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The 25 worst-behaved tourists of 2023

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:46:12 GMT

By Julia Buckley | CNNStripping off from the waist down at a sacred site. Driving a car across a medieval bridge, as fragile as it is famous. Carving your name into a world icon, and going on a punishing hike… to take illegal drugs.These are just some of the things tourists have got up to in 2023. They’ve damaged heritage sites, eaten endangered species, and – in the case of one couple – stolen nearly $2 million worth of wine from a Michelin-starred restaurant. They’ve (allegedly) insulted border guards, and flashed in front of kids. And when they’ve been caught out, they’ve often pleaded ignorance.Here are 25 of the worst incidents we saw in 2023.JanuaryA bridge too far: The Ponte Vecchio in Florence.(mustafacan/iStockphoto/Getty Images) Italy has long been a center of bad behavior for tourists who treat it like a theme park, and the year kicked off in a predictably grim manner when an American was caught driving across the pedestrianized Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence. Ital...

Masters has 77 eligible players. It’s shaping up to be one of the smallest fields

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:46:12 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Masters already has the smallest field of the majors. The 2024 edition could be one of the smallest in years depending on the first three months of the PGA Tour season.With no significant tournaments the rest of the year, it looks as though 11 players who finish in the top 50 will be added to the field. That would bring the field to 77 players among those expected to compete.That includes three players who will be making their Masters debut without ever having won on the PGA Tour or European tour — Adam Schenk, Eric Cole and Denny McCarthy. Schenk qualified by reaching the Tour Championship for the first time.The 11 expected to get in through top 50 in the world ranking are Ryan Fox, Min Woo Lee, McCarthy, Will Zalatoris, Justin Rose, Harris English, Cole, J.T. Poston, Adrian Meronk, Adam Hadwin and Nicolai Hjogaard.Four players — Luke List, Erik van Rooyen, Camilo Villegas and Ludvig Aberg — earned invitations by winning PGA Tour events in the fall.One addi...

Stock market today: Wall Street ticks higher as markets continue winning streak

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:46:12 GMT

Wall Street inched modestly higher Tuesday as markets roll toward the end of 2024 on a seven-week winning streak.Futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow industrials each rose 0.2% before the bell. The broader market surged last week and added to solid December gains after the Federal Reserve signaled that inflation may have cooled enough for the central bank to shift to cutting interest rates in 2024. The Dow closed out last week with a record, while the S&P 500 ended the week with its longest weekly winning streak in six years, while edging closer to its all-time high. The benchmark S&P 500 is now up more than 23% this year, while the Nasdaq is up more than 42%.Lower interest rates typically take pressure off of financial markets. The Fed’s goal since 2022 has been to slow the economy and grind down prices for investments enough through high interest rates to get inflation under control. Economic growth has slowed, but has not dipped into recession, while inflation continue...

Getting out that cone to save a parking space? Takoma Park police want you to think twice

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:46:12 GMT

If you’re looking to save a parking space this holiday season for you or your guests, city officials in Maryland are saying that’s not a good idea.If you have a cone, a chair or maybe a friend helping you save a parking spot, police in Takoma Park say you should think twice.They have received multiple complaints recently about people attempting to reserve parking spaces on public roads and are asking residents to stop.“By engaging in such activities, residents contribute to the inconvenience and frustration of others in the community,” Takoma Park police said in a news release.They’re reminding everyone that reserving public spaces, such as parking spots, goes against the policy of “fair and equal access to public amenities.”Police said that these shared spaces belong to the entire community and should be treated as such.Instead, police said those in the area should utilize the legal parking methods available.Source

Apple to halt sales of its newest watches in US over patent dispute

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:46:12 GMT

CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — If two of the latest Apple Watches are on your holiday shopping list, don’t dawdle for much longer because the devices won’t be available to buy in the U.S. later this week if the White House doesn’t intervene in an international patent dispute.Apple plans to suspend sales of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 versions of its popular watch for online U.S. customers beginning Thursday afternoon and in its stores on Sunday. The move stems from an October decision by the International Trade Commission restricting Apple’s watches with the Blood Oxygen measurement feature as part of an intellectual property dispute with medical technology company Masimo.The White House had 60 days to review the ITC order issued on Oct. 26, meaning Apple could have kept selling the two affected models in the U.S. through Christmas. But the Cupertino, California, company said in a Monday statement that it is pausing sales early to ensure it complies with the ITC order...

Xóchitl Gálvez, precandidata opositora a la presidencia de México, crea portavoz con inteligencia artificial

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:46:12 GMT

(CNN Español) — Xóchitl Gálvez, precandidata única a la presidencia de México por el bloque opositor, presentó a su nueva portavoz: iXóchitl, una representación de ella misma generada por inteligencia artificial.En un mensaje publicado este domingo en la cuenta de la red social X de Gálvez, esta portavoz señaló que “tendrá aval, supervisión y aprobación” de la precandidata en los mensajes que publique en sus redes sociales.“La inteligencia artificial generativa eficienta los tiempos y los recursos. Es muy rápido tener el material y muy barato”, señaló el mensaje generado por inteligencia artificial, que muestra a la figura de Gálvez con una blusa rosa de estilo mexicano, como las que usa la precandidata, y con un fondo virtual de jardín. El video incluye la leyenda: “Vocería I.A.”.Les presento a mi nueva vocería de inteligencia artificial.Una herramienta pionera e innovadora que únicamente será oficial a través de mis redes sociales: iXóchitl.#FuerteComoTú #XvocerIA pic.twitte...

1 shot after officer-involved shooting in Northwest DC, police say

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:46:12 GMT

A person was shot by a police officer after displaying a firearm on Monday night in the Penn Quarter neighborhood, according to D.C. police.Executive Assistant Chief of Police Jeffery Carroll said during a press conference that the shooting took place around 8:30 p.m. in the area of F Street NW, near Capital One Arena.Carroll outlined how police patrolling the area had tried to stop a male in a vehicle because they believed he was armed. As officers shouted instructions, the individual “took off running.”While police were trying to stop him, he displayed a firearm.A police officer then shot the male. He was immediately placed under arrest and given medical aid, according to Carroll. He said the injured individual is in stable condition at a nearby hospital.The officer that was involved has been placed on administrative leave, following police protocol.D.C. police did not confirm the age of the injured male and are still investigating if he had a concealed carry license i...

Google to pay $700 million to US states, consumers in app store settlement

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:46:12 GMT

File - The Google sign is shown over an entrance to the company's new building in New York on Sept. 6, 2023. A federal court jury has decided that Google's Android app store has been protected by anticompetitive barriers that have damaged smartphone consumers and software developers, dealing a blow to a major pillar of a technology empire. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)(AP/Peter Morgan) File - The Google sign is shown over an entrance to the company's new building in New York on Sept. 6, 2023. A federal court jury has decided that Google's Android app store has been protected by anticompetitive barriers that have damaged smartphone consumers and software developers, dealing a blow to a major pillar of a technology empire. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)(AP/Peter Morg...

Column: Reviewing the year in golf based on shots from every club in the bag

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:46:12 GMT

One swing can win a tournament as easily as it can lose one. Other shots are more subtle, and even if they don’t yield birdies or eagles, they can go a long way in shaping a player’s season.What follows is an annual review of the year in golf by looking at shots hit with every club in the bag, from the driver to the putter.DRIVERRory McIlroy had to rally just to regain control against Denny McCarthy in the second round of the Match Play. He took a 1-up lead to the 375-yard 18th at Austin Country Club and unleashed that powerful, balanced swing. The ball not only reached the green, it stopped 4 feet away.McIlroy led the PGA Tour in driving distance. This was one swing that showed why.3-WOODThe U.S. Open returns to Los Angeles Country Club in 2039, leaving the club plenty of time to install a plaque on the 14th fairway, if it hasn’t already. Wyndham Clark was 282 yards away when he ripped a 3-wood toward an 8-yard wide neck at the front of the green. It crept onto th...

Colorado is home to 2 of the most festive hotels in the US

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:46:12 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — USA Today found 10 hotels known for their holiday spirit, from Christmas trees reaching the ceiling in Chicago to winter wonderlands in Montana. But you don't have to hop on a plane to find some of the most festive hotels in the country.Two hotels with some of the best holiday spirit in the country are located in Colorado, and they are not too far from Denver. Check out these holiday pop-up bars in Denver Coming in at No. 4 on the list is The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. The hotel is currently decked out with Christmas trees and winter festivities.The trees leading the way to the entrance are all covered in lights. Inside, you'll be met with garnishes lining the fireplace, stairwell and windows filled with ribbons and bows. The Christmas trees and wreaths inside are dazzled with red and gold ornaments.There's also a gingerbread display of Santa Claus aboard a lightning bug boat. The display pays homage to the canopy boats that were once on Cheyenne Lake when the ...