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Finland says Russia spy operations weakened in Nordic nation

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:53:02 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Expulsions of Russian intelligence officers and visa refusals have substantially weakened Moscow’s intelligence operations in neighboring Finland in the past year, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service said Thursday.The intelligence agency, known by the abbreviation SUPO, said in a statement that Russian intelligence has been “squeezed” in the Nordic country because of the agency’s ability to compromise spy operations in 2022.“The Russian intelligence station (in Finland) shrank to about half of its former size last year,” SUPO Director Antti Pelttari said, adding that the main reason for the decline were expulsions of suspected spies and visa refusals on the advice of his agency.The falling number of intelligence officers and restrictions on travel across the Russian-Finland border amid Moscow’s war in Ukraine have significantly undermined operating conditions for Russian spies in Finland, SUPO said.It noted that operations under diplomatic cover have ...

Fox lawsuit highlights effects of conspiracies on Dominion

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:53:02 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — In Arizona’s most populous county, elected officials are bracing for what could happen when it comes time to replace its $2 million-a-year contract for voting equipment.Officials in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, say they have no concerns about their current vendor, Dominion Voting Systems. The problem is that the company has been ensnared in a web of conspiracy theories since the 2020 presidential election that have undermined public confidence in U.S. elections among conservative voters, led to calls to ban voting machines in some places and triggered death threats against election officials across the country.“I have concerns over my own personal security if we re-enlist Dominion,” Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, a Republican elected in 2020, said in a court filing. “It went from a company that nobody had heard about to a company that is maybe one of the most demonized brands in the United States or the world.”That sudden turnabout in fortunes fo...

EU reaches provisional deal to raise renewable energy target

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:53:02 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union countries and negotiators from the EU’s parliament reached a provisional deal Thursday to raise the share of renewables in the bloc’s energy mix, another step to accelerate its green transition.The European Council, which represents the 27 member nations, said the agreement reached after all-night negotiations would raise the renewable energy target to 42.5% of total consumption by 2030. The current goal is 32%.To meet the EU’s goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050, the EU’s executive commission supported a target of 45%. The council and the European Parliament left a door open for such an increase, agreeing on “an additional 2.5% indicative top up that would allow to reach 45%.”Russia’s war in Ukraine has accelerated the EU’s green transition. The bloc reduced its dependency on Russian fossil fuels and increased its renewable energy use over the past year.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the agre...

French foreign minister hopes Sweden, Finland join NATO soon

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:53:02 GMT

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — France’s top diplomat said Thursday that she hoped the NATO applications of Sweden and Finland would be “ratified quickly” as the Turkish parliament was expected to vote soon on whether Finland should join the 30-member alliance.French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna referred to an upcoming NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital in July when she said that “we hope this summit will be a success and that there will be 32 countries at the Vilnius summit.”“The applications of Sweden and Finland should be ratified quickly,” she told a news conference.Both Sweden and neighboring Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022, abandoning decades of nonalignment in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. NATO requires the unanimous approval of its members to take in new countries. On Monday, Hungarian lawmakers ratified Finland’s request to join NATO. However, the approval of Sweden’s bid has stalled because of opposition from Turkey and Hungary. The...

Oscar Pistorius eligible for parole, could be free this week

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:53:02 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Former Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius has applied for parole and is expected to attend a hearing on Friday that will decide if he can be released from prison 10 years after killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp by shooting her multiple times through a toilet door in his home.Pistorius, who was convicted of murder in Steenkamp’s Valentine’s Day 2013 killing, could leave the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre in Pretoria on Friday if his parole is granted, although the Department of Corrections said the process may take days to finalize if his application is successful.Barry and June Steenkamp, the parents of Reeva, have said they oppose Pistorius’ release and are allowed to address the parole board at his hearing. A submission by a victim’s relatives is one of numerous factors taken into account.“He is a murderer. He should remain in jail,” Barry Steenkamp said in an interview with Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper pu...

Top UN court to rule in Iran-US dispute over frozen assets

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:53:02 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The United Nations’ highest court is set to rule Thursday in a case filed by Iran against the United States over frozen Iranian assets worth some $2 billion that the U.S. Supreme Court awarded to victims of a 1983 bombing in Lebanon and other attacks linked to Tehran.At hearings last year, lawyers representing the U.S. urged the International Court of Justice to reject the claim. Iran cast the asset freeze as an attempt to destabilize the Tehran government and a violation of international law.Iran took its claim to the world court in 2016 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that money belonging to Iran’s central bank could be used as compensation for the 241 American troops who died in the 1983 bombing, which was believed to be linked to Tehran. At stake are $1.75 billion in bonds, plus accumulated interest, belonging to the Iranian state but held in a Citibank account in New York.After the bombing of the a U.S. military base in Lebanon, a second b...

King Charles III to speak to German parliament, meet Scholz

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:53:02 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Britain’s King Charles III met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and is preparing to become the first monarch to speak before Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, on Thursday as part of a high-profile visit aimed at bolstering ties between the two European powers.Charles, 74, is on his first foreign trip since becoming king. He and Camilla, the queen consort, arrived in Berlin on Wednesday. Crowds of wellwishers and Germany’s head of state, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, greeted the couple at the capital’s iconic Brandenburg Gate. They later attended a banquet in their honor at the presidential palace.Pomp and royal glamour aside, the three-day visit has a decidedly political purpose. The British government is trying to mend frayed ties with its continental partners following the painful process that preceded and followed the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union.The fallout from Brexit has been considerable: Britain’s depart...

Crash Course: a run-through of the new MLB rule changes

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:53:02 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- America's Pastime returns Thursday with MLB's Opening Day, but the game we know and love will look a lot different this year. NEWS10 ABC Sports Director Griffin Haas runs through the new MLB rule changes to make sure your up to speed for the first pitch.

Andre Jackson and the Huskies head to Final Four

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:53:02 GMT

STORRS, C.T. (NEWS10) -- Andre Jackson's basketball journey started in Albany. The Albany Academy graduate also started his March Madness journey here in Albany, helping UConn to two wins at MVP arena, starting the Huskies' tournament run. Now Jackson and UConn are Final Four bound, and they got a proper sendoff from the Huskie faithful Wednesday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Jackson and UConn boarded the buses on their way to the airport just after 4:00 PM, on their way to Houston. Hundreds of UConn students turned out to show their support. The Huskies will take on another team that started their journey in Albany, Miami, in the Final Four on Saturday at 8:49 PM. The Huskies are currently the odds on betting favorite to win the title.

Wangsness' career day helps lead Saints past Marist

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:53:02 GMT

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A quick start, a strong finish and career days from both senior attack Katy Wangsness and junior defense Laura Bonomo help send the Saints women’s lacrosse team to a convincing, 14-8 MAAC win against rival Marist on Wednesday afternoon at Hickey Field.  Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Saints (7-4 overall, 2-0 MAAC) only trailed 1-0, but reeled off five consecutive goals to capture a lead that they would not relinquish the remainder of the game.  It got as close as 6-5 with just under 11 minutes to play in the third quarter, but Siena responded with three straight scores to provide an arm’s length lead. Wangsness was active throughout, notching a goal in each of the first two periods before unleashing a fury in the third stanza with three goals within a six-plus minute stretch to give Siena a 11-7 lead.  Wangsness’ five goals were a career high in a single game and her si...