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‘My driveway’s gone’: Florida woman says concrete slab outside her home was stolen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:05 GMT

A Central Florida woman came home to a bizarre disappearing act. She said her driveway went missing in the middle of the day.Orange County resident Amanda Brochu said her driveway was stolen earlier in December.“My driveway’s gone,” she said.The homeowner isn’t exaggerating. She said someone took her driveway as she was trying to get ready for ChristmasWhat used to be a concrete slab outside of her Orlando-area home is now a patch of dirt.Brochu said it all started when she put her home up for sale.Soon after, she said, strange contractors started coming by, measuring her driveway. Her son counted five of themBrochu said one of these contractors told her that a Tampa-area man identified as Andre asked them to price out a replacement.Text messages supplied by the contractor showed Andre asking the contractors for an estimate and giving Brochu’s Bethesda Street address.But Andre was out of town when this contractor asked for an in-person meeting, and then...

Sweater weather no obstacle for New Year’s crowds flocking to Ocean Drive; chilly temps expected to linger

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:05 GMT

Sweater weather has arrived in South Florida, and as visitors and residents prepare to ring in 2024 with colder-than-usual temperatures, some revelers got an early start to the festivities by flocking to South Beach. Meterorologists said temperatures will be tumbling into the 50s during the overnight hours on Sunday morning and even into the high 40s in some spots inland.Saturday was an overcast day, but the clouds began to thin out late in the afternoon, paving the way for drier weather and a cool night.Just after 6 p.m., passers-by strolled down Ocean Drive in robust numbers. Most of them were bundled up in coats, scarves, jackets, hoodies, pullovers, sweatshirts, turtlenecks and, in the case of 7News reporter Elitsa Bizios, knee-high boots.“It’s cloudy. I expected to be more sun, but it’s a beautiful day still,” said a woman.. A girl with a plush purple cap said this is much warmer than back home.“It’s freezing cold where we live,” she sa...

2023: In pictures

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:05 GMT

OPTICS2023: In picturesPOLITICO takes a look back at 12 months of international politics, world events, climate crises and an ongoing war.By ELLEN BOONEN and TIM BALLPablo Pakhomenko/EFE via EPA As the curtains draw on a tumultuous year, 2023 leaves behind a tapestry of unraveled events, painting a world shrouded in uncertainty and grappling with an ominous glimpse of the future. In a kaleidoscope of occurrences that defy easy categorization, selecting defining images for an annual overview becomes a difficult task.To encapsulate the essence of the year, our overview is organized into six distinct categories, each representing a facet of the stories POLITICO has tackled these last 12 months: war, climate, Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, and global.WARUkrainian volunteers run through urban warfare training with members of the British Armed Forces at a military camp in Southeast England.Leon Neal/Getty Images Palestinian children look skyward at the sound of air stri...

2024: What the stars have in store for world leaders  

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:05 GMT

Nerdy political scientists, pompous think tankers and pretentious academics: Out! Astrologers: In! The world has become so uncertain and destabilized at this point that you might as well ask the stars for predictions about what could happen in 2024. So we did just that — consulting with the celestial bodies — to find out what’s in store next year for key world leaders, dictators and some of Europe’s most well-known names.Astrology aficionados rejoice! These predictions aren’t just pulled out of the air; they’re based on the real movements of the planets and upcoming eclipses and how they might impact the star signs of the world’s major movers and shakers.Capricorn: Kim Jong UnA steady Pluto at the beginning of the year will help you gain some insight on your life to make some much-needed changes, in particular in your social circle. You have fostered some dangerous alliances recently, which have negatively influenced your reputation and led you down a perilous p...

Forget Paris, what if the EU hosted the Olympics?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:05 GMT

Imagine if Brussels was hosting the 2024 Olympics. Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? But believe it or not, while the EU’s capital might not have the necessary infrastructure to hold the world’s largest sporting showpiece, there are some events that it would be ideally placed to host.We took a look at nine of the best.Kicking the can down the roadThis is the blue ribbon event of any Brussels Olympics, where decision-makers compete to see how long they can put off making a key decision.Much like Usain Bolt in the men’s 100 meters, U.K. and EU negotiators put the world record out of reach for generations during the protracted Brexit talks of 2016-2020. Some say the contest is still ongoing.SlalomThe death-defying sidewalk stroll from Schuman roundabout to Arts-Loi is Brussels’ answer to the 3,000-meter steeplechase. But with added danger.Successful completion requires the physical ability to dodge flying bikes and speeding e-scooters, and the mental agility needed to rack up st...

Man taken into custody after allegedly shooting at crews responding to fire in Mattapan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:05 GMT

A man has been taken into custody after police say he opened fire on crews who were responding to a fire at a building in Mattapan on Saturday and then had to be removed from the building.Firefighters responding to a reported structure fire around 11:30 a.m. said they heard gunshots fired as they arrived at the scene, prompting officials to call in a Boston police SWAT unit as crews worked to evacuate the builfing.“It was very scary in the moment because I wasn’t really thinking, I just wanted to get out of the house with my kids, that’s all. And now I’m scared to go back in because I want to make sure no one is in my closet,” one woman said.Police say the man was taken into custody after about two hours and was transported to a hospital with a leg injury.Mayor Michelle Wu praised first responders who cleared the building and ended the situation without firing a shot.“Our first responders are ready at a moments notice for whatever might come there...

Netanyahu says Gaza war on Hamas will go on for ‘many more months,’ thanks US for new weapons sales

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:05 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza will continue for “many more months,” pushing back against persistent international cease-fire calls after mounting civilian deaths, hunger and mass displacement in the besieged enclave.Netanyahu thanked the Biden administration for its continued backing, including approval for a new emergency weapons sale, the second this month, and prevention of a U.N. Security Council resolution seeking an immediate cease-fire. Israel argues that ending the war now would mean victory for Hamas, a stance shared by the Biden administration, which at the same time urged Israel to do more to avoid harm to Palestinian civilians.In new fighting, Israeli warplanes struck the urban refugee camps of Nuseirat and Bureij in the center of the territory Saturday as ground forces pushed deeper into the southern city of Khan Younis.The Health Ministry in Gaza said Saturd...

Luke Kornet’s breakout game highlights why he’s Celtics’ ‘ultimate teammate’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:05 GMT

There have been games throughout Luke Kornet’s NBA career in which the center suited up but knew he probably wasn’t going to play that night. That has included during his time with the Celtics. Over the last three years, his on-court contributions have typically been minimal.Kornet has fully embraced his role, self-aware and humble enough to know his place on a championship contender. He’s the unofficial team jokester, always keeping things light in the locker room. He’s the most animated supporter on the bench who catches frequent attention with his funny celebrations. But he’s also always staying ready for when his number is called. That came on Friday night, when he was asked to make a rare spot start on a night the Celtics were shorthanded in the frontcourt. Kornet likely won’t be a difference-maker when the C’s make their championship push this spring, but there’s real value in what he brings to the table and the culture that Joe Mazzulla has created.“Luke is the ultimate teamm...

Mexico and Venezuela restart repatriation flights amid pressure to curb soaring migration to U.S.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:05 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico and Venezuela announced Saturday that they have restarted repatriation flights of Venezuelans migrants in Mexico, the latest move by countries in the region to take on a flood of people traveling north to the United States.The move comes as authorities say at least 10,000 migrants a day have been arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, many of them asylum seekers. It also comes as a migrant caravan of thousands of people from across the region — largely Venezuelans — has trekked through southern Mexico this week. The repatriation flights are part of an agreement made between regional leaders during a summit in Mexico in October that aimed to seek solutions for migration levels that show few signs of slowing down.Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Relations said the two countries began repatriations with a flight on Friday and a second on Saturday in an effort to “strengthen their cooperation on migration issues.” The statement also said the two countries plan t...

Maine state official who removed Trump from ballot was targeted in swatting call at her home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:05 GMT

A fake emergency call to police resulted in officers responding Friday night to the home of Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows just a day after she removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot under the Constitution’s insurrection clause. She becomes the latest elected politician to become a target of swatting, which involves making a prank phone call to emergency services with the intent that a large first responder presence, including SWAT teams, will show up at a residence.Bellows was not home when the swatting call was made, and responding officers found nothing suspicious.While no motive for the swatting attempt was released by the Maine Department of Public Safety, Bellows said she had no doubts it stemmed from her decision to remove Trump from the ballot.The swatting attempt came after her home address was posted on social media by a conservative activist. “And it was posted in anger and with violent intent by those who have been ext...