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Sweden’s bid to join NATO is back for debate by a Turkish parliamentary committee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:25 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs committee resumed deliberations Tuesday on Sweden’s bid to join NATO, days after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan linked the Nordic country’s admission to U.S. approval of Turkey’s request to purchase F-16 fighter jets.Turkey, a NATO member, lifted its objection to Sweden joining the trans-Atlantic alliance in July but the ratification process has since stalled in parliament. Turkey accuses Sweden of not taking its security concerns seriously enough, including its fight against Kurdish militants and other groups that Ankara considers to be security threats.This month, Erdogan threw up another obstacle by saying openly that Turkey would only ratify Sweden’s NATO membership bid if the U.S. Congress approved Ankara’s request to buy 40 new F-16 fighter jets and kits to modernize its existing fleet. The Turkish leader also called on the two legislatures to act “simultaneously” and said Canada and other NATO allies m...

Atomic watchdog report says Iran is increasing production of highly enriched uranium

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:25 GMT

VIENNA (AP) — Iran has increased the rate at which it is producing near weapons grade uranium in recent weeks, reversing a previous slowdown that started in the middle of this year, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report to member states.Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in the report that Iran “in recent weeks had increased its production of highly enriched uranium, reversing a previous output reduction from mid-2023,” according to an IAEA spokesperson Sunday. Iran had previously slowed down the rate at which it was enriching uranium to 60% purity. Uranium enriched at 60% purity is just a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.The U.N. nuclear watchdog said its inspectors had verified the increased rate of production since the end of November at facilities in Natanz and Fordow to about 9 kilograms per month, up from 3 kilograms per month since June and representing a return to earlier levels of production. Enriching uranium mean...

This Week: Fed manufacturing index, pending home sales, Chicago business barometer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:25 GMT

A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming this weekEYE ON MANUFACTURINGThe Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond issues its monthly manufacturing activity index Wednesday.The index represents a weighted average of the shipments, new orders and employment indexes covering the bank’s district, which encompasses several states, including Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. Economists expect December’s reading improved to -4 from -5 in November. The index can range between +100 and -100. Readings above zero indicate expansion in manufacturing activity.Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index, monthly.July -9.0Aug. -7.0Sept. 5.0Oct. 3.0Nov. -5.0Dec. (est.) -4.0Source: FactSetTRACKING HOME SALESThe National Association of Realtors releases its latest monthly pending home sales index Thursday.Pending home sales fell 1.5% in October as the average rate on a 30-year mortgage surged to its highest level since 2000. Economists predict the index rose 0.5% last month, as e...

Autoridades transportan diariamente a cientos de migrantes a ciudades fronterizas para aliviar la presión en Eagle Pass, Texas, dicen organizaciones

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:25 GMT

(CNN) — Cientos de migrantes del área de Eagle Pass son transportados diariamente a otras ciudades a lo largo de la frontera sur de Estados Unidos para ser procesados y aliviar la presión y luego son liberados en esas comunidades, según organizaciones sin fines de lucro que atienden a migrantes en esas áreas.La hermana Norma Pimentel, directora ejecutiva de Caridades Católicas del Valle del Río Grande, dice que su centro de respiro de McAllen ha estado recibiendo alrededor de 550 migrantes, que ingresaron por Eagle Pass a casi 300 millas de distancia (482 kilómetros) y han sido procesados por la Patrulla Fronteriza, todos los días en la última semana. Esa cifra fue de 350 la semana anterior, dijo.La Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza de EE. UU. aún sigue en alerta debido al aumento de migrantes en curso, dice un funcionarioLa única organización sin fines de lucro que atiende a inmigrantes en Del Río y que también ha estado recibiendo inmigrantes de Eagle Pass se encuen...

Colorado snow totals for Dec. 25-26

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:25 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Tuesday is a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day as blizzard conditions caused travel issues for those heading east along the plains.A blizzard warning is in effect until 5 a.m. on Wednesday. Wind gusts up to 60 mph with 2-7 inches of snowfall will cause blowing snow and reduced visibility along the Eastern Plains. Conditions are also dicey along the Palmer Divide. View the latest Weather Alerts in Denver and across Colorado on FOX31 The post-Christmas snowstorm has brought several inches to parts of Colorado.How much snow fell?The table below includes preliminary snow totals reported to the National Weather Service on Dec. 25-26.The table is sorted in alphabetical order by county. This data was taken as of 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, and will continuously be updated as the snow tapers off. CountyLocationAccumulationArapahoe1 SE Littleton0.8Arapahoe3 S Aurora6Arapahoe3 SSE Aurora7.5Arapahoe3 WSW Aurora4Arapahoe5 S Manila Village2.5Custer2 SSW Wetmore2Denver4 E Denver4Douglas5 NE ...

Jacksonville hairstylist spreads ‘locks of love’ to cancer survivors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:25 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WSVN) — A compassionate hairstylist, Tarina Akbari, is making a meaningful impact on the lives of cancer survivors by providing free wigs. Marlaina Browning, a breast cancer survivor, expresses the profound impact of this gesture with a smile on her face as she beamed with confidence and a sense of beauty. “I feel fabulous and that’s what I want,” she said. “It’s priceless because I can go out this door knowing that I’m beautiful inside and out.” Browning, who underwent a challenging breast cancer journey, including a double mastectomy and 18 surgeries, recently had to undergo another procedure just last month while raising her son in Nassau County. “He was in 10th grade when I was diagnosed,” shared Browning. “And when you tell kids that you have cancer, especially with my son. He was like ‘Mom, you’re not gonna die, are you?’ So you know, that was a very defining moment for me b...

The NFL’s oldest rivalry: Chicago Bears vs. Chicago Cardinals. A look at the rivalry that started in 1920.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:25 GMT

The oldest rivalry in the NFL doesn’t include a team from Green Bay.This matchup began in 1920 when two professional football teams called Illinois home. That’s when the Chicago Bears, then known as the Decatur Staleys, faced the Racine Cardinals — named after Racine Avenue where their home venue was Normal Park and not for the city in Wisconsin — for the first time.The Cardinals started in 1898 as the Morgan Athletic Club on Chicago’s South Side before becoming the Chicago Cardinals in 1922, then moved to Missouri to become the St. Louis Cardinals in 1960, and then to Arizona in 1988. Two winning seasons were capped by championships for the Cardinals in 1925 (though it is still controversial) and 1947. These remain the franchise’s only titles.The team’s color has a history too. The Cardinals first used borrowed maroon jerseys from the University of Chicago.The Bears hold the overall advantage in the series: 60-29-6 in regular-season games. ...

What has impressed Bill Belichick most about Patriots budding superstar

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:25 GMT

The Patriots haven’t provided many moments of optimism this season as injuries and ineptitude on offense have led the team to a 4-11 record through 16 weeks.But the play of third-year defensive tackle Christian Barmore has been a revelation.The 2021 second-round pick is fresh off of his best performance as a pro, when he sacked Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson three times in Sunday night’s 26-23 win, which saw him general two additional pressures, a forced fumble and five total defensive stops.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill Belichick gives extensive answer on Bailey Zappe’s improvements with Patriots New England Patriots | How Bill Belichick feels about Jets HC’s endorsement he hasn’t received from Patriots New England Patriots | Bill Belichick explains driving force behind Christian Barmore’s breakout season New England Patriots | Patriots K Chad Ryland finds redemption in ...

Israeli forces bombard central Gaza in apparent move to expand ground offensive. Telecoms out again

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:25 GMT

By NAJIB JOBAIN, WAFAA SHURAFA and SAMY MAGDY (Associated Press)RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces bombarded Palestinian refugee camps in central Gaza and issued orders telling residents to evacuate Tuesday, signs that the military plans to expand its ground offensive into another part of the besieged territory. Gaza’s main telecom provider, Paltel, announced another “complete interruption” of services.A potential new battle zone threatens new destruction in a war that Israel’s military has said will last for “many months” as it vows to crush the ruling Hamas group after its Oct. 7 attack. Israeli forces have been engaged in heavy urban fighting in northern Gaza and the southern city of Khan Younis, driving Palestinians into ever-smaller areas in search of refuge. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union.Despite international pressure for a cease-fire and U.S. calls for fewer civilian casualties, Israeli Pri...

Bill Belichick gives extensive answer on Bailey Zappe’s improvements with Patriots

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:25 GMT

There are sudden signs of positivity for the Patriots at quarterback.The Patriots still might not have their quarterback of the future on their current roster, but Bailey Zappe certainly didn’t look out of place under center in Sunday’s 26-23 win over the Broncos.Zappe’s 88.9 PFF grade was the highest mark for a Patriots quarterback since Mac Jones received an 89.9 grade two years ago in Week 17 of the 2021 season. Zappe was 25-of-33 for 256 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He was strip-sacked on the first Patriots offensive play of the game but that was his only turnover-worthy play. Additionally, he had three big-time throws and his adjusted completion percentage was 87.1%.Overall, head coach Bill Belichick was impressed with Zappe’s play and showered him with praise Tuesday morning on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show.”Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | What has impressed Bill Belichick most about Patriots budding s...