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Putin will seek another presidential term in Russia, extending his rule of over two decades

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:54 GMT

MOSCOW — Vladimir Putin has moved to prolong his repressive and unyielding grip on Russia for another six years. Putin still commands wide support after nearly a quarter-century in power, despite starting an immensely costly war in Ukraine that has taken thousands of his countrymen’s lives, provoked repeated attacks inside Russia -– including one on the Kremlin itself -– and corroded its aura of invincibility. A short-lived rebellion in June by mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin raised widespread speculation that Putin could be losing Vladimir Putin on Friday moved to prolong his repressive and unyielding grip on Russia for another six years, state media said, announcing his candidacy in the 2024 presidential election that he is all but certain to win.Putin still commands wide support after nearly a quarter-century in power, despite starting an immensely costly war in Ukraine that has taken thousands of his countrymen’s lives, provoked repeated attacks inside Russia -– including one...

Japan’s leader grilled in parliament over widening fundraising scandal, link to Unification Church

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:54 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and several key Cabinet ministers were grilled by opposition lawmakers in parliament on Friday over a widening fundraising scandal and an alleged connection to the Unification Church which threaten to further drag down the government’s sagging popularity.Support ratings for Kishida’s government have fallen below 30% because of public dissatisfaction over its slow response to rising prices and lagging salaries, and the scandal could weaken his grip on power within the governing Liberal Democratic Party. Still, the long-ruling party remains the voter favorite in media polls because of the fragmented and weak opposition. Dozens of governing party lawmakers, including Cabinet members, are accused of failing to fully report money they received from fundraising. Kishida has acknowledged that authorities are investigating the scandal following a criminal complaint.The party’s largest and most powerful faction, linked to l...

Nintendo cancels its Live 2024 Tokyo event after persistent threats to workers and customers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:54 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Nintendo canceled its upcoming video game showcase and postponed several other events because of persistent threats to the company, its workers and players.“We decided we could not amply ensure the safety of our customers,” Kyoto-based Nintendo Co. said in an online statement Thursday. The Japanese manufacturer behind the Super Mario and Pokemon canceled Nintendo Live 2024 Tokyo, which had been set for Jan. 20 and 21. The annual event showcases Nintendo games and lets visitors sample them in a huge Tokyo exhibition hall.Nintendo also postponed several contests, including the Japan championship for the popular ink-shooting game Splatoon, initially scheduled for later in December, as well as next year’s Mario Kart and Splatoon contests. The company declined to give details of the threats but said police were contacted.Nintendo has been targeted before, but said the potential risk to the public proved too much.The new dates for the postponed events will be announced later,...

Taiwan’s presidential candidates will hold a televised debate as the race heats up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:54 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The three candidates running in next month’s Taiwanese presidential election will hold a televised debate on Dec. 30 as the race heats up under pressure from China. The outcome of the Jan. 13 election could have a major effect on relations between China and the United States, which is bound by its own laws to provide Taiwan with the weapons it needs to defend itself and to regard threats to the self-governing island as a matter of “grave concern.” Differences over Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, are a major flashpoint in U.S.-China relations. The debate will feature current Vice President William Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party; Hou Yu-ih, a local government leader representing the main opposition Nationalist Party, or KMT; and former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je, of the smaller Taiwan People’s Party. Lai, whose party favors the status quo of de-facto independence, is favored to win the election, ensuring that tensions with China will l...

The UK says it has paid Rwanda $300 million for a blocked asylum deal. No flights have taken off

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:54 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was under pressure Friday to explain why Britain has paid Rwanda 240 million pounds ($300 million) as part of a blocked asylum plan, without a single person being sent to the East African country.The total is almost twice the 140 million pounds that Britain previously said it had handed to the Rwandan government under a deal struck in April 2022. Under the agreement, migrants who reach Britain across the English Channel would be sent to Rwanda, where their asylum claims would be processed and, if successful, they would stay.The plan was challenged in U.K. courts, and no flights to Rwanda have taken off. Last month, Britain’s Supreme Court ruled the policy was illegal because Rwanda isn’t a safe country for refugees.Despite the ruling and the mounting cost, Sunak has pledged to press on with the plan.The Home Office said it had paid a further 100 million pounds to Rwanda in the 2023-24 financial year and expects to hand over 50 million pounds ...

Jon Rahm is leaving for LIV Golf and what it means for both sides

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:54 GMT

Jon Rahm has been saying that he plays golf for history and for legacy, not for money. And now he’s playing for the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League in a shocking departure from the PGA Tour.A week of speculation on social media ended with Rahm in a jacket — not the green jacket he won at the Master this year but a black letterman’s jacket with LIV Golf across the front — as he discussed reasons for bolting during an appearance on Fox News.“I think the innovation and the vision of LIV Golf is what pushed me over to at least give it a chance and hear the pitch,” Rahm said in an interview with LIV broadcaster David Feherty. “Ultimately, it ended up being what I wanted to hear.”How much? Rahm wasn’t sharing details, but it’s a lot. Various reports put it in the neighborhood of $500 million, which includes equity in his new team. Consider the entire prize fund on the PGA Tour in 2023 was about $460 million.This creates as many questions as answers, from who Rahm brin...

21st annual WGN Morning News drive-thru toy drive, presented by AARP Chicago, to be held Friday, December 8

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:54 GMT

The WGN Morning News Drive-Thru Toy Drive will be celebrating its 21st year!  On Friday, December 8 from 5am – 10am, viewers are invited to drive up and drop off a new, unwrapped toy at the WGN-TV Studios, located at 2501 W. Bradley Place in Chicago (near Addison & Western).  Toy donations will be accepted December 7-10th at participating Jewel-Osco locations.  This year’s toy drive will benefit Christmas in the Wards and Off the Street Club.MONETARY DONATIONS ARE ALSO WELCOME! Via WGN-TV Family Charities, a McCormick Foundation fund, all donations will be matched at 50 cents on the dollar.  With WGN-TV and the Foundation paying all campaign and administrative expenses, 100% of all donations, plus the match, are granted to qualified nonprofit organizations.  WGN-TV will accept financial donations through December 31, 2023.TO MAKE A FINANCIAL DONATION - Viewers are encouraged to donate at:https://www.mccormickfoundation.org/partnerships/wgn-toy-drive/Tex...

Friday Forecast: Increasing clouds, mid 50s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:54 GMT

Friday: Increasing clouds, mainly cloudy, SSW 10-15 G30. High: 56Friday Night: Cloudy, rain showers, warm, S 5-10 G20. Low: 45Saturday: Mainly cloudy, AM rain showers, slight daytime chances, dropping afternoon temps, WSW 10-15 G25. High: 51Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)

Trump's vow to only be a dictator on 'day one' feeds worry over his authoritarian rhetoric

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:54 GMT

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — As Donald Trump faces growing scrutiny over his increasingly authoritarian and violent rhetoric, Fox News host Sean Hannity gave his longtime friend a chance to assure the American people that he wouldn't abuse power or seek retribution if he wins a second term.But instead of offering a perfunctory answer brushing off the warnings, Trump stoked the fire.“Except for day one,” the GOP front-runner said Tuesday night before a live audience in Davenport, Iowa. “I want to close the border, and I want to drill, drill, drill."And in case anyone missed it, he reenacted the exchange.“We love this guy,” Trump said of Hannity. “He says, ‘You’re not going to be a dictator, are you?’ I said: ‘No, no, no, other than day one. We’re closing the border, and we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not a dictator.’”Former President Donald Trump sits at the defense table while waiting for proceedings to begin in his civil business f...

Chronic fatigue syndrome more common than past studies suggest, CDC says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:54 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Health officials on Friday released the first nationally representative estimate of how many U.S. adults have chronic fatigue syndrome: 3.3 million.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's number is larger than previous studies have suggested, and is likely boosted by some of the patients with long COVID. The condition clearly "is not a rare illness,” said the CDC's Dr. Elizabeth Unger, one of the report's co-authors.Chronic fatigue is characterized by at least six months of severe exhaustion not helped by bed rest. Patients also report pain, brain fog and other symptoms that can get worse after exercise, work or other activity. There is no cure, and no blood test or scan to enable a quick diagnosis.Doctors have not been able to pin down a cause, although research suggests it is a body's prolonged overreaction to an infection or other jolt to the immune system.The condition rose to prominence nearly 40 years ago, when clusters of cases were rep...