French government paints a rosy picture for tourism despite unrest over the police killing of a teen

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:20:11 GMT

French government paints a rosy picture for tourism despite unrest over the police killing of a teen PARIS (AP) — The Eiffel Tower, chateaus in the Loire Valley — and cars on fire. Tourists to France faced a new reality during an eruption of nationwide anger following the police killing of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk.While hotel owners cite a drop in bookings in some areas, the French government insisted on Thursday that the overall picture for the tourism industry remains rosy, and promised a “great season” for visitors despite the simmering discontent.Officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance held a meeting Thursday with representatives of the tourism industry to discuss the consequences that the nationwide unrest following Nahel’s death has had on France’s tourist activity and international image.The fatal shooting sparked anger across France and stirred up already existing tensions about racial and class-related discrimination in policing, which often targets neighborhoods with low-income families with origins from former French colonies. The violence ebbed this we...

Stewart and Collier plan to start a new women’s league to play in WNBA offseason

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:20:11 GMT

Stewart and Collier plan to start a new women’s league to play in WNBA offseason NEW YORK (AP) — WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier are starting a new women’s basketball league to give top players another option to play in the U.S. in the offseason once the league’s prioritization rules go into effect next year.The new league, which is called Unrivaled, will run from January through March and have 30 of the top women’s players playing on six teams. Instead of the traditional 5-on-5 game, the teams will play 3-on-3 and 1-on-1 at a custom-built soundstage in Miami.The league was first reported by ESPN.“We remain committed to the WNBA, however there’s a problem that exists, which is players having to choose whether to play overseas to maximize earnings in the winter or stay home with family. We’ve decided to create our own solution,” Collier tweeted.The hope is to raise enough funding to pay players roughly what they make during the WNBA season to help offset the money they’d be losing out on by not playing overseas in the offse...

¿Qué diferencias hay entre Threads y Twitter?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:20:11 GMT

¿Qué diferencias hay entre Threads y Twitter? (CNN Español) — Meta, la empresa matriz de Facebook e Instagram, lanzó Threads, una nueva red social que busca ofrecer un espacio para conversaciones primordialmente en texto en línea en tiempo real. Esa función ha sido el principal atractivo de Twitter.Threads  fue creada por el equipo detrás de Instagram y es muy similar a Twitter, tanto en diseño como en la descripción del producto.Como Twitter, la descripción de la app dice que sirve para conseguir seguidores y conectar con personas afines. Y al igual que la red que ahora es de propiedad de Elon Musk, Threads muestra un feed de textos en el que se pueden compartir o repostear y citar publicaciones de otros. Además, Threads es el nombre en inglés de la funcionalidad que Twitter habilitó en su plataforma en 2017, los hilos.Diferencias con TwitterLas publicaciones en Threads pueden tener una extensión de hasta 500 caracteres. En Twitter, el máximo son 280 caracteres. El asunto es que Threads no muestra el contador de caracter...

NATO member Romania aims to open F-16 pilot training facility for allies, partners, and Ukraine

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:20:11 GMT

NATO member Romania aims to open F-16 pilot training facility for allies, partners, and Ukraine BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania’s top defense body said in a meeting Thursday that the country aims to open a regional training hub for F-16 fighter jet pilots from fellow NATO countries and other partners, including Ukraine.The office of President Klaus Iohannis, who chaired the Supreme Council of National Defense meeting in Bucharest, said in a statement that “Together with other allies and the company that designs this fighter plane, a regional hub will be created in Romania for the training of pilots.”“Romanian pilots who operate F-16 aircraft will be trained here, and the facility will later be opened to the participation of pilots from allied and NATO partner states, including Ukraine,” the statement read. Romania, which shares a long border with Ukraine and has been a NATO member since 2004 and a European Union member since 2007, bolstered defense spending in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The training facility will aim to position Romania as “a regional leader in...

New York City’s Rikers Island, facing possible federal takeover, found violating safety standards

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:20:11 GMT

New York City’s Rikers Island, facing possible federal takeover, found violating safety standards NEW YORK (AP) — Facing the looming prospect of a federal takeover, New York City’s troubled Rikers Island jail complex is failing to meet a court-ordered requirement to properly clean and maintain its facilities, according to a new report issued by a federal monitor. In a progress report released Thursday, the monitor described a decrepit jail complex where detainees are forced to live in damp, fetid quarters infested with mold, vermin and other “generally unsanitary” conditions. Despite some progress toward collaboration, the monitor — a court-created body known as the Office of Compliance Consultants — found thousands of open violations inside the jail, ranging from “chronic pooling” of water, clogged vents limiting air flow and the persistent smell of sewage. One detainee complained his cell was full of mice “because there’s no dust pan on unit to properly pick up the trash,”The report also faulted jail leaders for failing to maintain key infrastructure, including a sprinkl...

Denver weather: Severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m.

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:20:11 GMT

Denver weather: Severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m. DENVER (KDVR) — Thursday is a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day as thunderstorms will move across the Front Range in the Denver weather forecast. Some storms could be strong to severe, bringing risks of hail and wind, lightning and heavy rain.A severe thunderstorm watch was issued across northeast Colorado, including the Denver metro area, until 10 p.m. The watch includes for Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Jefferson, Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Washington and Weld counties.Possible thunderstorm threats from Pinpoint WeatherWeather tonight: Showers could continue lateThe chance for showers and thunderstorms could linger until midnight along the Front Range and in metro Denver. The threat of severe storms will quickly diminish around sunset.Storms could stay strong on the far eastern and southeastern plains of Colorado and last into the early morning hours on Friday.Weather tomorrow: More storms possibleFriday will bring another round of late-day sho...

Police: Man kills teen, wounds another after they tried to break into his car

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:20:11 GMT

Police: Man kills teen, wounds another after they tried to break into his car DENVER (KDVR) — Police say a man shot and killed a teen and wounded another after the boys tried to break into his car.It happened on Wednesday night, according to the Aurora Police Department.Orest Schur, 27, was arrested on counts of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in the shooting.According to police, residents in the 19400 block of East 59th Place heard a car alarm going off and saw two people dressed in all black trying to break into a Hyundai Elantra.The owner of the car, Schur, confronted the two, who then sped away in another suspected stolen vehicle.Schur got into the Elantra and followed the other vehicle until it crashed a short distance away, police said. During the incident, Schur fired several shots at the two, striking both.One of the teens was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died of his wounds. Police say he has not been positively identified yet, but they believe he's a teenage boy. Officer shoots at drivers targeting homeless encampment...

US senators seek expanded compensation for those exposed to nuclear fallout

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:20:11 GMT

US senators seek expanded compensation for those exposed to nuclear fallout ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. senators from New Mexico and Idaho are making another push to expand the federal government’s compensation program for people exposed to radiation following uranium mining and nuclear testing carried out during the Cold War. Downwinders who live near the New Mexico site where the world’s first atomic bomb was tested in 1945 as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project in World War II also would be among those added to the list. No drought in Colorado for the first time in years The legislation would amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include eligible residents in areas affected by fallout in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah and the territory of Guam.Democrat Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico and Republican Mike Crapo of Idaho announced Thursday that they were reintroducing the bill in the Senate after previous attempts to expand the program stalled.The measure also has been introduced in the U.S. House, with supporters saying th...

16 indicted on 116 felonies in one of biggest drug busts in West Metro

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:20:11 GMT

16 indicted on 116 felonies in one of biggest drug busts in West Metro DENVER (KDVR) -- The West Metro Drug Task Force said Thursday that they arrested 10 out of 16 suspects in "one of the largest busts in task force history."The investigation began as a distribution case involving methamphetamine and fentanyl-laced oxycodone pills. Denver strip club’s operating license in jeopardy after prostitution sting Nine months later, police said they seized over 400 pounds of methamphetamine, 325,000 pills containing fentanyl, 3 kilograms of cocaine, 1 pound of heroin and 1.5 pounds of fentanyl powder. The West Metro Drug Task Force said Thursday that they arrested 10 out of 16 suspects in "one of the largest busts in task force history." Fentanyl from the bust is pictured. (West Metro Drug Task Force)Police said they seized over 400 pounds of methamphetamine in one of the biggest drug busts in the West Metro Drug Task Force history. (West Metro Drug Task Force)The West Metro Drug Task Force said Thursday that they arrested 10 out of 16 suspects in "one of th...

Man accused of stealing bras and panties identified

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:20:11 GMT

Man accused of stealing bras and panties identified Update, 1 p.m.: The Lakewood police department says this suspect has been identified.DENVER (KDVR) -- Police in Lakewood are looking for a man accused of stealing around $4,881 in items, primarily women's bras and underwear, from various laundry rooms at an apartment complex.At least 26 thefts have occurred between August 2021 and May 2023, police said.Lakewood Police are searching for a man alleged to have stolen women's clothing from apartment laundry rooms. (Credit: Lakewood Police Department)The suspect allegedly took the items from laundry rooms on each floor of Lakeview Towers at Belmar Apartments, in the 600 block of South Reed Court.He is not a known resident of the complex, according to police. Caught on camera: Guests dodge out-of-control fireworks He is described as a possibly Middle Eastern or Hispanic man with short black hair, a black goatee and dark eyes. He is of average height and has a muscular build.The man was most recently seen in the building in June of this ...