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Finnish president: Joining NATO won’t solve all our problems

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:12 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö on Thursday warned that the country’s new status as a NATO member “doesn’t solve every problem,” and said Helsinki should not let down its guard on security issues.“We still bear the main responsibility for our own security. Wherever we detect any gaps or vulnerabilities, they must be fixed,” Niinistö said, in a speech to lawmakers as they gathered for the first time since the April 2 elections.He added that Finland, which shares a 1,340 kilometer (832 mile) border with Russia, has been focused on regional security in the past year, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.“We must not let this level of alertness drop in the future, either,” the president said as he formally opened the 200-member Eduskunta legislature. “We should better understand how organically the dangers and tensions we are witnessing here are linked with the increasing geopolitical pressures.”Finland’s main conservative party cam...

Women’s tennis tour ends Peng Shuai-inspired China boycott

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:12 GMT

The women’s professional tennis tour will bring its events back to China later this year, announcing on Thursday the end of a boycott instituted in late 2021 over concerns about the safety of former player Peng Shuai after she accused a high-ranking government official there of sexual assault.WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon said in an interview with The Associated Press that while what he sought was never delivered — a chance for someone from the tour to meet with Peng, along with a full and transparent investigation into the Grand Slam doubles champion’s accusations — the decision was made, with input from player and tournament representatives, to return to the country. “The stance that we took at the time was appropriate. And we stand by that. But 16 months into this, we’re convinced that our requests will not be met. And to continue with the same strategy doesn’t make sense,” Simon said from St. Petersburg, Florida, where the WTA is based. “So we needed to look at a different ap...

Women’s tennis tour returning to China in 2023, ending boycott over concerns about former player Peng Shuai’s safety

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:12 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Women’s tennis tour returning to China in 2023, ending boycott over concerns about former player Peng Shuai’s safety.Source

Report criticizes Dutch authorities over risky emissions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:12 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Businesses and local governments in the Netherlands must do more to protect residents who live near large industrial plants against the damaging effects of emissions, an independent report concluded Thursday.The investigation by the Dutch Safety Board was launched amid long-standing concerns that residents were being exposed to potentially dangerous emissions and anger that companies and local authorities were not responsive.The probe initially focused on a Tata Steel plant in the North Sea coastal town of Ijmuiden. It was later expanded to include a Chemours chemical plant in Dordrecht and an asphalt manufacturer in Nijmegen.The Tata Steel plant has long been a source of concern for local residents. Dutch prosecutors last year opened a criminal investigation into alleged “intentional and unlawful introduction of hazardous substances into the soil, air or surface water.” In addition, the probe targets Harsco Metals Holland, a company that also operates ...

US jobless claim applications highest in more than a year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:12 GMT

U.S. applications for jobless benefits rose to their highest level in more than a year, but remain at relatively low levels despite efforts by the Federal Reserve to cool the economy and job market in its battle against inflation.Jobless claims in the U.S. for the week ending April 8 rose by 11,000 to 239,000 from the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday. That’s the most since January of 2022 when 251,000 people filed for unemployment benefits.The four-week moving average of claims, which evens out some of the week-to-week fluctuations, rose by 2,250 to 240,000. That’s the most since November of 2021.Last week, the Labor Department unveiled revised estimates of the number of weekly applications for jobless benefits under a new formula it is using to reflect seasonal adjustments. The new formula, which led to an increase in its weekly tally, is intended to more accurately capture seasonal patterns in job losses.Applications for unemployment benefits are broad...

Can you drive with headphones on in Colorado?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:12 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- You may have noticed an increase over the last few years of people walking around with AirPods or headphones. It sometimes looks as if they’re talking to themselves when they’re actually just on a call.But did you know that while you are driving, it is actually only legal to wear one headphone? 5 Colorado traffic laws you might not know According to Colorado law, drivers over 18 are allowed to use cellphones for voice calls. Headphones can be used for the voice call, but you can only have your headphone in one ear.Texting and browsing the internet while driving is illegal.Minor drivers are not allowed to use cell phones at all while driving.Are there exceptions to the law?There are times when you might need to use your phone while you are driving to call someone or send a text, or even to report an emergency.Here are some of the exceptions, according to the Colorado Revised Statute 42-4-239:a person has reason to fear for his or her life or safety, or believes tha...

What age are Coloradans in peak physical condition?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:12 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — There's still plenty of time. Health website The Fitness Tribe surveyed over 3,000 of its online users about the age each state's user found themselves in peak physical condition. Generally, experts peg peak fitness between the ages of 20 and 35 for men and women. Can you drive with headphones on in Colorado? Coloradans' culture of fitness and outdoorsmanship seems to be paying off and prolonging that age. Coloradans said their peak fitness is 37 years old - three years above the national average of 34 years old. Generally, it is the mountain states in which people are fitter later on. North Dakota has the nation's highest age for peak physical fitness at 43 years old, while in Connecticut it happens at 41. Among the mountain states, Wyoming has the youngest age of peak fitness at 21 years old, followed by Idaho at 28. In the rest, it ranges from 40 years old, Montana, to 34 years old, Utah.

1 of 4 mountain tapirs in US returns to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:12 GMT

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KXRM) — One of only four mountain tapirs in the U.S. is returning to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.Twenty-four-year-old Mochi is part of the critically endangered mountain tapir species, which many CMZoo fans may remember from his time at the zoo from 2000-2014. Mochi moved to the Los Angeles Zoo where he lived until last month."We are beyond excited to welcome this species back to the zoo - and Mochi, as an individual, is going to be such a great ambassador," said Lauren Phillippi, lead mountain tapir keeper. "He's an older guy, but he's really playful and curious. He loves scratches, just like our former tapir, and his brother, Cofan, did. He likes to hold his head to one side or stretch out a leg so we can get the scratches just right." Rare lynx caught on film in San Juan mountains CMZoo said on Monday that Mochi wasted no time exploring his recently updated yard across the main zoo road from Encounter Africa. He came straight out of his den to the yard, C...

Diplomat: Russia might discuss swap for jailed US reporter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:12 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia might be willing to discuss a potential prisoner swap with the U.S. involving jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich after his trial on espionage charges, a top Russian diplomat said Thursday.Gershkovich, 31, his employer and the U. S. government all deny he was involved in spying and have demanded his release.Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told state news agency Tass that talks about a possible exchange could take place through a dedicated channel that Russian and U.S. security agencies established for such purposes.“We have a working channel that was used in the past to achieve concrete agreements, and these agreements were fulfilled,” Ryabkov said, adding that there was no need for the involvement of any third country.However, he emphasized that Moscow would only negotiate a possible prisoner exchange after a trial. “The issue of exchanging anyone could only be considered after a court delivers its verdict,” he was quoted by Tass as sayi...

A united Ireland looks more likely thanks to Brexit, new study finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:12 GMT

DUBLIN – More people in Northern Ireland now expect to join a united Ireland rather than stay in the U.K., according to a major new survey of public opinion rattled by Brexit.It’s the first time that results from the annual Life and Times Survey — published two months early to capitalize on President Joe Biden’s visit to the Ulster University campus in Belfast — has found a plurality of public expectations tilting toward Irish unity and away from continued political union with Britain.The shift has been pronounced since post-Brexit trade rules went live two years ago. To the anger of unionists, the U.K.-EU treaty left Northern Ireland subject to EU rules for goods so that cross-border trade could continue uninterrupted with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member.While the same survey in 2020 found most people expected to be in the U.K. in 20 years’ time, opinion on Northern Ireland’s constitutional future had tightened to an even split a year later.The latest finding, based on 1,405 ...