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Recent shark bites scary, but serious injuries remain vanishingly rare

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:21 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Recent shark bites in Florida and Hawaii and a suspected case in New Jersey have piqued interest in an age-old summer question for beachgoers — is it safe to go in the water?Scientists and researchers who study sharks said the overwhelming answer to that question is yes, it is safe. Potentially dangerous interactions between humans and sharks are uncommon, and serious injuries and deaths from the bites are vanishingly rare, scientists said.Nonetheless, the dramatic nature of shark bites and the stories of survivors, such as Hawaii surfer Mike Morita’s tale of fighting off a shark in April, capture the imagination. It’s a good idea to remember just how rare shark bites truly are, scientists said.HOW OFTEN DO SHARK BITES OCCUR?There have been typically around 70 to 80 unprovoked shark bites annually, worldwide, over the past decade. And not only are shark bites rare, they’ve been especially rare recently.There were only 57 unprovoked bites last...

Canadian appointee: Reports of China interference too sensitive for public inquiry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:21 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — The man charged with recommending how to deal with leaked intelligence reports that China interfered in Canada’s federal election said Tuesday that the leaked material is too sensitive for a public inquiry.Opposition parties have demanded a full public inquiry on the alleged Chinese interference since reports about it earlier this year by the Globe and Mail newspaper. It cited unidentified intelligence sources that China preferred to see Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals re-elected in the 2021 election and worked to defeat Conservative politicians considered unfriendly to Beijing.Trudeau appointee David Johnston announced recommendations Tuesday saying that a public inquiry into the leaked materials could not take place because of the sensitivity of the intelligence. However, he recommended public hearings on broader issues, including on foreign influence in Canada’s political system.Trudeau appointed Johnston, a family friend and a former gov...

Broncos release Brandon McManus, last holdover from team that won Super Bowl 50

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:21 GMT

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos severed ties with kicker Brandon McManus on Tuesday as they released the last holdover player from the team that won Super Bowl 50.The 31-year-old McManus announced he was being let go on social media shortly before the Broncos made it official.McManus finished his nine-year career with Denver as the second-leading scorer in team history (946 points). He connected on a franchise-most 42 field goals of 50 or more yards in the regular season and the playoffs.“Brandon has been a key player and presence with the Broncos for nearly a decade, making outstanding contributions to our team and community,” Broncos general manager George Paton said in a statement. “Developing into one of the NFL’s most productive kickers, Brandon made so many clutch kicks for this franchise over the years as a Super Bowl champion and team captain. “He will always hold a special place in Denver Broncos history. We thank Brandon for all he did for the Broncos, and we wish h...

Aaron Rodgers warms up, but doesn’t practice for Jets in first session open to media

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:21 GMT

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers never made it past warmups in his first New York Jets practice in front of the media.The 39-year-old quarterback, acquired last month from Green Bay, participated in early stretching and did other exercises Tuesday before he watched quarterback drills. Rodgers remained on the field during practice, but was without his helmet and threw no passes. There was no immediate word from the team on whether Rodgers perhaps tweaked something. He did not appear to have a noticeable limp, but he stretched his lower legs and ankles several times throughout the practice.Organized team activities began Monday and Rodgers participated in practice, with the Jets tweeting out photos and videos of the quarterback throwing passes. The session Tuesday marked the first with media in attendance, and a few dozen reporters showed up to watch Rodgers practice as a member of the Jets for the first time. New York acquired Rodgers, the No. 15 overall pick and a fifth-round...

Nuggets in the NBA Finals: Days and times for all games

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:21 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Denver Nuggets are making history this year with their first-ever NBA Finals appearance.After sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 to win the Western Conference Finals, the team will soon face off against the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals. Photos: Nuggets sweep Lakers to advance to NBA Finals That will either be the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics. The Heat are up 3-0 against the Celtics going into Game 4, meaning an overall winner might be decided Tuesday. What is the NBA Finals schedule?Even though there isn't a set opponent yet -- the days and times of each NBA Finals game have already been announced.Games 1 through 4 are guaranteed to be played, but Games 5 through 7 are only if necessary.All times are in Mountain Daylight Time:Game 1 - Thursday, June 1 at 6:30 p.m. Game 2 - Sunday, June 4 at 6 p.m.Game 3 - Wednesday, June 7 at 6:30 p.m.Game 4 - Friday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m.Game 5 - Monday, June 12 at 6:30 p.m.Game 6 - Thursday, June 15 at 6:30 p.m...

Here's what to do if you're bitten by a rattlesnake

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:21 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Temperatures are warming up and summer is almost here. While miller moths have been showing up everywhere, they're not the only creatures that are out right now.Arvada Fire said rattlesnakes have emerged from hibernation. New homeowner finds snakes in walls, under home Rattlesnakes usually avoid humans, but about 8,000 people are bitten by venomoussnakes in the United States each year, with 10 to 15 deaths, according to the U.S. Foodand Drug Administration.What to do if a rattlesnake bites youAccording to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, here’s what you should do if you are bitten by a rattlesnake:If the snake is still in the vicinity, move carefully away to a safe location. Find a place where the victim can lie flat and rest comfortably.Encourage the victim to remain calm and offer reassurance. Encourage others in the group and yourself to remain calm as well.If in a group, send one member to notify local emergency staff and the nearest hospital. Do not leave the vic...

AP sources: DeSantis to announce 2024 presidential bid Wednesday on Twitter Spaces with Elon Musk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:21 GMT

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will announce his 2024 presidential campaign in a Twitter Spaces event with Elon Musk on Wednesday, according to two people with knowledge of his plans.DeSantis, who has long been seen as Donald Trump’s leading rival for the Republican nomination, will reveal his plans in an audio conversation with the owner of Twitter, according to the two people, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the announcement publicly.Musk, speaking at The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Summit event in London on Tuesday, seemed to confirm the news, saying DeSantis would be making “quite an announcement’ on Twitter the next day. “The first time something like this is happening on social media,” with real time questions and answers, he said.He added that he is not endorsing any particular candidate at this time.

Boris Johnson referred to police over suspected COVID rule breach (again)

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:21 GMT

LONDON — Boris Johnson has been referred to police for a second time after his own legal team raised concerns that he breached COVID lockdown rules.The former British prime minister faces an investigation by the Metropolitan and Thames Valley Police following suggestions, first reported by the Times, that fresh potential incidents of rule-breaking were unearthed during preparations for an inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic.According to the newspaper, lawyers are said to have become concerned that entries in Johnson’s ministerial diaries appeared to suggest he had hosted visitors at both 10 Downing Street and the prime minister’s grace-and-favor country house, Chequers, at a time when gatherings were illegal.The Cabinet Office said in a statement that the new information was unearthed as part of the “normal disclosure review.” It added: “In line with obligations in the Civil Service Code, this material has been passed to the relevant authorities and it is now a matter for them....

Germany’s coalition parties come to blows over budget cuts, delay to energy law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:21 GMT

BERLIN — Germany’s three-party ruling coalition descended into public infighting on Tuesday as the Greens’ Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck accused the liberal Free Democrats of Finance Minister Christian Lindner of breaking promises by delaying a controversial green energy law.Habeck also attacked a plan by Lindner to enforce painful cuts of up to €22 billion in next year’s budget and warned that Germany faced “major [financial] needs everywhere, especially in the areas of decarbonization and digitalization.”The spat highlights growing tensions in the government of Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is leading a coalition with the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP). The parties hold diverging opinions over how Germany should implement the EU’s green plans to slash carbon emissions by 55 percent by 2030 and become climate neutral by 2050. That green energy dispute is complicated by a shortfall in tax income, which reduces the finan...

New York City is sinking due to its million-plus buildings, study says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:21 GMT

(CNN) — New York City is sinking under the collective weight of all of its buildings, a new study has found.This gradual process could spell trouble for a city around which the sea level has been rising more than twice as fast as the global rate — and is projected to rise between 8 inches and 30 inches by 2050.What’s more, scientists expect more frequent and extreme rainfall events such as nor’easters and hurricanes due to the human-fueled climate crisis.“We’re a ways off from the ocean simply moving in,” said lead study author Tom Parsons, a research geophysicist at the US Geological Survey. “But we’ve had a couple of major hurricane events with Sandy and Ida in New York where heavy rainfall caused inundation in the city, and some of the effects of urbanization have allowed water to come in.”The paper, published in the journal Earth’s Future, aims to show how high-rise buildings in coastal, riverfront or lakefront areas could contribute to future ...