Snake hunters will wrangle invasive pythons during Florida’s 10-day challenge
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — Friday marked the start of the annual Florida Python Challenge, where hunters head into the Everglades to track down invasive Burmese pythons in hopes of grabbing a share of $30,000 in prizes. The annual 10-day…
Namibian occupational therapists assist children with mental health
Windhoek, Namibia — Poverty, family dysfunction, hopelessness and learning challenges are among the reasons children, sometimes as young as 9, take their own lives. The Namibia Association of Occupational Therapists on Saturday brought together children, parents, and health care workers…
Mars and Jupiter get chummy in the night sky
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — Mars and Jupiter are cozying up in the night sky for their closest rendezvous this decade. They’ll be so close Wednesday, at least from our perspective, that just a sliver of moon could fit between them….
How Maui’s 151-year-old banyan tree is coming back to life after fire
LAHAINA, Hawaii — When a deadly wildfire tore through Lahaina on Maui last August, the wall of flames scorched the 151-year-old banyan tree along the historic town’s Front Street. But the sprawling tree survived the blaze, and thanks to the…
Sex eligibility rules for female athletes are complex, legally difficult
PARIS — Women’s boxing at the Paris Olympics has highlighted the complexity of drafting and enforcing sex eligibility rules for women’s sports and how athletes like Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan are left vulnerable in the…
US declines to approve first MDMA-based PTSD treatment
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has declined to approve a therapy based on the mind-altering drug MDMA for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, stating it could not be approved based on the data submitted, developer Lykos Therapeutics said Friday….
Central Asia leaders call for joint policy on water issues
Almaty, Kazakhstan — Central Asian leaders met in Kazakhstan on Friday seeking to agree on a shared policy on water management in a region where the scarce resource causes frequent disputes. Interruptions to water supplies are a regular occurrence in…
UN: Climate change wreaks havoc through large parts of Africa
GENEVA — United Nations aid agencies warn climate change is wreaking havoc throughout large parts of eastern and southern Africa, worsening the plight of millions of people struggling to survive conflict, poverty, hunger and disease. Since mid-April, El Nino-related heavy…
Third person in US dies in listeria outbreak tied to Boar’s Head deli meats
Three people have now died in a listeria food poisoning outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats, U.S. federal food safety officials announced Thursday, and the overall number of people sickened rose to 43. The additional death happened in Virginia,…
Stranded NASA Starliner pilots may return to Earth on SpaceX
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — What should have been a quick trip to the International Space Station may turn into an eight-month stay for two NASA astronauts if they have to switch from Boeing to SpaceX for a ride home. There’s…