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Key dates in Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 20-year rule of Turkey

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:05:50 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seeking a third consecutive term in office in elections in May, marks 20 years in power on Tuesday.The 69-year-old, who served as prime minister from 2003-2014 and as president thereafter, started as a reformist who expanded rights and freedoms, allowing his majority-Muslim country to start European Union membership negotiations.He later reversed course, cracking down on dissent, stifling the media and passing measures that eroded democracy.The presidential and parliamentary elections set for May 14 could be Erdogan’s most challenging yet. They will be held amid economic turmoil and high inflation, just three months after a devastating earthquake that killed tens of thousands.Here’s a look at some of the key dates during Erdogan’s rule:March 27, 1994: Erdogan is elected mayor of Istanbul, running on the pro-Islamic Welfare Party ticket.Dec. 12, 1997: Erdogan is convicted of “inciting hatred” for reading a poem that...

Daily horoscope for March 14, 2023

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:05:50 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Sagittarius.Happy Birthday for Tuesday, March 14, 2023:You have a fine mind, and you like to be intellectually stimulated. You are a sensitive, caring humanitarian. This year, service to others is your theme, which is why it’s important to take care of yourself. You might enroll in classes or consider a personal makeover. Personalize your home.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★Whoa, Nellie! Today is even tougher than yesterday. People might be pushy, and they might do it in an underhanded way. Unfortunately, you can’t take things at face value. Deceit and confusion are everywhere. Even you feel discouraged. It’s important to know when to do nothing. Tonight: Don’t fight.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★There’s no point in trying to encourage a friend or a member of a group to go along with your plans, especially if they involve finances, third-party funding or getting suppo...

Parliament and Council negotiators agree on new rules to boost energy savings 

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:05:50 GMT

MEPs and the Swedish Presidency of the Council agreed on new energy saving targets in both primary and final energy consumption in the EU, ITRE.Member states should collectively ensure a reduction of energy consumption of at least 11.7% at EU level by 2030 (compared to the projections of the 2020 Reference Scenario). A robust monitoring and enforcement mechanism will accompany this objective to make sure member states deliver on their national contributions to this binding EU target.MEPs and the Council Presidency also agreed on annual energy savings by member states of 1.5% (on average) until 2030. The annual energy savings will begin with 1.3% in the period until the end of 2025, and will progressively reach 1.9% in the last period up to the end of 2030.The targets should be achieved through measures at local, regional and national levels, in different sectors - e.g. public administration, buildings, businesses, data centres, etc. MEPs insisted that the scheme should in particular...

Miss Manners: I know what my so-called friend did behind my back

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:05:50 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I had a “friend”/co-worker stab me in the back and betray my trust. She has no clue that I know, and she keeps asking/pushing me to go to lunch with her.How do I politely decline so as not to cause friction? I don’t trust her and prefer not to associate with her, but unfortunately I see her regularly.GENTLE READER: Probably any other adviser would tell you to have it out with this person, explaining that you were hurt by her betrayal.Not Miss Manners.At best you would get an apology, which would not necessarily ensure its not happening again. But you might instead get a denial, a justification or a counter-accusation. If she really regretted what she did, she would have found a way to make that clear.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: They billed us for eating dinner in their home Advice | Miss Manners: My mom gives me clothes for her fantasy of my life Advice | Miss Manners: My partner is troubled b...

Steph Curry, Klay Thompson polish old chips on their shoulder against Suns

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:05:50 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Klay Thompson and Steph Curry won’t say they get particularly fired up to play the Phoenix Suns. But cameras and stats say otherwise.It was just four months ago in Phoenix that some feisty words with Devin Booker got Thompson ejected for the first time in his career — something about Thompson having “four rings” to Booker’s zero when when Booker decided to rub a Suns runaway victory in a struggling Thompson’s face.So it didn’t feel coincidental that Thompson erupted for 33 points with eight three-pointers, a handful over Booker’s hands, in the first half of the Warriors’ electrifying win over the Suns.Doesn’t Thompson get any extra juice from sticking a W on a Phoenix Suns team that beat them three times this year?“No,” Thompson said. “I think when you have a hot shooting stretch like that, it tends to let out your emotions and it feels good.”Does Curry feel a little oomph? Came...

Dear Abby: I was appalled to learn how hateful my longtime friend is

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:05:50 GMT

DEAR ABBY: A dear friend, “Lorraine,” contacted me because her daughter “Gabby” came out to her as bisexual and Lorraine knew I had experience with “this type of thing.” My daughter is bisexual.Lorraine was repulsed by her daughter’s revelation and upset that Gabby expected her to be supportive and wear pride stickers, etc. My friend didn’t understand why she needed to be proud, and she told Gabby that even if she were a murderer she would still love her, and that was all that was important.I’m mortified and unsure how to handle this.We fly my daughter’s flag outside her window. We wear pride gear and celebrate Pride Month with her. I tried explaining to Lorraine that we are supporting our daughter’s courage to come out and be comfortable and proud of who she is. When I said it, Lorraine snorted!Although we have been friends for many years, I never realized she felt this way.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Ab...

Rain, snow arrive in Mass. as daylong nor’easter moves through region

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:05:50 GMT

Rain and snow have arrived in Massachusetts as a daylong nor’easter moves through the region Tuesday morning. The storm began overnight as snow gradually began to replace rain in many areas, pushing from west to east to communities around Worcester by 6 a.m. Tuesday. While snowing in the west, continuing rain will make for a wet morning commute east of I-495 into Boston on Tuesday. Snow will push across the rest of the state through the morning, moving through the Merrimack Valley before midday and getting into Boston by the early afternoon. Almost all of Massachusetts is expected to be seeing some form of snow before 6 p.m. Tuesday.RELATED: Storm Closings and DelaysWhile likely not seeing intense snowfall rates of 1 or 2 inches per hour, snow will likely be falling steadily in many locations for several hours before winding down after midnight on Wednesday morning. The highest snowfall totals from this round of winter weather are expected in western Massachuse...

Ukraine orders evacuations from liberated city, as Russians creep closer again

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:05:50 GMT

(CNN) — The artillery fire gets worse at night, so Liuba and her husband hold hands. It keeps them safe, she says with a sad nod of her head. She’s standing in what’s left of her garden after it was hit during a particularly bad night a month ago.The shelling destroyed their neighbor’s home, throwing Liuba and her husband to the floor of their kitchen. Serhei, she says, landed with the fridge on top of him, thankfully more shaken than physically injured. Still, they will not go.“This is our home,” Liuba told CNN. “Not the Russians’. Besides it’s getting warmer and with the rainwater we collect from buckets, we will survive.”Liuba and Serhei, who gave only their first names for security reasons, are among the last remaining 2,500 residents of Kupiansk, a city in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region from which the front line has never strayed too far and to which the Ukrainian authorities fear it may be retur...

Guregian: Taking a closer look at the Patriots re-signing Jonathan Jones

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:05:50 GMT

With the legal tampering period opening Monday, the Patriots didn’t have the most exciting first day, but they did make a few good moves.Being able to unload disappointing tight end Jonnu Smith and his bloated contract was huge. It’ll be even better if the Patriots turn that cap space into landing a more impactful player in the days and weeks to come, be it in free agency, the draft or via trade.Re-signing defensive back Jonathan Jones was another plus on several fronts. Granted, there was no major splash, but there’s still time for the Patriots to upgrade the roster with much-needed talent.Being in wait-and-see mode isn’t much fun, but it’s way too early to make any sweeping conclusions about what the Patriots did, or didn’t do after just one day.So let’s take a closer look at one of the early moves that should help the cause going forward.Re-signing Jones on a two-year deal worth a maximum of $20 million, with $13 million guaranteed spoke volumes.For the Patriots to lock up Jones ...

Analysis: Is the play-in tournament still realistic for the Magic?

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:05:50 GMT

When it comes to trying to qualify for the NBA’s play-in tournament, the Orlando Magic have been caught in a holding pattern.The Magic (28-40) enter Tuesday’s matchup at San Antonio (17-50) at 13th in the Eastern Conference standings — a spot they’ve been stuck at since the beginning of 2023. Having missed out on opportunities to close the gap is part of the reason they’re multiple games back in the play-in race.Seeds 7-10 in each conference compete in the play-in tournament for the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds in the playoffs.Entering Jan. 1, the Magic were 13-24 and:4½ games behind Atlanta for the No. 9 spot3½ games behind Chicago for No. 103½ games behind Toronto for No. 113 games behind Washington for No. 12.At the All-Star break, they were 24-35 and:4½ games behind Washington for No. 94 games behind Toronto for No. 102 games behind Chicago for No. 111½ games behind Indiana for No. 12.Tuesday they were:4 games behind Toronto for No. 9...