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Former Thai PM Thaksin goes to jail as political party linked to him wins vote to take power

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:43 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — A populist Thai party linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra won a vote in parliament to lead the country, hours after the divisive former leader returned from years of self-imposed exile and began an eight-year prison sentence.Real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin ‘s victory ends months of suspense, legal wrangling and horse trading that followed the May elections. After the progressive Move Forward Party, which won the most votes in the national election, was blocked from taking power by conservative senators, the Pheu Thai Party entered a coalition with military parties linked to the coup that removed it from power in 2014.Many observers say that Thaksin is betting that a friendly government will be able to cut his sentence short, although he has said his decision to return had nothing to do with the party’s bid for power. Thaksin’s return was an emotional moment for supporters of the 74-year-old billionaire, who won the loyalty of millions wi...

Ex-Florida congresswoman to challenge Republican Sen. Rick Scott in a test for the state’s Democrats

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:43 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell announced Tuesday she will seek the nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Rick Scott in 2024, a campaign that will be a test to see if Florida Democrats can fare better during a presidential election in a state that is increasingly Republican.Mucarsel-Powell beat a Republican incumbent to win her only term in Congress in 2018 before losing to Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez in a seat that has switched parties several times in recent elections.“We are at a moment in time where our democracy is at stake, our rights are being violated,” she said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Everything I know about Rick Scott is that he’s always put himself first. He never looks out for Florida families or anybody else.”Scott served two terms as governor, winning both times with less than 50% of the vote. He was elected to the Senate in 2018, beating incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson by abo...

Turkey says UN lost neutrality after world body condemns Cyprus roadwork, assault on peacekeepers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:43 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s foreign minister accused the United Nations of abandoning its neutrality on Tuesday, a day after the U.N. Security Council criticized construction work by Turkish Cypriots inside the buffer zone dividing Cyprus and condemned their assault on U.N. peacekeepers.In a statement issued Monday, the Security Council described the construction of a road as a violation of the status quo that is contrary to council resolutions. The statement came at the end of emergency closed consultations by the council’s 15 members.Angry Turkish Cypriots last week punched and kicked a group of international peacekeepers that blocked crews working on a road that would encroach on the island’s U.N.-controlled buffer zone. The road is designed to connect the village of Arsos, in the Turkish Cypriot north, with the multi-ethnic village of Pyla, which is inside the buffer zone and abuts the Greek Cypriot south.“We believe that with this move, the United Nations h...

Ethiopia to investigate report of killings of hundreds of its nationals at the Saudi-Yemen border

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:43 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The Ethiopian government said Tuesday it will investigate a report by a human rights group of killings of hundreds its nationals at the Yemen-Saudi border.Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry said the investigation will be done “in tandem with the Saudi authorities.”The New York-based group Human Rights Watch released a report on Monday citing eyewitness accounts of attacks by border guards in Saudi Arabia using machine guns and mortars on unarmed Ethiopians trying to cross into the kingdom from Yemen.The ministry called for restraint and advised against making “unnecessary speculation until an investigation is completed,” saying the two countries “enjoy excellent longstanding relations.”A Saudi government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, called the Human Rights Watch report “unfounded and not based on reliable sources,” but did not offer evidence to support the assertion.The United Nations has already q...

Excessive Heat Warning issued Wednesday as dangerous temps enter Chicago area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:43 GMT

CHICAGO — Dangerously hot conditions are entering the Chicago area starting Tuesday and will last until Thursday evening.An Excessive Heat Warning will go into effect starting at 11 a.m. Wednesday through 9 p.m. Wednesday for the entire area. Temperatures will feel like 105-115 degrees with a 10 percent storm chance. Skilling: Excessive heat to peak Wednesday, Thursday An Excessive Heat Watch has been issued for Wednesday evening into Thursday evening with feel-like temperatures hitting 105-115 degrees. List: Cooling centers in Chicago TODAY: Mainly sunny conditions and cooler lakeside. A Heat Advisory has been issued for LaSalle County. Winds: ESE 5-10. High: 90/82. Feels like: 95-105 degrees.TONIGHT: Partly cloudy conditions. Winds: SSW 5-10. Low: 74.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Take To The Skies: What's coming to Six Flags Great America in 2024?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:43 GMT

We are right in the middle of theme park announcement season. It appears Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL is getting ready to unveil their new attraction for 2024.Over the last few weeks, the park has rolled a teaser campaign with the hashtag #TakeToTheSkies2024. What could it mean? So far, we've seen vague social media posts like this one: Feeling blue? Strike 1 for you. #TakeToTheSkies2024 pic.twitter.com/8mYIV4GfvJ— Six Flags Great America (@SFGreat_America) August 18, 2023That's a picture of their swinging frisbee ride Revolution. The caption reads "Feeling blue? Strike 1 for you." Could that mean Revolution is about to get replaced? I think it's quite possible. Right next door to Revolution is the former location of Dare Devil Dive, the park's sky coaster experience. New signs set up outside the former Dare Devil DiveThe Dare Devil Dive experience has been closed and taken off of the park map. Over the last few weeks, Great America set up some new signage. A closer l...

Rutgers will still require COVID-19 vaccine, masks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:43 GMT

(NewsNation) — While nearly all universities and colleges across the country have dropped the strictest guidelines stemming from the pandemic, a few holdouts remain. More than 100 schools still require students to be vaccinated in order to attend classes in person, according to No College Mandates, a group that tracks COVID-19 policies in higher education. A smaller number of schools, including Rutgers and Georgetown, still require indoor masking. As students are set to return to classes next month, many are wondering whether enrollment will be impacted. Vaping negatively affects teens’ academics, mental health: study In terms of COVID guidelines, the distinction between public and private schools is important. While private universities have more flexibility, public schools typically have to adhere to state guidelines. Rutgers said incoming students must abide by a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, according to the school website. The mandate says there will be no exceptions, though it a...

A TikTok Tale: Chicago's Anthony Corrado shares his battle with Lymphoma on social media

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:43 GMT

CHICAGO — It's the perfect example of making the best of a bad situation by using a passion for good. This came at what could have been the worst of times for Chicago's Anthony Corrado, when surgery to repair a hernia turned into something he couldn't have imagined. "When he told me, my heart dropped," said Corrado when he was told that his pain was caused by Lymphoma. "My jaw dropped, and I was scared and afraid and I felt very alone and vulnerable."Yet that didn't last, since he'd seen his father, both grandmothers, and a few aunts fight cancer in his lifetime. "So I knew if they could do it, I could do it," said Corrado. "By the third day, it had turned from sadness and annoyed and angry to let's go, I'm ready to rock, let's take this on, let's have fun with it as well." As an influencer with a knack for creative and comedic videos, he had his way to do that. Corrado picked TikTok as his vehicle to make that happen and has periodically put up videos of his cancer journey on his ...

A third of adults believe COVID-19 vaccines caused thousands of sudden deaths: poll

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:43 GMT

(The Hill) -- Belief in misinformation about key health issues persists among a good chunk of adults, with false claims about COVID-19, vaccines and reproductive health garnering a substantial amount of support, a new poll from KFF has found.Whether or not they believed the claims, nearly all participants in the survey were aware of the misinformation, with 96 percent saying they had heard at least one of the 10 claims presented to them. The most widespread misinformation claims had to do with COVID-19 and vaccines.The new polling data found that a third of adults believed the COVID-19 vaccines "caused thousands of sudden deaths in otherwise healthy people," with 10 percent believing that claim to be "definitely true" and 23 percent saying it was "probably true." Another 34 percent said it was "probably false" and 31 percent said that claim was "definitely false."Nearly a third of people also said they believed the parasitic deworming medication ivermectin was an "effective treatmen...

Albany Comic Con returning in October

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:43 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Fans of comic books, collectibles, superheroes, and more rejoice. The 17th annual Albany Comic Con will return on October 29 at the Polonaise Polish Community Center, located at 225 Washington Avenue Extension. Check out the show's website for more details regarding ticketing. Poster via Albany Comic Con NY Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Special guests at the event will include comic book artist Tom Raney, writers Mark Schultz and Ron Marz, and more! The event will begin at 10 a.m. and will go until 4 p.m.