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Finland’s center-right government survives no-confidence vote over 2 right-wing ministers

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s center-right government that includes nationalist and anti-immigration lawmakers survived a no-confidence motion from three opposition parties on Friday over two ministers from the right-wing populist Finns Party at the center of a racism scandal that has rocked the Nordic country.Lawmakers voted 106-65 in favor of the Cabinet of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.Debate ahead of the vote focused on writings from 2008 and 2016 by Finance Minister Riikka Purra, leader of the Finns Party, and Economic Affairs Minister Wille Rydman, a member of the same party, which were deemed racist. The opposition, particularly the Social Democratic Party, criticized Orpo’s government for not distancing itself enough from Purra’s and Rydman’s writings and not doing enough to tackle discrimination and racism in Finland, a country of 5.5 million that became NATO’s 31st member in April.The issue has crippled the government, which took office less than three months ago after Orp...

South Korea’s Yoon meets Indonesian leader to deepen economic, defense ties

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, on Friday seeking to deepen economic ties and defense cooperation at a time of heightened global geopolitical tensions.Yoon has been in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, since Tuesday attending the the three-day summit by leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations along with Asian and Western counterparts. That meeting spotlighted major conflicts in Asia, with calls for peaceful resolutions and restraint.Widodo and his wife, Iriana, hosted Yoon and South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee at a ceremony in the colonial-style Merdeka palace in Jakarta.During their meeting, the two leaders agreed to deepen their strategic partnership in the security and defense industries and to expand cooperation in future-looking industries such as electric vehicles, batteries and smart cities.Indonesia’s foreign affairs minister, Retno Marsudi, told reporters after the meeting that Wid...

Russian missile attack kills policeman, injures 52 others in Zelenskyy’s hometown in central Ukraine

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian missile attack Friday on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown in central Ukraine killed one policeman and injured at least 52 others, emergency officials said, while another attack in the southern Kherson region killed three people.The strikes were among multiple Russian attacks across the country overnight, officials said. Meanwhile, Moscow is trying to strengthen its position politically with local elections in areas it has illegally annexed, including some it still does not control. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it does not recognize the “fake elections.”The strikes came days after 16 people were killed in a Russian attack on a market in eastern Ukraine and drone debris was found in Romania . That sparked fears among local residents that the war could spread into the NATO-member country bordering Ukraine. Ten buildings were damaged in the attack on Zelenskyy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih Friday. Three people pulled from th...

Blackhawks will retire No. 7 for Chris Chelios — and Pearl Jam helped deliver the news

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

CHICAGO — It's a rare honor for any member of the Blackhawks, but the way that Chris Chelios got the news on Thursday night was even more unique. The Chicago native and Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman was told during a Pearl Jam concert at the United Center that his No. 7 will be retired by the team in his honor during the 2023-2024 season. (Courtesy: Chicago Blackhawks)Lead singer Eddie Vedder brought Chelios on stage and let him know that his number would be raised to the rafters, saying that it was one of the last wishes of late Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz before his death in July.After the concert, the Blackhawks announced that the jersey retirement will take place on Sunday, February 25 at the United Center when they host the Red Wings. “We are entering a new era of Blackhawks hockey on the ice, but the importance of honoring past members of this organization is, and always will be, a priority," said Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz in a statement Thursday night. "Chris ...

Friday Forecast: Temps in upper 60s with light rain

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

CHICAGO — Cloudy conditions Friday with light rain/mist. Winds: N 5-10 G15. High: 69. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Mostly cloudy tonight with decreasing clouds. Winds: NNE 5-10. Low: 58.Saturday Forecast: Mostly sunny, cooler lakeside, NE 5-10 G20. High: 74/70.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

How big will Facebook settlement checks be? Lawyers reveal estimated payment per person

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Hoping the the massive Facebook privacy settlement is about to change your life? Don't hold your breath. Facebook parent company Meta recently agreed to pay $725 million to settle claims it violated users' privacy by sharing their data with third parties. But that pot of money needs to be divvied up among a huge group of people. ‘Largest number of claims ever filed’: 17M people validated to receive Facebook settlement payment In a court hearing on the lawsuit Thursday, class counsel revealed more than 28 million claims were filed before the deadline passed in August. Of those claims, about 17 million have been preliminarily validated so far. After attorneys' fees and administrative costs, the settlement amount is still huge – but it won't feel that way to the average person. Because there are so many eligible recipients, lawyers for the plaintiffs told Judge Vince Chhabria they expect the median payment to be around $30.An important thing to note is not ever...

Dean's Reviews: 'My Big, Fat Greek Wedding 3'

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

Check out Dean's review on 'My Big, Fat Greek Wedding 3' that is in theaters Friday.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!

Dean's Weekender: Johnny Gill, iKon and more

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

Check out Dean's Weekender for the latest events coming to the Chicagoland area this weekend.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!

Austinites concerned of growing tent community in southeast park

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A tent community in a heavily wooded area at Mabel Davis District Park in southeast Austin is raising some concerns for people in the area. "There's so much potential here and when you allow things to keep people from coming here, like the homeless people, it really ruins my neighborhood and it kind of sucks," Sonny Thomas, a life-long southeast Austin resident, said. Thomas grew up right next to the park and still goes to it as much as he can. He saw the park go from a rundown look to the nice park it is today, equipped with a skate park and a public pool. He now organizes community events at the park with his next event coming up right before Halloween this year with a skating competition for kids. He wants to see the homeless population removed from the park area. Safety concerns "They're creating problems. They caught the woods on fire over here. They found a dead homeless person just a month ago," Thomas explained. A person was found dead in the park on July 20...

Cedar Park teen to be featured on Times Square jumbotron for Down syndrome walk

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — One Cedar Park teen will star in the lights of Times Square this weekend as part of the annual New York City Buddy Walk to raise public awareness of Down syndrome.Jessica Jantz, 15, is one of 500 people with Down syndrome who will be featured on jumbotrons in Times Square in a video that kicks off Buddy Walk, according to a release. Tree limbs falling due to extreme heat, recent ice storm She was picked from over 2,400 entries from children, teens and adults with Down syndrome across the country. The National Down Syndrome Society, the nonprofit that hosts Buddy Walk, said it tries to include as many new faces in the video each year "to highlight the diversity of our community."The New York City Buddy Walk is the most widely recognized public awareness program for the Down syndrome community, according to the National Down Syndrome Society. The walk aims to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome as well as raise money for local and national i...