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Biden to meet with Erdoğan and Zelenskyy at NATO summit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:27 GMT

President Joe Biden will hold two high-profile bilateral meetings during the NATO summit this week, finding time to sit down one-on-one with Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.The sessions, described to POLITICO by two people familiar with the planning, will come on the sidelines of the two-gathering of transatlantic allies this week.On Tuesday, Biden will sit down with Erdoğan to convince the autocrat that he should accept Sweden as NATO’s 32nd member. Erdoğan has blocked the move for more than a year, claiming that Stockholm was too cozy with Kurds that Ankara considers to be terrorists. The last few weeks have featured a flurry of diplomatic activity to break the deadlock, and Biden will likely aim to secure a pathway forward in his face-to-face chat.The meeting with Zelenskyy, which is planned for Wednesday but not finalized, would be equally as testy. Kyiv hopes NATO would provide Ukraine with a speedy path into the alliance, even though Biden and o...

2 people injured, 2 people in custody after shooting outside Brockton District Court

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:27 GMT

Two people were injured and two people were taken into custody Monday after a shooting outside Brockton District Court, police said. Brockton police in a statement said officers responded to the shooting around 12:30 p.m.Police said a “stay-in-place” order went into effect for the area around the shooting site, including City Hall, the Brockton Public Schools central building, the Brockton Board of Health building and the city War Memorial. The stay-in-place had been lifted as of around 2:30 p.m., according to police. Police said a male and a female were injured. The female had non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. Police said the male’s condition was currently being assessed as of around 2:30 p.m.Police did not identify the people who were taken into custody but said a gun was also recovered. Police said “there is no ongoing threat to public safety,” adding that the incident “appears to be an isolated event.” Brockton police said their investi...

Body of missing 7-year-old girl from Lowell found following search along Merrimack River

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:27 GMT

The body of a 7-year-old girl who had been missing since Sunday afternoon has been located, according to officials.At a news conference on Monday afternoon, authorities announced that crews had found the body of Anna Mburu while searching the Merrimack River earlier in the day.The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Lowell police had turned to the public for help at one point as they searched for the 7-year-old girl with autism, who was described as being nonverbal and was last seen near East Merrimack Street in the Belvidere section of the city around 2-3 p.m.Throughout Sunday, officers on ATVs, bikes, boats, a helicopter could be seen searching the Merrimack River and surrounding area late into the night, using a drone to assist. Dive teams were also called in and were working in the river throughout Monday morning.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Republican’s hold on nominations leaves Marines without confirmed leader for 1st time in 100 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:27 GMT

By LOLITA C. BALDOR (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Marine Corps is without a confirmed leader for the first time in a century as Gen. David Berger stepped down as commandant on Monday and a Republican senator is blocking approval of his successor.Berger took over as the 38th commandant in July 2019, and is required to leave the job after four years. Gen. Eric Smith, currently the assistant commandant, has been nominated to be the next leader, but will serve in an acting capacity because he hasn’t been confirmed by the Senate.Under the law, Smith can serve as the acting commandant, but he can do nothing that would presume confirmation. As a result, he can’t move into the main residence or the commandant’s office, or issue any new formal commandant’s planning guidance, which is traditional for a new leader. He has the authority to implement new policies such as budget, training and other personnel decisions.Smith’s promotion delay is t...

Search ends in tragedy: Missing Lowell girl’s body found in river

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:27 GMT

LOWELL — Officials announced Monday afternoon that the remains of the missing 7-year-old Lowell girl, Anna, were discovered in the Merrimack River after nearly a full day of searching.Police began cleaning up the search command center they had set up on Geana Lane near Anna’s family’s home after sources said her remains were discovered downstream from where she went missing. She had last been seen between 2 and 3 p.m. Sunday while riding her bike on East Merrimack Street.Throughout Sunday and Monday, police from many local cities and towns could be seen assisting in the search throughout Lowell and in the Merrimack River. After suspending the search for the night on Sunday, the search resumed Monday, when she was found.—This is a developing story.

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole to start All-Star Game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:27 GMT

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is set to start the MLB All-Star Game for the first time.The right-hander, 32, was named the American League starter after going 9-2 with a 2.85 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 117 innings in the first half.When he takes the mound Tuesday at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park, Cole will become the first Yankees pitcher to start an All-Star Game since Roger Clemens in 2001. Arizona’s Zac Gallen was named the National League starter.Cole recently said starting the All-Star Game would be “a dream come true.”“It would be a huge honor to represent the organization and all the hard work that everybody behind the scenes here has put in,” Cole said Saturday after beating the Cubs.Cole has made the All-Star Game six times, including in each of the last three seasons with the Yankees. The team’s only other selection this year, Aaron Judge, will miss the game due to an injured big toe. ()

Mayo Clinic Q&A: Snacking for meals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:27 GMT

(TNS) Mayo Clinic News Network DEAR MAYO CLINIC: During warm weather months, I find myself eating less formal meals and, instead, reaching for more snacks. I also tend to exercise less when it’s hot outside. Do you have advice on how to ensure I’m snacking healthfully as I realize the potential to overeat and not be as active?ANSWER: Regardless of the time of year, maintaining healthy habits is important for good health. This includes exercise, eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight.When snacking is done correctly, it can give you a boost of energy between meals, help meet nutrient needs for the day and help keep hunger at bay to prevent overeating at the next meal. And managing your hunger can help you maintain a healthy weight and reach weight-loss goals.Consider these snacking tips to keep you feeling good as you adjust your eating schedule:Plan your snacks. What do you like to eat? Make a list of various nutrient-rich foods that would work as a snack...

Safer ways to raid your retirement, if you have to

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:27 GMT

The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.Raiding your retirement accounts can be expensive. Withdrawing money before age 59½ typically triggers income taxes, a 10% federal penalty and — worst of all — the loss of future tax-deferred compounded returns. A 30-year-old who withdraws $1,000 from an individual retirement account or 401(k) could lose more than $11,000 in future retirement money, assuming 7% average annual returns.In the past, there were a few ways you could avoid the penalty. Congress recently added several more, and some of those exceptions allow you to repay the money within three years. That would allow you to get a refund of the taxes you paid and — best of all — allow the money to start growing again, tax deferred, for your future.You’re still better off lea...

VEGAS NOTEBOOK: Victor Wembanyama starts to shine; Knicks’ Trevor Keels has a lot to prove

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:27 GMT

LAS VEGAS – The first overall pick put on an impressive show in his Summer League follow-up Sunday, dropping 27 points with 12 rebounds and three blocks in San Antonio’s 85-80 defeat to the Blazers.It was quite the turnaround for Wembanyama, who struggled mightily in his debut two days prior and acknowledged feeling lost and overwhelmed.“It’s just me getting comfortable with myself and my body on the court,” Wembanyama said. “Before today, I had like two practices and one game. I was just getting going.”It’s been quite a rollercoaster the last few weeks for Wembanyama. He arrived in New York for the draft as the most hyped prospect since LeBron James. He went to Vegas and was unintentionally thrust into a beef with Britney Spears. He was roughly criticized for his Game 1 dud.“In the past month, I think basketball wasn’t even 50 percent of my schedule,” Wembanyama said. “I can’t stand it. I know it’s ...

Madonna says she’s ‘on the road to recovery’ following ICU stay, postpones North American tour dates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:27 GMT

By MARIA SHERMAN (AP Music Writer)LOS ANGELES (AP) — Madonna says she is focused on her health and getting back on stage after a “serious bacterial infection” that led to her hospitalization in an an intensive care unit for several days last month.“I’m on the road to recovery and incredibly grateful for all the blessings in my life,” the pop superstar wrote on Instagram. “My first thought when I woke up in the hospital was my children. My second thought was that I did not want to disappoint anyone who bought tickets for my tour. I also didn’t want to let down the people who worked tirelessly with me over the last few months to create my show.”“My focus now is on my health and getting stronger and I assure you, I’ll be back with you as soon as I can,” she continued.The North American leg of her career-spanning Celebration Tour, originally scheduled to kick off July 15 in Vancouver and run through October 8 in Las...