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Moldova and Georgia celebrate as their aspirations for EU membership take crucial steps forward

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:14 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Moldova and Georgia celebrated after European Union leaders buoyed their aspirations to join the 27 member nation bloc by removing key hurdles on their long path toward membership.Lawmakers in both the Moldovan and Georgian parliaments waved EU flags and played the bloc’s anthem at Friday’s opening of their parliamentary sessions, following Thursday’s surprise announcement to open membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova and to grant candidacy status to Georgia. The announcement came despite strong opposition from Hungary and the fact that Ukraine and Georgia are partially occupied by Russia which also has troops deployed in Moldova’s Transnistria region.Thousands of Georgians gathered in the country’s capital Tbilisi to celebrate, while Moldova’s President Maia Sandu invited citizens to a pro-European gathering scheduled for Sunday in the capital Chisinau to herald what she described as a “historic step for the destiny of our country.”M...

Sunshine, double digits expected today as mild December rolls on

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:14 GMT

The official start of winter is less than a week away but it’s going to feel more like spring on Friday with sunshine and temperatures in the double digits.Toronto will see a guaranteed high of 11 C on Friday and the mild air will stick around through the weekend with daytime highs of 6 C and 8 C expected on Saturday and Sunday.“We do have a little bit of a drop in the temperature for Monday afternoon and for Tuesday,” says CityNews 680 meteorologist Jill Taylor. “But this stretch is quite mild, just that little blip before we’re right back into the plus side.”The average high of this time of the year is 2 C.Mild stretch continues! Tune in to find out just how mild it will be for your Friday. The above average temps will stick around until Monday morning then a brief cool down. Some rain and a chance of wet flurries in the forecast too. https://t.co/DgcH1BtWJs— Jill Taylor (@JillTaylorCity) December 15, 2023The prospect of a white Christmas...

West African court orders Niger’s president to be released and reinstated nearly 5 months after coup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:14 GMT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — A court of the West African regional bloc ordered the release and reinstatement of Niger’s democratically elected president Friday, nearly five months after he was overthrown by mutinous soldiers.The ECOWAS Court of Justice ruled that President Mohamed Bazoum and his family were arbitrarily detained and called for him to be restored to office, his legal team said in a statement. Bazoum has been under house arrest with his wife and son since the July coup. The family hasn’t been given access to a judge or informed of proceedings against them and have remained in their residence cut off from the world, with a doctor the only visitor, the president’s lawyers said. They said Friday’s ruling was the first binding order from an international court on restoring Niger to democratic rule,. The Court of Justice is the regional bloc’s main judicial body. The court’s decisions are not subject to appeal and are binding on all ECOWAS insti...

Online News Act funding capped for private broadcasters, CBC: regulations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:14 GMT

OTTAWA — Final regulations for the Online News Act shows the amount of funding private broadcasters will get through the government’s $100-million deal with Google will be limited, with an even lower cap for the CBC.The regulation released today show broadcasters will get $30 million at most from the fund, with CBC/Radio-Canada getting no more than $7 million.The rest of the money is earmarked for other qualifying news outlets such as newspapers and digital platforms. Google agreed last month to contribute $100 million a year, indexed to inflation, to Canadian news publishers, in a deal that had the Liberal government bending to the tech giant’s demands after it threatened to remove news links from its search engine. As a result, Google will be exempt from the legislation, which compels tech companies to enter into compensation agreements with news publishers for linking to their content, if it generates revenue for those digital giants.Google will instead enter into a s...

14-year-old boy injured after drive-by shooting in Garfield Park: CPD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:14 GMT

CHICAGO -- A teen is injured after a shooting in Garfield Park Thursday night, police said.Police responded to call of a person shot in the 4000 block of West Madison Street around 6:00 p.m. and found a 14-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the ankle. Tow truck driver shot multiple times on Eisenhower The boy was travelling in a vehicle when the incident happened. He was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital where he is listed in good condition. The boy or driver of the vehicle was unable to provide more details or the occupants.There is currently no one in custody.

Pedestrian struck, killed in chain reaction crash on Eisenhower

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:14 GMT

CHICAGO — A pedestrian was struck and killed Friday morning on the inbound Eisenhower.Illinois State Police responded to the Eisenhower near Kostner just before 5:30 a.m. on the report of a crash involving a pedestrian.Police believe a vehicle was traveling eastbound when a semi swerved into its lane. The driver of the vehicle swerved to the right and struck a pedestrian.The pedestrian was outside of their broken down vehicle at the time on the right shoulder. They were pronounced dead at an area hospital. Tow truck driver shot multiple times on Eisenhower The person who struck the pedestrian stayed at the scene, ISP said.The right lane is still shut down.

Dean's Reviews: 'Wonka'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:14 GMT

WGN's Dean Richards loves "Wonka," the new prequel film starring Timothee Chalamet as Willy Wonka. Related: Dean’s Reviews: ‘Boop:’ The Betty Boop Musical Get Dean’s reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean’s Downloads weekly newsletter. You’ll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Senate still working on immigration deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:14 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Holiday break is postponed for the Senate as they try to hammer out a major immigration deal.  The lawmakers are leaving for the weekend but will return Monday in hopes of passing something before the year ends.Many senators are still skeptical they can reach a compromise, and getting something passed is complicated by the fact that the republican-led House already left Washington.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is forcing senators to stay in Washington to continue working on a national security package."We're going to keep working. This is too important not to,” he said.Republicans, Democrats and the White House have all been meeting to negotiate a deal that includes both aid to Ukraine and the border reform that republicans are demanding."The Senate cannot claim to address major national security challenges without a solution to the one we're facing on the southern border," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky).Leaders say they're maki...

Dean's Weekender: Merry Merry Chicago, Margaret Cho and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:14 GMT

WGN’s Dean Richards previews events happening in and around Chicago this weekend.The weekend is packed with holiday-themed activities, including Manheim Steamroller at the Rosemont Theatre, Chicago Symphony Orchestra's annual "Merry, Merry Chicago" performance at Symphony Center, "Hip Hop Nutcracker" at Cadillac Palace Theatre and the Music Box Theatre's annual Christmas doubleheader feature/sing-along of "It's A Wonderful Like" and "White Christmas."Comedy offerings, meanwhile, include Margaret Cho at The Vic and Steve Byrne at Improv. Related: Dean’s Reviews: ‘Boop:’ The Betty Boop Musical Related: Dean Cooks: Dean makes chocolate bark Get Dean’s reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean’s Downloads weekly newsletter. You’ll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Biden touts lower prescription drug costs starting in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:14 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – President Biden spoke at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland Thursday to highlight the cost-saving measures from the Inflation Reduction Act that will start in the new year.“This isn’t just about healthcare,” Biden said. “It’s about your dignity.”Among many changes, one major shift is that ten medicines will now be subject to price negotiations with Medicare plans.“They are ripping off Medicare,” Biden accused the pharmaceutical industry. “They are ripping off the American people.” He went on to declare, “With this law, we finally beat big pharma.”The president also referenced total out-of-pocket caps of $3,500 in 2024 and $2,000 in 2025. According to the Medicare website, those with Medicare Plan D will be eligible for such caps.President Biden proclaimed, “In all, this law is going to save the federal government $160 billion over the next ten years.”