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Finnish intelligence says Russia views Finland as a hostile nation due to its NATO membership

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s relationship with Russia has significantly deteriorated due to the Nordic country’s membership in NATO and over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and related sanctions, and Moscow now views its western neighbor as a hostile country, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service said Thursday.The agency, known by the abbreviation SUPO, said in a national security review that Russia was “prepared to take measures against Finland” and was likely to continue influencing operations and undermining bilateral links.After decades of military non-alignment, Finland — a European Union nation of 5.5 million people that shares a long border with Russia — became NATO’s 31st member on April 4. Moscow’s hostility toward Helsinki is evident in Russian media’s negative coverage of Finland and in Russia’s decision to close Finland’s consulate general in St. Petersburg this month, among other ways, SUPO said.“Russia currently remains focused on the war in Ukraine...

Musk’s X has taken down hundreds of Hamas-linked accounts, CEO says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Elon Musk’s social media platform X has removed hundreds of Hamas-linked accounts and taken down or labeled thousands of pieces of content since the militant group’s attack on Israel, according to the CEO of the company formerly known as Twitter. Linda Yaccarino on Thursday outlined efforts by X to get a handle on illegal content flourishing on the platform. She was responding to a warning from a top European Union official, who requested information on how X is complying during the Israel-Hamas war with tough new EU digital rules aimed at cleaning up social media platforms. “So far since the start of the conflict X has identified and removed hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts from the platform,” Yaccarino said in a letter posted on X. The platform is “proportionately and effectively assessing and addressing identified fake and manipulated content during this constantly evolving and shifting crisis,” she wrote in response to the request from ...

Stock market today: Global shares rise with eyes on prices, war in the Middle East

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares mostly rose Thursday as investors awaited the release of U.S. consumer price data and kept a cautious watch on the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. France’s CAC 40 added 0.4% in early trading to 7,161.62. Germany’s DAX rose 0.5% to 15,541.01, while Britain’s FTSE 100 added 0.7% to 7,672.18. The futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 were up 0.2%.Markets have been mostly struggling since the summer as longer-term yields shoot higher in the U.S. bond market, weighing on prices for all kinds of investments. Some relief has come this week, and yields have eased after officials at the Federal Reserve suggested they may be done raising their main overnight interest rate.A report on U.S. consumer prices is due later Thursday, a day after a report on wholesale inflation came in hotter than expected. Economists said that may not be enough to force the Fed to raise its main interest rate again.F...

UEFA postpones Israel’s game in Kosovo in European qualifying because players cannot travel abroad

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA has postponed Israel’s European Championship qualifying game against host Kosovo on Sunday.The decision by European soccer’s governing body — following Hamas’ surprise attack — adds to a fixture backlog.UEFA said in a statement Thursday that the game in Pristina cannot be played “because the Israeli authorities currently do not allow their national team to travel abroad.”Israel is now two games behind schedule in a tight qualifying group where it is competing with Switzerland and Romania for the top-two spots. Two teams advance to the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany.Israel was scheduled to host group leader Switzerland on Thursday in Tel Aviv and that game was postponed late Sunday. It will now be played Nov. 15 though it is unclear if Israel can safely host games.Israel now is due to play three Euro 2024 qualifiers in the one-week international break next month designed for just two games.A home game for Israel against Romania on Nov. 18 — intend...

Chinese-born journalist thanks Australia for her freedom after 3 years in detention for spying

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A Chinese-born journalist credited the Australian government for her return to Australia “in one piece” after her three-year detention in China in an espionage case that strained bilateral ties.Cheng Lei’s comments broadcast on Thursday challenged Beijing’s version that she was deported this week under normal judicial procedures without political considerations.The 48-year-old former Chinese state television anchor spoke to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese by phone from Melbourne Airport on Wednesday after her arrival from Beijing.“Hello, prime minister. It’s because of you and all the team at DFAT that I’m able to make it here in one piece,” Cheng said in a video recording released by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.Foreign Minister Penny Wong welcomed Cheng to Melbourne, where Cheng’s two children, 11 and 14, have been raised by their grandmother. Wong’s staff handed Cheng the phone to speak with Alb...

Winner! $1.76 billion Powerball jackpot sold to lucky player in California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

ST. LOUIS (NEXSTAR) — A player in California won a $1.76 billion Powerball jackpot Wednesday night, ending a long stretch without a winner of the top prize.The winning numbers were: 22, 24, 40, 52, 64 and the Powerball 10. The winning ticket was sold at Midway Market & Liquor in Frazier Park, according to the California Lottery. $2 million winners were sold in Arizona and Pennsylvania. $1 million winners were sold in California (2), Florida (2), New York, Oklahoma and Virginia.Phone calls Wednesday night to Midway Market & Liquor went unanswered.“The phone’s been ringing off the hook, people saying congratulations. Pretty crazy,” the store’s night worker, identified only as Duke, told KCAL-TV.“Somebody owes me a truck,” he said with a smile. “A lot of customers come in, you know they come in every day to get their tickets, religiously. And a lot of them ... said: ‘Oh, if I win I’m gonna get you a new truck.’ So where’s my truck? I’ll be waiting.”He expected the winner will b...

Colonie Police looking for missing teen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Colonie Police Department is seeking the public's help in finding a missing 17-year-old girl. Marissa Moffre was last seen Tuesday at 7 a.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Police say Moffre is approximately 5'3" and weighs 100 pounds. Anyone with information on Moffre's whereabouts is asked to call Colonie Police at (518) 783-2811 regarding incident 23-076773.

Thunder optimistic returning core can guide them back to Kelly Cup Playoffs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Adirondack Thunder captivated fans last year with an electric postseason push that saw the team clinch a spot in the Kelly Cup Playoffs on the final day of the regular season. It was the organization's first postseason berth since 2019, and now that's the expectation going into the season. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "Down the stretch, we probably played like 30 playoff games it seemed like, just 'cause we were so behind in the standings," said top returning point scorer, forward Grant Jozefek, who tallied 51 points in his first season in Glens Falls. "Now we kinda got that taste of what (the) playoffs is like, and I know a lot of the guys definitely want more of it. So, the key is to just hit the ground running right here in the beginning of the year, and we'll be golden."Adirondack held its' third day of training camp Wednesday morning, and will play a preseason game Thursday at Reading b...

Peer review report on Croatia now online

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

Eurostat is pleased to announce that another peer review report within the third round of European Statistical System (ESS) peer reviews — the peer review report on Croatia — is now publicly available on Eurostat’s dedicated web page and on the web page of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics. The report was produced following the peer review visit to Croatia by a dedicated team of four experts, including one from Eurostat. The visit took place from 13 to 17 March 2023 in a face-to-face format.The peer reviews of national statistical systems were conducted by external experts (from both inside and outside the ESS) and followed the same methodology. This included the completion of self-assessment questionnaires by several statistical authorities followed by a peer review visit. The results are a peer review report containing expert recommendations for improvement, and an action plan to address these recommendations that is developed by the national statistical institute of the reviewed ...

Rebuttal against the resolution in the European Parliament titled "Human rights situation in Bangladesh, notably the case of Odhikar"

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

A group of Europe’s most eminent scientists, lawyers, businesspeople, cultural figures and other highly successful individuals in their chosen fields have signed a letter to High Representative Josep Borrell, to 14 other vice presidents and representative MEPs of The Left, Verts/ALE, Renew, S&D, PPE and ECR groups in the European Parliament. They are all outraged by a recent resolution on the human rights situation in Bangladesh, notably the case of Odhikar.They have expressed great concern regarding the resolution's statement urging the Bangladesh government to "immediately and unconditionally quash this sentence and reinstate the registration of Odhikar" which they think as direct interference with the domestic legal affairs of a sovereign nation. The rebuttal was prepared and signed by expatriate Bangladeshis, such as the world-renowned scientist from the UK Dr Mazharul Islam, prominent journalist Sharaf Ahmed from Germany, senior citizen Mr. Sultan Shariff from the UK, Frenc...