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Thousands of bees descend on cricket match forcing play to be suspended

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:16:20 GMT

(CNN) — In the world of sport, there are many reasons for games to be suspended or postponed.Fans are used to seeing games stopped for downfalls of rain, heavy snow, injuries or even, as seen in recent days, smoke from wildfires.But have you ever heard of bees stopping play?At a cricket festival in Ireland, a game had to be suspended as a swarm of bees descended onto the pitch forcing everyone in the vicinity to hide from the buzzy mob.Players and umpires were pictured lying on the ground at the Mardyke in Cork, trying to avoid the 20,000 bees making themselves familiar with their new surroundings.The bees felt so at home that they even started to make a hive near the pavilion, where lots of the spectators were sat watching.The live stream showing the event declared “bees stop play” as the presence of the bees near the clubhouse meant the game had to be suspended for 112 minutes before it could be restarted.Mauro Dias, who works for local bee rescue service Buzz ...

Trump set to appear at Georgia, North Carolina GOP events | Live updates

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:16:20 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Follow along for live updates on former President Donald Trump, who has been indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents at his Florida estate. The indictment marks the first time in U.S. history that a former president faces criminal charges by the federal government he once oversaw. Trump faces the possibility of prison if convicted.___What to know:— A timeline of events leading to Trump’s indictment in the classified documents case— Indictment accuses Trump of scheming and lying to keep secret papers— A look at the charges, the special counsel’s investigation and what’s next— Trump faces a string of inquiries in various states and venues as he campaigns for a return to the White House— Does the indictment stand to damage Trump’s standing with voters?___TRUMP HEADED TO GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA FOR CAMPAIGN APPEARANCESTrump is set to campaign in Georgia and North Carolina on Saturday, making his fir...

Canada to send more weapons to Ukraine, Trudeau says on trip to Kyiv

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:16:20 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine — Canada will spend $500 million to help Ukraine’s military fight Russia’s invasion, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday on an unannounced visit to Kyiv, including more weapons and fighter-pilot training.“Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine with whatever it takes as long as it takes,” Trudeau said in a press conference while standing beside Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.“You’re fighting for your country and for values like democracy, freedom, respect, and dignity. And in fighting for Ukraine, you’re also fighting for the future of us all,” Trudeau told Zelenskyy.The visit, which is happening at the invitation of Ukraine, comes amid signs a long-awaited spring counteroffensive against Russia could be underway.It is also happening as there have been wildfires across Canada, with smoke reducing air quality, and after Friday’s resignation of the special rapporteur Trudeau had assigned to p...

Trump’s Congressional allies ready public defense | Live updates

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:16:20 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Follow along for live updates on former President Donald Trump, who has been indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents at his Florida estate. The indictment marks the first time in U.S. history that a former president faces criminal charges by the federal government he once oversaw. Trump faces the possibility of prison if convicted.___What to know:— A timeline of events leading to Trump’s indictment in the classified documents case— Indictment accuses Trump of scheming and lying to keep secret papers— A look at the charges, the special counsel’s investigation and what’s next— Trump faces a string of inquiries in various states and venues as he campaigns for a return to the White House— Does the indictment stand to damage Trump’s standing with voters?___INDICTMENT EXPECTED TO ADD FUEL TO GOP CAMPAIGN AGAINST JUSTICE DEPARTMENTCongressional Republicans have prepared an aggressive campaign against the Justice Department for months, a key part of former Presi...

Children who were stabbed in France no longer in life-threatening condition as suspect is charged

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:16:20 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French judges on Saturday handed preliminary charges of attempted murder to a man suspected of stabbing four young children and two adults in a French Alps park, an attack that reverberated across France and beyond.The suspect, a 31-year-old Syrian refugee with permanent Swedish residency, has a 3-year-old daughter living in Sweden, regional prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis said. Witnesses told investigators that the suspect mentioned his daughter, his wife and Jesus Christ during the attack Thursday targeting a playground in the lakeside town of Annecy.The victims, who came from multiple countries, are no longer in life-threatening condition, the prosecutor said. The children, between 22 months and 3 years old, remain hospitalized.Police detained the suspect in the lakeside park in the town of Annecy after bystanders — notably, a Catholic pilgrim who repeatedly swung at the attacker with his backpack — sought to deter him.The suspected attacker, whose name was not release...

Pope Francis takes doctors’ advice to skip Sunday public blessing as he recovers from major surgery

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:16:20 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis, “wisely” following doctors’ advice, will skip Sunday’s customary public blessing to allow himself to better heal after abdominal surgery earlier this week, his surgeon told reporters.Blood and imaging tests indicate that the 86-year-old pope’s recovery is proceeding in an “absolutely normal” manner, Sergio Alfieri, who operated on the pontiff, also told reporters on Saturday at Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome.During the three-hour-long operation on Wednesday, using general anesthesia, doctors removed increasingly painful scarring that resulted from previous abdominal surgeries as well as repaired a hernia in the abdominal wall, with the insertion of a prosthetic support netting, or mesh.Alfieri said while Francis’ recovery has been medically uneventful, any extra physical exertion, like rising from bed to move to an armchair to recite the traditional Sunday noon blessing and commentary to the public through a video link, could be risky at this point....

Can a chatbot preach a good sermon? Hundreds attend church service generated by ChatGPT to find out

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:16:20 GMT

FUERTH, Germany (AP) — The artificial intelligence chatbot asked the believers in the fully packed St. Paul’s church in the Bavarian town of Fuerth to rise from the pews and praise the Lord.The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by an avatar of a bearded Black man on a huge screen above the altar, then began preaching to the more than 300 people who had shown up on Friday morning for an experimental Lutheran church service almost entirely generated by AI.“Dear friends, it is an honor for me to stand here and preach to you as the first artificial intelligence at this year’s convention of Protestants in Germany,” the avatar said with an expressionless face and monotonous voice.The 40-minute service — including the sermon, prayers and music — was created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna.“I conceived this service — but actually I rather accompanied it, because I would say about 98% comes from the machine,” the 29-yea...

Troops feel the heat, and several faint, as Prince William reviews military parade

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:16:20 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Several British soldiers were overcome by the heat on Saturday as they turned out in woolen tunics and bearskin hats to salute Prince William.At least three guardsmen fainted during the military parade known as the Colonel’s Review, in which more than 1,400 soldiers of the Household Division and the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery were reviewed by the heir to the throne, who is honorary Colonel of the Welsh Guards.The temperature in London on Saturday was due to hit 30 C (86 F).Afterwards William tweeted: “A big thank you to every solider who took part in the Colonel’s Review this morning in the heat. Difficult conditions but you all did a really good job.”The event was a rehearsal for Trooping the Colour, an annual military parade held each June to mark the monarch’s official birthday. King Charles III will oversee the ceremony on June 17.The Associated Press

Boris Johnson’s career spanned dizzying heights and tumultuous lows

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:16:20 GMT

LONDON (AP) — He was the mayor who reveled in the glory of hosting the 2012 London Olympics, and the man who led the Conservatives to a whopping election victory on the back of his mission to “get Brexit done.”But Boris Johnson’s time as prime minister was marred by his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and a steady stream of ethics allegations. In 2022 he was forced from power, and on Friday he quit as a lawmaker, jumping before he could be sanctioned over lockdown-breaching parties during the pandemic. Here is a timeline of events relating to Johnson’s political career:2001-2008: Serves as a member of Parliament in the House of Commons representing the constituency of Henley.2008-2016: Serves as London mayor, overseeing 2012 London Olympics.2016: Co-leader of the campaign to take Britain out of the European Union, in opposition to then-Prime Minister David Cameron, a fellow Conservative. Cameron resigns after voters approve Brexit in a national referendum on June 23, 2016.2016-...

June bird forecast: Chickadees and Cardinals

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:16:20 GMT

Bird ForecastWhat to watch for in June: Cheerful Chickadees and Colorful CardinalsHere’s the Central Texas bird forecast for the month, courtesy of Travis Audubon. Learn more about Central Texas birds and bird-related events for all ages at travisaudubon.org or by calling 512-300-BIRD. Follow us at www.facebook.com/travisaudubonThe Carolina Chickadee is a familiar bird in Austin. It is common in neighborhoods and parks with mature deciduous and/or evergreen trees. Chickadees readily visit seed feeders too. They are partial to black oil sunflower seeds. It’s easy to take these perky birds for granted, but learning more about them may increase your enjoyment of these small active birds.Carolina Chickadee with Sunflower Seed COURTESY: The Online Zoo Carolina Chickadees are about 4.75 inches long and weigh about 1/3 ounce. You get the idea of how light these birds are if you imagine holding four sheets of 8.5 x 11 paper in a business envelope with one hand and three chickadees in t...