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Italian researchers reach the edge of space, flying aboard Virgin Galactic’s rocket-powered plane

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:37 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A team of Italian researchers reached the edge of space Thursday morning, flying aboard Virgin Galactic’s rocket-powered plane as the company prepares for monthly commercial flights.The flight launched from Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert, with two Italian Air Force officers and an engineer with the National Research Council of Italy focusing on a series of microgravity experiments during their few minutes of weightless. One wore a special suit that measured biometric data and physiological responses while another conducted tests using sensors to track heart rate, brain function and other metrics while in microgravity. The third studied how certain liquids and solids mix in that very weak gravity.Virgin Galactic livestreamed the flight on its website, showing the moment when the ship released from its carrier plane and the rocket was ignited. The entire trip took about 90 minutes, with the plane’s touchdown on the runway prompting cheers and...

Dozens of tourists are safely evacuated after their boat catches fire off Greek island of Rhodes

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:37 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Dozens of tourists were safely evacuated from a boat that caught fire Thursday off the Greek resort island of Rhodes, authorities said.The coast guard said all passengers were safely taken to land after the blaze broke out about 300 meters (1,000 feet) offshore. Officials were not immediately able to say how many people had been on board.State-run ERT TV said the boat was carrying 82 people and no one was hurt. It said the fire broke out as the vessel was sailing off the area of Archangelos on the island’s eastern coast.The Associated Press

Sex educator, television host Sue Johanson dead at 93

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:37 GMT

Canadian TV’s foremost sex guru Sue Johanson has died at age 93.Director Lisa Rideout, who made a documentary last year about Johanson, confirmed the news.Johanson, a nurse, made her name in Canada and the United States by talking about sex on the radio and TV.She got her start setting up a birth control clinic at a Toronto high school in 1970.She then started travelling to schools across Ontario to offer sex education, and her radio show hit Toronto airwaves a decade later.Johanson’s straight talk about sex earned her call-in advice shows a loyal following, first on the radio and later on both Canadian and American TV.

Health clinic in Montana Superfund town faces penalties for false asbestos claims

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:37 GMT

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — A health clinic in a Montana town plagued by deadly asbestos contamination faces millions of dollars in penalties after a jury found it submitted more than 300 false asbestos claims to the U.S. government, making some of its patients eligible for Medicare and other benefits they shouldn’t have received.The small, federally funded clinic has been at the forefront of the medical response to deadly pollution from mining near Libby, Mont. The town of about 3,000 people along the scenic Kootenai River gained national notoriety when it was declared a deadly Superfund site two decades ago, following media reports that workers and their families were being sickened by dust from a W.R. Grace mine.A seven-person jury said Wednesday night that the false claims caused more than $1 million in damages to the federal government. Under the federal False Claims Act, the clinic is liable for three times the damages — or about $3.2 million — and millions of dollars more in...

Fire breaks out in basement of New York City’s iconic Tiffany store

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:37 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A fire broke out Thursday in the basement of the flagship Tiffany & Co. store on New York’s Fifth Avenue, officials said.Videos posted on the Citizen app showed smoke billowing out of the basement of the iconic store, which reopened in April after an extensive renovation. They also showed firefighters battling the blaze with hoses. Details on injuries from the fire were not immediately available. Fire Department officials planned a briefing at the scene later Thursday. The Associated Press

Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect Thursday

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:37 GMT

Weather alert: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for the most of the Chicago area through 5 p.m. Lake County in Illinois was not added.Original story:A wide swath of the Midwest is outlooked by the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center for potential severe weather ThursdayA strong thunderstorm swept portions of Cook County just after 5 a.m.Another wave of showers and thunderstorms is to sweep into the area this afternoon with potentially more significant coverage than the storms which swept through portions of the Chicago metro area this morning. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here The rest of the day should be partly sunny with a 50% chance of storms. Strong to severe storms are possible throughout the day and night. The Chicago area is at a slight risk for severe weather.  High: 85. Lakeside: 76Thursday night set to be Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers & storms - mainly in the evening. Low: 70.Latest warnings and watches from...

Energy drink popular with YouTube stars confusing to some parents

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:37 GMT

HONOLULU (KHON) — A new beverage called "Prime" is swiftly gaining popularity, especially among kids. However one version of the drink packs quite a caffiene punch. The "Prime" drink, catapulted to fame by YouTube celebrities Logan Paul and "KSI," comes in two variations. The first version is a hydration drink, which is caffeine-free. The other, a high-caffeine energy drink, contains more caffeine than a Red Bull.It's not uncommon these days to spot people carrying "Prime" at various venues, from parks to schools. The hydration variant comes in a bottle, devoid of any caffeine. However, the energy drink version is packed into a 12-ounce can, boasting a hefty 200 milligrams of caffeine. For context, a 12-ounce can of Red Bull has 114 milligrams, and a cup of coffee is approximately 95 milligrams.The manufacturers of Prime Energy stipulate that the drink is intended for those aged 18 and above. However, the similar appearances of the two versions can lead to confusion among parents. ...

Live Blog: Blackhawks' picks on Day 2 of NHL Draft

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:37 GMT

CHICAGO — After an exciting and historic first round on Monday, the Blackhawks still have plenty of selections to make on Day 2 of the 2023 NHL Draft. Going into the day, general manager Kyle Davidson had nine selections at his disposal to either keep or trade. WGN News Now is following all of the picks and moves on Thursday, and you can see updates throughout the day.HALIFAX, CANADA - JANUARY 02: Robert Baco #13 of Team Slovakia (R) celebrates his goal with teammates Martin Misiak #23 and Jozef Kmec #6 during the second period against Team Canada in the quarterfinals of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on January 2, 2023 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)10:37 a.m. - Another trade & another player from Slovakia joins the BlackhawksFor a second time in the second round, the Blackhawks selected a player from Slovakia who also played for their national team.It was preceded by another tradeThe Blackhawks traded...

3 charged in insider trading case related to taking Trump's media company public

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:37 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Three Florida men were arrested Thursday and charged with illegally making more than $22 million by insider trading ahead of the public announcement that an acquisition firm was going to take a media company owned by former President Donald Trump public.The charges were outlined in an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court that did not implicate Trump in any way. The indictment was among four separate insider trading cases brought against 10 people, including a Pfizer employee and associate and an investment firm executive director.According to the indictment pertaining to the media company, the men were invited to invest in the special purpose acquisition company, Digital World Acquisition Corp., and were provided confidential information that a potential target of DWAC and another acquisition company, Benessere Capital Acquisition Corp., was Trump Media & Technology Group.Authorities said the defendants bought millions of dollars of DWAC securities on t...

Ryan Mallett drowning: Officials release bodycam footage, statement indicating no riptides at Florida beach

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:37 GMT

DESTIN, Fla. (WMBB) — Safety officials in Destin, Florida, have issued a statement after former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett drowned in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this week.Destin Beach Safety, which is part of the Destin Fire Control District, said they responded to a call about about six swimmers struggling to get back to shore shortly after 2 p.m. on Tuesday. One of the swimmers, who they identified as Mallett, had "submerged and failed to resurface," the agency wrote in a public statement. Three lifeguards entered the water, brought the swimmers back to shore, and performed life-saving measures on Mallett. He was ultimately pronounced dead at a Destin hospital.Officials with Destin Beach added that flag conditions at the beach were yellow, indicating "medium hazard" and "moderate surf and/or currents.""There were no rip currents present in the area in which we responded to Ryan Mallett," Destin Beach Safety wrote. Florida beach now deadliest in US this year after 3 more drowni...