Latest news with #Southwestern
Reuters
3 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Russian strikes on penal colony in Zaporizhzhia kill 16, Ukraine says
July 29 (Reuters) - Russian strikes on a penal colony in the frontline region of Zaporizhzhia in southwestern Ukraine overnight killed 16 people and injured at least 35, regional Ukrainian military and Zaporizhzhia's governor said on Tuesday Zaporizhzhia governor Ivan Fedorov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said that the correctional facility's buildings were destroyed, and nearby private homes were also damaged. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, condemned the strikes as "another war crime" committed by Russia. "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's regime, which also issues threats against the United States through some of its mouthpieces, must face economic and military blows that strip it of the capacity to wage war," Yermak said on X. Moscow forces have regularly attacked Zaporizhzhia, using drones, missiles and aerial bombs, since the start of the war that Russia started with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia unilaterally declared early in the war its annexation of parts of Zaporizhzhia and areas in and around three other Ukrainian regions. Kyiv and its Western allies called the move an illegal land grab. Fedorov said that Russian forces launched eight strikes on the Zaporizhzhia district, reportedly using high-explosive aerial bombs. Reuters could not independently verify Fedorov's report. There was no immediate comment from Russia. Both sides deny targeting civilians in their strikes, but thousands of civilians have been killed in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian.
1News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- 1News
The red light some Auckland drivers treat as a suggestion
Auckland's motorway on-ramp signals play an important role in managing traffic and improving safety, but some motorists seem to treat the red light as optional. Ramp signals, installed on the city's motorway network in the late 2000s, aim to manage the rate at which vehicles move down the on-ramp and onto the motorway. With 91 ramp signals across the Southern, Southwestern, Northern and Northwestern motorways, Auckland has the largest system of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Since their introduction, NZTA says travel speeds have improved by 12%, merging-related crashes have reduced, and throughput onto the motorway has increased by 18%. NZTA said it was illegal for a motorist to go through a red ramp signal. ADVERTISEMENT "Ramp signals are a legal traffic signal and running a red light holds the same penalty as a regular traffic light." Failing to stop at a red light will set you back $150 if you get caught. Prakash Ranjitkar, a transport engineering expert at the University of Auckland, told 1News there could be many reasons for motorists not complying with ramp signals. "Many drivers may not fully understand their purpose, perceive them as inconvenient, or believe they can safely merge without waiting." Ramp signalling controls the rate at which vehicles enter the motorway. (Source: Getty) The signals control the rate at which vehicles entered the motorway and help to prevent "sudden surges" that could cause shockwaves, bottlenecks and unstable driving conditions, he said. "This metered entry allows vehicles already on the motorway to maintain consistent speeds and reduces the risk of rear-end and side-swipe crashes near on-ramps." ADVERTISEMENT Ignoring these ramp signals could "undermine the entire motorway system", he added. "Uncontrolled merging can disrupt mainline flow, significantly raising crash risk, increasing congestion, leading to localised delays and a breakdown in coordinated traffic management, especially during peak periods." Ranjitkar suggested public education campaigns could help drivers better understand why the signals exist and how they benefit drivers. Police said in a statement that officers actively watch priority lanes and the stop-go lights on the on-ramps when out on the road. "If our officers see breaches they respond accordingly. "We urge anyone with concerns around dangerous driving to report it to police immediately on 111 if it's happening now, and on 105 after the fact."
New York Post
23-07-2025
- New York Post
15 most overcrowded tourist destinations revealed — is one of your favorite vacation spots among them?
Birds of a feather flock together. Since most people travel during the summer season, some of the world's most beautiful destinations are also its most overcrowded. A new ranking by Go2Africa has revealed the top 15 most overcrowded tourist destinations in the world — where the number of visitors dramatically outweighs the local population. Advertisement It highlights a growing global trend: picturesque destinations are feeling the strain of overtourism. As travel rebounds worldwide, congestion of tourists raises questions about sustainability, local impact and the delicate balance between welcome and overwhelm. Advertisement To figure out which countries made this list, Go2Africa compared each country's total number of visitors per year to its population data by analyzing tourism figures from national tourist boards and reports. Their findings revealed that Vatican City — the world's smallest country by both area and population — tops the list. Despite the population of this sovereign city-state within Rome, Italy being only 882 residents, the spiritual heart of Catholicism welcomes an astounding 6.8 million tourists annually. That equates to a staggering 7,709.75 visitors for every local — a clear reflection of the city-state's immense religious and historical draw. 3 Vatican City is the most overcrowded tourist destination in the world. pyty – Advertisement Nestled in the Pyrenees between France and Spain, the mountainous principality of Andorra takes second place. Best known for its ski resorts and tax-free shopping, this Southwestern European country sees around 9.6 million tourists each year. With a population of just under 82,000, that means there are 117.16 tourists for every resident. Another European mountainous microstate, San Marino, ranks third. With only 33,581 residents, it attracts 2 million tourists annually. Known for its medieval architecture and scenic hilltop views, San Marino hosts 59.56 tourists per local. Advertisement 3 San Marino is a landlocked country in Southern Europe, surrounded by Italy. Kadmy – In fourth place is the Bahamas, a sun-soaked Caribbean paradise. Although home to just over 400,000 people, the island nation welcomes more than 11.2 million visitors each year — equivalent to 27.96 tourists per resident. Its crystal-clear waters and sandy beaches remain a major pull for international travelers. The tropical Caribbean country, Saint Kitts and Nevis, rounded out the top five. It has a population of 46,843 and draws in 875,085 visitors annually. The dual-island nation sees 18.68 tourists per resident. Its lush scenery and tranquil beaches have made it a celebrity favorite — most famously with Princess Diana. 3 Saint Kitts and Nevis is the fifth most overcrowded tourist destination in the world. Andreas – These findings highlight the growing impact of tourism not just on infrastructure, but also on local communities. While scenic and culturally rich destinations remain irresistible to global travelers, the figures reveal the need for sustainable tourism strategies to preserve these special places for generations to come. The top 15 most overcrowded travel destinations: 1. Vatican City Advertisement Local population: 882 Tourists per year: 6,800,000 2. Andorra Local population: 81,938 Tourists per year: 9,600,000 3. San Marino Advertisement Local population: 33,581 Tourists per year: 2,000,000 4. Bahamas Local population: 401,283 Tourists per year: 11,220,000 5. Saint Kitts and Nevis Advertisement Local population: 46,843 Tourists per year: 875,085 6. Antigua and Barbuda Local population: 93,772 Tourists per year: 1,154,236 7. Bahrain Advertisement Local population: 1,607,049 Tourists per year: 14,900,000 8. Monaco Local population: 38,956 Tourists per year: 340,000 9. Malta Local population: 563,443 Tourists per year: 3,563,618 10. Hong Kong Local population: 7,414,909 Tourists per year: 44,500,000 11. Iceland Local population: 393,396 Tourists per year: 2,287,341 12. Croatia Local population: 3,875,325 Tourists per year: 21,300,000 13. Barbados Local population: 282,467 Tourists per year: 1,520,740 14. Switzerland Local population: 8,921,981 Tourists per year: 42,800,000 15. Grenada Local population: 117,081 Tourists per year: 504,000
Eater
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Sellwood Bar Saddles Up With Barbecue Tacos and Cowboy Boot Cocktails
is an award-winning freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. For more than a decade his work has appeared in the Northwest alt weeklies Portland Mercury and Seattle Stranger, as well as lifestyle magazines like Portland Monthly and pop culture websites. 'The theme we were joking around about is 'depressed Palm Springs cowboy,'' says Ezra Caraeff, one of the co-owners of the Last Rodeo, a new bar in Sellwood. 'We didn't want the macho kind, you know? F-250 cowboy. We wanted the cowboy contemplating the decisions he's made.' The Palm Springs comparison matches the airy, casually elegant space awash in teals and blonde wood. The 'depressed cowboy' part can be found in the impeccably curated playlist of mournful honky-tonk, while the paintings on the walls, most by Fort Worth artist Kevin Chupik, evoke the disappearing West from films like Lonely Are the Brave and No Country for Old Men. Caraeff, along with Chip Addabbo and John Naekel, form the core of Three on a Match, a bar collective that includes Paydirt, the Old Gold, and Hi-Top Tavern. Each of those bars have different menus, aesthetics, and areas of focus, but they're unified in that they're all consummate neighborhood bars: classy enough for date night, casual enough for a $3.50 tallboy after work. Their new Sellwood bar occupies the first level of the somewhat legendary (and some say cursed) 1920s Spanish revival building that was once the Woods music venue, a fixture of the shoegaze scene in the mid-aughts. Before that, it was a funeral home. 'I've been here late at night by myself, and it does not feel remotely haunted,' Caraeff assures, although he does note that the basement still has some remnants of its former trade: 'I was like, 'Why does this office have a floor drain?'' Thankfully, the rest of the building just feels like, well, a regular building. Neighboring tenants include an esthetician and a nail salon, so it can't be that haunted. Molly J. Smith Molly J. Smith Bartender J-Bird prepares drinks at the soft opening of The Last Rodeo. Molly J. Smith The newly remodeled interior feels deliberately light and open, filled with early evening sun and the happy clink of fast-draining pint glasses. There's now an expansive patio that wraps around two sides of the building, which already seems like the best place to see and be seen in the summer. It's slightly elevated, which prevents the bar crowd from spilling out onto the sidewalk, while also placing patrons at about eye level with passersby. And best of all it's almost completely in the shadow of the building itself, which means no need for precarious umbrellas or strategic shadow hopping. While the vibes inside skew Southwestern, the food menu is all Central Texas courtesy of a collab with Matt's BBQ Tacos, the beloved truck offshoot of Matt's BBQ proper. Barbecue and breakfast tacos aren't exactly ubiquitous on the West Coast, but they're basically a dietary staple in Austin, and the examples on offer here can go boot to boot with any there. The concept of a $6 taco does sting a bit, but that's before a tray arrives piled high with silky guac and hefty strips of glistening sauce-glazed pork belly. The vegetarian offerings are just as substantial, with a smoky mushroom fajita taco that can also be made vegan. There's a good mix of sides and appetizers too, in particular the waffle fries, which can be ordered either fried in beef fat or vegetable oil. And speaking of beef fat, there's the brisket-washed Maker's Mark Old Fashioned that feels destined to become a cocktail-hour conversation piece. Does brisket tallow pair well with Kentucky bourbon and maple syrup? That's perhaps best left to the individual palate, but it does lend a smoky campfire quality to a cocktail that already hearkens back to the flavor profiles of a 19th-century saloon. The Tiki Luau Lounge cocktail, left, and the Cowboy Cooler cocktail at the Last Rodeo. Molly J. Smith The rest of the cocktail menu features a good mix of classics and new creations, including a draft espresso martini and mezcal margarita, or the Cowboy Cooler which features Astral blanco tequila and ancho chile liqueur served up in a (glass) cowboy boot. For the perpetually indecisive, there's a fun section in the back featuring illustrated portraits of the bar staff and their signature shifty. Bartender J-Bird likes a High Life and navy-strength gin on the rocks, for example, or if you want to get fancy, barback Lee says they 'dream of a Corpse Reviver #2.' Caraeff says they've been looking to work with Matt's for a while, but the last bar they opened didn't quite have the right floor plan for it. 'They use these giant 50-foot smokers,' he says, which can be hard to integrate into existing architecture. Caraeff says that Three on a Match has been trying to expand smart rather than fast: 'We've had a lot of false alarms over the years. We've looked at spaces in the suburbs, downtown, all over, nothing's really made sense.' So how did they wind up in Sellwood? Facebook Marketplace, actually. 'We buy stuff for the bars there, on occasion, and I have this real sweet spot of an algorithm. Haunted puppets, marionettes with one leg, stuff like that.' He says his nightly ritual of cruising the virtual flea market produced an unexpected result: a listing for a section of the 5,500-square-foot property. For Caraeff, who was the music editor for the Portland Mercury when the Woods was in full swing, it was an easy sell. 'That was 119 days ago,' he recalls, 'so just as quick a turnaround as possible.' That is remarkably fast to put together a bar that feels as polished as this one, but as they say this isn't exactly their first rodeo: 'We're not totally ready,' Caraeff notes, 'but we're always like, 'Let's jump out of the plane, figure out the parachute on the way down.'' Plan or no plan, it seems to have worked out. Despite an attempt at a soft opening on Friday, July 11, there's been a line to the door ever since. The bar has enough seating and arrangements for the flow of traffic such that the line moves quickly, but a recent visit at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 13, might as well have been a Saturday night rush. One of the harried bartenders, in between slinging glass boots full of tequila and taking orders for waffle fries, repeatedly cautions patrons that the slushie machine is operating at about 10 times the recommended capacity and isn't quite getting the boozy slush quite as set as they'd like. 'I literally don't care,' says a gleeful lady in a floral sun dress, and she orders a pair of mostly-there Panda Coladas with extra ice. 'I'm not gonna put 'em on Yelp,' she assures the bartender. Currently the Last Rodeo is open 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Caraeff says the plan is to open earlier as they staff up. There's no plan to go later though, which probably makes sense with the giant patio and sleepy residential neighborhood nearby. 'We've got so many great bars on the street,' Caraeff says, 'we're very happy to send people to Kay's or Limelight or Cosmo,' and notes that the neighborhood as a whole has been 'super sweet.' Sellwood has always had the makings of a great bar crawl street, but it's still very Old Portland and can be a bit insular as a result. A sad cowboy bar in an old funeral parlor might seem like a risky proposition, but in practice it fits the neighborhood like a well-worn Stetson. Like all neighborhood bars, the final call will come down to the neighbors themselves, but if this past weekend was any indication, Sellwood has decided to sidle up to the rail. The Last Rodeo is located at 6637 SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland; open from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday to Monday. Minors allowed, if they're cool and like tacos,'til 9 p.m. Molly J. Smith Eater Portland All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Top 3 races to watch in Arizona
Ahead of next year's elections, Arizona is gearing up for a special election this year and several key races in 2026. This head start is much needed in the Southwestern swing state, where the political landscape is extremely nuanced and every seat counts. On the one hand, six of the nine members of the U.S. House delegation from the Grand Canyon State are Republican. Meanwhile, Democrats control both the Senate seats as well as the offices of governor, attorney general and secretary of state. The state legislature is red by a razor-thin margin. Despite their political differences, both parties are running into similar problems, including a lack of support from the fractious state parties. High-level Republicans appear to be relying on Turning Point USA, an independent political organization that is loyal to President Donald Trump. Turning Point USA, headquartered in Phoenix, gained a reputation for driving voter turnout toward MAGA-aligned candidates. In 2024, this political advocacy organization reported turning out over 315,000 voters in Arizona alone. That's a big accomplishment in a state that has only about 324,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats. When the Arizona Republican Party drew the line at election denialism in 2020 and 2022, Turning Point USA continued to support the likes of Kari Lake, who unsuccessfully ran for Senate and the governor's office and claimed the election was stolen both times. State Democrats, including Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, are also making changes. In May, state Democratic Party Chair Robert Branscomb II, elected to office earlier this year, criticized top Democrats and accused Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego of intimidation over staffing decisions. In response to the internal dysfunction, Branscomb was censured and an upcoming vote could see him removed from leadership. In the meantime, the top Democratic candidates are coordinating their fundraising and voter turnout efforts through the more organized Navajo County Democratic Party. The perpetually close margins in federal, statewide and local races and the never-ending talk of election security amps up the pressure on Arizona's wide range of candidates. As both parties prepare for an uphill battle, here are three races to watch. Democrats: The 7th District in Arizona is up for grabs at the special election this year after Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva died in March. He was 77. His daughter, Adelita Grijalva, is the Democratic frontrunner in the race. Daniel Hernandez, a Democrat, who helped save the life of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords during a shooting in Tucson in 2011, is also in the running. GOP: Three Latino American businessmen — Off-road vehicle entrepreneur Jimmy Rodriguez, painting company owner Daniel Butierez and restaurateur Jorge Rivas — are the Republicans vying for this deeply blue district. The trio overall supports Trump's crackdown on undocumented migration. What's at stake?: It will be a tough battle for the GOP candidates; this seat has never been held by a Republican since it was created in 2000. GOP: Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., kicked off his campaign for governor last month through an energized rally, hosted by Turning Point USA, which has as much influence in Arizona as the state party. He shares an endorsement from Trump with attorney Karrin Robson, who enjoys support from the Arizona Republican Party and has a much bigger war chest than Biggs'. Democrats: They are so far backing incumbent Gov. Katie Hobbs, who's earned the nickname the 'Veto Queen' for setting and breaking her own veto records over the course of her term. Although she won against Kari Lake, who is now part of the Trump administration, Hobbs faces a tougher battle in 2026. Odds: So far, Hobbs hasn't said whether she will run for reelection. If Hobbs jumps into the race, her chances of winning are low. According to Sabato's Crystal Ball, from the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, the race, which has at least 13 other candidates, is a toss-up, despite Hobbs' incumbent status. Democrat: Attorney General Kris Mayes, the incumbent Democrat, is running for a second term. She is the first LGBTQ person and first mother to serve in this role. Those aren't the only notable headlines about her win — in 2022, she won by a narrow margin of 280 votes. If that race is any indication, the upcoming election, too, will be a tough battle, especially since Mayes isn't universally popular in the state. Republicans accuse her of using her position to target the right, like suing the federal government for the Department of Government Efficiency's cuts, a legal battle she lost. GOP: She faces opposition from Rodney Glassman, who previously ran as a Democrat in 2010, and Warren Petersen, the president of the Arizona Senate. Petersen doesn't have Trump's endorsement but he was invited to the White House when Trump signed the executive order to disallow trans athletes from participating in competitive girls and women's sports. He had fought for the passage of a similar bill — the Save Women's Sports Act — in the Arizona legislature. What's at stake?: In addition to standing up against 'woke' policies, Petersen promises to prioritize fighting against rising crime, fentanyl overdoses and human trafficking in lockstep with the Trump administration's border security agenda. He is the front-runner in the GOP primary. Meanwhile, wealthy ex-Democrat Glassman's track record has lost several races, including the bids for chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, Arizona Corporation Commission, Maricopa County assessor, and the Republican nomination for attorney general, as Phoenix New Times reported.
