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Finland to reopen 2 out of 8 border crossings with Russia after a 2-week closure over migrant influx

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:31 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s government will reopen two out of eight border crossing points with Russia later this week, officials said Tuesday, following a sudden influx of migrants in November.Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Cabinet temporarily closed the entire 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border two weeks ago over concerns that Moscow was using migrants to destabilize Finland in an alleged act of “hybrid warfare.”The Kremlin has denied that Russia is encouraging migrants to enter Finland and has said that it regrets the Finnish border closures.Finland became NATO’s 31st member in April, and many citizens in the country interpret Moscow’s actions as revenge for Helsinki’s decision to join the trans-Atlantic military alliance after decades of nonmilitary alignment and pragmatic friendly ties with Russia.Orpo and Interior Minister Mari Rantanen told a news conference on Tuesday that two southeastern crossing points — Imatra and Niirala — would reopen from Thursday until ...

Myanmar’s economy is deteriorating as its civil conflict intensifies, World Bank report says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:31 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s economy is forecast to grow only 1% in the fiscal year that ends in March, the World Bank says, as conditions deteriorate with an escalation in fighting between the military and its opponents that has newly displaced more than 500,000 people.Intensified fighting near Myanmar’s border with China has blocked trade routes, causing shortages of food and other necessities and worsening inflation that was already near 30%, the World Bank said in a report Tuesday. Myanmar is embroiled in widespread conflicts that deepened and expanded after the military’s seizure of power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in early 2021 prompted a wave of popular resistance. The total number of people displaced by fighting has risen to some 2.5 million, the report said. Political instability coupled with the pandemic and mismanagement by the military leadership have undone years of economic progress, the report said. It said the military administratio...

Column: Rahm goes back on his word. But circumstances changed

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:31 GMT

Words still matter, and for Jon Rahm, there is no shortage of them when contemplating why he abandoned terms like “fealty” and “history” to chase money he once said he didn’t need.Just be sure to consider all his words.Among the most recited came from Riviera in February 2022 when LIV Golf was trying to get off the ground. Rahm, then No. 1 in the world, was not scheduled to speak that day but wanted to be heard. “I am officially declaring my fealty to the PGA Tour,” he said.It was an interesting choice of words for the Spaniard. Fealty in medieval Europe was an oath of fidelity in which the vassal pledged not to harm his lord or damage to his property. Signing with LIV didn’t exactly help Commissioner Jay Monahan or the PGA Tour landscape.But there was another moment later in 2022 that was telling, coming at a critical juncture for the PGA Tour as it tried to stand its ground against the Saudi riches of LIV.Rahm was among 23 players at the infamous “Delaware meetin...

Man in 30s dead after stabbing in Toronto’s east end

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:31 GMT

A man is dead following an apparent stabbing in Toronto’s east end on Tuesday morning.Paramedics tell CityNews they were called to Lockwood Road, near Kingston Road and Queen Street East, just before 6 a.m.A man in his 30s was found with stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.No other information has been made available.This is a developing story. More to come.

Russia blasts a southern Ukraine region and hackers strike Ukrainian phone and internet services

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:31 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine came under heavy attacks from the air and from cyberspace Tuesday, local officials said, as nearly 600 Russian shells, rockets and other projectiles rained down on a southern region and unidentified hackers knocked out the phone and internet services of the country’s biggest telecom provider.One person was killed and four injured during 24 hours of Russian bombardment of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the regional military administration.The number of projectiles fired at Kherson was the highest number for at least the past two weeks, though local authorities have said between 200-500 are commonly launched against the region every day.Long-range barrages have been a feature of the 21-month war. As winter sets in and hampers troop movements on both sides, artillery, missiles and drones are playing an increasing role.Meanwhile, Ukrainian telecom provider Kyivstar said it came under a “powerful” attack by hackers...

Tourism recovery not expected until next year, Destination Canada report finds

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:31 GMT

A full recovery in the tourism industry is unlikely until next year, Destination Canada predicts, even as the rebound comes quicker than expected ahead of a bigger bounceback forecasted for 2025.In a new report, the Crown corporation said Tuesday the number of overnight leisure and business visits in the country will fall two percentage points short of 2019 levels by the end of this year. Projections show it beating pre-pandemic figures by a whisker in 2024.Destination Canada, which promotes tourism across the country, said nominal spending in the sector will hit $109.5 billion in 2023, topping 2019 levels of roughly $105 billion. But the total for this year was fuelled partly by inflation, and would actually need to reach about $122 billion to match pre-pandemic spending in real terms, according to the Bank of Canada’s inflation calculator.“Spend has been propped up of course by inflation,” Meaghan Ferrigno, Destination Canada’s chief data and analytics officer, said in an in...

Search for missing Carpentersville's teen to resume Tuesday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:31 GMT

CARPENTERSVILLE, Ill. — Authorities offered new details in the search for a missing teenager from Carpentersville, one week after her disappearance.Suburban authorities held a press conference Monday to provide an update on the search for 17-year-old Brissa Romero, who disappeared while traveling to a bowling alley in Vernon Hills for a holiday party. ‘A Call from Gaza’: Chicagoland businesses, schools strike to call attention to thousands of Palestinian deaths Authorities say a review of Romero's cellphone data brought investigators to a retention pond in Vernon Hills and while on the scene, a resident in the area notified officers about a backpack that appeared to have floated to the edge of the pond near Lakeview Parkway and Executive Way.Police say they believed the items belonged to Romero and crews were brought in to conduct a search. Authorities later pulled Romero's badly damaged Nissan Rogue from the pond.Authorities say that based on the condition of the vehicle, it appe...

Thousands celebrate Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:31 GMT

DES PLAINES, Ill. — Monday was the first day of the annual Catholic feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.Over the next two days, thousands will make the trek to Des Plaines to visit the shrine of the Virgin Mary.Many pray for help, others thank Our Lady of Guadalupe for blessings received.This year's theme is "praying for peace and unity throughout the world." ‘A Call from Gaza’: Chicagoland businesses, schools strike to call attention to thousands of Palestinian deaths The following statement was released Monday by Cardinal Blase Cupich:As the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe of the Archdiocese of Chicago prepares to welcome thousands of pilgrims on its grounds for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I extend my deepest gratitude to its Rector, the staff, and volunteers for all their hard work to make this wonderful ministry possible.During this 2-day celebration I invite all people of faith to join together in "Praying for Peace and Unity throughout the world," which is the theme for t...

Man, woman accused of keeping kitten in duct-taped sandwich container

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:31 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (KTVX) – A man and woman are accused of torturing an animal after they allegedly put a kitten in a sandwich container and duct-taped it shut.Justin Epperson, 45, and Emily Allred, 41, were arrested early Monday morning in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, for torture of a companion animal and drug possession, court documents filed in Salt Lake County show. Cottonwood Heights is roughly 15 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.An abused kitten found stuffed inside a sandwich container receives treatment in an oxygen cage on Dec. 11, 2023. (Courtesy of Angel Paws Veterinary Services)According to an affidavit of probable cause, police found the two slumped over a steering wheel in a vehicle that was illegally camping in the city. Officers detained the two, and found them both in possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl.They were also covered in cat fur, and officers could hear a faint meowing from inside the car.Sgt. Gary Young with Cottonwood Heights police said the officers foun...

Dean’s A-List Interviews: Emma Stone on 'Poor Things', SNL appearance

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:31 GMT

WGN Entertainment Reporter Dean Richards talks to Emma Stone on new movie "Poor Things" and her recent SNL appearance.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!