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Record number of Turks vote in Germany in ‘fateful election’ for Erdoğan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:10:40 GMT

BERLIN — Turkish citizens turned out in record numbers in Germany, home of the Anatolian country’s largest diaspora, in a make-or-break election for long-time President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.Overseas ballots were flown to Turkey on Wednesday to be counted after voting closed Tuesday for Turks living abroad ahead of the domestic ballot on May 14, in which the leader of 20 years faces a neck-and-neck race against a strong opposition alliance helmed by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu of the center-left Republican People’s Party (CHP).With nearly 1.5 million eligible voters, Germany was a major focal point for campaigning by Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and CHP as overseas voting began on April 27. Parties papered cities with posters and sent buses to rally support.“We certainly have a voter turnout of over 50 percent,” Ambassador Başar Şen told broadcaster BR24 on Tuesday — an increase over the prior record of 46 percent in the last election of 2018.Local Berlin c...

NHS ‘may have wrongly charged’ EU nationals, watchdog says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:10:40 GMT

LONDON — EU nationals living in the U.K. may have been wrongly charged for National Health Service treatment, according to the U.K.’s watchdog on EU citizens’ rights post-Brexit.The Independent Monitoring Authority said Wednesday it has identified several cases of NHS bodies that may have unfairly charged EU citizens to use the service while their application to the EU Settlement Scheme was still being reviewed by the U.K.’s Home Office. The EU Settlement Scheme aims to guarantee EU nationals’ residence rights in the U.K. after Brexit, which put an end to the free movement of people between the U.K. and the bloc. Most NHS care is free at the point of use for people deemed “ordinarily resident” in the U.K., with charges applying to overseas visitors. The issue raised by the IMA appears to have affected EU nationals whose applications were rejected later on, the watchdog said.The IMA, set up to guard EU nationals’ rights in Britain and British nationals’ rights in the EU, s...

Some customers order Starbucks’ Refreshers without water. The company says this will now cost extra

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:10:40 GMT

(CNN) — Fans of Starbucks’ Refresher drinks will have to pay more if they don’t add water.Effective as of Tuesday, a Refresher beverage customized without water will be charged an additional $1 because the company said it “requires extra ingredients.”“This change allows us to provide a more consistent approach to customization, similar to other beverage customizations such as an adding an espresso shot or syrup, which incur an additional charge,” a Starbucks spokesperson told CNN.Refreshers are the chain’s popular line of non-coffee beverages, which are served cold with flavored juices, dried fruit chunks and can be mixed with various liquids including milk, lemonade and water.Some people on social media complained that the new policy is being extended to Refreshers ordered with light or no ice, but Starbucks said those drinks can still be customized that way “free of charge.”Large chains, including Starbucks, are...

Ford reveals the new Ranger for the US, where competition is huge among smaller trucks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:10:40 GMT

(CNN) — In America, “Ford truck” usually means the F-series, the best-selling truck here for decades. But in many parts of the world, it probably means the Ford Ranger.The Ranger is sold in 180 markets around the globe and, in 17 of them, it’s actually the best-seller in its class. In the United States, where the model was re-introduced in 2018 after going on hiatus in 2011, the Ranger is something of a middle-child. In terms of size and capabilities, it fits between the big F-150 and the small, car-like Ford Maverick. Originally developed in Australia, it was designed as a serious work truck for places where roads are narrow and often sketchy.Jim Baumbick, Ford’s vice president of product development for non-electric vehicles, described the Ranger as “the F-150 for the rest of the world.” Here in the US, added: “It has this really important sweet spot when we think about our customers.”On Wednesday, Ford unveiled a redesign...

Bruins sign top defense prospect Mason Lohrei

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:10:40 GMT

The Bruins inked their top defense prospect Mason Lohrei to a two-year entry level deal worth an NHL cap hit of $925,000.After his promising two-year career at Ohio State, the 22-year-old Lohrei had signed an amateur tryout contract with the Providence Bruins in the spring and played in five games, recording an assist and a minus-2 rating.As a Buckeye, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Lohrei had 4-25-29 totals in his freshman season and last season he had 4-28-32 in 40 games.While he’s got just a teaspoonful of pro experience, Lohrei could be fast-tracked for the NHL depending on whose salary the B’s decide to move out in what will be necessary cap clearance in the comings weeks.The B’s selected Lohrei with their second round pick (58th overall) in 2020.

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray donates $15K to 6-year-old whose family died in Allen shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:10:40 GMT

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, who played high school football in Allen, Texas, donated $15,000 to support a 6-year-old boy whose family was killed in Saturday’s mass shooting, according to an online fund-raiser.William Cho’s parents, Cindy and Kyu Cho, and his 3-year-old brother, James, were among the eight victims who died in the massacre at the Allen Premium Outlets shopping center.Murray hasn’t publicly commented on the donation but is listed among the top donors on a GoFundMe page that has raised more than $1.7 million to support William, who was released from intensive care.“We are deeply grateful and sincerely appreciate this outpouring love and prayers from all around the country,” the fund-raiser reads. “William is recovering well. Both Kyu and Cindy’s family will use these funds to help William continue the legacy of his parents.”The other victims killed in the shooting include security guard Christian LaCour, en...

Aaron Rodgers, Jets to host Dolphins at MetLife in NFL’s first Black Friday game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:10:40 GMT

The new-look Jets are already making history before taking a snap.Aaron Rodgers and Gang Green will be featured in the first-ever NFL game on Black Friday against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium. The game will be played on Nov. 24 with kickoff set for 3 p.m.The day-after-Thanksgiving game will be streamed free on Amazon Prime.“We’re excited to be the home of the first-ever NFL Black Friday game, and what better way to kick off this new tradition than with a rivalry matchup between the Dolphins and the Jets,” Marie Donoghue, Amazon vice president of global sports video, said in a statement Wednesday. “On one of the biggest shopping days of the year, we’re thrilled to offer another way to delight Amazon customers, and give all fans free access to this AFC East showdown.”The Jets will learn their full 18-week slate on Thursday when the league announces the full 2023 schedules at 8 p.m. ET.It’s worth keeping an eye on how many times Gang G...

Police activity impacts traffic on I-805

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:10:40 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- All northbound and southbound lanes were shut down on Interstate 805 Wednesday morning due to police activity at Adams Avenue, according to a traffic alert from California Highway Patrol.Traffic in the area was briefly diverted by law enforcement with motorists experiencing major delays starting around 7:20 a.m.All lanes on the freeway have since reopened; however, Adams Avenue is closed from Boundary street to Mountainview Drive, according to another CHP traffic alert.Morning commuters in the area should delays and plan for added travel time.The circumstances surrounding this incident are limited at this time. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Ontario police charge driver that was storing over 400 cannabis plants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:10:40 GMT

This driver isn’t living the high life anymore after Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) charged them with drug trafficking when over 400 cannabis plants were discovered during a traffic stop.OPP said the province’s Ministry of Transportation pulled the driver over on Saturday, May 6, off the QEW and Walkers Line in Burlington.Burlington OPP attended the scene when 416 cannabis plants were uncovered inside the truck.Authorities said a 59-year-old driver was charged with drug trafficking.Traffic stop by #MTO @ONtransport officer on #QEW/Walkers line. #BurlingtonOPP officers attended to assist. 59-year-old driver from Markham charged with drug trafficking after seizing 416 cannabis plants. (May 6, 2023) pic.twitter.com/bnvAQ28xet— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) May 10, 2023

Army sergeant who fatally shot BLM protester in Texas sentenced to 25 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:10:40 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A U.S. Army sergeant was sentenced to 25 years in prison Wednesday for fatally shooting an armed man during a Black Lives Matter protest in Texas, even after the state’s Republican governor said he wanted to pardon the man.Daniel Perry, 36, was convicted of murder in April for killing 28-year-old Garrett Foster during the downtown Austin protest in July 2020. “After three long years we’re finally getting justice for Garrett,” his mother, Sheila Foster, told the court.“Mr. Perry, I pray to God that one day, he will get rid of all this hate that is in your heart,” she said.Perry attorney Clinton Broden said in a statement after sentencing that his client would appeal. He called Perry’s conviction the product of “political prosecution,” and said the defense team would “fully cooperate in the pardon process.”Perry’s conviction prompted outrage from prominent conservatives, and Gov. Greg Abbott has said he would sign a pardon once a recommendation from th...