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Miami Seaquarium, Friends of Lolita announce agreement to return orca to native waters

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:58:17 GMT

In a groundbreaking move, the Miami Seaquarium, now under the management of The Dolphin Company, has entered into a formal and binding agreement with Friends of Lolita, a non-profit organization co-founded by environmentalist and philanthropist Pritam Singh, to bring Lolita the orca back to her native waters. This comes after a conference at the Miami Intercoastal Hotel discussed the future of the marine mammal.The collaboration has the potential to transform Lolita’s life, thanks in part to a generous contribution from philanthropist Jim Irsay, the owner and CEO of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. Eduardo Albor, CEO of The Dolphin Company, Singh, and Irsay will work together to make the relocation a reality.“It has always been our commitment at The Dolphin Company that we place the highest priority on the well-being of animals, above all else,” said Albor. “Finding a better future for Lolita is one of the reasons that motivated us to acquire the Miami Sea...

Russia seeking munitions from North Korea, White House says

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:58:17 GMT

Russia is seeking to acquire more munitions from North Korea to bolster its war on Ukraine, the White House revealed on Thursday.The development comes as Moscow has sought help from other countries such as Iran as it continues to expend equipment and ammunition on the battlefield.In a briefing with reporters, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Vladimir Putin would likely send food to Pyongyang in exchange for the munitions.“We remain concerned that North Korea will provide further support and Russia’s military operations against Ukraine and we have new information that Russia is actively seeking to acquire additional munitions from North Korea,” he said.Also on Thursday, the Biden administration sanctioned Slovakian arms dealer Ashot Mkrtychev for attempting to broker the deal between Russia and North Korea.“Schemes like the arms deal pursued by this individual show that Putin is turning to suppliers of last resort like Iran and the DPRK,” Treasury Secretary Jane...

Britain’s joining CPTPP. So what the hell is it?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:58:17 GMT

LONDON — It’s not every day post-Brexit Britain gets to talk up a trade win. But it’s about to join an Asia-Pacific trade bloc stretching from balmy Malaysia and Singapore to snowy Ottawa, Canada, in what’s being hailed as a major moment in its life outside the EU.So what exactly is the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) — and why did the U.K. get its foot in the door?CPTPP-what?CPTPP is an 11- (and soon to be 12) member bloc whose existing members are Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and Canada. The deal started life under the Obama administration in 2015 as the TPP. But, railing against trade during his 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, Donald Trump called the pact “a rape of our country” and pulled out of talks days after he took office in 2017. The tongue-twisting title was dreamt up by Canada, which wanted to underscore the “progressive” nature of...

Red Sox faithful brave frigid temps as fans pack Fenway Park for Opening Day

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:58:17 GMT

Hours before the Red Sox kick off the new season against the Baltimore Orioles, Boston fans were out and about ahead of the first pitch despite the cold temperatures.“I’ve got seven layers – I got shirts, I got Under Armours, I got official gear, I got t-shirts, I got vests – I got it all,” said one bundled-up fan who told 7NEWS he had been coming out for Opening Day for years. “You start going through all the drawers and you find everything that you can layer up and still look like a Sox fan without looking like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.”Temperatures were hovering in the mid 30s just a few hours before the first pitch, prompting fans to break out sweaters, scarves and more for the home opener. “Well, my son told me before heading out from Illinois, he goes ‘Mom, it’s gonna be cold” and I go ‘Okay, where’s the hats, where’s the gloves, where’s the scarves?'” said Martha Kennedy.For t...

911 recordings show terror at Nashville school during attack

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:58:17 GMT

By KIMBERLEE KRUESI and TRAVIS LOLLER (Associated Press)NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nashville authorities released 911 calls Thursday that capture the terror inside an elementary school during this week’s mass shooting as people in hushed voices urged dispatchers to send help with sirens, crying and gunfire audible in the background.One caller told a dispatcher that she could hear gunshots as she hid in the closet of the The Covenant School’s art room. The recording started just before 10:13 a.m. Monday.“It sounds like somebody is shooting guns,” the caller said. She then noted that there had been a pause in the gunshots.The dispatcher asked if she was in a safe spot and said two other callers had reported gunshots at the school.“I think so,” the caller said, with children’s voices heard in the background.The teacher then said she could hear more gunshots, and muffled thuds can be heard on the recording.“I’m hearing more shots,...

Orioles finalize season-opening 26-man roster, release opening day lineup

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:58:17 GMT

Hours before beginning their 2023 season, the Orioles put the finishing touches on their 26-man roster for Thursday’s opening day matchup at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox.Baltimore’s roster had featured 31 players since the cuts that followed Monday’s spring training finale, with a swap of bullpen candidates taking place Tuesday to keep that figure in place. Needing to reduce it by five, the Orioles placed four veterans — pitchers John Means (60 day), Mychal Givens (15 day) and Dillon Tate (15 day) and catcher James McCann (10 day) — on the injured list and optioned right-hander Joey Krehbiel to Triple-A Norfolk.“I’m looking forward to the season,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “I’m ready for this to start, honestly. I thought we had a really good spring training. I thought we made some big progress. I think guys improved over the course of the year last year into spring training this year, so I’m looking forwar...

AI will probably affect your job, according to new reports

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:58:17 GMT

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into workplaces across various industries, and it is having a significant impact on most jobs. While AI can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance accuracy, it also poses a significant threat to many jobs, raising questions about the future of work.That introduction — we call them ledes in journalism — was written by ChatGPT, a language model created by OpenAI. Not too bad, but not quite what this reporter would have written. While I think, for now, my job is safe, it will likely look different in a generative AI-driven future.Researchers are eager to study this future and how AI tools, such as ChatGPT, DALL-E and Bard — Google’s latest foray into the AI space — are likely to affect most jobs in some way.Here’s a look at the research out there, including two studies released Sunday and Monday, respectively.How AI will likely affect jobsRoughly two-thirds of current jobs are likely to be affected by some degree of A...

With Aaron Judge back and Anthony Volpe here, Yankees ready for Opening Day

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:58:17 GMT

With the sun shining, the wind chilling and the first pitch of a new season just hours away, Aaron Boone reflected on his “lowest” point of the offseason on Thursday morning.Asked about Aaron Judge just before the Yankees’ Opening Day matchup with the Giants, Boone’s mind went back to the outfielder’s free agency, which also attracted San Francisco. For a brief time this past winter, it looked as if Judge had agreed to a deal with his hometown-ish Giants thanks to a hasty report.What a scene that would have made for in the Bronx on Thursday.“One of the darkest places I went was picturing him on that third base line in a Giants uniform on Opening Day,” Boone said, adding that he shared that with Judge on Wednesday. “That was not a good thought or picture. So I’m thrilled that he is here where he belongs.”Indeed, Judge is still a Yankee — and their official captain — after signing a nine-year, $360 million contrac...

Quincy woman convicted of beating 11-month-old niece to death is sentenced to prison: ‘Chloe’s life was ended as it was just beginning’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:58:17 GMT

A 32-year-old Quincy woman who was convicted of beating her 11-month-old niece to death was sentenced to up to 7 years in state prison on Thursday.Shu Feng Hsu was recently found guilty of manslaughter for fatally pummeling her niece Chloe Chen five years ago. Hsu had been babysitting Chloe for several hours when she inflicted blunt force injuries to the baby. The child’s autopsy revealed that she had died due to the infliction of trauma, including to her head.On Thursday, Norfolk Superior Court Judge Douglas Wilkins sentenced Hsu to 5 to 7 years in prison, which was imposed retroactively to November 2018; she has been in pre-trial custody since then.The 5- to 7-year sentence will be calculated to end as if it was imposed and had begun in November 2018. Manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in state prison.The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office had been seeking a sentence of 15 to 18 years in prison, citing multiple aggravating factors — includi...

Varsity news: Montverde track, Rob Perry talks NBA, double-duty basketball coaches

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:58:17 GMT

Montverde Academy has assembled what might be the most talented track and field program in Florida high school history and showcased that at the FSU Relays last weekend.The Eagles’ domination in the speed events included national best times in the boys 100 meter dash (10.06 seconds) and 200 (20.57) by senior Issam Asinga in his first outdoor races of the 2023 season.Adaejah Hodge, also a senior, did the same on the girls side with winning times of 11.18 and 22.84.Asinga’s 100 time is not eligible for record status because it was aided by a 3.1 meters per second wind, well over the 2.0 limit. But his speed is undeniable. He tied the U.S. high school record with a 6.57-second time in the 60 meter dash at the New Balance Nationals indoor meet on March 11. And his wind-legal 200 time last weekend is one of the best in Florida history.Similarly, Hodge’s 200 time at FSU was wind-aided. But she proved her mettle by running a high school indoors record time of 22.77 at the...