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Greece starts limiting Acropolis daily visitors to tackle overtourism

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:59:06 GMT

(CNN) — One of Greece’s most famous landmarks is trialing limiting its daily visitors, starting today.The Athens Acropolis archaeological site attracts visitors from around the world keen to marvel at the ancient cultural spot. Going forward, visitors will be capped at 20,000 a day, with a booking website keeping track of footfall and enforcing an hourly slot system.In an interview with Greek radio station Real FM in August, Greek culture minister Lina Mendoni said that the Acropolis currently has up to 23,000 daily visitors, calling this a “huge number.”While the site is open until 8.p.m, Mendoni said the majority of visitors were choosing to visit in the morning hours, creating bottlenecks and “unpleasant conditions for the site, the visitors and the staff who are trying to accommodate this high volume of people.”The goal is the new system – which is currently in its trial stages and will likely be formally enforced from April 2024 – will tackle overcrowdi...

Rhode Island man accused of defrauding Massachusetts nonprofit MassChallenge, stealing Apple laptops

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:59:06 GMT

A 38-year-old Rhode Island man is accused of defrauding a Massachusetts nonprofit that helps entrepreneurs, according to police who say he bought 142 Apple laptops as an employee and stole most of them.Jonathan Alexander Mateo, of Riverside, R.I., is facing charges for defrauding MassChallenge, and he’s expected to appear in court this month for the computer theft scheme, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced on Monday.While working at MassChallenge between October 2020 and September 2022, Mateo allegedly purchased 142 Apple laptops using the organization’s American Express card.When MassChallenge conducted an audit in March, the nonprofit could only account for 24 of the computers. MassChallenge then tried to contact Mateo, who had left the nonprofit, and they couldn’t connect with him.The value of the missing computers is estimated at over $100,000.Suffolk DA investigators are looking into the possibility that Mateo used proceeds from the alleged MassC...

Air show ‘modified’ performance schedule due to unrelated search and rescue operation

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:59:06 GMT

Spectators watching the Canadian International Air Show’s final performance on Monday saw a slightly different version of the show compared to the previous three days.In a statement, Colleen McCourt, the manager of public affairs for the show said the show was modified due to an unrelated search and rescue in the airshow’s “sterile display area.”“Out of an abundance of caution, unfortunately some air display acts cannot proceed with their displays,” she said.“The safety of all performers and spectators is of the utmost importance to the Canadian International Air Show. We will ensure that the performers that can proceed with their displays do so in a safe and conscientious manner with the safety of all in consideration.”It is unclear what prompted the search and rescue efforts.In the early hours of Monday morning, the Toronto police marine unit said they were searching for the owner of an unoccupied boat found in Lake Ontario, off Cher...

Biden will nominate a top Harris and Emhoff aide to represent the US at UNESCO

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:59:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top aide to both Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, is President Joe Biden’s choice to represent the United States at the United Nations agency devoted to education, science and culture worldwide. The U.S. recently rejoined the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization after a five-year hiatus initiated by Biden’s immediate predecessor in the White House, Donald Trump. The Democratic president’s choice to become the U.S. permanent representative to the Paris-based UNESCO, with the rank of ambassador, is Courtney O’Donnell, according to a White House official, who spoke Monday on the condition of anonymity to discuss the nomination before a formal announcement.O’Donnell currently wears two hats: She’s a senior adviser to Harris and acting chief of staff for Emhoff, and she lends her expertise to a range of national and global issues, including gender equity and countering pre...

Two military officers are arrested in Congo for leading a protest crackdown that killed 43 people

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:59:06 GMT

GOMA, Congo (AP) — Two high-ranking military officers in northeast Congo were arrested Monday for taking part in a crackdown on protests last week that left 43 people dead and another 56 severely injured, authorities said. Interior Minister Peter Kazadi said police arrested Commanders Mike Mikombe and Donat Bawili, who respectively headed the Republican Guard unit and the Congolese armed forces regiment in Goma, the eastern city where the violence unfolded.Defense and security forces in the Central African nation used lethal force last Wednesday to repress planned anti-U.N. protests in the city. A government delegation arrived in Goma on Monday to hold hearings and other proceedings “to establish responsibility,” the interior minister said.“We have no interest in hiding anything. The whole truth will be known,”Kazadi said. Authorities called on families of the people killed in Goma to come forward with information for the inquiry. On Aug. 23, Goma’s mayor banned a protest organized ...

Police: 5 killed, 3 others hurt in Labor Day crash on interstate northeast of Atlanta

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:59:06 GMT

DULUTH, Georgia (AP) — Five people were killed and three more injured in a Labor Day crash along a Georgia interstate northeast of Atlanta, authorities said.The three-vehicle collision happened shortly before 4 a.m. Monday on a ramp to the southbound lanes of Interstate 85 in the Duluth area, Gwinnett County police said in a statement.A vehicle went over a wall of the elevated ramp, falling onto traffic lanes, police said. Five people were found dead at the scene, and three others were taken to local hospitals.The collision led to lengthy roads closures in the area, but they had reopened by mid-day Monday, police said.Police have not yet identified the dead or injured or released other information about the crash.I-85 is a major thoroughfare that connects Atlanta with Charlotte, North Carolina. The crash happened about 23 miles (37 kilometers) northeast of downtown Atlanta.The Associated Press

Why do we celebrate Labor Day in the United States?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:59:06 GMT

(WHTM) — Labor Day, known as the holiday that marks the unofficial end of summer, is celebrated on the first Monday of September each year. People know it is having an extra day off from work and school, but its meaning goes much further than just the long weekend.According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the day is "an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers." The holidays stem from the late 1800s when labor activists wanted a federal holiday to recognize workers' contributions to the country. What stores, restaurants are open on Labor Day? The very first Labor Day was celebrated in New York back in September 1882, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union.Labor Day was originally started as a holiday that was only seen in individual states. In 1886, New York was to first state to introduce a bill trying to secure federal legislation, but Oregon was the first to pass the law recognizing the day. Smash Mouth front man Stev...

RECALL: 245+ pounds of Banquet meals may contain plastic bits

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:59:06 GMT

(WDTN/NEXSTAR) — If you have any Banquet frozen meals in your freezer, you may want to keep reading. Conagra Brands is recalling 245,366 pounds of Banquet chicken strip items (Courtesy of USDA)Conagra Brands is recalling around 245,366 pounds of frozen Banquet chicken strip entrée products. The food could potentially be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically plastic pieces, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Affected products were produced on June 20, and July 11 and 17, 2023. Ohio’s ‘offensive’ national forest name may change The affected products are: 8.9 ounce cartons with one entrée of Banquet Chicken Strips MealBest if used by dates are DEC 11 2024, JAN 01 2025 or JAN 07 2025 Lot numbers (printed on sides of carton) include 5009317120, 5009319220 or 5009319820If you see the establish number of "EST. P-9" on the side of the carton, the product is included in the recall.The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service says it was notified after a custome...

Child drowns in Hutto neighborhood's pool Sunday, city says

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:59:06 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today's top headlines for Sept. 4, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — A child drowned at a neighborhood's pool in Hutto Sunday, according to a city of Hutto spokesperson.It happened at a pool off Great Western Drive. The only pool in that area, according to Google Maps' satellite view, is associated with a neighborhood called the Park at Brushy Creek. The address of The Park at Brushy Creek matches the area of the pool, according to its website. Photos there also show a pool as an amenity. KXAN has reached out to the neighborhood for comment and will update this story when we receive a response.Hutto police are investigating what the city called a "tragic situation," and said the child did not live in the Hutto area. The city could not provide more information Monday on when exactly it happened, the circumstances surrounding it or the age of the child.A real estate listing for a nearby home shows a photo of a pool with a sign out front that says "Warn...

Battle Creek father faces long recovery after recent hit-and-run while mowing lawn

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:59:06 GMT

On Sunday, while friends and neighbors were enjoying their Labor Day weekend, Toby Mengistu readied himself, physically and emotionally, to visit his father at Regions Hospital’s intensive care unit. That’s where Gerawork Mengistu, 60, has lived for the past two weeks, kept alive by tubes and wires while undergoing emergency surgeries for broken bones and a severe head injury, ever since a driver jumped the curb of his Battle Creek home on St. Paul’s East Side and sent the elder man hurtling from his lawn and into the street.The family of Gerawork Mengistu, 60, of St. Paul’s Battle Creek neighborhood, has set up an online fundraiser for him on GoFundMe after an Aug. 19, 2023 hit-and-run left him in the intensive care unit at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. Mengistu, a facilities worker for the University of Minnesota and originally of Ethiopia, is shown in this family photo with his wife Olga and their sons Toby and Matthew, who are now both in their 20s. (Cour...