Large numbers of whales have been spotted off the coast of New England, including dozens of endangered sei whales.
Scientists say New England is seeing a large number of whales, including an unusually high number of endangered species. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials announced Thursday that a research flight recorded 161 sightings of seven whale species on May 25 off southern Martha's Vineyard and southeast Nantucket. The whales sighted included 93 sei whales, one of the most ever sightings of the rare whales on a single flight, the agency said. Other highlights included the sighting of two killer whales, a rare sighting off the New England coast.
Power restored in Puerto Rico after massive blackout, lawmakers declare state of emergency
BAYAMON, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico's power company has restored power to most areas affected by a widespread blackout that hit the U.S. territory this week. The outage left more than 340,000 customers without power in the capital, San Juan, and nearby municipalities on Wednesday as a heatwave raged. Luma Energy said in a statement Thursday morning that it had restored power to most customers in the island's capital and northeast. The prolonged outages have disrupted water service, putting at risk the lives of elderly and sick people who rely on electrical equipment for things like ventilators and refrigerating insulin.
Tech Tip: Use a roaming eSIM to save on mobile data bills when traveling this summer
LONDON (AP) — For most people traveling abroad this summer, a smartphone is a must-have. You need one to find your Airbnb on Google Maps and Instagram the view from the Eiffel Tower. Of course, if you're using data-hungry apps abroad, you always run the risk of getting hit with expensive roaming charges from your phone company. The solution: an eSIM for international travel for your smartphone. Physical SIM cards are gone, replaced by eSIMs. eSIMs make it easier to switch phone carriers, a big benefit especially for travelers. If you have a compatible phone, you can add an eSIM from a virtual carrier that offers better data roaming rates than your home network.
Hot dog eating champions Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi face off in Netflix special
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Netflix has announced a new hot dog eating contest between rivals Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi. The news comes after organizers of Nathan's' famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest announced this week that Chestnut will not be competing due to a deal with a rival brand. Chestnut, a 16-time hot dog eating champion, will face off against Kobayashi, a regular Nathan's rival, in a Netflix special on Sept. 2. The contest, titled “Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef,” will see the pair devour beef-only hot dogs, a likely homage to reports that Chestnut's rival brand deal is with Impossible Foods, which makes vegan hot dogs.
Tom Brady inducted into Patriots Hall of Fame on star-studded night
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tom Brady brought countless memories and six Super Bowl trophies to the New England Patriots during his 20 years with the team, and the Patriots wanted to celebrate his induction into the franchise's Hall of Fame with a celebration unlike any other. Dozens of Brady's former teammates and coaches from multiple eras of Patriots history joined thousands of fans and celebrities, including Jay-Z and Bon Jovi, to congratulate Brady as the 35th inductee into the team's Hall of Fame. The night also featured video tributes from some of Brady's rivals and cameos from Boston celebrities, including Red Sox legend David Ortiz and actor Matt Damon.
Jerry West, three-time Hall of Famer and NBA logo inspiration, dies at 86
Jerry West, who had a brilliant career as a player and businessman, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame three times, and whose silhouette inspired the NBA logo, has passed away. The Los Angeles Clippers announced that West passed away on Wednesday morning, surrounded by his wife Karen. He was 86 years old. West was nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his performance towards the end of his playing career, and won titles in both the NBA and the Olympics. He was selected as an All-Star in all 14 NBA seasons, and won the championship with the Lakers in 1972. West later served as general manager of the Lakers, leading them to eight championships.
Denmark voluntarily recalls spicy Korean noodles over health concerns
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Danish food authorities have recalled three varieties of spicy instant noodles imported from South Korea due to the risk of “acute poisoning.” The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration said children and teenagers were taunting each other on social media to eat “spicy noodle soup.” The soup contains capsaicin, the active ingredient in chili peppers, a chemical that can be a neurotoxin and harmful to health. Spicy food challenges have been around for years. In September, a Massachusetts teenager with a congenital heart condition died after consuming so much chili pepper extract while participating in a spicy tortilla chip challenge on social media.
Wreck of famous British-Irish explorer Shackleton's last ship discovered off the coast of Canada
ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland (AP) — The remains of the last ship owned by the famous Irish-born British Antarctic explorer have been found off the coast of Canada by an international team led by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. The Quest was found by sonar scanning Sunday evening, stranded keel-down in 390 meters (about 1,280 feet) of swirling, frigid water. The society said Wednesday that a towering mast had snapped off and was lying alongside the ship, likely breaking off when the ship struck ice on May 5, 1962, and was engulfed by deep water. The death of Sir Ernest Shackleton aboard the ship in 1922 marked the end of what historians consider the “heroic age” of Antarctic exploration.
At least 40 Indians killed in Kuwaiti migrant worker housing building fire
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — At least 40 Indians have been killed in a fire at a building housing foreign workers in Kuwait. Authorities said the early Wednesday blaze appears to be linked to violations of regulations. Dozens of workers lived in the building in the South Mangaf area. India's Ministry of External Affairs said late Wednesday that “around 40 Indians are believed to have been killed and more than 50 injured.” The injured are being treated in five public hospitals, according to a statement. India's Foreign Secretary Kirti Vardhan Singh is due to visit Kuwait to work toward the early repatriation of the bodies and medical assistance to the injured. Kuwait, like other Persian Gulf states, has a large migrant workforce.
Florida braces for more heavy rains in coming days after rare flash flood emergency
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A tropical disturbance has caused a rare flood emergency across much of South Florida. Florida residents are bracing for more heavy rains on Thursday and Friday. Heavy rains and subsequent flooding on Wednesday closed roads and left vehicles floating in water, delaying the Florida Panthers on their way to a Stanley Cup game against the Edmonton Oilers in Canada. The chaotic storm had moved across Florida from the Gulf of Mexico around the same time as the hurricane season began in early June. This year's hurricane season is expected to be the most active in recent years amid concerns that climate change is making storms more intense.
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