Bee attack in France: 24 injured in Aurillac; hive removed after Asian hornet threat
An unusual bee attack in the French town of Aurillac injured 24 people on Sunday morning, as reported by ABC news. Three of the victims were in critical condition but have since improved, local officials said.
Lt Col Michel Cayla, head of the local fire service, said he had never seen anything like it. He described the scene as dramatic because of the number of people hurt, the panic it caused and the seriousness of some injuries.
'In terms of the number of victims, the panic among the people and the severity of some of the injuries, it was impressive,' he told broadcaster TF1.
According to the Prefecture of Cantal office, the attack lasted around 30 minutes.
People walking in the area were stung repeatedly. Firefighters and medical teams quickly arrived to help the injured, while police set up a safety perimeter until the bees calmed down.
The three people in critical condition were rushed to a local hospital. Aurillac's mayor, Pierre Mathonier, told broadcaster BFM TV on Monday that all three were now in better condition.
One of them, a 78-year-old, had suffered cardiac arrest and had to be revived.
The mayor said this person is now stable, while the other two are in good health.
The mayor suggested the bees may have become aggressive after Asian hornets, a type of large wasp tried to attack their hive. The hive had been on the roof of a hotel in the town centre for over 10 years. The hive has since been removed and relocated outside the town by a beekeeper.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
Obesity in Canada surges to one-third of adults, study links spike to pandemic disruptions
Obesity rates in Canada have reached alarming levels, with one in three adults now classified as obese, according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ). Researchers say the COVID-19 pandemic played a major role in accelerating this trend. The study shows that 32.7 percent of Canadian adults, roughly 10.6 million people, were obese in 2023. That's a jump of eight percentage points since 2009, with a sharper rise during the pandemic years. 'The pandemic had such a profound impact on our daily lives, including changes in our eating behaviours and access to healthy foods,' said Laura Anderson, lead author of the study and associate professor at McMaster University. The research analyzed self-reported body mass index (BMI) data from 746,250 Canadians aged 18 or older between 2009 and 2023. Obesity was defined using World Health Organization criteria as a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27.5 for Asian populations. Before COVID-19, obesity rates in Canada were rising at about 0.5 percentage points per year. During the pandemic, that rate doubled to 1 percent annually. While the study didn't investigate causes directly, experts suggest that mental health and lifestyle disruptions contributed significantly. Live Events 'There was isolation and depression,' said Dr. Sean Wharton, an internal medicine physician in Ontario. 'People who were living with depression, their depression may have gotten even worse. And that's where we saw people having an increase in their weight.' The study also found that young adults aged 18 to 39 experienced the highest increases. Severe obesity, defined as a BMI of 40 or more, rose from 2.4 percent in 2009 to nearly 5 percent in 2023. More women were also affected by severe obesity, which researchers say may reflect increased stress and caregiving responsibilities during the pandemic. While new weight-loss drugs like Wegovy have been approved in Canada, they were not widely available during the study period. Their long-term impact on national obesity rates remains to be seen. Researchers say the rise in severe obesity is especially concerning due to its links to chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
The Hindu
16 hours ago
- The Hindu
San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama says he's been cleared to return following blood clot
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama expects to play this coming season and has been fully cleared after dealing with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder for the past few months, he told the French newspaper L'Equipe in remarks published Monday. A person familiar with the situation later told The Associated Press that the Spurs have indeed received word that Wembanyama has been cleared to resume play and, barring anything unforeseen, will be able to fully participate in training camp when it opens this fall. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not revealed that detail publicly. It has been expected that the team anticipated Wembanyama would be able to start this coming season, though there was no official word until now. 'I'm officially cleared to return. … I'll finally be able to play a bit of basketball again,' Wembanyama told the French sports daily. The fact that Wembanyama has been cleared suggests that his type of DVT was provoked, which would rule out a genetic predisposition to a clot returning. The Spurs have not disclosed specifics of Wembanyama's shoulder issue, but there is a type of DVT that appears when a blood vessel in someone's upper arm can be compressed by a rib (the top rib is removed in some cases to relieve the compression, if that is the cause) or a muscle. Such issues have proven to be treatable in the past. Many other athletes have dealt with similar issues. Serena Williams came back to dominate women's tennis after a clotting issue following the birth of her daughter; Williams needed four surgeries to address the matter. Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Bosh had to eventually retire from the NBA after he was diagnosed with multiple clots. In hockey, Tomas Fleischmann developed clots and went on to play for years afterward; Tomas Vokoun needed surgery to relieve his clotting problem and never played in the NHL again. 'I was afraid of not being able to play basketball anymore,' Wembanyama said in the interview. 'I think that we all have thoughts sometimes. Irrational thoughts about the things we care about most. But this type of thinking also changes you as a person, for the better.' Wembanyama was the league's rookie of the year two years ago, Spurs guard Stephon Castle won that same trophy this past season, and the team has added another high pick — this year's No. 2 selection, Dylan Harper — to a super-promising young core. Wembanyama was the front-runner to be defensive player of the year last season when he was diagnosed with the blood clot in his right shoulder in February. 'My injury was an adventure, obviously, but the hardest part is over,' he told L'Equipe. 'I'm much better today, physically and mentally.' Wembanyama was averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 3.7 assists per game when he was shut down in February; the only other player in NBA history to finish a season averaging all that was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975-76. ALSO READ | OKC Thunder as NBA Champion: A story of shrewd management, selfless cohesive play and some luck There will be an obvious ramping-up period before Wembanyama is playing at full speed again, though there is plenty of time between now and training camp for him to get back to that level. 'I have to continue specific work on my shoulder and especially get back into everything related to my basketball habits,' Wembanyama said in the interview. 'It's been five months since I've played a 5-on-5 match. If I had to have a game tomorrow, it would be risky. There are plenty of reflexes to find, both conscious and linked to muscle memory.' Wembanyama has traveled extensively in recent months and spent time last month at a Shaolin temple in Zhengzhou, China. The temple is a place that welcomes visitors who wish to study Chan meditation, Shaolin Kung Fu, traditional Chinese medicine and more. Wembanyama told L'Equipe that he studied kung fu and Buddhism during his stay there, but added that he does not identify as Buddhist. 'We were initiated there to the life of a warrior monk, which combines Buddhism and intensive kung fu practice,' he said. 'It was very hard. We discovered movements that we had never done in our lives. It was more than 1,000 kicks to do per day, jumps, balance exercises, stretching. ... We used muscles that we rarely used and which were quickly overloaded. I had some of the biggest aches and pains of my life.'
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Time of India
Victor Wembanyama set to rejoin San Antonio Spurs rotation following recovery from frightening blood clot diagnosis
Victor Wembanyama. Image via: Getty Images San Antonio Spurs fans finally have the news they've been anxiously awaiting. Victor Wembanyama is officially back. The 7-foot-3 French sensation has been cleared to resume basketball activities after months of uncertainty stemming from a blood clot diagnosis that abruptly ended his NBA season. Wembanyama's return marks a major boost for the Spurs' young core as the franchise prepares for what could be a transformative season in 2025-26. Victor Wembanyama gets green light to suit up again for San Antonio Spurs after blood clot scare Speaking to L'Équipe, Wembanyama shared his relief. 'I'm officially cleared to resume,' he told reporter Maxime Aubin. 'It's fresh, I only got the approval from the Spurs medical staff a few hours ago. Phew, I'm finally going to be able to play a little basketball again!' The diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder came in late February, shortly after the All-Star break. At the time, Wembanyama was averaging an eye-popping 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.8 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. According to The Associated Press, the diagnosis ended what had been a dominant second season that saw him participate in his first All-Star Game and lead the league in blocks, despite missing 36 games. Yet it wasn't just the physical toll that weighed on the 21-year-old. 'I was afraid of not being able to play basketball anymore,' he admitted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giá vàng đang tăng mạnh trong năm 2025 — Các nhà giao dịch thông minh đã tham gia IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo 'I think that we all have thoughts sometimes. Irrational thoughts about the things we care about most. But this type of thinking also changes you as a person, for the better.' During his time away from the court, Wembanyama didn't remain idle. His journey of recovery took him across the globe— from Costa Rica to Japan, and most notably, a 10-day retreat at a Shaolin temple in Zhengzhou, China. There, he immersed himself in the life of a warrior monk. 'We were initiated there to the life of a warrior monk, which combines Buddhism and intensive kung fu practice,' Wembanyama explained. 'It was more than 1,000 kicks to do per day, jumps, balance exercises, stretching. … We used muscles that we rarely used and which were quickly overloaded. I had some of the biggest aches and pains of my life.' San Antonio Spurs' future is looking better with Victor Wembanyama at the center San Antonio's rebuild took a leap forward during Wembanyama's absence. The team added 2025 No. 2 pick Dylan Harper and No. 14 pick Carter Bryant. They also acquired All-Star guard De'Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings in a blockbuster deal at the trade deadline. With Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle returning and Carter Bryant already showing defensive promise in the Summer League, the Spurs are quietly assembling one of the most exciting young rosters in the NBA. 'I think my injury accelerated things,' Wembanyama shared. 'Even though I wouldn't wish it on anyone, the reflections and questioning caused by such an injury can't be bought. I think it's an experience we'll benefit from in the future. For next season, I hope we qualify for the playoffs.' While he acknowledged there's still conditioning and shoulder work left before he's at full strength, the 21-year-old is optimistic and focused. 'There are plenty of reflexes to find, both conscious and linked to muscle memory,' he said. Also Read: 'Took a nap afterwards' – Michael Porter Jr gets candid after his departure from Nikola Jokic's team The Spurs finished last season 34-48, missing the playoffs. But with Mitch Johnson now taking the reins from Gregg Popovich as head coach, and Wembanyama healthy again, San Antonio's resurgence may begin sooner than expected. As Wemby prepares for a full training camp, the roster shows full promise for the fans. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
