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Erdoğan declares victory in Turkish election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is set for another five years as Turkey’s president after prevailing in divisive elections that at one point seemed to threaten his hold on power.The 69-year-old, who has dominated his country’s politics for two decades, was on track to win the runoff vote by 52 percent to 48 percent, with more than 98 percent of ballot boxes counted, beating opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, according to the country’s two main news agencies. In the first round of voting on May 14, the president also came out on top, defying the polls, but fell short of an outright majority, taking the election to a runoff. Turkey’s Supreme Election Council — the country’s highest electoral authority — said that, with 75 percent of the votes counted, Erdoğan was leading with 53 percent while Kılıçdaroğlu had received 47 percent. Erdoğan declared victory in front of his residence in Istanbul, singing his campaign song before his speech. “I thank our nation, which g...

Photos: Blind sailors take on the Charles every Saturday morning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

A lack of sight couldn’t stop an enthusiastic group from exploring the Charles by sailboat.The SailBlind program, run by the Newton-based Carroll Center for the Blind, launched sailboats onto the Charles River Saturday morning crewed by blind participants.“Whether you are just looking to go for a boat ride, looking to receive sailing instruction and hands on experience, or looking to refine your prior sailing skills and knowledge, we offer all of these,” the program’s website states.The boats launch every Saturday morning through October 28, though the Carroll Center states that there is reduced staff during May, September and October, which means there will be a cap on the number of sailors who can partipate, which is awarded on a first-come, first-served system.The program, which began in 1979 when it became the first structured program in the U.S. for blind sailors, is extending the opportunity from now through the fall for blind adults to learn the sort o...

US ‘won’t tolerate’ China’s Micron chips ban, Raimondo says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

WASHINGTON — Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the U.S. “won’t tolerate” the recent decision by Chinese authorities to ban chips by Micron Technology Inc. in some critical sectors, using her sharpest language yet to describe Washington’s reaction.“We see it as, plain and simple, economic coercion,” she said, using a phrase both sides have lobbed at each other amid recent tensions. “We won’t tolerate it, nor do we think it will be successful.”The latest technology tensions between the two global powers kicked off last Sunday, when the Cyberspace Administration of China warned operators of key infrastructure against buying Idaho-based Micron’s chips, saying it found “relatively serious” risks after concluding a review it announced in March. That followed a sweeping ban by the U.S. in October on exports to China of high-end chips and the technology to make them.Raimondo’s comments Saturday come after the two sides had a chance this week to air their grievances in person and pledged...

Turkey’s Erdogan wins another term as president, extending rule into 3rd decade

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won reelection Sunday, according to unofficial results, in a victory that extends his increasingly authoritarian rule into a third decade in a country reeling from high inflation and the aftermath of an earthquake that leveled entire cities.With a third term, Erdogan will have an even stronger hand domestically and internationally, and the election results will have implications far beyond Ankara. Turkey stands at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and it plays a key role in NATO.With nearly 99% of ballot boxes opened, results from competing news agencies showed Erdogan with 52% of the vote, compared with 48% for his challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.In his first comments since the polls closed, Erdogan spoke to supporters on a campaign bus outside his home in Istanbul.“I thank each member of our nation for entrusting me with the responsibility to govern this country once again for the upcoming five years,” he said. “We hope t...

Police: 3 killed in shootout involving outlaw biker gangs at New Mexico motorcycle rally

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

RED RIVER, N.M. (AP) — Three men killed in a weekend shootout at a New Mexico motorcycle rally were members of rival outlaw biker gangs, and the violence stemmed from a previous altercation between them in Albuquerque, authorities said Sunday.New Mexico State Police said three other bikers are facing charges and two of them were among the five wounded in Saturday’s shooting involving the Bandidos and the Waterdogs in the mountain resort town of Red River.Those killed were identified as 26-year-old Anthony Silva of Los Lunas, 46-year-old Damian Breaux of Socorro and 46-year-old Randy Sanchez of Albuquerque. Two were declared dead at the scene and the third at a hospital, New Mexico State Police Chief Tim Johnson said in identifying them.Johnson said 30-year-old Jacob Castillo of Rio Rancho will be charged with an open count of murder when he’s released from a hospital while 39-year-old Matthew Charles Jackson of Austin, Texas, is facing a charge of unlawful carrying of a firear...

Motorcyclist in hospital after collision in Greenholm and Lawrence area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

A motorcyclist has been transported to hospital after a collision in the Greenholm Crescent and Lawrence Avenue area on Sunday afternoon.COLLISION:Greenholm Crct & Lawrence Ave E1:32pm– reports of a vehicle and motorcycle involved– police o/s– unknown injuries – intersection is closed – delays in the area– consider alternate routes #GO1202915^se— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) May 28, 2023Police responded to reports of a collision at approximately 1:32 p.m. where a vehicle and a motorcycle were involved.One person was transported to hospital via emergency run. Constable Shannon Eames tells CityNews that the victim was the motorcycle driver.The intersection is closed resulting in delays in the area.

‘Precious’ musical instruments removed from Montreal heritage building after fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

MONTREAL — A pair of valuable musical instruments have been removed from a Montreal heritage building that caught fire last week, raising hopes that they can be saved to play again.Simon Blanchet, program director at the Chapelle du Bon-Pasteur, says a Fazioli concert grand piano and a 1772 Kirckman harpsichord were both removed on Saturday from the concert venue inside the chapel of the 19th century former monastery.He said both instruments sustained some moisture damage and will have to dry out before they can be fully assessed.But he said both were protected by covers and he’s hopeful technicians will be able to restore them.Blanchet said the instruments’ survival is a small bright light in a devastating week that has seen Montreal musicians lose one of their most important concert venues.The blaze broke out Thursday at the 19th century building, which also includes a residence for seniors, a housing cooperative and a daycare centre in addition to the concert hall.Thi...

The fastest 96 year old woman in the world: Ottawa woman breaks 5K race record

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

OTTAWA — Rejeanne Fairhead says until two years ago the most athletic things she had ever done over more than nine decades of life involved bowling and horse shoes. Now the 96-year-old is a world-record holding racer. Fairhead completed the five-kilometre race at the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend Saturday in just over 51 minutes.The world record for that distance among women over the age of 95 was demolished by almost five minutes.Fairhead says she never thought of herself as an athlete before, but believes age is just a number and if you feel like you can do something you shouldn’t let it keep you from trying.She says she is glad she is an inspiration to others and takes pride in her efforts, which have also raised more than $7,400 for the Perley Health Foundation in Ottawa. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2023.The Canadian Press

Liz Cheney urges graduates not to compromise with the truth in commencement speech

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney implored new college graduates to not compromise when it comes to the truth, excoriating her House Republican colleagues for not doing enough to combat former President Donald Trump’s lies that the 2020 election was stolen.In a commencement speech at Colorado College, the Wyoming Republican repeated her fierce criticisms of Trump but steered clear of talking about his 2024 reelection campaign or her own political future.Cheney, who graduated from Colorado College in 1988, recalled being a political science student walking into a campus building where a Bible verse was inscribed above the entrance that read, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”“After the 2020 election and the attack of January 6th, my fellow Republicans wanted me to lie. They wanted me to say the 2020 election was stolen, the attack of January 6th wasn’t a big deal, and Donald Trump wasn’t dangerous,” Cheney said Sunday in Colorado Springs, connecting her expe...

“The Little Mermaid” makes box office splash with $95.5 million opening

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

“ The Little Mermaid ” made moviegoers want to be under the sea on Memorial Day weekend. Disney’s live-action remake of its 1989 animated classic easily outswam the competition, bringing in $95.5 million on 4,320 screens in North America, according to studio estimates Sunday. And Disney estimates the film starring Halle Bailey as the titular mermaid Ariel and Melissa McCarthy as her sea witch nemesis Ursula will reach $117.5 million by the time the holiday is over. It ranks as the fifth biggest Memorial Day weekend opening ever. It displaces “Fast X” in the top spot. The 10th installment in the “Fast and Furious” franchise starring Vin Diesel has lagged behind more recent releases in the series, bringing in $23 million domestically for a two-week total of $108 million for Universal Pictures. In its fourth weekend, Disney and Marvel’s “ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ” made an estimated $20 million in North America to take third place. It’s now made $299 million dom...