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Europe's sweltering summer could send tourists to cooler climes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:26 GMT

Soaring summer temperatures across southern Europe could prompt a lasting shift in tourist habits, with more travellers choosing cooler destinations or taking their holidays in spring or autumn to dodge the extreme heat, tourism bodies and experts predict.European Travel Commission (ETC) data shows the number of people hoping to travel to the Mediterranean region in June to November has already fallen 10% compared to last year, when scorching weather led to droughts and wildfires.Destinations like the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland and Bulgaria have meanwhile seen a spike in interest."We anticipate that unpredictable weather conditions in the future will have a greater impact on travellers' choices in Europe," said Miguel Sanz, the head of the ETC.A report by the trade body also shows 7.6% of travellers now see extreme weather events as a major concern for trips between June and November.Among them are Anita Elshoy and her husband, who returned home to Norway from their favourite ...

7-year-old L.A. boy develops massive following as fashion designer 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:26 GMT

At just 7-years-old, Max Alexander is already on his way to becoming a popular fashion designer, his creations taking social media by storm and catching the eyes of some celebrities.  The second grader appears to be fixated on women’s fashion, telling his mom at dinner one night, three years ago, that he needed a mannequin because he was a dressmaker.  His mother, Sherri Madison, got young Max a mannequin, sewing lessons and fabric, and said that he then just started to create from there.  “I think of a picture...in my mind. I just kind of put it on the mannequin. That’s called draping...and then I take it off and I pin it and then I sew it,” the 7-year-old explained.  A colorful first dress designed by Max was the genesis of what his agent now calls “Couture to the Max.” The second grader is already very popular on TikTok and his mom says that he has a waiting list on Instagram, people commissioning ladies' apparel at $1,400 a piece.  “Right now, he’s ...

New video ‘justifies’ L.A. deputy slamming woman on ground in Lancaster arrest, attorney says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:26 GMT

New video shows the moments leading up to a deputy seen slamming a woman to the ground during an arrest at a Lancaster grocery store.The confrontation happened on June 24 when deputies responded to reports of an in-progress robbery at a WinCo Foods store located at 740 W. Ave. K 4.Body cam footage shows deputies confronting the woman in the grocery store’s parking lot in an incident that some believe was an unjustified use of force.After viewing video of the arrest, L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna called the incident “disturbing.”An attorney representing the deputy said new security footage of the moments leading up to the incident not only provides more context for the arrest, but justifies the actions taken by the deputy.“Upon arrival, deputies approached a man and a woman matching the description given by store security personnel in calls placed to 911,” said LASD. “As deputies attempted to detain the individuals described by store security personnel, the encounter escalated into...

Spain’s election Sunday pits 2 leftist vs. 2 rightist parties. Here’s a look at the leaders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:26 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Spain’s elections Sunday will be a battle between two leftist and two rightist parties that are teaming up to form potential coalitions. Here is a glance at the four leaders of those parties.___PEDRO SÁNCHEZPedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister since 2018, is facing reelection with recent ballots and most of polls against him.The Socialist party leader has steered Spain through the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to a successful vaccination program and dealt with an inflation-driven economic downturn made worse by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.But his dependency on fringe parties, including separatist forces from Catalonia and the Basque Country, to keep his minority coalition going and his passing of a slew of liberal-minded laws, may cost him his job.Sánchez, known for his dashing looks and his progressive credentials that include having more women than men in his Cabinet and a strong environmental policy record, has boosted Spain’s status in Brussels. The 51-year-old ...

Live updates |Matthew Jordan gets 151st Open started at Royal Liverpool

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:26 GMT

HOYLAKE, England (AP) — Matthew Jordan has played Royal Liverpool hundreds of times. Thursday morning was unlike any other. He hit the opening tee shot in the 151st edition of the British Open.Jordan received a rousing ovation from the grandstand behind the first tee, and then hit driver just left of the pot bunker into the rough. He put his next shot into a bunker left of the green and holed an 8-foot par putt.It’s not unusual for the R&A to have the first shot struck by a player with local connections. Jordan is different. He is a member at Royal Liverpool and has been since he was a teenager. He made it through qualifying to get into his first British Open.Jordan gave the gallery more reason to cheer with a birdie on the second hole. Russell Henley would love to have his start back. Playing in the second group, he made double bogey.The R&A is expecting 260,000 fans for the week.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

La ciudad de Nueva York emitirá avisos de desalojo de 60 días a miles de migrantes en el sistema de albergues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:26 GMT

(CNN) — Los migrantes adultos solteros que viven en los refugios de emergencia de la ciudad de Nueva York tendrán dos meses para encontrar vivienda antes de que la ciudad los obligue a desalojar, según una nueva regla anunciada por el alcalde Eric Adams este miércoles.“Hemos alcanzado la capacidad máxima”, dijo Adams durante una conferencia de prensa en el Ayuntamiento. “Se verbalizó esa plena capacidad. Y ahora, neoyorquinos, se actualizará visualmente”.La ciudad comenzará a entregar avisos de desalojo de 60 días a hombres y mujeres que actualmente se encuentran en la red de refugios de emergencia de la ciudad mientras la ciudad lucha por hacer espacio para familias con niños.La regla entrará en vigencia en “los próximos días” y tendrá lugar “de forma continua”, según un funcionario de la ciudad con conocimiento del plan.Nueva York abre nuevas opciones de asilo a inmigrantes, ¿qué contempla esta medida?Como parte de la nueva regla, Adams dijo que la ci...

Neymar confiesa el “peor momento” de su vida que lo dejó llorando por 5 días

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:26 GMT

SAO PAULO – Neymar, delantero del París Saint-Germain, confesó que pensó en dejar la selección brasileña y que se pasó llorando “cinco días seguidos” tras caer en cuartos de final del Mundial de Qatar 2022 contra Croacia en la tanda de penaltis.“Después de la Copa del Mundo, con sinceridad, no quería volver, pero lo repensé (…) No quería, no por evitar el dolor de perder, sino por ver a mi familia sufriendo mucho, eso incide bastante”, afirmó en una entrevista con el ‘youtuber’ Casimiro Miguel divulgada este miércoles.El 10 de la Canarinha, que en ese dramático partido contra Croacia marcó un gran gol en la prórroga que minutos más tarde sería neutralizado por Bruno Petkovic, dijo que lloró “durante cinco días seguidos” después de la eliminación. Neymar enfrenta nuevo escándalo: recibe multa millonaria por construcción ilegal Neymar anuncia que tendrá una hija: “¡Eres nuestro mayor r...

Restaurant review: Les 4 jeudis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:26 GMT

Rue du Marteau 36/A, 1210 Saint-Josse-ten-NoodeWhat’s good? The only dish on offer changes every day, and as it’s always packed with an assortment of sauces, protein and healthy fillers like bulgur, you won’t get bored by the dish. The portions are generous, and we loved the combination of flavors and the variety on the plate.What’s not? The eggplant sauce was a bit salty — and I say that despite being known as an absolute salt lover.Vibe: With its dark red walls and small room, the restaurant is a cozy little place to enjoy a good meal. When the weather is good you can also soak up some sun on the terrace and pretend to be in a Mediterranean city. The staff are extremely friendly.Who’s picking up the check? The meal of the day comes in at €16.50. As there’s only one dish with a set price, you won’t be able to save money by going for cheaper options. Desserts are between €6.50 and €7.50.Spotted: Perhaps it’s no surprise to see animal rights campai...

How Macron ousted a top American economist

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:26 GMT

The appointment of EU bureaucrats is usually a tame affair. Then Brussels tried to make an American one of its most powerful economists. In a matter of mere days, the selection of U.S. antitrust expert Fiona Scott Morton as the EU’s top competition economist has snowballed into a major geopolitical faux-pas that saw France launch a rearguard action against the EU and challenged the stature of one of Brussels’ highest-profile figures, Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager.   On Wednesday, France won. After a week of campaigning, including a blistering public rebuke from President Emmanuel Macron, Scott Morton preemptively resigned. The climbdown marks a victory for Paris — and a steely reminder of the formidable power France wields within the EU. It also represents a potentially damaging setback for Vestager. Her ill-fated move to install Scott Morton comes as she is trying to win political support to become head of the European Investment Bank, th...

Yellen visits Vietnam to build US ties and push supply chain diversity to offset tensions with China

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:26 GMT

HANOI (AP) — The U.S. considers building strong economic and security ties with Vietnam a priority, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday as she met with Vietnamese officials in a visit aimed at fortifying America’s relations across Asia. Yellen arrived in Vietnam after visits to Beijing and to India, where she attended financial meetings of the Group of 20 major industrial economies. “The United States considers Vietnam a key partner in advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Yellen told Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, according to remarks provided by the U.S. Treasury Department.A “free and open Indo-Pacific” refers to the latest iteration of broad U.S. diplomacy aimed at cultivating stronger ties with other countries in the region to in effect counter China’s growing sway among its neighbors. “Vietnam is also a close economic partner, with our two-way trade reaching record highs last year and the United States serving as Vietnam’s largest expo...