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Mystery cylinder on Western Australia beach likely space junk, authorities say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:11 GMT

Hong Kong (CNN) — A mystery object that washed ashore on Australia’s western coast sparking a flurry of local excitement and speculation over its origin is most likely space junk, police said Tuesday.Since it has turned up on a beach at Green Head, a coastal town 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Perth, the copper-colored cylinder had drawn in curious local residents eager to catch a glimpse of the unidentified object.Speculation also erupted online with people posting a host of theories about where it might have come from.The Western Australia Police Force said in a statement on Tuesday that the item is believed to be “space debris”, echoing similar comments from the country’s space agency which was working on the same hypothesis.Police were initially cautious, throwing up a cordon around the object and telling locals to keep away.But in a new update on Tuesday, police said an analysis by the Department of Fire and Emergency Service and Chemistry Centre of Western Australia had f...

As e-cigarette use grows, more research needed on long-term effects of vaping

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:11 GMT

As the number of young people using electronic nicotine delivery systems grows, so does evidence that e-cigarettes may be harmful to human health. More studies are needed to determine the long-term impact these devices may have on the heart and lungs, according to a new science report.The scientific statement from the American Heart Association, published Monday in the journal Circulation, highlights the latest usage data and scientific evidence showing health effects of e-cigarette use, also called vaping. It also recommends research priorities to better understand how these products may affect people’s health over time.“E-cigarettes deliver numerous substances into the body that are potentially harmful, including chemicals and other compounds that are likely not known to or understood by the user,” Dr. Jason J. Rose, chair of the statement writing committee, said in a news release. He is an associate professor of medicine and the associate dean of innovation and ...

Miami Beach Deputy Chief Wayne Jones appointed to become city’s first Black police chief

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:11 GMT

Deputy Chief of Police Wayne Jones could become the first Black police chief in the city’s 108-year history if approved by the city commission. City Manager Alina Hudak announced the appointment on Monday, stating that Jones, a dedicated 27-year veteran of the department, is the “right person at the right time” for the position. Pending approval by the City Commission on July 26, Jones is expected to assume the role in September, replacing retiring Chief Richard Clements. Hudak has expressed her confidence in Jones’ leadership abilities and said it is intended for Clements to serve as an adviser during the transition period until October 31. This significant move highlights the city’s commitment to embracing diversity and represents a historic milestone for the Miami Beach Police Department. “Throughout the interview process, members of the command staff consistently expressed their support and respect for [Jones] in his role as Deputy Chief and p...

No winner: Powerball jackpot reaches $1 billion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:11 GMT

ST. JOSEPH. Mo. — The Powerball jackpot rose yet again to an estimated $1 billion after no winning ticket was sold for the latest drawing.No ticket for Monday’s drawing matched the white balls 5, 8, 9, 17, 41 and red Powerball 21. The jackpot was estimated at $900 million.The new jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing would be the seventh highest in U.S. history and the third largest for Powerball. Ticket buyers have a chance at $1 billion paid out in yearly increments or a $516.8 million one-time lump sum before taxes.Three people won $2 million after matching all five numbers plus the Power Play, lottery officials said. The winning tickets were sold in Arkansas, Georgia and Texas.Five people won $1 million after matching all five numbers. The winning tickets were sold in Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, New York and Pennsylvania.The game’s abysmal odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to build big prizes that draw more players. The largest Powerball jackpot was $2.04 b...

Orioles sign top two 2023 draft picks, Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Mac Horvath

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:11 GMT

On a day the Orioles’ lineup featured three of their recent first-round picks, they signed their latest.As Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers began, Baltimore announced it signed Vanderbilt outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr., the 17th overall pick in last week’s MLB draft. Bradfield signed exactly for his pick’s slot value of just under $4.17 million, according to a source with direct knowledge of the agreement.Picking outside of the top five for the first time since 2018, the Orioles took Bradfield, whose speed and defense in center field are both regarded as excellent. In three seasons at Vanderbilt, Bradfield hit .311/.426/.447 with 31 doubles, 11 triples and 15 home runs while stealing 130 bases in 143 tries.“Really, I think for us one of the better realistic outcomes for the night,” executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said the night of the pick. “He is a premium college player from the most premium conferenc...

West Nile virus detected in Toronto mosquito pool for first time this year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:11 GMT

The City of Toronto is reporting its first case of the West Nile virus in mosquitoes this year.Toronto Public Health says one batch of mosquitoes, collected from a location in northwest Scarborough, tested positive for the virus.West Nile is an infection that is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito.“The risk of becoming infected with West Nile virus continues to be low in Toronto, however there are some simple steps residents can take to further reduce their risk when enjoying the summer,” Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city’s medical officer of health, said in a release.Some ways to protect yourself against mosquitoes include:Wearing light-coloured long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoorsWearing bug spray containing DEETRemove standing water from properties where mosquitoes can breed such as pool covers, buckets, planters, toys and waste containersTake extra care during peak mosquito-biting hours of dusk and dawnMake sure homes have tig...

CMHC says rate of housing starts posts largest month-to-month increase in a decade

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:11 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts in June posted its largest month-over-month increase in a decade powered by work beginning on new multi-unit projects.The national housing agency says the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts in Canada totalled 281,373 units in June, up from 200,018 in May.The increase came as the annual pace of urban starts increased 46 per cent to 262,815 units in June. The rate of multi-unit urban starts rose 59 per cent to 219,914, while the rate of starts for single-detached urban homes increased three per cent to 42,901.The annual rate of housing starts in Vancouver in June was up 71 per cent from May, while Toronto doubled the pace set in the previous month.CMHC estimated the annual pace of rural starts at 18,558 units for June.The six-month moving average of the annual pace of housing starts was 234,974 units in June, up from 229,520 units in May.This report by The Canadian Press was first publishe...

Canada’s inflation rate tumbles to 2.8% in June even as grocery prices remain high

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:11 GMT

Statistics Canada says Canada’s inflation rate tumbled to 2.8 per cent in June, putting it within the Bank of Canada’s target range.The federal agency says the deceleration was broad-based, though lower gasoline prices compared with last year led the slowdown.But Canadians aren’t seeing any relief at grocery stores yet, as prices rose 9.1 per cent year-over-year, slightly faster than in May.The Bank of Canada’s rate hikes are also feeding into higher inflation through mortgage interest costs.The federal agency says that excluding mortgage interest costs, inflation would have risen two per cent year-over-year.The central bank raised interest rates earlier this month, in part because of concerns that inflation would stay high for longer.

Stock market today: Wall Street sluggish ahead of retail, factory data and more corporate earnings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:11 GMT

TOKYO — Wall Street was largely unchanged Tuesday ahead of the release of U.S. retail sales, factory data and more quarterly financial reports from companies. Futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average each fell less than 0.1% before the opening bell. Strong spending by U.S. consumers has been one of the main reasons for the economy’s resilience, driven by a remarkably sturdy job market, and the Commerce Department will release June data on consumer spending early Tuesday. This week also will bring a slew of corporate earnings reports that investors are looking to for signs of where profits for U.S. companies are heading. Bank of America shares rose modestly before the bell after it reported second-quarter profits grew 19% to $7.4 billion, or 88 cents per share, beating Wall Street’s targets by four cents. It’s the latest big bank to post strong results on higher interest rates, following Wells Fargo and JPMorgan last week. The bank’s net inte...

DeSantis becomes first major party candidate to enter South Carolina’s 2024 presidential primary

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:11 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis filed paperwork on Tuesday for South Carolina’s Republican primary, becoming the first major party presidential candidate officially on the ballot for the first-in-the-South contest.DeSantis signed his filing documents during a stop at the South Carolina Republican Party headquarters in Columbia, flanked by supporters including state legislators who have endorsed his bid.The filing comes at a consequential moment for DeSantis and his campaign as the governor makes his third swing through South Carolina as a White House hopeful. He entered the race in May with expectations that he would become the primary threat to former President Donald Trump. But DeSantis has struggled to make inroads against Trump, who holds a commanding lead in the primary, and recently began cutting campaign staff.He returned to the campaign trial on Monday, when he held an event in Tega Cay, an affluent community on Lake Wylie along the state line with Nort...