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52-foot-long dead fin whale washes up on San Diego beach; cause of death unclear

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:47 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A 52-foot-long (16-meter-long) dead fin whale washed up on a San Diego beach over the weekend and officials said there was no obvious sign of the cause of death.The young female whale was found Sunday in Mission Beach and was later towed out to sea, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.Fin whales are the second largest whales in the world after blue whales. They can grow to 70 to 80 feet (21 to 24 meters) long and weigh about 50 tons, or 100,000 pounds (45,000 kilograms). They are endangered and thought to number around 8,000 off the West Coast, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.“It’s probably in the first couple years of its life,” Michael Milstein, a spokesperson for NOAA Fisheries West Coast region, told the newspaper. “It didn’t appear to have been dead very long because there wasn’t much evidence of scavenging or decomposition. But there was also no obvious sign of the cause of death.”In cases where whales have been killed by...

Trump who? Republicans in Dubai try to carve out their own climate agenda.

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:47 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Republicans at global climate summits don’t talk about Donald.The GOP lawmakers who trekked to Dubai for the U.N. climate gathering made it plain they’re not eager to discuss Donald Trump and his long history of denouncing climate change as a Chinese-inspired “hoax.” The reality is that the former president’s views are several multiverses away from the mainstream at this nearly 200-nation gathering in Dubai. Never mind his commanding lead in the 2024 Republican primary race and the polls suggesting he would beat President Joe Biden.The lawmakers insist they came to COP28 to promote their own Republican vision of climate action, one that champions American fossil fuels and nuclear energy while acknowledging the need — and growing political imperative — to offer some plan for cutting greenhouse gas pollution. They prefer not to dwell on the chances of that agenda surviving the tsunami of a second Trump administration.“No. 1, he’s not the nominee right now...

Donald Tusk wins parliament’s backing to be new Polish PM

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:47 GMT

After nine years out of power, Donald Tusk is back — securing the support of the Polish parliament on Monday evening to head a new government. The vote was 248 in favor and 201 against, cementing his return nearly two months after a coalition of opposition parties led by the former European Council president delivered a surprising win in the October 15 national election. “I want to thank the Polish people,” Tusk told cheering MPs. “Thank you Poland, this is a great day, not for me, but for all those who for these long years deeply believed that it will still be better, that we will chase away the darkness, chase away the evil.”Earlier on Monday, Poland’s outgoing Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki lost a vote of confidence 266-190 in the lower house of parliament, officially putting an end to the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party’s eight-year stint in power. That paves the way for Tusk to forge a centrist, pro-EU government from his Civic Coal...

No major injuries reported after vehicle fire in garage triggers evacuation at Waltham medical facility

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:47 GMT

No major injuries were reported after a vehicle caught fire next to a Waltham medical facility, leading to dozens of people evacuating. According to a statement issued by Mass General Brigham, it was a vehicle in the patient parking garage at Mass General Waltham that caught fire Monday morning, leading to firefighters being called in and police closing off access to the medical center.During the response, officials said a portion of the facility closest to the fire was evacuated as a result, with “no major injuries” reported during the incident.“Delays related to this incident have resulted in some patient appointments being rescheduled,” the statement read. “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Waltham Fire Department and the Mass General Waltham staff for their quick response and assistance.”No details on what led to the vehicle catching fire have been released, with MGB officials noting that the car was quickly extinguis...

The rise of all-cash homebuyers, and what it means for the market

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:47 GMT

Mia Taylor | (TNS) Bankrate.comFor many Americans, owning a home is a major life goal. An overwhelming 74% of U.S. adults consider homeownership to be a part of the “American dream,” according to Bankrate’s Financial Security survey. But realizing that dream has become much more challenging recently. It’s not just today’s steep home prices and record-high mortgage rates that are pushing homeownership further out of reach. Lately, there has also been a proliferation of all-cash home purchases, which is making an already daunting market even trickier for hopeful buyers.All-cash homebuyers don’t require a mortgage loan to make a home purchase, instead paying for the home in full, upfront. These types of transactions have skyrocketed to their highest levels in nearly a decade, according to a November 2023 study by Redfin. For buyers who don’t have such deep pockets, it’s yet another obstacle in an already difficult market.The rise of all-cash home purchasesWith record high mortgage rate...

Bruins notebook: Jim Montgomery pumps up Matt Poitras

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:47 GMT

On Saturday, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery showed some tough love to rookie Matt Poitras when he sat him for the third period while the B’s eked out a 5-3 win over the Arizona Coyotes.On Monday, it was time for Montgomery to give the kid figurative hug.“Him and I had a great meeting today,” said Montgomery. “He’s a 19-year-old kid who’s doing really good things to help the Bruins be (18-5-3). There are going to be struggles. There are struggles for everybody. Even (David Pastrnak) has struggles, despite the fact that he’s what, third in scoring? We tried to impress upon him how much we believe in him and how much he has to continue to grow. And those two things are intertwined in his career-long path of success as a Bruin.”Poitras has 5-7-12 totals in 25 games, and had a big helper in the second period that led to Danton Heinen’s goal that held up as the game-winner. But earlier in the game he had a turnover that led t a goal against. When it came time to...

2023 money regrets can pave the way for next year’s goals

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:47 GMT

By Elizabeth Renter | NerdWalletIt’s almost that time, when everyone resolves to do better and achieve more in the coming year. And a new survey suggests that some people may be fueling their 2024 resolutions with the financial regrets of 2023.About two-thirds (67%) of Americans have financial regrets for 2023, according to a NerdWallet survey conducted online by The Harris Poll on Oct. 10-12. And three-fourths (75%) of that group say those regrets will lead to new resolutions in 2024.Every year we face obstacles to our money goals. We may start out with plans to save more and spend less, but life happens. This year began with expenses taking bigger bites out of paychecks, in the form of high inflation. And as the year progressed, increasingly high interest rates added costs to credit card balances and loans, making it more expensive to borrow. Macroeconomic factors like these can be enough to derail financial goals alone, but if they’re paired with job loss, unexpected expenses or ...

Pedestrian killed after hit by multiple cars on I-805

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:47 GMT

SAN DIEGO — A pedestrian was fatally hit by multiple vehicles on northbound Interstate 805 near Kearny Mesa, California Highway Patrol confirmed to FOX 5. All lanes through the area were closed Monday morning.The incident was reported around 5:13 a.m. just south of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. According to CHP, the pedestrian was hit several times and died on the scene. The drivers of all the vehicles in the incident stopped and authorities are not considering the incident a hit-and-run. Good samaritans save man after motorcycle erupts into flames in National City Details surrounding why the pedestrian was on the freeway are unclear at this time. An investigation into the incident remains ongoing.A SigAlert was issued for the area for major delays ahead of Monday's morning commute. After the collision, traffic was reduced to one lane near the shoulder of I-805 through Kearny Mesa.In a post on X, Caltrans San Diego said the No. 4 lane was reopened just before 9 a.m., improving traffi...

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins Northern Star Award as Canada’s athlete of the year

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:47 GMT

After an outstanding year in the NBA and in international play, Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander captured the Northern Star Award as Canadian athlete of the year on Monday.Media members across the country vote on the annual award, which is presented by The Toronto Star.Swimmer Summer McIntosh, golfer Nick Taylor, hockey star Connor McDavid, and hammer thrower Camryn Rogers were the other finalists.Born in Toronto and raised in Hamilton, Gilgeous-Alexander, 25, was named to the All-NBA first team last season after averaging 31.4 points in 68 games for the Thunder.Gilgeous-Alexander then led Canada to a bronze medal at the FIBA World Cup in the summer.The country’s best finish in program history at the tournament also earned Canada a berth in the 2024 Paris Olympics, ending a 24-year Summer Games drought.Gilgeous-Alexander is off to a strong start this season. He is sixth in NBA scoring with an average of 30.5 points per game for a Thunder team that sits second ...

Commercial fishermen need more support for substance abuse and fatigue, lawmakers say

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:47 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A federal program that protects the health and wellbeing of commercial fishermen should be expanded to include substance use disorder and worker fatigue, a group of lawmakers from New England and Alaska said.The lawmakers want to expand a federal commercial fishing occupational safety program that funds research and training. The program is designed to help the nation’s fishermen with the often hazardous conditions they face at sea.Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who is one of the lawmakers pushing for the change, said expanding the program would help fishermen access more safety training and mental health resources. Collins and the lawmakers introduced the proposal late last week.“Every day, our fishermen are faced with demanding and dangerous working conditions that take both a physical and mental toll, all while they work to bring food to the tables of families across the country,” said another member of the group, Democratic Sen. Edward Marke...