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Mediators aim to extend Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza ahead of last planned hostage swap

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:50:07 GMT

CAPTION CORRECTION CORRECTS LOCATION: People holding an Israeli flag watch the arrival of a helicopter transporting Israeli hostages released by Hamas at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, Tuesday Nov. 28, 2023. Hamas and Israel released more hostages and prisoners under terms of a fragile cease-fire that held for a fifth day Tuesday. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)(AP/Leo Correa) CAPTION CORRECTION CORRECTS LOCATION: People holding an Israeli flag watch the arrival of a helicopter transporting Israeli hostages released by Hamas at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, Tuesday Nov. 28, 2023. Hamas and Israel released more hostages and prisoners under terms of a fragile cease-fire that held for a fifth day Tuesday. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)(AP/Leo Correa) ...

Take home a piece of the Denver Nuggets championship court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:50:07 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Even with the new season underway, the Mile High City will never forget the summer of 2023 when the Denver Nuggets turned the city upside-down and won their first NBA championship in franchise history.Just this summer, crowds flooded the streets for the parade, "Go Nuggets" was heard across town, and Nikola Jokic was named MVP. Denver got a taste of the championship win after the Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat 94-89 at home on June 12 in Game 5. Photos: Denver Nuggets drop new City Edition uniforms Now, you can take a piece of that winning game home.A piece of the Denver Nuggets' championship court, sold by Artsman. (Courtesy of the Denver Nuggets)Artsman is selling blocks of wood from the Denver Nuggets Ball Arena court. These pieces of wood are where the Nuggets won the 2023 NBA Championship.The Nuggets posted on X, formally known as Twitter, about the pieces of the court up for sale."Own your own piece of Nuggets history," the team tweeted.The blocks of wood co...

Miami-Dade County unveils plans to tackle invasive iguana problem in parks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:50:07 GMT

Miami-Dade County is taking proactive measures to address the issue of invasive iguanas infesting local parks. In an announcement, the county revealed plans to hire reptile trappers as part of a comprehensive strategy to manage South Florida’s iguana population.The non-native species, known for causing disruptions in the local ecosystem, will be captured and humanely put down, according to the county’s proposed approach.The cost of the iguana control effort is estimated at approximately $700,000 annually.

Reed Sheppard, No. 12 Kentucky overwhelm No. 8 Miami 95-73 in ACC/SEC Challenge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:50:07 GMT

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Reed Sheppard scored 21 points, including 13 during a second half in which Kentucky shot 67%, and Antonio Reeves added 18 to propel 12th-ranked Wildcats to a 95-73 blowout of No. 8 Miami on Tuesday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge.Sheppard came off the bench, drained a 3 for his first basket and finished 5 of 9 from long range and 8 of 13 overall. The freshman also had five rebounds, four assists and three steals in 30 minutes, filling a void after starting point guard D.J. Wagner left late in the first half with an ankle injury and did not return.“I just go out and try and do what I need to do, whatever I can to help my team win and make the right play,” Sheppard said. “With these dudes around me, it’s really, really easy doing that. We were hitting shots left and right and everyone was moving the ball, passing and having fun.”Reeves was 7 of 12 from the field. Tre Mitchell had 14 points and seven assists, Rob Dillingham scored 14 points and Justin E...

PNC Bank’s Christmas Price Index hits $46,000

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:50:07 GMT

PITTSBURGH (WSVN) — PNC Bank’s 40th annual Christmas Price Index (PNC CPI) reveals a 2.7% increase this year, lower than the previous year’s 10.5%. Released at a time of heightened economic scrutiny, the index mirrors trends in the U.S. economy, with labor costs being a significant driver.The 12 gifts from the classic carol, “Twelve Days of Christmas,” now total $46,729.86, with five gifts, including five gold rings and eight maids-a-milking, seeing no increase in price compared to 2022. The partridge in a pear tree remains unchanged, but the pear tree itself saw a 15% jump, reflecting housing costs.Dr. Amanda Agati, Chief Investment Officer for PNC’s Asset Management Group, highlighted the impact of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions and global economic factors on this year’s index. “Certain industries are experiencing stickier inflation than others, some of which is well beyond the Fed’s control,” said Agati in...

US life expectancy rebounded in 2022 but not back to pre-pandemic levels

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:50:07 GMT

(CNN) — Life expectancy in the United States has started to rebound after historic drops earlier in the Covid-19 pandemic, but it’s far from recovering.In 2022, a 1.1-year increase brought overall life expectancy at birth to 77.5 years, according to provisional data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But that offsets less than half of the 2.4 years of life lost in the first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, and life expectancy is still lower than it’s been in about 20 years.Decreasing mortality from Covid-19 was the key factor driving life expectancy up – for both men and women, and across racial and ethnic groups, according to the CDC report. But Covid-19 remains a leading cause of death in the US, and experts say that continuing to decrease mortality from the virus will be an important contributor to improving life expectancy.“In 2022, the number of deaths from Covid-19 was not insubstantial,” said Elizabeth Arias, a researcher with the CDC’s National Center...

Users of diabetes drug Mounjaro lost more weight than those on Ozempic, large study finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:50:07 GMT

(CNN) — Overweight and obese adults who took the injected medication Mounjaro lost more weight and were more likely to meet specific weight loss targets than people on a similar competitor, Ozempic, according to a new study of people taking the drugs in the real world.Both Ozempic, or semaglutide, and Mounjaro, or tirzepatide, mimic the effects of the gut hormone GLP-1, which stimulates the body’s production of insulin and slows the passage of food through the stomach. GLP-1 also signals the brain to help control appetite. Tirzepatide also stimulates a second gut hormone, called GIP, which may help boost its effects.The drugs are prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes but have gained new popularity because they may also help people lose substantial amounts of weight.The new study is a preprint that has not been peer-reviewed or published in a professional journal. Its results are in line with observations from clinical trials, and many doctors had suspected that tirzepatide might be mo...

Suicide deaths reached a record high in the US in 2022, despite hopeful decreases among children and young adults

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:50:07 GMT

(CNN) — More people died from suicide in the United States last year than any other year on record, dating to at least 1941,according to provisional data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.At least 49,449 lives were lost due to intentional self-harm in 2022 – more than 14 deaths for every 100,000 people.Men were about four times more likely than women to die by suicide, and rates were highest among senior men. But the suicide rate increased twice as much for women in 2022, with especially significant increases among White women and those ages 25 to 34.Suicide rates have been rising in the US for the past few decades. In 2021, the US surgeon general called for the implementation of a national prevention strategy and issued an advisory focused on protecting youth mental health amid a spike in suicide rates and “alarming increases” in mental health challenges among young people.Despite the overall increase, provisional data from 2022 shows signs of improvement in ra...

Parthenon Marbles row: Sunak under fire over handling of fallout

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:50:07 GMT

LONDON — Rishi Sunak was accused of “losing his marbles” over his handling of a major diplomatic spat with Greece.Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer launched a pun-filled barrage against Sunak at this week’s session of prime minister’s questions as the row between the U.K. and Greece over custody of the ancient Parthenon Marbles — known as the Elgin Marbles in the U.K. — deepens.Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reacted separately, saying Sunak’s decision to abruptly cancel their meeting late on Monday evening was “unfortunate,” but gave Greece’s demand for the return of the Parthenon Marbles even more international publicity.“It was an unfortunate event,” Mitsotakis said Wednesday during a meeting with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, but expressed confidence that it would not have any impact on bilateral ties.Back in the Commons, Starmer accused Sunak of engaging in “small politics” for canceling the meeting with Mitsotakis over his decision to raise the issue o...

New England Aquarium Welcomes Two New Sea Lions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:50:07 GMT

For all of the concern about outmigration and the dire lack of housing in Massachusetts, two new transplants from Alabama are settling in nicely in their new rent-free home at the New England Aquarium.Farley and Giovanni, a pair of 15-year-old California sea lions, moved to the Boston aquarium in June from their previous home at the Birmingham Zoo in Alabama. The male (Farley) and female (Giovanni) are now permanent residents of the aquarium’s New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center, where they joined three other California sea lions: Zoe, Sierra and Tipper.“We are very excited for the addition of a male sea lion and an additional female sea lion. Farley and Gio are at the perfect age to socialize with our resident sea lions, and we feel that this will not only be very enriching for all five of the sea lions but also align with our goal of providing the highest level of care for our animals,” Kristen McMahon, curator of pinnipeds and penguins at the aquarium, s...