, it said thermobaric weapons create a powerful blast wave and a hot cloud of smoke, causing large-scale destruction. The prosecutor said its use may indicate a deliberate violation of international humanitarian law.
“While the world hesitates with decisions, nearly every night in Ukraine turns into a nightmare, costing lives. Ukraine needs strengthened air defense. Strong and real decisions are needed from our partners — the United States, Europe, all our partners who seek peace," Zelenskyy wrote on X in the early hours of Saturday.
Russia fired a total of 183 exploding drones and decoys overnight, Ukraine's air force said. Of those, 77 were intercepted and a further 73 lost, likely having been electronically jammed. Russia also launched two ballistic missiles.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 170 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry said eight cruise missiles and three guided missiles were also intercepted.
In southern Russia, five people, including two children, were injured in a drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to Mayor Andrey Kravchenko.
The latest wave of attacks comes after the U.S. and Ukraine on Wednesday signed an agreement granting American access to Ukraine’s vast mineral resources. It finalizes a deal months in the making that could enable continued military aid to Kyiv amid concerns that President Donald Trump might scale back support in ongoing peace negotiations with Russia.
Speaking to journalists in Kyiv on Friday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready for a ceasefire but emphasized that it has to last for 30 days, as was initially proposed by the U.S.
He said the proposed ceasefire could start on any date, offering time for meaningful steps toward ending the war. “Let’s be honest — you can’t agree on anything serious in three, five, or seven days,” he said.
Zelenskyy said that Moscow’s announcement of a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire next week in Ukraine to mark Victory Day in World War II is merely an attempt to create a “soft atmosphere” ahead of Russia’s annual celebrations. “It looks unserious,” he said, "so that Putin’s guests on Red Square feel comfortable and safe.”
He said that Ukraine cannot provide security assurances to foreign officials planning to visit Russia around May 9, warning that Moscow could stage provocations and later attempt to blame Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said that some governments had approached Kyiv seeking safety reassurance while their delegations are in Russia.
“Our position is very simple: we cannot take responsibility for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation,” he said. “They are the ones providing your security, and we will not be offering any guarantees.”
Zelenskyy said he had instructed Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry to advise against visiting Russia during this period. “We must tell those who approach us: we do not recommend visiting the Russian Federation from a security standpoint. And if you choose to do so, don’t ask us — it’s your personal decision.”
The Ukrainian leader reiterated that Kyiv’s military actions will remain “mirror-like,” responding to Russia’s moves. He acknowledged that implementing a complete front-line ceasefire without robust international monitoring remains nearly impossible, but emphasized that the 30-day window offers a credible start.
He confirmed ongoing efforts to convene the next round of negotiations with the U.S. He also expressed hope that it could happen in Ukraine, saying it was a “positive sign” that such a gathering is under discussion despite recent personnel changes in Washington.
In response to Zelenskyy's comments, which were made public on Saturday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that he had “unequivocally threatened the world leaders who are planning to arrive in Moscow on May 9.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Saturday that Russia expects Kyiv to take steps to de-escalate before Victory Day.
“We will, of course, expect (from) Kyiv not ambiguous, but final statements, and most importantly, actions aimed at de-escalating the conflict during the holidays,” Peskov told journalists.
Russia's ceasefire proposals, he said, were meant to “test Kyiv's readiness to find ways for long-term sustainable peace between Russia and Ukraine.”
In response to a question about Britain's potential role in peace negotiations, Peskov said that the U.K. could not take on a mediating role.
"A mediator can only be someone who has an equal distance in relation to the parties to the conflict. London is not and cannot be one,” he said.
He also said the Kremlin has no information about a potential visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Moscow on May 9.
Morton reported from London. Associated Press writer Dmytro Zhyhinas contributed to this report.
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
