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Turkey votes again, with Erdoğan poised to extend his rule

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:54:59 GMT

Turkey goes to the polls Sunday in one of the most significant elections in the world this year, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan well placed to extend his hold on power.He faces Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of an opposition coalition, who underperformed opinion poll projections in the first round on May 14.For more polling data from across Europe visit POLITICO Poll of Polls.Erdoğan, who since 2003 has served first as prime minister and then as head of state, has the clear upper hand in what has been a highly polarizing contest, taking place against the backdrop of the devastation caused by the huge earthquake Turkey suffered in February. “Erdoğan’s incumbency advantages allowed him to get ahead in the first round and the same advantages will help him get to the finishing line,” said Soner Çağaptay, director of the Turkish research program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.The main theme of the tight race has been the country’s economic troubles due t...

Billerica police seek public’s help to identify bank robbery suspect

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:54:59 GMT

The police are searching for a suspect who robbed a TD Bank in Billerica Friday when he handed the teller a note demanding cash and got away on a bicycle.The police received notice of the robbery at 2:45 p.m. when the suspect entered the bank at 449 Boston Road and did not brandish a visible weapon. There were no reported injuries.The suspect is about 5 feet 6 inches tall and average build. He was wearing a Toyota baseball cap, dark sweater with the word “Michael” on the right shoulder and tan pants. Anyone who has any information should call the Billerica Police Department at 978-671-0900.

Investigation underway after multiple pedestrians struck by vehicle in Arlington

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:54:59 GMT

Arlington police re investigating after multiple pedestrians were struck and injured by a motor vehicle on Saturday morning. Officers responding to a reported motor vehicle crash involving pedestrians in the parking lot of a Stop & Shop on Mass. Ave. around 10:15 a.m. found several people injured and assisted firefighters in providing emergency care, according to Arlington Police Chief Julie Flaherty.An on-scene investigation suggests the driver of a 2005 Mercury Marquis vehicle, an 87-year-old man from Belmont, was pulling into the Stop and Shop parking lot and struck an occupied parked vehicle and an exterior wall of the building. He then reversed the vehicle and struck multiple pedestrians.Two pedestrians, a 61-year-old Arlington woman and a 70-year-old Randolph man were transported to area hospitals. The driver was also treated at the scene and transported to an area hospital.The owner of the parked vehicle, a Harwich woman, did not report injuries.This crash is under invest...

Type 2 diabetes study: Afternoon exercise tied to blood sugar improvements, Boston researchers find

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:54:59 GMT

Those with type 2 diabetes who are planning out their exercise schedule should consider getting in a workout after lunch, according to a new study from Boston researchers.Type 2 diabetes patients who were physically active in the afternoon saw greater improvements in blood sugar levels than those who were most active at other times of day, the researchers from the Brigham and Joslin Diabetes Center recently found.“In this study, we show that adults with type 2 diabetes had the greatest improvement in glucose control when they were most active in the afternoon,” said Jingyi Qian, from the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at the Brigham.“We’ve known that physical activity is beneficial, but what our study adds is a new understanding that timing of activity may be important too,” Qian added.More than 37 million Americans have diabetes, and 90% to 95% of that population are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Doctors recommend that patients with diabet...

Mpox is down, but US cities could be at risk for summertime outbreaks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:54:59 GMT

The mpox health emergency has ended, but U.S. health officials are aiming to prevent a repeat of last year’s outbreaks.Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, infections exploded early in the summer of 2022 in the wake of Pride gatherings. More than 30,000 U.S. cases were reported last year, most of them spread during sexual contact between gay and bisexual men. About 40 people died.With Pride events planned across the country in the coming weeks, health officials and event organizers say they are optimistic that this year infections will be fewer and less severe. A bigger supply of vaccine, more people with immunity and readier access to a drug to treat mpox are among the reasons.But they also worry that people may think of mpox as last year’s problem.“Out of sight, out of mind,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who is advising the White House on its mpox response. “But we are beating the drum.”Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health alert to U.S. doc...

MIAA Girls tennis tournament pairings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:54:59 GMT

MIAA GIRLS TENNIS TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS DIVISION 1SEEDS: 1. Boston Latin (16-0); 2. Acton-Boxboro (9-1); 3. Lincoln-Sudbury (12-3); 4. Wellesley (18-1); 5. Lexington (19-1); 6. Newton South (10-6); 7. Westford Academy (11-5); 8. Andover (16-2); 9. Winchester (14-3); 10. Hingham (18-2); 11. Bishop Feehan (13-2); 12. Needham (11-5); 13. Brookline (12-6); 14. Arlington (13-7); 15. Concord-Carlisle (5-8); 16. Central Catholic (10-3); 17. Belmont (10-8); 18. Methuen (15-1); 19. North Andover (10-7); 20. Natick (8-8); 21. Newton North (7-10); 22. King Philip Regional (14-6); 23. Shrewsbury (13-5); 24. Wachusett Regional (11-7); 25. Franklin (12-6); 26. Waltham (4-10); 27. Cambridge Rindge & Latin (5-11); 28. Braintree (9-7); 29. North Quincy (10-10); 30. Algonquin (10-8); 31. Beverly (8-8); 32. Bridgewater-Raynham (11-3); 33. Taunton (11-9); 34. Malden (14-2); 35. Peabody Veterans (8-6); 36. South High Community (13-3); 37. Durfee (9-9); 38. Medford (9-6)PRELIMINARY ROUND – Wednesd...

Lefty Matt Krook earns promotion to Yankees after 8 minor league seasons

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:54:59 GMT

After eight years as a minor leaguer, Matt Krook is one step closer to his big league debut.The Yankees added the left-hander to their active roster Saturday morning. He replaces Randy Vasquez, who made his major league debut Friday night against the Padres. Vasquez mostly impressed in a loss, but his immediate return to Triple-A was expected since the Yankees needed a spot starter Friday and a fresh arm moving forward.Krook can be that guy, as the converted starter has been working in a multi-inning relief role with the RailRiders. The job has suited him well, as he recorded a 1.04 ERA over 12 games and 17.1. innings at Triple-A. He also struck out 34 batters while walking 12.“I really like it. It allows me to face the lineup one time usually. I can throw all four pitches, face a guy one time, so it’s been good for me,” said Krook, whose arsenal leans on sinkers, sweepers, cutters and changeups. “When starting, you’re facing a guy three times. Sometime...

Yankees manager Aaron Boone calls his 1-game suspension a ‘weird experience’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:54:59 GMT

Aaron Boone spent Friday’s loss in Brian Cashman’s box at Yankee Stadium, as the manager served a one-game suspension for his recent conduct toward umpires.“Weird experience,” Boone said Saturday while reflecting on the suspension.Boone was ejected from Thursday’s game against the Orioles. It was his fourth ejection of the year and his third in the Yankees’ last 10 games.The manager was tossed after arguing Edwin Moscoso’s strike zone. The skipper insisted that his initial comments shouldn’t have resulted in an ejection, but Boone became fiery when Moscoso turned his back on the manager.Crew chief Chris Guccione had to get in between Moscoso and Boone, and some spittle from Boone’s mouth flew in Moscoso’s direction.Boone said that he had multiple conversations with Michael Hill, Major League Baseball’s senior vice president for on-field operations, the night of the ejection and Friday afternoon. Boone found out about ...

'Hazardous swimming conditions' expected in San Diego Memorial Day weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:54:59 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Memorial Day weekend is upon us and the National Weather Service San Diego has issued an advisory for beachgoers.In a tweet Friday, NWS alerted the region of a possible increase in rip currents on top of below normal temperatures and cold water. In another advisory Saturday, weather officials say elevated surf and rip currents will create hazardous swimming conditions along San Diego's coast. The marine layer explained: Why San Diego’s coastal areas are foggy What is a rip current? Weather officials have described these events as "powerful currents of water moving away from the shore" that can sweep "even the strongest swimmers" away from shore.With a moderate rip current risk on the forecast, surf height may be between 2-4 feet and water temperatures are expected to be between 61-63 degrees, according to NWS predictions. Alex Tardy, a warning coordination meteorologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) NWS, told FOX 5 that informative boar...

UAE releases Lebanese detainees after death in custody raised allegations of mistreatment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:54:59 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — A group of Lebanese citizens detained in the United Arab Emirates have been released, Lebanon’s foreign ministry said Saturday.Lebanon’s ambassador to the UAE notified the ministry of the release of 10 Lebanese detainees who had been arrested there about two months ago, the ministry said in a statement.The release comes after the death earlier this month of a Lebanese man who was detained in the UAE on unknown charges. A committee of family members of Lebanese citizens detained in the UAE alleged in a statement that Ghazi Ezzedine, 55, had died under torture, and rights groups raised concerns about the Emirati government’s lack of transparency regarding Ezzedine’s case and the linked detentions.Emirati authorities have not commented on the case or on the release of the other detainees.Afif Shouman, head of a group of Lebanese families with relatives detained in the Gulf country, said seven Lebanese citizens remain detained in the UAE, none of whom have been convicted o...