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Turkish parliamentary committee delays decision on Sweden’s NATO membership bid

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:07:49 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The Turkish Parliament’s foreign affairs committee on Thursday opened debate on Sweden’s bid to join NATO, but adjourned the proceedings until a later date without reaching a decision.It was not immediately known when the committee would resume its discussions on Sweden’s accession protocol or when it would reach Parliament’s general assembly for the last stage of the legislative process.Turkey has stalled ratifying Sweden’s membership in NATO, accusing the country of being too lenient toward groups that Ankara regards as threats to its security, including Kurdish militants and members of a network that Ankara blames for a failed coup in 2016.Turkey has also been angered by a series of demonstrations by supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, in Sweden as well as Quran-burning protests that roiled Muslim countries.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lifted his objection to Sweden’s bid during a NATO summit in July and sent th...

Cole Palmer has been a surprise this season. Now he can work his way into England’s Euro 2024 plans

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:07:49 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Jude Bellingham has been a revelation for England’s national team, and now Cole Palmer has a chance to step forward and make his way into the picture for next year’s European Championship.The Chelsea midfielder had just scored a stoppage-time penalty to secure a 4-4 draw with former club Manchester City on Sunday when he learned of his late call up to the national team.“I got the message near enough straightaway after the match,” Palmer said this week.He was promoted from the under-21 squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia after injury withdrawals from James Maddison, Callum Wilson and Lewis Dunk.It has been a whirlwind start to the season for a player who was on the fringes at City in August and now finds himself in a position to make his senior England debut only a few months after joining Chelsea.There is little doubt Bellingham — who has also withdrawn from the squad because of injury — will be at the heart of Gare...

Chick-fil-A takes flight: Drone delivery debuts near Tampa

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:07:49 GMT

VALRICO, Fla. (WSVN) — Chick-fil-A is taking its legendary service to new heights as a restaurant near Tampa introduces drone delivery. In this innovative approach, the chain aims to fly customer orders directly to their destinations, signaling a pioneering move in fast-food technology. According to its Instagram, drone delivery is currently exclusive to Chick-fil-A’s East Brandon-Valrico resturant. For a limited time, customers can enjoy a $0 delivery fee during delivery hours, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The service is subject to availability and delivery distance is limited. To experience this service, customers can place their orders through the Chick-fil-A app and select “Chick-fil-A Delivery” to ensure their order will be delivered by Drone. The chain says it’s currently in the early stages of drone testing at several other locations.

Crews work to clear standing water on runway at FLL

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:07:49 GMT

As heavy rainfall affected parts of Broward County Wednesday night, crews at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport worked to clear standing water that was on the runway.7Skyforce hovered over the scene Thursday morning as crews used trucks in an attempt to remove water that encroached Runway 10 on the north side of the airport. Several support teams were also at the scene as they tried to keep the runways clear so that operations could continue. Nearby, at the Edgeville neighborhood, streets were flooded.

South Florida schools dealing with flooding, power outages following weather fallout

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:07:49 GMT

SOUTH FLORIDA — Wednesday’s severe weather wreaked havoc on roads and properties across South Florida, impacting schools with flooding and power outages.A video captured the challenging commute to American Senior High School in Hialeah, where flooding and power loss were reported. In Broward County, Nova Southeastern University faced significant flooding, leaving athletic fields submerged after relentless rain.Broward County Public Schools canceled classes on Thursday due to weather conditions and flooding concerns. American Senior High School remained without power as of 10 a.m., prompting many students to return home.Officials assure that students missing Thursday’s classes won’t be marked absent, and those remaining on campus are inside due to ongoing challenges.

Controversial water park proposal faces uncertain fate at Zoo Miami

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:07:49 GMT

A proposed water park at Zoo Miami may be in jeopardy as Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava urges commissioners to reconsider a leasing deal, according to reports from the Miami Herald.The leasing deal, initially endorsed in 2020 and again in 2022, has faced opposition, with critics, including Zoo Communications Director Ron Magill, expressing concerns about potential environmental harm.The fate of the Miami Wilds lease will be decided at the upcoming commissioners’ meeting on Dec. 12.

Garbage truck hits hole in road causing damage, traffic delays in Hialeah

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:07:49 GMT

A garbage truck encountered trouble in Hialeah, Thursday morning. The trash truck created traffic issues along the 7500 block of West Second Court after it struck a large hole in the road. At least three holes were observed in the area as sewer construction was underway due to age and development. No injuries have been reported.

‘He’s a big part of the problem’: Is the end near for Justin Trudeau?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:07:49 GMT

OTTAWA, Ont. — Bad polls, grumpy voters and a patchy record on climate commitments have overtaken Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s eighth year in power. Canada’s political class is awash in speculation about whether he’ll survive a ninth.Liberal lawmakers and anxious operatives are whispering that it’s time for Trudeau to think about throwing in the towel. The prime minister’s opponents delight in amplifying the angst.Trudeau, the Liberal leader since 2013, has for months trailed his arch-rival, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, by double digits. This fall, Canada’s Supreme Court hobbled one of the prime minister’s key environmental laws.And now he’s taking heat for walking back his signature carbon tax — a surprise move many say was designed to buttress his support in Atlantic Canada, a reliable Liberal bastion where the party is leaking support to the Conservatives.Trudeau, 51, is relatively young, especially compared to recent White House residents Joe Biden and Donal...

Scottish minister blames £11k iPad bill on his kids watching football

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:07:49 GMT

LONDON — A senior Scottish government minister has blamed a £11,000 data roaming charge — incurred on a parliamentary iPad — on his sons watching football.The Scottish National Party’s under-fire Health Secretary Michael Matheson made the admission in the Scottish Parliament Thursday, as he came under pressure for the huge bill he ran up while on holiday in Morocco last year.The expense from his parliamentary iPad was initially met by the Scottish Parliament, which was told by Matheson that the device was only used for work. He has since paid the money back after the Scottish media reported on the charges last week. As the pressure for an explanation grew, Matheson told Scottish lawmakers Thursday that he was not ware that other family members had used the device until last Thursday. He explained that his failure to come clean about this in a statement last Friday or in response to questions from journalists earlier this week was down to a desire to protect his family “f...

‘Son of a bitch’: Madrid chief insults Sánchez during heated debate

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:07:49 GMT

Madrid’s populist regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, profanely insulted Pedro Sánchez as the Spanish prime minister addressed parliament during a debate on his investiture Wednesday.As Sánchez evoked corruption allegations against Ayuso’s brother, she was filmed mouthing the Spanish words for “son of a bitch” from the chamber’s gallery.Ayuso’s team acknowledged the insult, according to Spanish outlet El Pais, while the Madrid region president herself doubled down Thursday and refused to apologize.“[Sánchez] used the speakers’ platform and took advantage of his intervention to defame a regional president, me, and my family,” Ayuso said.A rising star in the conservative People’s Party (PP), Ayuso made a name for herself during the COVID-19 pandemic when she aggressively opposed the health measures taken by Sánchez’s socialist government.Last year she publicly broke ties with her party’s then-leader, Pablo Casado, af...