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The Swiss are electing their parliament. Polls show right-wing populists, Socialists may fare well

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:29 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Swiss voters are casting final ballots Sunday to choose their next legislature, with polls pointing to a rebound for right-wing populist and Socialist parties, while Greens are expected to lose ground compared to the last such election four years ago. The election of the 200-seat lower house, known as the National Council, and the 46-seat Council of States, the upper house, will set the tone for Swiss policy as the rich Alpine country adapts its self-image as a “neutral” country outside the European Union — but is nearly surrounded by it — and grapples with issues like climate change, rising health care costs and migration.Final ballots will be collected Sunday morning after the vast majority of Swiss made their choices by mail-in voting. The vote could indicate how another slice of Europe’s electorate is thinking about right-wing populist politics and the need to spend money and resources to fight global warming at a time of rising inflation that has pinched many pock...

Manhunt launched for Nashville police chief’s son suspected in shooting of 2 Tennessee officers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:29 GMT

LA VERGNE, Tenn. (AP) — Police in Tennessee launched a search Saturday for a suspect alleged to have shot and wounded two police officers in a community near Nashville.The two officers were transported to a hospital and listed in stable condition following the shooting in La Vergne shortly before 2:30 p.m., La Vergne Police Chief Christopher Moews said during a press briefing.Police identified the suspect as John C. Drake, Jr., 38, who is the son of Metro Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake.The police chief issued a statement Saturday confirming his son was the suspect in the shooting. Drake said they were estranged and over many years he has had only minimal contact with his son. The younger Drake is a convicted felon who “resorted to years of criminal activity,” he said. “He now needs to be found and held accountable for his actions today. I hope that anyone who sees him or has information about him will contact law enforcement immediately,” Drake said in the statem...

New Netflix thriller tackling theme of justice in Nigeria is a global hit and a boon for Nollywood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:29 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A Nigerian action thriller that tells a gripping story of corruption and police brutality in Africa’s most populous country has reached record viewership numbers on Netflix charts globally. It’s a reminder of the power and potential of Nigeria’s rapidly growing film industry.“The Black Book” has taken the streaming world by storm, spending three weeks among the platform’s top 10 English-language titles globally, peaking at No. 3 in the second week.It garnered 5.6 million views just 48 hours after its Sept. 22 release and by its second week was featured among the top 10 titles in 69 countries, according to Netflix.“Films are made for audiences, and the bigger the audience for a film, the better the chances of your message going out,” producer Editi Effiong told The Associated Press. “The reality for us is that we made a film, made by Nigerians, funded by Nigerian money, go global.”Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry, has been a global phen...

Sunshine at noon for the kickoff for the Bears Game; Saturday has the last sunset after 6 p.m. for the year; Tropical Storm Norma affecting popular Mexican resort towns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:29 GMT

No need for the raincoat or the heavy coat at Soldier Field on Sunday  There will be plenty of sunshine as the Bears take on the Raiders with north wind of 5-10 mph.  Saturday was the last sunset after 6 pm for the year... Boaters trying to get in the last few trips on the lake this season will be treated to skies becoming mostly sunny on Sunday.NW winds of 15-25 kt, turn north and diminish to 10-15 kt for the afternoon.  The decrease in winds will lead to 4-6 ft. waves subsiding to 2-4 feet.The fall colors across the Chicago area are expected to peak in the next week.  Rain and wind later in the week will knock more leaves off trees, before they can reach their full colorful potential.  The Legend of the Wooly Bear Caterpillar ForecastsThis time of year, you might see woolly bear caterpillars quickly making their way across roads in the Chicago area.  These woolly worms are the ones that are black on each end and have a reddish-brown band in the middle. There's a rural wives' tale ...

Daily horoscope for October 22, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:29 GMT

Moon Alert: After 2:30 a.m. EDT today, there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The Moon is in Aquarius.Happy Birthday for Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023:You have a charismatic, seductive presence, and you like to be in control. (A powerful combination!) This is a carefree, fun-loving year for you, which means you can let your guard down and loosen up a bit. Old friends may reappear. Nurture the happiness and beauty within you. Enjoy!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★Discussions about shared property, the wealth and resources of your partner, banking matters, inheritances or insurance issues will go well today. People are in a serious, practical frame of mind and want solid results. Tonight: You’re popular. This Week: Secrets, passion and increased intensity.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★When talking to close friends or partners today, listen to the advice of someone older or more experienced. Meanwhile, you’re high-viz, which means others notice you and details abo...

Dear Abby: My wife isn’t happy about what I put in my obituary

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:29 GMT

DEAR ABBY: Recently, my wife suggested I write my own obituary (I am almost 80) as her parents did. Because I remember dates and places she didn’t know, I drafted the document.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I’ve been told to shut up about this sweet woman’s risky behavior Advice | Dear Abby: My neighbor doesn’t know what my camera captures every morning Advice | Dear Abby: I’m hurt he didn’t make time for me amid his family crisis Advice | Dear Abby: She stages these embarrassing displays, and I can’t deal with it anymore Advice | Dear Abby: He’s just a little boy, but he’s already on the wrong path. What can I do? Everything in it is accurate, but I emphasized the positive and omitted the negative.Previous marriages? My wife thought mentioning them seemed like I was bragging, although it is factually accurate and the way I would like to be remem...

Windy and cooler Sunday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:29 GMT

After a rainy Saturday, it’s all about the wind today. It’s been gusty overnight, and it’ll be windy this morning with the breeze cranking out of the west. Later today, the breeze won’t be as strong. It’ll feel cooler, and we’ll see a lot of clouds through the day (this morning is your best chance to see more sun!). High temperatures will stay in the 50s.It will be a cool start to the work week. Tomorrow starts off in the 40s and high temperatures are seasonable in the upper 50s with less wind. Tuesday will bring our coolest morning of the week. Some towns west could get their first frost of the season. Then we’ll get more sunshine back! A ridge builds across the eastern U.S. this week. Temperatures will respond by rebounding to the upper 60s/70s midweek. This morning, the American, European and Canadian models are all behind the idea of this warming through the end of the week. Thursday will be the warmest day. We stay dry through the end of the week and possibly into next weekend ...

MLB Notes: Trading for Juan Soto would be risky, but Red Sox should still do it

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:29 GMT

There was once a time when fans of most big market teams could fantasize about acquiring any big name player, and for the most part the idea wasn’t completely unrealistic.Around the turn of the 21st century, the Red Sox landed Pedro Martinez and Manny Ramirez, two of the best players of their era, and nearly Alex Rodriguez. They acquired Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett and more recently Chris Sale, and there’s a whole laundry list of stars the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and lately the New York Mets have brought in over the years.Now, the idea Boston could go out and land a real big fish feels more farfetched. It’s not that the club doesn’t have the resources, it’s that ever since Mookie Betts got away the prevailing sense has been the Red Sox aren’t willing to go the extra mile it takes to bring in a superstar.Maybe that will change when the new head of baseball operations comes aboard, but if the Red Sox wanted to shake up the narrative a...

As ministers push for aid, Canada ‘confident’ Israel didn’t strike hospital in Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:29 GMT

OTTAWA — Defence Minister Bill Blair said late Saturday evening that Canada has a “high degree of confidence” that Israel did not strike the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday. Blair said in a statement that a military analysis found the strike, which the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry said killed hundreds of people, was more likely caused by an “errant rocket” fired from the Gaza Strip.The confirmation came as two Canadian ministers attended a summit in Egypt’s capital, where counterparts and foreign officials met to discuss the Israel-Hamas war. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen were in Cairo, where Hussen announced Canada was pledging an additional $50 million for humanitarian aid in Gaza.The ministers were also expected to discuss efforts to help some 400 Canadians leave the besieged territory. The Canadian government has helped 33 people out of the West Bank and nearly 1,600 peopl...

Poor data hinders B.C. old-growth logging deferrals, advocates say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:29 GMT

Irreplaceable ancient forests that should meet criteria for interim protection are being left open to logging in British Columbia due to outdated and inaccurate government data, advocates and an ecologist who advised the province say.“The deferral process was intended to stop the bleed,” said Karen Price, an ecologist who served on the provincially appointed panel that identified 2.6 million hectares of high-priority old growth and recommended it be set aside from logging.“It was intended to be a quick and dirty stopgap so First Nations and everyone could get together and do sensible planning, and it has not worked that way.”In November 2021, B.C. announced a process to temporarily defer harvesting in those priority forests, provided First Nations agreed with the proposal in their territories, allowing time for longer-term planning.It followed an earlier pledge by the province to implement the recommendations from an old-growth strategic review, which urged B...