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What to know before traveling to the Galápagos Islands

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:05:18 GMT

Lacey Pfalz | (TNS) TravelPulseThe Galápagos Islands are a bucket-list destination for many travelers, bird lovers and nature enthusiasts, and it’s no wonder why: The biodiverse region of the world has been famous for centuries as a natural paradise.Like all destinations, the islands offer a unique list of requirements and considerations for travelers heading to the destination.The basicsThe Galápagos Islands are located off the coast of Ecuador and are accessible by plane from Quito or Guayaquil. Many travelers visit one of these cities for a day or two prior to flying into Baltra or San Cristobal, where the two main airports are located in the island chain.Travelers staying on the mainland for a few days can explore the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Ecuadorian Andes or, in Quito, can discover Latin America’s best-preserved 16th-century historic center and UNESCO World Heritage Site.San Cristobal Island, Santa Cruz Island, Isabela Island and Floreana Islands are the main islands that comp...

Ticker: US home sales fall on low inventory; Jobless claims fall again

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:05:18 GMT

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell in June to the slowest pace since January, as a near-historic low number of homes for sale and rising mortgage rates kept many would-be homebuyers on the sidelines.The national median sales price fell on an annual basis for the fifth month in a row, though fierce competition led to about one-third of homes selling for more than their list price.Existing home sales fell 3.3% last month from May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.16 million, the National Association of Realtors said. Sales sank 18.9% compared with June last year. The national median sales price fell 0.9% from June last year to $410,200.The shortage of homes has kept the market competitive, driving bidding wars in many places, especially for the most affordable homes. About one-third of homes purchased last month sold for above their list price, and 76% of homes sold in June were on the market for less than a month.“This is a tough market to be a buyer,” s...

Twitter’s surge in harmful content a barrier to advertiser return

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:05:18 GMT

By Aisha Counts and Eari Nakano, Bloomberg NewsElon Musk’s Twitter acquisition, and the series of content policy changes that ensued, has led to a dramatic spike in hateful, violent and inaccurate posts on the platform, according to researchers. That’s now the top challenge for Twitter’s new Chief Executive Officer Linda Yaccarino, who has to address advertisers’ concerns about the trend in order to boost revenue and pay back the company’s debts.Musk and Yaccarino have touted updates to the site’s policies, such as letting advertisers prevent their posts from showing up next to certain kinds of content. Still, advertising sales are down by half since Musk took control of the company in October, he said this week. That’s in part because businesses don’t believe there has been significant progress in resolving the problem.“Musk is not keeping his promises to advertisers, and their ads are appearing next to really harmful content,” said Callum Hood, director of ...

White men experience biggest cognitive declines after retirement

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:05:18 GMT

By Alex Tanzi, Bloomberg NewsPost-retirement cognitive declines were almost three times more acute among White Americans compared with their Black peers, and twice as large for men as for women.That’s according to a study published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. It found that immediately after retirement, white adults tended to experience a significant worsening of cognitive function, whereas for Black retirees the decline was minimal.White men experienced the steepest post-retirement cognitive decline, while Black women showed the least, according to the study, which tracked 2,226 participants over a period of up to 10 years. The findings were adjusted for socio-demographic variables as well as indicators of physical and mental health.The results suggest that “exposure to lifelong structural inequalities may actually ease transition to retirement with respect to cognitive aging,” said lead author Ross Andel of Arizona State University’s Edson College o...

Hot Property: Former tavern now choice home in West Barnstable

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:05:18 GMT

Step into Cape history with Meadow House, a Federal period residence steeped in charm minutes from Sandy Neck beach, protected marshlands, and Mill Pond.With a fascinating past as a tavern and general store, the versatile property at 761 Main Street in West Barnstable now serves as both a private residence and a law office under home occupation.Built in 1770 by David Kelley — who never even got to move in — the structure became the Meadow House tavern in 1848 before finding a new life as a general store once the railroad came to town.True to its pre-Revolutionary roots, Meadow House boasts a classic hip roof design and twin chimneys. Preserving its historic allure, the property features remarkable period woodworking, wide pine flooring, and Federal-style trim around the doors and windows, while modern updates ensure comfort, including gas fireplaces and a sunroom.The first floor offers two spacious rooms for living and entertaining. Upstairs, the flexible layout caters to diverse ne...

Why does Sweden allow Quran burnings?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:05:18 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — A recent string of public desecrations of the Quran by a handful of anti-Islam activists in Sweden has sparked an angry reaction in Muslim countries and raised questions – including in Sweden – about why such acts are allowed.In the latest such incident, an Iraqi living in Sweden on Thursday stomped on and kicked Islam’s holy book in a two-man rally outside the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm. The protest was authorized by Swedish police, who kept a handful of agitated counterdemonstrators at a safe distance.The same Iraqi man burned a Quran outside a Stockholm mosque last month in a similar protest that was approved by police. And at the start of the year, a far-right activist from Denmark carried out a similar stunt outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm.Here’s a look at how Swedish authorities have been dealing with these acts.IS DESECRATING THE QURAN ALLOWED IN SWEDEN?There is no law in Sweden specifically prohibiting the burning or desecration of the Quran or othe...

Kansas’ attorney general wants to keep trans people from intervening in his lawsuit over state IDs

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:05:18 GMT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Republican attorney general in Kansas is working to keep transgender people from intervening in his state-court lawsuit against changing the sex listings on their state driver’s licenses. His efforts already will block further changes until at least November.Attorney General Kris Kobach, his legal team and lawyers for the Kansas Department of Revenue were in court Thursday to set a schedule for the lawsuit. The department’s motor vehicles division issues driver’s licenses and has changed the sex listing for more than 900 people during the past four years.Kobach argues that changing driver’s licenses to reflect transgender people’s gender identities violates a state law rolling back transgender rights that took effect July 1. He sued two top Department of Revenue officials earlier this month after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly announced that the changes would continue despite the new state law.Five transgender Kansas residents repre...

Canada Child Benefit hailed for reducing poverty, as families get boosted payments

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:05:18 GMT

OTTAWA — The Canada Child Benefit is being hailed for lifting children out of poverty seven years since its introduction, as families get a cost-of-living boost this month. Families eligible for the Canada Child Benefit are getting their July payments Thursday, and they include a hefty cost-of-living adjustment.Most federal benefits and credits increased by 6.3 per cent this month to reflect the pace of inflation in the previous year. That means families can receive an annual total of up to $7,437 per child under the age of six and $6,275 per child ages six through 17.The Liberals are highlighting the Canada Child Benefit to mark its seven-year anniversary after they introduced it in their first budget.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in southeastern Ontario on Thursdayspeaking to families about the impact of the benefit, which he said has reduced poverty across the country.“Seven years ago we brought in the Canada child benefit,” Trudeau told reporters while visiting a...

Trudeau cuts appearance in Belleville, Ont., short as protesters swarm motorcade

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:05:18 GMT

OTTAWA — An event for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was cut short in Belleville, Ont., today after nearly 100 protesters surrounded him and his motorcade. Trudeau was in the city to mark the seventh anniversary of the Liberal government’s Child Care Benefit, to meet with the mayor and to visit a farmers’ market.Protesters showed up at the market outside city hall as Trudeau met with a crowd of community members and took selfies. Trudeau was set to meet with about 10 vendors, but he couldn’t make his way to the other side of the public square after being swarmed by the dozens of protesters.Some of them were holding Trump flags, while others were screaming expletives about the government and the media. At one point, the prime minister’s security detail pushed away two women who approached his motorcade as he stood on an SUV’s side step waving and smiling at the crowd. Reacting to the protesters, one city hall worker said the chaos was a shame. This report...

Video shows Oklahoma judge scrolling social media and texting on cell phone during trial

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:05:18 GMT

CHANDLER, Okla. (AP) — A new judge in Oklahoma is facing scrutiny after courtroom video showed her scrolling through social media and texting throughout a murder trial, a newspaper reports.Security video obtained by The Oklahoman shows Lincoln County District Judge Traci Soderstrom texting or messaging for minutes at a time during jury selection, opening statements and testimony in the trial for a man in the beating death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son. At one point, Soderstrom searched for a GIF, an animated image.Soderstrom, 50, can also be seen checking Facebook during the trial, which began last month in Chandler, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northeast of Oklahoma City, the newspaper reported. Soderstrom was sworn in on Jan. 9 after being elected in November.Soderstrom declined to comment to the newspaper because the verdict could still be appealed, saying judges are prohibited from discussing pending cases. A request for comment from The Associated Press was not imm...