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Fossil discovery causes monumental shift in understanding of whale evolutionary history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

(CNN) — On the tail of the discovery of a whale fossil that is the largest animal on record, researchers in Egypt announced the unearthing of one of the smallest early whales known to science. The find is also the oldest fully aquatic whale found in Africa, according to a new study.At an estimated body weight of 412.3 pounds (187 kilograms) and length of 8.2 feet (2.5 meters), the newly documented species is comparable in size to a modern-day bottlenose dolphin.Tutcetus rayanensis is a member of the extinct family of early whales known as basilosauridae — the first widespread group to become fully aquatic. What’s more, the diminutive specimen is also much older than other basilosaurids of the Eocene Epoch, the study published Thursday in the journal Communications Biology revealed.The Eocene Epoch lasted from about 55.8 million to 33.9 million years ago, and the fossil dates back about 41 million years. The remains include an incomplete skull with jaws; the hyoid apparatus, or bones...

Ukrainian envoy dies in Armenian lake

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

YEREVAN — Ukraine’s acting ambassador to Armenia has died while serving in the country, Kyiv’s foreign ministry confirmed Monday. In a statement, the ministry said it was “deeply saddened” to announce the death of chargé d’affaires Oleksandr Senchenko in “tragic” circumstances in the South Caucasus country. Officials expressed “their deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased in connection with this irreparable loss.”On Sunday, Armenia’s national rescue service reported that lifeguards operating at Lake Sevan, a popular tourist destination just outside Yerevan, had lost visual contact with a swimmer around 25 meters from the shore. The man was recovered from the water but was later pronounced dead by an ambulance crew. Both Radio Free Europe and Russian state news service TASS had previously identified the swimmer as Senchenko.Senchenko had previously held diplomatic postings in Russia and neighboring Aze...

Obama promotes telethon to raise funds for Red Cross and Maui victims. Follow live updates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

By REBECCA BOONE (Associated Press)Follow live updates about wildfires that have devastated parts of Maui in Hawaii this week, destroying a historic town and forcing evacuations. The National Weather Service said Hurricane Dora, which passed south of the island chain, was partly to blame for strong winds that initially drove the flames, knocking out power and grounding firefighting helicopters.Former President Barack Obama has appeared in a video promoting a live telethon on Monday to raise funds for the American Red Cross of Hawaii in support of its relief effort for wildfire victims.Malama Maui, hosted by KHON-TV, is scheduled to be held from 5 am. to 10 a.m. on the local news station.“As someone who grew up in Hawaii, someone who has taken my family to enjoy the incredible beauty of that island and the hospitality of the people of Lahaina, we now find ourselves mourning the lives that are lost,” Obama said.He noted “thoughts and prayers are not enough” and...

Chicago baseball report: Cubs hosting Round 2 of the City Series this week while the White Sox try to play spoilers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

The Cubs and White Sox meet for the second round of the City Series on Tuesday and Wednesday at Wrigley Field. The Cubs swept the earlier two-game series July 25-26 at Guaranteed Rate Field.It’s another important series for the Cubs, who are 3 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central, while the Sox will try to play spoilers.Every Monday throughout the season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what’s ahead — for the Cubs and Sox.Patrick Wisdom adjusts to new rolePatrick Wisdom is trying to make the most of what has become limited playing time for the Cubs.Nick Madrigal’s return from the injured list and the trade-deadline acquisition of Jeimer Candelario has made Wisdom the odd man out. With his starts coming predominantly against left-handers, Wisdom was in the lineup at first base Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays’ Hyun Jin Ryu.In the seventh, Wisdom took Blue Jays right-hander ...

Greece closes popular mountain gorge in Crete after an earthquake triggers a dangerous rockslide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Authorities on the Greek island of Crete have ordered the temporary closure of mountain gorges popular with hikers after an earthquake triggered a rockslide and seriously injured a Spanish tourist.The closure of the Samaria gorge in southwest Crete — along with several others in the White Mountain range — was ordered Monday, a day after the region was rattled by a magnitude 4.9 quake.The tremblor triggered the evacuation of more than 600 people Sunday along the 16-kilometer (10-mile) Samaria hiking trail.A 45-year-old Spanish hiker was transported by helicopter to a state hospital in the port city of Chania, where he remains in critical condition after part of his right leg was amputated, doctors said.Regional government authorities, based in Chania, were due to decide later Monday whether the closure would be extended through Wednesday, a public holiday.Part of a nature reserve, the Samaria Gorge is open to visitors for six months annually, starting in May, an...

Cargojet reports Q2 profit and revenue down from year ago mark

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Cargojet Inc. reported net income of $31.1 million in its latest quarter, down from $160.9 million in the same quarter last year as its revenue moved lower.The air cargo company says the profit amounted to $1.68 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, down from $8.20 per diluted share a year earlier.On an adjusted basis, Cargojet says it earned 91 cents per share, down from an adjusted profit of $1.51 per share in the same quarter last year.Revenue for the quarter totalled $209.7 million, down from $246.7 million a year earlier.Revenue excluding fuel surcharges and other revenue was $171.6 million compared with $177.2 million a year ago.Cargojet provides air cargo services to major cities across North America with a fleet of 40 aircraft.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 14, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:CJT)The Canadian Press

Poland arrests 2 Russians on allegations of spreading propaganda for the Wagner group

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Two Russian citizens have been arrested on allegations of spreading propaganda for Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, Poland’s security authorities said Monday. The Internal Security Agency, or ABW, said that the men had been acting on behalf of Russia’s secret services and were distributing leaflets in Warsaw and Krakow advocating joining the mercenaries. The two, identified only as Alexei T. and Andrei G., were to receive the equivalent of some $5,000 for their work, the agency said.They were arrested Friday on allegations of working for a foreign intelligence agency and participation in an organized group having terrorist goals. If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison. In recent months Poland has arrested 22 people suspected of spying for Russia or for its ally, Belarus, in what Warsaw sees as part of a hybrid war on Poland due to its support for Ukraine in the war against Russia’s aggression. The Associated Press

Russia’s currency hits the lowest level since beginning of the war in Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

The Russian ruble has reached its lowest value since the early weeks of the war in Ukraine as Western sanctions weigh on energy exports and weaken demand for the national currency.On Monday, the Russian currency passed 101 rubles to the dollar, continuing a more than 25% decline in its value since the beginning of the year and hitting the lowest level in almost 17 months.President Vladimir Putin’s economic adviser, Maksim Oreshkin, on Monday blamed the weak ruble on “loose monetary policy” in an op-ed for state news agency Tass. He said a strong ruble is in the interest of the Russian economy and that a weak currency “complicates economic restructuring and negatively affects people’s real incomes.”Oreshkin said Russia’s central bank has “all the tools necessary” to stabilize the situation and said he expected normalization shortly.At a press conference Friday, central bank deputy director Alexei Zabotkin said the bank is adhering to a floating exchange rate because “it allows the ec...

Railway bridge collapses in southeastern Norway after last week’s torrential rain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A railway bridge in southeastern Norway that ran across a river swollen by torrential rain collapsed on Monday, authorities said.BaneNOR, a government agency in charge of the Norwegian rail infrastructure, said the central section of the steel truss bridge over the Laagen River slid into the water “due to damage to the central bridge foundation.”All traffic across the bridge was halted a week ago out of fear that it would collapse because of the large volume of water. “Bane NOR had just begun investigating the extent of the damage to the bridge on Monday morning when the middle part slid into the river,” the agency said in a statement.The bridge is 172.5 meters (189 yards) long with three spans. It has a direct foundation on the riverbed, and was built in 1957.Eivind Bjurstrøm at Bane NOR said that the collapse of the bridge “never involved a danger to life and health, which I am very happy about.”The rain led to the evacuation of thousands in southe...

Indonesian rescuers search for 7 people missing in waters of Aceh, including 4 Australians

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — An Indonesian search and rescue team on Monday was searching for seven people, including four Australian tourists, reported missing in the waters of Aceh following bad weather. The group was in a wooden speedboat in the waters around Sarang Alu and Banyak islands in Aceh Singkil district. They were part of a group of 12 Australian nationals and 5 Indonesians who were traveling to Pinang Island in two boats. The area is known as a tourist destination with white sand beaches and good waves for surfing. The boats left North Nias port in Nias island, which located around 150 kilometer (93 miles) from Indonesia’s Sumatra island, on Sunday afternoon and experienced bad weather with very heavy rain during the trip. Ten of them decided to stay and shelter on Sarang Alu island, while the others continued the trip, said a written statement from Nias Search and Rescue Agency on Monday.The resort on Pinang Island later reported to the agency that the boat with 10...